A/N: HIGH SCHOOL?!? WOO HOO!!! Read da notes at da bottom. :D


Takuya stared up at the giant building, slightly intimidated. He was exhausted, he had stayed up half the night worrying about what classes he would have and who would be in each of them. Everybody but the freshman had gotten their schedules mailed to them, so the poor brunette didn't know where in the world his classes were, besides his homeroom.

He figured that the best bet was to find somebody with a last name that started with K or something close to it, that way, they'd be able to find their classes together. Luckily, one of his close friends happened to be a Kimura, so he had nothing to worry about as far as that went.

Takuya walked to the entrance, where he was supposed to meet his friends. They were a little hard to find, considering the school uniforms were the same besides the small badges with the grade levels on the fronts.

The uniforms weren't too bad, Takuya thought. For the boys it was a white button down shirt with a red tie, and a gray wool vest over it. Black pants and black shoes finished it off.

The girls wore the same thing, only they had red skirts instead of black pants. Takuya smiled. All of these hot high school chicks in cute schoolgirl uniforms. Maybe high school wouldn't be so bad, after all.

"Takuya!"

The brunette turned and grinned at the blonde who called his name, walking over to her and his other friends.

"Hey guys!" Takuya exclaimed happily, looking at all of them. "I haven't seen any of you since the luau last week," he said, running a hand through his brown locks.

"I know," Keiko said, nodding. "I haven't had the chance to hang out with anybody either. It was cleaning week." She shuddered. "I hate cleaning week."

"You have a whole cleaning week?" Tamotsu asked. "I have a cleaning day, but that's all."

"I'd love to spend only a day on it, but Naoki won't let us stop until we can see our reflections in the hardwood and stuff. We have to clean the ceilings too, and with Mister Boots' broken leg, he can't do it for us."

"Your cat broke it's leg?" Izumi asked. "How did that happen?"

Keiko shrugged. "Bar fight."

"What?" Kouichi asked. "Your cat-"

"We're in the same homeroom, Kouichi!" Takuya interrupted, smiling at the older twin. "That way we can figure out our schedules!"

Kouichi smiled. "That's really cool, Takuya."

"I know," the brunette replied. "Anybody else here have homeroom together?"

"Tamotsu and I do," Keiko said. "Takishita and Tanaka…"

"Me and Asashi have homeroom together, too," Michiko said. "Tomoe Michiko and Tenoh Asashi."

"I don't have it with anyone," Izumi huffed.

"Me either," Kouji said with a sigh.

"I'm sure you'll find people there that you know," Takuya reassured them just as the bell went off. "Well, good luck everyone!"

And with that, they all went off their separate ways.


"My name is Chiba-sensei and I'm going to be your earth science teacher," the man at the front of the room said, writing his name on the board. "Let's see, I'm going to take attendance, alright? Then we're all going to say one interesting thing we did this summer."

The teacher went in alphabetical order, figuring out interesting things about each student.

"Next… Takishita Keiko. Interesting, I didn't think I would have you in any of my classes," Chiba-sensei said, smiling.

"Sorry to disappoint you, sensei," she said nervously, rubbing the back of her head. "I'm Keiko, and an interesting thing I did this summer was…

'Make out with one of my best friends? Defeat an evil Digimon? Think, Keiko, think!'

Uh, I took a trip to Paris."

"That's interesting," the teacher said, and Keiko realized he said 'interesting' a lot.

"Next… Tanaka Tamotsu."


"Welcome," the teacher said dramatically, slamming his hands down on the desk. "To global studies. You will be learning about other places on earth besides Japan. Europe, the Americas, Africa, everywhere!"

He looked around the room, completely silent. "Now. Names!" He pointed to Izumi, who was in the first row. "Your name!"

"Orimoto Izumi," the blonde said.

"And you!" he cried, pointing to Kouichi who was on her other side.

"Kimura Kouichi," he said.

"Beautiful names!" the teacher cried jovially. "Just gorgeous! Next! Oh, names! Let's hear them all!"

Izumi didn't know if she wanted to laugh, or cry.


"I'm really hung over," the brunette teacher at the front of the room said. "So for our first day, we'll be watching The Lion King. Got it?"

The students just stared.

"Do you know how to talk?" she sneered. "I'm Morioka-sensei, by the way. Now, all of you be quiet and watch the damn movie."

She walked (stumbled) to the DVD player on the TV and put in the children's movie, then she dragged herself back to the table and slumped over it. "Somebody turn off the lights."

Takuya took the liberty to shut off the ceiling lights and then sat back in his seat, turning around to talk to Kouji. "You look seductive with the lights off," he said, and the boys broke out into soft giggles.

"I'd like to say the same to you, but I don't like to lie," Kouji replied, and Takuya gasped in fake shock.

"Why, I've never!" he whispered, grinning. "I'm a beautiful man and-"

"Boy."

"Man, boy, same difference. But either way, I'm beautiful and I won't take attitude like that from somebody like you," Takuya said, huffing, but unable to keep the smile off his face.

"Just watch the movie, dumb shit," Kouji whispered, looking to the TV screen.

"Sorry, didn't mean to distract you from your favorite movie," Takuya said, rolling his eyes and turning around in his seat to face the television.

"Who told you?" Kouji hissed, grabbing his shoulder hard.

Takuya raised his eyebrows. "What?"

"Uh, nothing," Kouji coughed. "Just watch the movie."

Takuya laughed and watched the movie, but he noticed how Kouji mouthed almost every single part.


"We always get into the same lunch together!" Izumi exclaimed happily, sitting down in the seat between Asashi and Junpei.

"I know, right?" Michiko asked, grinning. "I think it's because Asashi's mom is a guidance counselor, and she can get us all into lunch together."

"Your mom's a guidance counselor?" Izumi asked, tilting her head to the side.

The brunette nodded. "Yeah, lucky me."

Izumi grinned. "That's really cool."

"Well, Tamotsu's dad is a doctor," Asashi said, turning the spotlight over to his best friend.

"Yeah, he was my doctor when I was in my coma," Kouichi said. "He was really cool."

"Yeah, unlike his son," Michiko said and Tamotsu gaped at her.

"I'll have you know that I'm extremely cool and funny and smart and nice and beautiful," the blonde shot back, sticking his tongue out at the wine-haired girl. "Right, Keiko?"

The brunette turned her head and looked at the blonde for a moment, then turned back to her food.

"Hey, uh, Keiko?" Takuya asked from across the table.

"Yeah, Takuya?" the brunette replied, looking up.

"Is that filet-mignon in your bento box?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah…"

"Uh, can I have some? I love steak."

Keiko shrugged, dumping some into his box. "Sure. I wasn't going to eat it all anyway. Sometimes Naoki gives me as much food to feed a third world country."

Kouji raised an eyebrow. "You don't make your own lunches?"

Keiko narrowed her eyes. "I can make my own lunches…" she muttered. "Sometimes Naoki surprises me and makes them though, and he always does on special days."

"Today's a special day?" Junpei asked.

"First day of school," Keiko said, eating a cube of the steak. "He's strange, but nice."

"Do you all have biology here?" Izumi asked, causing everybody to look up.

"No, I have Earth Science," Takuya said, and Asashi, Tamotsu and Keiko echoed his statement.

"I had biology last year," Junpei added.

"Well, can you believe we all have homework already?" Izumi asked.

"Wow, do you really?" Asashi asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, we have to get a bunch of shit signed, and then do three pages out of a textbook," Kouji said, eating a piece of rice with a scowl on his face.

Suddenly, the bell rang and all of the people made a mad dash for the exits and to their next class.

"Wow! Lunch was so much longer in middle school," Kouichi said as he stood up and grabbed his notebooks. "I think you're in my next class, Keiko," he said.

"Yeah, we've got health together," the brunette replied, smiling at the boy and walking over to him.

"I've got it, too," Kouji added, joining the other two.

"I have geometry, now," Izumi said.

"Me too," Michiko said, grinning at the blonde.

"I do, too," Tamotsu said and the girls tilted their heads at him. "What? You're shocked that I'm in advanced math?"

"No, you just have a huge booger in your nose," Michiko replied, smirking.

Tamotsu slapped a hand to his face. "WHAT?!?"

"Just kidding," the wine-haired girl said, sticking her tongue out. "But we'd better hurry, or else we'll be late for our next class."


"Wow, they even give us stuff for gym," Keiko muttered, her eye twitching. "And I'm not wearing it."

"Aww! Come on Keiko!" Izumi cried. "You have to! You have to most adorable little butt, and-"

"But there's mostly boys in our class!" Keiko whined, giving the blonde sad eyes.

"It'll be fine," Michiko assured the brunette. "It could be worse! You could have enormously, gigantic boobs, too!" She looked at Izumi. "No offense…"

"None taken…" Suddenly the blonde's eyes widened. "Hey! You take that back! I have perfectly normal boobs!"

"Riiiiight," the other two said, rolling their eyes.

"Anyway," Michiko said. "We don't even have to change until the day after tomorrow, so don't stress, okay?"

Keiko nodded. "It's just… Tamotsu's in our gym…"

"That's an even better reason to be wearing this!" Izumi exclaimed, holding up the white T-shirt with red lining on the neckline and sleeves and the red buruma(1).

Keiko rolled her eyes. "Sorry, dear, we're not all as confident as you."

Izumi sighed. "Keiko…"

"Hey look! It's the boys!" Michiko exclaimed happily, waving to them. "Hey guys!"

"Hey," Takuya said, smiling at the girls. "Nice gym clothes. Isn't it great that we're all in the same class?" he asked, motioning to his right and towards the other boys in their group of friends.

"It's actually… Very ironic," the blonde said, peering towards Keiko, who was still suffering from a slight eye twitch.

"What's wrong, Keiko?" Tamotsu asked, tilting his head a little bit, he fell into step with the brunette. "I guess it's been a long day, huh?"

"Ah, yeah," the aquamarine eyed girl said. "I'm glad it's over though. Nine classes of torture…"

The blonde nodded and smiled. "I know what you mean. I'm pretty beat myself…"

Keiko couldn't help but smile at the blonde, who began to talk with Michiko. She caught herself staring and she peered over to Kouichi, just to see if he caught it. He seemed to have his eyes on Michiko, though, who was laughing and grinning. The ex-couple locked eyes and shared a smile.

Yeah, it was totally okay to move on.


"You're kidding!" Izumi exclaimed into her pink cell phone.

"Nope! I got onto the soccer team!"

"Oh my God, Keiko! That's great! I heard it was really hard to get into JV, because of all of the people trying out and all the middle schools merging together."

"I heard it was, too. But I made it, and so did Michiko! I'm so happy! They had to cut a ton of people… Hey, I have a game tomorrow, do you want to come?"

"Of course I do! I might even rally up the others to go."

"Oh no, Izumi, don't do that… They're already making the boys JV team come and watch…"

"Speaking of, did Takuya and Tamotsu make it on the team?"

"Yeah, they both did. Takuya was getting seriously considered to be on varsity, too."

"Really? That's my Takuya!"

"Uh… Your Takuya?"

"What?"

"You just said, that's my Takuya."

"Did I? Aha, well, uh, you know how I get excited sometimes…"

"You're in love."

"Oh, my mom's calling me. I've got to go!"

"I didn't hear-"

Izumi closed her phone and buried her face in her bed. After four long days at high school, it wasn't cool to get embarrassed like that.


On Friday night, Izumi sat in the stands with Junpei, Tomoki, Kouji, Kouichi, and Asashi (who was making sure she didn't get too 'cold' by keeping her cuddled close to her side). They were all pretty excited to be able to see Keiko and Michiko's first game, and they made sure to get good seats.

"I wonder how it's going to go," Tomoki said, sipping at his hot chocolate.

"I'm sure they'll both do great," Kouichi supplied, smiling. "I know that Michiko wants to win this game more than anything…"

"You be good to her, Kouichi," Asashi said, sticking his tongue out at the raven haired boy.

"It's starting!" Junpei exclaimed, shushing them all.

The players began to take the field, and nobody missed Kouichi's smile when he noticed that she was a starter on defense.

The first half kept everybody on the edge of their seats, a tenth-grader from the other team seemed to be more skilled than anybody could've been ready for. Michiko and the other defenders were keeping her away from the goal as much as they could, but she was a wonderful player, and she scored on them.

Keiko came in during the second half and took the forward position. This caused cheers from Izumi and her brothers, who were a few rows away.

The Shibuya team seemed to be doing very well, keeping the ball away from the goal and attempting to shoot on the other team. The girl who had played magnificently, and very aggressively was on defense now, and that caused some worry among the team.

In the last minute of the third quarter, Keiko had gotten possession of the ball, and with quick feet, flew past the defenders (tripping the 'soccer star' on the way) and scoring.

The crown went wild and Keiko beamed happily, that is until the girl who was tripped was suddenly there, and connected her fist with the smaller teen's face.

Keiko was knocked backwards into the goal, hit her on the metal goal post and dropped to the ground, holding her nose, howling, and knowing it was broken. The people in the stands were standing up and looking absolutely shocked, while both the JV girl's team, and the JV boys, who were sitting on a bench right next to the girls all got to their feet, outraged.

The coaches and the referees made sure a fight didn't break out between any of the other girls, and the JV boy's captain grabbed the girl and dragged her back to her team as she tried to lash out at Keiko.

The coach went straight to Keiko's side, who had tears streaming down her face. "Are you okay, Keiko? Let me see your nose."

The brunette pulled her hands away and let out shuddering sobs as she looked at her nose.

"It's broken," the coach said, running a hand through her hair. "Are your brothers here, sweetheart?"

There were hands on Keiko's shoulders and she was turned to Naoki, who was the coach on the boy's JV team(1). "Are you okay, Keiko?"

Keiko just looked at him miserably as he looked at her nose. "We're going to the hospital. Make sure things don't get too out of hand here, Natsumi," he said, looking at Keiko's coach.

Natsumi nodded. "No, I was going to let them riot… Make sure she gets that nose fixed and make sure she actually recovers before she comes back, okay?"

Naoki rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't let my baby sister come back on the field with a broken nose, you idiot."

"You know what?" Natsumi hissed. "It's hard to tell with you sometimes, you-"

"Keiko? Are you alright? Is your nose broken?" Takuya cried as he and Tamotsu made it to the brunette. Seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks and the shaky breaths she was taking, he was sure that it was. If Keiko was crying, she must've been in some serious pain. Her cheeks were red, and he could tell she was humiliated.

"You should really bring her to the hospital," Tamotsu said, taking a knee next to the girl and placing a hand on her shoulder. "What if the nose bone shards go into her brain and-"

"Enough, Tamotsu," Naoki sighed, looking back to his sister. "How's your head?"

Keiko took in a shaky breath. "Hurts," she supplied and Naoki lifted the girl right up and carried her off the field.

"The game will go on," he called back. "And make sure that number ten doesn't get back onto the soccer field."

"Got it," Natsumi replied.


Keiko laid on her stomach in her bed, a glass of ice water with a purple curly straw in it on her bedside table. Her nose was covered in bandages and was still aching after being broken and set. She had a very minor concussion, but she was doing fine overall. She was just tired and very embarrassed.

There was a knock at the door, and after a strange sounding 'come in', Saburo walked in, looking a little bit sympathetic. "Hey," he said, closing the door.

"Hey," she replied, turning over slightly. "What's up?"

"Nothing…" he replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. "How's your nose, kiddo?"

"Sore," the brunette said softly. "But at least my nose bone shards didn't go into my brain, like Tamotsu said in his moment of brilliance."

"The concussion didn't take away a bit of your personality," her brother said, smiling fondly at her. "You took it pretty well, though. I know I would have been flailing all over the place."

Keiko laughed and grinned at him. "You would've been fine."

"Getting punched in the nose hurts," Saburo added. "Seriously. Keiji punched me in the face a couple of years ago, and it wasn't even that hard. I mean, nose pain is totally the worse."

"Nose pain," Keiko chuckled. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Saburo."

"Same for you," the teen replied, sticking his tongue out at the girl.

There was silence as their eyes wandered to the flat-screen on the wall, where Brokeback Mountain was playing. "Why are you watching this?" Saburo asked, looking to his sister with pink cheeks.

"Because it's hot… Almost as hot as you and your… guy… Why didn't you tell me? I mean, I've always figured it, but… I thought we told each other everything…" Keiko huffed.

"We do," Saburo said softly, plucking at the sheets. "I just… I didn't want you to think of me any differently or stereotype me. People think that all gays are purse carrying, lisping, fashionistas who can't get dirt under their fingernails…"

"I know you're not like that," Keiko said. "I wouldn't have thought of you any differently. I mean, you're the same person as you've always been, only you like other guys…"

Saburo sighed. "Not everybody thinks like that, Keiko. There are some seriously nasty people in the world who kill people like me."

"I know," the brunette said sadly. "I know…"

There was silence for a moment and then Keiko decided to make this a more positive talk. "Was that your boyfriend who was nailing you?"

Saburo sputtered. "Keiko!"

"Was it?"

Saburo blushed. "Yeah… He's my boyfriend."

"How long have you two been together?"

"Since eighth grade…" He scratched the back of his head. "It's been two years…"

"That's a long time," Keiko said with a dreamy sigh. "He was pretty cute, though."

"Don't bother," the brunette scoffed. "He's gay."

"Duh," Keiko giggled, slapping her brother playfully on the back of his head. "I'm not stupid… So, you're the uke, huh?"

Saburo sputtered again. "Keiko! I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY SEX LIFE WITH YOU!"

"Well, he's taller and stuff! It's pretty obvious! And when I walked in on you guys he was on top of you and stuff…"

"Oh, Keiko," Saburo groaned, laying down on the bed and covering his face with his hands. "Oh my God."

The two talked for another hour, and then Saburo stayed with Keiko and the two watched a random ninja movie together under the covers.

"No more secrets, right Saburo?" Keiko asked once the movie was over and he began to leave.

"No more secrets," he replied, smiling. "Goodnight, Keiko."

"Goodnight. I love you, nii-san," she said.

"How long has it been since you've called me that?" he asked softly and his sister blushed. "I love you, too, Imouto." He walked out and shut the door gently behind him.

Keiko smiled and curled up under the covers, ready to get some rest. Suddenly her cell phone rang, and she reached over miserably to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Keiko! I forgot to tell you what we're all doing on Monday!"

"Huh?"

"I signed us all up for the school play!"

"WHAT?!?"


(1): A buruma is basically like a bathing suit bottom. Look it up online if you'd like. :D

(2): In case you don't remember, Naoki was the coach for the seventh grade boys team in earlier chapters. He moved up, apparently! :D

Well, that's all for this chapter. Oh, in case you're all wondering why the hell I didn't reply to your reviews, it's because it's late, and I'm tired, so tomorrow after school, I'll reply to your reviews in PM's. Sorry for the inconvenience... :\

The winner of the number guessing game for this chapter was caliboy! One of our new reviewers! :D *Dances* You all have a shot at reviewing any of the characters in these next reviews! So pick wisely! Well, here's his questions he asked Keiko!

1. Why did you date Kouichi when you and Tamotsu have liked each other for so long? How do you think he felt about that?

K: Umm, well, I've liked Tamotsu for like, ever, but I've liked Kouichi since the Digital World too. I think when I came down to it, though, I dated Kouichi because I liked him a lot, and I thought that Tamotsu didn't like me anymore. As far as Tamotsu's feelings go… I don't know how he felt about everything. We haven't talked much about Kouichi and that situation… I'm guessing he didn't feel too great though. *Frowns* No, probably not.

2. Do you find it hard to get along with and put up with Izumi sometimes?

K: Uh, yeah, it can be tough at times. I mean, she's my best friend, and nobody's perfect, but she can be… Well, if we're around guys, she acts totally different, but if not, she's really cool and everything. She's changed a lot, though. Like, she used to be a major bitch, but she's way cooler that she used to be, you know?

3. Do you think there is something going on between Kouji and Takuya that is more than just friendship?

K: *Giggles* I don't really know. But that would be so hot if there was. *Looks off into space and sighs* I think Izumi and I are gonna have to work on that…

4. Did you ever wonder if animals really can understand what we say? For example, when you and Kouichi first kissed, when he left, Mister Boots was there smiling at you and gave you a high five.

K: I don't really think animals can understand stuff, I just think that Mister Boots is insane. *Smiles* But she's funny sometimes, too.

5. It must have been hard to lost your parents. Even though you have grieved, given the chance, would you go back in time and re-live your last few moments with them?

K: I… *Clears throat* It was hard going through everything when the accident happened. And if I had the chance to relive those few moments with them, I don't think I would. Seeing it happen all over again… It would be like starting it over. It's still hard now, sometimes I think I'm going to lose my mind, because it hurts. *Blinks* I've come so far, I just don't think I could handle something like that.

6. (Tehehehe) Are you ever going to invite me to any of those rockin parties of yours?

K: *Smiles* Ahaha, sure I would! I'd invite all of my… er… the authoress' reviewers if I could… *Coughs* They're here for me though… Not the authoress…

Well, I appreciate that you wanted to talk to me, caliboy! *Huggles* You're madly cool! Come on over next time, reviewers! You all have another chance to interview me or one of my friends in this next batch of reviews! Take your best shots at the numbers!