Fan Fiction ❯ Tougenkyou ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

CHAPTER TWO:

The Principal of Tougenkyou High

 

"Chie-chan! Over here!"

 

Chie jogged over to the source of the call, her friend Nagai Yae.

 

"What took you so long?! We've been waiting for an hour already!" Her pretty friend demanded.

 

"Don't mind her, Chie. She's just exaggerating. It's only been fifteen minutes." Another of her friends, Obuchi Eiichi, said.

 

"I am not exaggerating! It felt like an hour to me!!!"

 

Eiichi cowered under Yae's glare, but refused to give in. "That's because you don't like to wait, Kaijuu!"

 

...and he was then rewarded with a punch in the jaw.

 

Chie chuckled. It didn't worry her to see this, as she had already gotten used to the two childhood friends bicker almost every day. It was even rather amusing to watch, so long as things didn't go too far.

 

"Good morning, Chie-kun." Said a voice from behind her.

 

Chie turned around to smile at the girl. "...good morning, Rei-chan."

 

Unlike Eiichi and Yae, Yakuta Rei was a quiet girl who once preferred to be alone. Chie liked her and became her friend because they both shared a fondness for reading.

 

Rei handed a small book towards Chie. "I've just finished it last night. Thank you."

 

Chie nodded, taking the book. "How did you like it?"

 

Rei paused for a moment, tilting her head thoughtfully. "It's rather sad. The manager of the band should have told the lead singer how she felt about him."

 

"Oh, you mean Yuka? Yes, I agree. I'd rather have her to be Sakuya's partner rather than Aine." Chie closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. "Sakuya and Yuka belong together. I wonder why he didn't pair them up?"

 

"I think the author purposely made it that way."

 

Chie gasped. "So you're for the Sakuya and Aine pairing?!"

 

Rei only took ahold her bag and started to walk into the building. However, as she walked past Chie, she looked at her and smiled slightly. "Who said I was?" She looked up at the sound of the school bell. Then it was followed by the sound of a voice over some loudspeakers.

"Attention all students. Please proceed to the auditorium immediately."

 

The message was repeated before they heard Eiichi say "Meh".

 

"That weirdo and his speeches scare me to death, especially the 'start-of-the-year ones'. I'd rather light someone's ass on fire than listen to him."

 

That comment earned him another punch in the face by his lovely childhood friend. "I'll light your ass on fire if you don't stop that! What if the principal hears you? You'll immediately be expelled!"

 

"That would be good! That way I would be far, far away from you!"

 

"Why you little--!!!"

 

Chie was confused. "What are you talking about, Ei-kun?" She crouched down a little, to look at her friend who was currently in a headlock by Yae.

 

"You'll see Chie-chan. Once he gets up on stage, there's no turning back... you'll get sucked into his strange world and run the danger of becoming like him...*urk!*" He gulped as Yae's arm tightened around his neck.

 

"Ignore the dork, Chie-chan," Yae looked at her friend and grinned. "Tanaka-kouchou may be somewhat odd, but he is always amusing. And at least this time there's something at the end that would be worth it."

 

Chie blinked in confusion. "What?"

 

"The announcement of the Top Ten," Rei said from behind Chie.

 

"The Top Ten?" Chie turned towards her friend in interest.

 

"Oh come on," Eiichi said, massaging his neck when Yae had finally released him. "That happens every year too."

 

"But this time, the top ten from our batch will get up on stage." Yae said.

 

"It's something that's exclusively for seniors," Rei explained to Chie. "The lowerclassmen do get their ranks, but they're only posted on the bulletin boards. For the seniors however, the top ten will go up to the stage and be recognized by the whole school. It's a way to encourage them to maintain their status, so that they will be able to get scholarships from the best universities."

 

"Really?!" Chie said, struggling to suppress her excitement.

 

Yae laughed. "Don't even try to hide it, Chie-chan. I know you're already hooked on it."

 

Chie blushed, waving her hands in front of her to hide her embarrassment. "I didn't..I mean, I wasn't...!!"

 

"I think Chie-kun will be one of them."

 

Chie turned to look at Rei in surprise. But the normally quiet girl only smiled, "I have heard the teachers say that you've done very well last year, even though you were a tranferree."

 

Chie felt hope grow and swell within her. She opened her mouth to say something but couldn't, for fear it might make her sound boastful. But I hope...I really do hope.....even the tenth place would be good enough for me, just so I can get a scholarship...

 

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a snort coming from Eiichi. "Sorry to burst your bubbles, ladies, but we need to go in now before we get locked out." He was answered by nods coming from the girls (with a slight punch from Yae), and soon the four went inside the auditorium.

 

---

 

When Chie stepped inside, she was greeted by loud buzzes of excitement (and boredom for some). As she followed her friends down the steps, she could hear bits of conversation from the students around her.

 

"So, who do you think will be in the magic ten?"

 

"I think it will be the same as the ranking from last year."

 

"Oh, I hope Naoya-sama will get first place this time!"

 

"No way girl, Ichiro-sama will never let anyone take his throne!"

 

"Ochiai Naisen-san will most likely get the fourth place."

 

"I heard the teachers debating on whether the tenth place should be given to Ebisawa Tadako-san or Hachiborei Oharu-san...."

 

"Hm..that's actually a tough one. They've both worked hard last year..."

 

Hearing all of this made Chie's confidence drop. Of course she hadn't thought of all the other competition she might be having. Of course she hadn't thought of the other students who had also given their best performance in the last year. Of course she hadn't thought that there will most probably ten other people more deserving to be in the Top Ten than her. As she sat down on her seat, she sighed in resignation. "Guess I was too optimistic...."

 

"...too optimistic about what?"

 

Chie nearly jumped out of her seat as she heard a familiar voice snap her out of her reverie. "O-Obinata-kun!" She gasped out, looking at the one seated to her right. "I..I didn't realize you were seated there!" But instead of Naoya answering her, she felt herself being pinned down by the angered gazes of the LAFC (Light Angel Fan Club) surrounding her.

 

"What are you doing seated there like you belonged?!" One girl said, hovering her frowning face above Chie's.

 

"No one ever sits next to our Light Angel!!" Another girl cried, pointing to the empty seat on Naoya's right for emphasis.

 

Chie bit her lip, blushing at being in that embarrassing state. "Oh..I'm..I'm sorry..I'll move to another place then..." She started to stand, but was suddenly held back by a grip on her wrist. She looked back, and was surprised to see that it was Naoya.

"Obinata-kun..."

 

"I think her current position is just fine." Naoya ignored the girls' cries of woe as he looked at Chie kindly. "You don't have to change seats, Saeki-san."

 

Chie looked down at him, and couldn't help but blush at his beautiful and kind face. She didn't know why, but it felt uncomfortable and yet welcome at the same time. She considered shaking her head no and walk away, but before she could do that she found herself sitting back down on that seat next to him.

 

"This is your first orientation, isn't it?" Naoya asked.

 

Chie nodded. "Yes, and most probably my last." She smiled slightly.

 

Naoya chuckled (much to the dismay of his fangirls!). "Oh, that's right."

 

"My friends told me that the principal will announce last year's Top Ten...."

 

Chie saw the boy nod in reply, but her gaze was soon cut off when one of the girls from the row behind them stuck her face next to hers. "Naoya-sama will take the first place, and don't you dare refute that, Person-of-No-Importance!" Oh joy, it was the girl who had pushed her aside earlier.

 

"Please stop doing that, Uboshita-san,” said Naoya.

 

The girl squealed giddily. "Eee!!! He talked to me! Naoya-sama actually TALKED to me! He even said my name!!"

 

The other girls beside her clapped. "Congratulations Uboshita-san! We wish we were you!"

 

Naoya shook his head in exasperation, then looked apologetically at Chie. "Don't mind them, Saeki-san..." To his surprise though, he saw that she was smiling back at him.

 

"They're right."

 

The boy's eyes widened in shock. "Saeki-san?"

 

"Obinata-kun is surely going to be in first place."

 

Naoya paused in his place, not expecting that at all. It was only after a short while that he finally found his voice again. "You're a pretty smart person yourself, Saeki-san. You will likely have a place up there on stage."

 

"To tell you the truth, Obinata-kun...I'd really be happy if I could make it to tenth place..." Chie said quietly, looking down at her fingers that were fidgeting nervously upon her lap. She gasped in surprise however, as she felt a hand upon hers. She looked up, and almost melted at the smile he made at her.

 

"Who knows, Saeki-san. Perhaps you will."

 

It was only then that she had actually gotten a close look at Naoya's face. The short, golden brown hair was obvious, but the eyes that were almost always hidden behind his bangs needed further scrutiny. They seem like the ocean with an emerald green color, deep and yet lustrous at the same time.

 

Chie blushed as she realized that she was staring at him. So to push away her embarrasment, she started to say something...only to be interrupted by a snort.

 

"Tch. She'd never make top anything."

 

Chie and Naoya looked ahead, and saw Ichiro staring at them lazily from the seat directly in front of them. He was leaning his elbow against the top of the backrest, and his chin upon the back of his hand.

 

The girl felt Naoya's hand shake a bit, and soon she heard him speak again. "Ignore him, Saeki-san." His voice was still soft, but this time, instead of the usual warmth she felt from it, it was icy. She looked up, towards Ichiro, and saw that his gaze held the same coldness that was present on Naoya's voice. Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable. Tougenkyou's Angels, in their four-year-long race to the top, obviously do not hold any positive feelings towards each other. In fact, she thought that if she didn't get away right now, she would freeze to death because of the chilly demeanor that hung in the air.

 

"Erm...well....." Chie struggled to say something that would break the ice, but was saved from doing so by the sound of someone onstage clearing his throat.

 

"Ahem, good morning to all of you, dear students." A sweet sounding alto voice sounded all over the room. It belonged to a tall woman, wearing a red vest over white shirt with matching red skirt. She was beautiful, with her long blonde hair held up in a bun and dark eyes hidden behind her eye glasses. Unfortunately though, she seemed to lack confidence while facing the students--more often she would fidget in her place and stare down towards the podium instead of her audience.

 

"Good morning, ahem, dear students. For those of you, ahem, who don't know me, ahem, I am Sato Machi, your, ahem, vice principal. It is my pleasure, ahem, to welcome you all back to Tougenkyou High."

 

Roars and hoots of admiration came from the boys from the front row seats. Three of them even had a `Sato-sama is the BEST!' banner waving around. It may have been a bit too much, but then from a school with a LAFC and a DAFC (Dark Angel Fan Club), there is no such thing as `too much'.

 

"And now, ahem, to formally welcome you all, ahem, I give you, ahem, your principal, ahem, Principal Tanaka Ichirou."

 

Suddenly, everything happened dramatically. A loud drum roll sounded across the auditorium . A spotlight shone on the center stage. An orchestra played an overture. Cherry blossoms, roses, and daisies fell from above the stage. Finally, there was a laugh. "OHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!!!"

 

Most, if not all, of the students cringed at this.

 

"GOOOOOOOOOOD MORRRRRRRNIIIIINGGGGGGG MMMMMMMMYYYYYYY PPPPRRRREEEEETTTTTTIIIIEEEESSS!!!!"

 

The scent of cherry blossoms filled the air, and a man with long purple hair wearing a bright yellow overcoat twirled from the backstage towards the center. He stopped and posed, one hand upon his hip and the other hand holding the stem of a rose which he was also biting with his teeth. "I am your principal!" He winked, and threw a daisy towards the students.

 

Unfortunately, it just landed on the floor. The boys in front just stared at it, the freshmen were either shocked, speechless or unconscious already, and the older students either rolled their eyes or have fallen asleep. Even after more than a year of studying in this high school, the poor students still couldn't make any sense out of their strange principal. It was a wonder how he kept this school together and managed a prestigious reputation across the country.

 

Sadaharu was laughing in his seat. "Oh boy, your namesake sure is getting funnier every year, Ichi-kun!"

 

Ichiro crossed his arms, closing his eyes in annoyance. "He is not my namesake. My name is Ichiro. Not Ichirou.

 

Principal Tanaka blew kisses to his audience. "Oh thank you, thank you all!!! I know you're all very happy to see me!!! I'm very happy to see you too!!!" He laid a hand on his cheek and posed 'shyly'. "Oh stop it, I know I'm very beautiful...but you're making me blush!!!"

 

Sweatdrops appeared at the students' heads.

 

He then placed his hand over his eyes, looking over at the students. "I see many familiar faces...but I'm happy to see new faces as well!" He then stopped, then grinned, then waved. "Yoohoo!!!! Ichiro-chan!!! My nephew!!! I'm so happy to see you here!!!"

Sadaharu laughed harder. "Hahaha!! 'Ichiro-chan'!!!!!"

 

The boy turned his head away, an anger vein popping against his temple. "I am not related to him."

 

The principal straightened himself, and cleared his throat, but he retained his grin and held the rose with his hand. "I am proud and happy to formally welcome you to a brand new school year! I am sure that...."

 

Chie was trying very hard to suppress a giggle. Of course she didn't want to appear rude in front of Naoya, and so she bit her lip instead. Hahahahahaha!!!! Serves him right!

 

However, she didn't know that Naoya was inwardly laughing as well.

 

 

 

Author's Notes:

Hi everyone! Here's the second chapter, and as usual, here are some clear-ups:

1. baka - "stupid"

2. Sakuya and Aine - the two main characters of one of the anime shows that I liked, "Kaikan Phrase".

3. -kouchou - a suffix that is attached when one talks to a school principal (ex. Tanaka-kouchou)

Well, that's all for today.

 

Till the next chapter!