Fan Fiction ❯ Hizashi no Sawa ❯ The New Kid Arrives; Mayu's Responsibility! Part 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Hello! Sorry this next chapter took so long, but I'm glad you guys like this so far…please READ AND REVIEW!!!!! I hate begging for reviews, but I would really like to know what you guys think of the story when you read it, it motivates me to write more! Okay now, on with the story:

 

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The calculus teacher wrote the last of the problem on the board. The students in the class copied it down into their notes.

 

“Are there any questions?”

 

“I don't get it at all…” Mayu thought.

 

But with no responses, the teacher pulled out a stack of papers from his desk, “Good. Here is your pop quiz, I hope you all do well.”

 

Mayu slammed her head into the desk. Rii was sitting in the desk next to her. He laughed. “What's wrong, Mayu? Do you not understand?”

 

The teacher set the quiz on Mayu's desk, “Shh! No talking please.”

 

Mayu groaned, and started the quiz.

 

With only five problems, the class was finished in no time at all. As the teacher graded the quizzes, the students worked on homework. Mayu was thinking really hard, trying to get as much done in class as she could. Suddenly, a folded piece of paper flew onto her desk. She looked up and around. No one looked guilty. She grabbed the paper and opened it.

 

How did you do on the quiz?

~Rii

 

Mayu looked over at him, he was busy doing his work. She rolled her eyes. Yeah right, like she was going to write notes like a little kid. She wrinkled the paper up and stuffed it in her bag to throw away later, and then she continued doing her homework. A few minutes later, another piece of paper landed on her desk. She snapped her head up and looked at Rii. He was still doing his work. She read the note.

 

How did you do on the quiz?

~Rii

 

“Seriously…” She crumpled the paper up loudly and shoved in her bag, then returned to her work. Before long, another piece of paper landed on her desk. She closed her eyes and fumed silently. She looked at Rii, who had yet to leave his work. She opened the note.

 

How did you do on the quiz?

~Rii

 

“Oh my gosh!!!” she thought. Irritated and mad, she took out a pen and wrote back:

 

None of your business! Leave me alone, you 2nd grader.

 

She threw the paper to his desk.

 

“Yoshida!” the teacher called, seeing her pass the note, “Can I see you in the hall please?”

 

Mayu dropped her jaw in disbelief. The whole class stared laughing, all but Rii, who was still doing his work. She stood up angrily and marched into the hall. As soon as the teacher followed her out, Rii joined the class in laughter. Guys around Rii that had seen everything laughed and patted him on the back. Naoko, who sat in the front of the class, stood and walked over to Rii.

 

“What's your problem, ya jerk?”

 

“Who might you be?”

 

“Don't waste my time,” Naoko said, turning to go back to her seat, “You're not worth an introduction.”

 

Naoko resumed her seat. Rii calmed down, as the laughing in the room died away. Finally, the teacher opened the door and Mayu walked in, her face bright red. There were a few chuckles around the room, but no outbursts. Mayu sat down.

 

“Gosh, Mayu, don't pass notes,” Rii teased.

 

Mayu sat in her desk, trying to resist the urge to reach over the drive Rii's face into the floor.

 

“I've completed grading your quizzes,” the teacher announced.

 

“I think I did okay…” Mayu said, crossing her fingers.

 

“Congratulations, Takahashi!” he said, setting the paper on his desk. Mayu looked over and saw a bright red 100 written at the top. The teacher made his way around to Mayu. “Yoshida, maybe you should consider getting a private tutor.”

 

“Aw man!!!” she exclaimed. Rii looked at her paper. She got a 20.

 

“What's wrong, Mayu-chan?” he asked with a sarcastic smile, “I can help you out. You need a tutor?”

 

“Not from you, thank you!”

 

“Just thought I'd offer.”

 

Just then, the bell rang. The class stood and bowed. Mayu dashed out of the classroom. She walked swiftly down the hall, trying to avoid Rii.

 

“Hey, Mayu!” Kiyera called from across the hall.

 

“Hey guys,” she said, sadly.

 

“What's wrong?” Keikou asked.

 

“Oh, guys! It's horrible! I failed a calculus quiz, my book report sucks, I was tardy again and this new guy is such a jerk!!”

 

“I'm sorry, Mayu,” Keikou said.

 

“New guy?!?! Is he hot?” Kiyera piped.

 

“Are you paying attention!”

 

“Mayu!!” a voice shouted from behind them. Mayu turned around, finding Rii standing over her, tapping his foot. “What do you think you're doing?”

 

“Rii?”

 

“I…”

 

Kiyera interrupted, “Hi!!! My name's Kiyera…I'm her friend,” she said, pointing to Mayu.

 

“Um…hello…” Rii replied awkwardly.

 

Mayu stood next to her friend angrily, but she was too busy being mesmerized by the boy in front of her to even notice.

 

“Kiyera…”

 

“…”

 

“Kiyera!”

 

“…”

 

“KIYERA!”

 

She stepped away, “Oh! Sumimasen.”

 

“Rii, these are my friends Kiyera and Keikou.”

 

He bowed, “Nice to meet you.”

 

“This is Rii Takahashi,” Mayu said.

 

Rii grabbed Mayu by the wrist and turned away. “C'mon, Mayu.”

 

She turned back and waved at her friends, “See you guys later!” and she followed Rii around the corner.

 

Both of her friends stood, looking after her longingly.

 

“Lucky girl.”

 

“Yup.”

 

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“What is it, Takahashi?”

 

“Well, you're my guide, right?” he asked really seriously. Then he turned to her and smiled, “So show me around!”

 

“Huh? Why the sudden change in attitude?”

 

“Okay…” she began, “Well, here's the computer lab,” she said, pointing to a door on her right. “And down that hall is the gym and the main offices.”

 

“Where's the library?”

 

“The library? Why?”

 

“Cuz I wanna know where it is, stupid! What'dya think?!?!”

 

“Right! Sorry!” she showed him to the hall where the library was. It was lunchtime, and so instead of going to eat, Mayu continued showing Rii around the school. He was teasing her a lot, but Mayu found herself not minding as much as she had before. He was really funny, and she liked that about him. He was so different from all the other guys at school, the ones that thought she was hot, so they were all really nice. Rii was mean to her, but not mean to be cruel out of hatred, mean to tease out of fun. She really enjoyed his company.

 

“Hey! Mayu!” a voice called from behind them. Mayu turned around and saw her cousin, Satoshi walking toward them.

 

“Oh! Hey, Satoshi!” she called. He stopped and looked Rii over.

 

“Who's this?”

 

“Oh! Satoshi, this is Rii Takahashi. Takahashi, this is my cousin, Satoshi Sugiyama.”

 

“Nice to meet you,” they said, shaking hands.

 

“This your new boyfriend, Mayu?” Satoshi asked, jokingly.

 

“Ah! Satoshi!!!” Mayu exclaimed, blushing.

 

Rii laughed.

 

“You know,” Satoshi warned, “you gotta watch her, she's got a new boyfriend almost every week.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I DO NOT!!!” Mayu protested. “Don't listen to him, Takahashi!”

 

“Oh, but I speak only the truth.”

 

“He's making it up!!”

 

Rii watched in amusement as the cousins bickered. Then a new face approached the group.

 

“Hey, guys.”

 

Mayu stopped her yelling. “Oh! Hey Naoko!”

 

“Hello, Naoko-chan,” Satoshi greeted her with a smile.

 

She bowed, “Satoshi-kun.”

 

Mayu smiled. “Well! It looks like everyone's acquainted now! How does lunch sound?”

 

“Well, I have to get back to class,” Naoko said, “I've already eaten. You'd better hurry, Mayu, or you'll be late again.”

 

“Shut up! I will not!” she exclaimed.

 

“I think I'll go with you, Naoko,” Satoshi said to her, walking in the direction of their next class.

 

Naoko ran to catch up to him, turning her head back, “Mata ne, Mayu! Bye, Takahashi! Nice to meet you!”

 

After they disappeared down the hall, Rii turned to Mayu and said with a sarcastic smile, “So…you still hungry?”

 

“No thanks. Let's go to class,” she replied, not wanting to be late, yet again.

 

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“See you guys later!” Mayu called to her three friends as she walked into her house. School was finally over! Only four more days left until the weekend. Mayu groaned at the thought. She walked through the entry way and into the living room, where her siblings were already watching the television.

 

“Don't you two ever do anything else?” she nagged, dropping her stuff on the kitchen table.

 

“Glad to see you too, sis. How was your day?” Tsuto asked inanely, not taking his eyes from the ever channel-changing TV.

 

“Where's mom?” she asked, ignoring Tsuto's question, and pulling a report card out of her backpack. Not too bad, this time. One A, four B's and two C's. At least she would probably get out of being in trouble or grounded, but these certainly wouldn't get her anywhere.

 

“She went with dad, jii-san, and baa-san to town. They said they'd be back with supper tonight.”

 

“Ugh! Take out again! Why can't we ever cook anything in this family!?!”

 

Mayu grabbed her bag and stomped up the stairs. She slid open the shoji to her room and tossed her stuff on the bed. Time for homework. Opening her calculus book on her desk, Mayu sat down on her stool and picked up a pencil. She had not had a chance to finish it in class (thanks to a certain someone who shall remain nameless…) and so now she had to catch up and finish it at her home.

 

Mayu barely had enough time to put her pencil to the paper when the doorbell rang. Nearly scared half to death, Mayu leaped up and rushed downstairs.

 

“Doorbell!” her siblings chimed in unison.

 

“I know! I'm not stupid!” Mayu shouted back, running through the living room. She unlocked and opened the front door.

 

“Greetings!” said the boy standing in her doorway.

 

“Takahashi!?!?” she exclaimed, “What are you…”

 

“Tutoring session. I seem to recall you scheduled one with me for your math class; am I right?”

 

“”Wha!?!?! I did not! I distinctly remember telling you to get lost!”

 

“Just as well…now, where shall we begin?” Rii said, pulling a calculus book from his bag.

 

“Onee-chan,” Shisa said, tugging on Mayu's skirt, “who is that?”

 

“Why hello, and who are you?” Rii said, kneeling to Shisa's level.

 

“My name is Shisa. I'm Mayu's little sissy.”

 

“Aww, isn't that sweet?”

 

“I'm Tsuto!” he piped, trying to gain some attention from the boy, “Are you Mayu's boyfriend??”

 

“Ah! Hahahaha! Okay!” Mayu exclaimed, waving her arms in between Rii and Tsuto, “That's enough introductions! Tsuto, Shisa, back to television!” They turned, disappointed, and sat back down. “Takahashi! Out of my house!”

 

“That's a very rude thing to say to someone who just came over to help you out,” Rii replied, walking to the kitchen table.

 

“But…”

 

“Nuh uh! Now get your stuff, it's time for some lessons in calculus.”

 

Mayu stood frozen with rage for just a moment before turning angrily around and stomping up the stairs, only to return a minute later with her school things. There's no sense in arguing with some one so thickheaded.

 

“So, Mayu-san, what is it that you need help with??” Rii asked, opening his book.

 

For a moment, Mayu stared at the homework, looking over all the problems. Finally she dropped her head onto the table. “EVERYTHING!” she cried.

 

“Oh boy…this is gonna take a while.”

 

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After four long hours of studying, Mayu had nearly completed the homework, and was beginning to really understand it. Since that time, the rest of her family had returned home, eaten supper, successfully teased Mayu as much as possible about having a cute boy at her home as a tutor, and had gotten ready for, if not into, bed. Rii was just finishing up reading her a piece of the notes (probably for the 624th time.) When he finished, he dropped the book to the table and looked over at Mayu.

 

“So do you under…Huh?!?!”

 

She was sound asleep. Her head laid on the book and the pencil still in her right hand. She had, in the process of falling asleep, made a big line all the way across the paper. She had began to slightly drool on the book. Rii chuckled for just a moment.

 

“Mayu-san,” he whispered. “Hey, Mayu!”

 

She didn't budge. He lifted her ear off the table and said her name a bit louder. “Mayu!” She hardly moved. Rii sat back in his chair, completely exhausted. “Okay, that's it,” he said, “I'm never going to come over and help you study again. It's nearly nine o' clock and I still have history homework and Japanese Lit.” He sighed and looked and Mayu, waiting for a response.

 

Nothing.

 

Just then, Mayu's mom came in. “Oh, hello, Takahashi. Are you kids finished?”

 

“Yeah, Mayu-san is, anyway.”

 

Her mother looked over and smiled at her sleeping daughter. “Well, looks like she's exhausted. I'll thank you for her. Thank you for helping her out so much.”

 

“Eh-it was nothin',” he said, picking up his bag off the table. “I guess I'll head home.”

 

“Yes, I hope your mother doesn't worry about you too much.”

 

“I'll be fine. Thanks.”

 

Rii put the bag over his shoulder and headed toward the door, but stopped as he reached for the handle. He listened.

 

“Come on, Mayu,” he mother coaxed, “time for bed now. Studying time is over.”

 

“Arrggghhhrraaaa…..” Mayu groaned, turning her head over.

 

“Come on, Mayu! You're too big for me to carry you anymore, you gotta get up.”

 

Mayu ceased to move once again.

 

“Argh! Come ON, Mayu!”

 

Rii reappeared in the doorway. “Here,” he said, walking over to her, “let me give you a hand.” He nudged at Mayu's side, and she continued sleeping. “She's not a light sleeper, is she?”

 

“She'd sleep through a tornado.”

 

Rii set his bag down again. “Which direction, may I ask, is her room? I'll carry her up.”

 

“Oh, just up the stairs and the first door and the left.”

 

Rii nodded. He slipped his arms around Mayu's back and under her knees and lifted her up, carrying her bridal style. Geez!!! She's heavy! He stumbled for just a moment, but regained his balance and started walking up the stairs. Mayu's mother followed him. He entered her large room. The western style bed was in the center against the wall. She had a night stand on either side of it. There was a closet in the wall adjacent to the door and a dress-of-drawers against the side opposite the bed. A large window on the remaining wall looked down over a garden and the neighborhood.

 

Mayu's mom pulled down the covers and Rii set Mayu down.

 

“Thank you, Takahashi,” her mom said, tucking Mayu in.

 

Rii bowed and left. He walked down the stairs and grabbed his stuff, leaving without another word. He walked down the street, still thinking about Mayu.

 

“My life's gonna be a lot different now, I can just tell.”

 

He looked at the darkening sky. The stars were beginning to pop out in the vast blackness. The wind made the air chilly, causing Rii to shiver just a bit. He crossed his arms as he continued walking. Somewhere out over the city, even beyond the city, there was a light shining. A light like the sun, yet it shown from the ground. Could it be? That place that I've heard of…Hizashi no Sawa…sunlight that shines from the ground? Was he crazy? It was just a myth, it was. The legend of the Valley of Sunlight, that at certain times, by certain people, the sun could be seen shining from it; could something like that really be true? Nonetheless, true or not, the world was dark to every living person…

 

Only Rii could see the light.

 

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A/N: Please review and tell me what you think! Next Chapter will be up ASAP!!! Tomorrow's the first day of April…FRUITS BASKET #8 COMES OUT THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!