4/7/09 - Tues - Iwatodai dormitory - morning

A light sound woke me up, at first, it was a knock on the door, then a voice was calling me.

"Hello, Kazuki-kun, are you awake? I'm supposed to show you and Yuki-kun how to get to school."

Crap, what time was it? I checked the time on my phone. It was 6:24 A.M. Damn, I have to get dressed!

"I'll be out in a minute."

"Okay, just don't take too long."

"Okay..."

Jumping out of bed, I went through my bag that held some extra clothes, as well as my uniform, and not to mention my treasure as well.

I put on the dress shirt and pants but kept the dress shirt untucked. Then I put on my prized hoodie. it was black and red with black being the major color while red was the main color of the inside of my hood, as well as being the color of the zipper with a red line going from my arms to connect where my neck met my spine. Finally but not least, I put on the Gekkoukan uniform jacket without buttoning it up. Now, the set-piece has been completed.

"Guess it's time to head on out. I'm leaving Naoya."

I picked up my bag from beside my bed. Wait, I don't live with Naoya anymore, he wasn't here to see me off... You know what they say, "old habits die hard". Before I shut the door behind me I do my little habit one last time.

"I'm leaving Naoya, see you later."

I shut the door to my room and I try to catch up to Yuka-chan and Makoto-kun.

Gekkoukan High, morning

Thankfully I was able to catch up to them in time. Man, I would've been in a lot of trouble if was late, or absent on my first day. After seeing beautiful scenery while on the train ride, we finally arrived at Gekkoukan high. This place was bigger than St. Hermelin. Cheery blossoms were in full bloom as students walked through the falling petals. The start of the school year was already leaving an impression. But above all, you can see the moon above and behind the school. Although, can't say I'm not nervous. I didn't say a word until Yuka-chan suddenly raised her voice loud enough to break through my deep thinking.

"Well, welcome to Gekkoukan high. Do you guys have any questions?"

"No," Makoto-kun said.

"No," I respond quickly and nervously.

I mean if anyone were going to a new school and they had no idea what it was like, they would be nervous too. But enough of that, I need to focus. Finding out where my Homeroom is important.

"What class am I in, Yuka-chan?"

"I don't know, you should check the announcement board."

"I think I should do that. Thanks for the suggestion."

Moving towards the board, all the student placements were on there. I was looking for my name in anticipation.

"Found me!"

I'm in class: 2-E. That doesn't sound bad. Next, I went to the faculty office to meet my homeroom teacher, Mr. Ekoda. For the most part, he's quite a stern person, not really the type of teacher to try and bond with. While he was scolding me (for some reason). After meeting with him, I went to gain my bearings around the school. My first stop was the library. It was well kept, for the most part. The next part of the school I went to was the east part of the first floor. There was a skeleton with a lab coat outside of a classroom. The next floor to explore was the second floor. Before I began checking out the floor, an announcement was made. Students were told to head to the gym for today's assembly. It just occurred to me, but there were no students on this floor. I had no one to tell me where to go. Yikes, this is bad, I have no idea where the gym is! Panicking was setting in, this is so bad, I don't have a single clue on where to go. This could get me in trouble, for sure!

"I'll just go back to faculty, that's it."

Set on doing the best thing, I ran across the second floor. just before I started to descend the stairs, I bumped into someone. Great going me, now someone's about to go tumbling down a flight of stairs if I don't do anything! I immediately grabbed the person's wrist before they hit the stairs. The person's wrist is slim, it feels a bit softer than a guy's wrist. When I pulled them away from the stairs, I was able to get a clear look at the person I just saved from certain injury. And when I saw who it was, it explained why the person's wrist was so different from a guy's...

"Are you okay?"

"Umm...ah...tha-thank you! I should have been more thoughtful of where I was walking, I'm very sorry!" She apologetically bowed.

"No, it's not yours, it was mine. I shouldn't have been running around in a panic like an idiot."

In a panic... Oh crap, I forgot, I have to ask for directions to get to the auditorium! WAIT, I think this girl right here knows where the auditorium is, and if she does know where it's at, then that means I caught a lucky break.

"Umm...excuse me, I think it's almost time for the assembly to start," she quietly says.

"In that case, we should get going before anyone thinks we're cutting."

"Your right... W-Well then, we should get going."

"Yeah... But I don't know where it's at. Can you help me?" I sheepishly ask her.

"Are you a transfer student?" the girl question.

"Exactly, so I don't really know the way there."

She fiddled with her thumbs for a second. She was probably uncomfortable around a weirdo like me.

"You don't need to, I'm sure I can find it on my own."

"No, I can take you there," she strongly insisted with her delicate voice.

"Really, that's awesome."

I was so relieved to have her help. As we walked to our destination, I had almost forgotten something important: I should ask for her name.

"So, hey, if it isn't too much to ask, can I know your name?"

she looked at me, her face flushed. Why was she blushing?

"Oh...y-yes, I guess we should introduce ourselves to each other. I'm Yamagishi Fuuka, it's a pleasure to meet you." Yamagishi Fuuka. Hm...

"I'm Kazuki Kei, but you can just call me Kei."

I stretched my hand out for a handshake. Naoya always said giving a handshake was the best way to start a friendship. She took grasp of my hand, hers were soft, not callus like mine.

"I think we should be on our way to the auditorium now."

"Oh, you're right, we should get a move on."

After a minute of walking, we made it to the gym. During the walk here Fuuka was quiet, she didn't say a single word, nor did she make eye contact. At first, I thought I did something to offend her, but it seemed as though she was just shy. After entering the gym we separated to go find our Homeroom teachers. I hope I can see her again, so I can thank her properly.

Gekkoukan high - 2-E - morning

After the assembly I arrived in my Homeroom: 2-E, what I saw next made me think today was my lucky day. I'm in this school for more than an hour and I already found a familiar face. I take my seat behind Fuuka-san, who was sitting quietly in her seat. I'm pretty sure she didn't see me because I came through the back of the class. I guess you can say I'm a natural-born ninja. (Okay, that was terrible.) Shitty jokes aside, I don't know if I should just either tell her that I'm in the same class as her. Or maybe I could surprise her while Mr. Ekoda is taking attendants. Yeah, that would be a cool idea.

Mr. Ekoda was taking attendance in rows, from his right to his left. After Fuuka's row was done, mine was next. Two others in my row, next to the window were called on. I was wondering what I should say, "good morning", "hello, this is the guy to nearly knock you down a flight of stairs". Everything in my head just sounds either forced or just plain stupid.

"Kazuki Kei," Mr. Ekoda called my name, making me snap out of my thoughts.

"Wha- Um, yerh."

Yerh, what the hell was that!? Fuuka turned her head, and to her surprise it was me. I'm glad that she actually remembered who I am, but now I feel humiliated...

Gekkoukan high - class: 2-E - Lunch

At the beginning of break, Fuuka turned to face me.

"Kazuki-kun, I didn't know we would be in the same classroom."

"Yeah, sure is a coincidence, huh. Although, I wished I didn't sound like I was dosing off. I'm sure Mr. Ekoda wasn't too pleased with that."

I'd never had been more afraid of a teacher than one with the eyes of wanting to throw a chalk stick at someone. But the way I answered roll call was too lame.

"Hmm..."

"What is it Kazuki-kun," Fuuka asked.

"You know, you don't really need to use the -kun or -san suffix. Just call me Kei."

"But, I just find it sort of disrespectful not to address someone's name with it." So she's old-fashioned, huh. I'm used to not being named with a suffix. Well, why not start now.

"Alright then, from now on, I'm Kazuki-kun. However, you need a nickname, sound fair?"

"A nickname?"

"If we're going to be acquainted then you need a Kazuki-certified nickname."

"I guess that's fine."

"Great, let me think... Got it. Your nickname is~"

Okay enough with the delay.

"Fuu-chan!"

She seems surprised by the reveal, shocked even.

"Do you not like it?"

"No, I, um...don't mind it at all," Fuuka responded in a rather shy, but in a cute way.

"Nice, now Fuu-chan - you have gained exclusive access to call me Kazuki-kun, by the way, you can gain better access to call me other names like 'Kazuki-chan', and so much more."

Fuu-chan giggled lightly at my joke. That was the best of my amusement tricks I can muster and it seems to have worked. Suddenly, my stomach howled. All I ate yesterday was instant Yakisoba, and that was in the morning when I left home.

"Hey, you know where I can get something to eat? I'm starving like crazy."

"There's a school store downstairs, but they only sell bread."

"Is it good?"

"It has different flavors from normal bread."

"Good enough for me!"

Rising from my seat, I went straight for the door out of the classroom.

"You want to tag along?"

"I did want to buy something from there."

"Then let's go. Hungry stomachs wait for no one."

"Okay."

After getting some bread and milk for lunch we were eating at our desks, I felt like a man who survived through a desert. For some reason, eating with a friend felt pretty great in comparison to myself.

"Kazuki-kun," Fuu-chan lightly called my name.

"What's up?"

"Um, I was wondering, do you have time after school to hang out?" Her face immediately flushed after asking. "I o-only want to get to know you better, that's it!"

"You didn't really need to clarify. Hanging out is hanging out."

"I suppose you're right."

"...And sure, I'm down," I gratefully accepted her offer.

I felt this urge to smile like crazy. I was going to hang out with someone after school, and it felt awesome!

Soon after the bell rang, Fuu-chan turned her desk back around. Class began again, and all I could think about how great my first day of school was. so far.

"Naoya, I think I just made my first friend..."

...

I was finally able to make a friend. Thank you, Kazuki-kun...