The sun’s edging on the horizon creating an orange coloured morning sky. The trees and bushes have started to come back to life as spring develops and starts slowly erasing the signs of winter. Birds are chirping as a warm breeze sweeps through the streets in the calm neighbourhood giving of that classic spring feeling. High walls enclose the dry streets and cuts of line of sight into people's backyards. Although it’s early morning the streets are not empty as it is the first school day after winter break. Many students living in the neighbourhood are on their way to school after making it through the first term. One of these students is a boy named Nagahama Kazuo. He’s walking just like everybody else, wearing his school uniform. His dark- brown hair has grown a little long during winter break and is now getting in the way of his eyes that are also coloured dark- brown. He Hadn’t slept well and it showed on his face as he was very tired this wonderful morning on the first school day in second term.
“- Kazuo! “ The voice came from behind Kazuo and he turns around to see.
“- Wait up! its me! “ Yells the voice from further up the street. Kazuo looks at the boy running down at him.
“- Good morning. “ He answers with his normal, monotone voice as the boy reached him.
“- Nice to see you again Kazuo, how’s the break been? “ He asks.
“- It was fine. “ Kazuo mumbled looking the other direction. The boy who called Kazou’s name is a fellow class member named Mabuchi. They met during first term and has since then become friends.
“- Hey, Kazuo. Are you even awake? You look tired. “ Mabuchi asks as a response to Kazuo’s answer.
“- Oh, you could tell? “
“- Yeah, you look almost dead. You know, you gotta sleep, otherwise you might end up sick. “ Mabuchi says with that typically annoying adult tone.
“- Stop being annoying, you’re not my parent last time I checked. “ Kazuo strikes back.
“- Oh, you’re right, your parents have probably already nagged you about it, right? “ Kazuo suddenly freezes up and his eyes lock up in a troubled stare as he hears the words.
“- Hey, you good? “ Mabuchi looks confused.
“- Huh? Umm, yeah, I’m good I just thought of something “ Kazuo says with a slightly startled tone as he snaps out of his stare.
Mabuchi is a very energetic person that can be a little cheeky but means well and is probably Kazuo’s direct counterpart. They still manage to be friends however.
“- Did you at least complete your homework? “
“- What do you take me for? A slacker? “ Kazuo says with a mildly annoyed voice.
“- Yeah, pretty much. “ Mabuchi chuckled as Kazuo glared at him.
The two of them head further down the street until they reach the school area entrance where many students are gathering.
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“- I wonder what’s up? “ Mabuchi asks as they are about to enter the blob of people.
“- Were we supposed to gather here? “ Mabuchi follows up to his own question.
“- Don’t ask me, I wouldn’t know. “ Kazuo mutters as he clearly doesn’t care for what is happening. Mabuchi leads through the crowd as he seems very curious of what is causing the commotion.
“- Ugh, why do we have to see this? Can't we just continue and get the opening ceremony done with? “ Kazuo complains.
“- No no, it sounds like a fight, I wanna see this. “ Mabuchi says while looking ahead into the crowd.
“- What’s the point? “ Kazuo complains as he’s forced along.
“- I just wanna take a peak to know what’s happening. “ Mabuchi says as they exit the crowd and now enter the scene of commotion. Mabuchi suddenly stops and Kazuo bumps into his back.
“- Hey! why’d you stop? “
“- Umm, you might wanna see this. “ Mabuchi says with a stunned tone.
“- Alright, what's the fuss? “ Kazuo looks past Mabuchi and is equally stunned as he sees a girl with long, light brown hair pressing a male students face to the ground.
“- DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER AGAIN! “ She yells while the student is struggling to get free.
*- W-what… H-haruka…? * Kazuo feels his legs starting to slightly shake as he stares at the apparently familiar girl.
*- Is she transferring to this school…? * Kazuo feel Mabuchi nudging on his shoulder.
“~ Hey, Kazuo… Hello? You there? You think this dude’s a groper? “ Kazuo snapped out of his stare and started to be responsive again.
“~ Oh, um, I don’t know… I know that girl thought… “ The crowd reacts as the girl shouts at her victim again.
“~ Huh? You do? I haven’t seen her around, is she new? “ Mabuchi seemed intrigued.
“~ Yeah, she must’ve transferred here just now… I used to know her well back in my old school. “ Kazuo had all sorts of memories coming back to him as he stood at the edge of the crowd looking at someone he used to know. Suddenly as Kazuo was just about to say that he would like to leave the girl sees him.
“- Kazuo…?! Is that you?! “ The girl had turned around and was looking at him.
*- Ugh, she noticed me… * Kazuo sighed and looked back at her.
“- Yeah, it’s me… What the hell you are doing here is what's more important. “ Kazuo started to glare back at the girl.
“- Heeey! Is that how you greet me after all this time?! If I remember right it was you who just fucking disappeared on me! “ The girl with her long hair and furiously blue eyes threw away the previous guy and glared back at Kazuo creating a cold atmosphere.
“- I couldn’t fucking help that, alright?! Stop yelling about my personal stuff! “ Kazuo met the girl with equal force as the whole crowd had turned dead quiet and was just watching on.
“- But you never even contacted me! My anger is justified! “ The two of them were now in fist range and people started to get nervous as the tension rose.
“- How about you shut the fuck up already! “ No one quite understood what was happening but suddenly another girl stepped into the picture just about as the blue eyed girl was about to strike back.
“- Haruka! Stop it already! “ The girl grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back.
“- Hey! Let me go! Can’t you see?! It’s Kazuo! “ The Haruka girl struggled but was using noticeably less force against her, seemingly, friend.
*- What? Is Kayano here as well? * Kazuo backed off slightly.
“- Yes yes, I know… You shouldn't talk to him anyways. Just come with me already. “ The Haruka girl looked like she realized something and was calming down. Kazuo was still standing there shaking off his anger as the two girls left with everyone still being silent.
*- Geh… Did she have to find me? * Kazuo gritted his teeth.
“- Hey, Kazuo… What the hell happened there? “ Mabuchi stepped up to Kazuo as the crowd started to disperse.
“- Nothing much… She’s just an old friend. “ Kazuo sighed and picked up his bag that he had thrown on the ground.
“- Sure she’s a friend? You don’t seem to be on good terms… “ Mabuchi sounded doubtful.
“- As I said, it’s nothing much… She just ticks me off with her yelling. “ Kazuo started to walk along with the crowd towards the opening ceremony looking straight ahead.
“- Huh… Is that really it? “ Mabuchi, of course, had his doubts.
“- Yeah, stop asking about it. “ The tone in Kazuo’s voice finally made Mabuchi realize he probably shouldn’t pry too much more.
“- Alright then, let’s get this ceremony over with. “ Mabuchi and Kazuo followed the stream into gym doors and took their seats for the next hour.