~Time Setting: High School Second Year~

(Kouji's P.O.V.)

It had been raining nearly all night. The day so far had been gloomy to most. The rain never really bothered me as much as it did others. It had luckily paused as I needed to finish walking to school. The train could only take me so far.
Usually I met with Kouichi on the train and we walked together. Since it was raining today, I had text him saying I was leaving earlier so I wouldn't be late. He had replied that he agreed as well, and had left earlier too but was forced to run back home to fetch an important paper he had forgotten since it was due today. Either way, he should make it to school on time.

Despite the cool rain, I had left my uniform jacket wide open as it usually was. My briefcase like book carrier I was holding over my shoulder, bored with carrying it. It wasn't the same walking to school without Kouichi.

I sighed as I walked. The street looked nearly deserted due to the rain that was probably only paused for a few moments. In fact, the only few people I did see along the way looked like a small gang of older high schoolers. From a different school I noticed, considering how their uniforms were different from mine in both color and missing school insignia. Their uniforms were a simple dark blue while mine was black as night. They looked like the typical gang members. Rolled up sleeves and slicked back hair. All of them pretty ugly looking.

My plain expression as I walked by them seemed to upset a few of them, but what did I care. I didn't know them and didn't honestly care if they thought badly of me.

"Did you see that?!", I heard one of the gang cry out in an uproar.

"Yeah man! That private school snob totally just glared at us!", I heard another say.

I was nearly out of earshot by the time I heard a faint "Let's get him.".

(Kouichi's P.O.V.)

I had forgotten an important history paper at home. I couldn't believe it. I should have remembered it wasn't in the book. I ran all the way home and found it just sitting there right where I had left it. After placing it into my bag as fast as I could, I hurried to make my way to the train as fast as I could. It was only a twenty minute train ride, but with this rain, I didn't want to get soaked. Luckily the rain had paused for a moment so I made it to the train station without getting wet.

My luck quickly changed during the train ride. During the twenty minutes on the train, the rain had started again. I stood at the door of the train station frowning as I watched the rain pouring down. I sighed as I suddenly wished I had an umbrella. We only had one at home so I had made mother take it instead of using it myself.

I looked at my watch and noticed that I needed to get going or risk being late to school. I took a deep breath before dashing out. I figured if I ran, I would get less wet. Really though, that wasn't working…

(Kouji's P.O.V.)

"I'll teach you to hurt my guys!", the leader of the gang said as he punched me right in the stomach.

I gasped a little as I felt such pain in my center. My mouth was wide open as I breathed heavily for air. I felt the cold rain falling over my face, but that didn't matter. The gang had attacked me due to my "glaring at them". I had taken out three of the five easily, but one had snuck up behind me thanks to the rain hindering all senses. Now I was being choke held by an idiot as his ugly leader punched me over and over. A rookie mistake I had made. I should have paid more attention to their numbers, but thanks to the rain, the fifth had caught me.

"How's this!?", the leader asked as he punched me square in the face.

I felt a little blood slide down my chin as I smirked.

"Is that all you got?", I taunted, not having anything better to do.

I wasn't going to let him get to me. I wasn't going to let them be satisfied by seeing me in pain or anything else. Besides, I had been hit worse than this by digimon. Honestly, my brother had hit me far worse than this loser ever could. I smirked as I glared more at him, causing him to flinch slightly. He went to punch me again, but this time, I lifted up my leg to kick him. I had enough of being hit like that. My foot landed right where his face was, causing him to step back and grab his nose. I heard him yelling something incoherent through his hands as he held his nose tightly. Despite the hard rain, I saw some blood on his hand. I had clearly broken his nose.

"Boss!", the lackey holding me cried as his leader was now in pain.

The boss lowered his hands and showed off that broken nose, which I thought made his ugly face look a little better.

"I'm going to cut up that perfect face of yours!", the leader screamed as he grabbed a switchblade from his pocket and flipped it open.

(Kouichi's P.O.V.)

I heard the splashing of the water beneath my feet as I sprinted from the train stop to the school. Sadly it was a ten minute walk from to the school, which meant that by running there, it would still be at least five minutes. Not a lot of people were out now since the path me and Kouji usually took wasn't through the normal streets. We had discovered the side pathways through the town on a Saturday afternoon so that we knew the fastest way to head to school. It was useful in case the trains were running late or for moments like these. Really though, it was just easier to take this way than the longer more traveled route.

I could barely see anything too far in front of me thanks to the rain becoming more thick. That was when I heard someone yelling.

"I'm going to cut up that perfect face of yours!"

I stopped when I heard such a horrible thing screamed with rage. I looked ahead and squinted my eyes to try and see where it was coming from.

I finally saw who had been screaming. A large man with a knife! He was going to cut someone too, but I couldn't see who it was he was going to attack.

(Kouji's P.O.V.)

I squirmed, trying to get free, but sadly I wasn't able to kick the creep again since he was now too far to the left of me. I could only watch as the knife quickly made its way to my cheek.

I shut my eyes, not caring to watch the deed happen.

That was when I suddenly heard the sound of someone being slammed into. When I opened my eyes, I saw my reflection staring at me through the hard cold rain.

No.

This was Kouichi!

"Kouichi?!", I yelled, both questioning it as well as sort of mad.

"Boss!", the thug holding me cried as he saw his leader on the ground.

"LET HIM GO!", I heard Kouichi scream as he rushed the gang member who was still holding me.

The guy let go of me instantly, but it was too late. My upset twin punched him in the center, sending him back a little. I was finally set free. I nearly fell over from the suddenness of it all. I felt Kouichi grab my arm as he picked up my bag that had been dropped onto the wet ground. Before I knew it, the two idiots ran off, leaving the other members still unconscious on the ground in the rain. I barely even heard the losers cussing as they fled, not wanting to fight two since that would make it a fair fight. That or maybe seeing a doppelganger had scared them.

I looked up at the mad looking Kouichi. I had only seen him mad a few times before, but he looked very upset and yet, didn't speak a single word since his little outburst a few moments before.

"…. Thanks….", I said simply, not being a total jerk as to forget to thank him.

I hated to admit being saved by him, but then again, I was glad it was him and not some idiot like Takuya. Despite the thanks, he still said nothing to me. He did squeeze my hand though before he started walking, pulling me along with him. He still had my bag in his hands, carrying it with his own.

By the time we had reached school, he still had said nothing to me. I reached up to make sure the blood was off my chin before we passed through the school gates. We made it into the building just before the bell rung for the first time. I didn't understand why he was so mad, but thinking about it did nothing but make me mad as well. I took my bag from him as we walked into school in silence. My hand was let go as we were at the school lockers. I took a towel I had stored in there from kendo practice the other day and dried myself with it a little. It was better than nothing really.

"Here…", I muttered, placing the towel on Kouichi's head before checking my bag to make sure my homework and books were safe.

"…. Sorry I was late….", I heard my twin muttered back to me.

I looked up at him, noticing that guilty look he always gave when he thought I wasn't looking. I hated that look.

"… Nii-san….", I breathed out in a sigh.

Kouichi looked up at me, noticing what I had called him. He chuckled just a little and tried to smile, though I knew it was a fake.

"… I won't forget my homework at home anymore.", he stated, as if vowing it to me.

"Alright…", was all I could say in return along with my frown.

I moved closer and dried my twin's hair for him with the towel since he was being so slow about it.

"… Can I come over after school?", I asked, knowing that would cheer him up for sure.

"Yeah… We can watch our show together.", Kouichi said with a more genuine smile.

I nodded at that and tossed the towel into my locker after grabbing my school shoes and hurried to slip them on. Kouichi already had his shoes on and so was checking his own homework now. Luckily, both our bags had protected the books and papers inside well enough. Once my locker was shut, I looked over at my twin.

"Ready?", I questioned, being ready myself now.

"Yes.", he nodded with a smile.

I smiled a little back at him as we hurried before the next bell rang. My stomach was sore from being hit and my face would be bruised soon enough, but that wouldn't keep me from class. I didn't want to see the look on my twin's face if I headed to the nurse.

I didn't want to see that guilty look anymore.