Chapter Text
I stood at the front of Amanogawa High while holding a map of the school.
I winced, nervously, at all the students who arrived, conversing with each other in Japanese, laughing...just generally having a good time as they headed for their first classes of the day.
I just hoped to the high heavens that nobody would...or, could...see that I was hiding a secret: that I was actually a girl, disguised as a boy.
I came from Tennessee, USA, so this felt like a huge change to me.
I had always dreamed of visiting Japan since I was little. And now, here I was! The only downside was that I knew next to no Japanese. Because of this, I was expecting communication to be rocky, for a while. At least, until I picked up on the language.
With a deep sigh, I bravely walked forward, occasionally looking down at my map to keep myself from getting lost.
"Ohayo." a teacher told me in Japanese with a polite nod as I walked by him.
"Ah - ohayo." I replied, equally as polite, though feeling awkward.
As I made my way down the halls, I prayed that nobody would realize my true identity. My heart was already pounding with anxiety about it.
Ah. I'm sure you're wondering who I am, and why I'm beginning high-school, all the way in Japan, as a boy.
My name is Jasmina Thundewel, and this is actually my first year of high-school. And I'm on a mission.
It all started five months ago....
Flashback
I had a twin brother, his name was Junpei. He was really smart...smarter than me! It was enough to get him an education offer in Japan! He was really talented in photography and journalism. Unfortunately, we didn't have the money for plane tickets, at the time, so he couldn't go.
We were loners at school, for the most part...but, he still got some attention, thanks to his journalism. He would share everything with me. Every detail, every story. Not so much with Mom. But, then again, at that time, she had been really busy with her job, so she didn't have the kind of time that I had to be listening to him.
I told you that I was from Tennessee. Since day one, Junpei and I were really close. We did everything, and went everywhere, together. Neither of us had a fantastic time at school, growing up, so we only had each other to hang out with. That being said, we had our differences.
My brother was into journalism, but I'm not gonna lie, he was also a coward.
Meanwhile, I was the opposite: I was braver, and into martial arts, and breakdancing.
However, we did share a love for space. Deep space, to be exact. Neither of us really thought to start studying it in school, but whenever we were bored, we would just do random research on it.
But then...tragedy struck....
One day, Junpei told me in a text that he was knee-deep in something big, and that he couldn't wait to share it with me! He stayed, late, at school, for most of his journalism work. From the sound of it, it was nothing like any other story that he had covered!
But then, that was the last I had heard from him...and, he never returned home.
After twenty-four hours, I received absolutely nothing from him. No calls, no more emails...it was as if he had gone completely off the grid! Of course, that had me worried. I told Mom everything, after waiting a couple of days...just to see if he did come home. But, he never did. And as soon as I told her everything, she became just as worried. So, she called the school that Junpei and I had been going to. But according to the faculty, there, there hadn't been a single sign of him, in two days! You can imagine what that did to Mom....
Three months later, his body was found in a forest...in Japan! How the hell did he even get over there? When?? What happened?!
Mom and I were so confused, and we cried for weeks. Mom took it, the hardest. I mean, I did, too...but to me, something felt oddly off about Junpei's death. I couldn't explain it. It was just a gut-feeling that I had.
I remembered his last text to me about being in something big. Whatever it was, could it have something to do with his death? What even was this 'thing'? Who else was involved? Did anybody over at that school know about it? Nothing made sense! I had to know.
Unfortunately, Junpei had left me absolutely no details or clues about whatever he had gotten himself into. Where would I even start? And that's if I was able to fly to Japan to uncover the truth! After losing Junpei, there was no way Mom would ever had allowed me to go....
Since he died, I made a vow that no matter what, I would find the truth.
That's when I came up with the idea of looking exactly like him, and planned on leaving Mom a note before sneaking off to the airport. There was just absolutely no way she would let me go off to a different country on my own. But I felt like I needed to keep my vow, so I needed to figure out a way.
One day, I was bringing in the mail. I had just graduated from ninth-grade, so I was pretty much home alone while Mom was at work.
Mom and I had a really good relationship, for the most part. But, ever since Junpei passed away, she had become strict with just about everything. My curfews had been cut shorter, and I wasn't allowed to go anywhere, alone, or with friends...not that I had any friends, to begin with. Our recent argument was over me transferring to Japan for high-school. I had the goal to transfer over to Amanogawa high-school so that I could discreetly find out what happened to my brother, and anything about this big story that he had been doing. I was trying to be as subtle about the whole thing as possible while trying to convince Mom to let me go. But, I supposed I wasn't subtle enough, because Mom figured it out, rather quickly, and became very stern about it, telling me, 'no'. On one hand, I understood, completely...but, on the other, if I didn't go there and find out the truth, I was afraid I was going to go nuts.
And a nutty teenager was the last thing Mom needed to deal with, this year.
Anyway, among the pile of mail that I had brought in was a strange package, addressed to me...which, honestly confused me. I knew that I hadn't ordered anything, lately, but I was curious.
Inside the package was a disk, and a note, telling me to play the disk during a time when Mom wasn't home. Considering she was at work, I stuck the disk into my laptop.
It was audio-only:
"If you are hearing this, I pray that it means you followed my instructions." a male voice said. His accent sounded Japanese, though his English sounded almost perfect. His tone was solemn, however.... I sat down on my bed with my laptop, and listened, intently. "Between you and I, this is something your mother does not need to know. My aim, here, is to guide you as much as I can. I know you seek closure...to put your mind at ease. There is no doubt you are determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to discover the truth. I can only imagine the level of confusion that you are feeling as you are listening to this."
"Yeah, a little bit." I muttered.
"I will be clear...." the voice continued. "I am not a good man. But, I am not without a soul. Considering your current situation, my only goal is to make sure you have the answers that you seek. My intentions are only that of a man without redemption."
I frowned in confusion. What was this man talking about?
"This part requires your utmost attention, for time is slowly of the essence, but important, nonetheless. There are things in this universe that are difficult to explain to...well...to 'normal' folk. What is to be dealt with are things that only few are able to handle. I am one of them, and so are you. I am sure you have many questions, by now...but, if you truly want to find out what happened to your brother, or why it happened, you need to be following the world he was in. Bring with you only what is necessary, but also act as if your only focus is your studies. Make friends as you would like any normal student. Blend in. It is imperative that you follow this as to not raise suspicion. Trust no one. I will handle the rest." There was a pause of silence, for a moment. Then, "Beware, for they are as determined as you, and will be watching."
Then, the disk popped out.
I stared at it, mulling over everything that I just heard.
This man was right about one certain thing: I had a lot of questions. Now, more than I did, before....
I looked over at the photo of my brother and I that sat on my side-table. If I was thinking what the man in the disk was talking about, this could very well be the only chance I had at finding out what really happened to Junpei. It hurt me to hide something like this from Mom...but, I knew that she would never let me do something like this. She had already lost one kid. I wanted to make sure she didn't lose another. That meant, staying alive if I was really going to do what I had to do.
Present Time
So, that's why I'm here, now...two months later, and in Japan.
After Junpei's funeral, I went right to work. Particularly, at night, after Mom had gone off to bed.
I had pretty much copied my brother's looks...somewhat. Junpei and I were fraternal twins, so we didn't look exactly alike. But that was fine. I just needed to not look like...well, myself. I had cut my hair to Junpei's style, and dyed it dark-brown. I also wore brown contacts, but kept on my glasses. I needed them, no thanks to my eyesight being poor. I then started wearing his clothes. They were a little big on me...I always was the shorter twin. There wasn't much I could do about it, though. Thankfully, they at least helped hide my size-A breasts, which definitely helped certain matters!
My mysterious benefactor, who had sent me that disk with his message in it, had sent me keys to a small apartment that was within walking distance to the school.
It was just perfect enough for me, and was already furnished, complete with a small kitchen, and a bedroom loft.
He had also sent me Amanogawa's male school uniform. How he knew that I was planning on disguising myself as a boy...or, my clothes sizes...I had no idea.
I suppose you think I shouldn't be trusting this man, so easily. Well, to be honest, I'm not. At least, not entirely. I didn't have anyone else in my family to stay with, or even lived in Japan.
Junpei and I never knew our father, and up until this year, it had always been just Junpei, Mom, and I. And I didn't feel comfortable staying with a random stranger in a completely different country.
As strange as it is, I have to go with whatever my benefactor had planned.
It killed me that I had to "disappear" out of Mom's life. I have no doubt that, by now, the woman was wondering where the hell I was, and most likely calling the cops. I had to force myself to leave my old laptop and phone behind in America (after wiping it of everything as of recently) so that she couldn't contact me, or figure out a way to track me down.
My benefactor had surprisingly left me new electronics in my new apartment, so that that way, I could start my life anew...as my twin brother.
Yeah, that sounds totally weird, doesn't it?
It felt strange...walking around, hiding from the only person I had left in my family, and acting like 'Jasmina Thundewel' no longer existed.
I never took anything theater-related in school, so I was sure my acting, in general, was very weak.
My first night in Japan, I couldn't help but sob, already missing my mother, and wishing that I could tell her everything...preferably without getting myself grounded for life. I told myself over, and over, again, that I was doing this for my brother. Partly for Mom, too, since I felt sure that she wanted answers, as well. But none of it erased the feeling of total loneliness and isolation that I had.
I knew that I had to grow up, though. At least, a bit. And, I had to be brave. I was determined to find out the truth about Junpei's death, no matter what it took.
So now, here I was, heading to my first class of the day at Amanogawa High as my twin.
I'm sure you're wondering how I plan on pulling this off. Well...it shouldn't be too hard. All I really gotta do is act and dress like my Junpei! Everyday, and for the next few years.... It shouldn't be too bad. I remember he always told me that while I had a talent for breakdancing and combat reflexes, I had a bigger knack for acting. To this day, I still have a hard time believing that. But, we'll see!
The only problem, now, is how opposite we were. He was always careful, calm, and a total math whiz. I...was not. I was clumsy, really struggled with math, and sensitive.
Portraying my brother should be totally fine and easy!
I hope....
I kept looking down at my map...I was supposed to be in Class 2-B. Ohh, I was ready to get lost, already....
I expected school in Japan to be different from Tennessee, but I've never seen classrooms labeled with both a letter and a number! Back home, our classrooms were only labeled with numbers.
Suddenly, I was so focused on avoiding getting lost on my first day of school, that I accidentally walked right into someone! The impact sent my stuff flying, and me stumbling backwards, onto the floor!
A few students, nearby, snickered, and I tried not to blush.
Looking up, I saw that I had crashed into a boy who could've been a few years older than me, if not a couple of years.
"S-Sorry!" I said. "M-My bad!"
I hated myself for stammering. I also mentally kicked myself to remind myself that I was supposed to be acting like a boy...therefore, I had to sound like a boy.
I immediately began gathering up my things, and even grabbed a book that I had accidentally made him drop.
The boy took a moment to study me, a bit.
"....Ahh! You're the new English student!" he replied, and I looked up just as he began picking my things up.
He was handsome, and had curly dark hair and dark eyes. I probably shouldn't be so surprised that he spoke almost perfect English instead of Japanese. It did not - repeat, not - help that he had a handsome smirk on his face...albeit devilish.
For some reason, something felt strange and off about him...and I had only met this guy five seconds ago!
The student then helped me up...of course, he was taller than me. He had to be at least around five-foot-nine!
I felt like a shrimp...I hated being four-foot-eleven.
"I knew a transfer student from the United States was beginning school, here...." the guy told me. "But, I'm afraid I didn't catch the name."
"Uh...." I replied, my brain racing, and I immediately deepened my voice. Or, tried to....
Remember, you're not Jasmina Thundewel, here. You're Junpei. a voice in my head reminded me. Right.
The student seemed to study me, again, glancing me up and down, and seeming deep in thought...scanning my every feature, all while keeping that smirk on his face. It was sending chills down my spine.... That devilish smirk grew, and he had a strange glint of knowing and darkness in his eyes.
Why was I getting such troublesome vibes from this guy?
Students had begun to surround us, just then, which made me nervous. And, it didn't help that they were beginning to whisper in Japanese. I couldn't stop the embarrassed blush forming on my cheeks as a couple shared quiet laughs.
Would choosing to dye my hair blonde have made any difference? I wondered. Ugh...high-school life.... So, this is it, eh?
I forced an awkward cough.
Tall-Dark-and-Creepy gently took back his book, at last. But, instead of leaving, he bent forward, matching my eye level. He pushed up my glasses...which, was rather unexpected.
"What's your name?" he asked me.
"O-Oh! Uh.... Uhm.... Ehh...." I muttered, trying to think fast.
"Oi...." a random student from behind Tall-Dark-and-Creepy said with a frown. "Your senior just asked you a question."
"Uhm.... I've got a name!" she told them with a actually-not-so-confident smirk. "And, it's a boy's name, too."
Stupid. I scolded myself. Don't blow this!
The curly-haired teen gave a slight shrug.
"Well?" he asked, his smirk turning into one of amusement. "We're waiting! Unless, you think we should just call you 'Specs'."
A few students laughed and nudged each other.
"No-ho-ho, no, no, no! That won't be necessary." I told him with a smile, and cleared my throat, awkwardly. "It's...uhm.... It's...Junpei."
"Junpei...." Tall-Dark-and-Creepy repeated, lifting an eyebrow in total suspicion.
"Yes! My name is Junpei." I replied with a small laugh.
I mentally rolled my eyes. I sounded like an awkward robot.
The curly-haired student nodded, slightly, as if to himself. He then stepped toward me, until he was practically towering over me.
Help.... I thought, nervously.
He shrugged, casually. "Junpei what?" he asked.
"Eh?" I muttered with a small smile.
"Junpei what?" he repeated. "You do have a surname, do you not?"
"Oh! Heh, heh...right! I do, in fact." I replied. "I just...don't think I should say it, now, since you're already laughing at my given name...."
He raised an eyebrow, as if what I said was challenging him. He still had that smirk, though...didn't he ever stop smiling?
I shifted, uncomfortably, realizing that I just might have already made a mistake on my first day of school. "....thundewel...."
"Hm?" he hummed, both of his brows raising. "What was that?"
He's torturing me, now. I thought with a grimace. I just know it. He's also clearly enjoying my suffering.
"....Thundewel...." I repeated, a bit louder, this time, though still trying to keep my voice low.
His dark eyes lit up with great amusement. Then, he looked up at the crowd around them, and told them something in Japanese.
The crowd quickly moved on, some still whispering to each other and throwing glances at me.
The boy looked back at me.
"Apologies, but...have we met, before?" he asked me. "You look familiar."
"Uh...I don't believe so, no." I replied. "I might just have one of those faces."
I let out a nervous laugh.
"Hmm...." the boy hummed, thoughtfully; I just had a weird feeling in my gut that he didn't believe me.
"Well, then...'Thundewel'-san," Tall-Dark-and-Creepy said, once the crowd was far enough away. "I suggest you hurry and get to your first class. You would not want to make a bad first impression on your teacher, would you?"
He gave me a wink, and walked past.
I just watched him leave, clutching my books to my chest. That feeling in my gut grew stronger. It was almost like...he just knew that I wasn't who I claimed I was.
"Oh, by the way...." He stopped, and turned to look back at me. "I suggest you join a club or two, during your time, here. And, perhaps learn our language, as well. You will need it. Welcome to Amanogawa! I hope your time, here, goes well!"
"O-Ok!" I replied with a smile and a slight wave. "I will! Thanks!"
He gave me an amused sneer, then continued walking away.
Once his back was turned, I let out a sigh of relief, and threw my head back with a wince.
He had a point.... I couldn't believe I had already forgotten one of the most important things about coming to a different country: learning the language. I remembered that the real Junpei had picked up some Japanese, a few years ago. I was regretting not choosing to learn it, earlier, now....
Cringing at myself, I held my books tighter, and followed my map, again.
That was...creepy and charming.... I thought. And awkward...very awkward. And, I don't think I like the tone he used whenever he referred to me.... Am I too obvious, somehow? Is it my voice? I facepalmed. I need to get better at acting as my brother. That felt like a close call, and I'm not a fan. I frowned as I realized something. Dammit! I didn't get his name! I shook my head, and began walking. Maybe I'm just overreacting. Maybe he doesn't actually suspect anything. I can't worry about that guy, right now. Class is about to start!
I turned my walk into a jog as I hurried to find Class 2-B.
It took a bit, but I finally found my first class, which apparently, was homeroom. I'm pretty sure I got myself turned around, twice, before. Even while following a map, I still ended up getting lost.
I peeked in.
It was a full classroom of students doing absolutely whatever. There didn't seem to be any sign of the teacher, for now...which was great, because that meant that I wasn't too late.
I walked in, nervously running a hand through my hair as I picked a chair and desk right next to the window.
At least, I didn't run into Mr. Prince-Creepy-Charming, again. There was just something about him that told me he was up to no good...and it's not just because of that smirk of his.
Just act natural. I told myself as I fidgeted and straightened out my uniform. You're pretty much just a transfer student, but with a big secret.... Yeah, this isn't nerve-wracking, at all....
I felt like a recluse. I had no idea what to say to strike up some kind of conversation with anybody. Not knowing any Japanese didn't help, either.
Perhaps it was better, this way. If I became the quiet, mysterious type, people might not talk to me as much, and I wouldn't have to end up embarrassing myself. I could blend in like this, right? My benefactor hadn't exactly told me what sort of student I should be acting as during my time, here....
And besides.... I thought. It's not like anybody, here, knows the real Junpei Thundewel...depending on how far he got before he....
I stopped myself, finding myself unable to stomach that fact, for the time being.
I let myself sink down, some, into my chair, my arms crossed, and feeling very awkward while unable to know what else to do until the teacher arrived.
On top of all this, I was never a big fan of school.
Growing up, Junpei and I kept to ourselves, most of the time. This, unfortunately, got us constantly bullied and pushed around, shoved into lockers, being tripped while carrying our lunches, the whole shebang.
School was definitely not my favorite place to be in. It was only made worse when my brother passed away. Even before that, I was the bigger victim of the bullying. People didn't pick on Junpei quite as badly because he was smart enough to get them kicked out or in detention, and people were mostly afraid of him. Even though, he was just a normal kid, like me. He was never a jock, or a theater kid.
At that moment, a young woman walked into the classroom. I figured that she was the teacher.
"Ohayo!" she exclaimed, cheerfully, and with a smile
The students replied with the same word.
She then began speaking entirely in Japanese. I cringed at myself, and made a mental note to start learning the language as soon as I got back to my apartment.
Just then, a tall-looking boy, who dressed like he was in the 90's, and not wearing any part of the school uniform, at all, walked in. And he was...soaking wet?
Proudly, he began writing his name on the board with chalk. He then turned around, and happily introduced himself with a cheerful smile. I thought it slightly odd that the teacher didn't appear to be against his choice of outfit. Wasn't one of the school's big rules that every student had to wear the uniform? Why did it seem like this guy was getting away with it?
"Ohayo!" he said to me, cheerfully, as he quickly went past me while giving everyone little handshakes, before suddenly seeming to recognize one of the students, and they immediately jumped into conversation.
I watched as he began to find his seat. I've never met anybody as energetic as him, before...other than a computer nerd I remember sharing a class with, back in preschool.
I couldn't help but shake my head as he continued with his antics, until the teacher put a stop to it. I lifted an eyebrow when he then slammed a soaking wet and folded-up piece of paper onto a boy's desk, said boy having reddish-brown hair. Those two got into what sounded like a bit of an intense conversation.
That's when the guy with reddish-brown hair stood up from his desk, grabbed his things, and left the room. But not before exchanging a few more words with the new guy and looking like he was over everything.
Weird.... I thought. He just left when the teacher hasn't even begun class?
The teacher, Miss Sarina Sonoda, as I had learned, spoke, again.
"So, now...." she said in English, all of a sudden. "We also have another new student, this year! He is a transfer student from America!"
The classroom filled with excited whispers.
Miss Sonoda looked over at me, and smiled, warmly; I was trying to make myself invisible among the students. "Thundewel-san? Will you please stand, and introduce yourself?"
"Eh?" I asked, the teacher's voice snapping me back to reality. "O-Oh...." I awkwardly stood up to face the other students, and tried to keep my fidgeting hands still while smiling. "Uhm.... G-Good morning, everyone." I also tried to avoid sounding like a girl. "My name is Junpei Thundewel. I, uhm...." I trailed off, biting my lower-lip, nervously. "I...."
Gosh, why am I having such a hard time with this? I thought in annoyance. I spent so many years at my old school that I'm not used to introducing myself as a new student!
I couldn't help but run a hand through my hair, again.
Miss Sonoda must've noticed that I was very nervous.
"Thundewel-san will be spending the rest of his high-school years in Japan, yes?" she announced to the class before giving me a nod of encouragement.
"Oh! Y-yes!" I replied with a bashful grin. "I, uhm...my family and I believed that coming here would be a wonderful opportunity, so...I look forward to working with everyone. Th-Thank you for having me!"
I bowed, politely, as everyone clapped.
"Hai! Let us all take care of Thundewel-san, everyone!" Miss Sonoda said.
"Eh, th-that's not necessary!" I told her, then smiled, bashfully. "Please, I've been a wallflower, my whole life. I'm no one special." I laughed, awkwardly. "And, please, call me 'Junpei'." Being referred to by my surname had always felt awkward to me.
Miss Sonoda nodded.
"Alright, Junpei-san." she replied with a kind smile. "You may take your seat. You did well!"
Oh, thank goodness gravy! I thought with great relief as I sat back down. I rubbed my face, feeling humiliated. That has to be the worst introduction to myself that I have ever done....
A student sitting nearby hummed, thoughtfully.
"Do you not know our language?" she asked me, her eyes narrowed at me, suspiciously. "Most of us, here, do not know yours-"
"That is enough." Miss Sonoda told her, looking slightly aggravated. "Do not be rude. Thundewel-san - eh, Junpei-san - is still learning our language. His move, here, had been much sooner than expected, so he still needs some time. He will get there." She gave me another kind smile. "If he needs any assistance, he may come to any of us faculty, or hopefully, some of you will offer to help."
Well, that didn't make me feel any less embarrassed.
Even so, I put on a bashful smile, and said, "Th-Thank you, Miss Sonoda." I wasn't sure on what else to say, after that.
Then, the class finally began.
I walked down the halls, feeling dreadful.
My first day of high-school, and I was already failing to make good impressions. I felt so stupid and lame....
I groaned, unhappily. Surely, this day couldn't get any worse...right?
"Junpei-san!" a voice called out from behind me. "Junpei-san!"
With a curious frown, I stopped, and looked back.
The delinquent-looking boy from earlier was running up to me! He skidded to a stop as soon as he approached. "Ohayo! I am Gentaro Kisaragi! I am new to this school, too! You perhaps have not seen Utahoshi around, have you?"
"Utahoshi?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hai! He left the classroom before the lesson started." he replied.
My brows lifted.
"Oh!" I said. "That guy!" Gentaro nodded. "Uhm...n-no, I haven't seen him, since then. Why?"
"Damn....!" he said with a snap of his fingers. "Ah...he might still be in the nurse's office, then. I want to talk to him."
I gave a slight thoughtful nod.
"Well...if he's sick, then maybe you shouldn't bother him." I told him. "Nice to meet you! S-See you around!"
I gave him a small wave before turning to leave.
"Matte! Matte!" Gentaro exclaimed, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. "Why not help me search for him? Four eyes are better than two, after all, ne?" He gave me a toothy grin.
I couldn't tell if that was an accidental eyeglasses joke or not.
"Uhm...but...." I replied, uncertainly. "Shouldn't we start heading to our next class?"
"Ah, who cares?" he said, waving the idea off. "A few absences won't hurt anybody."
"B-But...." I stammered, feeling confused, now. "We'll get into trouble for skipping, won't we? I-It's the first day-!"
"Ah, don't worry about it!" he told me with a chuckle, and began pushing me down the opposite of where I was heading, before. "It will be fine! You will see!"
After wandering around, we finally found the nurse's office.
Gentaro opened the door.
"Oi, Utahoshi," he said. "Where are you at?"
I poked my head in as he threw back some curtains, only to reveal some empty cots.
"Oh, well, not here!" I said. "Guess we should head over to our next class, now...."
I was about to make a quick exit back down the hallway. But Gentaro protested in Japanese, and yanked me back in, my shoes squeaking against the floor as I stumbled backward. "Gentaro....! He's clearly not in here! Let's just go!"
"What are you so worried about, eh?" he asked me while looking around the office with a thoughtful expression.
"Oh, gee, I don't know," I replied, sarcastically, then counted off my fingers. "Getting sent to the principle's office, getting expelled, being forced to move back to America-"
"Ah, none of that will happen." he told me, then chuckled. "You worry, too much, Junpei."
He gave me an accidentally-harsh smack on my shoulder, making me flinch.
"Aren't you worried?" I asked him with a confused frown. "Didn't you say so, yourself, earlier, that you're also new, here? We can't be skipping classes!"
"Making sure your friends are healthy is more important than classes." he told me, proudly.
I remembered the argument he had with this Utahoshi student, earlier.
"I...don't think Utahoshi sees you two as 'friends'." I said with a tilt of my head. "He didn't seem particularly happy with you. Besides...I don't think that's how making friends works, if you've never met the guy, before."
Gentaro swung an arm around my shoulders, and pulled me into an awkward hug.
"Perhaps that is how it is in America, and, in your world." he said. "But, things are different, here. You will see! Now, come on! We have to find Utahoshi!" He released me, and jogged out of the nurse's office.
I let out a deep, tired sigh.
I suddenly had a bad feeling about this whole thing. This guy was certainly persistent, for a new student!
By the lunch hour, we still hadn't been able to find Utahoshi.
At this point, I was just following Gentaro around while hoping to the heavens that we weren't about to get into trouble for missing classes.
Meanwhile, I was hungry!
We managed to find, and entered, the cafeteria, which was nearly packed with students.
Gentaro sighed in disappointment. "Not here, either."
I slipped away, and grabbed myself a tray of food. I then tried searching for an isolated spot.
There wasn't any.
I did notice that each table seemed to have a type of group sitting at them. There were jocks, nerds, party people, cheerleaders, you name it!
I let out a disappointed sigh.
I guess I'm having lunch, outside. I thought. I feel like this place is more crowded than what I'm used to.
"Maybe he just went home." I suggested to Gentaro with a shrug as he joined up with me, his hands on his hips. "If he had to see the nurse, earlier, then he's probably too sick to be spending the rest of the day in classes."
"On the first day?" the taller boy replied, and shook his head. "Nah."
I threw my head back in annoyance. "It can happen...." I grumbled. "Why are you looking for him, anyway?"
"Oh...I just want to talk to him." he replied. "Besides, he rudely threw a girl's letter to him in the river. It wasn't right."
Soo...basically, this guy just wants to bother someone else over a love letter. I thought with a deadpanned look.
"While I do agree that it was a little rude...I think he really just wants to be left alone, right now?" I said with a fake, bashful smiled.
I've seen my fair share of love notes at my previous schools, so I knew the kind of letter Gentaro was talking about.
"Not until he understands that what he did was rude, and that he needs to apologize to that girl." he told me with a grin.
"That's kind of nagging, though-" I tried to tell him, before he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me along with him. "Whoa!"
"Oh! C'mon, let's sit down!" he exclaimed.
"So tell me, why did you come to Japan?" he asked me as soon as we sat down at a table. "You're a long way from home!"
Ah, crap! I thought as I bit my lower lip, my brain racing to come up with a good enough excuse.
"I...just...." I said. "Like I said in class, earlier, an amazing opportunity came up, and...since I didn't know if I'd ever get another chance to come to Japan, I took this one!"
"That's it?" I could hear my brother tell me, unimpressed. "That's the best you can come up with?"
I nearly let out a groan of defeat.
"That's amazing!" Gentaro told me as we approached a table, and he sat down while releasing my wrist.
"Is it, though?" I muttered with a forced smile, but thankfully, he didn't notice.
Meanwhile, as soon as we did sit down, more than half of the students gasped and whispered to each other in shock as they stared at Gentaro and I.
I raised an eyebrow, wondering why they were acting like we had just committed a crime.
Gentaro noticed the reactions, too.
"What?" he asked everyone in English. "Is there something wrong with my hair?"
I gave him a look. "I highly doubt your hair is the problem."
But I became worried, memories of my previous years of school flooding my mind...and they were not good memories....
I stood up, and tried to get him to his feet. "C'mon, let's just go!"
"Nande yo?" he argued in Japanese, fighting against me, and we got into a sort of bickering banter, causing some students to chuckle.
A student rushed up, asking something in Japanese while looking very amused at the same time.
Irritated, Gentaro shoved him away.
The kid laughed, to my surprise, as if hardly bothered by the taller boy's attitude. The kid said something in Japanese, making some other students laugh.
Then, he took notice of me.
"Ahh, the new American boy!" he exclaimed with a grin. "This should be very interesting."
"And just like that, the need to leave has become greater." I muttered with a nod. Then, I tried getting Gentaro up, again. "C'mon!"
"No, way!" the taller boy told me with a frown. "What is with you, eh?"
"Gentaro!" I growled at him, warningly.
"Gen-san!!" a girl with long hair exclaimed as she rushed over. I recognized her as the girl Gentaro was talking to, earlier. "Gen-san!! What are you doing?? This is bad! Hurry, get up!"
"Why?" he asked in confusion. "What is with you two? You are acting strange!"
The girl noticed me, and bowed a quick hello to me with a quick smile before turning her attention back to her friend.
"Look, the tables are divided into groups, ok?" she told him, and began trying to pull him up from the chair. "See? Over there. Those are the punks." She pointed to each table group as she spoke. "Those are the nerds...the party animals...the freaks...the jocks...."
"Don't forget the cheerleaders." I mumbled, worriedly.
The girl nodded. "Them, too!"
"Are you insane?" Gentaro asked his friend, irritably. "I've never heard of something so stupid."
"That's just the way things are, around here." she told him.
"Uhm...this wouldn't, by chance, happen to be the cheerleaders or popular girls table?" I asked Gentaro's friend with a nervous smile.
"Hai! Yes!" the girl replied with a nod, then tried getting Gentaro up, again. "Which is why we need to move! Now!"
"She's right." the guy from before, from the party animals table, said with an amused smirk. He had neck-length orange-brown hair with hair-clips and a headband in it, and even his uniform was all decked out with random crazy things. "And, it's a bad idea for geeks like you two to be sitting there."
He did not just rope me in with the geeks table. I thought in slight annoyance. Then paused and actually remembered, Oh yeah...I am a geek...sort of.
"Geek?" Gentaro asked, confused.
"It's the same as 'freak'." the girl told him. "You know, like me."
She began trying to pull him off the chair, again.
"And me...." I added. "Well, now, that we've got all that cleared up...let's go!"
I, too, tried pulling Gentaro away, again.
"Junpei...." the taller boy said with a roll of his eyes, and yanked his arm out of my grasp, accidentally bringing me down to the floor. "You are being silly."
I laughed, sarcastically.
"No! No, I'm not!" I told him with a nervous smile, and hopped right back up onto my feet. "I know these things! I've lived through them! Suffered, I have! This is just middle-school, all over, again. So many bruises.... I don't know about you, but I am not planning on getting my ass beaten up on my first day of high-school, here. Let's go!"
"She's right, Gen-san!" the long-haired girl said, and began helping the new kid in trying to pull Gentaro away. "Now, c'mon, let's just go! If you don't move, soon, it will be bad!"
"Gentaro....!" I growled, pushing with all my might. "Move it!"
"No, way!" the taller boy exclaimed.
But just then, we heard doors opening, and I immediately stopped and looked over.
"Too late...." I said, worriedly.
Three girls in red, white, and black cheerleader outfits waltzed in, acting all high-and-mighty. One of the girls had a short pixie-cut hairstyle, while her posse had long hair in ponytails.
I shook my head.
"Not good." I muttered.
"Whoa! What a babe!" Gentaro said, starstruck. I gave him a look of disbelief. "This school might not be so bad, after all!"
"Kazashiro is the queen of the school!" his friend told him, looking very worried. She, once again, began trying to pull him away. "C'mon! Let's go!"
I sighed in great disappointment, then pulled out a pen and notepad, and began writing something.
"What are you doing?" the long-haired girl asked her.
"Writing my eulogy." I replied with a smile, and continued writing.
But before I could finish it, Gentaro smacked the notepad out of my hand.
I pouted.
The cheerleaders approached us, and their leader looked down at Gentaro with her arms crossed.
The lead cheerleader asked something in Japanese with a judgmental look.
"W-We're sorry!" Gentaro's friend replied in English with a bow.
"Trash?" Gentaro, himself, asked the girls.
The lead cheerleader took one look at me, then focused back onto Gentaro.
"Yes. The trashiest of trash." she replied in English. I'm assuming she was the one named Kazashiro Miu. Somehow, I doubted her change in language was just for my benefit.
Gentaro fixed his jacket and put a leg over a knee.
"Is that something like...the manliest of man?" he asked her.
I just stared at him in disbelief.
Has he never been through school, before? You don't mess with cheerleader or popular girls! That's just asking for trouble!
The cheerleaders looked at each other, and snickered.
I shut my eyes, wanting to just melt right there, into the floor.
Suddenly, I felt a hand grip my shirt!
Before I could react, Gentaro and I were thrown, and we landed onto some chairs! Well...Gentaro landed on some chairs. I had to land onto a table! I immediately felt a rib begin to bruise as I fell off and landed onto the floor.
"Gen-san! Jun-san!" Gentaro's friend exclaimed, and rushed over to help us.
I weakly got to my feet, using the table as an aid, and clutched at my bruised rib.
"Well...." I said with a grunt. "That's not very nice."
My face fell as soon as I saw who threw us: jocks! Letterman jackets and all! Great....
"We're dead." I mumbled.
That's when I noticed the party animal guy from a few minutes ago...he looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh.
"What are you smirking at?" I asked him, and he raised a hand in defense. I then hobbled over to Gentaro and his friend with a wince.
"Arigato, Shun!" Kazashiro said, hooking her hands around his arm, and gave us a look. "You made a bit of a mess, though."
"Sorry about that, Miu." her boyfriend replied with a smirk. "I will be more careful, next time."
"I don't know about you," I whispered to Gentaro. "But I am not being part of a 'next time'!"
"Don't worry." he whispered back with a wink. "I got this." He looked over at the jocks with an irritated look. "What the hell was that for, asshole?!"
"Quit whining." the lead jock, Shun, told him with an amused smirk. "All I did was take out the garbage."
"You do know you could've taken out the actual garbage, around here. Right?" I said. "It's called doing the school a great community service." I was trying to come off as cheeky...but, I think I failed...completely.
Shun's smirk fell as he gave me a half-glare. "You think you are being a smart-ass, don't you, new boy?"
"I don't think it, actually." I replied, then froze...and bit my tongue. This guy might actually be smarter than he looks.
Meanwhile, my brain was not helping by letting my mouth run.
"Garbage?" Gentaro said. "Screw that! I'm trash, fool!"
I looked at him, wanting to facepalm, hard!
"Dummy!" his friend told him. "That means 'garbage'! 'Trash' is 'garbage'!"
I looked ahead.
The lead cheerleader and her boyfriend were smirking in total amusement.
At this point, I just wanted to get out of here. Forget lunch! These guys will turn me into that if I didn't get out of here!
"You messing with me?" Gentaro asked them with a frown. "I'm not garbage! I'm Gentaro Kisaragi! And, Junpei-san isn't garbage, either! "
"Just...call me 'Junpei'." I muttered to him in humiliation.
"Shut up." Shun said with a sneer. "I don't care what kind of name trash has." He then snapped his fingers. "Get them."
"Hey," Gentaro said with a smirk. "I don't mind doing this the hard way."
I patted Gentaro's shoulder.
"Well, best of luck to you!" I told him. "Farewell!" I was about to turn tail and dash away....
"Oh, no! You're fighting, too!" Gentaro told me with a smile.
"Me?!" I yelped, trying to sound more like a guy than a girl. I was surrounded by people, after all.
"Yes, you!" Gentaro replied. "We're in this together, now."
"Maybe in your dreams!" I protested.
I quickly dodged, just in time, as a fist came flying right at me! Part of me was itching to fight back, but I forced that down. Fighting was only going to give me away. While I dodged every punch thrown at me, Gentaro actually fought back. I was surprised when he managed to send a few jocks flying and landing into other tables and chairs, causing some girls to scream!
"Ok, Junpei!" Gentaro yelled at me with a grin. "Now, you can run!"
I dodged a guy, and gave Gentaro a look.
"Oh, really? Can I?" I asked, sarcastically. But I didn't have time to stand around and argue. I turned and made a dash out of the cafeteria, hearing someone immediately come after me. "I'm gonna kill you, Gentaro!!"
I ran as fast as I could, hoping to lose whoever was chasing me.
First day of school, and already, I was not making a great impression.
I tried to catch my breath as I rested against a railing.
I had made it to the roof after running for what felt like hours. It's been quite a while since I last ran, like that!
I winced as pain in my rib flared. Being thrown onto a table didn't break anything, thankfully. Partially why I was trying to avoid fighting, anyway, was because...I didn't have insurance.
So, if I could completely avoid going to the hospitals, around here, that would be awesome.
I did feel guilty, though....
I left Gentaro to fight all those jocks, alone. The more I thought it over, the more I wondered if avoiding a fight was ever going to be possible for me. And I know that I barely knew Gentaro. Still...it didn't feel right, leaving him, like that.
Would it really be so bad to be friends with him? I wondered. He's loud and full of himself, but...he seems to care about people, at least. He definitely seems to care about his friends. I rolled my eyes, and pouted in defeat. Alright, fine, I'll give the guy a chance.
Who knows? Maybe making at least a couple of friends won't be so bad, around here. After all, I was supposed to be blending in.