Disclaimer : I don't own any of the HYD characters nor its original plotline, but I certainly own this particular plotline and the characters I created for it.

Note : Since I got 20 clicks on chapter 2, and since I'm assuming you don't get to the second chapter by mistake, I'm also assuming some people are reading this... ;o)

So people who are reading this fic : I know this chapter may not be much statisfying on 'seeing much of Akira', but it is necessary to me to establish the background of the story I'm trying to tell... You don't want to read something completely inconsistent, do you? And don't worry, Akira will be coming back after this... (After all, it's an Akira fanfic...)

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3-Making friends at the bus stop

"Finally !", thought Sophie with relief when exiting Eitoku Academy through its great front portal. She made her way through the crowded parking lot to the bus stop, eager to be at home as soon as humanly possible.

She was surprised to see another girl in uniform waiting there – after all, most students here had cars with chauffeurs waiting for them at the end of classes. Well, maybe that meant this one would be more friendly than the other girls she had already met at Eitoku.

"Hi !", she tried with a wide smile. That was the only way to meet people, after all – to talk to them. Back in France, she had never been the silent and shy type of girl – and that may have been why she often found herself in the middle of trouble. She wasn't planning on becoming shy now that she lived halfway around the world from she had grown up.

The girl turned and looked at her, after a moment, indicating she had been lost in her own thoughts and something sophie could not quite decrypt passed in her eyes.

"Hello !", she finally answered with a warm smile.

Sophie tried to determine how to proceed from there. The other student helped her.

"You must the new transfer student from class D. I am Tsukushi, Tsukushi Makino, from class B.

- I think I'm the one, yes... My name is Sophie, Sophie Dessay.

- Sophie ? It's a very pretty name. And you speak Japanese really well. Where did you learn it ?

- At school, back in France. I wanted to learn a language that was really different... And Japanese was ! I know my accent is still very flawed, and that my sentences are not always very well shaped, though... My teacher always told me so.

- Oh no, it's really okay ! I wish I could speak French as well as you speak Japanese."

Sophie opened her mouth as if to say something, then shut it. She shrugged.

"Are you going back to your home ?

- No, I have to get to work. I have this job in a Dango shop downtown – I don't want my going to Eitoku to weigh to much on my parents' finances, and the scholarship isn't always enough.

- You are here on a scholarship ? You must be a really good student !

- I'm trying to be, at least."

Tsukushi had always been modest. She continued after a pause.

"Where are you headed yourself ? Your family didn't send a car to pick you up ?

- My family comes from a place where they know what's decent and what's not... We were not always well off, and it was won with a lot of effort from my parents. So they want us to know that humility is important in life."

She paused, and decided to proceed.

"All those girls with designer's watches and bags, and chauffeurs waiting for them, and those boys that think they own the world make me wonder at the choice of my father to send me here. It's not quite like his philosophy..."

Tsukushi grinned. She definitely liked the girl. Sophie began to toy with a lock of her unbound hair..

"They're not all that bad, you know, when you get to know them a little better. Some of them actually improve with acquaintance.

- If you say so... But still, today, during lunch break, in the library, you would not believe that this guy had the nerve to...

- Yeah, I think I heard the story already, Sophie. Doesn't it end with a slap ?"

Sophie blushed, embarrassed at the idea that the whole school might think she was some kind of psycho because of her reaction. So she tried to explain – the last thing she wanted was to antagonize the first person she actually felt friendly towards in this place.

"I didn't think the whole school would know about this so quickly... It's just... I couldn't help myself. He was so obnoxiously sure of seducing me with his lame smile and lines...

- Don't worry, Sophie, I didn't think otherwise. I'm sure Akira had it coming. And I'm sure that there are lots of girls that would thank you for what you did. Besides, I'd be surprised if people talked much about it : they'd be afraid of consequences. The F4 have their reputation to live to, after all, she added, rolling her eyes. I know the story only because the guy happens to be a close friend of my boyfriend. Quite another story, this one, she commented with a smile. Our first real interaction was me punching him... So, I can relate to you on some level !

- Oh... but I don't think I would ever go out with the jerk, anyway."

Her voice was very affirmative. Tsukushi couldn't help but wonder.

"Don't you find him attractive at all ?

- I guess he might be, objectively speaking. I'm just not drawn to him. Playboys and Don Juans have a tendency to naturally repel me.

- You don't know how lucky you are ! I have a friend – she doesn't go to Eitoku, but you should definitely meet her – whom I hope could have the same reaction towards womanizers..."

She added for herself : "No way Akira could win this one...". And she actually felt a mixture of pity and amusement towards the guy.

"Hey, here comes the bus !"

Sophie's announcement got her out of her thoughts ; Tsukushi turned and smiled to her new friend.

"Let's go, then !"

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Do you see where I'm going with this ? No? Great, it means I still have something to tell... Hope you enjoy reading this !