Chapter Text
Playing with her sister was one of Makoto's favorite things.
Sae hadn't had much time to play with her since she started high school, so when she offered to take her to the park to play, she couldn't refuse such a precious offer.
Luckily, the Niijma family lived near a small park, so it didn't take long for the sisters and their faithful friend Buchi-kun to arrive. As they walked hand in hand to the park, Makoto saw what she loved most about parks.
"Sis, let's go play on the swing!" Said little Makoto pulling her sister's hand towards the childish game and with a big smile on her face.
Sae smiled at her little sister's gesture. "It's okay Makoto, just don't pull my hand" Warned the older Niijma with a bit of amusement in her tone.
"Sorry sis" She replied a little calmer, but keeping her smile.
Along with Buchimaru and the Yakuza movies she watched with her father, swings were one of her greatest passions. The feeling of the air on her face and the adrenaline rush she felt when she towered over the ground enchanted her for some reason.
Once they were near the swing, she let go of her sister's hand and sat down on the small swing. She put her cuddly toy between her legs and squeezed it a little so that it would not fly away. She couldn't afford to dirty her precious Buchi-kun.
"Hurry sis! swing me along with Buchi-kun!" Makoto hurried as she wiggled her legs excitedly.
Sae listened to her younger sister and began to swing her gently. Makoto's childish laughter flooded the room as she enjoyed the moment.
"'Higher sis!" the younger Niijima shouted with glee.
Sae smiled, indulging her younger sister's request. She pushed harder, allowing the swing to rise even higher.
Makoto closed her eyes as she let the feeling of freedom run through her body. In that moment any worry, any negative emotion or fear ceased to matter.
Up there she wasn't the shy little girl that no one wanted to play with, she wasn't the little girl who wished she could play all day with her sister, she wasn't the little girl who missed her father every day.
No, on the swing she was brave, she knew she had someone who would never abandon her, waiting right behind her, someone who would push her no matter what. She was happy and she loved it
Makoto's day started normally, she got up, made breakfast and put on her school uniform like every day. She had been repeating the same routine for so long that she felt like... a robot.
On her way to Shujin, an unexpected rainstorm caught her by surprise. She sought shelter under the awning of a tent while rummaging through her bag.
Glad I always have an emergency umbrella.
Some of her companions seemed to have the same idea of taking shelter under the same awning, though they were so deep in conversation that they didn't even notice her.
"Have you heard the rumors about the new transfer student?"
Huh?
Makoto couldn't help but be interested in the conversation. She paused in her search as she turned her attention to someone else's talk. As the student council president, she had been warned about the arrival of this new student, but the direct Kobayakawa was rather vague with the details. He had only told her that he would be in her class!
How do they know?
"Oh yeah girl, they say he's a criminal or something, how scary!"
A-a criminal?
"Don't even mention it! He's supposed to be a third year. I hope he's not in our classroom."
"I can't even imagine it! Although if he's hot, I wouldn't care much either!"
Makoto decided that she had heard enough, if these rumors were true, she would check it out for herself later. She took out her umbrella and continued on her way to school.
Today would certainly be an interesting day.
"Hey, wasn't that Miss Prez?"
"Yeah, that's her. Do you think she heard us?"
"I don't think a cocky honor student like her would do something like that."
Today was definitely being an... interesting day for Ren.
Not in a good way, though.
A castle, monsters trying to kill him, a perverted teacher in pink panties and a talking cat monster were not exactly the things he wanted for his return to Tokyo.
Ren knew that sooner or later he would be in trouble at his new school. His life in the last few months could very well be used as the definition of trouble. He just didn't expect them to start without even taking the first class.
What's more, he had missed a good part of the school day.
At least Arsène is fucking cool
When he arrived at the faculty room Kawakami was already waiting for him. The teacher looked tired and angry. Though he couldn't tell which stood out more.
"You've got a lot of guts kid" said the teacher when she noticed his presence. "Being over half a day later on your first day? Can you explain yourself?"
She won't believe me anyway so fuck it. I don't like to lie
"I was in a castle" He replied with the best serious face he had.
Kawakami stared at him, clearly not pleased with his answer.
"What have I done to deserve this?" She said as she shook her head. "Honestly, I don't have the energy for this. You've been warned, don't push your luck."
"Sorry."
"Whatever. I heard that you were caught together with that Sakamoto-kun?"
““That” Sakamoto?”
Kawakami shook his head once again "Don't get involved with him, okay? He's nothing but trouble... like you" he said the latter a little quieter with the intention of not letting him hear him, though he failed in the attempt.
Bitch
"Ehm... Anyway, break it's almost over" Kawakami stood up from his seat. "I'll have to introduce yourself when class resumes. Follow me."
Kawakami walked out of the faculty with him behind. They walked down to the second floor and continued on their way to the door of the 3-D classroom.
"Before you go in, think carefully about what you're going to say. Be serious when you introduce yourself, even if you're lying, okay? Do NOT say anything unnecessary please" said Kawakami wearily.
He just nodded.
The sound of murmuring, muffled by the walls and doors of the classroom, was released as soon as Kawakami opened the door. The woman entered without making a fuss, she seemed to be quite used to the intense whispering of her students.
But he was not. As soon as he stepped into the classroom, the murmuring suddenly stopped.
If the stares killed, he wouldn't even have been able to take more than two steps inside. Every one of his classmates had their eyes on him, analyzing every part of his body, dissecting him to the depths of his being.
“Being super late on his first day? He really is insane…”
“He looks normal though..”
“But he might slug us if we look at him in the eye…”
So they know. Sweet.
""Good afternoon class” Kawakami interrupted “As you can see, we have a new classmate joining us today," She announced with a clear false sympathy in his tone. The class remained silent.
"Well, uhmm, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?"
Ren looked at his companions. He could feel it. Yes, the rejection they all felt when they found out about his record, he had already been labeled as a criminal. He didn't even have to do or say anything, the decision was made.
Ok Ren, these bastards are already judging you. Just keep the mask on and everything will be fine.
“My name is…”
The patrol moved through the streets of his hometown. He could only watch the buildings pass by through the window. One by one they were left behind, just like every aspect of his life at that moment.
He wasn't afraid, or at least he thought he wasn't. He really had no idea what he was feeling.
Maybe it was the shock of the whole situation. The only thing on his mind was a single question:
What's going to happen to me?
Even though he had done the right thing, tried to be an exemplary student every day, and never caused any trouble, none of that mattered in the face of one man's power.
Soon they arrived at the police station, they took him out of the patrol car by force, even though he did not resist, and... he just let himself go.
Everything was so blurry and confusing that he just stopped processing things.
It wasn't until the voice of a police officer brought him back to the land of the living.
“What's your name kid?”
The fifth period was about to begin.
What she heard in the morning was nothing more than a prelude to what would happen at school.
The rumor about the infamous transfer student had spread like wildfire. There wasn't a soul in the building who hadn't heard something about it.
The rumors became more colorful as classes went by and he didn't show up.
"I hear he works for a Yakuza gang. Maybe that's why he's not coming."
"They say he had a rave party in the bathroom at his last school."
"God, he sounds like a real psycho."
For her part, she didn't know what to think about the situation. Part of her was scared, she couldn't deny it. Paying attention to the murmurings of her classmates was not something she did, especially since she herself was often the focus of them.
But it was hard enough not to avoid getting a little carried away by them.
No Makoto you are the president of the student council. You have to look out for the welfare of all your classmates...
And she couldn't help but feel that something had happened. It wasn't possible for everyone to know about his background.
Like someone...leaked it.
No, that couldn't be possible. How could any authority dare to do that?... Right?
The bell that marked the beginning of the fifth period rang. If he was going to show up, it had to be now.
Kawakami entered the classroom shortly after, as usual, his classmates didn't pay much attention to him, but something disturbed the atmosphere.
Or rather someone.
It was him.
Makoto watched him enter the classroom while keeping his head down. At first glance he didn't look like a criminal at all. He appeared to be just another high school student.
He looks... familiar
“Being super late on his first day? He really is insane…”
“He looks normal though..”
“But he might slug us if we look at him in the eye…”
Thanks to being in the front seats, she could notice how the boy's hand trembled slightly at the not-so-discreet comments of their classmates.
And she saw something in his eyes. Something she knew very well.
Is he scared?
Kawakami started to say something, but she didn't care at all. He had aroused her interest. There was something about him that wouldn't let her look away.
Finally, he looked like he was finally going to say something. Makoto focused his attention on his mouth, eagerly awaiting the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Why do I have this strange feeling when I see you?
Who are you?
“My name is..."
Suddenly, she felt something shoot out of his legs. She opened her eyes in horror as she saw a blurry black and white object flying through the air.
Sae stopped the swing as she watched the little panda fly. Both sisters were horrified.
Buchi-kun continued his flight as he slowly descended closer to his inevitable collision with the ground of the park.
A sacrilege was imminent.
Out of nowhere, a frizzy haired boy ran out to catch the flying panda. When he was at the right distance, he jumped up and caught the stuffed animal in his hands.
"Got him!" celebrated the little boy turning to the Niijima sisters with Buchi-kun in his hands.
The little Makoto shot out of the swing in a flash. With lightning speed, she reached the boy and grabbed his precious toy. "Buchiii-kun," the little girl sobbed as she hugged the stuffed animal tightly. "I'm so sorry."
Makoto turned to see the savior of his little friend. It was a boy with gray eyes and curly hair, he seemed to be the same age as her.
Makoto's body moved on its own and hugged him, surprising the little boy. "Thanks for saving him."
The boy smiled as he accepted the red-eyed girl's hug. "It was nothing, hehehehe."
The boy smiled as he accepted the red-eyed girl's embrace. "I'm glad I could help you."
With slightly flushed cheeks Makoto squeezed him a little "You're my hero."
Sae let out a cough as she watched the scene with amusement. Makoto's eyes widened when she realized what she was doing. She couldn't believe that she had just hugged a completely unknown child in front of her older sister.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?"" said Sae playfully. "Looks like you've found a new friend, Makoto."
Makoto let out a shriek and ran away together with Buchi-kun, the embarrassment was too much for her little body.
""Oh" Sae said in surprise as she watched her sister run to hide behind a tree. "Well, looks like it's just you and I. What's your name little guy?"
Ren looked at her with a big childish smile
“My name is Ren Amamiya”