Act 2
***
All of a sudden, a messy-haired figure appeared outside the window. As they looked out the window, they saw a boy with wild red hair gazing at them intently.
He looked like a delinquent, and Takashi couldn't believe that his first day of high school had already been disrupted by the presence of one. The boy jumped down onto the desk, then onto the floor, landing with a loud thud. Everyone stood there in stunned silence, unsure of what to do next. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
"I, uh, pardon my Intrusion." The boy with the red hair said politely while scratching his head."
As he uttered those words, Takashi and Yukiko were utterly confused. Why was the so-called delinquent talking with such politeness? Shouldn't he be yelling and screaming like usual delinquents? They were both still processing the situation, unsure of what to do next. As a result, Takashi looked over at Yukiko once more, gesturing like he's asking for an explanation. Unfortunately, she just shook her head, indicating that she was just as clueless as he was.
"Is this class 1.1?" he asked, politely.
They were both silent for a moment. They both had no idea what was going on either. This boy didn't look like he belonged in their classroom at all. Just who was he?
After a brief silence, Takashi finally managed to speak up.
"Y-you're totally right. This is class 1.1"
his answer was barely audible, but the boy with the messy red hair heard him. The boy sighed, seeming relieved that he was in the right class. He then fixed his hair, which was still wild after jumping through the window.
"Oh, man! I thought I jumped into the wrong class. Thank goodness!" he said, smiling gratefully at Takashi.
Takashi and Yukiko remained standing, a shared sense of hesitation preventing them from immediately responding. Their eyes met briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them, before redirecting their gazes back to the guy who had just emerged through the window. The classroom held an air of uncertainty as they awaited the next move, neither quite brave enough to ask him the obvious question hanging in the air.
The boy, who had been unfairly labeled as a delinquent, suddenly became aware of the omission. He cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence that lingered.
"Ehm. How rude of me. I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Takumi Ishikawa! I hope that we could be good friends!" he exclaimed, punctuating his introduction with a cheerful peace sign, a gesture aimed at diffusing any remaining tension.
In the midst of Takumi's introduction, another unexpected event disrupted the scene. A shoe flew towards Takumi's face, causing him to stumble and quickly lean against the wall. That shoe is still sticking to his face.
"Damn it, Takumi! How many times do I have to tell you?! don't do dangerous stuff like that! You're scaring the heck out of them!"
An irritated girl's voice echoed from the classroom door. Takashi and Yukiko turned their heads to witness a girl with short black hair, casually chewing gum, standing there with just one shoe on – the other having been thrown at Takumi.
"I'm so sorry for my friend's stupid yet idiotic act. You guys alright?" she inquired, approaching them with a genuine concern evident in her voice.
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Takumi leaned against the wall, face twisted in pain as he recalled the humiliation of having a shoe thrown at his face.
"He-hey! What's the big idea!? I was just trying to be nice!" he yelled at the girl who threw a shoe at him, trying to contain his hurt ego."
"You better shut your piehole before I throw another goddamn shoe at your face! You're scaring them, for God's sake!" the girl fired back at Takumi, her tone a mix of irritation and playful warning. Unfazed, she took off her remaining shoe, preparing to launch it in Takumi's direction, creating a momentary spectacle in the classroom.
"No! please no!" A resounding plea escapes Takumi's lips as he instinctively shields his face from the impending threat.
"That's what I thought." the girl declares, reinstating her shoe to its proper place before picking up another shoe that's been thrown at Takumi. With a swift motion, she slips it back onto her foot.
Turning her attention to Takashi and Yukiko, the girl suddenly registers the lapse in etiquette.
"Ah, sorry. Where are my manners? My name is Ryu Kurogane. And this dumbass is my friend" she announces, punctuating her introduction with a pointed gesture towards Takumi, a hint of annoyance etched across her face.
"Dumbass? Don't call me that!" Takumi protests, rising to his feet and dusting off his attire.
"Oh, shut up, jerk. You always do stupid things. And I'm the one who always cleans up your mess," Ryu retorts, crossing her arms with a growing irritation directed at Takumi.
Takumi, still feeling the sting of embarrassment, scratches his head and averts his gaze in annoyance.
"What are you doing here, though? Are you also assigned to Class 1.1?" he mutters, his eyes fixed elsewhere.
Ryu lets out a sigh, softening the annoyance in her tone directed at Takumi.
"Take a hint, dummy. If I'm not assigned to this class, then what am I doing here?" she retorts with a hint of exasperation.
Takumi shifts his gaze back to Ryu, the annoyance dissipating, and he joins her in releasing a small sigh.
"Well, that's good." he concedes, a momentary truce settling between them.
Ryu's attention now turned to Takashi and Yukiko, both Ryu exhibits an expectant gaze, silently demanding introductions. Takashi and Yukiko, in turn, offer their names with an unmistakable awkwardness in their tones.
Ryu takes a seat in front of Yukiko's table, while Takumi settles in front of Takashi, creating an unexpected tableau of connections within Class 1.1.
With the clock striking 7 AM, a diverse array of students fills the room – tightly-knit groups, inseparable best friends, and solitary figures embracing their lone path.
As we collectively wait for our new homeroom teacher, a sense of expectancy permeates the classroom. However, my indifference stands out among the students. The prospect of school ending swiftly, allowing me to dive into my console and immerse myself in my beloved RPG game, takes precedence over the unfolding scene in the classroom.
Finally, the classroom doors swing open, signaling the arrival of our potential new homeroom teacher. A woman, seemingly in her mid 20s, enters with a ponytail and golden-timmed glasses, clutching documents in her arms. Her gait suggests a hint of sleepiness, perhaps indicative of a night with little rest.
Takashi observes the new homeroom teacher. The new homeroom teacher adjusts her glasses and stifles a yawn while settling into the teacher's desk. From his perspective, Takashi can't help but wonder – why does she seem so nonchalant and carefree? The air in the room holds a curious mixture of anticipation and uncertainty as the sleepy-eyed teacher begins her role.
***
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Meet them all!
Takumi Ishikawa
- Biography: Takashi's "upcoming" best friend. Quite dynamic, if you ask me. He's the typical energetic kid you usually see in shonen manga. Don't be fooled by his appearance. Despite his delinquent-like look, he's a polite kid. He really enjoys playing basketball, especially with Ryu, even though he's always losing.
- Height: 182 cm
- Appearance: Takumi has messy dark red hair and tanned skin. He has small fangs. Unlike others, he never tucks in his uniform and always loosens his tie. He dresses like a typical delinquent outside of school and loves wearing flip flops. He's quite tall for a freshman.
Ryu Kurogane
- Biography: Takumi's friend since elementary school. You could say they're best friends. She's irritable, especially towards Takumi whenever he does stupid things. She often has 1v1 basketball matches with Takumi, always winning. She hates sweets.
-Height: 163 cm
- Appearance: She has short black hair and could be seen wearing black earrings, Ryu stands out from other high-school girls with her unique style. She expresses herself by wearing masculine outfits while still revealing her feminine side.