Chapter 3 – The First Allies

It took some time to get all the stuff I needed. We had to go to the teacher's office and get it from my new teacher. And that experience was…well…

*A FEW MINUTES AGO…*

"Geez. Tsu really knows how to push my buttons."

"How are the two of you best friends if Tsu constantly teases you and makes you angry?" I asked.

"*sigh* I've gotten used to it, oddly enough. And besides, she's never serious about the stuff she teases me about. I'm just…well…easily triggered."

"I see."

I kinda get it. Rukia is a bit of a hothead.

"But enough about that. Right now we're getting your schedule and stuff. It's in the teacher's office."

"Why is it there?"

"Duh. Your homeroom teacher kept it. You gotta go meet her and all."

"Wh-What?! Y-You mean today?! NOW?! I-I-I don't think I can! I-I'm not ready!"

"Geez, calm down." Rukia said as she was rubbing her ear from me yelling in it. "The teacher knows about your situation. So, she's gonna try to help you a little."

"A-A little?"

"Well, if she gave you a lot of help, people will start rumors about you, right?"

"R-Right." I said with a sigh. "W-Well…f-fine. I'll go."

"If you're that worried about it, then I'll go with you. But don't get used to me helping you out all the time. Eventually, you need to start fending for yourself."

"*sigh* Yeah. I know."

I say that. But can I really do such a thing? Knowing myself before AND after what happened, I've always been dependent on people. It isn't something I could just…get rid of.

…

Much like…those memories.

We soon entered the teacher's office and it was nearly empty. Kinda made sense since it was minutes before homeroom. But even then, I was still afraid to meet face-to-face with my new teacher so soon.

"Man, did we already miss her?" Rukia asked.

"H-Hey, can we go? I-I'm still nervous about this."

"Come on. She's willing to help you out. So, you might as well accept it."

"Tr-True…"

"*sigh* Another failed attempt. Someday, though, I'll paint that wonderful body of hers."

"H-Huh?" We both turned around to see a woman with black hair (part of it tied up with a scrunchie) and wearing an apron. And she looked defeated, too.

Wh-What did she mean by "paint that wonderful body"?

"Oh. There you are, Azuma-sensei." Rukia said.

"Azuma-sensei?" I asked.

"Oh, Yamabuki-san. Great timing. I was just about to go look for you."

"Ohhohoho. Well, being on time is one of the requirements of being a lady."

"I'm pretty sure it isn't…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"Oh? So, is this her?" The teacher asked.

"Yep. This is my cousin." Rukia turned to me. "This is Azuma-sensei. The school's art teacher and your homeroom teacher."

"H-Hi." I said nervously.

"So, you're Kyouko Toshinio. Your cousin's already told me about your past. I'm deeply sorry that you had to go through all of that."

"Y-Yeah. I-I am, too. I-It was…a-a really bad experience."

"I see. Well, don't worry. Kohatsu is a nice and calm school. I'm sure you'll have a better experience here."

"Come see Azuma-sensei if you have any problems with your schoolwork and such." Rukia said to me. "She's the only teacher that knows. So, she's really here to help you."

"O-Okay."

So, she's the only teacher, huh? That also means that she's the only person besides Rukia and Tsu that knows of what my past was like. It's gonna take a while, but I'll have to learn to trust Azuma-sensei.

"Alright. Good luck. I'm off."

"Okay…w-wait, what?! What do you mean?!"

"Kyouko, I can't be with you all the time. Of course, we have different classes. And besides, you need this in order to gain your confidence back. Don't you want that?"

"W-Well, yeah. But…"

"And like I said. You have Azuma-sensei. Go to her if you need any help, alright?"

"Don't worry, Toshinio-san. I'm truly here to help. You can count on me for any problem you have." Azuma-sensei added.

"W-Well…*sigh* F-Fine. I get it. I-I'll at least…try this out."

"Good." Rukia said with a smile. "I'll come to check up on you during lunch. Try to have a good day, for now."

"Yeah. I will." I said with another sigh as I watched my cousin leave the teacher's office and head for her class.

"Now then, Toshinio-san. I'll show you to your class. Just follow me and you won't get lost, alright?"

"Y-Y-Yes…S-Sensei." I replied nervously.

*PRESENT TIME*

So, that's what happened. And now, I'm walking with my new teacher to my new classroom where I'm about to meet my new classmates. The thought of all of this "new" stuff is starting to get to me. I think I might have a panic attack…wait a second…

Oh, right. I still have those, right?

I took the anxiety pills from my jacket pocket and proceeded to take one of them as instructed.

"You're on medication, Toshinio-san?" Azuma-sensei asked me.

"Uh…y-yeah. Rukia told me to take these 3 times a day. I-I, uh…just remembered that I had them."

"I see. Well, do keep them hidden from the other students and teachers. They might get the wrong idea."

"O-Okay." I said nervously.

After about a minute or so of walking, we arrived at a set of classroom doors with a sign above it that read "Class 1-A". I figured that this was my class. And even after taking the anxiety pills, I still felt my nerves pilling up.

"Well, here we are. Are you ready?"

"M-Mentally, no. But I've already came this far. So, there's no point in backing out now."

"I see. You're slowly becoming the brave girl, Toshinio-san."

"Th-Thank you…S-Sensei."

Brave, huh? That's…something I could get used to. Granted, it will take a while.

Azuma-sensei opened the door and the chatter that once filled the room went dead silent as I followed her inside. I could just feel the multiple pairs of eyes staring me down like I was some kind of freak.

…

Well…I do have bleached blonde hair and orange stained eyes. That isn't exactly a normal thing to have. Even for Japan standards.

"Alright, everyone. Settle down." Azuma-sensei said. "Before we begin, I would like to introduce a new transfer student starting today. Her name is Kyouko Toshinio."

"H-Hello." I said with a nervous tone and a short wave.

"A transfer student?"

"Wasn't there supposed to be one 2 months ago?"

"So, she finally shows up, huh?"

"Now now, everyone." Azuma-sensei continued. "Yes, it's true that she was supposed to start earlier. But some private issues delayed it a bit. Nonetheless, I hope you all treat Toshinio-san with the same respect as you would to your peers. Understand?"

"Yes, Sensei." The whole class said.

"Now, Toshinio-san. You can sit…Ah. That last seat in the back of the third row should be fine."

"O-Okay, then." I said as I made my way to the picked out seat. Once I sat down, the endless amount of stares soon faded away. Along with my anxiety.

"Now then. There's still a fair amount of time before homeroom ends. I'll let you all use this time to chat amongst your friends and whatnot. Just keep the volume at a minimum."

As everyone began doing their own thing, whether talking to their friends or catching up on schoolwork, I sat at my desk drifting in and out of my thoughts while trying to act as calm as possible.

S-So, here I am. S-Sitting inside a classroom, with other students, after 5 months of isolation. I'm…I'm surprisingly doing a good job so far. Probably because no one is talking to me. If I can keep this up, then maybe I can…

"Hello."

"Gah!" I lightly shrieked as I finally noticed a girl with averagely long pink hair standing over me.

"I-I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to startle you!"

"N-No, it's fine. I-I was just…zoned out a little."

"O-Oh. I see. Well…I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Chinatsu Yoshikawa. The Class Representative. If you need any help on something, please don't hesitate on asking me."

"O-Oh, wow. Th-Thank you, uh…Yoshikawa-san. But is that really okay?"

"I really don't mind. I sit next to you anyway. So, I would've offered. Class Rep title or not."

"I-I see."

"And, um…I'm really sorry for scaring you earlier. I kinda rushed myself into this conversation. I-It's a habit."

"N-No, it's fine. I was spaced out on the first day. I have…some fault into this, too."

"So, in the end, we both caused this semi-awkward meeting, huh?"

"Y-Yeah. I guess we did." I said while rubbing the back of my head.

*INSERT CLASSIC JAPANESE SCHOOL BELL CHIME HERE*

"Well…it's 1st period now. What's your first class?"

"Um…" I got my schedule out from my schoolbag and gave it a quick glance. "…it's English."

"Oh, wow. That's my class, too."

"R-Really?"

"Sure is. I'll even help you there, too."

"W-Wow. Th-Thank you, Yoshikawa-san. I-I…I-I honestly never thought this would happen so soon. N-Not being alone, I mean."

"I see. You really have been through a lot, huh?"

"Wh-What?"

"N-Nothing!" Yoshikawa-san waved her hands in a panic. "C-Come on. I'll show you to the classroom."

"Um…o-okay." Was all I said as I followed Yoshikawa-san out of the classroom and to our first class together.

But as we made our walk, one thing was in my mind. Along with all the dark memories of my past, this one was more like…a concern.

I-I'm not sure…but I'm kinda certain. She asked if I really have been through a lot, didn't she? Was that a lucky guess?

…

O-Or does Yoshikawa-san…a-actually know what happened to me?

I-I wonder…

Author's Note: Meeting Azuma and then Chinatsu. Kyouko's already having people she can rely on. But with the latter, she's already having suspicions.

As I said, this is an alternate universe where Kyouko doesn't know ANY of the other characters. Case in point, who she meets in the next chapter. It's one of the reasons as to how I came up with this story. So, I'm hoping this works out.

The 3-Chapter introduction is done. If you like the story so far, feel free to favorite, follow, or simply leave a review. I would really appreciate some feedback.

Thanks for reading. Later.