Chapter 1: New Student
Even though it was the second day of High School, Sakura had failed at waking up early once more. Kero, her blonde cat, observed and judged his owner with a 'meow' while she stumbled in the rug, dressed up and fixed her hair quickly.
"Morning, dad!" She said while barging into the kitchen while her father, Fujitaka Kinomoto prepared her favorite pancakes "Good morning, mom" she said to her late mother portrait.
"Good morning, Sakura, please eat before you leave," he said smiling but with a little wrinkle of worry on his forehead.
"Don't worry! Thanks, dad" And she went on to devour breakfast.
"I know you're in a hurry, honey, but I'll come home late and Yuki and Touya are coming for dinner. Do you mind helping them?" Fujitaka asked.
Sakura had a lot of pancakes in her mouth, she swallowed and after almost choking, replied hoarsely with tears in her eyes "No problem. Gotta go. See you later!" She kissed her dad goodbye and proceeded to grab her bag and put her rollerblades on.
"Dearest Nadeshiko, they grew up so fast" Fujitaka sighed to the portrait while sitting down to eat "Touya left the house and Sakura's in High School. And it seems like it was just yesterday when we met for the first time".
It was a mistake to keep talking to her best friend and cousin, Tomoyo Daidouji, on the telephone until late hours. They were excited about the activities the new school had available to them.
Sakura was planning on trying out for cheerleading and Tomoyo had her eyes pinned on the choir, audiovisual and fashion clubs. Most of their old friends from middle school were going to the same school and they were also curious about the new faces – new friends, new opportunities, some pretty boys and girls that were catching her friend's eyes. But no, not for her. Sakura still did not feel like she was ready for romance after a boy broke her heart a few years ago.
'How could anyone ever like a scatterbrain like you?'
She shook her head to dismiss the bitter memory as she approached her school's gate, but her daydream led her to bump into a colleague. Both fell to the ground and before she could look at him and properly apologize, the school bell rang.
"Hey Kinomoto, let me help you!" Luckily, her friend Eriol Hiiragizawa was passing by and helped her get back on her feet.
"Thanks, Hiiragizawa. And I am so sorry! Gotta run" She stood up and hurried before the groundkeeper closed the gate.
Eriol stayed and helped the boy with chestnut hair. "Sorry about that. I'm Eriol Hiiragizawa, student council member," He smiled and offered his hand to the boy.
The boy put himself together and shook Eriol's hand "Yeah, that's ok. Nice to meet you, I'm Syaoran Li".
"Aren't you the new transfer student from Hong Kong? I'm assigned to help you establish yourself" Eriol laughed at the coincidence.
"Yes. But I've studied in Tomoeda a few years ago, so I guess I'm good" Syaoran replied.
"Nonsense. Come with me" Eriol guided him to the closed gate and greeted the groundkeeper, "I'm sorry about this, mister Kim, I'm sure you'll understand better than anyone. Our dearest new student was thrown to the floor by our precious cherry blossom, right in his first day…" Mr. Kim smiled and opened the gates for them "What a shame to Tomoeda to welcome him like that. Oh why, thank you Mr. Kim." And Eriol guided Syaoran to class.
"I guess there are some perks in being a student council member," Syaoran said, looking around at the new place.
"Don't worry mister Li, I'll do my best to introduce you to the place and to some nice people. I promise I won't bother you much" Eriol said with a proud smile on his face.
Sakura burst into class before her teacher arrived and Tomoyo cheered as her friend sat beside her.
"Good morning Sakura!" Tomoyo greeted her with her usual sweet smile.
"Good morning Tomoyo," She replied between gulps of breath while putting her bag on the desk "I feel bad, I knocked someone to the ground while rushing to get in… Eriol rescued me, though."
Tomoyo laughed at her friend "Same old Sakura. Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm good. But hopefully, I've made no victims…" the teacher arrived and the girls stopped chatting.
"Good morning, class," their homeroom teacher said.
"Good morning teacher," the class responded in unison.
Tomoyo leaned over to Sakura while the teacher was presenting a new colleague "Sakura, Eriol told me that there is a new student coming from Hong Kong. Do you think that maybe…"?
"Sakura Kinomoto" said the teacher, surprising both girls, "Please stand up".
Sakura stood up suddenly and bumped into her desk, dropping her bag on the floor. The bag ripped and dropped all her belongings, so Sakura, who barely looked at the teacher, crouched to collect her stuff.
She was raising her eyes to Tomoyo "Tomoyo, could you please…" And when she saw Tomoyo's surprised expression she followed the friend's eyes to meet the face of Syaoran Li.
"Excuse me. I would rather not fall this time" He said coldly before helping her pick up her stuff. When they both stood up, their eyes met. Sakura's face flushed with embarrassment, her mouth opened partially in surprise and her eyes refused to leave his face. Syaoran avoided her eyes and went through, occupying the desk behind her.
Sakura dropped in her seat and looked at her hands. They were shaking. She closed her eyes and a younger Syaoran Li was glaring at her.
'How could anyone ever like a scatterbrain like you?'