A new beginning

(Start of Takino arc)

At last, I'm finally back. Rono thought.

It was now Tuesday morning, today was the day he could finally return to school. After all of the things that had happened to him the past week, he was relieved to be back again. Especially the thirty seconds of death phase he had to go through before resurrecting. It was a tough time he had to go through, when he was a pure spirit hovering over his dead body, he could feel a deep and depressing feeling in his heart. The moment he saw Sakaki and her mother crying and mourning over his death, he felt guilty for letting them into the state they were in. He couldn't bare to see his loved ones cry for anything like that, even for the smallest of things. He decided on something, as soon as he returned, he promised to make everyone happy, sure there will be some heartbreaking moments, but he'll at least end it in the most heart warming ending possible.

He arrives at the school gates, there were a few people facing him, some were heard gossiping about him. Did he do something wrong, was there something wrong with his clothes? He checks his clothes and his hair, nothing wrong. Ignoring the situation, he walks over to his locker to place his outside shoes and wear the indoor shoes the school provided.

The strangest thing of them all, was the fact that the deeper he walked into the school, the more people started watching him. This made Rono uncomfortable, considering that he doesn't like to stand out in crowds. Although, it wouldn't make a difference with his height. He stands five feet and 10 inches, just an inch taller than Sakaki.

He tries ignoring the people around him as he walks to his classroom. With each step he took, he starts shaking nervously. This tells him that today might be a slightly nerve racking day.

He opens the door of his classroom, the first thing that caught his eye, is the sight of Sakaki talking to her friends. Rono gets inside and closes the door behind him. Immediately after he shuts the door closed, Sakaki looks at his direction and smiles.

"Rono." She said quietly without anyone hearing.

"Hey it's Rono!" Chiyo exclaimed.

They all run to his location of the room and surround him.

"Are you okay?" Said Chiyo being the first one to ask.

"I'm completely fine and healthy, Chiyo." He smiled as he rubbed the top of Chiyo's head causing her to blush.

"I heard what happened, that was a close one." Yomi said.

"It sure was." He said.

"We almost lost you there Rono." Tomo said in a sad tone while looking down to the ground avoiding eye contact.

"Something wrong?" Rono asked.

"I-I'm sorry." She replied.

"For what?" He asked again.

"F-for, causing you trouble." She said.

"Like what trouble?"

"You know, the time when I argued with Yomi back at the library."

"Oh, that."

"Yomi told me how it bothered you, I'll try not to take things too far next time."

"No need to be so hard on yourself, it's normal for friends to fight sometimes. But it's never acceptable for friends to be this cruel to each other."

He places his hand on Tomo's right shoulder.

"Don't worry about me. Another thing I don't like is when one of my friends end up sad. So, try not doing that, okay?"

"I'll try, besides I can't help not teasing other people." She said.

"How did it feel to become a ghost?" Osaka asked out of no where.

Pure silence occurred for all of them.

"I think this is the wrong time to ask that, Osaka." Yomi said.

"But I'm curious." Osaka said.

"Oh well, let me see. When I became a ghost, I felt calm and stress free." Rono said.

"Did you fly?" Osaka asked.

"Actually, I did, it was fun for a while."

Then school bell rang after his response. Rono walks to his seat as well as everyone else. Just as he sits down, he looks to his left to find Sakaki staring right at him.

"Sorry for not saying hello Sakaki."

"It's fine, at least you're getting close to them." Sakaki said.

Rono looks at Yomi, Tomo, Osaka and Chiyo.

"Yep, I sure am." He said.

Class starts and the teacher opens the door and shuts it when she comes in. She looks at the back of the room to search for Rono's seat. When she found him, she says something.

"So you're back huh?" Yukari said.

Of course, Rono did not hear because he was in the way back of the room.

Yukari goes to her desk and does role call for attendance.

After that was done, she tells everyone to continue the work from yesterday.

"Hey Sakaki, what's the work about?"

"It's a packet that we have to turn in next week on Monday. We're all suppose to work in partners."

"Oh, who your partner?"

"Kaorin." She said.

"Hm, I wonder who's left to partner up?"

Yukari then calls out someone.

"Rono Takayama! I would like to speak with you." She said in a loud voice.

He stands up and walks to the front of the room.

"Yes ma'am?" Rono said.

"I heard of what happened last Friday, are you sure that you're able to focus today?" Yukari asked.

"Yes."

"All right, right now, we're working on a packet related to the Tales of of two cities book. It is required that you work in partners, but since you were absent yesterday, there's only one person left."

"And who's that?" He asked the teacher.

"Tod Fukashima!" She called him.

He turns to her way.

"You're paired up with Rono!" She said.

"Sure thing."

"Okay, thank you." Rono said.

He turns around and walk to him.

"Don't slack off you two!"

"We won't!" They both said.

Minutes after working, Tod interrupts the silence between them.

"I heard what happened."

Rono's eyes widen.

"How did you know?"

"On Saturday, one of the news reporters announced your name on live television."

"They what!" Rono shouted.

"Yeah, somehow, you're highly known, in a way. They just heard your name, but they didn't see your face. Your face was blurred out when they showcased the shooting."

"Phew. What a relief." Rono said.

"What's wrong with that?" Tod asked.

"Let's just say I don't really like it when many people look at me at the same time, and I also don't like it when I stand out to people. It makes me uncomfortable."

"Hm, sounds like you. Although, it still wouldn't make a difference even if you tried not to stand out, look at your height. You're just as tall as Sakaki, she doesn't mind standing out, how come you don't like it?"

"We both are different people. Besides, Sakaki is Sakaki, she is way superior than me."

"I guess so."

After the first topic they talked about, they were finished with the first portion of the packet.

"Wow, that was a handful." Tod commented.

"Really? That was just the beginning, I can still do more." Rono said.

"Well, this is probably one of your best subjects, considering that you know how to speak English."

"But I still have a long way to learn more."

"Anyways, let's change the subject." Tod said.

"Okay what?" Rono said.

"You hang out with Tomo right?"

"That's right."

"Is she usually energetic and loud."

"She really is loud if I say so myself."

"You think anybody would ever fall for her?" Tod asked as he leaned back from his desk.

With that, Rono then became curious as to what made Tod ask him these question relating to Tomo.

"What do you mean by 'fall for her'?"

"I mean fall in love with her."

"I doubt it."

"Well you're wrong."

"What?" Said Rono now confused from his response.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about this okay?" Tod whispered into Rono's ear.

"Unless if you blackmail me, then I will. In other words, I won't tell anyone." Rono promised.

Tod picks himself up.

"All right!" Tod breathes in and out before telling him the secret.

"Apparently, a friend of mine has a crush on her." Tod had revealed.

"No way, what's his name?

"Kanaye Nakahara." He pointed to him across the room.

"Wait, he's the same guy who helped out Tomo in the hallway!" He said.

"Yeah. He told that the sole and main reason why he helped her out was because he wanted to be close to her. Lucky for him, he got to race against Tomo back at the pool."

"So you're telling me this, why?"

"I somehow feel that I want to pair the two up, but it'll be hard for me since I don't even talk to Tomo or any of the girls. Luckily, there's you."

"I don't think I'll be much help, but I'll do what I can."

"Great, should we meet up in the cafeteria?" Tod asked.

"I don't know, I'll have to to tell Sakaki and the others first."

"Sure, tell me how it goes."

The school bell rings, it is time for second period.

"We'll continue this tomorrow." She turns to the door.

"I really need some sleep." She complained.

Minutes later, Kimura walked inside and waited for the bell while reading a magazine. People started making guesses on what he was reading. Some thought it could be related to his obsessions or something else.

As soon as the bell rang, Kimura stood up and called for attendance. When he made it to Rono's name in the list, he looks over at his desk.

"Oh you're here! Come see me after I finish up with attendance." Kimura said.

Everyone looked over at him causing him to feel uneasy. Shortly, Kimura announced the next lesson they were going to go over today.

"Please take out your notebooks, we're going to take notes about World War 2."

This was his queue to go up to him and find out what he wanted. He does what he was told from him.

"I heard what happend recently on the news, do you need time to adjust?" Kimura asked.

"Oh no, don't worry about me." Rono said.

"I should worry, you're one of my students, as a teacher, I have to do what I can to help my students."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really, and don't worry about my obsession, it's not actually true. I find the high school girls cute, but there's no way that I'll cause any harm to them. That would just make me a pedophile, right?" Kimura said.

"I guess you're right." Rono commented.

"Reason why I said it that day is because I wanted to give the girls a reason to pass this class."

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"

"In a way I guess, don't tell them that I'm lying though. Anyways, just take the notes that I write on the board. You're excused from yesterday's activity."

"Okay, thanks."

"You're welcome."

During the whole time of history class and classic literature, the lunch bell rang. It was time for Rono to meet up with Tod and his friend Kanaye. He looks over at Tod and sees him move his mouth seemingly saying:

Meet us downstairs!

Rono nods to him and walks to the Azu-group.

"Hey guys, is it fine if I eat at the cafeteria? I have to meet someone, it'll just be for this one time."

"Fine with me." Yomi was first to respond.

"Are you meeting with the president, or you on a secret mission to destroy some extraterrestrial creature?" Osaka asked.

"No Osaka, nothing like that." He said with a confused face.

"You have to settle things relating with a girl?" Tomo asked.

"Um, something like that." He said scratching his head with his index finger.

He walks away after her question.

"Woah, did he get a girl?" Tomo commented.

"I don't think so, but even if he did, why would he keep it hidden from us?" Chiyo said.

"Wouldn't sound like him at all too." Yomi said.

As soon as Rono left the room, Sakaki was watching him leaving all the way from her desk with her bento on top of her desk. She was worried that something bad could be happening.

When arriving at the cafeteria, he first gets in line to get his lunch. Just like everyday, he gets to the machine where you receive a paper with your order and then redeem it to the lunch lady. Upon receiving the lunch, he walks to the middle of the cafeteria and hopes to find Tod and his friend Kanaye somewhere at one of the tables nearby. He looks around the room and finds them eating on a table on the far side of the room by a big window. He walks to them and Tod waves at him as comes closer to them.

He sits down on one of the three empty seats and sets his lunch on the table.

"It's great that you made it!" Tod said to Rono.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Rono looks at the other person sitting by him.

"You must be Kanaye, right?"

"Uh, y-yeah. Nice to meet you." He stood up nervously from his seat and bows down to him. Rono stands up and bows down in return.

"Rono Takayama, nice to meet you too."

They sit and start the main topic they were there for.

"So, Tod told me about your love for Tomo. Is that true?"

Kanaye surprised by his sudden question, turns to Tod.

"You told him already!?" He said to Tod.

"Oh, I wasn't suppose to tell him?" Tod whispered.

Kanaye nods.

Tod leans closer to Rono's face.

"I was lying the whole time." Tod said.

"It's too late now!" Kanaye yelled.

"Not convinced either." Rono commented.

"Well, I tried bro." Tod said.

"As if!" Kanaye said.

"Well, it did seem kind of obvious."

"What? How?" Kanaye asked.

"The day when you volunteered to help her clean up her mess in the hallway."

"Really? I do hope that nobody else knows about my secret, especially her." Kanye said.

"Don't worry about it, I don't think that she suspects it." Tod said.

"Anyways, what do you see in her?" Rono asked.

"What do you mean? Kanaye asked.

"I mean, what makes you like her so much?"

"Let me see." He thinks about it for a moment and then continues with a response.

"I like the way she looks, she looks so pretty to me. At times, I find her cute when she's energetic."

"I think he means he likes them flat chested." Tod commented.

"That's not what I mean!" Kanaye said with a slight blush.

"Flat chested? You mean you like guys?" Rono said.

"No, I meant flat chested girls!" Tod said.

"What's so good about chest size?" Rono asked.

Tod and Kanaye both gasp.

"He's clueless." Said both Tod and Kanaye while slouching down.

The three high school boys were halfway done with their lunch.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Rono was first to break the silence.

"Since you know more about Tomo, he wanted to know more things about her. Like the things that she likes and dislikes." Tod replied.

"All I can say, is that she isn't a very hard working person, she's an energetic person, she's been friends with her friend Koyomi Mizuhara ever since grade school, and she annoys most people. However the only things that I do know she likes are foods like fried chicken, bananas, meat-balls and egg rolls, plus she likes shopping!"

"Egg rolls? I know how to make those! Sadly, I don't know how to approach her." Kanaye said.

"Then you should go talk to her, if you're curious to know more about her."

"You think so?" Kanaye asked Rono.

"Yeah, if you really like her then you should go for it. You made a good impression to her that day, that'll be no problem. If it goes well, then I'm sure you'll win her heart!"

"Thanks."

The whole time they were both talking, Tomo was in the lunch line watching them. Even though she couldn't hear them exactly, but she definitely knew that something was up with them. But what made her wonder the most was the fact that the guy that helped her dry up the water she spilled in the hallway was there.

Hey it's that guy from last time. She thought.

Flashback...

She knew she messed up by dropping the buckets due to her tired arms. She panics a little by looking at the spilled water. Normally, the teachers don't come out side to clean the mess, they make the student that was disciplined do it instead.

She gets surprised when the door of the classroom slides open. Tomo thought that it would be Yukari coming out to chastise her for her actions. However, this was someone different. There comes out a boy with average height, just as tall as her. Has dark hair and eyes that she could not look away from. The eyes were yellow, she found them interesting in a way.

"Is it fine if I help you with this?" He said.

"Oh, um...sure...go ahead.." She said with a slight blush.

The whole time they were cleaning, not a single word escaped their mouths. Not even a thank you from her. This was the first time she ever got this close to a boy not related to her blood. She stood there cleaning the floor nervously, without her noticing, Kanaye was just as nervous as her.

Flashback ends...

I think I should thank him for that, but I wonder. Why would he help a girl like me? She thought as she looks directly at the boy from across the cafeteria.

"Also, Tod, I forgot to tell you something."

"What's on your mind?"

"Back when I was getting treated in the hospital, there was this one nurse that treated me very well."

"What about it?"

"It was your mother." Rono revealed.

"Oh wow really?"

"She asked me to tell you 'hi' for her."

"How nice, did she tell you when she would come back home?"

"No, she didn't say anything."

"Oh, too bad."

"Do you have to take care of your little sister?" Kanaye said.

"I have do, it's my duty. She keeps me company whenever I feel lonely."

"She sounds like quite the sister you have there. What's her name, if I may ask?" Rono asked being the curious one for siblings.

"Ena. Ena Fukushima." Tod responded.

"The gift from God, huh? What a nice name."

"I thought so too. Too bad she barely sees her mother." Tod said glumly.

The school bell rang, it was now time to go back to class.

"We need to get going, class is about to start."

"Right!" Both Kanaye and Tod said.

Right as Rono started walking towards the exit, he remembered something.

"Wait!" He said.

"Huh?" Tod had flustered.

"Before we school ends, want to exchange phone numbers?"

"Sure thing." Tod nods.

"Fine by me, but don't call me at night. I have the habit of sleeping early." Kanaye said feeling embarrassed.

"I'll remember that." Rono replied.

And so they all exchanged numbers with Rono now making themselves part of Rono's contact list on his phone.

"Thanks!" Rono said.

All of them leave to class.

When they made it to the door of the classroom, they opened it and walked to their seats. Rono searches around the room to find his friends. The strange thing about this was the fact that they were all looking at him suspiciously. All except for Osaka, she was doing her own thing by spacing out, that's Osaka for you.

"Hey guys, sorry that I didn't stay here for lunch today."

"Don't worry about." Yomi said.

"But more importantly, what were you talking about with those guys?" Tomo asked.

"You mean them?" He pointed to Tod and Kanaye from across the room.

"We were just...talking about...guy stuff."

"You mean like switching porn mags?" Tomo said.

"No, what's that?" Rono said being completely clueless.

"You really are clueless, aren't you?" Tomo said.

"What is she talking about, Miss Yomi?" Chiyo asked Yomi.

"Gah! Ignore what she said! It's nothing!" Yomi said in a panicked way.

"I'm curious too, what's a porn mag?" Osaka said.

"Can you just please stop mentioning that!" Yomi yelled.

"Anyways, the stuff we were talking about is private. It's better if I kept it in secret, especially to you. You'll just spread rumors everywhere."

"No I won't!" Tomo said.

"You literally told some boy's crush that he had feeling for her as soon as you found out last year!" Yomi said.

"But hey! At least they both went out with each other the next day, right?"

"You got lucky that time. But you could of ruined that guy's life if she didn't accept him."

"Imagine this, what if you were that boy, how would you feel?"

"I don't know, I doubt that anyone would like me." Tomo said.

"Well, the possibilities are endless." Rono said, causing the others to look baffled.

The teacher came in and everyone sat back to their seat immediately, causing the next period to start. The whole time when class started, Sakaki wondered what he meant by his last statement. More importantly, she felt that something big might be going on with him. The thought that they both promised to never keep secret between the two, made her worry if he was about to break the promise they made eight years ago.

When school ended, the Azu-girls and Rono walk home together. Like always, they all start conversations of various topics while Sakaki and Rono listened to them whole time keeping quiet while they both walk side by side.

When they made it to the point where they had to split up to go to their neighborhoods, Sakaki and Rono decided to take Chiyo home. Just make sure she makes it home safe.

"You know, you don't have to walk me home everyday. I must be wasting your time, am I not?" Chiyo said.

"Oh course not Chiyo, right Sakaki?" Rono asked the silent and tall girl.

She nods to him meaning that it was no problem.

"I'm glad." Chiyo was relieved.

After making it to Chiyo's enormous house, they stay with her until someone opens up the gate and door. She presses on the intercom button and waits for her mother to respond. And so, she did, she then waves good bye to her two friends and walk to her front door where her mother was waiting. Sakaki and Rono look at Chiyo from afar until the gate closes. From that point forward, it was time to walk back. First stop was going to be Sakaki's house, which they just passed by when they accompanied Chiyo.

All of a sudden, Sakaki has the urge to ask Rono as to what was going on with him. Why the mysterious attitude that he was showing at school.

"Rono." Sakaki said breaking the silence.

"Mhm?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"Of course I am, what makes you say that all of a sudden?"

She hesitated of saying as to why she had asked.

"I thought that you might still be...a little ill."

"Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine."

Rono wasn't convinced, he knew Sakaki was hiding something. He could just feel it.

"You're hiding something are you?" Rono said.

Sakaki's eyes widened when he knew that was her lie.

"If you have something to ask me about then spit it out! Besides, we made that promise remember?" Rono said causing her to blush.

He remembers after all! She thought in surprise.

"W-well...I do have...this question I wanted to ask you." She said with her blush fading away.

"Then let it out." He said.

"What were you talking about with those boys downstairs?"

He stopped walking and stood at current his place. He breathes in and out.

"You really want to know?"

Sakaki nodded, she was confident this time, but afraid that he would snap. Which is highly unlikely for that to happen.

"Promise me that you won't tell anyone else?"

She lifted up her hand and pretended to seal a zipper on her mouth, meaning that she won't tell anyone.

"Good." He breathes in and out once again before telling her the truth.

"It turns out..."

Sakaki leans in closer to him paying fully attention.

"That a certain someone...has a crush on one of our friends."

"Which of our friends?" She asked.

"Try guessing." Rono said.

Right now, they both start walking again while Sakaki tries guessing.

"Yomi?"

"No, it's one of our noisy friends."

"No way!" Sakaki said being surprised.

"It's Tomo, at first, I thought he was lying but he was dead serious."

"Aw, that's cute, the fact that someone is crushing on Tomo. But what was the reason why he wanted to talk to you?"

"He wanted me tell him the things Tomo likes and dislikes. Sadly, I just told him her favorite foods and the things she does practically everyday."

"So you were giving him tips too?"

"Yeah, I just told him to just talk to her since he made a good impression on her last time at the hallway."

"Wait, you're telling me that he's the guy that likes her?" Sakaki said.

"Exactly, it then made sense why he volunteered to help her out."

Before they knew it, they were now at Sakaki's house.

"See you tomorrow Sakaki." Rono said.

"Oh and Rono." Sakaki said.

"Yes?"

"By any chance...do you think...I could help you too?"

"Well, I guess so. I'll just have to tell Kanaye about it."

"Great, I'm looking forward to help!" She smiled at him.

"Me too, see you at school." He smiled back.

"Goodbye Rono."

Sakaki gets inside her house leaving Rono on his own to walk to his apartment building. The fact that he had to go home, made him happy because someone was waiting for him.

When he opened the door of his apartment, the first thing that he saw was Neko-san waiting for him in front of the door.

"Neko-san!" He said happily.

He squats down and she jumps into his arms. Rono pets her around the neck causing her to purr.

"You hungry again?"

Oddly, she nods. One of the strangest things about her is that she actually makes different kinds of expressions when Rono asks her something, like food for example. It's like she fully understands the human language.

He takes out the cat food and pours it in one of Neko-san's bowl, he also pours clean water in her other bowl. Immediately after the water, she goes over to her two plates and starts eating. Rono goes to her litter box and finds out that it's been used. It is then decided that he would clean it before it's get full. It wasn't because of the odor, it wouldn't be a problem since the litter box he brought was the special kind which prevents odor.

After cleaning it, he takes a shower after the long and tiring day and then starts his homework. But before he started, he thought of something, about the upcoming events that awaits for him.

"Something tells me, that things will be interesting during high school."