Reaching for the Stars

Part III, Chapter 6

It was 7:55 AM in the cafeteria of Ohashi High. Kouji Haruta, just like the rest of the hundred or so students hanging about the place were minding their own business. Seated beside him was Noto Hisamitsu, one of the friends Kouji had made since he had transferred from Osaka a number of months ago. The two of them were chatting about nonsense, in almost the same fashion he had done when he was still in Osaka. This time though, there were no cynical remarks and no intellectual counterarguments. There was only total agreement.

"Yuri-chan's a nice teacher," Kouji would say, "but man, English is so tough."

"I know what you mean." Noto would reply, "English does get pretty boring at times."

Despite these agreements though, Noto's grades were significantly higher than Kouji's, but their laziness was more or less at the same level.

Also in the cafeteria was a group of delinquents. Four or five of them were standing in formation by the entrance. They had been talking about the spoils of their previous ventures and were planning their next ones just for the heck of it. They were tough, muscular guys clad in studded leather jackets, chains and shades who more or less scared the living daylights out of the Ohashi High students. The teachers would love to reprimand them, but they didn't do anything bad inside of school. They were just standing there, after all. Outside of school though was a different story, and teachers have no jurisdiction over them there.

It was at around that time that a certain small girl walked into the cafeteria with a fierce determination, wanting to grab a juice box before Homeroom began. In her furious rush, she bumped into one of the delinquents and all eyes were turned to them.

"Oh shoot…" Kouji whispered, tapping Noto in the shoulder, "That girl just ran into those dudes…"

"This is bad…" Noto agreed, "We should…"

"GET OUT OF MY WAY, JACKASS!" The girl then cried angrily, frightening the delinquent she had run into. He and the other delinquents then retreated sheepishly and the whole room was amazed.

"I think we're going to have a new queen of the campus." Kouji said with a grin. "Small, beautiful and absolutely terrifying… Palmtop Tiger."

There in that moment, the infamous title of Taiga Aisaka was coined by Kouji Haruta. It was one for the history books.

"Could she be that girl Koigakubo-sensei was talking about?" Noto asked

"I don't know." Kouji said, "But she could be. That'll make for an interesting year."

"Alright class," Said Yuri as she tried to silence the rowdy 1-T classroom, "As you know, our transfer student from Tokyo is finally here so please try to behave. Uhm, Aisaka-san, you may come in now."

At her cue, the same small girl Kouji and Noto had seen walked into the classroom dejectedly with her juice box still in hand. Her grumpy face and frightening aura made the students in the front row cringe, but made Kouji all the more excited.

"This is Taiga Aisaka," Yuri said, doing the introduction for her, "She will be your classmate from now on."

A number of people tried to say hello, but were afraid of the girl replying with vulgar shouting. They just kept their silence. Kouji however, being the clown that he was, wasn't afraid and was the only person in class to rise up to greet the newcomer.

"Welcome to our class Aisaka-san." He said with an unflinching smile. Yuri was surprised, Noto was intrigued, Aisaka was dazed and the class felt like the Apocalypse was about to take place.

"What the…" Taiga grumbled, having expected the whole class to stay silent, "you're not, afraid of me?"

"Of course not." Kouji said proudly, "You're the Palmtop Tiger. Small and beautiful, like you would fit in a hand, and absolutely fierce like a tiger!"

At this point, Yuri and a number of the 1-T students had fainted and Taiga was shivering in absolute rage.

"You're like a pop idol or something!" Kouji added as if it were nothing, "Ain't that nice?"

"Why you!" Taiga roared, but Kouji's misguided confidence only inflated

"Oh, perfect, perfect." Kouji smirked, "I can see the Tiger part really clearly now."

"You've crossed the line buddy." Taiga roared again, "EAAAAARGH!"

Pushing aside a number of students and desks, Taiga pounced at the confident Kouji who was already running out of the classroom.

"Catch me if you can!" He cried, fueling the girl's anger.

Thus, an epic chase took place in the first year wing of Osaka High. Shocked by the furious screaming and out-of-place laughing, classes were interrupted left and right and students peered out of the classroom to see what the hell was going on. Kouji and Taiga zipped down the hallway as Kouji ran away from Taiga's kicks. The girl then stopped, took of her shoes and threw them at the running man, barely missing him by an inch. Having lost her restraining shoes, the girl now ran at top speed and was catching up to Kouji.

Taiga closed the distance between her and Kouji and prepared to launch herself in a flying kick. By the time she was in striking distance, they had reached the 1-A classroom where Ryuji, Satoshi and Yuusaku were watching along with their peers. Kouji then caught a glimpse of Satoshi and vice versa, but immediately turned his attention to his own safety. Then, the girl went for the kill and went airborne.

"Oh crap…" Satoshi grumbled, as the classmates behind him, Ryuji and Yuusaku accidentally pushed them into interdiction range, "This isn't going to be a good day."

WHAM!

The kick smacked the trio with such force that they could have swore they were flying for a moment. The girl hissed, irritated that the three got in her way and carried on the chase. Lying there on the hallway floor, the three men were now surrounded by their worried classmates.

"Are you three alright?" Minori asked, kneeling down before them, "Well... you aren't exactly alright..."

"Argh…" Satoshi moaned, rubbing his sore chest

"Dang…" Ryuji grumbled, "We should go to the infirmary…"

The two were writing in pain, having been subject to an incredible amount of force. Their third companion, who received just about the same amount of punishment from the flying kick however wasn't moaning or grumbling.

"Whoa…" Yuusaku said almost as if he were amazed. His glasses had flown off and were broken, but his eyes seemed more delighted than pained. "That was… amazing."

Ryuji and Satoshi then turned to him and wondered what the hell was going on through their friend's mind. Minori however just smiled. Indeed, it was going to be an interesting year.

To Be Continued

Epilogue

"Vice President Kano," a freshman member of the Student Council said as he entered a sophomore classroom, "come out here quick!"

Getting out of her seat, the Vice President walked over to the classroom entrance and asked the freshman what was going on."

"There's a commotion going on in the Freshman wing."

"Is there, now?" Replied the Vice President.

"Yes," The freshman said, explaining the situation to her in detail, "what should we do?"

"Assemble the disciplinary committee!" Kano then said authoritatively, "I want to have a chat with those troublemakers."

"Right away." The man said

"Oh, and bring in those three fellows who got nailed too." Kano added, "They're effectively witnesses, so we'll need them on board."

"Very well."

The man left and the girl returned to her seat.

"Troublemakers, huh." Kano said to herself, "I might as well have a little fun, then."