A/N: Hm, sorry for the massive delay. Hopefully someone actually still bothers to read this. And speaking of readers, thank you to: sammyjon123 and Immortal Fallen Radiance.
I don't own, and there are actually no warnings for this chapter. But don't get used to that.
The lights were low, flickering brighter every so often as the train passed by a junction or maintenance tunnel. The only steady illumination came from the soft glow of the laptop screen, the quiet click of the owner typing blending easily with the rumbling of the subway train.
The wall clock read nearly 2:00 AM, and only one of the three passengers was awake. The passenger, obscured by the baseball cap pulled low and the bulky grey jacket, carefully scanned the screen balanced on his knees, intent on memorizing as much of the information on the tiny computer as possible.
A slender hand moved the wireless mouse, clicking and confirming something on the screen. Sharp eyes settled on what appeared to be registration papers, detailing the transfer of a student into a new school. "Hotaka" the figure murmured, his voice too low to truly be speaking to his sleeping train-mates. "I am Kondo Hotaka, pleased to meet you."
The owner finally satisfied, the laptop found itself being powered down and stowed away just as the overhead speakers crackled to life. "Odaiba Station, next stop. All passengers for Odaiba Station please prepare for departure."
In a matter of moments, the subway train began its roll to a temporary stop, and a blue-eyed boy rose silently to his feet.
-Later that day-
As the class began to settle in, various discussions floating around the room as they waited not so impatiently for the teacher to call order, two young teenagers in the midst of the room traded amused, knowing glances. The blond boy on the left grinned, glancing to the clock and holding up three fingers beneath his desk. The brunette girl, bangs held back from her face by a pink barrette, giggled quietly as she smiled back and nodded.
As the boy glanced back at the clock, apparently counting the seconds, he curled one finger back into his palm. And then another. Four things then happened simultaneously – the last finger curled in, the clock struck eight AM, the bell rang… and a spiky-headed brunet boy burst through the door. "I'm NOT late!" the newcomer cried, setting the two friends off into quiet laughter.
The teacher only sighed, too accustomed to the boy's theatrics to be startled. "No, Motomiya-kun, you're not. Now go sit down – class is about to start."
Flashing the woman a bright grin, the thirteen year old quickly slid into his seat on the opposite side of the laughing girl. The blond boy leaned over a little, catching the newcomer's eye around their friend. "Honestly, Davis, we called you this morning – we call you every morning, and you still barely make it."
As Davis made a face, the girl turned mock-wide eyes on the blond. "But TK, don't you know? He was always late before we started calling him!"
As his friends laughed, Davis groaned. "Oh come on, Kari, not you too!"
When the teacher began the day's lecture, the three friends turned their attention back to the front of the room, two fighting to control their chuckles as the third sulked quietly. Approximately half way through the class, the teacher was interrupted by a quick, light knock on the door. Frowning in irritation, the woman moved to the classroom door and spoke quietly to someone just outside of it. Finally the teacher smiled and, with the full attention of the entire class, led a dark haired boy to stand in front of the students.
"Class" she called cheerfully, as if every eye wasn't already focused on the stranger, "We have a new student joining us today. This is Kondo Hotaka-kun, and he's just transferred here from Nerima. Being so late in the school year, I would like for a volunteer to help him settle in and catch up with our projects. Would anyone… ah, thank you, Kamiya-kun" the woman trailed off as Kari raised a hand. "Kondo-kun, please see Kamiya-kun before the day's end to set up times to meet. Now that that's settled, please welcome your new classmate, everyone."
The boy bowed politely as the class obediently greeted him, blue eyes lingering on the brunette girl who favored him with a cheerful, kind smile. He had to walk past her to reach one of the few empty seats in the room, and the girl titled her head in an approximation of a greeting bow, causing the boy to hesitate. "Welcome, Kondo-kun" Kari offered. "It won't be easy to catch up so late, but I'll do my best to help. I'm sure we can be good friends, and-"
"Kamiya-san," the boy interrupted, the icy edge in his voice draining the smile off of his classmate's face. "I appreciate your assistance in class, but understand this now – I have no interest in becoming your… friend." And with that, the boy swept past the stunned teenagers, moving to settle into one of the chairs farthest into the corner, where he sat with his spine straight, his shoulders back and his chin tipped just slightly up. It gave the impression that he was looking down on everyone else in the room.
Kari turned wide eyes back to her friends, absently noting that TK's jaw was slack in his own shock. Finally, Davis put words to what all three friends were thinking. "He… that… what a jerk!"
-o-
He watched carefully, sharp blue eyes peering up through the bangs hanging in his face. He knew he had been harsh with his little classmate, had intentionally chosen his words and tone to cut most deeply. But… she was a child. They all were. He had to immerse himself in their world... but they didn't deserve any part of his.
A fraction of his mind absorbed the lessons the teacher went through – nothing he either hadn't read or couldn't reconcile with what he already knew – but the majority of his attention was focused on observing and categorizing his classmates. He'd learned long ago to read a person's body language, the little movements that told him when a person was lying, or what their next reaction was likely to be. Now, he turned that analytical mindset to the other teenagers.
The brunet boy with the goggles – jock, probably soccer judging from the old grass stains barely visible on the knees of his uniform. And if his expansive gestures as he 'whispered' to his friends was any indication – as it always was – likely to be loudmouthed, hotheaded and prone to acting before he thought.
The black haired girl up front sat straightly, eyes attentively on the blackboard. Teacher's pet, upright and naive, almost certainly. The boy slouching over in the other corner would be the slacker, probably putting just enough effort to make C's in his classes – if he bothered with that much.
'And then there's me' he thought cynically. He almost – almost – allowed a small, bitter smile to cross his lips. 'The loner. The sarcastic, antisocial bastard who doesn't care – or maybe enjoys it – if he makes little miss goody-two-shoes cry. The mean S.O.B. that everyone learns quickly to stay away from. Not a troublemaker, not a team player, just… there. For now.'
Bringing his attention back to the lesson being taught, the boy now known as Hotaka completely dismissed his classmates from his mind.