Tottori High loomed above Tohru almost ominously. The brunette gulped, scared, as a sea of students washed past her and up the steps into the school. Well Mom, I'm here. I don't want to be, but I know it's something you would've wanted me to do. To protect them. To thank them. I'm so scared though, what if this is one of the worst mistakes I ever made? What if...if I'm the onigiri again?
Just be yourself.
The words washed over Tohru, her mother's soft voice whispering in the frightened girl's ear. Just be yourself, don't try to be someone your not. When you try to be someone else, it never works out. Make sure people see you for who you are, especially in your heart, and remember to smile. It helps improve face value. Tohru looked up from the ground, her eyes passing over the gray skirt she was now forced to wear and another white, button up shirt, and towards the looming red doors of Tottori. She could do this, she could. She had her mom rooting for her, and she knew if the Sohma's had half a clue as to her location then they would be cheering her on too.
Just be yourself.
A different voice than her mother's whispered in her ear, a male voice that had made her feel so at home when she first moved in with the Sohma's. Yuki, I'm so sorry, I had to. She apologized mentally, her eyes downcast as she trudged up the stairs towards the front doors. The office was right at the door, and she went up to the lady behind the counter.
"Hello?" she spoke, and the woman smiled.
"Oh, you must be the new girl. Welcome to Tottori! We've been expecting you, Miss Honda. Here's your schedule and a map of the school. If you need anything, just ask any of the other students, I'm sure they will be more than helpful." the lady said brightly. "And if you have any further questions, just ask me. I'm Mrs. Toyo, by the way. Class starts in five minutes so I'd say you better run off to class. Oh, and before I forget. Your locker number is on the top of your schedule, and it has your combo too. Each of your teachers should have a textbook for you, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the school year."
"Um, thank you, Ms. Toyo, goodbye." Tohru stuttered, turning away from the receptionist. A long hallway loomed before her, and Tohru hesitantly started down the hall.
"Kima, love your purse, so cute!"
"Dude, we are going to beat Orashima High next game, got it?"
"You gotta be kidding me, a ten thousand word essay on the survival of Aborigine culture?"
Tohru heard the swirling voices as she walked, nervously looking about her for class 128. She didn't know how the classroom could have such a high number, usually it was just 2-A or something similar! Tohru found herself a dead end, and twirled around in confusion. She was lost, absolutely lost. She turned the map upside down, trying to figure out where she was on the map.
"Um..." she bit her lip, completely unsure.
"Hey, you lost?" a voice asked.
"Yes, I am." Tohru sighed, looking at the ground in disappointment.
"Ah, don't sweat it. Tottori's kinda big, all the freshmen get lost on orientation." the guy before her laughed. "I'm Hojo." he smiled.
"Tohru." she replied gratefully.
"Where you trying to go, Tohru?" Hojo asked curiously.
"128." she responded.
"You must be new." he snorted.
"Is it that obvious?" Tohru asked quietly, feeling like curling into a corner and disappearing. I wonder if the ground really can open up and swallow me. She mused.
"Just a little bit." Hojo chuckled. "128's on the other side of the school, but I can get how you got lost. The numbers jump all over the place around here. 130's just to your right, but 128...yeah. Come on, I'll show you the way."
"Thank you so much, it's all a bit..."
"Crazy? Insane? Impossible?" Hojo replied.
"...Exactly." she breathed.
"Tottori's a little weird, but I'm sure you'll get used to it. Why did you transfer in the middle of the year? Seems like a bad idea."
"I didn't have a choice in the matter." Tohru replied honestly.
"Aw, sorry." Hojo said sympathetically.
"Oh no, don't be!" Tohru said quickly. "I'm sure I'm going to love this school. And it's school color is yellow! Such a bright and happy color, just makes a person feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, don't you think so?"
"Hm." Hojo said thoughtfully. "Never really thought about it that way."
"My mom said you had to find the silver lining in everything. If you let something get you down, then you're missing out on all the happiness you could be having." Tohru responded brightly.
"Your mom sounds like a cool lady." Hojo smiled.
"She was." Tohru said softly, her blue eyes falling to the floor.
"Oh jeez, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, please don't worry about it." Tohru shook her head. "It's fine."
"Well, here's your first class." Hojo said grandly, trying to find a way to come back from his unknowing slip up. "Make sure to tell the teacher you're new, and enjoy class!" he said.
"I will, thank you so much for helping me." Tohru smiled, entering the noisy classroom.
"Take your seats! Take your seats!" the teacher demanded, and Tohru's new classmates all scurried to their desks. "You! Why are you still standing?" the teacher snapped, turning to Tohru.
"I-I'm new." she stuttered.
"I've been expecting you. Tohru Honsa, right?"
"Honda." Tohru corrected automatically.
"I'm close. Take a seat next to Jain, wave Jain!" a timid looking black haired boy raised his hand. "Take your seat. I'm Ms. Fujida, now move it." the teacher said, motioning for Tohru to move along.
"Uh, yes ma'am, thank you." Tohru said in a rush, bowing quickly and then hurrying towards her desk.
"Open up your textbook to 283, we're going to be reading about Vectors and how to multiply, divide, add, and subtract them."
"Aw!"
"Seriously?"
"It's to early."
"SHUT YOUR MOUTHS! Stop complaining for once and focus on your studies. This will further your education by leaps and bounds, and will help you become successful in the future!" the teacher snapped, glaring at her students for any smart mouthed come backs. As Ms. Fujida suspected, no one retorted. "Better. What kind of parental supervision do you have? No honor among this generation, not at all."
"No wonder she's still single." someone near Tohru snorted.
"Is she..." Tohru trailed off.
"Always that mean? Pretty much." Jain shrugged. "Sorry you got stuck with Fujida for homeroom, she's not exactly the nicest person in the school."
"Why is she so nasty?" Tohru asked, confused.
"Lots of stories." Jain rolled his eyes. "It goes from being jilted to someone taking her favorite teddy bear as a child. No one knows for sure. But we do know, never, repeat ever make her furious. Her temper's that of legend." Jain said, a trace of awe in his voice. Tohru giggled, and then turned back to her new teacher. I wonder why she's so mean. I bet it has to do with something sad, I know I wanted to be mean to everyone after Mama passed away...Maybe she just didn't have anyone to help her.
"And your homework is on the following page, now get out of my sight!" Ms. Fujida shouted over the loud ring of the school bell.
"What's your next class?" Jain asked, packing up his backpack.
"Mr. Kurosawa." Tohru replied after consulting her schedule.
"Cool, I have him too." Jain grinned. "He's math, fun right? Right when you think your brain can take a break, bam! More math." Tohru laughed, and chatted with her new found friend as they moved to their next class. This school was absolutely crazy! Classes were everywhere, lockers were impossible to find, and Tohru was lucky she had Jain to help her out. Lunch rolled around, and Tohru sat with Jain and his group. There was a girl named Hiromi with long black hair kept coiled in a braid and wide brown eyes, a guy named Atsushi who was the captain of the school's kendo team, Hojo who was surprised (and happy) to see her again, and a shy girl named Moriko who's blond hair and green eyes were out of place in the cafeteria filled with brown and black haired people.
"Her mom's American, her dad's Japanese. She got more of her mom than dad." Hojo had explained with a smile. Moriko smiled, but didn't respond. "She's our exotic beauty, aren't you, Moriko?" Hojo jested, and the blond laughed.
"I'm not exotic." she finally said. "I'm just unique. It's nice to meet you, Tohru."
"I'm so sorry your mom passed away." Hiromi spoke up. "That stinks, are you okay?" Tohru gasped at the raven haired girl. How did she know? How? "Hojo told me." Hiromi explained.
"Why did...?" Tohru questioned, confused.
"They were going to find out eventually. And it's kinda weird for someone to start here in the middle of the year." Hojo shrugged. Tohru kept silent. They think I'm here because my mother died? It's definitely easier than the truth...She decided to let them believe that.
"So Tohru, you any good at kendo?" Atsushi grinned.
"No, not really. I'd end up scoring points on myself than the other guy!"
"Typical girl, thinks her place belongs in the home." Atsushi shook his head sadly. "But hey, can you make good food?"
"Atsushi!" Hiromi reprimanded, slapping him playfully. "Think with your head, not your stomach!"
"Sorry, sorry." Atsushi yelped, and Hiromi nodded approvingly.
"It's alright, it's fine." Tohru said, waving away the apology quickly. "Maybe I could make you something sometime." Tohru mused to herself. "Miso soup and rice balls."
"Yum, absolutely heavenly!" Atsushi sighed happily. Tohru giggled, things were turning out okay after all! You were right, mom. I just had to be myself. I've been blessed with new friends, and this school seems like a good one. As long as I'm careful with Ms. Fujida, everything should turn out fine!