Hi guys. Here's a new Toradora story I came up with. It's set in the beginning of Ryuuji's high school days - and therefore, it takes place before Taiga enters his life. Hope you like. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Toradora.

I made my way desolately through the school grounds, head hung, shoulders sagged, eyes concealed in darkness.

No one was at my side. I was all on my own - as usual.

I stole a quick glance to observe all the students filling the area. There were thousands of people around my age to be seen - yet every single one of them was giving me a wide berth. They were making sure to keep their distance. Hardly any of them were able to conceal their fear of me.

It's been like this ever since I started high school last month. Not a single student, new or old, has wanted to get to know me. Every kid I'd encountered here had taken one look at me - and decided they didn't want to become my friend.

The truth is, they were all scared of me.

It was all to do with my appearance.

I've always had an intimidating-looking face; the kind that would lead to believe I was a troublesome delinquent. That's what everyone around here thought I was. Just from the sight of me, all the kids assumed I was a violent thug who was always up to no good and would think nothing of hurting others.

Just by the look of my face, everyone assumed they knew all there was to know about me.

None would take the time to get to know the real me. All were too terrified of me to become aquatinted. Were they to take the time to find out what I'm really like, they would learn that behind this scary-looking face, I was as far away from a thug as a guy could be.

I was truthfully a quiet, gentle person with a love for housework, especially cleaning and cooking.

No way was I a little bit violent or dangerous - but everyone in the school thought I was, even the teachers. The sight of my face was enough to make them believe the worst in me - and that's drove them all to steer clear of me.

That's how it's been ever since my high school life began and it was showing no signs of changing.

I was wondering to myself if I was doom to spend my whole school life alone and friendless - when I suddenly heard something nearby that made me stop dead in my track.

It was somebody crying in terror.

"Go away! Please! Just leave me alone!"

Turning around, I quickly discovered that the frightened cries were not directed at me. I spotted two young boy standing over by a tree. Although their backs to me, I could hear sly laughter coming from the pair of them. Their nasty snickering was joined by fearful sobs from someone they were concealing from my view.

"First, we're gonna beat you up!" one of the boys cackled.

"Then we're gonna take your lunch money!" his friend added threateningly.

"Please! I didn't do anything to you! Just leave me alone!"

I didn't recognise the voice who the boys were intimidating, but hearing how frightened they were made something inside me snap. There could be no mistake what I was observing from where I stood; the universally evil act of bullying.

I hated bullies with a passion.

There was no way I was going to stand by and let these two punks terrorize this innocent person.

With a fierce glare, I made my way towards where the two boys had this person trapped at the foot of the tree. They didn't hear me coming up behind them, my hands clenching into fists.

"I'll give you my lunch money!" Their victim was desperately begging them now. "Just please don't hurt me!"

The bullies only shared an oily laugh, They clearly had no intentions of leaving this frightened person unharmed. They reached out menacingly, one preparing to steal their victim's lunch money while the other getting ready to mercilessly hurt them.

That was when I stood right behind these guys, dropping my hands heavily onto their shoulders, making them instantly stopped what they were doing.

"What do you little punks think your doing?"

Both bullies tensed up. I could feel fear creeping inside them over the sound of my voice. They slowly turned their heads away from their victim, sending their stunned gazes up towards me - before their stupid faces flashed with fear at the sight of me.

"It's him!" one bully squeaked, not sounding so threatening anymore.

"It's the big scary thug!" the other cried, sounding as equally as pathetic.

I glared aggressively at these two boys, enjoying watching their faces grow white with fear. For once, I was glad of my intimidating-looking face. If it could protect someone from being needlessly bullied, then so be it.

"Are you guys gonna leave this person alone?" I demanded, making my tone sound as foreboding as I could. "Or do I need to teach you two a lesson - with my fists?"

That was enough for the two boys. They scampered away as quickly as they could. It was clear from how much I scared them that they were eager to get away from me. No longer were these two cowards going to carry out their threats on their victim.

Letting out a sigh of content, I started to turn towards the person who I was left alone with. I expected them to be just as afraid of me and not hang around - but at least I had stopped the bullies from provoking them.

"Are you al-" I began - before stopping upon seeing for the first time who it was I had been protecting.

No wonder I didn't recognise this person's voice when they had been crying out; this was someone I had never met before. Granted, I had not managed to make any friends at this school - but this was clearly someone I had never caused to unintentionally cower at the sight of them.

It was a girl. She appeared to be around my age. From where she was sitting at the foot of the tree, she was gazing towards me. Her eyes observed me in wonder, matching the shade of magenta her shoulder-length hair was. She was making no effort to run away from me in terror. There was no signs of fear in her face as she looked upon me for the first time.

In fact, after a moment, this girl did something which no one in this school - student or teacher - had ever done before.

She smiled at me.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, her voice now filled with brightness in contrast to how scared she sounded a minute ago. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You really saved me from those bullies!"

I stared towards this girl in disbelief. She was smiling at me and thanking me? I had thought for sure she would run away from me, not wanting anything to do with me.

"May I ask, kind sir, for the name of the hero who came to my rescue?"

"Uh..." I stammered, astounded that someone at this school actually wanted to know my name for once. "Ryuuji... Ryuuji Takasu."

"Nice to meet you, Ryuuji Takasu!" The girl lifted herself to her feet, still gazing at me with the same bright smile. "I'm Minori Kushieda!"

The change in this girl's mood was like day and night. Just a minute ago, she had been crying and pleading to her tormentors until I had come to her aid. Maybe without anybody provoking her, this bubbly attitude she was talking to me with was her true personality.

"You were so badass there!" she continued jubilantly. "Those guys really didn't wanna mess with you! You really scared them off!"

"You're not scared of me either?" I asked.

"Me?! Scared of you?! No way!" Kushieda shook her head. "Why would I be scared of the knight in shining armour who rescued me when I was in distress?"

A warm feeling spread through my heart. Never had anyone that wasn't my mother said anything so positive about me before. Kushieda had only just met me - but unlike everyone else in the school, she was perfectly willing to get to know the true me underneath my threatening face.

"What were those guys deal with you?" I asked. "Why were they picking on you?"

"I dunno. I've often had others treat me rotten." Kushieda looked away. "I guess it's because people think I'm an airhead..."

I blinked, bewildered at what this girl had said other people think of her. Why would they believe she's an airhead.

Kushieda turned back to me and suddenly grabbed my hand, taking me by surprise at the sudden contact.

"Ryuuji Takasu, I wish you be your friend!"

"You-" I gasped, astounded at what I was hearing for the first time from one of my schoolmates - and unsure whether to believe it. "You do?!"

Kushieda nodded, her magenta eyes now sparkling as she continued to smile up at me.

"I've only been here at the school for a week. I haven't managed to make a single friend because I'm so weird..."

I furrowed my eyebrows at her words. No wonder I hadn't seen her in the crowds I had scared off if she hadn't been at the school as long as I had. I was shocked to hear she hadn't made any friends in the time she'd been here. For sure, someone like her had more chance of making friends here than I did. She seemed a nice, cheerful girl, even if a bit of a louder talker...

"I'm normally okay with keeping people at arm's length. It's something I've done for a long time... But..." I felt Kushieda squeezing my hand. "I am eternally in your depth, Takasu! I wish to stay by your side after you saved me!"

I smiled down at the redhead. The warm feeling inside me grew stronger at her words. I was so grateful for her taking the time to get to know the real me. There was no way I could turn the first person who wanted to be my friend.

"Alright!" I nodded. "We can be friends, Kushieda!"

The smile on Kushieda's face disappeared. Her eyes went wide as she gaped up at me, now in just as much disbelief as I had just been.

For a moment, she just stood there, her lips trembling as she struggled to get out what she had to say.

Then she suddenly cried out loudly and made me jump with fright, beginning to wildly dance around me in delight.

"YAY! MY FIRST FRIEND, MY FIRST FRIEND! I MADE MY FIRST FRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL! THANK YOU, TAKASU! WE ARE GONNA BE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS!"

My eyelid twitched. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect anyone to react to the idea of being friends with me like this. I just stood there in my bemusement as I watched Kushieda dancing and cheering and doing cartwheels.

I was beginning to wonder if perhaps she was truly an airhead after all.

Just that, the bell rang for first period of the day. Everyone began to make their way towards the school building. All of the students continued to keep a big distance from me...

...except for the one who was willing staying right by my side.

As I gazed down at the cheerful red-haired girl who was walking alongside me, I felt the warm feeling inside me continue to burn. I smiled happily over making my first friend. I was glad I had used my scary face to good use to protect her from the true thugs in this school.

I could tell, at that very moment, that Minori Kushieda was special. She had to be if she was prepared to look past my scary face and get to know the real me. I decided in that minute would always protect her - and do my best to be a good friend.

Nothing or anybody could come between us.

Thanks for reading. I hope this was okay.

See you next time. :)