Chapter Text
The local Office of Education Affairs, located in a residential area of Tokyo, received many parents and students along the year, However, middle to late March was always the busiest time of the year.
Transfers, allocations, drop-outs — everyone seemed to have someone to fix regarding their or their children’s education. The school year was about to end and there were less than two weeks left before the new year started, therefore everything had to be sorted soon.
Higurashi Kagome was one of these students needing to sort out their situation.
Bearing a scowl that was now her default resting face, the girl sat beside her mother in front of one of the attendants.
“Well, Miss Higurashi,” said Ms Aoyama, a gentle middle-aged lady with round face and small eyes. “Seems none of the schools you’d selected accepted your application.”
Kagome crossed her arms and huffed. That she already knew, or else they wouldn’t be here in the first place.
She bit her tongue when her mother placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
Ms Aoyama adjusted her reading glasses before continuing.
“I understand you faced some serious health issues in the past year, but schools have a standard to keep and they reserve the right to refuse any applications that do not meet their minimum requirements.”
“That’s so unfair!”
“Kagome, dear, it’s not Ms Aoyama’s fault. No need to raise your voice.”
“But, mom! What am I supposed to do?”
Mrs. Higurashi turned to Ms Aoyama.
“I’m sure there is an option, right?”
The attendant nodded once then typed something on her computer. She adjusted her glasses again.
“Oh, the system automatically allocated you into an available school. It’s—” The pause and the way her breath hitched was definitely not a good sign. “Furin, in Makochi.”
“Where the hell is Makochi?” murmured Kagome between her teeth.
“Isn’t there another school available? Makochi is quite distant from Tokyo,” Mrs Higurashi intervened before Kagome could rant more.
Ms Aoyama had a sincere apologetic look on her face.
“I’m afraid there is no spot available in the nearest districts. Your daughter can wait for the next year or start at Furin and check for transfer availability in the summer.”
‘Fuck it all,’ that's what was on Kagome's mind, but she kept her mouth shut for her mother's sake.
If she needed any more proof that she didn’t belong to this world, that was it.
In the end, there was not much to do.
Between wasting an entire year and attending Furin, Kagome accepted her fate.
She always did.
In less than ten days, Kagome secured a small apartment and moved to the new city.
There was the option of commuting everyday — Makochi was about two hours from Tokyo and she could get there by train.
It was her mother who suggested the move.
“Maybe it’s time to start your next adventure," she said.
Although Kagome didn’t mention much of how her days went after she finished her quest, Ms Higurashi knew her daughter enough to know she was struggling. For that, Kagome was thankful. Talking required more than she was willing to give.
Kagome brought only the essentials, leaving most of her belongings back at the shrine.
Things that reminded her of her time in the past stayed behind — only a picture came with her. These memories were still raw, hurting as if it was only yesterday that she was pulled out of a place she called home.
She would survive. And thrive.
For them. For her mother.
For herself.
Kagome got to the city the day before school started.
She walked with her bag close to her body.
Kagome didn't tell her mother what she found out about Makochi — Furin in particular. The school was known for the violent students and low scores. The city wasn’t far behind, taken over by gangs and constant fights.
None of it scared Kagome. She had dealt with the Band Of Seven, the Thunder Brothers, Naraku and his incarnations. It wouldn’t be some humans who would make her take a step back.
However, she wasn’t prepared for the face of the principal when she went to grab her timetable and uniform.
“Miss Higurashi, I think there was a mistake,” said Mr Makunouchi, “this is an all-boys school.”
Fate certainly had a twisted sense of humor.
“You can’t be serious,” she murmured.
The principal asked her to wait outside his office while he made some calls. After about half an hour, it was confirmed. Not only was she placed into an all-boys school but there wasn’t any other school available for her.
“You know what? Forget it.” Kagome stood up and grabbed her bag. “Maybe that's where I’m supposed to be.”
“Please, give me what I need and I will make it work.”
The principal had the sense of looking apologetic as he handed her the clothes and papers.
“I will keep making calls, maybe there's a dropout or we can squeeze you in somewhere else. You had good grades before your health issues last year. You deserve more than— this.”
Kagome was inclined to agree with him — she did have good grades, top of her class for many years. But in the end, it didn't matter.
Saving the world didn’t matter.
She still barely scraped by the minimum grades, she still had terrible attendance, she was still the sick girl, the one everyone avoided like she was contagious.
Resigned, Kagome wandered around the city she would be living in for the foreseeable future.
From time to time, despite school not having started yet, she would see someone wearing the uniform.
They waved at shop owners and citizens and were greeted with enthusiasm.
This wasn’t what she expected.
So far, Makochi was calm. Even quieter than some neighborhoods in Tokyo.
Where were the gangs she read about? The bursting violence, fights breaking out in every corner.
Sure, there were still off-putting people here and there, but mostly they didn't cause any ruckus, as if they were afraid someone would come to stop them.
Despite that, Kagome kept her senses on alert, as she was taught to.
Someone screamed about a fight in a different street. She quietly followed the voices until she saw a boy with black and white hair — bleached or a physical condition? She couldn't decide from a distance — and Furin uniform fighting some thugs. There was a girl behind him.
Kagome closed her fists. Maybe it could help her to relieve some steam.
If he was protecting someone, she would stand by him.
Kagome looked down at the current outfit.
She didn't want to cause an impression the day she moved in.
She wore a hoodie that covered most of her figure. The straight jeans hid her curves.
The only problem was the hair.
Long hair was a problem she had learned about the hard way — after having it pulled one too many times. Although she still loved her waves and kept it loose whenever possible — like now — she knew to always carry a hair tie.
Kagome put her hair in a tight low bun and dropped her bags behind a box in front of a store. She prepared to join in when four boys also wearing Furin’s uniform, showed up.
One of them unwrapped a… lollipop? Wasn’t that an unnecessary additional risk? And headphones?
“It’s Furin’s Hiragi!” one of the aggressors’ said.
It must be the older one that was directing the others — Matsumoto, Kaji, and Yanagida.
Even outnumbered, they easily took down those rounding the bicolored-haired boy and the girl.
Kagome grabbed back her stuff and walked away.
Furin might be more surprising than she had imagined.
The former priestess checked herself on the bathroom mirror one last time.
The pants had a loose fitting. The jacket was just the right size to allow movement and the loose t-shirt with a compression bra finished the job.
She straightened her hair and tied it into a low ponytail, with a black beanie on top.
If anyone bothered to look, they would see she was a girl but on a quick glance, she was mostly androgynous — someone with a small frame dressing for school. She wasn't trying to hide, she just didn't want to stand out.
It was early when she left the building.
Like the day before, there were Furin students walking around the city, like patrols. Usually in duos or trios, they were greeted and welcomed by locals.
It was an odd picture, a stark contrast to what she knew about Furin.
Why were these people being applauded?
Because they helped that girl yesterday? No, it couldn't be. Anyone with means and a good heart would have done the same.
“Hey!”
Someone waved a hand in front of her as she walked by small bakery.
Kagome looked to the sides, then back at the man in white waving at her.
“Me?” She pointed at herself.
“You're from Furin, too. Here, take it.” He shoved a paper bag with anpan into her hands. “You guys do a great job here. Hope you have a good first day!”
Speechless, Kagome could only stare at the man’s back, who went back inside the store as if she really had done him some kind of favor.
She peeked inside the bag and the smell almost made her mouth water. A small bite almost brought her to her knees.
With the first true smile since she left the shrine, Kagome headed to her new school.