Quick note: An Executive Committee fic, and meant to be multi-part. Although with school, no promises for quick updates. I hope what is here so far can be enjoyed though. Comments and criticism always welcome.
Warnings: EC/WA, Kubotoki, etc, is all owned by Minekura Kazuya. I am merely a sucking sponge, sans the square-pants.
Stay Here With
Part 1 - Across Platform C
The train platform was crowded that morning, like every morning at that time. There were the usual office workers on their way downtown. Some were standing silently, reading a book or readjusting a tie, while others checked their watches or make-up right before they would pack themselves on to the train. Students dressed in different uniforms stood in small groups holding their school bags over their shoulders, or swinging them by their handles. Some of the girls were exchanging glue sticks, applying it on their calves and then pulling their oversized socks up. Having lost his change in the vending machine, a male student started to kick the bottom of it until a subway officer chased him off to the opposite side of the platform.
Kubota stood off from the little groups waiting for the next train, smoking silently, his bag leaning against his leg. Normally he was never here this early. His first class was study hall and he decided early on that sleeping in bed was far better than in class so since April he had skipped it and the 8am rush for the train. He hadn't been to home room since the first day of the semester. But today an early meeting was called of the Executive Committee and so here he was, waiting with everyone else.
Normally he would skip the meetings, at least the ones before noon, especially since their secretary had a habit of prolonged minutes reading from past meetings, but the student council treasurer had come in the day before and stared them all down until each understood that they were all to be present the next morning at 8:30 sharp.
Normally none of the student council had any say over what Kubota was to do. He came and went as he pleased, leaving a slight smile, a wave, and a thin trail of smoke behind. He did rather like the EC itself. Their job of "enforcing" school rules made the time at Araiso a little more interesting than it would normally be. He smiled and tapped his ashes into a nearby trash can. Being in the EC gave him total freedom to walk whenever and wherever in the school, and people paid little attention if he ever fought anyone. Since of course, it was for the school's safety. Normally he didn't care either way though. Most fights at the school were minor, and even when he was a first year, his height over the other boys was great enough that they would stop brawling and step back when he came down the hall.
What got him up early this morning though was the way the student council treasurer had asked him to the meeting. There was no, "I know you have a class, but…" or "It would be nice if you and the EC were there", but simply a cold look and a "You better be there, Makoto." And that was it. Normally that wouldn't bother him either. It would be better if he did a lot of things, but he did what he wanted, whether it was smoke on campus, eat in class, or skip meetings. The fact that the treasurer was his former partner in the EC gave him pause though so when told that he'd "better be there", he simply chewed on his cigarette and nodded.
So here he was at 8:03, waiting for the 8:08 train. He took out his cigarette and stifled a yawn. Outside of the "you better be there", there was little for that day to be getting up for at all. He stretched out his arms a bit, forcing a few others waiting to step back. Maybe he would just skip out after the meeting. Maybe go to Kou's early to see if there was any work to do. At least that may be more interesting than the medieval poetry unit in Lit. class. Kubota scratched his head as he silently went over his options for alternatives to school that day when he caught the sound of raised voices. He turned his head and noticed as people began clearing the middle of the platform and in the space they left, he saw something he normally didn't see until he got to school. A fight was starting.
Four against one. He smiled bitterly. Good to see that guys from his school knew how to represent Araiso in style. The four all wore the school's uniform jacket, and he recognized them as a group that was normally active in the beating-up-freshmen club. Hell, charter members. He kept watching though. It was too early for him to look like a leery authority figure and EC's name meant little off school grounds.
The one the four were facing down was also wearing their school jacket, and looking at his small size, probably a first year. Kubota made a mental note to tell him that no one actually wore the cap-part of the uniform. It was just as good as a please-kick-my-ass sign stitched to your forehead.
The first-year took a step back and looked around, but the crowd had cleared and either stared or flatly ignored them. He turned back to the four and started to speak, his voice faltering under their combined glare.
"L-L-Look, I-I-I don't know what you guys want, but-but-but-"
That's it, kid. Show no fear. Kubota just shook his head.
One of the four took a step closer to the first year. Yutaka…is that his name? Kubota thought absently.
Yutaka-something took another step forward and the first year took a step back towards the tracks. "Didn't you know that today was pay-the-higher-years day?"
"I-I-I didn't hear any-anything like that." The first year took another step back. His foot was now at the yellow don't-cross line at the edge of the platform.
Funny, I didn't hear about this either. Kubota stubbed out his cigarette and kept watching. Two years earlier when someone had tried to "tax" him, he had broken their fingers. "Will this be a payment plan or a one-time only fee?" he had called out as the upper-classman had run off down the hall towards the nurse's office. He thought he was going to be suspended, but instead he got headhunted for Araiso's junior high version of the EC. "Try not to break so many at once," he was cautioned before being let loose again.
"Well, we're telling you now, aren't we?" Yutaka waved behind him and got a smiling approval from his squad. "Five bucks a pop, kid, and then you can go along and do whatever you little shits do."
"I-I-I can't pay that!" The first year held up his bag in front of him like a shield. "I-I-I don't have that much on me!"
"Well, why don't we check for you?" Yutaka grabbed the bag from the first year's hands and opened it up. "Maybe mommy packed you something that will save your ass." He began tearing though the bag, tossing out papers, books, a pencil case and finally pulled out a lunch box tied in a handkerchief. Yutaka sat the box down on the platform and began to untie it. "This is perfect. I skipped breakfast."
"Hey, that-that-that's," the first year stammered out, pointing at the lunchbox. Yutaka shot him a look and the first year bit his lip and looked down at his shoes.
Yutaka lifted the lid to the box and made a face. "Damn, your lunch sucks. Tell your mom to make some sushi tonight. I could go for some of that…hey, what the fuck?" Yutaka picked up a small sheet of paper that was folded in the box. "Good luck on your first day, Nobu…love Mom….oh, you gotta be shitting me." He crumpled up the note in his fist and tossed it at the first year. It hit him squarely on the chest, bounced off and then landed at his feet. The first year, Nobu, just stood there, staring at it.
"Oh, wait." A smile spread across Yutaka's face. "Give that back. I wanna write something to your mom. Tell her how much we appreciate this shitty lunch she made you. C'mon, dick-wad, be a good boy and pass it back."
Nobu just stood there, unmoving, staring at the platform floor.
Yutaka clicked his tongue and stood up. "Alright then. Maybe I'll just write it on your face." He grabbed Nobu's shirt and pulled him up. "What do you think, guys? Right or left eye?" The boys behind him just laughed. He turned back to Nobu who was looking up at him with an expression of total panic. "Yeah, maybe both would be best." He raised his fist and Nobu closed his eyes shut.
A loud crash was heard and everyone on the platform turned to see an overturned recycling bin. A figure stepped forward and walked though slowly as the cans began to roll out across the floor. He stopped one with his foot and crunched it beneath his shoe. Looking up, he glared at the small group in the middle of the platform and then in one move, kicked the crushed can through the air. Yutaka quickly ducked as the can sailed inches over his head.
"I have a message for you." The figure, a boy not much taller then Nobu, and also wearing their school jacket, walked forward slowly. Each can he came across he kicked towards them. "Let him go or-" One of the three was hit in the shoulder. "It's my foot-" One in the stomach. "In your ASS!" A third in the head. "Is that clear enough?" Yutaka ducked another one. "Or do I need to draw you a fucking PICTURE?"
"Who the fuck are you?" Yutaka dropped Nobu on the ground and faced the new student.
That's a good question. Kubota quietly moved through the silent crowd, closer to the group. Who is this kid, and did he wake up this morning wanting to die?
The boy, having reached the edge of the half circle that other group of four had formed, dropped his bag and raised his fists. "Just a friend of justice, you asshole. Now get the fuck away from him."
"Friend of Justice, huh?" Yutaka shook his head. Kubota followed suit. Who was this guy kidding? Did he know he wasn't in a Power Rangers episode?
"Looks like we have a fuckin' Sailor Moon here, guys." Yutaka sneered back at the kid. "Well, Moonie, you wanna help this dicklet out? Well, here!" With that said, he grabbed Nobu's bag from the ground and threw it on the tracks below. "Help him out, Moonie. We'll even step back, won't we? I wouldn't want to get in the way of the fuckin' "Friend of Justice" and all." Yutaka and the others all stepped away from the platform edge and smirked back at him. Nobu just stared at his bag now lying on the tracks. The kid who had kicked the cans walked up to the edge of the platform and looked down. The whole platform looked with him, and Kubota noticed now that the platform across the two sets of tracks was now watching them too. Everyone was silent, and Nobu made a quiet sniffing noise. The other kid looked up and faced the other direction, towards the tunnel. Another sound was heard, a low rumbling. Everyone turned to look at the tunnel and then to the tracks. It was 8:07, and the 8:08 train was coming.
The other kid didn't even hesitate. He just jumped the six or so feet down to the tracks, grabbed the bag and then turning, threw it back up towards Nobu who caught it. Yutaka at first gaped down at him but then quickly covered it up and reached down and taking the kid's own bag, tossed it further down the tracks. Everyone turned and watched it fall as if in slow motion and then land about ten feet from the kid. He looked at his bag and then down at his feet where the tracks were starting to vibrate, and then to the tunnel. He then slowly walked towards his bag and picked it up, and then turned to the platform. He faced Yutaka and with one arm, threw his bag back at him. Yutaka caught it, and he couldn't hide the surprised look that covered his face.
"You wanna do that again?" The kid asked coolly. The rumbling was getting louder. Yutaka and the other boys just stared back at him.
"I said you wanna try that again?" The kid crossed his arms. "Didn't your dad ever tell you how to play this game?" Everyone looked from the kid on the tracks to Yutaka holding his bag, and then to the rumbling tunnel. Kubota checked his watch. 8:08.
The rumbling seemed deafening. Or maybe it was the silence from everyone else. Kubota now found himself near the edge of the platform, and from there he could see the lights of the train coming. The kid didn't move though. He just stood on the tracks. He had space enough if he jumped back. There was a small stretch, about five feet, between the two tracks for the incoming and outgoing trains. Getting up on either platform though would be difficult, if not impossible. "The only way he'll make it," Kubota thought, "is if he stays in the middle." The kid stood firm on the tracks though and never took his eyes away from Yutaka.
"You wanna try that again?" the kid was shouting now over the noise. Yutaka just shook his head frantically, and throwing the bag on the platform floor, made a run for the stairs. Everyone's eyes followed, and turned for a second away from the train and the boy standing on the tracks. His bag fell open when it landed and with the rush of the train finally arriving right on time, the papers in it flew loose in the air and scattered across the ground.
-----
Kubota never turned away. When everyone's eyes followed Yutaka's first step out of the subway, He kept his eyes on the kid still standing on the tracks, and losing distance quickly between him and the train. He didn't move either though. This wasn't a kid who had a suicide wish. He could see that easily enough just as he saw the kid's muscles tighten and as the train was about to bear down, its horn deafening, he turned and leapt away, and landed on to the other tracks, free and clear.
-----
When everyone turned around, they saw the train slowing down to a halt, right where the boy had stood. They rushed forward when the doors opened, crowding the windows on the other side, straining to see anything. Kubota remained where he was. Something was off. The train had come to a halt, but for some reason the rumbling hadn't stopped. Kubota looked up and then at his watch. He looked up again and out towards the opposite tunnel and suddenly it hit him. He opened his mouth and yelled out.
"Move! The other train is coming!" A few people standing in the train turned and looked at him as the doors closed, but he was looking only at the other tunnel, and the 8:09 outgoing train that had just arrived.
-------
First the 8:08 pulled out, but Kubota never boarded it. He just stood on the platform and watched silently as the 8:09 finally pulled away. His eyes fell upon the now clear set of tracks and then slowly rose up to the opposite platform where the 8:09's departing passengers were slowly milling up the stairs. His eyes rested on one figure though who sat by the platform's edge, breathing heavily. Then slowly the figure stood up and faced across to the almost empty platform, except for Kubota, Nobu, and the three Yutaka had left. The three boys took one look at the kid now staring them down across the tracks and turned and ran back up the stairs. The kid's eyes went from the retreating figures on the stairs to Nobu who remained motionless, clutching his bag, and then finally rested on Kubota. Their eyes met, and the kid's widened a little. Kubota just looked back at him silently, but he could feel a small smile growing on his face. The other boy's expression quickly turned into a scowl and he opened his mouth to say something but was quickly cut off.
"What the HELL do you think you were doing?" The kid turned to find his arm roughly grabbed by a subway officer. "You think you can just pull a stunt like that and walk away?"
"What the- hey, leggo!" The kid pulled his arm back but the officer's grip seemed strong and he started pulling the boy towards the office in the back.
"First we're calling the cops," the officer snarled, "THEN, your parents!" And with that said, he pulled the boy into the office and slammed the door shut. In the quiet that the trains' departure left them in, Kubota could still hear the officer yelling through the door even from where he was standing.
He slowly walked to the center of the platform, bent down and began picking up the stray sheets of paper that had fallen out of the boy's bag. Holding one up, he squinted at the writing before putting it back in. Refastening the bag, he stood up. As he walked past Nobu who still stood motionless on the platform, he patted his shoulder gently and Nobu looked up at him, his expression was a mix of shock and fear.
"Don't worry about him. It'll work out okay. Just…stay away from those guys." Kubota nodded towards the stairs where Yutaka and the others had fled, "…and this." He tapped the cap that Nobu was wearing. "Don't wear this." Nobu only nodded and Kubota looked at his watch. "The next train is in seven minutes. Get on that and you shouldn't be too late." With that, he waved and headed towards the stairs and to the opposite platform with both his bag and the other boy's in his hands.
"I think you've forgotten something…Tokitoh Minoru."
-------
Tokitoh could never explain why he did anything. He just did things because they felt right. If asked later, he could never give a reason. He did know why he had challenged those assholes on the platform though. He hated that shit; big guys picking on kids just because they're all big and dumb and have whatever fucking disease that makes them such dicks to everyone else. Jumping in that was nothing. It would have been weird if he didn't. He could never just sit back, which is why he always seemed to be in offices like this. He grimaced and ran his hand through his hair. The officer was now on the phone with "the cops" or something. Isn't he a cop though? He wondered to himself. What the hell is with the uniform if you're not a cop? He puffed out his cheeks and breathed out slowly. God, he was so fucked.
The officer had turned away for a moment, and Tokitoh, in that second first wiped his damp hands on his pants and then quickly looked down at his groin area. Checking quickly to make sure there were no tell-tale spots, he sighed and sat back. He felt sweaty all over, and he thought for sure he was going to piss his pants down on the tracks. He rolled his eyes. If anyone asks him how he stood for so long with the train coming, he'll just say, "Oh, it's fucking easy. Just be scared shitless and trust me, you won't move at all."
The first one was bad enough. The second one though…He thought he was going to lose a lot more than his bladder when he finally saw that one. He shook his head. At that moment, when he had jumped, the noise had all become one big loud rumble. Even as the train was slowing down before him, the one loud noise was there, all around him, shaking everything, shaking him. He just kept staring at the train in front of him, and the blurred faces in the windows that all seemed to be looking down, down at him, and all he could do was look back and shake.
If that guy hadn't yelled out…he didn't know why he heard it either, over the one rumble and over his own heart, but as the train came to a halt and before the rumble took over everything, he heard it, the warning about the other train. He turned and saw it, and it seemed almost like it was right above him. He could have moved left and stood on the small space between the tracks, but that hadn't occurred to him at that time. All he could think of was, "Get out of there, dumbass!" and he just turned and jumped.
He told that to the officer and the man just gave him this "Pull the other one, kid" look. But he did jump and pull himself out somehow. Those waiting for the train saw him do it, and fell back as he threw himself over the platform's edge. He couldn't explain it though, just as he couldn't really explain why he jumped down there in the first place. He just did things and things happened and that's how he got to places, like the office he was in now.
"Tokitoh, is it?" The officer glared at him from the desk and picked up the phone again. "Now give me your parents' number."
Tokitoh sunk into his seat. Surviving two trains seemed to have made him a little light headed. He rubbed his forehead. "Can I have some water?"
"No. You sit there and tell me NOW your home number and THEN I will call your parents." The officer had stood up started to walk around the desk. "And THEN they will come down here and pick you up like this-" He grabbed Tokitoh's collar and lifted him up out of the seat, "and hopefully SHAKE some sense into your little punk brain that you don't pull anything like this AGAIN."
Tokitoh lifted his hand up and wiped his face. "Geez, just 'cause a guy asks for water doesn't mean ya gotta spit all over- erk." The grip on his collar tightened and Tokitoh bit his lip.
"Listen, here now." The officer's voice went down to a notch that Tokitoh didn't really like. "I am sick and tired of snot-nosed kids like you coming in here and pulling shit like this. Maybe if the others hear that one of their friends got beat at his own little game, maybe that would be best for-"
Best for what, the officer never finished because right then the door to the office was opened, and another boy fell in.
"Oops, I'm sorry. Should I have knocked first?" The officer, with Tokitoh still by the collar, stared at the tall, gangly boy that leaned on the now open door.
"What the hell do you want?" the officer barked out.
"Oh, I thought I lost something, but now I found it." The taller boy walked into the office, took a hold of Tokitoh's collar and gently pulled it out of the officer's grip. The officer didn't yield at first, but then finally released it. Tokitoh just fell back into the chair, his hand went up to his throat and he looked back defiantly at the officer.
The officer just scowled back and headed towards his chair. "You know this punk?"
The taller boy just nodded and smiled. "I'm sorry for any inconvenience. Minoru-chan here tends to get a little over-excited sometimes."
"Over-excited?" The officer gave him a cross-eyed look.
"Minoru-ch-" Tokitoh started to get up but the taller boy laced his arm around his shoulders and sat him down again, his hand gently patting Tokitoh's mouth shut.
"First day-jitters and all, Officer. I'm sure you understand."
"No, frankly, I don't." The officer sat back. "What the hell does "first-day jitters" have to do with a kid jumping on the tracks? Can you tell me that, smart guy?"
"Well, Officer, Minoru-chan here is new to Yokohama. Just got in from Tokyo, and you know those Tokyo-kids. Life's just crazy there right now."
The taller boy seemed to be pretty relaxed because he sat right down in the chair next to Tokitoh, but still had his arm around his shoulders. Tokitoh just stared at him now. What the hell was this guy saying, and how did he know all this about him. The officer seemed to by buying it though, so he just kept his mouth shut.
The taller boy's tone was still nonchalant, but it grew slightly more serious as he continued. "It's actually gotten so crazy these days, crowded I mean, that they're actually having people wait for the trains ON the tracks now."
"You can't be serious. I haven't heard that." The officer shot him a skeptical look.
"It's true. Right, Minoru-chan?" The taller boy looked down at him, and Tokitoh felt a gentle squeeze on his shoulder. He slowly turned to the officer and nodded.
"Yeah. It's really bad there right now." He tried to make his voice sound small, like the very size of Tokyo scared him, but it came out more squeaky then anything. There was another gentle squeeze on the shoulder and he looked back up. The taller boy just smiled at him.
"Huh…I haven't heard anything like that." The officer just tapped his chin. "On the tracks, you say?"
"The thing is," the taller boy continued. "They don't really want anyone to know. It's bad for tourists if they heard that they might have to wait on the tracks and risk an accident happening."
"…yeah, I can see those idiots in Tokyo thinking of a plan like that…" The officer was nodding slowly.
"And Minoru-chan here just thought Yokohama was the same, but now we know, don't we?" The taller boy patted his head. "No more waiting on the tracks to catch the train."
"Hmph." The officer swung back and forth in his chair for a few moments thinking and then looked back at Tokitoh. "Now, you listen to your..." The officer gave the taller boy a questioning look.
"Friend." The boy answered. Tokitoh looked at him again and then back at the officer who had an expectant look. He nodded slowly.
"You listen to your friend here, and stay out of trouble. Whatever shit you pulled in Tokyo, you can't pull here, got it?" The officer jabbed a finger towards him.
"Got it." Tokitoh nodded again. "Wait on platform. Not tracks."
"Good….Now get out of my sight." The officer waved them off. But right as Tokitoh reached for the door though, the officer spoke up again.
"Next time, if there are any more stunts like that, you'll be in so deep, your "friend" here won't be able to pull you out of it. No matter what kind of story he tells." Tokitoh swallowed and looked down, but he then felt a gentle pressure on his shoulder as the taller boy reached ahead with his other hand and opened the door.
"Go on," he heard a low voice near his ear. He looked up at him, but then stepped out of the office. The taller boy followed but on the way out turned his head and said.
"Hopefully next time there won't be any more stunts like this because the officer on duty will be doing his job as opposed to sitting and watching from his office as kids bully other kids. Or maybe he just likes to bully kids himself." The officer's eyes widened, but the taller boy then closed the door to the office and they were then both free.
"Whoosh." Tokitoh sighed in relief. "I can't believe he let us go like that."
The taller boy walked towards the stairs. "I'll share that feeling once we get out of here."
Tokitoh stared at him and then at the platform. "What? We're not taking the train to school?"
The taller boy turned from the stairs. "Call my crazy, but right now, I think I reached my train-limit for today. There's a bus to campus too. If we run, we can make it."
Tokitoh just grinned and ran passed him up the stairs. "Well, c'mon!"
The taller boy just smiled and followed. "Hai, hai."
--------
The bus, with all its stops, took much longer than then train, and they arrived at Araiso High School near the end of first period. Along the way, the taller boy pointed out different places and landmarks to him.
"That's where you can get good ramen at lunch time." He said as he pointed to a little stand near the front of the school. "If he likes you, you'll get a free egg in your soup."
"Oh," Tokitoh just listened to him, eyes following each time the other boy pointed something out.
"And here's the school." The taller boy yanked on the cord, ringing the bell for the bus to stop, and it dropped them off right in front of the gate. As the bus pulled away, they were left to stand on the sidewalk, staring at the gate, noticing that, in fact, it was very closed.
"Ah, too late." The taller boy's voice sounded not-at-all regretful. "Guess no school for today."
"I'm not going home after all that shit we went through." Tokitoh threw his bag over the gate and then reached for the top bar. "You gonna need a hand up?"
The taller boy just looked down at him for a moment, and then followed by throwing his bag over the gate and then reaching for the top bar. "On your word."
Tokitoh grinned. "Alright. One, two, THREE!" And with a grunt, each pulled themselves up and then over the gate, finally jumping down to the ground on the other side.
Tokitoh looked around at the campus, which even from the entrance looked pretty up-scale. "So this is Araiso, huh? Looks kind of stuck-up."
"Parts are." The taller boy picked up his bag and handed the other to Tokitoh. "Some parts-"
"Oi! Kubota! You are in deep shit!"
"-aren't." The taller boy finished his statement as a group of boys ran towards them.
The oldest looking in the group reached them first. He gave Tokitoh a quick look but then focused back on the other boy. "Man, I don't wanna be you when you see Matsumoto. I thought his head was going to explode when it was passed 8:30 and everyone was there BUT you. Damn."
The taller boy waved him off. "I'll deal with it. Don't worry."
They started to walk towards the main building. Tokitoh looked back and forth between them. "Are we in trouble for being late?"
The taller boy shook his head. "You aren't in trouble so no worries. I think you just have to go to the main office first and then they'll give you your schedule."
They all stopped at the first office inside. The taller boy waved the others off. "I'll catch up with you in minute," he called. He then turned to Tokitoh. "Here's where you go." He pointed at the front glass doors that had "Administrative Office" in black letters written across.
"Oh…thanks…" Tokitoh put down his bag and began digging for his forms.
The taller boy watched him for a moment. "Well, I'm off this way." And with that, he turned and started down the hall.
Tokitoh looked up to see him walking away. He opened his mouth to say something, then stopped, then opened it again.
"…I'm Sorry."
"Hm?" The taller boy turned.
"Sorry…for making you late…and all." Tokitoh gave him a sheepish look.
"Ah, no worries. I always come in at this time." The other boy just smiled.
"Ah." Was all Tokitoh could say. The taller boy waved again and started down the hall.
"Uh…" Tokitoh started again. The other boy turned back. "…Thanks."
The other boy just shrugged. "That was definitely a different way to start the day."
Tokitoh smiled and scratched his head. His face felt a little warm, and he felt even denser then usual, but he didn't know why. He started again. "You know this somehow, but my name's Tokitoh. Tokitoh Minoru."
The other boy turned fully to face him. "Yeah, I saw it when I was picking up your bag, but always good to hear it from the source. Makes one sure how to pronounce things."
Tokitoh felt stupid for doing so for some reason, but he laughed anyways. "I don't think I ever let anyone call me Minoru-chan before."
"You want me to?"
Tokitoh looked back at him still laughing, but then noticed the other boy was completely serious. He then straightened up. "No. Tokitoh is fine."
"Good to know." The other boy turned and started back down the hall. "I'm Kubota. Kubota Makoto."
Tokitoh called back. "Hey, to be even, this means I can call you Makoto-chan now."
Kubota turned his head and looked back at him. "You can call me whatever you like."
Tokitoh's face fell for a second realizing that again, the other boy, even though smiling, was completely serious. Kubota gave him a final wave and then disappeared around the corner. Tokitoh just looked now at the empty hall, and then grabbed his bag. He stood there with his hand on the door for a second, thinking.
"That is a weird, weird guy."
He couldn't help but take one more look down the hall where Kubota had been, and then finally he pushed open the doors to the office. His first day at Araiso Private High School had begun.
….
To be continued ^^