"Class, I have an announcement to make. Today, we will welcome two new students to join us. I want you all to help them settle in, okay?" Suzuki-sensei informs the students of class 3-2, Seishun School. A chorus of 'okay' answers her and she smiles softly.
"Well then, I want all of you to meet Fuji Syusuke and Fuji Sayuki. Come inside, you two," she calls out and soon, a boy and a girl emerge into the classroom. They both bow and everyone gasped. Their new members have small figure but more importantly is their hair color. The boy, he has a honey-brown hair while the girl, has a honey-gold hair. And when they saw their faces, they notice how little do they look like Japanese, especially the girl. Foreigners, everyone concludes.
"Class, Syusuke-kun and Sayuki-chan," "Snow," the girl suddenly interrupts the teacher. "Pardon?" "Snow. You can call me Snow. Or Snow-chan if you want," she politely smiles. Suzuki-sensei smiles back. "Very well, Snow-chan. As I was to say, Syusuke-kun and Snow-chan both came from America. So, minna, please help them in any way, okay? Now, where should you sit? Hm…. Ah, Syusuke-kun, why don't you sit next to Takashi-san near the window sill? And Snow-chan can sit next to Miaka-san over there,"
"You can call me Syusuke. Can I just call you Taka-san?" Syusuke asks his new neighbor. Taka-san just nods his head and scratches his head nervously. "Sure, Syusuke-san. You can call me taka-san. I don't mind," he smiles to the smiling boy. Taka-san founds out that he likes Syusuke's smile. And the class continues peacefully.
"Oi, foreigner. Do you need help? We can help you translating what we said to you, you know," some of the boys laugh mockingly at Syusuke doing break. Syusuke just smiles politely and tries to excuse himself but to no avail, since the boys form a circle around him. "What's wrong, girly boy? Too high rank to even chat with us?" "Yeah, you are so girly we can't even believe you a boy if not for the uniform you wearing," and they laugh again. Getting closer and closer around him.
"Oi, true Japanese blood," suddenly a girl's voice calls out. They turn around and saw Snow standing behind them. "Mind translating this for my brother? Don't mind them, they are idiots and stupid. By the way, we are going to be late for lunch with Yuuta, so come on," she says mockingly. With an eyebrow rises slightly.
The boys were gaping for a while, before one of them fought back, "if you think that we are that idiots, not being able to translate that, you are wrong," Snow smirks at them. "So, translate then," the boys were silent for a while, thoughtful looks at their face. "Err…"
"Oh, so you can't translate what I was saying before. So, how can you translate what you guys talking into English if you can't translate my short sentence? Talk like that to us again when you guys manage to translate that. Come Syusuke, we're late for lunch," Snow calls out for Syusuke and he manages to escape easily this time. With that, they both head out the class and Taka-san learn something else. Be careful when you're messing with Syusuke if you don't want to face Snow's wrath. Something about the tones of Snow manage to send shivers down everyone's back.
"Yuuta, have lunch with us?" Syusuke asks his down little brother. "Aniki, anekun. Why is everyone hates me?" Snow laughs at Yuuta's question. "Yuuta, Yuuta. Of course everyone hates us. They jealous because we've went to America while they stuck in Japan since small. Of course they hate us, they want to go to America too,"
"Oh," Yuuta nods his blonde head. Snow slung her hands around his shoulders and drags him outside. "But, just because we have one advantage over them, doesn't mean that we need to show off, because, if we show off, they'll hate us more. So, all we can do is by being humble," "and what you just did in the class are not show off?" Syusuke suddenly asks Snow. "Eh? Err…being humble doesn't mean they can step on our head, Syusuke. We still have our face and honor. You too, Yuuta. Don't let anyone bullied you. Fight back; don't show that you will succumb to them,"
"What about Aniki?" Yuuta's question leave the elder two render less. "What about me?" "What about Aniki? Aniki never fought back. Usually it would be anekun who fought them for aniki," Yuuta answers. "Well, Yuuta, that's because me and aniki are twins. Twins always stuck together, so, we need to protect each other. But, you are different. You are alone, anekun and aniki can't protect you all the time, so you should stand up for yourself," Snow answers back, ruffling Yuuta's hair.
"That's suck," "no, that's life, Yuuta. Life is suck. And cruel, so be careful," Snow laughs and both of them have their lunch under a sakura tree, chatting and sometimes switching between Japanese and English.
After a week the three of them enter Seishun elementary, Taka-san learns a few more things. One, Syusuke is the type that hates fighting and he couldn't fight back if someone bullied him, whether he refuse to or not so it always be a job for either Snow or Taka-san to rescue him. He is a polite and kind boy who always spoke softly to others. Even to his bullies. But for Snow, taka-san learnt that she is an out-going and cheerful girl. It's fun to be her friends but not fun to be her enemy. Her words…are sharp, cold and icy when she talks to her enemy, who became one by usually bullying Syusuke or Yuuta, and everyone, thinks that the nickname Snow really suit her. But still, she's a nice girl and polite to the elders. Yuuta meanwhile is kind of hard for Taka-san, since he only met him few times during lunch where the siblings invite him to join in. but Taka-san can see how Yuuta adores his older sister. He also adores Syusuke, but not as much as he adores Snow.
And the important thing that taka-san learnt that day, never hurt any Fuji, as you will be in a very big trouble. Facing angry Fuji, is promise to be one life time experience. Trust dear Taka-san. He was there.
"Taka-san, where's Aniki?" Snow asks Taka-san when they've finished their cleaning duty. Three of them plus Miaka were assigned to clean the gym that day and Taka-san know that Yuuta are around, playing while waiting to go home together with the other two. It is a habit the three of them have, since when any of them have something else to do, the others will wait. Taka-san and Snow took the backstage gym, while Miaka and Syusuke took the front.
"I'm not sure, Snow-chan. Let's go and find them," he replies and follows the girl out.
"Miaka-chan, where's aniki?" Snow asks her best friend who was sweeping the foyer. "Huh? He was over there before. Maybe he went to the back?" and the two kids continue their search for a certain blue-eyes boy. They went to a side of the gym and to the back ant when they went to another side; they hear a screaming coming from the playground nearby. Taka-san took a while to register that familiar voice but to Snow, she know that sound by heart.
They rush to the playground and found Syusuke being beaten by few boys from the upper level. Behind Syusuke is Yuuta who was bleeding at his forehead and dirty with dirt. He was speechless and couldn't do anything other than watch his older brother curls into a fetal position, taking a kick in his stomach. Taka-san looks at Snow and saw her blue eyes turn ice. Her face is red and her breathing is ragged. And in a flash, taka-san almost fall on his butt as Snow rushes past him into the boys.
She stops near them and start yelling, "stop it. Pick someone your level," the boys stop for a while and starts laughing. "Oh, if it isn't the little girl coming to rescue the day," "well, guess what? We are also annoyed at you too. Don't worry, we'll be a bit softer to you than your brother here since you're a girl," and with a signal from the leader, one of the boys flung himself to the girl.
The boy punch Snow's face and she took a step back. Feeling smug, he was about to deliver another punch when his fist were thrown away and in another second, he was laying on his back, on the ground, unconscious. The other was taken aback but that didn't stop them as three more boys come to attack Snow while the leader and another boy start kicking Syusuke again.
And taka-san knew that the leader just made things worst as he can see Snow, with such a swift movement delivers her own punches and kicks to her attackers that less than a minute having all three boys, twice her size laying on the ground as well. Either being unconscious or crying in pain. She went to the other two boys who are still beating Syusuke and took the leader's wrist and turn it outward. A sickening crack was heard followed by an agonize scream. Not affected by the scream, Snow took hold of the broken wrist and delivers four kicks at the leader before letting off her hold. She starts approaching the other boy who was probably, going to pee in his pants right there. He was trembling terribly. Inches away, Snow stops and the boy shuts his eyes tightly, waiting for her attack.
"I didn't start all this. You guys are. What I just did is a self defense for myself and my brothers. You guys could not sue me or reported me to the police since it isn't me on guilt. I hope that this will became a lesson for not only you and your friends, but also for others. Now, if I ever see you around my brothers again…" Snow speaks slowly yet clearly her warning on the deserted playground. No other sounds were heard other than Yuuta's sobs and Syusuke's whimpers. Taka-san also realizes that he is also scared to even breathe, fearing his life.
When the boy nods his head eagerly only then Snow retreats towards her brothers. She went to Syusuke and kneeing next to him. Yuuta, finally assures that he is safe, also went by his brother's side. "Syusuke, are you badly hurt? Do you want me to call nee-san?" Snow speaks surprisingly soft and gentle towards Syusuke. She even brushes his hair lovingly. Syusuke shook his head few times and took in a few deep breaths.
"I tried to stop them from beating on Yuuta," he finally manages to speak after a while. Snow nods her head in understanding. She looks over Yuuta to check on him and sigh in relieve realizing he only suffers a light cuts on his forehead. She smiles softly to the crying boy who was holding Syusuke's hand, finally being able to register the events that just ended in his head.
"There, there, Yuuta. Don't cry it's over now. It's alright, they won't hurt you anymore. They won't hurt us anymore," Snow speaks softly while hugging him. She kisses his head few times before letting go. "Now, I want you two to head home while I went to the office to inform this. Don't worry about me, I can go home with Miaka and taka-san," she looks up into Taka-san's face and towards his side, where Miaka was standing speechless. How Snow realizes when Miaka came, taka-san doesn't know but he was surely surprised knowing that the girl is next to him. They both numbly nod their head when realizing that the three was waiting for their answers.
"I'll walk Snow-chan home. Don't worry," taka-san finally found his lost voice. Miaka seems to find hers too when she answers her promises to make sure Snow arrives home safely. Snow smiles gratefully towards them and helps Syusuke to stand with Yuuta on the other side. Satisfied that Syusuke isn't that badly hurt and can walk by himself, Snow told them to head home while they, her, taka-san and Miaka will took their bags home.
The other two nods their head and head out the school's ground. Snow, Miaka, and Taka-san then proceed to lock the gym and heads to the office. Snow went to the secretary and they talk for a while before Snow disappeared into the headmaster's office. The other two were left staring dumbly at the door. After like a few minutes, taka-san finally broke the silence.
"How much did you watch?" "Since that Matsuyama boy punched Snow-chan," "do you know how…I mean…I never know that Snow-chan can fight," taka-san fidgets in his place. "That was self defense. But I don't know what it called. We should ask Snow later," Miaka thoughtfully answered back. Silence befalls the kids again and they waited for another half an hour before the door opened again with the headmaster, the secretary and Snow walking out with different expressions.
"Well, I hope this wont happened again, Fuji-san. Even though it was self defense, it still is illegal to beat them all," the headmaster scolds the girl walking next to him. The secretary already left and heads towards the playground. "You can send me to the authorities if you want, Wada-richijou. But I don't think that you will. It was clearly their fault no matter what you said. You can't blame me, nor them and their family," Snow smugly replies. It was weird, for everyone to think that even though she was only 9, the way she talks…more advanced than kids around her age. And the fact that she hates losing is another annoying part if you enter a debate contest with her.
"Let's go home," Snow smiles to Taka-san and Miaka, brightly like what that had happened in the playground an hour ago never occurred. They went to their class and pick each others and Syusuke's and Yuuta's bag and head towards Fuji's home. They never went to the Fuji's place and they are curious how it looks like.
"You said that it was self defense. What it's called?" Miaka suddenly broke the silence. "Hmm? Oh, it's Tae Kwan-Do, one of the many self-defenses that I learnt. Why?" "Is it hard to learn?" Taka-san asks the girl. "For me? Kind of since I'm so small but it isn't that hard. Learn with me, it will be fun," Snow invites the two to join in and Miaka eagerly nods while Taka-san answers to asks his parents first. But he doesn't think that they will object. "That's wonderful. You see, no one in my family want to learn self defense other than me and papa. But papa was always busy, so I always learn alone. It's fun to have friends when you're learning something," she is beaming with happiness and Taka-san founds out that he loves this smile, since it kinds reminds him of Suzuki's smile. They continue chatting about class, home works and so on.
"we're here," Snow suddenly exclaims and they all stop in front of a big gates, where the other two finally realized that they are at the edge of the city, at the hill of mountains and behind the close gate, far behind, a big yet old 3 stories mansion stands proudly surrounded by trees and gardens and a lake. A chuckle from his side snaps Taka-san from continue gapping at the mansion. "Close your mouth, Taka-san. There are no flies around here yet," Snow and Miaka smiles while Taka-san hurriedly closes his mouth. "You lived here, Snow-chan? This place is big," Taka-san decides to change the topic. Snow nods her head and opens a small entrance next to the gate, for people to walk in and out. "This is grandpa's house. Well, our house now. Coming inside?" she invites and the other two complied.
After that day, no one, dare to bully any Fuji. It turns out that the leader, other than a broken wrist, he also have 3 broken ribs. The other boys have lots of ugly bruises, twisted limbs and one or two broken fingers or bones and there is one who has a dislocated shoulder. Enough warnings for everyone. Meanwhile, Taka-san and Miaka starts learning Tae-Kwan-Do with Snow in a local dojo and it appear that the petite girl already have black belt in that art. Taka-san totally understand what it means by don't judge a book by its cover. The two also hangs around the Fuji's mansion few times enough that their parent already treating them like their own children.
Once the summer breaks nearly over, Syusuke and Yuuta returns from Osaka and with them are a boy name Saeki Kohjirou. They all became friends, close friends and always visited each other once there's a school break. All 6 of them played at the beach in Osaka, ate sushi in Taka-san's father's place, went to tennis practices and competitions, as well as Tae-Kwan-Do practices and competitions. It is a great time, but as Snow once told them, as all bad times will comes to an end, all good times will comes to an end also. Winter on their 5th year, a time when everyone took a drastic turn in their life.
Taka-san wakes up from his nap and also from his memory train, sweating and panting. What ever it is that came over Fuji's mind this times, Taka-san prays that he won't do what he did 4 years before.
