A FRESH START?

HIRAFUKI HIGH SCHOOL!

"So big"...Well, that's really an understatement. The campus was really big.

The school had 4 different buildings, 1 each for elementary school, middle school, and high school, and the final building was one of its kind, a multipurpose gymnasium that also housed many clubs.

As I was standing still and looking at the sight of those buildings from the entrance, people started throwing glances at me. You just can't stop being judgemental, can you?

I started moving in order to avoid any more looks being directed towards me and crossed the gate. I went straight for quite a distance, before reaching an intersection, that displayed a board with a map of the whole campus and its amenities.

Let's see. The elementary school and middle school are towards the left, while the high school and the club gymnasium are towards the right. I turned right and started walking in the direction of the school building. I finished 3 songs before I reached this building. That's about 10 minutes.

Am I the only one who counts time in terms of how many songs I've covered?

I entered the building, paying no heed to the onlookers, went towards the guide of this building, questioned him about the whereabouts of the staff room, thanked him for his help, and headed towards the stairway. Even though it was just 3 floors, it felt like forever before I reached the staff room. I tidied myself up, gently slid the door, and entered the teacher's staff room, and introduced myself.

All the teachers were just looking in my direction and there was absolute silence.

Awkward.

A familiar face started walking towards me.

I greeted him and introduced myself again.

"I hope you behave well, I'm saying this in your own interest, but this goes without saying that this school doesn't want the likes of you here. I hope you know where we stand."

Not the greeting I was expecting, but I was already accustomed to this treatment. Looks like my parents were helpful in a way. I'll have to thank them later. Ugh!

"I understand and I will try not to be a burden on you, sir".

No need to tell me twice. I may look on the gloomy side and carefree kind, but I know what you mean. Even if I didn't, I'd still say yes, as that's how the system works.

"That's not very convincing, but whatever. Your homeroom teacher is at the far end of this room."

"Thank you, sir. I'll be on my way".

I offered my thanks and greeted him one last time and went ahead.

"I hope that's the first and last time I'll meet him".

I really hope that. I made my way to the end of the staff room, where I met my homeroom teacher and I guess it's safe to say that, I'm scared for my life.

The guy in question was somewhere in his late 20′s, was over 6 feet tall, and was sturdy, but with a scar on his arm.

A scar. A scar! This isn't juvenile detention. Is it?

He gave me a scary look.

"So, you're the new kid? Seems like you know the principal very well."

That tone is more scary and hostile than my folks back home.

"Yeah!Unfortunately."

I used every last bit of my energy left in the tank to say that. Guess skipping breakfast wasn't the best of choices today.

"There's a lot of them lately. I feel sorry for you, Azune-kun."

This sweet but mischievous voice from a beautiful lady who was sitting right opposite in front of my homeroom teacher. She was around 5′6, had a lovely figure, had her long hair let free, lavender odor, gorgeous in every sense, well-dressed, and well-mannered.

Well mannered? Was it just me or was there something odd about her? What was she sorry about? As I was wondering about that...

"Hi. I'm Naomi . I'm the homeroom teacher for class 2 - A ".

"Hello, I'm...."

"Don't bother. I know who you are and I couldn't care less about you. Let's hope we shall never meet again. Oh, I'm late! Ufff ".

Welp! Guess I was right about her.

"Let's go."

Oh! I forgot about class.

As we were going through the hallway, I was getting all kinds of looks: curious, mischievous, disgusting, pitying, amusing, and even peasant kind.

Finally, we reach the class.

"Class 2-K. Hmmm....."

The door was slid open and I could see that there were roughly around 30 people.

"Get in".

I entered and closed the door. It's a convenient classroom.

"Grab a seat".

I was stunned, as that's not how standard procedure works for a transfer student. At least, that's how it's portrayed in the manga and anime, right?

He noticed the confusion written all over my face and replied with a,

"What?"

I replied back.

"So, I don't need to introduce myself?"

I blatantly replied without thinking and regretted it instantly.

"Oh right, though I'm curious is there anything worth mentioning about yourself".

Harsh!Instant K.O.Too brutal. I Hate myself.

The whole class chuckled at our exchange, trying to hold out their laughter. The whole class! Goddamnit. What a start.

I cleared my throat and introduced myself.

"I'm Naofumi Nifuji. I hope we can get along well."

I finished my high school transfer student debut.

"Naofumi?"

Did someone just whisper my name with such familiarity as they know me? Or am I just hallucinating?

"Alright. Now go."

Yep. Even I don't like to be in your vicinity either. The feeling's mutual. Looks like the window seat's open. I'll go there then.

"Ahh! That seats occupied".

As I heard someone exclaim that, there was something going on outside my classroom. There was some noise and whispers in the corridor and even a screech from a girl. I hope she's alright. As I thought of that and looked for a place to build my nest, the door opened.

A blonde dyed, 6′ tall lad with the looks of a model and the body of an athlete enters my vision.

In contrast, I was a guy with decent but content looks, almost 6′ tall ( 5′11 to be precise), normal black hair, and do not have an athletic body. I'm inferior to him in every sense. I hate this inferiority complex.

Both pass each other a look, as I was awkwardly standing in between the room, while he makes his way towards his throne and I go to the opposite end of the last row, near the door.

As class resumed, so did I start resuming with my procrastination, my sweet home.

I noticed the whole class like a surveillance camera, in order to mark any red flags.

One thing's for sure, Mr. Blonde and I were the only gloomy and energy conservant students of the lot, a.k.a, the loners.

Classes passed by in the blink of an eye and it's time for the break.

As I finally stretched out and relaxed with a sigh, a voice called out to me.

"HEY, HEY....."

I look for the owner of that voice.

It was a beautiful girl with long black hair, let loose, similar to Naomi sensei. She had a playful, kind look on her face. Wait, I can see a recurring pattern and have a bad feeling about this.

"How can I help you?"

I replied as politely as I could.

"You can drop the act."

I was stunned at this sudden exchange and didn't know what she meant.

"Huh?"

She looked at my puzzled face and repeated it again.

"I said drop the act."

She's serious now. The sharpness in her voice is pretty high that it spells danger.

"You're that Naofumi aren't you? The one from that famous high school. What was the name again? Never mind that, what are you doing here? Did you target someone here too.....?"

I had enough of this.

"Stop it!"

I rose my voice and gave her a dead stare, eye to eye.

"My goodness. Look at that face. How cute !"

What's with this girl?

"Excuse me?! What are you playing at?"

I cut straight to the point.

"So, the rumors were true after all. That you transferred here after the whole debacle there. I'm really astounded that the great Naofumi who ...."

I rose up from my seat and kicked the chair down in the process, and gave her a cold look.

That echo was enough to make the whole class focus on both of us.

I didn't want to continue this any further.

"I'm sorry, but you got the wrong guy."

As I said that, pointing my back towards her, I opened the door in a fury and walked out to see that our conversation got the whole hallway frozen at their place with a discerning look.

As I decided to walk away from my room, in a hurry, I almost bumped into a girl.

I suddenly realized that and stopped dead in my tracks, but I seemed to have startled the girl. The crowd in the hallway certainly didn't like this turn of events, as a collective burst of fury was sent in my way;

"Hey. Apologize to her you freak".

"You bastard! Apologize to Harumi-senpai right now!!"

Haruko, why does that name sound familiar. It can't be.

"You peasant, do we need to tell you twice?"

Fine. I get it already.

This atmosphere, I knew I didn't want to get involved in this, and yet, here I am.

"Uhm! Sorry for the rudeness, I was looking where I was going and almost bumped into you. I hope you're alright .....".

As I started reciting these words, I felt disgusted over my own being and questioned how did I end up in this scenario? And why am I bowing to her? Surely, the fault lies on both parties. She should have also seen where she was going right. And yet this overwhelming hatred targeted towards me. What is with this crowd?

As I was again lost in my despair, a sweet voice called out towards me.

"Naofumi? You're Naofumi-kun right?"

I raised my head and was stunned. It can't be.

"Yuki-nee?"

It must have been a dream. It couldn't be real.

"I was supposed to be alone".

"But why?"

"Why am I not alone?"

That's what I questioned myself.

("Why does this feel so familiar? It's almost as if I've already been here. Was this what happened in that dream I had earlier?").

No, I was supposed to be alone here. And yet, she's here.

YUKIKO HARUMI!

MY FIRST LOVE!

CURSE YOU, MOM AND DAD!!!

AND CURSE YOU TOO, FATE!