Chapter 5 – The Doppelgänger's School Life

I barely got any sleep last night. Partly because of all the stuff going on stressing me out to the point where I couldn't sleep. The other part being…well…it's a new school year. The time of year that usually brings tons of nerves to every student the night before. It's just standard.

Speaking of this time of year…it's still unbelievable that this is my third and final year of high school. After these 11 months, I'm out on my own. Labeled as a grown-up and off to do whatever I want in this world.

…

Though, for me…if I don't find Tsuzuki, I may not be able to experience any of that.

*sigh* I really hope we find her soon…

"Hey! Tsu!"

"Oh. Morning, Rukia." I said to my best friend as she had caught up to me on the path to school.

"You seemed to be feeling better this morning. What was going on with you yesterday?"

"Oh, um…I think it was just food poisoning. Probably something my stomach didn't agree with. Hahahaha…"

"Hmm…yeah, I guess that makes sense."

Thank God she bought it…

"In any case…today's the day, Tsu! We're gonna make ourselves BIG for our final year!"

"Really? How so?"

"Well…once we get our five-person team, we're gonna march into that dipshit vice-principal's office and DEMAND that he gives us better treatment! He ain't gonna shun us any longer, you get me?!"

"Rukia, as much as I would love for that to happen, it's just not possible. You already heard from past graduates that Shinohara does not care about the female sports teams."

"Hmph. Well, let's see if they'll change their tune after seeing THIS!" Rukia then shoved her phone in my face and I grabbed it to see a promotional ad on the internet somewhere.

""Coming soon: Yamabuki Sports Park! A new investment funded by the Yamabuki Group!" What's this about?"

"It's a recreational resort that's gonna cater to all sports in the whole prefecture. Not just Takaoka. Volleyball, Softball, Basketball, Hockey…"

"Who the hell plays Hockey in Japan?" I gained a sweatdrop.

"My point is…it'll be the #1 spot for sports training. And soon, we'll be able to host ACTUAL games there. Let's see how those cocky jocks and prideful coaches at school would feel once we have our own spot to practice in. and it's 10x better than the crap they got! Ohhohohoho!"

"W-Wow…this is actually impressive…" I said as I continued looking through the page on Rukia's phone. "Over 100 different indoor courts WITH air conditioning, a café/rec center for relaxing, hotel-like rooms available for training camps, a special Choco Island filled to the brim with sweets…aside from the obvious Mario Kart rip-off, this place sounds absolutely amazing, Rukia."

"I know, right? And it'll all be done in the next 4 months."

"F-Four months?! B-But this says it was announced just last week!"

"Never doubt the power of the Yamabuki Group, Tsu. Ohhohohoho."

"Geez…"

Rich people can truly make anything happen…

"Hopefully, with all of this, we can actually become champions. Probably Regionals or something."

"Regionals? Please, Tsu…if anything, we're going for Nationals! The Volleyball Queen will settle for nothing less! This whole country will BOW to the great Rukia-sama! Ohhohohoho!"

"Nationals, huh?" I then went dead silent thinking of what she just said. The season doesn't start until June…so, we have about two months to recruit more teammates. And then the tournament takes place in October. Another six months away.

And based on my current situation, there may be a chance that I won't live to experience it. A dream we've both had since we were in middle school…

…

…

…

"Tsu? Are you okay? You got a sad look on your face."

"H-Huh? Oh, um…I-I'm fine. I-It's just…uh…" And right when I was struggling to think of an answer…

*RINGTONE CHIME*

"Huh…Oh, crap! I forgot that I was meeting Akari before the bell rang! I'll see you in class, Rukia!"

"Huh? W-Wait, what?! Tsu! Wait!" Rukia tried to stop me…but I was already too far gone. Escaping another chance of me telling her what's going on with me.

And no doubt hurting her whole…

After getting inside the school and making sure none of the others saw me, I arrived at the clubroom where Akari was waiting for me. Along with Aria and Chiharu. All dressed in the Shinohara summer school uniform.

…

W-Wait, what?

"Y-You're gonna start attending here, too?" I asked Chiharu in disbelief.

"It's been a while since I've actually gone to school. Might as well give it a shot again. Plus, it means more eyes to watch over Aria."

"Okay…but what about Kanako? Wouldn't she want to do this, too?"

"Kanako is…uh…"

"To put it in the nicest way possible…there's absolutely no hope for her." Akari said.

"Wow, way to trash on her…" I gained a sweatdrop.

"Well, given what happened to her back then, her IQ isn't something that can be improved anymore." Chiharu said.

"Haruka and Sanae said that they'll look after her, though. So, it should be fine." Akari added.

"Well…if it works out…" I still had worries about it. But I'll have to let it go for now.

"In any case…so, this is Aria Nijinosaki? The girl who ruled the Nega Dimension's Harajuku? I'm still having a hard time understanding it all…"

"It is nice to meet you, Akari Akaza." Aria said with a bow. "I hear that you have been helping Tsubaki out in this dilemma. And for that, I must thank you."

"Uh…sure, no problem. Tsu's a dear friend and senpai of mine. So, I don't mind helping her out."

"I see…" Aria then stared at Akari deep within her eye. "…You know…it is rather uncanny that you look and sound near-identical to the vile Akemi. The only difference is that your eye is placed differently."

"That's the only way to tells us apart, really. The concept of doppelgängers is still hard to understand sometimes."

Honestly, I've been struggling to understand it since the day I met Tsuzuki…

"Anyway, Aria…" I spoke up. "…Akari's gonna be helping you navigate through the school and all that stuff. So, make sure you stick by her, okay?"

"I understand…but what about Himawari? Should I not be sticking her as well?"

"That sounds sexual as hell…" Akari and Chiharu said with sweatdrops.

"Seriously, girl. Phrasing." I said with an exasperated look. "And besides…it's best that Himawari doesn't know about what's going on. So, please…keep this a secret between the four of us. Okay?"

"*sigh* I guess it cannot be helped. It would be quite worrisome if the people of this world became aware of such supernatural things."

"At least you understand that much."

*INSERT CLASSIC JAPANESE SCHOOL BELL CHIME HERE*

"*sigh* I still have a bad feeling about this, but…I gues we'll have to see how this first day goes."

"Won't you relax already?" Chiharu said to me. "If anything happens, Aria's got Akari and me to rely on. It'll be fine."

"I guess…" I then took a moment to mentally repeat what she just said. "…Wait…what makes you so certain that you'll be there to help her?"

"Duh. Because we're in the same class."

"What? How would you know that?"

"Tsu, didn't you pay attention during the End-of-Year Ceremony?" Akari asked. "They said that this year everyone would be changing classes. The list was posted at the front of the school."

"Ugh! Seriously?!" I groaned in agony.

I'll admit…I did doze off a few times…

"What's weird about it is that they're doing it for ALL students. Usually, there's only one switch at the beginning of your second year."

"It's probably another way this school stands out from the rest. I mean, it isn't one of the best for nothing."

"It could also be due to the fact that the lot of you made this place famous for all the wrong reasons." Chiharu said. "Probably trying to split you guys up."

"Yeah, that makes sense…" Akari and I both gained huge sweatdrops.

And so, with the news of being in a new class being fresh in my mind, I had to go back to the front of the school to look at the list…then make my way to the new class. All while trying not to be late.

Class 3-D, huh? So, there's a good chance that I won't be in the same class as Rukia anymore. We've been in the same classes together since elementary school. So, to be separated in our final year just plain sucks.

I can only hope that she handles it better than I do…

Once I stepped into the classroom, I immediately glanced around to see if Rukia was here. She wasn't…which means we're in different classes.

"Hey! It's Tsu!"

But I did see some familiar faces here.

"Oh, wow. Hey, you guys." I said with a smile as I greeted Chizuru, Tsukasa, and Kei.

"So, it's us four together for our final year of high school." Chizuru said. "We turned out to be the lucky ones out of all of this."

"What about the others?"

"Yui, Ayano, and Rukia are in Class 3-C. And Sis is in Class 3-E."

"I see…"

"Chitose's in a class by herself…" Tsukasa said with a sweatdrop. "…I can only imagine the intense pervertedness she'll put that class through."

"I already feel sorry for her classmates…" Chizuru gained a bigger sweatdrop.

"Ugh! Why did they had to make us change classes in our third year?!" Kei whined. "My favorite spot by the window is gone now!"

"Maybe now you'll stop sleeping during class."

"You should really start taking this seriously, Kei." Tsukasa said. "This IS your final year of high school."

"*sigh* Yeah, yeah…I know. I already got "The Talk" from my mom due to my grades being barely passing. Gotta kick this sleeping habit starting today."

"¥500 says you won't make it to lunch."

"Tr-Try to be freaking supportive for once!" Kei yelled at Chizuru as she held up the money in question. While Tsukasa and I couldn't help but silently laugh at the two's one-sided bickering.

They totally remind me of how Rukia and I used to bicker at each other…

"So, what about you, Tsu?" Kei asked me. "It must suck that Rukia isn't here, right?"

"Yeah…it does. I mean, this is our first time being in separate classes since, well…ever. So, it does sting a little."

"I can only imagine how Rukia feels about this…" Tsukasa said.

"Well, she's got Ayano and Yui with her. So, she's not really alone." Chizuru said.

"Yeah, but…"

"Okay, everyone. Sit down. Class is about to begin." Said the teacher as she walked into the classroom.

"Oh, well…we'll just have to continue this later." I said.

As all of us went to our seats (or rather, went to a seat that was open), I was able to face my new teacher for the first time. And while she was definitely new to this school…

…There was just something about her that looked familiar to me.

Where…have I seen her before?

Author's Note: Tsu begins her final year of high school! And with a new classroom, new classmates, and even a somewhat familiar new teacher, it's sure to be an interesting one.

This is the only new chapter to the story. As the other four were rewrites. As I've said before, I'm unsure if I'm going to fully finish this story…since it's going to be rewritten in Yuru Yuri: The Inner Struggles at a later point. For now, I'll just leave it like this.

Thanks for reading. Later.