Chapter 3: When You Realize Life Sucks

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"Um… Hari-chan?"

"…"

"H-Hari-chan?"

"…Huh? You say somethin'?"

Jun's stare was full of concern since the moment he saw me leave my room this morning. We now walked side by side through the streets after taking a bus. Towards my new hell.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you look like the undead about to die again."

"Is it the uniform?"

"No. Just you."

"Drat."

He sighed. "You're making a big deal out of nothing. You look fine. Heck, you even modified it slightly and it suits your appearance."

My dull lifeless eyes glance down slowly at the bastard clothes I am forced to wear. It's true I tricked it up to a style I'm mostly comfortable with. I ditched the stupid bowtie, decided to wear one of my favorite graphic tees that showed midway under my buttoned uniform shirt, punk-ripped tights under the uniform skirt, simple shoes (because I'll soon have to change them out for the school issued ones, ugh!), bracelets, and the blue rose hairclip I bought yesterday.

Still, despite all these changes, I feel like a clone.

"Okay. Let's look at the bright side." I heard my cousin say.

I gave Jun a hard look that simply said, 'What could possibly be bright about all this?'

"You've heard of the sailor uniforms right? Would you rather wear that?"

My horrid expression was eminent. "Oh. God. No."

There's no leeway in uniforms like those. No stylistic freedom! I'd rather die!

So he has a point. I'll give him that.

"…I still hate this uniform."

"Well life's a bitch. You're just gonna have to deal with it."

I guess I can't argue with that either. Fine. I'll deal with it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

That aside, am I looking forward to my new school here? Honestly, no (and I probably never will). But I did prepare myself in making a good first impression to my future classmates. It's only right that I do, moving in not only from a different school, but a different country. I gotta set my place out there, earn a nice reputation.

Thankfully, all the mental gymnastics last night made me forget about yesterday's encounter at the mall's music store. I'm still mad, but hey, I find it as a reminder of how there exists those types of people in the world no matter where you go.

Besides, it's not like I'll ever see him again. He looked like a university student at best.

Not that bad looking either…

…

…

Okay. Yup. I sincerely HOPE I never see him again for as long as I live!

"You brought your schedule right? First things first is to know where your homeroom is. You've already been warned about how different the school system is here compared to the US. All classes are taken in your homeroom, so there's not much moving around, with the exception of PE and lab activities. I'll guide you through the rest of the campus at lunch. Oh yeah, and there are club activities you can participate in, especially one that- Hari-chan? …Oi! Are you even listening?!"

"Ack! Why are you yelling at me? Of course I was listening!"

"Oh yeah? Then what did I just say?"

"Um, something about classes and stuff."

"Stupid! You were spacing out!"

"Hey! I am not stupid and I wasn't spacing out!"

"Yes you were!"

"No I wasn't!"

"You were!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

We were so into our pointless argument, we didn't detect someone coming our way until I was hit pretty hard on my left side.

"Ow! Hey watch i- huh?"

On the ground was a blond headed girl. She was pretty cute, and small, with a tiny pigtail on one side, and judging by her uniform she goes to the same school as us. For some reason, Tia comes to mind when I look at her.

"Oh, Yachi-san! Are you alright? You should be more careful!"

Oh. So Jun knows her too.

"I-I-I-I'm fine! R-Really! I'm so sorry! I-"

She looked up. Her eyes met mine. She instantly went pale.

My mood really must be sour today because one moment she's on the ground, the next she's off like a rocket, screaming about how she's gonna die.

"W-Wait! Yachi-san!" Jun tried calling her back. But it's no use. She's long gone.

Jun sighed, then stared at me. I tensed.

"W-What?"

He shook his head, face blank. "Nothing."

He walked ahead. I got pissed and ran after him.

"What do you mean nothing?! Then what's with that look?"

"We're going to be late."

"Hey! Don't just ignore me like that! Remember who you're talking to!"

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Tsukishima, Kei knows omens well. Even the smallest signs could mean something if you look close enough. Whether they turn out true or not can either be by it's interpretation or superstition.

The tall blond had not been feeling well since Sunday. He knew he wasn't sick. This morning, as he walked the usual route to get to school, he had the urge to look behind him every now and then. He instinctively had his guard up to 150% thinking the moment he lowers it, someone might come at him from a dark corner with a knife or something.

This was stupid. He knew why he was feeling this way. It's even stupider that he's feeling this way because of that.

So what if that foreign girl gave him a look that promised murder. She's just a girl. What can she do?

Tsukishima glared intensely at his book, eyes fixed on that one word he's been staring at for close to five minutes. The music blaring in his headphones drowned out the noisy chatter of his classmates.

She's most likely a tourist, meaning she won't be here long. She'll soon go back to where she came from. He'll probably never see her again.

So why won't he stop thinking about it?!

"Sorry I'm late Tsukki!"

It took nearly all of his willpower not to jump from his seat. He managed to stay completely composed, like always.

"Oh, you were gone? I didn't notice," he responds casually, still focusing on his book, but removes his headphones.

"Wah? How can you say that Tsukkiiiii!" Yamaguchi whined, taking his seat at the desk next to the blond.

Tsukishima stole a sideways glance at his childhood friend. He noticed something in Yamaguchi's hand, a transparent bag tied in a cute bow. In it was filled with cookies.

Macarons this time.

"Yachi is getting pretty skilled at baking. I was really surprised she made this! She must've practiced and worked really hard over the weekend. I hope she's not pushing herself too much…"

"She's doing it for you so it's fine."

Heat rose from the freckled boy's cheeks. "I-I know that. It's just… I rarely get nice things like this, especially from girls s-so I guess I'm not used to it."

Tsukishima slammed his book shut, spooking Yamaguchi, and the freckled boy cowered in fear at his scrutinizing stare.

"You're telling me that after three weeks of dating and three weeks of receiving confections from her, you're still not used to it? What have you been doing all this time Yamaguchi?"

Seriously, this guy needs to grow a backbone! Yachi wouldn't be doing this if her feelings weren't true. And because of this, the entire volleyball team now looks at him with envy!

"S-S-Sorry Tsukki! I didn't mean it like that! You're right, I should be getting used to it!" Yamaguchi breathed a sigh of relief once the scrutiny was gone. He blushed red again, but smiled brightly this time. "I'm really happy being with her."

Tsukishima says nothing, but gives a small nod.

"By the way, Yachi said something really interesting today. She said that as she was on her way here, she ran into a girl. Apparently, she was really scary, wearing mostly black under her uniform and had on black lipstick too. She's never seen her before, but she was walking with one of her classmates. I was wondering why she ran to me as if someone was chasing her, and then she told me that the look in the girl's eyes was that of a murderer. And then I told her she was being silly and that it must've been a misundertandi- …uh Tsukki? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You look pale all of a sudden."

"You must be color blind."

Yamaguchi wasn't convinced and his eyes definitely weren't tricking him. Before he could press the speckled blond further, the final bell had already rung. Students moved to their assigned seats quickly to avoid getting caught by their homeroom teacher. The air was cut silent once their teacher, Masato, arrived.

"Greetings students," He begins. "I hope your weekend was time well spent, that none of you have neglected your readings. We'll be going over them with some short answer questions. So if you remembered to take notes as you were assigned, you are free to use them."

Audible groans swept through the classroom. Masato ignores them.

"Now before we take attendance, I have a special announcement to make. A new student will be joining us starting today. She has traveled all the way from the United States. So please, make her feel as warm and welcome as possible."

"Yes Masato-sensei!" the students chant with equal amounts of enthusiasm from the news.

"Wow, you hear that Tsukki? She's from America! How cool is that?" Yamaguchi whispered, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"It's not that big of a deal," Tsukishima responds lazily, wanting to get this over with.

"Alright, settle down." Masato brings his students to silence once more. He then clears his throat. "It should not matter where a person is from, always remember give them your upmost respect, if you wish for the same in return." He turns to the door. "Thompson-san, please come in and introduce yourself to the class."

The door opens slowly and in comes the school's new student. The silence grew thicker. No one dared to speak as the girl took slow and precise footsteps. She stops to face the rows of students.

Though she was wearing the standardized school uniform, she wore mostly black underneath. Black painted her lips and shadowed the lids of her eyes. They bought out the paleness of her skin. The only things that popped with color were her violet hair and her bow clip, decorated with blue roses.

Tsukishima couldn't breathe. Never would he have thought possible that the girl he briefly encountered yesterday would be attending his school, much less be his classmate. Coal black eyes scanned every person seated until they finally land on him. He could've sworn his soul was taken with that stare. It was the same as last time, only stronger. She was good at masking her emotions, because he could tell she did not expect him to be here either.

Breaking the eye contact, the blond shifts his gaze to the wall beside him, pretending to appear bored and nonchalant. He could feel those eyes drilling holes into his head, before it diminished. His muscles relaxed, just now noticing how tense they were.

"Hello everyone. My name is Harriet Thompson and yeah, I'm from the US. I was born in the state of California, in the city of Los Angeles," she began with an even tone. With one hand she rubs the back of her neck. "Let's see, about myself… well there's not much to say. I have a few hobbies. I dance a lot. I sing sometimes. I also play the guitar. I don't know if I'll use any of these skills in the future. I'm not so sure of what I want to do with my life yet. But there is one thing I pride myself in… and that is scaring the living crap out of people."

The entire class felt the atmosphere change. The girl's smile and intense gaze could be described as cold, bitter, sinister, and full of poison. Even the teacher was speechless to do anything that could cross her.

"That being said, here are some things you should know if we're going to get along," her tone changed too. It demanded attention. "I am not here to make friends, so don't expect me to become buddies with you. Don't even try to attempt to score with me. I won't acknowledge you. If I even catch you looking at me in such a way…" She laughed. It was slightly demonic. "Let's just say you won't be able to sit comfortably for a week."

The way she said it sounded too sweet, which made it all the more unsettling. Especially for the boys.

"But not to worry. You have nothing to fear. I can see myself getting along with all of you just fine!" She paused. "Wait. Scratch that. Almost all of you, I must correct myself. Don't think about it too much. You know who you are… Welp, I believe that's about it! Yo Sensei! Could you direct me to my seat please?"

"Wh- Oh, r-right!" Masato cleared his throat. "Right by the window over there…"

"Thank you!~"

"H-How scary," muttered Yamaguchi as he watches Harriet take the empty seat by the window. "I wonder, could she be the person Yachi was talking about? She really does have the look of a serial killer… What do you think Tsu… TS-TSUKKI?!"

Not only did Tstukishima look paler than before, but it appears all the moisture drained from his skin, making him look like a mummified corpse.

"You're too noisy Yamaguchi."

"B-B-But you look horrible! Do you need a nurse?"

"Shut up already."

Meanwhile at the other side of the classroom, a certain new student was suffering through her own inner turmoil.

"What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK?! Shit! Why is he here? Why is this happening? WHY!? OMFG I want to punch something so fucking bad! I'd punch that geek boy right in the fucking face! God I feel like crying! FUCK! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"

And thus, the story begins.

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