Chapter Text
Even though it was my first time starting at this school, my parents seemed to refuse to take me there. I found my father on the couch, with a couple of beer bottles by his side. I had assumed my mother was in the bedroom, wishing he was gone. That was when I just grabbed some food and head out the door. There were many people walking towards the school, so that was my only lead for now. They all seemed friendly enough, but that was to their friends. No one would speak or utter a word to some stranger.
When I arrived at the classroom, the teacher wasn't there just yet. Which meant everyone spoke with the person that was closer to them. I managed to find a seat at the corner of the classroom, so I knew that I was to be here for the rest of the year at least. As I settled in, someone came and stood next to me. I had almost thought it was Anna, but this girl was shorter than her. Her hair was a dark brown, but it seemed like there was some blue in her hair, making her blue eyes pop out. She looked sophisticated, wearing a blue sweater along with a long skirt.
" Are you new here?" she asked me. There was a smile on her face, no sign of disgust. I nodded. " It's nice to meet you then. I'm Ruka Kishinuma."
" Haru Hayashi."
" My friend told me about you. I think you remember her? Anna?"
" Ah, the Mochida girl. I remember her well. So, you're her friend."
" I have known her the longest. Anyway, it's nice to see a new face around here. It gets boring when you see the same people every day. By the way, when the teacher comes you might have to move your seat. She hates it when people sit in the back of the classroom. Some say it's because she thinks you might ignore her lectures."
" Well, she doesn't have to worry about me," I said, putting my books on the table. " Most teachers don't care whether I sit in the back or in the front. They always ignore me anyway."
Ruka frowned. " Hayashi, you're a strange one at that."
Before I could respond, the bell chimed as the teacher came in. Ruka was quickly back at her seat as the teacher laid eyes on me. She looked young to be teaching, meaning that she was somewhere in her twenties no doubt. Though, her appearance made her seem stricter than how Ruka put her. Her hair was in a tight bun, allowing her to wear a blazer and a black skirt. Something female teachers always wore at my old school. She glanced at her clipboard and then back at me.
" Haru Hayashi?"
" Yes?"
" Your parents contacted me before hand about your arrival. I didn't except you to be here so soon." She then smiled. " Well, that doesn't matter. My name is Eiko Amari. I understand you might enjoy sitting in the back, but I would like you here in the front."
So Ruka was right after all. I had wanted to ask her questions, demanding why I have to be the one to sit near the front. Though, that might have been a stupid question and one that could start an argument. It wasn't the time to be sent to the principal's office on the first day. Trying not to say anything back, I took a seat that was next to Ruka, silently thanking about how it was empty. Ms. Amari smiled and called out other's names.
Throughout the lesson, it seemed like Ruka was the teacher's pet. Someone who always raised their hand when others didn't know the answer and actually got praised for it. Even though that was the case, it seemed like she had a good relationship with everyone around her. Someone was even thanking for for taking the bullet. Everyone except me that is. If I hadn't switched schools in the middle of the year, I wouldn't have a problem with these damn questions.
" Are you okay Hayashi?" she asked me when the teacher turned her back. She actually looked concern for me. Something I wasn't used to. I nodded my head and tried to ignore her answers for the rest of class. By then, lunch came around. I didn't see Ruka after the lunch bell rang, she most likely went to find Anna and her other friends. While everyone was chatting, I started to doodle in one of the books I had. It might have been rude not to speak to anyone else, but I had wanted to be alone at the moment. This was the only time.
" Are you the new girl?"
I looked up to find another person, whom looked around Ruka's age. Her hair was a lighter brown along with bright green eyes. Unlike Ruka, who's hair was normal, this girl had wavy hair along with clips in it. I was surprised how she managed to get them out.
" Why? Did Kishinuma send you?"
" Which Kishinuma?" the girl asked, frowning a little. After a moment, she then nodded. " Ah, Ruka? No, I did pass by her though. She was wondering where Anna had gone during our lunch time." The girl pulled up a desk and seated herself next to me. She didn't seem to mind my glare. " Why are you sitting alone?"
" Because I am new here and I do not like to be bothered."
" Well, enjoy the peace while it lasts because new students find friends within a week's time. I won't be surprised if Ruka or Anna didn't become your friend sooner or later."
" Who are you anyway?"
" Akahana Shinohara. Just call me Aka. I sure hope you don't mess me up with my twin."
" You have a twin?" I asked.
" Yep, Aoi. Here's the difference between us. You would always see me wear red while my little sister wears blue. Nothing too hard to tell, but others always think we're the other one. It's annoying, but it's fun to mess with others."
She seemed to be driving the conversation anyway, speaking anything that comes to her mind. Akahana didn't seem to mind when I didn't open my mouth at all.
" Did you meet Ryu yet?" she asked.
" Ryu?"
" Kishinuma. Ruka's twin."
God, how many sets of twins were at this place? At least I would be able to tell the difference between them.
" So, would you like to join our club?"
" What club is that?" I asked.
" A gaming club. Well, we play games with each other. It's an after school activity that we made up a while ago. Since you already know Anna, Ruka, and I, it would be easier for you. Ruka mentioned that you didn't like speaking to others."
" That girl knows too much," I muttered.
" Don't be surprised. Ruka's mother teaches her everything that she needs to know. Maybe she can teach you something as well."
" Where is your club?"
" On the second floor. In one of the many storage rooms this school has. They refused to give us a classroom. Oh, there's the bell. See you after school then."
As Akahana left, she came across Ruka, giving her a smile before running down the hall.
~
When school ended, I followed Ruka to an old classroom, that was now covered with boxes. When she opened the door, there were at least five people in there already. Anna was the top, moving around the games and placing them on the table. She was the first one to notice us. " Ruka and Haru. I can't believe you got to bring her here. Now we have another member."
" You didn't have one before?" I asked, closing the door behind me.
" We had members," a boy said, whom I assumed was Ruka's brother. They had the same facial structure, but his hair was a light color. " But they all left because it was boring according to them."
" They're not wrong," another boy said. He had black hair and dark green eyes. He didn't seem to relate to anyone in this room. I wasn't alone for once. " Name is Jun Ito if you're wondering. And the boy next to me is Ryu Kishinuma."
" And we're the twin sisters, Aoi and Akahana. Though, we met earlier and there was no need for a conversation now."
" You talk too much Aka," Jun said bitterly.
" Anyway," Ruka muttered. " This is Haru Hayashi. She just started here today and had already gotten on the teacher's bad side."
" No, I haven't."
" She seems dangerous," Aoi muttered loud enough for me to hear. " Should we trust her?"
" You are bad at whispering," Ryu told her. " Don't mind her Hayashi. Aoi is always like this when someone new comes around the corner."
" I see. What are you playing anyway? Seems...interesting."
" We were just picking it out," Anna said as she moved the board games away. " We couldn't figure something out since we wanted to play a game beforehand last week. But the others refused and now we have nothing to play."
" How about we play something else?" Ruka suggested. " Actually, we can play in downtown. No one will care what middle school students are doing down there."
" And we have something called a curfew," Anna said.
" A simpler game then, Go Fish," Akahana said. " I still need to beat you from the last time Anna."
" Go Fish it is then, but we have a little twist this time. Whoever is the last one has to do whatever we say until the end of the month," Anna explained. She then grinned at me. " How about it Hayashi? Are you ready for the challenge? We have tricks up our sleeves."
A game trying to win my independence from this people.
Game on.