Memories of Another Day : Chapter 1 : The School
"Kuroudo Marume!"
Kuroudo turned around upon hearing his name said by a voice he couldn't place. Two brunettes who had just entered the school gates were looking right at him, one of them waving. He slowed down to a stop, allowing them to catch up, while he wondered who they were and how they knew him. He certainly didn't know them.
He raised an eyebrow at one of them as a greeting and it was answered by a curt nod. The person's companion seemed a bit too over-enthusiastic, although he couldn't get one word out past his widely grinning lips. Kuroudo returned it with a small smile of his own and figured it would be better for the two to introduce themselves before he asked any questions. It was relief that one of them understood what was on the half-French's mind at that instant.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name's Mitsuke Ohmori and this is my friend, Kesuya Shichigawa," the one with a lighter tone of brown hair said, extending his hand for a shake. No bows, no formalities. Kuroudo took the offered hand and shook it. He then shook Kesuya's. Following Mitsuke's lead, Kuroudo walked next to him towards the school building with the darker brunette slightly behind him. "We're in the same grade," Mitsuke announced upon reaching the doors. Kuroudo took the opportunity to ask what he had been wanting to ask since they had called out to him. It was rather rude but....
"Do you know me?" Wrong question. Wasn't it yet obvious that they knew him? Kuroudo had been aiming for 'How come you know me?' but 'Do you know me?' popped out of him instead. It was fortunate that both Mitsuke and Kesuya didn't seem to have taken any offense. The former opened his bag and took out a notebook, flipped through it, marked a page, and handed it to the blonde. Kuroudo took it curiously and found a printout of his gearfighting record along with a picture of himself. "But you were far from me, by the gates, how did you know it was me?"
"The image is in black-and-white but they said you had blonde hair. You weren't too hard to pick out. Most students here have either black or brown hair --- in varying shades," Mitsuke explained. Kuroudo only shook his head, closed the notebook, and returned it to him.
"But how did you know I would be coming here? I just arrived yesterday, the GFA wouldn't have heard of it already," Kuroudo reasoned out. "And besides," he added in a casual voice as he looked up and down the hall for the lockers, "my leaving France wouldn't have been much of a news. I'm not that yet well-known enough to be kept tabs on."
"You know that's not true. You and your Shooting---" Mitsuke began but was cut off by Kesuya.
"Avril's a distant cousin of mine," the brunette spoke up suddenly, almost making Kuroudo jump. He had nearly forgotten that he was there. "You do know Avril, don't you? She said she knows the best rookie player Kuro---"
"Yeah, I know her," Kuroudo assured him, "but what do you mean by 'best rookie player'? I certainly haven't heard that one before."
"Oh, the GFA website is not our only source," Mitsuke replied off-handedly as he returned his notebook to his bag. "There are a lot of other unofficial sites out there, those that focus on one place alone, you know? In English too so that most people would understand. They've dubbed you the 'best rookie player' of France since you're so new to gearfighting but have a really impressive record. GFA only considers your official wins, which is a remarkable six out of six battles, but we've got a rough estimate of your total wins which include your unofficial fights --- 23 with zero looses, right?"
"27," Kuroudo answered automatically, the number of fights he had participated in yet always on his mind, but he was frowning. "What site is this? I can't imagine how they've kept such a good track of me when I---"
"Vichie," Kesuya said and the name made Kuroudo immediately look at him. "Vichie owns and manages the site along with a few other friends of his. A whole account of your first ever gearfight is there, and summaries of the ones after that. Avril and your other friends have been helping him, they've seen most of your fights. The news on you coming to here was up yesterday morning. I've never seen Vichie so pissed. He hasn't beaten you yet, you know?"
Kuroudo nodded his head absent-mindedly. He never knew these things although perhaps that was because he didn't have a computer then. Avril had one and it was very unlikely Vichie didn't. He vaguely remembered Avril mentioning something about a Japanese cousin when he told her he was half-Japanese. Was that Kesuya then?
The bell rang. Mitsuke borrowed his class card, took a glance at it, and told him the three of them were in the same homeroom class before returning it. He trailed after the two, aware of the many heads that turned his way as they walked down the hall. Mitsuke was right, most of the students had either brown or black hair, with matching dark-coloured eyes. He definitely stood out.
Mitsuke and Kesuya stopped in front of a door and entered as the second bell rang. He was about to do so too when a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. His homeroom teacher stood behind him, smiling.
"Marume Kuroudo?" she asked, but hurried on before Kuroudo even opened his mouth to form a reply, "Of course, of course. You'll be the only new student in this section. You can't go in yet, I'll have to introduce you and---oh wait, I'll have someone take roll call first."
~*~
The door opened. Kyousuke looked away from the outside to see two brunettes enter the class. The second bell had just rung, they were just in time. He sat right next to the windows, in the column farthest away from the door, a seat from the front of class. Scowling at the lighter-haired of the two as he reached them, the other just grinned at him as he placed his bag down on the desk-chair behind and to the right of his.
"You were almost late! Where have you been?" he reprimanded in a soft voice audible only to the two. Something must have been up, Kesuya often came late but Mitsuke was always early. Maybe the other brunette's tardiness had rubbed off on him. "And where's Seiyuki?" he added, realizing there was still someone missing in the usual trio.
"Wow, someone sure is paranoid today," he heard Kesuya say cheerfully in the seat behind his but ignored it.
"Huh? Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you. Seyuki's not enrolled for this year, his family's moving to Taiwan," Mitsuke answered. "By the way, Kyousuke, did you know---"
"All right, settle down now, everyone," Miss Rosita said as she entered the classroom, cutting him off.
Kyousuke shot the student behind him a glance before slipping out of his desk and standing to the left of it as well as he could, given there was barely any space between it and the wall. After saying the morning greetings along with everyone else, he sat back down and returned to staring out of the window, sighing. There were only two reasons he relents to stay in class: one, he doesn't care to being called a delinquent and is no bully; and two, the money he uses in research comes from his weekly allowance of course. If it weren't for those things, he wouldn't be here at all.
"Section A, roll call! Mikaya, would you do it please?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Kyousuke turned to see Mikaya go to the front of class and take over roll call, their teacher went back outside. Before the door closed behind her, Kyousuke thought he saw something blond on something blue...
"Jin Kyousuke!"
"Present!" Kyousuke's response came almost automatically. He turned around in his seat and waited for the next name.
"Ohmori Mitsuke!" He and Mitsuke weren't really that close as some might think, but they had been in the same class since second grade and their names had always been next to each other in the list. Kyousuke was pretty much a loner and only spoke to Mitsuke, Kesuya and Seiyuki.
"Present!" Two seats behind his, Mitsuke turned to him and shook his head slightly, but was smiling. Kyousuke wondered about the weird reaction.
With the calls finished, Mikaya walked back to her seat and to her group of girlfriends. Her face was red and she was giggling. As soon as she sat down, her head was lost to Kyousuke in a see of tresses, braids, curls, ribbons, clips, headbands and what-nots the girls had on their heads. Whispers and then more giggling. Kyousuke was trying to make up his mind whether to roll his eyes or gag. He settled for the former.
"Mitsuke's not next to you this time. The new kid ended up in our class," Kesuya Shichigawa whispered into his ear. His hands were braced on the top of Kyousuke's backrest, leaning forward with all the weight on his own chair's front legs.
Kyousuke nodded but did not offer any opinion. He was skeptical. Kesuya was probably just putting him on. The school rarely allowed new students to be in the best section in their first year unless the marks they got on their entrance exams were exceptionally high. Ever since he transferred here around three years ago, back in second grade, he had heard of only one person who had managed to do that --- himself.
Miss Rosita re-entered the room and Kesuya's chair dropped back on its hind legs, almost toppling over if it weren't for Mitsuke's support. He couldn't turn around because their teacher was already in front of class and that would be disrespectful, but he heard Kesuya's mumbled apologies and thanks anyway, and could almost see Mitsuke's tolerating smile.
"Class, this year we have a new student in Section A," the teacher announced, pausing as a tide of noise passed through the crowd inside the room. Everyone knew who it was apparently. The teacher continued as the sounds subsided, "He was top of his former class and got 93% of the entrance exam to our school correct." Another wave of murmuring. "Minna, I want you to welcome your new classmate: Marume Kuroudo."
to be continued...
Author's Notes: Choppy, isn't it? Sorry. I sort of mixed the old Ch. 3, my plans for the 'old' Ch. 4 and this Ch. 4. If you've read the old chapter 3, you'll know that there Mitsuke started the Griffon Team, but since I found out Kuroudo is the Griffon Capt...in this story, at least, in this part of the story, not one of them are Griffon members yet, alright? Btw, I'm sticking to Kesuya though I know it's 'Kazuya'. Oh and in case you're puzzled with the seating arrangement, it's easy. Kyousuke's last column, second row, Kesuya sits behind him, last column third row, while Mitsuke is next to Kezuya, right-behind of Kyousuke, second to last column, third row. Seiyuki used to sit next to Kyousuke but now...
W |Kyousuke|__|Seiyuki/Kuroudo|
W |Kesuya|____|Mitsuke|
W = Window/Wall
Got me?
Disclaimers: I don't own CGT.
"Kuroudo Marume!"
Kuroudo turned around upon hearing his name said by a voice he couldn't place. Two brunettes who had just entered the school gates were looking right at him, one of them waving. He slowed down to a stop, allowing them to catch up, while he wondered who they were and how they knew him. He certainly didn't know them.
He raised an eyebrow at one of them as a greeting and it was answered by a curt nod. The person's companion seemed a bit too over-enthusiastic, although he couldn't get one word out past his widely grinning lips. Kuroudo returned it with a small smile of his own and figured it would be better for the two to introduce themselves before he asked any questions. It was relief that one of them understood what was on the half-French's mind at that instant.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My name's Mitsuke Ohmori and this is my friend, Kesuya Shichigawa," the one with a lighter tone of brown hair said, extending his hand for a shake. No bows, no formalities. Kuroudo took the offered hand and shook it. He then shook Kesuya's. Following Mitsuke's lead, Kuroudo walked next to him towards the school building with the darker brunette slightly behind him. "We're in the same grade," Mitsuke announced upon reaching the doors. Kuroudo took the opportunity to ask what he had been wanting to ask since they had called out to him. It was rather rude but....
"Do you know me?" Wrong question. Wasn't it yet obvious that they knew him? Kuroudo had been aiming for 'How come you know me?' but 'Do you know me?' popped out of him instead. It was fortunate that both Mitsuke and Kesuya didn't seem to have taken any offense. The former opened his bag and took out a notebook, flipped through it, marked a page, and handed it to the blonde. Kuroudo took it curiously and found a printout of his gearfighting record along with a picture of himself. "But you were far from me, by the gates, how did you know it was me?"
"The image is in black-and-white but they said you had blonde hair. You weren't too hard to pick out. Most students here have either black or brown hair --- in varying shades," Mitsuke explained. Kuroudo only shook his head, closed the notebook, and returned it to him.
"But how did you know I would be coming here? I just arrived yesterday, the GFA wouldn't have heard of it already," Kuroudo reasoned out. "And besides," he added in a casual voice as he looked up and down the hall for the lockers, "my leaving France wouldn't have been much of a news. I'm not that yet well-known enough to be kept tabs on."
"You know that's not true. You and your Shooting---" Mitsuke began but was cut off by Kesuya.
"Avril's a distant cousin of mine," the brunette spoke up suddenly, almost making Kuroudo jump. He had nearly forgotten that he was there. "You do know Avril, don't you? She said she knows the best rookie player Kuro---"
"Yeah, I know her," Kuroudo assured him, "but what do you mean by 'best rookie player'? I certainly haven't heard that one before."
"Oh, the GFA website is not our only source," Mitsuke replied off-handedly as he returned his notebook to his bag. "There are a lot of other unofficial sites out there, those that focus on one place alone, you know? In English too so that most people would understand. They've dubbed you the 'best rookie player' of France since you're so new to gearfighting but have a really impressive record. GFA only considers your official wins, which is a remarkable six out of six battles, but we've got a rough estimate of your total wins which include your unofficial fights --- 23 with zero looses, right?"
"27," Kuroudo answered automatically, the number of fights he had participated in yet always on his mind, but he was frowning. "What site is this? I can't imagine how they've kept such a good track of me when I---"
"Vichie," Kesuya said and the name made Kuroudo immediately look at him. "Vichie owns and manages the site along with a few other friends of his. A whole account of your first ever gearfight is there, and summaries of the ones after that. Avril and your other friends have been helping him, they've seen most of your fights. The news on you coming to here was up yesterday morning. I've never seen Vichie so pissed. He hasn't beaten you yet, you know?"
Kuroudo nodded his head absent-mindedly. He never knew these things although perhaps that was because he didn't have a computer then. Avril had one and it was very unlikely Vichie didn't. He vaguely remembered Avril mentioning something about a Japanese cousin when he told her he was half-Japanese. Was that Kesuya then?
The bell rang. Mitsuke borrowed his class card, took a glance at it, and told him the three of them were in the same homeroom class before returning it. He trailed after the two, aware of the many heads that turned his way as they walked down the hall. Mitsuke was right, most of the students had either brown or black hair, with matching dark-coloured eyes. He definitely stood out.
Mitsuke and Kesuya stopped in front of a door and entered as the second bell rang. He was about to do so too when a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder. His homeroom teacher stood behind him, smiling.
"Marume Kuroudo?" she asked, but hurried on before Kuroudo even opened his mouth to form a reply, "Of course, of course. You'll be the only new student in this section. You can't go in yet, I'll have to introduce you and---oh wait, I'll have someone take roll call first."
~*~
The door opened. Kyousuke looked away from the outside to see two brunettes enter the class. The second bell had just rung, they were just in time. He sat right next to the windows, in the column farthest away from the door, a seat from the front of class. Scowling at the lighter-haired of the two as he reached them, the other just grinned at him as he placed his bag down on the desk-chair behind and to the right of his.
"You were almost late! Where have you been?" he reprimanded in a soft voice audible only to the two. Something must have been up, Kesuya often came late but Mitsuke was always early. Maybe the other brunette's tardiness had rubbed off on him. "And where's Seiyuki?" he added, realizing there was still someone missing in the usual trio.
"Wow, someone sure is paranoid today," he heard Kesuya say cheerfully in the seat behind his but ignored it.
"Huh? Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you. Seyuki's not enrolled for this year, his family's moving to Taiwan," Mitsuke answered. "By the way, Kyousuke, did you know---"
"All right, settle down now, everyone," Miss Rosita said as she entered the classroom, cutting him off.
Kyousuke shot the student behind him a glance before slipping out of his desk and standing to the left of it as well as he could, given there was barely any space between it and the wall. After saying the morning greetings along with everyone else, he sat back down and returned to staring out of the window, sighing. There were only two reasons he relents to stay in class: one, he doesn't care to being called a delinquent and is no bully; and two, the money he uses in research comes from his weekly allowance of course. If it weren't for those things, he wouldn't be here at all.
"Section A, roll call! Mikaya, would you do it please?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Kyousuke turned to see Mikaya go to the front of class and take over roll call, their teacher went back outside. Before the door closed behind her, Kyousuke thought he saw something blond on something blue...
"Jin Kyousuke!"
"Present!" Kyousuke's response came almost automatically. He turned around in his seat and waited for the next name.
"Ohmori Mitsuke!" He and Mitsuke weren't really that close as some might think, but they had been in the same class since second grade and their names had always been next to each other in the list. Kyousuke was pretty much a loner and only spoke to Mitsuke, Kesuya and Seiyuki.
"Present!" Two seats behind his, Mitsuke turned to him and shook his head slightly, but was smiling. Kyousuke wondered about the weird reaction.
With the calls finished, Mikaya walked back to her seat and to her group of girlfriends. Her face was red and she was giggling. As soon as she sat down, her head was lost to Kyousuke in a see of tresses, braids, curls, ribbons, clips, headbands and what-nots the girls had on their heads. Whispers and then more giggling. Kyousuke was trying to make up his mind whether to roll his eyes or gag. He settled for the former.
"Mitsuke's not next to you this time. The new kid ended up in our class," Kesuya Shichigawa whispered into his ear. His hands were braced on the top of Kyousuke's backrest, leaning forward with all the weight on his own chair's front legs.
Kyousuke nodded but did not offer any opinion. He was skeptical. Kesuya was probably just putting him on. The school rarely allowed new students to be in the best section in their first year unless the marks they got on their entrance exams were exceptionally high. Ever since he transferred here around three years ago, back in second grade, he had heard of only one person who had managed to do that --- himself.
Miss Rosita re-entered the room and Kesuya's chair dropped back on its hind legs, almost toppling over if it weren't for Mitsuke's support. He couldn't turn around because their teacher was already in front of class and that would be disrespectful, but he heard Kesuya's mumbled apologies and thanks anyway, and could almost see Mitsuke's tolerating smile.
"Class, this year we have a new student in Section A," the teacher announced, pausing as a tide of noise passed through the crowd inside the room. Everyone knew who it was apparently. The teacher continued as the sounds subsided, "He was top of his former class and got 93% of the entrance exam to our school correct." Another wave of murmuring. "Minna, I want you to welcome your new classmate: Marume Kuroudo."
to be continued...
Author's Notes: Choppy, isn't it? Sorry. I sort of mixed the old Ch. 3, my plans for the 'old' Ch. 4 and this Ch. 4. If you've read the old chapter 3, you'll know that there Mitsuke started the Griffon Team, but since I found out Kuroudo is the Griffon Capt...in this story, at least, in this part of the story, not one of them are Griffon members yet, alright? Btw, I'm sticking to Kesuya though I know it's 'Kazuya'. Oh and in case you're puzzled with the seating arrangement, it's easy. Kyousuke's last column, second row, Kesuya sits behind him, last column third row, while Mitsuke is next to Kezuya, right-behind of Kyousuke, second to last column, third row. Seiyuki used to sit next to Kyousuke but now...
W |Kyousuke|__|Seiyuki/Kuroudo|
W |Kesuya|____|Mitsuke|
W = Window/Wall
Got me?
Disclaimers: I don't own CGT.