Author's Note: I do not own Love Hina or any other references I use in this. But, this still is my fiction. Contact me if you wish to use it. Oh, sorry about the lack of update lately. Came down with a flu and some writer's block I guess. This is more of a character development chapter than anything. I guess it really settles in the story after 2 other chapters of hefty introduction.
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Chapter 3 - A Graduation and Admission Exams, Confession?: Kenny
That morning, Keaton woke up to a shuffling noise coming from above. He sits up on his bed and look up at the hole in the ceiling, covered by a board. Figuring that he could find where the noise is coming from, he finds a ladder and moves the board out of the way and sticks his head into the room. When he looked around, he saw a Graduation Gown, a tassle and a top hat. He stood on the ladder, remembering his good old high school days. He was interrupted by a girl angrily saying 'Keaton...! Pervert! I'm gonna kill you!' He turns around and sees Natalie with only her underwear and bra on, putting on some clothing. She rushes to put on her clothes and runs to attack Keaton. Noticing her fit of rage, he blushes, yelps and jumps down the ladder, running out of his room and through the hallways, with Natalie in hot pursuit. AT some point, she pulls out a BB gun and starts firing at him. Sheryl walks out of the kitchen with the food in both of her hands and is almost knocked over by Keaton and Natalie who zoom right past her. She runs to the lounge and puts the food on the table, with Kelly and Kara already eating. Soon after, Keaton opens the sliding door to the lounge and is seen with torn clothing with obvious holes in it. He clumsily stumbles his way to the table where he faints on the floor next to the TV. Natalie follows in soon after, panting with a BB gun in her hand. She takes a seat and eats breakfast with the rest of them.
"Somebody has been busy this morning." said Kara.
"That pervert over there peeked at me while I was changing."
"And he's blocking the TV!"
Kelly jumps over to him and lands on top of Keaton. She drags him out of the way of the TV and goes back to her chair and continues eating. Kelly looks at the clock on top of the TV and leaps out of her chair and onto her backpack, which she picks up and walks out of the house, followed by Sheryl close behind. Natalie, noticing the time, yells 'Ah, I'm gonna be late!' and runs into her room to change and get ready for her graduation ceremony. After 10 minutes, she runs back into the lounge screaming 'I'm gonna be late!' and runs out of the house. When she leaves the apartment area, a stretch limosine is waiting for her. In surprise, she quickly put on her thick dorky glasses and looked at the window of the car going down. The man leans his arm out the window and takes off his sunglasses, revealing it to be none other than Kenny Serval, the boy most likely to be Class Validictorian.
"Kenny Serval?"
"Yes, it is I, Natalie Naville. Please grace me with your presence in my limosine."
"I might as well, I'm going to be late if I walk."
She gets inside the limosine and quickly arrives at the school, where the ceremony took place. Natalie dusted her gown and straightened her tassle to prepare for the graduation. She looks into the crowd, but finds her parents were not there. Shaking off her initial emotion, she pays attention to the annoucement of the Validictiorian, who is none other than Kenny Serval. He makes a small speech and waves at Natalie, which was very unexpected by many of the adoring females. Back at the apartments, Keaton wakes up in the afternoon and find himself lying in his bed. He gets up and walks out of the door, greeted by Kara.
"Oy, Keaton. You've been out cold for like 5 hours now."
"Was I really? All I remember was getting beaten and hit by Natalie, then walking into the lounge a beaten pulp."
"Anyways, Natalie is back from her graduation ceremony. She's probably still angry at ya! I heard what happened, a maybe ya want to say sorry."
"I better go do that."
Keaton walks up the stairs and in front of Natalie's room. He sighs and knocks on a door, receiving a 'Who is it?' He responds with 'It's me, Keaton.' and gets back a 'Go away, low life!' He sighs again and yells 'I'm sorry! I came here to apologize!' With a reluctant tone, Natalie responds 'Fine, come in.' When Keaton enters the door he walks into her room and sees her studying on the table. From the looks of her room, Keaton could notice that she was obsessed with Japanimation. Keaton slowly trudges through, half-tripping on Natalie's Rei Ayanami doll and walking in front of Natalie. He puts his hand behind his head and stratches it, saying 'Sorry for earlier today.' in a very embarassed tone.
"Girls need their privacy." said Natalie, reading her 'Pre-Calculus Mathematics' book.
"Sorry for that. I didn't know what that hole lead to."
"I guess I can forgive you. But, the hole was there ever since I came. I used to talk to Granny Heather who was in the room below, but you're here now."
"So? I'm not a person you can talk to?"
Natalie opened her mouth to respond, but closed it again and turned to him.
"I'm studying for the Application exam for NYU." said Natalie, again looking at her book.
"Oh yeah! I was studying before, but the whole Landlord ordeal kind of interrupted the flow."
"You want to study with me?"
Keaton jumped at the thought and responded 'O-of course. Thank you.' He runs down the stairs to go retrieve his books. He runs back up the stairs with his books. Noticing the commotion, Kara sneaks up the stairs with Keaton and sees him entering Natalie's room. Giggling, Kara goes in front of Natalie's door and opens it slightly, to see what is going on in the room, but not be noticed. She sees Keaton and Natalie sitting on the table studying together. She heard their conversation as well.
"How old are you, Keaton?"
"I'm 20. Yes, it's the 2nd time I failed the Application exam."
"Third time? Do you do ANY studying?"
"Yes, I do. I just..."
Overhearing, Kara took a second to think and put the pieces together. Kara slides back down the stairs and into the lounge, picking up the wine where she left it and turning on the TV. Later that day, Natalie and Keaton walk down to the lounge to take a break from studying. They greet Sheryl and Kelly who are just coming home from their school day. They all sit down for lunch, which is prepared by Sheryl. She served them each of their plates individually on the table, and when she reaches Keaton, she blushes and hands him his plate. Keaton responds with a 'Thanks, I always enjoy your food, Sheryl.' which goes to further her embarassment. All was quiet when eating until Kara broke the silence.
"Maybe there's something you want to say to us, Keaton?"
"What's that, Kara?"
"Psst... I know your secret!" said Kara out loud.
Keaton closed his eyes in fear, thinking 'Oh god, she's found out. I better not hide it.'
"Ok, I admit, I won't hide it anymore!"
"What is it, Keaton?" said Kelly.
"I collect pictures of myself!"
Most of them responded with a 'Huh?' and Kara sighs and smiles again.
"Not THAT one. Although that's new to me!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"That you really aren't an NYU student? THAT one?"
Keaton almost totally forgot about the fact that he wasn't an NYU student. Keaton couldn't tell if Kelly was surprised, since she was always cheery anyway. Sheryl didn't even know what was going on.
"Alright, I guess I should come out and say it. I'm not really a student in NYU. I'm a two time failure."
"Yay! Keaton's a liar!" Kelly said with her normal perkiness.
"But I'll make it in this year. Starting with the Application test, promise!"
Over the course of a few days, Keaton and Natalie studied together in preperation for the application exams. The question about why did Keaton try so hard was stuck in Natalie's mind until one day she just couldn't keep it to herself anymore.
"So, why are you trying to get into NYU anyway? You failed twice already. What makes you so intent on getting in?"
"Huh? Well, it's gonna sound silly."
"Try me."
"I made a promise to this girl I used to like 15 years ago. Call it a stupid kid's dream, but I guess I'm following it all the way up to today."
Natalie looked in deep thought and was surprised. She shook off the initial reaction and continued studying until the test day. The two took the subway to the University for the entrance exams. Keaton and Natalie registered at the desk and made their ways onto their respective rooms to take the exams. When Keaton was walking to his room, he knocked into a girl. She looked more weaker than most girls and got unbalanced quickly. To refrain from falling, she grabs onto Keaton to maintain balance and pushes herself against him. Keaton stood there in utter silence with his eyes wide open. She stands upright once more and comes off of Keaton. The girl puts her hand on her head and says 'Aha, did it again, didn't I?'
"Um, sorry. That was my fault for knocking into you." said Keaton.
"No, no. I don't look where I'm going sometimes. Oh! My name's Melissa Ottoman."
"Nice to meet you, Melissa. My name is Keaton Ulysses. Are you trying out for NYU as well?"
"Yes, it's my 3rd time taking it."
"Me too! What room are you going to?"
"Room 315."
"Same here. What a coincidence."
"Why don't we walk there together?"
"U-us? W-walk there... t-t-t-t-together?"
"Yes. Actually, to tell you to truth, I'm rather lost."
"I-I-I'll bring you there."
They walked together through the hallway to Room 315, where they both took their respective seats and initiated the test. Keaton pulled out his pencil and started writing. It broke after writing down his name. He pulled out another pencil, which was dulled out and didn't write well. Pulling out his final pencil, the mechanical pencil, he continues to take the test.
'Question 1, out of all nine battles George Washington fought in, how many did he win. Uhhh...... 7? Question 2, in Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macduff was the thane of..... uhhhhhh..... lemme think.... Tokyo? Sounds about right. Question 3, the Winchester Repeating Rifle was also known as the..... .50 Desert Eagle?'
After an hour of test taking, Keaton and many other students have completed the exam. When they all stood to hand it up, Keaton noticed that Melissa's answers were all different from his, and that she didn't put her name on top. He figured it was intentional and brushed away the thought. Later that day, Keaton and Natalie returned home, where they were greeted by the residents of the Hinata Apartments.
"Oy, how didja guys do?" said Kara, clutching a bottle of wine.
"I totally aced that baby!" yelled Keaton in celebration.
They all celebrated and ran into the house, all but Natalie, who stood with her head down and a solemn face. The next day, Keaton and Natalie both went to check their exam scores, which were to be listed in the lobby of the University. When they arrived, papers were lined along the walls to show the scores. Keaton ran over to his score, which was highlighted in red, signifying that he didn't make the cut off. In bad spirits, he walked out of the University and saw Natalie sitting on a bench with her head down. He walks over to Natalie and looks at her.
"What's wrong, Natalie?" putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Leave me alone, Keaton." she said, pushing his hand off.
"... I'm sorry I didn't make it. I'll try harder next year."
She looks up at him with tears in her eyes.
"So you didn't make it, too?"
"Natalie..."