A/N: Sorry for the late update! I got involved in one of my other projects called Fallen Star. It's a Fairy Tail AU fic. If you like FT and the pairing NaLu, you should check it out :) Other than that, onto the story!
I don't own Kodocha or any of it's contents.
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
"Flashback/Dream"
Life As We Know It
-O-
Chapter 3: And So It Begins
-O-
Sana's first week of school went by in a flash. But she wouldn't complain. Jinbou High School and Tokyo were treating the auburn haired girl nicely as she accustomed to the bigger city. She fell into a routine at school and at home, though everyday was different. People knew her as Fuka's "clone," but on a more perky level. And Sana got along great with everybody around her. Before she knew it, Kurata Sana had become very well known.
Except with the estranged Hayama Akito.
After their fight the week before, Sana did feel frustrated with the nerve of the blonde haired boy, but she decided not to dwell on the manner and just let it go. Both teenagers steer cleared from each other's way. And while they did share classes together, they made sure to sit seats away from one another. Hayama didn't speak to Sana, nor the other way around. Sana would occasionally glance at him from the corner of her eye, but that was the farthest interaction went between the two.
Nonetheless, Sana adapted quickly and became great friends with the people around her.
The following Monday, the hazel eyed teenager made her way to school, humming a song to herself. She bounced in each of her step, feeling as giddy as she always did. She decided last week that there was no way in hell she was going to let herself be brought down by some stuck up, pretentious jerk. Especially when she had all her friends there with her.
"Ouch!" Sana stopped in her tracks when she heard a small cry.
She turned the opposite way from school, turning into another corner. And when she did, there was a dirty blonde haired girl kneeling on the floor, clutching her knee. From the looks of it, she also attended Jinbou High School. She was wearing the same uniform Sana was currently wearing.
"Hey. Are you okay?"
The girl immediately shot her head up and looked up at Sana with fearful, brown eyes. Sana casted her a concerned gaze, reaching out for her.
"Oh! Uh, yeah! I'm totally fine! I just tripped and scathed my knee." She chuckled, wiping the small tears away from her eyes. "Silly me, you know?"
"Do you need help getting up?" The auburn haired girl asked.
The anonymous girl shook her head and smiled at Sana. "No, I'm fine. Thanks though!"
Sana watched as she stood up and took a deep breath. The cut on her knee was bleeding and she winced as she took a step. The hazel eyed teenager then rummaged in her bag and pulled out a handkerchief.
"Here! Take this!" The nameless girl looked over at Sana.
"Oh, no it's okay-"
"I insist! Take it! Besides, it's not my knee that's bleeding!" With a kind smile, the auburn haired teenager shoved the handkerchief into the stranger's hands.
"Thank you." The nameless teenager gave her a hesitant smile and bend down to press down on her cut up knee.
Sana didn't know what it was, but this girl looked like someone she knew. She had a very familiar face. She shrugged it off and figured she could have seen her around this past week as she was running around the high school.
"Oh! I'm Sana by the way!" The cheerful teen introduced herself.
When the brown eyed girl stood up, she awkwardly held the piece of clothing in her hand and looked at Sana. "Ah, I'll wash it and give it back! I promise! And I'm Ayame. Nice to meet you!"
Sana shook her head, the smile still settled on her lips. "Don't worry about it, Ayame-chan! It's yours to keep! And likewise!"
The two teenagers chatted on the way to school, establishing familiarity between the two by getting to know each other. Sana learned that she was a first year at Jinbou and had an older sibling who attended school with her. When the auburn teenager asked why she wasn't with her sibling, she quickly replied that he had to be at school early. She was a bit clumsy and somewhat rambunctious, but Sana grew to like her quickly.
She then went on to tell Ayame about how it was only her first full week at Jinbou, but it was exciting nevertheless. She told her about her reunion with her best friend and her encounter with a jerk who was nothing but mean to her. Ayame laughed at Sana's antics and the way she so vividly described her encounters. It was refreshing for her.
When they arrived to the front gates of the school, Sana offered to take her to the nurses office, but Ayame refused.
"It's fine, Sana-chan. I already caused you so much trouble!"
The vibrant teenager shook her head and patted her new friend on her back. "It's no problem at all! Come now! To the nurses office we go!"
But as Sana began to march on, she froze midway in her tracks. The brown eyed girl casted her new friend a confused glance.
"Uh, Sana-chan? Is everything alright?"
"Where is the nurses office exactly?" Ayame sweatdropped as Sana laughed with an embarrassed blush adorning her face. The blonde haired girl couldn't help but laugh along with her.
"Oh Sana-chan."
"Sana!"
Called teenager turned around to come face to face with the owner of the voice. Ayame turned around and immediately went wide eyed.
Akimoto Hiro, in all his glory with his tousled brown hair and bright green eyes, walked up to both teenagers wit his eyes fixed on the auburn haired standing next to Ayame.
"Oh, hey Ayame." He offered her a kind smile, to which she instantly blushed. It wasn't that Ayame liked Hiro. Not at all. But when an attractive boy like Akimoto Hiro greeted you with a smile, it was hard to not blush, even after all these years.
"Good morning, Hiro." She returned the smile and watched as Sana kind of exploded at how HIro knew her.
"You know Ayame too!?" Hiro laughed and went on to explain how they have all gone to school together for a very long time, which was true. Even though the green eyed boy in front of her was three years older than her, they had met when she was younger.
They had history together. Most people didn't know of it because she was just a first year and he was the popular fourth year, but they shared a past together and Ayame was thankful to say that it was a good past.
Ayame watched as the two conversed, observing Hiro closely. She was in astonishment as she watched the way his green eyes turned brighter and his face light up with something she had never seen before. She had known Akimoto Hiro for a very long time and in that time she had come to know him, she had never seen him so interested in a girl.
She snickered to herself, thinking how cute the two could be together.
"What's so funny?" Ayame was brought back to earth as Sana pointedly asked her a question.
"Oh nothing! Nothing at all! Actually, I can go to the nurses office by myself!" She didn't want to interrupt their time together and also, didn't want to run into him. "It's actually on my way to class so dont worry about it, or me, Sana-chan!"
"Are you okay?" Hiro asked in concern.
"Oh yeah! I just fell and scraped my knee this morning! Sana was going to come with me, but I can make it there on my own! I am a big girl, you know." She teased lightly as she broke away from the two.
Sana waved her goodbye as Ayame disappeared into the sea of students in the hallway. She came to a conclusion that she really liked Ayame. The girl was a little strange, yes, but she was kind and thoughtful. She really hoped she would see her again.
"Ayame's a great kid. You'll really like her once you get to know her some more."
The husky voice behind her broke her out of her thoughts as she whipped around and was met with the same kind smile that she was greeted with not so long ago.
"Are you kidding! I already really like her!" Sana gae Hiro the thumbs up.
"HIRO-SAN PLEASE MARRY ME."
"Kyaaa! It's Hiro-kun!"
"WE LOVE YOU HIRO-KUN!"
"Looks like there at it early this morning, huh?" Sana teased HIro as she wriggled her brows, slightly jabbing his side with her elbow. Praised boy chuckled slightly as he walked through the hallway.
"It's like I said last week, their just admirers."
"Mm-hmm!" Sana hummed as they walked up the stairs to the second floor where the third and fourth years resided.
"What? You don't believe me!"
Sana scrunched her face, a sly smile stretching on her pale lips. "You can't sit there and act like it doesn't feel good right? Having all those girls pinning for you? I mean, there's gotta be some sense of pride in there somewhere."
Hiro laughed and slightly pushed Sana. "Okay, so maybe it does feel good. But hey! It's not my fault I'm attractive." The brown haired teenager shrugged his shoulders and smirked at Sana.
"Oh Kami. So you really are just another cocky jock under that false sense of charm." With a teasing smile, Sana began to stalk away from Hiro as she spotted Fuka standing alone.
"The charm is just a bonus I guess. But if you like the cocky jock, I'd be willing to use him more often."
A small blush appeared on her cheeks as Hiro began to, what she assumed, flirt with her. Maybe it was just an instinct for a boy to flirt with a girl or maybe it was just Hiro's personality, but she found it amusing. Sana never delved too much with boys. She often strayed away and just became really good friends with them.
It was not that she had a bad experience with them because she really didn't. The only real experience she had with men, boys, were probably the stories her mama use to tell her about her ex husband and her best guy friend from back at home. But other than that, that was about it.
And she wasn't afraid to admit how dense she could actually be. She was oblivious to the most obvious things. There could be a deer in the headlights or a sign right in front of her and sometimes she just couldn't see it. Why was she like that? She didn't really know. It could have been the way her mama raised her, or maybe it was just something she developed on her own. Either way, her experience with men was next to zero.
"See you later, Hiro." She smiled and waved goodbye turning on her heel and walking towards her longtime best friend.
"Howdy partner!" She mimicked in her best western voice as she wrapped an arm around Fuka.
"Hey there to you too." Fuka greeted. "Had fun flirting with Hiro over there?"
Sana immediately narrowed her eyes and tightened her grip around her best friend's neck.
"I wasn't flirting! We we're just having a conversation!"
Fuka struggled under Sana's grip and tried her best to break free. "Kurata Sana! You are so full of it! I totally saw that blush on your cheeks before you walked over here!" Sana presumed to tighten her hold to let Fuka know who was in control here.
"Why must you always assume that there's more there when there isn't!"
"Because I call it as I see it!" Not really caring if they were causing a scene and having students whisper and stare about them, they continued bickering back and forth like they did back in middle and elementary school.
"Why is it that everytime we see you two, you're both involved in a physical altercation?"
Both girls looked up as Fuka was digging her nails into Sana's forearms and Sana was biting down on one of Fuka's arms. In front of them stood Tsuyoshi and Aya, who was giggling from the sight in front of them.
"Because, Tsuyoshi, Fuka likes to sputter nothing but nonsense here so I have to teach her a lesson!" The auburn haired teenager muffled as she sank her teeth into her best friend.
"I don't utter nonsense! That's you- ow! Stop biting me, you baka! Tsuyoshi! Aya! Help!"
"I think I'll stay out of this one. Sorry Fuka." Tsuyoshi smiled apologetically.
"Same here, Fuka-chan." Aya followed after her boyfriend.
"Gee thanks guys!" Fuka wriggled her away out of Sana's hold and managed to free herself from the choke hold the hazel eyed teenager had her in. Once they were entangled from each other, they both stood a few feet apart and glared at each other.
"How long have they been staring at each other like that?" HIsae and Mami, who arrived shortly after, instantaneously asked.
"A few seconds." Both Tsuyoshi and Aya answered.
Tsuyoshi had to say that the addition of Sana to the group had certainly lived things up a bit. The girl was spontaneous and fearless. Though a bit rash and hard headed, she was certainly a joy to be around.
He watched as both girls argued and call each other out on some of their faults. The brown haired boy couldn't help but laugh at the antics these two resorted too. And watching Fuka act out was certainly different too. From the time he met Fuka, she had always been mature and collected. She was the voice of reason. But with Sana, it's like she's sort of a different person. Still more mature, she allows herself to relax a bit and let her inner child show.
While watching the two interact, he caught sight of his longtime best friend making his way unnoticed in the hallway.
He sighed, thinking of how estranged his best friend was; especially in the way that he acted with Sana.
It was weird for Hayama Akito to act out the way he did a week ago.
Normally he was cold and stoic, not saying a word and ignoring the person until the left him alone. But he lashed out on Sana and was being especially rude to her. He tried getting it out of the blonde haired boy and asking him why he acted the way he did, but as usual, Hayama didn't budge. It was like always, he just simply didn't understand Hayama Akito.
If Fuka hadn't been preoccupied with Sana, she probably would have raced after the blonde, as usual. He wasn't one to intrude, but Tsuyoshi could tell that Fuka cared for Hayama's in ways that others didn't. Which was both good and bad.
"Okay! Okay! Truce!" Sana said as she was huffing slightly. Fuka eyed her carefully then smiled.
"Truce." They shook hands and went off to class chattering as if nothing had happened.
"The friendship those two share is very odd." Mami commented as they walked behind the two. Hisae agreed.
"I think it's wonderful, don't you think so Tsuyoshi-kun?"
Said boy nodded as he smiled at the girl he considered the love of his life. "Certainly."
They all walked into their homeroom and Sana made her way over to her desk, but not before spotting a certain blonde haired jerk. Before, it took everything in her power to not lecture him, but she decided that it was certainly for the better. If he didn't want to be friends with her, Sana didn't care. All that mattered was that she tried. And she certainly couldn't be ill with that.
"What's with you lately?" The auburn haired girl heard her best friend ask the menace as she sat in the back. She watched as Fuka talked to the blonde, who obviously was ignoring her.
"What are you talking about." He knew she would pester him soon enough. She always did.
"You've been so moody." Fuka retorted as she crossed her arms out in front of her. She watched as the blonde scoffed and rolled his eyes slightly, something that very much irritated her. "Not to mention how you've been avoiding us since the incident with Sana.."
Hayama glared. "Go away." And with that, he plugged his headphones into his ears and turned away from the brown haired girl.
Fuka steamed as she narrowed her brown eyes at him. But instead of acting out like her best friend would so graciously do, in a mature manner, walked towards the back, sitting right next to Sana.
The auburn head tossed her a questioning glance. One that did not go unnoticed by Fuka, who was already annoyed.
"What?"
Sana titled her head to her side slightly and put on her "thinking face," as Fuka would put it. Her hair was down today so it dipped to the side and her mouth was slightly open.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
Asked auburn haired girl rose a brow and pouted her lip. Inwardly, Fuka groaned. Her best friend was so strange. She didn't get where they were so similar at times.
"Do you like him?"
A dark, crimson hue appeared on Fuka's cheeks.
"What?" Said girl hissed in an undertone as their sensei began their lesson.
"Haya-jerk over there." The bubbly teenager pointed. "Do you like him? Simple question really."
Fuka's mouth dropped slightly as Sana so nonchalantly poised her question. And when did Sana get so sassy? That was another thing the brown haired girl wondered as she simply stared back at the hazel colored girl.
"No! I do not like him, you idiot!"
Sana shrugged her shoulders with a teasing smile playing on her lips. Fuka 'humphed' and diligently paid attention to the lecture their sensei was giving. The auburn haired girl shifted her gaze from Fuka to the blonde haired boy sitting a few rows in front of them.
Fuka was interested in him. Sana thought romantically, though Fuka cared to argue otherwise, but there was something definitely there. Hayama didn't seem to be all too interested in what Fuka had to say, but that didn't stop her best friend from trying. Sana took pride in that as she knew that was a skill the brown haired girl took from her. The bubbly girl sighed, knowing that thinking about the two of them would get her nowhere and deciding that maybe it was best to start paying attention in class.
When class ended, Sana watched as Fuka watched Hayama walk out of the classroom, alone, once again with these furious eyes.
'Oh she so has a thing for him.' Sana thought as she snickered to herself.
"I'm not liking this new you, Kurata." Fuka said as they walked out of class together. The auburn haired girl couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh what so ever do you mean, dou friend?" In her best english accent, Sana replied.
"Are you quoting Shakespeare now? And it's thou far!"
"Fuka! Fuka! Relax girl! You're so uptight!" With a simple smile, Sana giggled. "You think too much! Look, I'm just giving you a hard time, okay! If you don't like the jerk, you don't like him. Easy as that."
Fuka eyed her best friend. There was definitely something different about Kurata Sana. She didn't know how to put it, but her best friend was more keen, more clever and definitely more whitty. Sana was always an oblvious idiot. But somehow, over the years of their separation, Sana had developed a sassy sense of humor that annoyed Fuka just a bit.
"I miss the days when you we're just an oblivious fool."
Sana couldn't help but laugh. "I miss them too."
"Hey guys!"
Both girls turned around and watched as Tsuyoshi and Aya walked up to them, smiles adorned their faces.
"Hiya back!" The bouncing girl greeted.
"Finally. Some normalcy. You guys have saved me from this weirdo here." Sana glared at Fuka as the brown haired girl pointed at her to which Tsuyoshi and Aya laughed.
"Actually Fuka, I'm going to go catch up with Akito. So it'll just be the three of you." The brown haired boy offered a sorry smile and began to walk away. "So ladies," he nodded, then turned to Aya, "I'll see you later, love." And gave her a quick peck on her lips.
Sana squealed as Aya turned a bright, bright red.
"Hey, Tsuyoshi! Wait up! I'm coming with you!" Fuka whipped towards Sana, "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
Before Sana could even argue, Fuka shot ahead behind Tsuyoshi and walked towards the direction the blonde haired boy was just a few moments ago.
"Hey, Aya." The auburn haired girl started.
"Yes Sana-chan?"
As they began walking to their next class, Sana pondered on how she would ask her new friend this question. "How close are Fuka and Hayama?"
Aya put a finger to her chin and bit down on her lip for a train of thought. The young teenager beside watched her closely as her new ashy brown haired friend remained silent for a bit.
"Hayama was always a silent person, which I'm sure Mami and Hisae already told you." Sana nodded, recalling all that those two had told her when they first met her. "He doesn't say much and I think he can be quite intimidating."
'I'll say'. Sana thought to herself as she crossed her arms.
"When Fuka first came to Jinbou, she and Hayama hardly spoke to each other. Hayama hardly acknowledged her," 'That doesn't surprise me.' "-and though Fuka thought he was rude, hardly crossed in his path."
"But?" Sana pressed on.
Aya smiled. "But one day, Fuka was suddenly interested in Hayama and his history. She asked Tsuyoshi-kun general questions about him to which he answered somewhat vague. Of course Tsuyoshi-kun wasn't going to spill the secrets of his best friend so Fuka decided to try and become his friend."
Sana scoffed. "Yeah, well, how'd that go for her?" 'Because it sure didn't work out for me.'
"Well, at first Hayama was very reluctant to her and shoved her away." Aya turned and gave her a sorry smile, "Much like how he did too you." Sana rolled her eyes.
"But after all the fussing and nagging Fuka did, I think he eventually just began to tolerate Fuka and her persistence. Over the last year, she would hang out with him more and try to learn more about him, but as I said, Hayama is very silent. He doesn't share himself with anyone."
"So, Fuka and Hayama are more of acquaintances than anything?" Aya nodded in response.
"Though, Hayama does call Fuka, 'Buka' sometimes. Probably to tease her, my guess." The timid teenager giggled as Sana rose a brow. 'A nickname huh?'
"I think Fuka likes him, but she keeps disagreeing with me. What do you think, Aya? You've been around them a lot longer!"
Said girl turned bright red as Sana asked her the question. What did she think? Aya didn't know.
"Well… I suppose one could assume that Fuka likes Hayama. But I could also argue that Fuka is just trying to befriend him."
Sana sighed as they entered the classroom. "You're no help, Aya." Aya muttered an embarrassed apology as she immediately made her way towards her boyfriend. Sana immediately scanned the room to find her best friend. And when her eyes did land on her, surprise, surprise, she was with Hayama Akito.
Holding the urge to roll her eyes, she walked over to them tapped Fuka on her shoulder. The brown haired girl turned around and gave Sana an annoyed glance.
"Thanks for ditching me back there!"
"Oh quit your complaining you big baby! You had Aya, didn't you?"
With a pout, Sana crossed her arms. "Well, yeah but-"
"Then?"
"Oh never mind! Traitor." Before going back to her seat, Sana stuck her tongue at her best friend, who in return rolled her eyes. The hazel eyed teenager 'humphed,' but before turning away, she caught a glance at the mysterious, broody teenager. He was wearing the same stoic look she was met with yesterday. He didn't seem to enjoy the conversation with Fuka. He actually looked rather annoyed.
She wondered though. What could be underneath that mask? What did he have to hide from the world? Why have so much resentment? So much anger?
She must have been staring too long because Fuka eventually stood up and began calling out to her. She even slapped her upside the head, to which Sana didn't appreciated as she yelled at her best friend for her aggressive action.
"Fuka."
"Sana."
"Fuka."
"Sana."
"Fuuuuuukaaaaaaa."
"Sana, stop."
"But, Fuka-"
"I swear, Kurata Sana, if you say a damn thing-"
"Just admit it already!" With a harsh whisper, Sana cooed at her best friend, who in return, did not look so pleased with the hazel eyed girl's consistent pestering.
"Cut it out." Fuka threw her best friend a menacing glare and turned away from her. Sana slumped back against her chair and crossed her arms out in front of her with a proud smile on her face. Why you may ask? Because Fuka didn't deny it that time. And that was more than enough for Sana.
Class ended and Fuka ignored Sana behind her, stalking the other way with an angry disposition. The auburn haired girl just rolled her eyes as Fuka threw her fit. She stood in the hallway, alone while everyone else carried on with their day.
Hayama walked out, headphones plugged into his ears and an apathetic front. He didn't even spare her a look. She was completely invisible to him. His retreating form disappeared into the sea of students as she watched him walk to somewhere that wasn't the cafeteria.
It was lunch time now but after, they had the one class they both only shared together: English. Neither Tsuyoshi, Aya, nor Fuka had that class. She was alone.
"It's strange to see you alone."
Well, not anymore.
Sana jumped slightly as she was startled by the new voice behind her. She turned and found Akimoto Hiro staring at her with his bright, green eyes and candid smile.
She rubbed the back of her head with a crooked smile adorning her pale face. "Weeeeeell, I kind of ticked Fuka off soooooo she doesn't wanna talk to me at the moment!" A laugh followed after as Hiro grinned.
"That doesn't surprise me. Matsui gets angered very easily."
With a dramatic sigh, Sana stuck out her hand. "Tell me about it, man! Fuka was always so uptight and such a party pooper!"
"It's hard to see where you two are exactly similar." Both Hiro and Sana began to walk along the hallway towards lunch as jealous, envious eyes radiated throughout the hall.
"We're more alike than people actually think! I can be pretty serious, you know? And mature! Definitely mature!" The brown haired boy laughed as Sana went on her tangent.
"I don't know, Sana." He shrugged his shoulders, "I like this perky, loud mouthed you. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel with a mature Sana not running around."
Sana had to appreciate his humor and witty come backs. It was refreshing and made it easier to talk to him. There was never an awkward moment and the two got along great. Hiro wasn't a stick in the mud and despite the endless attention, never had his head too far up in the clouds. Though he was a bit corny, Sana genuinely liked his company.
"Blah, I hate my next class."
That caused the green eyed boy to raise a brow. "What class?"
"English." She drawed out with a groan.
"It isn't too bad. I mean, how many people can say 'Hey, you're beautiful' in english?" With a smirk, Hiro ruffled her hair, to which Sana pouted.
She had no idea what he said, forgetting all the basics of the English language. It sounded so foreign to her. She puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms out in front of her.
"I had no idea what you just said so when lunch is done, I'm going to march into that classroom, learn some English, and figure out what the heck you said!" With a determined smile, she began walking away from Hiro, who seemed to be headed in the opposite direction as her.
Hiro smiled. "You get to it, Ms. Mature."
With a final glance and laugh shared, Sana trotted into the cafeteria, finding Tsuyoshi and Aya rather quickly. They waved over at her, with an annoyed Fuka sitting next to them.
Of course, Fuka had ignored Sana all of lunch, something the hazel eyed girl really didn't mind because her best friend had done petty, childish things like this before. The group of teenagers talked, Fuka finally deciding to put her two cents in halfway. Both girls picked at each other, but for fun mostly. The brown haired girl had decided to let Sana off the hook, though they both knew that was a conversation saved for later.
After the bell chimed, they headed their separate ways, Sana making herself over towards her English class; the one she liked but also disliked at the same time.
When the auburn haired girl walking into her English class, she realized that her normal seat had been filled today. Her eyes quickly scanned the room and realized that there was only two seats left: one in the far back corner where she wouldn't even be able to see the board and two, the seat right next to Hayama. She inwardly groaned, knowing that she was screwed either way.
'Well Kurata, do you wanna learn or are you going to cower away from the jerk?'
With a frustrated sigh, she decided, begrudgingly, that the seat next to the blonde haired teenager was the seat for her. With a slight frown, she sat down next to him, not sparing him a second glance. But she wondered what he was thinking at the moment. Was he surprised to see her doing this? Would he say anything to her?
That question was answered as she sat down and took out her notebook.
He didn't say a word.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him, casually staring out the window. His notebook and pen were laying on the desk in front of him and those darn headphones of his were still plugged into his ears.
What was his story? She wondered.
Everyone had a story. She had a story. A long one. It wasn't really tragic, but it was enough to get some tears rolling down some eyes. But she didn't really dwell on that too much. How could she? She had a great life with great people.
Did he have people?
Besides Tsuyoshi and Fuka?
She wondered. Maybe he was lonely? Or maybe he just didn't have people he could really talk too. Maybe inside he was just in a lot of pain and didn't know how to express it so he just pushed people away.
Sana heard a snort. She turned towards Hayama and saw him glaring at her with his dull golden eyes. The auburn haired girl was surprised as he narrowed his eyes at her, almost as if he was telling her to back off.
Or maybe he really was just a pompous jerk who was really just a self reserved idiot who treated everyone around him with disdain.
With a slight 'humph,' Sana returned her attention to the notes being scribbled on the board about the rules of general the general English language.
Maybe it was best to just let this be, she thought as she scribbled away, ignoring the boy beside her.
Besides, why was she suddenly wondering about him anyway?
They weren't friends and he made that perfectly clear.
Still, Sana wasn't the type of person to let things like this slide by.
She decided for now, it was probably best to let it be. Though, anybody who knew her knew that she wasn't the person to just let things 'slide by.' She would just wait for the right opportunity.
-O-
School had come and gone as quickly as the leaves change colors, which Sana didn't really mind. She wasn't the smartest in the bunch, and she definitely had her weaknesses, like math. The auburn haired girl deemed math the bane of her existence and always did her best to avoid the subject like the plague.
But other than that small factor, she was not bad in school.
As she walked out of the main hall after changing her shoes, she saw Fuka, who was conversating with what Sana figured was her teammates. Fuka was, afterall, known at Jinbou for her incredible ability in gymnastics.
"Fuka!"
Sana watched as her best friend turned her way, smiled, and waved. She bid goodbye to her teammates and made her way towards the bouncing auburn haired girl.
"Hey girl."
"Were those your fellow gymnast?" Sana snickered as Fuka rolled her eyes with a slight grin.
"Yeah. We were just talking about our upcoming meet! You should come." A smile blossomed on Sana's lips as the words left Fuka's mouth. She always loved gym meets. For a little while, the hazel eyed girl was involved in gymnastics also, but she stepped away from the vigorous lifestyle and took on a more artistic path while Fuka continued onward.
"I love gym meets! I'm definitely going!"
"Who's going where?"
Tsuyoshi and Aya walked up to the two girls, Sana greeting them with her famous smile.
"Fuka's gym meet! Were all going to support Fuka!" Jumping in place, the auburn haired girl yipped, feeling pumped for her best friend.
"Oh! That sounds like fun!" Aya chimed in, looking over at Tsuyoshi with a delightful smile.
"Definitely! We will all be there!" He added, Sana giving Fuka the thumbs up.
"Now you have to do good."
Everyone in the group laughed as Fuka shook her head, a light chuckle escaping her lips. They began to walk as a group together towards the front gate until Fuka noticed a familiar face. Sana watched as Fuka moved away silently from them and trotted over towards a girl with a head of dirty blonde hair. She couldn't see her face because the stranger had her back towards her, but Fuka was rapidly making her way over.
"Hey, Fuka! Where are you going?" Sana skeptically called out to her, a puzzled demeanor taking over her once jubilant spirit.
As Fuka reached the mysterious girl, Sana gazed intently, waiting for this stranger to turn towards her. Her best friend was smiling and grabbed the girl's shoulder. The blonde was surprised, Sana could tell, as she jumped slightly.
"Sana? What are you staring at?" Tsuyoshi asked.
"Who's that with Fuka?"
But before the brown haired boy could answer, the auburn haired girl's mouth dropped and eye's widened.
"Oh! Hey, Aya look! It's Ayame!"
It was the very same girl that Sana had met this morning on her way to school. And somehow, Tsuyoshi and Aya knew her too! Along with Fuka and Hiro!
Before she knew it, she was standing alone as Tsuyoshi and Aya made their way over towards Fuka and the first year student. With a shocked disposition, Sana jogged over, still in confusion and shock over this new detail.
"Ayame-chan!"
Called girl looked over at her and her eyes turned to saucers as Sana swiftly and hastily walked over.
"Sana-chan!"
"Wait, you two know each other?" Fuka asked with bewilderment. The long time couple standing beside her had the exact same thoughts coursing through their minds.
"Yeah! We met this morning on our way to school! Ayame-chan, you know these guys!"
The younger girl nodded, a small smile plastered on her thin lips. "Yeah! I've known Tsuyoshi and Aya my entire life. Fuka, I just met last year when she first transferred over to the Jinbou School System."
A small 'o' appeared on Sana's mouth as Ayame explained the details of this new truth. She was indeed surprised by the amount of older students Ayame knew, despite the age difference. But Sana remembered her saying she had an older sibling so maybe that was it. Their connection had to be through her older brother/sister.
"Well ain't that a small world after all?" A cheesy grin spread on her lips from cheek to cheek as Sana put an arm around the the blonde's neck.
"You're not about to sing Small World, are you?" Fuka inclined, afraid for what would come next.
A mischievous and sly smile suddenly tugged at the corner of Sana's lips, Fuka deadpanning herself for even suggesting what she just said.
"Kurata Sana, don't you even dare-"
"It's a world of laughter, a world fears! It's a world with hope and a world with cheers!"
The giddy teenager began to sing, releasing Ayame from her hold while Fuka groaned as she covered her ears. Sana snuggled herself next to the brown eyed girl and sand the verse in a loud and childish manner, Fuka shoving her away with all her might.
Ayame laughed along with Tsuyoshi and Aya, thinking how crazy and spontaneous her new friend was. But Ayame wouldn't complain because she needed some spontaneous in her life.
"Is Sana-chan always like this?" The blonde haired, brown eyed girl asked as she watched Fuka put a hand over Sana's mouth, who in turn, licked it, making Fuka shout at her for her disgusting choice of reprimation.
"Pretty much." Tsuyoshi laughed.
"You never know what Sana-chan will come up with next!" Aya chimed.
"Ugh, Sana! You are disgusting!" Fuka wiped her hand at her skirt after the auburn haired girl slobbered all over it.
A proud smile reached said girl's lips.
"It's so hard to believe you two are best friends." Ayame duly noted, clutching her school bag to her chest.
"Yeah, well we are! Right Fuka bud!" Fuka rolled her eyes with a half smile.
"Weirdly enough, yes we are."
And the two went back at it, throwing insults back and forth. But Ayame noticed that though they did this, there was never any malice, any real intent to actually mean it. They were just two very good friends who teased each other, but still relied on each other when they needed it.
Ayame was a little jealous, wanting a friendship that strong. But she wouldn't complain because she had her own best friend at her side. He was little aloof and somewhat of a troublemaker, but she wouldn't trade him for the world.
Too lost in her thoughts, Ayame didn't notice as the group fell silent and Sana mumbled something about the jerk to herself with a pout settling on her lips. The blonde haired girl was slightly puzzled with the new atmosphere, but followed Sana's glaring eyes towards the reason why.
Her eyes went wide eyed as she watched Fuka get blown off by a tall, blonde haired, golden eyed boy with cold, apathetic eyes.
A single word escaped her lips.
"Oni-chan..."
A/N: And this chapter is done! Sorry I took so long! I hadn't updated since what? December? Ugh, I'm terrible. Absolutely terrible! I've been caught up in everything but this. But, point is, I updated. Two Worlds Collide's chapter should be coming next. And then Crimson Ties, of course.
And there's also something I need to explain. For this story and it's purposes, I will not be using Natsumi (Akito's older sister in the manga/anime) in this story. Yes, I know, I already said her name in the first chapter of the story, but I will go back and fix it, eventually. I created an OC for this story aka, Ayame, to be Hayama's younger sister. Yes, I know. I could have easily made Natsumi the younger sister but Natsumi really doesn't fit the description of character I need. So alas, Ayame was created. She plays a significant role in this story so I hope her introduction was genuine enough. Hopefully you all will like her. I personally like her a lot better than Natsumi. But that could be just because I can't stand Natsumi in the first place!
Anywho! I just felt like I needed to explain that first and foremost!
It's off to a slow start, yes I know. But it'll pick up soon. This is a story based on true events and it's kind of hard to capture it all, but it will work itself out. Even so, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and let me know what I did right and what I did wrong. Or what you would like to see, or just any real reviews. :) They would be greatly appreciated! :)
I promise I wont take like four months to update again. Next update should be in about two weeks. Keep an eye out for that. :)
Until next time!
-Dark Waffle