"Onii-san, you fill the paperwork and everything, right?" I asked nervously. I had just received the school uniform yesterday when Aki came back with it. I was going to go tomorrow, on Wednesday. It was already September 28, making me almost five entire months late to school. Well, it wasn't like I cared or anything, since I did learn all the lessons at home with Aki-nii, so I wasn't really behind. If more than anything, I could be in the same grade as Haru and Mako as a second-year. But then I'd definitely be the youngest for sure. So I had left the choice up to onii-san.
"What year am I going into, ne?" I asked. He looked up from his newspaper at me and smiled.
"I thought you said either grade was fine," Aki chuckled.
"I'm just really curious," muttering I was about to walk out of the kitchen when he held up a sheet of paper, waving it in the air. I lunged for it and scurried out of the kitchen. I glanced at the paper and felt a smile tugging my face.
Transfer Student –
Haruno Megumi
Age: 16
School: Iwatobi High
Class: 2 – 1
"Yes! I'm a second year!" Then a thought crossed my mind. "Hmm, I don't even know what class Haru and Mako are in."
"Ano…" I poked my head through the teachers' lounge with Aki-nii right behind me. We probably looked weird since only our heads were exposed: his head above mine, which were both poking through the small space that I had created with the sliding door.
All their heads swivelled towards us with shocked expressions.
"I'm looking for…" I poked Aki's arm behind the door and he took the hint.
"Amakata-sensei." Aki finished for me. The teachers all looked around searching for the teacher.
"She probably already went to her classroom. Are uh… both of you a new student?" A male teacher stood up. Aki pushed the door open and stopped forward, handing his hand out for a hand shake.
"Kon'nichiwa! My little sister Haruno Megumi will be attending school for the first time today! She skipped a grade, and now is a second-year. Megumi-chan also has a heart condition, so everyone, please look after her." Aki bowed and I followed suit. In response, the teachers all smiled and waved. I shyly waved back, uncomfortable in the new territory.
"I'll show you the way to class, Haruno-chan." The same man walked towards me, shaking my hand. I smiled at him, following him out the door. Aki took his cue and left for work.
Soon enough, we stood outside of class 2–1. Feeling more nervous than ever being at school, my hands and legs were wobbly. The nervous kind of adrenaline pumped through me.
"Ano, Sensei? I don't feel good." I looked up to the teacher that had led me here. He smiled at me gently before knocking on the door and opening it.
"Ama-sensei, your new student is here." He gently pushed me in as I tried to resist by digging my heels into the floor.
"You'll be fine. Trust me! The students and teachers here are really kind," he whispered, putting in more force behind his push. I stumbled a little bit, causing me to walking into the classroom as Ama-sensei stopped talking. Everyone's eyes were glued on to me. Feeling my heart begin to pound irregularly, I grabbed space above my chest of the white short-sleeved button-down, which was underneath my black blazer. Be still, please. Calm down, my heart.
"Oh, that's right! We have a new student today. Please introduce yourself!" A kind voice reached my ears. I looked up and found a short, childish-looking teacher with brown eyes and short brown hair.
"Mei-chan!" A familiar voice called out to me. I looked around to see Mako waving his hand. In the seat next to him was Haru.
"Ano… Um… M-my name is uh… Haruno Megumi. This is my first time attending school. I-I'll be in your care!" I quickly bowed. When I lifted my head back up, I noticed that most of the students were boys. They were all looking at me with flowers or hearts in their eyes, and honestly, it creeped me out. I didn't think that my were looks were special: I had straight black hair down to my shoulders; teal-colored eyes; a cute button nose; and a petite figure that was only 5'4" in height.
"Any questions?" Ama-sensei asked. Immediately, hands shot up. She pointed to one by one in an order.
"Is this really your first time attending school?" One asked.
"Well, my second time. I never went to elementary, but I did spend a year and a half in middle school. This is my first time back."
"What do you like to do?"
"Erm… sports."
"What do you look for in a boyfriend?" The class burst into laughter as more boys joined in. "Yeah! What do you look for in a guy?" What the heck?!
"Erm… uh…. ano… A kind and smart guy?" Many of them smiled as they pointed to themselves.
"That's me! I'm kind and smart!" I looked at Ama-sensei for help. She gently smiled and point to an empty desk in front of Haru, next to the window. I walked over and sat down, grateful for it to be done.
"Kon'nichiwa, Mei-chan," Mako whispered leaning forward in his desk. I was already twitching, and his sudden voice didn't help the situation.
Turns out, the mathematics, literature, and history lessons that Ama-sensei was teaching were stuff that I learned last year with onii-san. So I doodle in my notebook, not paying much attention – since I could multitask – until she called my name.
"Haruno-chan, could you please answer this question?" She pointed to the chalkboard. I stood up walking towards it. 5xy + (8y ÷ 2y) = 4x + ?
Oh my god, this is way too easy. I scribbled the answer down without putting much thought into it and then walked away.
"Eto, did you show your work?" I turned around looking at her quizzically.
"I did it in my head?" The class began to whisper in admiration. Just then, the bell rang. I stood, too scared to move at the weird buzzing sound that echoed throughout the school.
"Mei-chan! Let's go eat lunch!" Mako was standing right behind me, causing me to jump a bit. Haru just ignored me as usual. I opened my school bag to find a large bento wrapped in a light pink cloth. I grabbed it just as the door opened with a bang.
"Mako-chan! Haru-chan! Did Mei-chan finally come? I heard some second-years saying how glad they were to be alive cause a new student came in!" Nagi's familiar voice rang out. Soon enough, a body glomped itself onto my back.
"Oomph!" My hip collided with my desk.
"Ah! Nagi-chan! Be careful with Mei-chan!" Mako cried out. Nagi quickly released his grip and grabbed my hips.
"Oh no! Are you hurt? I'm sorry!" For reasons unexplained, my face began to flush. Maybe it was due to the reason that Nagi was holding my hips.
"S-stop! I'm f-fine!" Haru grabbed Nagi by the collar of his blazer, lifting him up easily.
"Stop bothering her."
School ended that day without another incident. I placed everything in my bag and was about to head out when Mako called out, "Let's walk home together, Mei-chan." I turned around to smile only to find Haru standing right in front of me. He held out hand silently. I looked at him quizzically, uncertain of what to do. He sighed.
"You'll get lost if you don't hold someone's hand. It's crowded in the hallways right now." My lips formed a soundless 'O,' surprised at his kind gesture. I could see a faint pink color in his cheeks. I smiled and took his hand, which was surprisingly warm to my cold one. I turned back in time to see Mako smiling sadly at our hands. Nagi and Rei were still squabbling over something, too busy to notice what was happening.
The moment we reached the outskirts of the school, I tried to lightly tug my hand out of his, but his grip was firm so I gave up. The five of us walked in silence until we reached a split road.
"Jā, mata!" Nagisa shouted, waving his hand. He and Rei walked in one direction while Haru, Mako, and I went in the other. Walking in between the tall boys, I felt surprisingly comfortable.
"Mei-chan, how far do you live? I could walk you home," Mako offered with hopeful eyes.
"It's not too far. Just a little bit more down the road." Suddenly Haru stopped, still holding my hand.
"I live here. Come visit if you want. Jā." He let go of my hand and walked up to his house, unlocking the door before disappearing into it. Mako and I continued on. Eight houses down, I pointed to the two story house with an iron gate outlining the spacious yard. I could see the surprised expression on his face. It was one of the three larger houses with a big yard in the neighbourhood.
"Oh wow. I mean, you live here with your family?" Mako inquired.
"Nope. It's just me and onii-san. My mom is with my dad for business. Last I heard, they were in England."
"I live just two houses down from you. If you want, I could pick you up every morning. It's on the way to Haru's." He nervously smiled.
"I would like that. Thanks!" He breathed out a sigh of relief before he leaned forward, hugging me. I stiffened my body, but then relaxed into his arms. I could smell the clean, autumn scent on his blazer. Realizing what he was doing, Mako quickly let go of me. I pushed the gate open and walked up the steps of my house before things got more confusing.
