It's been 2 weeks now since I'd met Sayaka. I've waited every day by the same bridge we'd met at, but I never see her. Perhaps it was just an odd occasion. I wouldn't blame her. My first impression was a pile of garbage, but, then again, she provoked me. Anyway, it drove me into a deep sadness. Why did I even care so much what she thought and what was the stupid feeling that wouldn't go away? Was Kyubey right? Was I in love? Speaking of the little devil, he sure pursues a lot in order for me to make a good second impression: He'd somehow unlock the doors to the public bath houses at night, so I could actually clean myself and even gave me some money to wash my street clothes (I didn't dare ask how he got it or from where).
But, then again, what if we did become friends? What would happen if she found out I was just some kid that's runaway from home? Would she think I were sponging off her kindness or something? That I was a beggar? It hurt to think that's all she would think of me, or anyone would for that matter.
"Sakura-san" chimed the furry being, "What if you were to go to her school? There's an excellent way to getting to know her. Apparently, she goes to the Mitakihara Middle school. The uniform is most definitely from there".
"Nice idea, hair-ball, but how the heck am I even supposed to get in there? I'm not registered and I hear you're supposed to take some test to even get into some schools".
"No worries, I can help you with that".
"Pssh, you're a cat. What do you know about Maths and English?".
"Far more than you realize. I was brought up in a lab and learned a fair bit from each of the scientists who worked on me. Before I had escaped, I managed to achieve a fairly high level of intelligence".
"You can... read and stuff?".
"Rather well".
"... Sometimes I feel like I really am going insane. What's to say you're a figment of my imagination? Or someone's taunting me, like my dad".
"That reminds me, Sakura-san, you never explained what happened with you and your family. Why did you run away?".
"I...m-my dad...l-look, we'll leave that for another time. Are you gonna help me then or not?".
"Certainly. We'll get started right now".
I have only less than a month to prepare for the up coming examination. While I did already know some basics, some stuff Kyubey taught me was way above my understanding, some of which I thought wasn't even relevant to the test. When is a 14 year old gonna have to explain the Pythagoras Theorem? Whatever the hell that triangle, square root of, mumbo-jumbo was...
Unbelievably however, I feel confident and I'm pumped up for it. Kyubey returns back to the warehouse one day with a brown bag.
"What's that?".
"Open and see" he purrs.
A surprise I'm guessing. For a cat, he sure had been a decent tutor. Was this an early reward? Was this something to show his appreciation for-
"This... Kyubey this is a Gakuran" I blandly confirm for him.
"Correct".
Kyubey flies back across the room, as a pillow is thrown at him in agitation.
"Are you kidding me?! Why didn't you get me a girl's uniform? Are you thick?".
"Think about it" insists the white fleabag, ruffling his coat from the assault. "Your attraction to Sayaka is homosexual. You realize that is still taboo for some people in society, and you may not even know if she has prejudices, so why not play it safe and dress as a male for the time being? You might earn her attraction better that way as well".
Flushing furiously, I explode, "Ho-Homose- I'm not gay! I just wanna be friends with her! What's so hard to understand about that?".
"Be serious, Sakura-san. Your behavior towards her upon the meeting was undoubtedly awkward for a reason. If you wanted merely friendship, wouldn't things have gone a lot smoother? What is there to prove?".
"That I'm not some homeless bum!".
"Unless you tell me your reason for that, there's nothing I can do to help you. Besides if things don't go well, I'll help say for you that you're being transferred and we can end it there and we'll never mention the ordeal again".
...
"There's nothing to lose".
"Except your head and my pride".
"I'll even help you out at school. I'll be in the ventilation and see you at break times. Wanna give it a shot?".
I grumble, reluctant. My god, what am I doing?
Trying on the Gakuran is bizarre, the way it fits loose in some places, tight in others. Admittedly, I also feel... comfortable. I prop up a chipped, antique mirror to catch a glance at myself.
"This is ridiculous. It'll never work".
"Nonsense. We'll cut your hair to make you more convincing".
"Touch my hair, you die! And just look at me! My breasts stick out too. People are gonna notice".
"You just need to bind them. I'll gather you some supplies to make your chest appear flat".
Thinking about wearing this thing, even seeing Sayaka in school, makes my stomach knot painfully. I can't imagine myself...
"Wait, what do I do when I'm in the locker room?".
"Just use the toilet cubicle. A lot of people do that right?"
...I can't believe I'm doing this.
That's what I kept thinking to myself as we proceed on with this: Kyubey's bound my chest with bandages and tape.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
He's sat me down to cut my hair, even casually flinging to the ground, just visible at the corner of my eye, my pony tail.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
He fixes up my appearance and shows me myself in the dusty, cracked mirror.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
We stride up to the entrance of Mitakihara school, bright and early, after passing the exam.
I. can't. believe. I'm. doing. This.
End of Part Two