Author's Note: Hi, thank you for reading this. Thanks especially to those who left a review. This chapter: Wolfram goes to school. A bunch of OCs here since we don't ever get to know any of Yuuri's classmates in canon (at least not that I'm aware of).

**Spoiler** Hashimoto Asami, however, is a canon character. And as with everything, I kept her details, her characterization and her relationship with Yuuri as close to canon as my talents and knowledge could possibly make them.**End Spoiler**

Chapter 8

--Wolfram--

Going to school did not seem so hard. I felt a bit naked walking around without a sword. But since I hadn't had to kill anyone on the way here, it wasn't too bad. The Maou instructed me where to turn, what moving carriage to ride, where to sit, who to say hello to. He had asked if I would prefer to watch, but I turned him down. I thought I would learn more if I was the one who interacted with Yuuri's world. He had given me a mental shrug, "Whatever thou desires, beloved."

Since I had previously gone on a few trips with Yuuri and my brothers around Tokyo, I didn't marvel at the amount of double blacks. However, I was astonished when I got to Yuuri's school. I expected it, but I was still amazed by the sheer amount of Yuuri look-alikes. Of course, no one was as beautiful as Yuuri, but Günter would be bleeding a river if he were in my place.

As I walked towards the gate, I heard someone call out, "Oi! Shibuya-kun!" followed by a friendly slap on the back.

Who is this guy? And why is he being so friendly?

"Thy jealousy is adorable," the Maou answered, "but worry not my love, this is Ishida-kun, we usually join him for lunch. Along with that boy up ahead who awaits for us. His name is Takada. We address him as Takada-san."

What is with the different address, which of them are soldiers who would sacrifice themselves for their country?

"Neither, my darling. The different honorifics are not necessarily their titles, it is indicative of the relationship between the person being addressed and the one addressing them. We have known Ishida-kun since junior high, he also provides invaluable service to us in the baseball team we manage. Takada-san, on the other hand, made our acquaintance this year. And as in Shin Makoku, if two people are intimate or closely related, then we could dispense with the honorifics and call each other by our given name."

"I have been calling you and you've been ignoring me," Ishida-kun said.

"Good morning, Ishida-kun, I apologize, I did not hear you," I replied.

"What is with this formality? Are you practicing for an omiai?"

What is that?! 'Look at each other'? Is my translation device working?

"He speaks of an arranged marriage," the Maou answered.

Yuuri is already spoken for, why would Mother and Father be arranging a marriage for him.

"Fear not, Ishida-kun is merely under the mistaken impression that he has wit."

You mean like Conrart?

"Exactly. Thou shall find that he speaks incessantly and almost exclusively about women."

"Hey Takada!" Ishida-kun yelled. "How did that group date go? Did you get lucky?"

"Good morning," Takada-san greeted. "Girls already, this early in the morning?"

"We're young men with raging hormones, what else is there to talk about? Or are you telling me you swing the other way? Would you prefer to talk about young men then?" Ishida-kun said derisively.

"For all we know, Ishida-san, all your bravado about girls is just a cover-up for your flaming homosexuality. Ne, Shibuya-san?"

I shouldn't really smack these two upside the heads, they were after all Yuuri's friends.

"I don't understand what the difference is exactly," I said tonelessly.

"What's wrong Shibuya-san? Are you still depressed about the Lions vs Tigers game?"

Lions is Yuuri's team, right? Did they lose?

"Yes, and 'twas a great misfortune that we could not bear witness to the game as our attention was occupied with important matters in Shin Makoku," the Maou replied in an aggrieved tone.

"I guess, I am," I said aloud, "I didn't even get to see the game. I had some responsibilities I needed to take care of."

The banter between the two continued until we passed the gates and entered one of the buildings. The Maou guided me to the shoe lockers. It was strange to have to change footwear just to attend class.

"Our classroom is the one marked 1-C," the Maou instructed. I followed the other students headed that way. The classroom was small and full of these tiny desks. I supposed for commoners these did the job well enough. I went to the chair the Maou indicated was Yuuri's and hung his bag on the desk.

I found myself enjoying the experience despite the constant concentration of listening to the Maou and trying to converse with the people around me. Once class started, it was easier.

The teacher entered the room.

"Rise," the class president commanded. I rose with the class.

"Attention," she continued.

"Be sure to bow at exactly the same time as the rest," the Maou instructed.

Yes, I know.

"Bow."

Earth seemed to have a lot of these little traditions and ceremonies. Günter would probably enjoy learning each and every little nuance. Perhaps, I should drop a hint with Anissina of putting Günter's soul in a Japanese automaton.

One of the first things I learned was that the teacher to student ratio was not 1 to 1 nor even 1 to 5. Actually the class which consisted of every student in the room was instructed by several teachers. I supposed there were pros and cons to that. It would be useful to have an instructor teach only on his expertise, but one loses a bit when it came to student/teacher relationship.

I was about to commend them in encouraging unity by having the students stay in the same class when the Maou pointed out that they actually changed each year. I looked down at the form that Matsuda-san, the class president, had handed to each person. This piece of paper was going to be used to determine which class Yuuri would go into next year.

I couldn't read Earth writing but the Maou could. The form asked to list my top three career choices. Or rather, Yuuri's. The only thing I knew Yuuri ever wanted to be was to become a professional baseball player. A useless career choice in my opinion.

"By the way, Shibuya-kun, I don't think you're supposed to write catcher, pitcher, first baseman on the form," Ishida-kun teased.

"Hmmm... I suppose they also won't allow pimp and man-whore on there either," I retorted.

Several snickers broke around us.

"Ouch!" Ishida-kun answered, "When did you get such a barbed tongue?"

The whole day, each break between classes, we discussed nothing but the forms. I would be lying if I said I did not get caught in their dreams. This was so different from my world where one's future was decided by the station of one's birth. Here, one could dream. And perhaps, even taste those dreams. No matter whose parents one had the fortune or misfortune to be born to. Sakata-san wanted to be a doctor and was planning on going to Y-University. Nakamura-kun was going to take over his father's sushi shop. Kagawa wanted to go to an art school and become a painter or at least run an art gallery. Kuroda-san wanted to be a novelist but said she couldn't afford to continue school and she might help her mother run their store instead.

They teased me about Yuuri's dream of becoming a baseball player, though I found out a few other boys had the same dream though they wrote more realistic career choices on their forms.

It was strange to think that Yuuri had this whole life and future apart from me. Apart from Shin Makoku. I mean I knew in a theoretical sort of way. I supposed in my head, Earth only meant his family. I had not realized that most of his time was spent here, in these buildings, with these friends. Friends I did not know about. Futures I had no part of.

During lunch, I followed Ishida-kun and Takada-san to machines that dropped wrapped food when money was put in. The Maou said they were called vending machines. I would normally pick sweet things, but for some reason I did not feel like it. Perhaps, it was because I was in Yuuri's body. So I picked what Yuuri would have liked.

We brought our lunches outside and sat on the lawn and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. We were joined by one Nomura-san who brought a homemade lunch called bento. He was the only one in our group that had a girlfriend and she liked to cook. This was deemed a very fortunate thing as his enormous lunch was shared among us.

"Here's to Sasaki-chan," Ishida-kun said raising his canned drink, "may each one of us find one like her before the year is over."

"Is that the only thing you are looking for in a partner?" I asked, "Someone who could cook?"

"Of course, not," he answered. "She has to be pretty..."

"And smart," Takada-san added.

"With a gorgeous figure..."

"Maybe rich..."

"Good in bed."

"Definitely good in bed."

"Nomura-san, is Sasaki-chan good in bed?" I asked.

Nomura-san's drink came up his nose and he started spluttering. Takada-san who was closest to him started whacking him on the back which really didn't help since Nomura-san's face just got redder and redder.

Ishida-kun's face was almost as red from laughter. "Shibuya-kun. Ha-ha-ha. Shib-," he gasped. "Ha-ha... you're in fine form today, I can't... I can't believe you even got dignified Nomura."

"Nomura, you're not going to die of embarrassment, are you?" Takada-san asked.

When he calmed down, Nomura-san decided to redirect the conversation away from his personal life. "So what did you put down on your form Ishida?"

He pulled out the form in his pocket and showed us.

"P.E. Teacher, Athletic Coach, Accountant" the Maou read.

"The last one is for my parents," he said.

"P.E. Teacher?" Takada-san asked.

"Well... I've always liked playing baseball. I know I don't have the talents to become pro. But that doesn't mean I can't play it. Teaching kids how to play it would be just as good. Besides, I do like playing with kids."

"You are still a kid yourself," Nomura-san commented dryly.

"Still, I would have never thought you would go that route," Takada-san said.

"It's all thanks to Shibuya-kun," Ishida-kun replied.

"Yu-- Me?" I asked surprised. "What did I do?"

"Well, you had put so much effort in putting together our team and you had made it so successful. And everyone is thankful that you did. Because we love baseball and playing baseball is in our blood, you might say. I just can't let go of that feeling of being on the field. The feel of the ball in your hand, the smell of the gloves, the sound of the bat as it hits a fastball. I found I just couldn't give it up. I gave up being on the school team because I wanted to make my parents happy and concentrate on my studies so I could make it to a good college and make them proud of their son. But I guess in the end, I just couldn't let go of my dream. Silly, huh?"

"No," I said, "not at all."

In the end, on Yuuri's form, I wrote (with the Maou's help): first choice – King, second choice – Seibu Lions Baseball Player, third choice – Samurai. I gave it to Matsuda-san who upon reading went to my seat and slammed it on my desk.

"Shibuya-san, what is this?" she asked in an angry tone.

I looked at the piece of paper and said simply, "It's the career choice form."

"That's not what I meant. This is serious, what has gotten into you that you are using this as a big joke."

"I'm not joking," I frowned at her. "I don't understand what you're getting angry about."

"King?!! You wrote 'king' as your first choice."

"Yes, I did. This country does have a king right?"

"Yes, of course, it does. Which is why you can't be king."

"Does the king live forever?"

"No..."

"So someone else has to take over, right?"

"Yes..."

"So why can't that be me?"

"Because you're not part of the Imperial Family!"

"Ah! Well, I'll just marry into it then."

"Even if you marry into the Imperial Family, that still won't give you a chance to be king."

"Why not?"

"Because only men can inherit the throne."

"Then I'll just marry one of the male heirs... oh wait, that's not allowed here, is it?"

She gave a long suffering sigh.

"Well, Matsuda-san," Nomura-san said, "we can't be positive that in the future the Diet would not amend the Imperial House Law to allow women to succeed the throne especially since the Imperial Family would end with Prince Hisahito if no other male heirs are produced."

"See, so there is a possibility of me being king, right?"

"Why do you want to be the king? If you want to lead the country, why don't you just put Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister sounded like Gwendal.

"Fine, I'll put Prime Minister," I said trying to mollify her. I didn't want to cause trouble for Yuuri.

"You can't put Prime Minister down!" she scolded.

"You told me to put it down."

"I was being sarcastic."

Help here.

"But sweetheart," the deep voice of the Maou echoed in my head, "this is rather amusing."

Wonderful.

"What do you want me to write down then?" I asked in a plaintive voice.

"I don't know, write politician."

"Fine." I took the paper, crossed out king and wrote 'Politician'. "There," I said smiling.

She blushed and then pointed at the second choice, "Um... this."

"What's wrong with this one?" I remonstrated. "Don't tell me that baseball is hereditary too."

I heard laughter explode beside me.

"Of course, not!" she massaged her forehead in the same way that Gwendal did when he was trying not to explode. "Are you trying to mess with me?"

"No... I just don't understand why I can't put down baseball player as a career choice."

"It's not that part, I suppose if you just cross out the Seibu Lions, then I would accept it."

"You could have just said that in the first place," I said as I crossed out the offending words. "Is the form perfect now? Or is the third one not up to your standards."

Again, with the long suffering sigh. Being class president must be a great burden.

"Being a samurai is actually hereditary," she said.

Hey you in there.

"Yes, my dearest beloved, how can I serve thee," the Maou answered.

Cut the sweet talk. The third one is yours. I told you, judge would fit you better. I'd even go for detective but you're not the most observant person in the world.

"Thou hast cut me down and wounded me!"

I love you too.

"Well, Matsuda-san, you're right. Putting samurai is ridiculous. Which do you think would fit me better, judge or detective?"

"Frankly, neither," she replied heartlessly.

"Put down detective," Ishida-kun commented, "That's more exciting."

"I can't really picture Shibuya-san as a detective," Nomura-san opined. "He's not the most observant person in the world. Not the best student either so who knows if he would be able to make it as judge. Though if he did, he would make a better judge than detective."

"It doesn't really matter," I said, "I'm going to be king anyway."

"Fine, write judge," Matsuda-san relented. "You should really do better in your studies. You're not using your full potential."

See, I'm not the only one who says it.

The only answer was a snort.

I was actually saddened when I heard the final bell because I had begun to like the people who cared for Yuuri here. It would most likely be the last time I would ever see them. I could only imagine how Yuuri felt when he had been faced with the decision of never seeing his family and friends. It must have felt infinitely worse. Perhaps even as painful as how I felt when he left.

I was one of the few who didn't have club activities after school. The Maou informed me that Yuuri briefly considered joining the Kendo club, but had given it up when he became Maou and when he created his baseball team.

Ishida-kun and I noticed a crowd of girls screaming to one side of the gate before we waved goodbye to each other. "Must be some idol," he said enviously. "Maybe, I should have put that as my first career choice."

I tried to go around the large crowd when I felt someone grab my wrist. I turned to see a girl with straight shoulder length black hair, black eyes and an unfamiliar uniform.

"Shibuya-san," she smiled, relief clearly written on her face, "I was afraid I was going to miss you."

Who is this? Why is she wearing a different uniform? Who is she to Yuuri?

"This is Hashimoto Asami, she attends a prestigious all-girls High School. You can call her Hashimoto," the Maou answered. "We were acquainted during one of Murata's school events."

"H-hello, Hashimoto-san. How are you?"

"Better, now that we're together."

What did she mean by that? She's a bit strange, I thought.

"I agree," the Maou replied.

"Where we supposed to meet?" I finally asked.

"Yes. No. Not exactly. I mean we never put down a date and time..."

I felt like I was playing a guessing game.

"I haven't seen you in a while," she continued, "but Murata-san said you had been very busy with school and your baseball team. I thought I'd catch you on your way home and we could spend some time together."

"Okay..." I replied apprehensively. I supposed if this was one of Yuuri's friends, I might as well spend time with her too.

As we walked away from the crowd, I thought I heard my name being called out. Not Yuuri's name, but mine. I turned but I saw no one other than the gaggle of squealing girls.

"Is there something wrong?" Hashimoto asked.

"No... what are they ogling over there anyway?"

"Oh, just a foreign pretty boy," she replied trying to be nonchalant, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her interest.

"I guess you were not interested? I mean, I could wait for you if you want to look with the other girls."

She gave me a strange look as if I just said something terrible.

"Or not," I added belatedly.

"Now that we're together, I have no interest in other men."

"You don't have to be so serious about it," I shrugged. "It doesn't bother me if my companions do not keep their full attention on me."

"Is that how you feel?" her voice carried a little bit of confusion and a little bit of fear.

Okay, you in there, what the hell is going on? What is wrong with this girl?

"Frankly, my angel, she has always struck me as being a bit odd," the Maou said.

You are no help.

"Maybe...?" I answered aloud.

Her face broke in an explosion of emotion. Her eyebrows went vertical as if they could not believe what her ears heard. Her eyes were damp and her lips were turned down impossibly. Her nose was scrunched up as if it was trying hard not to snivel.

"Perhaps thou should have answered in the negative," the Maou gave his unsolicited opinion.

She turned her face away and I heard her take a deep breath. Her face was a little bit more composed when she turned back. She forced a smile on her face. "It's probably because we haven't spent much time together in a while," she said bravely, "that's it! We just need to spend more time together."

With that, she gave a very big determined smile and grabbed my hand and dragged me through the streets.

"Hashimoto, it would be easier for me to walk if you would let go."

"No, now that I have you Shibuya-san, we're going to have a nice date."

"A date?"

What's a date?

"It is but one of her quirks, a tendency to spout strange declarations."

"Look, I know you didn't formally ask me out on a date, but since we're boyfriend-girlfriend—-"

I didn't hear anything past boyfriend-girlfriend, I just stared at her mouth open and close.

"Beloved... Wolfram..."

The Maou was about to take control of Yuuri's body when I failed to respond, but I gave myself a mental shake and stopped him. It's alright.

"My love..."

The smile on my face might have been a little bittersweet, but I followed Hashimoto willingly to a cafe.

A/N: Next chapter - Audrey gets dessert