Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ Tales of a Ronin ❯ Prep School Blues ( Chapter 2 )

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A/N: You know, this is actually the third fic I've started. One has been discontinued until further notice (Twisted Destiny), one is eight chapters in and isn't doing too badly (Pride and Honor), and this one is still an infant. I'm wondering if I am starting to make a name for myself...? Well if I am, I hope its good things being said about me. I know that there are a lot of writers on this board and it can be difficult for a newbie like me.

Oh well, I'm starting to rant. On to business. I do not own Love Hina and do not intend to.

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Tales of a Ronin: Chapter 02 - Prep School Blues

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"When substituting 'x' for '2y + 9' you..." Keitaro watched as the teacher droned on endlessly. Haitani and Shirai both stayed home that day because they had both been working the night shift at their jobs. Keitaro told them to rest and was currently recording the lecture and writing down whatever the teacher put on the board.

This was the way they had operated during high school. While Keitaro almost never missed school, Haitani and Shirai would skip classes whenever they felt like it. Keitaro would always tape record the lecture and bring them any work or notes they were supposed to have so they could study at their leisure. Any time Keitaro had to miss school they would usually do the same for him.

The girl next to him slapped Keitaro's shoulder. "Pay attention, baka!" she hissed. "I can't concentrate with you sleeping!"

"Sorry," Keitaro mumbled, studying the girl as she went back to her notes. //Narusegwa Naru... The national top scholar.// She had scored highest in her college entrance exams exiting high school, and Keitaro couldn't help but respect her sharp mind. In fact, she was the first girl he had actually considered asking out on a date despite her equally sharp temper-- and the fact that he suffered from a paralyzed tongue every time he was near a girl. Her auburn hair was pulled in to two braids and she wore huge glasses that produced a mirror effect, hiding her eyes. While most guys thought that it was a turn-off, Keitaro thought that Naru's look was actually quite charming.

Naru noticed the look and pinched the boy's cheek, twisting it painfully. "What are you staring at, pervert?" she asked venomously. The vein in her forehead bulged, promising pain if Keitaro gave her an answer she didn't like.

"N-Nophing." Keitaro replied, his voice being slightly messed up by Naru's tugging.

She released his cheek, sighing. "You know, you should really work harder. You ARE trying for Tokyo U, right?"

"I do work hard..." Keitaro mumbled back, copying down a graph that the teacher put up.

"Meh," Naru replied absently, sketching the graph as well. "But with that last test result, I don't think you have time for ANYTHING else. You still don't stand a chance at Tokyo U, though."

Keitaro slammed his head into the desk and groaned. //Okay, so things are looking bad right now... I still got a chance... right...?// The teacher stopped a moment. "Is there a problem, Urashima?" he asked.

"No sir, just felt a pang of reality," Keitaro groaned, not looking up.

"Well, don't quit just yet," the teacher replied. "Here, why don't you do the next problem with me?"

Keitaro moved his slightly to the left to look at Naru. She grinned evilly at him a second before she went back to copying the graph.

"Sure... why not?" he replied lifelessly.

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Keitaro dragged his feet with his shoulders slouched as he shuffled away from class. "That damn girl..." he muttered as he left. "I had to answer the whole first page of that assignment. Good thing Shirai has been helping me with math lately..."

"Hey baka!" someone called behind him. He looked back and was slightly surprised too see Naru trying to catch up with him.

"Yes, Narusegwa?" he said, turning around.

"You didn't do too badly today," she said when she reached him. "I guess all that hard work is paying off?"

Keitaro shrugged. "I hope so..."

"But you're still a second year ronin," Naru said shaking her head. "48th percentile. Scored 22nd from the bottom on the last two practice tests..."

"...er... Yeah..." Keitaro replied nervously, scratching the back of his head. //What the hell is with this girl?// he thought, sweatdropping.

"Why bother?" she asked.

Keitaro shrugged again, nervously. "Well..."

"So there you are Naru!"

Naru looked startled a moment before she recognized the kansai dialect. Shaking her head, she turned to find her best friend, Konno Mitsune, smiling at her. She had known her since she started high school, both being in the same grade. Kitsune had beautiful grayish hair that she had recently cut short. Her eyes were rarely opened all the way, usually appearing to be two slits. Her body was slim and rather well-developed, much to Naru's annoyance. She would often compare breast sizes with her friend, but she couldn't quite measure up. She had pretty good grades-- even though she almost never studied--and was an excellent basketball player. In fact, she was the team captain her senior year in high school and will likely be playing in college.

As long as Naru had known her, she had looked up to Mitsune as an older sister, even though she was the same age as her and had a tendency to be irresponsible at times. Despite this, Mitsune could provide good advice or give you a needed boost when you were down.

"Well, well, after two years it seems you've finally found a guy other than Seta." Mitsune grinned. Two years ago, Naru had sworn off boys, parties, clubs, and sports of any kind so she could make it in to Tokyo University. She had made a promise with someone very special and she knew that she had to put extra effort in her studies to keep it. Mitsune had worried about her friend during this time and was glad to see her talking to a boy again, even if it was probably nothing.

Naru blushed. "N-no! This baka couldn't possibly..." then she looked behind her, only to see that the 'baka' was no longer standing there. //He must've snuck off while I was talking to Kitsune...//

"That's a quick one... Oh, sorry, did I ruin your chance?" Mitsune asked, grinning.

"Can it, Kitsune," Naru mumbled bitterly. "I was only asking him why he keeps trying for Tokyo U with such horrible grades."

"Oh... so that must be Urashima," Mitsune replied.

Naru rolled her eyes. //Mou... It seems Urashima is quite famous at this school...// "Yeah, that's him..." //Baka...// she thought to herself as she started heading out. "Come on, Kitsune, we're going to miss the train!"

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Keitaro opened the door to his apartment only to find Haitani and Shirai missing. Looking around, he saw that the place was in absolute disarray, despite the fact that Keitaro had cleaned it two days ago. //Figures those guys would trash the place and leave all the cleaning to me...// he sighed. //Oh well, not like I can complain. I'm the only one without a job now...//

Absently, Keitaro began tidying up. //In fact, I could really use a job. If I was working as well, then we could cover all of our expenses easily. But where can I find one?//

Then Keitaro looked around him. //What the hell am I doing!?// he thought, angrily tossing an empty bottle he picked up. //I should either studying or finding a job, not playing house husband!//

Keitaro picked up his bag and put it down on the table. //Practice test in a week... I'd better take care of that first.//

Keitaro was just about to sit down when the phone rang. Standing back up, he went to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Keitaro, it's Haitani," he said, sounding rather dismal. "I probably won't be in tonight... I'm kinda busy..."

"Busy?" Keitaro asked.

"Well... I'm looking for a new job," Haitani mumbled.

"WHAT!?" Keitaro exclaimed. "Why? How?"

"It's the recession," Haitani sighed. "Or company laid off a bunch of workers to avoid going under."

Keitaro sat down hard on the couch. //Haitani has lost his job...// "So... what now?" he asked breathing deeply to control his anxiety.

"I don't know..." Haitani replied pensively.

//This is bad...// Keitaro thought. //Haitani NEVER talks like this...// "Well, I'll start searching for a job tomorrow."

"Don't you have school?" Haitani asked, knowing that Keitaro rarely skipped classes.

"This is more important," he replied. "Well, good luck."

"You too."

Then they hung up. Keitaro looked up at the ceiling, allowing the news to sink in. //Are we going to make it like this? I don't think we have enough to pay the rent, even if we starve ourselves for a while...// he thought. //I can't go back home or I won't be able to try for Tokyo U ever again...//

Keitaro laid down a moment, his head spinning. His chest felt heavy and the room around him seemed to spin around in circles as his thoughts went wild. //Is this it? Have I... failed?// He clenched his eyes shut. //All those years of work... Fifteen long, arduous years of constant bullying, ridicule, failure, and rejection... Is it all going to be for nothing?// Keitaro once again begun to feel the same doubts and loneliness that plagued him since his childhood friend had left him.

"NO!" he shouted, shooting up into a sitting position. "I can't quit yet... I'm not done yet... I can't quit yet... I'm not done yet..." he repeated over and over again in a desperate attempt to rouse himself. Then he spotted his test booklet. //Studying! That'll help me forget about my situation...//

Pulling out his question book, he struggled through his Science work. //I've never been very good at Science...// he thought as he chewed on his pencil. Just when he was about to go crazy again, the phone rang. Keitaro grumbled slightly as he picked it up.

"What," he snapped in to the receiver.

"Well, that's a fine way to greet your family," a familiar voice said on the other side.

Keitaro's eyes bulged. "A-Aunt Haruka?" he stammered. "Is that really you?"

"Of course," Haruka replied. "And call me 'Haruka-san' please."

Keitaro smiled. "Well, it's good to hear from you!" Keitaro replied happily. Then his eyes narrowed slightly. "Hey, how did you get my number?" he asked suspiciously.

"There are ways, kid," she said dismissively. "So, how are you holding up?"

"Not good," Keitaro replied truthfully.

"I figured as much. Come on down to your grandmother's inn tomorrow. I got a job for you," she said. Before Keitaro could reply, she hung up.

Keitaro sat a moment, listening to the dial tone before he hung up as well. //Aunt Haruka hasn't changed a bit.// he thought, frowning thoughtfully. //But she definitely has something planned, otherwise she would've waited for me to reply.// Keitaro thought a moment, rubbing his chin absently before he shrugged. //I'm just being paranoid. I should be able to trust my own aunt...//

Keitaro went back to studying, this time a little more relaxed knowing that his financial troubles could be over. But he couldn't help but feel a little worried though. He was notorious for having bad luck, but this job opportunity came out of no where and at just the right time. //COULD Aunt Haruka be setting me up...// he thought, chewing on his pencil eraser again.

//Well, I'll find out tomorrow at the Hinata Inn.//

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*Character Bios*

~Narusegwa Naru~

- Unaltered. You should already know her characteristics (but I do plan on using the Midori persona with someone else...)

~Konno Mitsune~

- Speaks kansai dialect; friendly; cheerful

- First character who becomes a friend of the main character (A/N: Unless you consider Narusegawa a friend of his in this fic. I sure don't).

- She is usually called Kitsune (fox) because of her eyes.

- She has common sense, a quick wit and a sharp tongue

- Familiar with architecture and knows every room of the Hinata House

- Receives good grades and is good at sports as well

- She rarely gets angry, is always smiling, and makes jokes, usually bored

A/N: Okay, so there goes the second chapter. Thanks go to Harvey Bautista for pre-reading my work and helping me iron it out. I don't have much else to say right now, except please review and tell me what you think.

--Stizzo Out