Chapter Text
“Claude Clawmark to the Principals’ office. Claude Clawmark to the Principal’s office.”
Claude sighed as he gathered his things and got up from his desk, he quickly shot a glance at his friends, who he called the Krisis Crew: Vanta Crowbringer, Vezalious Bandage, and Yu Q. Wilson.
“Don’t look at us man, we don’t know what’s going on!” exclaimed Wilson, who’s hands shot up in the air to show his innocence.
Claude rolled his eyes, put his bag over his shoulder, and walked to the principal's office.
‘What’s going on? Was I chosen for the G.R.A.D Project? Am I getting terminated?!’
Claude shivered at that thought, he hoped it wasn’t the last one.
Rainbow Academy was cracking down on students more recently, and the last thing he needed was a mark on his permanent record that he was expelled from Rainbow Academy.
Claude kept waking from his classroom all the way down the corridor, down the east stairwell, and took a right. Which ended him right in the lobby of the school.
“Oh, Mr. Clawmark!” said the receptionist with a smile plastered on her face. “Principal Tazumi would like to see you now.”
The receptionist pressed a button under her desk and a click was heard from the door where the principal, and Claude’s fate, would reside.
“Thank you.” Said Claude nervously as he walked into the office.
Inside the office contained a large, brown, wooden desk and two complementary chairs with white plush cushions. The room also boasted a large window with a view of the surrounding forest and the courtyard (If you look hard enough you could see the back of the Holo High School Dorms, some would say).
Behind Principal Tazumi, you could see a picture of the first ever idol competition in Rainbow Academy Courtyard. Long since graduated students, happily holding a plastic yellow trophy, (you could get one at the Konbini Gacha, if you're lucky… Claude noticed), and waving a small paper flag.
‘Third Years won the first ever competition…’ Thought Claude.
“MR. CLAWMARK!” Yelled Principal Tazumi, snapping his fingers in Claude's face.
“Did you understand ANYTHING at all? Or were you spacing out again, as normal…?” Sarcastically asked Principal Tazumi, narrowing his eyes at the now-flustered Claude.
“N-no sir! I was tooootally paying attention!” Claude tried to laugh off.
“Is that so?” Principal Tazumi raised an eyebrow, while Claude nodded his head up and down in absolute agreement.
“Then you’ll be glad to know that from this moment, until the end of his time here at the academy, you will be Leo Kuga’s new buddy.”
“Leo…who?”
“Mr. Clawmark, it amazes me how you are not failing a class.” Principal Tazumi said while pinching his nose, sighing.
Principal Tazumi and Claude walked out of the office and back into the lobby, where there was now a new person, sitting in his seat and fidgeting with his fingers. As the two approached the boy, who Claude assumed was Leo Kuga, the boy stood up.
Leo had grey hair, red eyes, a pale complexion, and was wearing a white and grey uniform with a black tie; Different from Claude’s own navy blue, white and gold and rainbow tie for the Rainbow Academy uniform.
Leo stretched out his hand to shake Claude’s. Both boys' hands were sweaty with nervousness. The tension in the air was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Claude darted his eyes to the floor, trying his hardest not to make the situation more awkward than it already was.
“Mr Kuga,” Principal Tazumi called out to Leo. “We will be bringing your item up to your new dorm room posthaste, as well as sending an email to your headmaster that you arrived safely.”
Leo nodded, a nervous smile on his face.
“In the meantime, Mr. Clawmark will be leading you to your class. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to visit my office.”
Principal Tazumi turned back to Claude.
“You both are free to go. May you please lead Mr. Kuga to your class, Claude? He is a second year afterall!”
Claude nodded. “Yes sir, I will.”
After exchanging goodbyes, Claude led Leo back to the second year classroom. The entire walk there was awkward for both boys, with Claude not knowing what to say to the new boy who was just suddenly thrusted upon him like a noob trying to aim headshots when all other players are going after them. Thusly; it was silently mutually agreed upon to just not talk.
Upon opening the door, the entire class perked up at the sight of new blood. Leo felt the entire weight of eleven eyes all looking at him. He started shivering in his shoes. Claude smirked a bit as he went to go sit at his seat; poor kids’ about to piss his pants.
“Ah! You must be the new student, please introduce yourself to the class.” happily said the teacher.
Leo nodded and wrote his name on the board, Leo Kuga, and then turned around to face the class.
”Hello, my name is Leo Kuga.” he started as he looked at the rest of the class.
”I’m the exchange transfer from Neo Porte International College, as of today, I will be in your class. Thanks for having me here.” He ended monotonously as he bowed his head.
The class clapped their hands with varying enthusiasm, some were smiling at their new classmate while others gave a clap and called it good. The teacher then pointed out to Leo where his seat would be after consulting the seating chart.
’Oh don’t tell me…’ thought Claude.
”You will be sitting next to Mr. Clawmark!” Explained the teacher excitedly as he lead Leo over to the seat just to the right of Claude’s window seat.
Now, don’t get Claude wrong, he was glad to help the new kid around. However, he also didn’t want to be this guys babysitter! If Claude had it his way, he’d only have led the kid to class and call it that. But noooo, he also has to basically chauffeur this guys ass around for the rest of the day too! Claude sighed as he let his head fall onto the table in frustration with a small thunk.
”Psst, new kid!” someone whisper yelled
Claude looked back up: teacher was back to teaching, everyone was writing down math problems, Vanta was talking to the new kid-
…
Vanta was talking to Leo.
‘Oh my god Vanta what are you about to do?!’ Worriedly thought Claude.
Vanta and the rest of the Krisis Crew were chill for the most part, but if you had to pick out one who was definitely the most chaotic? Vanta would win that race by a mile. If Vanta had it his way, then the poor kid would get in trouble before the end of the day!
Leo looked up at Vanta from his notes and turned his head in a questioning way “Yes?”
”You want in on the school group chat? It can help you meet people easier!” Offered Vanta who was wearing a smile on his face.
Leo looked taken aback, but nodded in response. “Yeah…sure! I’d love too!”
Vantas smile got bigger. “Great! I’ll add you at lunch!”
Leo nodded as he returned to writing down notes.
’Huh,’ thought Claude. ‘That went better than I thought it would…’
Claude also decided to pay attention for once and get some notes written down as well. Don’t get him wrong, he was one of the best at math in the year but he can’t start slipping now!
****************
A few hours later in the passing period between English and Lunch. Principal Tazumi approached both Leo and Claude in the hallway; who had just waved away Vezalious.
”Good afternoon Mr. Kuga and Mr. Clawmark. How has everything been going?” Asked Principal Tazumi.
“Everyone’s been nice and welcoming so far, Principal Tazumi!” Leo happily exclaimed.
Principal Tazumi gave a brief nod in acknowledgment. “Spledndid! Then I suggest you take a break and head to your dorm to unpack while you have a moment. I shall lead you there so you may have some privacy.”
Principal Tazumi turned to Claude.
”In the meantime, Mr. Clawmark, if you wish to go eat lunch? An email will be sent to your device from the school when it’s time to come collect Mr. Kuga from the dormitories.” Principal Tazumi almost practically orders as he started to walk away with Leo in tow.
”Oh! A-alright then!” Responded Claude—just a tad bit too late.
Claude watched as Leo and Principal Tazumi headed north east towards the front of the school where the dorm buildings resided. With a shrug of his shoulders; Claude decided to head over to the cafeteria to grab some grub and take a break before he was called to pick up the new kid. So he turned and headed in the opposite direction. Hopefully they had dumplings for lunch today.
The Rainbow Academy cafeteria was, for the most part, an average run-of-the-mill high school cafeteria. Two doors on either side of the entrances, a stage at the front and the food in the back with tables in the middle space. Multiple tables were filled to varying degrees across the three years and student body. However; most of Claude’s friends weren’t there yet. Maybe they just were running late?
Nonetheless; Claude decided to make a bee line to the Cafeteria lunch line that was slowly trudging along, with the ever occasional idiot being glued to their phone and needing to be brought back to existence to keep the line moving. He sniffed the air too: Grease, Meat, and an amalgamation of other scents from food filled Claude’s nose. He made his guess though that, like every Monday, it was.
”Corn dogs or Hamburgers?” Asked the tired, old lunch lady.
Claude sighed. “Corn Dogs please.”
The lunch lady took the scoop in the pile of tiny golden brown pills of Corn Dogs and scooped out about ten of them. Where she then unceremoniously dropped them onto his plate along with a small side of carrots. After Claude received his tray of food, he then walked over to the floor fridge that was home to milk, water bottles, and juice that was somehow always slightly frozen. He grabbed a small cartoon of Chocolate milk as he walked away.
Claude decided to scan the room again. No sign of any of his classmates. No Senpais or Kouhais either…!
”YO, CLAUDE!”
Clade jumped up slightly in surprise as Wilson waved and invited Claude to sit with the other members of the Krisis Crew.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Asked Claude as he sat down and started to eat his lunch.
”Not much,” replied Vezalious, or as others called him: Zali. “Just eating some food, same as you.”
The four teenage boys fell into a comfortable banter among friends as they ate their legally able to be served food. Each going off about how class was going, funny things they’ve heard, how excited they were about meeting the new student. When all of a sudden a girl appeared as she dropped her bags next to Zali.
”Hey Elira! How’s it going?” Asked Wilson from diagonally back across the table to Elira.
Elira Pandora was a third year girl with light blue hair tugged into two upwards ponytails and the rest falling down her back. Unlike the boy uniforms, she sported the Rainbow Academy Girls uniform with a yellow bow, a white dress with puffy sleeves and rainbow stripes along the edges that were just above the navy blue ends that showed where each garment ended.
“Going okay, I guess,” Elira sighed. “Everyone else wanted to eat outside but I didn’t feel like it so I came in here.” She explained as she started to eat her hamburger.
”Speaking of everyone else,” started Vanta. “Did the Third Years choose an idea they wanted for this year’s Idol Competition?” He asked before he went back to drinking his apple juice.
Wilson groaned which caused everyone at the table to turn heads to him. “What the hell is the point of that competition? We don’t even get money out of it! We just stand on stage all day and perform!!”
Elira huffed a bit as she stood up and leaned directly over to stare at Wilson.
“The main point is so that way Neo City, aka this GIANT ISLAND, can get a tourism boost. But back then it was a fun competition between different years across the school. Until one day, Holo High School showed up on the map! Apparently the school was formed by a former Alum who wanted to capitalize on the now booming Idol Culture. So both Principals of both schools went to the city council and proposed the Idol Competition. A once-a-year event featuring both schools to help boost tourism for the island…! And help us bond or some shit.” Elira rolled her eyes and sat back down to continue eating.
”Didn’t you hear the news though? I heard Production Institute was joining this year!” Exclaimed Vanta.
”Who?” Asked Claude; albeit muffled because his mouth was full of Corn dogs.
”Oh! Apparently it started as a business of people in Tech departments which then formed into a technical high school. Apparently they’re entering in this year as well. Wanted to be Underdogs I suppose.” Shrugged Vantas shoulder.
Claude went deep into thought. He rarely cared about idol stuff, but he also knows it’s a big thing in the community.
He also knows that Holo High School has been winning for the past three years in a row.
Well..now Claude Clawmark was interested. He liked a good fight.
****************
Lunch was over soon after as the table and students packed up and headed to class with Vanta, Zali, and Wilson on the way to Science where Claude would meet after grabbing Leo; and Elira dashing to the stairs to take advantage of her break and study on the library on the second floor. Claude would’ve ran with her but he unfortunately has to sit on his ass until the email comes in. Thankfully though, just as if he were summoning the devil. His phone lit up.
From: Rainbow Academy Front Office ([email protected])
To: Claude Clawmark ([email protected])
Subject: Student Buddy Assignment Complete.
Dear Mr. Clawmark,
If you are receiving this email then please come to Dorm Room 210 to please retrieve student, Leo Kuga, as per the request made earlier today.
Claude started to walk over to the dorm room. Actually no, started running. He was in shock right now because there was no effing way that Leo Kuga will be staying in CLAUDES ROOM.
Up the Northwest staircase and after hearing it from one of the Student Council hall monitors about not running in the halls; Claude arrived.
The Rainbow Academy Dorms were one building at the front of the school that was connected only by a hallway back to the main building. Since the school was so old, it couldn’t hold everyone so it only had four floors; Odd numbers for girls and even for boys. 15 rooms a floor and two to a room (or at least it was supposed to work that way, some only held one to a room.)
The rooms were in a weird shape as the building jutted out and faced the Holo High School Dorms, (which you could see a bit more of despite the tree line.), meaning that half of the building faced back towards the backside of campus where you could see the pool and the campus courtyard, and the other half faced Holo High School’s dorms and the front lawn.
Claude walked down a bit and opened the door to room 210 with his key card. He angrily sighed again as he would be stuck with this kid for the foreseeable future!
”Yo, I’m supposed to take you back to class now… better hurry up and-“ Claude started in a deadpan voice.
”!”
Claude perked up immediately though upon seeing Leo put up the finishing touches to a poster hanging just over his side of the room next to the bed. It wasn’t any poster though, it was A VALORANT poster!
“Who’s your main?” Claude asked the boy; eyes now wide.
”I mean it depends on the situation but I do play Clove a lot! You?” Leo asked with a small smile on his face. The
(Claude did NOT think that small smile was cute and anyone who did think it would get punched.)
”Nice! I main ISO a lot. Rank?”
”Right now I’m Ascendent!” Leo asked with an even bigger smile. “What about you, Diamond? Plat?”
Claude laughed “Nah man, I’m Ascendent as well!”
Leo laughed too. (Claude also did NOT think this was cute and would kick whoever tells him otherwise!)
“Dude that’s crazy! Maybe we could Duo up sometime?” Claude brought the idea up.
”Yeah! I’d love to be Duos with you.” Leo replied as he got off the bed to fistbump Claude.
Claude fist bumped him back as he then checked the time and realized they were both running late to Science.
”Oh shit we gotta run though if we want to make it to class though.” Claude shouted out in worry.
”Don’t worry, we’ve got all the time in the world, Duo.” Leo said as he winked and started speedwalking towards the elevator.
”Wait up!” Claude exclaimed as he closed the door to follow behind.
He can’t wait to have a school year with his new Duo.