Anime Avenue
Episode 4: Take A Turn For The Worst
Back with Ren, he made made it to Shujin. Walking through the doors, he could hear the students talking behind his back. Good thing he had thick skin. He made his way up some stairs and headed towards the faculty office. Walking inside, he sees his teacher Ms. Kawakami.
Kawakami: *sigh* Unbelievable...Being over half a day late on your first day...? Can you explain yourself?
Ren: I was in a castle.
Kawakami: You can't be serious...WiIl you pull yourself together? You were given a fair warning yesterday. Mor importanly...I heard that you were caught along with that Sakamoto-kun?
Ren: "That" Sakamoto...?
Kawakami: Don't get involved with him, OK? He's nothing but trouble. He wasn't like that when he was devoting his time to track and field though...
Ren: ...
Kawakami: ...Anyway, break's almost over. Classes will end after fifth period today because of the subway accident. I'll have you introduce yourself when class resumes. Follow me.
The teacher gotout of her seat and headed out of the office, with Ren following behind. While walking through the hallways, Ms. Kawakami stopped...
Kawakami: By the way, when you introduce yourself...Be serious about it even if you're lying to the class, OK? No NOT say anything uneccessary.
With that, they continued making their way to the classroom. Inside, things didn't change, students were still talking about him.
Being super late on his first day? He really is insane...
He looks normal though...
But he might slug us if we look him in the eye...
Kawakami: Settle down. ...Well, I'd like to introduce a transfer student: Ren Amamiya. Today, we... had him attend from the afternoon on since he wasn't feeling well. All right, please say something to the class.
Ren: Nice to meet you.
He seems quiet...but I bet when he loses it...
I mean, he was arrested for assault, right...?
Kawakami: ...Uhh, so...Your seat will be...Hmm...Over there. The one that's open. Sorry but can the people nearby please share your textbooks with him for today?
This sucks...
Ren ignored the student and just casually walked over to his seat, until he stopped by someone who spoke underneath her breathe.
...Lies.
Ren: You're that girl...
The flashy female student didn't say anything else. She just glared at him. But Ren didn't let it bother him, as he just sat at his assigned seat.
Did you catch that? Do those two know each other?
Does that mean he hit on her before transferring here?
That means she's cheating on him with Mr. Kamoshida. Then again, this is Takamaki-san we're talking about...
For real. That side of the room is totally awful.
Kawakami: Oh, right! The volleyball rally's in two days...Everyone's just changed classes, so make sure you use that time to get to know each other. Well then, let's get class started. Who's on duty today?
One of the students stood up from his seat to confirmed that he was picked. He was likely of average height or shorter, with spiky blue-tinted black hair, black eyes and a relatively "average" face. He didn't look so good either. He had a couple bruises on his face.
Everyone, please rise...
Back at Misaki High, lunch break was over and everyone moved on to their afternoon lessons.
Aiko: ...and then you square the contents of the parenthless and expand it out. Also, don't forget to square the coefficient. If you switch sides of the equal sign, the solution for x squared is...
Kazuki: What is this, some kind of secret code...? Or some kind of evil spell...?
Either way, Kazuki didn't get it at all. It just went in one ear and out the other. Did the other students really understand any of that?
Akari: ...
John: ...
Enju: ...
Kazuki could understand someone who seemed as hard-working as Enju, but even Akari and John looked like they were taking the lesson seriously...In other words, Kazuki was the only one who didn't understand.
Kazuki: Dammit...I never expected school life would come with problems like this...
Even though he was struggling, Kazuki chose to take it in. Running away from this meant running away from his brother and a regular life. When he squeezed his eraser...it slips out of his hands and tumbles down from his desk.
Kazuki: Oops. Oh shoot...
Enju: Hmm?
Looked like Enju noticed.
Kazuki: Sorry about that. I'll pick it up.
Enju: Oh.
As Kazuki reached down for the eraser, his hand brushed against the tips of Enju's fingers.
Enju: ...! H-Hentai! What are you doing, feeling up my fingers?!
Kazuki: Whatever...
Enju: Fine, just let go of my hand!
Kazuki: It's my eraser, is it not?
Aiko: You there, pipe down! Be quiet!
Enju: S-Sorry, ma'am...Now look, she got mad at me because of you!
Kazuki: The blame is soley on you. You freaked out for a stupid reason.
Enju: Hmph!
Kazuki: Weirdo.
Akari: I don't think Enju's mad!
Kazuki: Well, that's good...Whoa?!
When Kazuki turn around, Akari had turned her chair around towards him.
Kazuki: You realize we're in the middle of a lession...?
Akari: Ahaha! It's fine, don't worry!
Kazuki: I'm pretty sure it's the teacher who decides that...
Akari: Nevermind that, you look like you're having trouble. I can fix any problem, you know?
Kazuki: You can, huh? Then...can YOU help me with this problem.
Akari: I see. All you have to do is substitute here!
Kazuki: Thanks. How about this one, then?
Akari: Just a little miscalculation...Umm...Oh, here!
Kazuki: Huh...
To Kazuki's surprise, Akari was actually pretty smart.
Enju: Akari's pretty intelligent...when it comes to schoolwork.
Akari: Hehe! You're making me blush...
Kazuki: No, I don't think she's complimenting you! She's emphasized schoolwork...so everything else...
Akari: Huh?
Enju: I don't think you're in a position to be laughing at anyone...not from what I've seen, anyway.
Kazuki: And WHO said I was laughing?
Akari: Alright, I'll teach you!
Enju: Hold off for now...We're in the middle of a lesson. Anyway, how about facing forward? Look, the teacher's getting angry!
Akari: Phooey. Well then, later, Kazuki!
Kazuki: Uh-huh...
And so, after school, Kazuki was looking at his paper and trying to understand the problems...but he was having no luck.
Enju: So, which parts don't you understand? Well, everything, as far as I can tell...but...
Kazuki: Did you come here just to insult me? If so then...
Enju: Come on, spit it out! This is no time to be trying to save face, is it?
Kazuki: Say what...? Whatever, look, I'm having an off day! Lots of things on my mind. Things you couldn't begin to understand.
Enju: You're not a very good liar. Alright, this problem I'm writing in my notebook...do you understand this?
Kazuki: Hell no.
Enju: So you can't do it, after all.
Kazuki: That's what it means by..."Hell No".
Enju: Anyway...Kazuki, you're completely hopeless at schoolwork.
Kazuki: And you're completely hopless at kindness.
John: HAHAHA! DESTROYED!
Ooh yeah...Destroyed!
All of a sudden, people are gathered around Kazuki's desk. Akari and Enju, John and...and...
Kazuki: And you are...?
Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I, transfer student number two...I'm Yamabuki Suou. Yamabuki as in "mountain breeze". You can call me Bookie for short, okay?
Yamabuki had light skin and slanted dark mauve eyes, giving her a mischevious expression. Her chest-lengh black hair was worn down in small, slighly curled pigtails over her shoulder, held by yellow scrunchies. Her bangs were straight cut over the left corner of her head, while the remainder is pulled back. Her forelocks framed her face. She wasn't even dressed like the rest of the female students...with her uniform she wore a green sweater with a chick in an egg and the word Hiyoko above it. Instead of loafers she wore yellow and white sneakers with plain white socks.
Kazuki: I see. Pleased to meet you, Yamabuki.
Yamabuki: Ahahahaha! Call me Bookie, dammit!
John: Yamabuki's my second best-friend, Kazuki. Don't be too mean to her, alright?
Kazuki: Who said I intended to?. So how do you know John?
Yamabuki: He was having trouble with all the chicks flocking to him, and I helped'im out.
Kazuki: I see now.
Yamabuki: And then it turned out we got on pretty well, and had a lot of the Sam interests...Ahh, dear me...
John: OHH YEAH! We promised to exchange anime DVDs!
Kazuki: You two sound like you've been friends forever! So if Bookie is your second best-friend then who's the first?
John: HAHAHA! You even need to ask, ol' pal?!
Old pals...? Kazuki thought about it...and he didn't remember these two becoming friends. Or even best friends, for that matter.
Yamabuki: Forgot to mention, I'm up for most stuff...So if you need someone for BL or GL, I'll be happy to partake!
Kazuki: Huh?
Yamabuki: Basically, what I want to say is...Thanks for that little back-and-forth! I love watching that sort of thing!
Kazuki: Uhhh...
Yamabuki: So the transfer student is a tsundere who isn't honest with himself...Yeah, very fit for BL! Pleased to meet you, Kazuki.
Yamabuki smiled at Kazuki affectionately, and he wanted to refuse...but something about him just couldn't.
Kazuki: *Sigh*...Anyway, what's up? Did you need something?
John: Oh yeah, right! Hey, Kazuki! Let's go home together!
Kazuki: Sorry but I can't.
John: Whysdat?
Enju: I'm sorry, John-san. Today he's got to study with us after school.
Kazuki: And afterwards, I gotta meet with my brother, right after.
Akari: Really?
Kazuki: It's the plan that we made. I meet him, in front of his class, when my school is out.
John: WHAT?! An afterschool study session with the ladies?!
Suddenly, John takes hold of Kazuki's desk with both hands and draws his face towards Kazuki. He was a little too close...and Yamabuki seemed to love it. What's more, John's eyes were strangely wide and his face was shaking.
Kazuki: Personal space...
John: Th-Thi...
Kazuki: ...?
John: This...this is the youth I've been seeking!
Kazuki: Uhhh...
John: Listen...think about it, Kazuki. The setting sun shining through the classroom window...you and a girl with your desks pulled together...just the two of you...
Kazuki: So?
John: Don't sweat the small stuff! You're just making me even more jealous! You're not just alone with a cute girl...You're alone with TWO cute girls!
Kazuki: I think you're taking this all a bit too far...
John: Shoot! I'm so jealous, Kazuki...You only just started school, and already you've got yourself into a wonderful situation like this!
Kazuki: I wouldn't sweat it, dude. I mean, yeah, they are cute, but on the other side, one of them is completely sweet and the other's just a mad woman, you know?
Enju: A mad woman?! Wh-What?!
Kazuki: See what I mean?
Out of the two girls, only Enju reacted as she normally would, but now wasn't the time to be worrying about that...
John: A waifu and a tsundere? What a cliche...
Kazuki: That's a way of putting it.
John: So what time are we getting the photo?
Kazuki: Huh? Photo?
Enju: *Sigh*...Because of John-san, I don't even feel angry anymore...Anyway, let's review today's material and preview tomorrow's lesson, okay?
Kazuki: You're the boss...
Looking exasperated, Enju left the classroom. Looked like she left to get some materials. Throughout the whole day, Kazuki's busy first day came to an end. After his tutoring with Akari and Enju, he packed his things up and headed to Shujin Academy. When he got there, his older brother was already outside.
Kazuki: Hey, bro. How was your first day?
Ren explained to his brother that a lot had happened, on his way to school. And that he would explain it, on the way back to the cafe.
TO BE CONTINUED...