(Enjoy the Moment!)
The sound of his clock alarm had Neku roused from his sleep. It took him a moment to fully wake up as a strange cold feeling ran over his body. (What's with this chill? It's like I was dumped in a freezer box.) Neku checked his clock. It was seven thirty in the morning. (It's thirty minutes to get to the school. I can grab some toast and be on my way in a few minutes.)
"Neku!" His mother's voice pulled him towards his door. From that direction he could smell breakfast being cooked just down the hall. (Maybe I can make it there by eight thirty instead.)
After putting on his school uniform and black blazer, Neku made his way into the kitchen to find a plate of pancakes on the table next to a bottle of syrup.
"Hope your hungry." His mother teased as he sat down and bit into his breakfast. (Gotta love mom's breakfast.)
"What's the occasion?" Neku asked.
"I just wanted to make sure your first day was as good as it could be. So, I thought I'd whip up something to give you plenty of energy for the day." (It's not the army. I don't think I'll need the energy to sit at a desk.)
"Thanks mom." His mother just smiled as she went back to cooking. As Neku enjoyed his plate of pancakes and a glass of orange juice, he looked over his supplies. He had the basics for each class, and an extra notebook for his personal use. He was surprised to find that his schedule was missing from his items though. (What the- I had this yesterday. Where did it go?) "Hey mom, did you see my schedule anywhere?" His mom thought for a moment.
"I don't think so. Is it missing?" (I guess it is…damnit.) Neku sighed before dropping his fork and standing up. (So much for breakfast.)
"Could I get some toast mom?"
Neku dashed across the street as he came within jogging distance of the school. If he was going to get a replacement for his schedule, he would need to be there early to visit the office.
"Yo Phones!" Neku came to a stop at his nickname and looked to see Beat and Rhyme near the entrance gate, "What's the hurry?"
"I lost my schedule. I need to stop by the office to get another one." (I don't know how I lost it though. I had it last night before I went to bed.)
"Man. Sucks to be you." (Cocky moron.)
"Says the man who lost his shoes in a sandal store."
"Hey!" Beat shot back. Rhyme giggled making him just look away.
"So what are you guys doing here so early? I figured Beat would have been here five minutes before, not an hour."
"I'm making sure Beat gets to school on time this year." Rhyme answered. "He's got potential…he just needs to be watched."
"That's right! You need to watch what I can do!" Beat yelled. (…That's not what she means at all Beat.)
"Hey guys." Everyone turned as Shiki moved up to them.
"Hey Shiki." Neku replied.
"I'm surprised you guys are early. I would have expected Beat to still be in bed."
"That's hurts Shiki." (The truth hurts man.)
"Listen. Have you guys seen Eri?" Shiki looked around the entire perimeter of the group. "I was supposed to meet her here but she hasn't shown up yet."
"I'm sure she'll be here. What's got you on edge anyway?" Neku asked only to be met with Shiki staring at him for a few seconds.
"N-Nothing." (Creepy.) Neku checked his clock and noticed it was getting close to eight thirty. (I don't know how long this is going to take.)
"Listen, I'll see you guys later. I have to go pick up a replacement schedule at the office."
"Alright." Shiki said. "…Watch out for Eri. She could show up anywhere." (What is she, a gremlin?)
As Neku walked through the halls of the high school, he could hear various murmurs and whispered form students as he walked by.
"Who's that kid?"
"I think he was in my class last year. I can't remember his name though."
"I'm pretty sure I saw a kid with those headphones with Eri at AMX yesterday." (Damn gossipers.)
"Really? With Eri!?"
"Yeah. He even gave her a CD."
"So he's her boyfriend!?" (How did they reach that conclusion?) Neku shut out their chatter and continued down the hall. (I spent a few hours with the girl and I'm on the news report of crap no one cares about.)
"Neku!" The sound of his name and the force of someone crashing into his back had Neku jump and turn to see Eri behind him. (How the hell did she sneak up on me?)
"Where did you come from?" Eri tilted her.
"I walked up to you silly." (Maybe she is a gremlin.)
"You know, Shiki was looking for you."
"That's right. I was supposed to meet her at the entrance." (Ditz.) "What are you doing?"
"I'm heading to the main office to get my schedule. I don't know how I lost my first one."
"Do you need help finding it?" Eri had leaned in close to Neku. He could feel the eyes on him from all corners. (Yeah, I feel like being a headline today.)
"No thanks. Just go find Shiki."
"Alright." She moved in quickly and gave him a hug making Neku seize up at the sudden contact, "See you later Neku!" As she walked away, Neku could feel glares piercing into his back. (Great, now I'm a target.)
As Eri passed a corner she slammed into someone, falling to the ground. As she rubbed her back, the person she ran into helped her back up.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to run into you."
"Don't worry about it." Eri looked at him in confusion.
"Are you a new student?"
"Why yes I am. Would you mind helping me find my classroom?"
"Sure, what's your room?"
"207."
Neku found himself waiting at the front desk of the administration office as the receptionist scrambled through different forms with a confused look on her face.
"That's strange…I can't find your class form. What was your name again?"
"Neku Sakuraba." (This can't be that complicated.) The receptionist turned to her computer and tapped away rapidly against the keys. Her confusion switched to surprise as a window popped up.
"Oh! Apparently, your schedule was shifted around…must have happened yesterday." (Just me?)
"Can I get it printed off?" The receptionist nodded and started tapping the keys again.
"I'm sorry about that. This doesn't happen very often…in fact this is the first time it's happened since I've been here."
"And how long have you been here?"
"Twelve years." (…Not much room for promotion is there?) She handed Neku his schedule who took it and looked it over. (Homeroom is in 207.) Neku looked up at the clock. (It's eight forty-five now. I can get there in less than five which means I can find a nice seat in the back.) "Oh, that clock is ten minutes slow." (Fine time to know that!)
Neku dashed into homeroom and looked around at the seating. Almost everyone was seated with two seats in the third row open; one desk away from the window and one next to it against the window. (Damn it. Those are the middle seats nobody wants.)
"Hey Phones!" Beat's voice cut through his fuss as he looked behind the open seat to see Beat and Rhyme siting next to each other. As Beat waved Neku over, Neku could see Shiki in front of the open seat while Eri sat to the left of it. (At least I'm surrounded by friends.) Neku took his seat and was slightly surprised as his friends turned to him from every angle around him, "Thought you'd show up."
"He did." Rhyme added.
"We all have the same homeroom?" Neku said. (That seems strange.)
"It seems strange right?" Shiki agreed. "Almost planned." (My schedule was changed before I got here…maybe someone is messing with us.)
"I like it!" Eri spoke up. "It means I get to know you guys better." As she said that, she eyed Neku who just cocked his eyebrow in confusion. After that she looked around the room, searching for something. "You know. A boy wanted to know where this room was…but I don't see him anywhere." (Explains the empty seat.)
"Quite down!" A commanding voice made the room go silent as the sound of someone in heels stepped confidently into the room. Neku and Beat looked at the teacher with pure shock and worry at who their homeroom teacher was. (No way!)
"Phones." Beat whispered. "Is that who I think it is." (Unless she has a twin I think it is.)
"Now, I am your homeroom teacher Mitsuki Konishi. I expect to be addressed as Miss Konishi at all times. Am I clear?"
"It is Iron Maiden!" Beat shouted, prompting Miss Konishi to glare at him with enough force to push him back into his seat.
"MISS. KONISHI. AM. I. CLEAR?" Everyone nodded and she pushed up her glasses. "Good. Now let's start off with introductions…although it seems someone is absent."
"I wouldn't say absent." A calm voice spoke up. The door to the classroom opened and a boy walked in. (No, I refuse to believe he is here!) He stepped up and faced the entire class.
"My name is Yoshiya Kiryu. But mother and father call me-"
"JOSHUA!?" Neku yelled instinctively, rising from his seat. Joshua simply looked over and gave him a smirk.
"Hello again dear Neku." The words 'dear' had the class erupt in murmuring and chatter as Neku felt his world collapse. (As if I wasn't already the center of attention with Eri; this just makes it worse!) The screech of Miss Konishi's nails against the chalk board had everyone, except Joshua, shiver as their eardrums were ready to burst.
"I will not tolerate disruption in my classroom. As for Kiryu. Do try not to be late again. I do not promise to be as lenient as I was this time."
"Of course, 'teacher'." Miss Konishi scowled as Joshua took his seat next to Neku against the window.
"Will Nina Giman please step up to introduce themselves." Neku looked over at Joshua and frowned as Joshua calmly placed his school supplies on his desk before turning to Neku.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Doesn't every child need an education?"
"Not skeeving manipulators like you."
"That hurts." (Doubt it.)
"What do you want?"
"Ah ah ah, no conversations during class." (This jerk…I'd pound him right now if I could.)
"Next-" Miss Konishi spoke up, "-Shiki Misaki." Shiki got up from her seat and stood in front of the class.
"Hello, my name is Shiki Misaki. I…enjoy sewing and spending time with my friends." She quickly slunk back to her seat avoiding eye contact and keeping her head down as the introductions continued. (Better than I'm going to do.) She looked back at Neku who just smiled and nodded, making her give a small smile in return. The introduction wrapped around, eventually coming to the second row.
"Since we already got an introduction from Mister Kiryu, we'll move on to Neku Sakuraba." Neku stood up and casually walked up to the front and turned to face the class. He only saw a sea of blank stares. (Our future is bleary eyed and stupid from here.)
"My name is Neku Sakuraba." Everyone waited for his next words. (What more do they want?)
"What else?" Miss Konishi said.
"What else do you want?"
"More." (Damn vindictive witch.) Neku groaned.
"Fine. I enjoy music, design work, and hanging out in Shibuya with my friends." As soon as he said the words design, Eri seemed to perk up and stare at him. (I have a bad feeling about that look.)
"Next, Eri Torendina." Eri quickly moved up to the front as Neku took his seat.
"Hello! I'm Eri! I like going around Shibuya and checking out the latest trends with my friends. When I'm really inspired, I like to design clothing and have my best friend Shiki sew them together into something super cute!" Shiki buried her face into her hands to avoid the people turning to look at her. (Good job Eri. Now she's in a burning spotlight.) "And after talking to Neku and learning one of his hobbies, I might have another partner!" Neku could feel the eyes on him. While most of them were of intrigue, a majority of the boys gave him cold glares of jealousy that made Neku fear for his safety. (This girl is going to kill me if I'm not careful. With Joshua on top of that I'll be lucky to survive the rest of the day.)
"Sit down girl. Next-"
"Neku!" Eri plopped into her seat and turned to Neku with an expectant look in her eyes, "Do you really enjoy designing?"
"Sort of." Neku answered. "I don't do much work on designing breakthrough trends…but I've been working on different logo designs and their placements."
"Logo?" (Has this girl ever considered how she would distinguish her work from others?) Neku pulled his sketchbook out of his bag and opened it up to his most recent page. "Oh! I see what you mean now…these aren't too bad." (They need a lot more work.)
"Next, Daisuken-"
"I'm up!" Beat yelled rushing to the front before Miss Konishi could finish. "Yo! Names Beat!" (Little late on that lie buddy.) "Better know that I'm gonna be the best boarder around…so watch out!" (Does he mean watch out for him while he's practicing or watch out to other boarders that challenge him?) "Seriously, watch out…I'm not very good yet. (Guess it's the former.) Miss Konishi tapped her desk with a pencil to get everyone's attention.
"Next, Raimu Beat." Rhyme moved up next to her brother and gave a short bow.
"I'm Rhyme. Please be nice to my big brother. I'll try to make sure he doesn't cause too much trouble for you all." (That girl is going to have her hands full all year.)
Eventually, the introductions ended. After that they were given a brief idea of what their language class with Konishi would be like. Neku found it a bit surprising just how thoroughly she had planned out her class…which only pressed the question of why she was their teacher. (I figured she would have been static nothing after we erased her in the game.) As the bell rang and everyone filed out of the room, Neku stepped up to Miss Konishi as she organized her papers.
"…What do you want Mister Sakuraba?" She asked, not even glancing up at him.
"Just curious on your living presence."
"As am I. One moment I am dealing with the brainless one and yourself, and the next I am in front of the principle, being hired with full tenure as an added insult." (So she can't be fired…how is that punishment?) "Dealing with small minded egotistical peons. Such a disgrace to my record of achievements as a Reaper!" (Ah, pride. Wounds more than any erasure.) As he pencil snapped in her hand she looked up at Neku with a cold stare. "And the worst of it being my position as YOUR primary mentor. Had it been my decision, I would have taught kindergarteners over you and your friends."
"Someone is overly sore." Neku shot back, feeling fed up with her complaining. "You lost because you decided to mess with people who wouldn't conform to your plan. Even worse, you underestimated people you felt were lower than you."
"Fair point…however-" She moved quickly, swiping Neku's headphones off his head, "I will not be insulted by my own student without giving discipline." (Vindictive witch!)
"…Sorry." Neku said gruffly at which Konishi scowled before dropping Neku's headphones into his hands.
"Do not be so disrespectful in the future Mister Sakuraba. Now leave." Neku turned and left out the closest door. (I pray she's the only surprise I have to deal with.)
"Last one out of class?" Neku turned to the source of the voice, finding Joshua leaning against the nearby wall, "Not very punctual." (And here I forgot all about you for a minute.)
The walk to Neku's next class was a quiet one as Joshua walked next to him. Neku took sideways glances at him, trying to read what he was thinking but finding his confident smile a mask perfect for the deceptive boy.
"Your next class is math correct?" Joshua asked. (How would he know that?)
"…Yeah. You?"
"Free period." (Of course he does.)
"Figures. You work that in while tampering with my schedule?" Joshua just chuckled at this question.
"Just my luck of the draw I guess." (Sure it was.)
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"Can't I visit my partner?"
"Yeah…but you don't do that." Joshua's smile dropped.
"There's something making its way over Shibuya."
"Another imprinting plot?"
"No, that would have been easy to find and take care of. This presence is much subtler than Megumi was. Not enough to evade me of course."
"That doesn't explain why you're at the school." Joshua pulled out his phone and it started chiming. (That's his tracker from the game.) "Wasn't that to find Shibuya River?"
"Yes, but it also finds spike in energy. I had to adjust it a bit but now I can track down the stronger pulses. Find the center point of this new problem." (Another energy hunt?) Joshua's cocky smile surfaced again, "If you feel like helping out, I would very much appreciate it." (And get used again? No thanks.)
"How about we work up to favors after a year or two?"
"Unless you want to see Shibuya become stale again, I'd recommend bending on that stipulation." (This kid…)
"Fine. But I don't want to be shot again."
"Deal." Joshua held up a player pin and threw it to Neku who snatched it out of the air, "See you after class." Joshua strolled down the hallway and out of sight. Neku stood there for a moment, mulling over the fact that he was just coerced into helping out Joshua. (Not like I had much of a choice in the matter.) His phone buzzing broke Neku from his thoughts and he looked to find a text from Joshua.
'Stay in touch.' (Where did he…right, the game.) Neku shut his phone and stuffed it into his pocket before walking to his next class. (Not the first weird thing he's done. Odds are it won't be the last either.)