Hey, everybody! It’s me, eeveepuff, again :3 I started writing this story in about mid-December, and finished writing the last chapter today. Don’t worry, I’ll finish uploading Lost in Translation soon, but really wanted to write another full-length story. I’ve always wanted to try a slightly more serious AU, and a school story’s about as basic as it gets xD

I was originally gonna be all nice and say ‘You get to vote on who Retasu ends up with:D’ But I figured nah, screw it. I’d have her end up with Pai no matter how many people vote for Ryou xD This story has mentions to numerous pairings, though, so see if you can spot them all:D And I’ll also take suggestions on this fic, so if there’s something you want to see happen, just say so :3

(PS: Anyone interested in being my beta-reader:\)

Chapter 1.

My name is Retasu Midorikawa.

At 7:58 the bell ran, causing a young girl to smile nervously at her friends in the hallway. The fourteen-year-old had long, dark green hair pulled into two braids and glasses framed her large blue eyes. Surrounded by middle-schoolers, she felt awkward in the dark blue high school uniform. The skirt was too short, and the sleeves of the blouse itched something awful.

“I still can’t believe you’re skipping two grades!” Retasu’s best friend, Ichigo Momomiya, squealed. “I’ve always wanted to know what high school is like!” The redhead jumped excitedly, giving Retasu yet another hug. Standing beside her, Minto Aizawa rolled her dark brown eyes.

“Be quiet, Ichigo-chan,” Minto hissed, glancing at the older students as they passed by. She couldn’t help but smile slightly at Retasu, though. “Don’t worry, Retasu-chan. You’re super smart, so I know you’re gonna do great in tenth grade.”

It’s almost halfway through the school year, and the principal decided to move me up two grades. Isn’t that exciting?

“Thanks a lot, you guys. It means a lot to me that you came to see me off,” Retasu said shyly, grinning at the eight-graders that had tagged along on her way to the high school building.

Ichigo slapped her palm against her face, realizing the time. “Oh, crap! We’re gonna be late for class!” She looked up at the taller girl. “But promise that no matter how many friends you make in high school, you’ll still sit with us, okay?”

“Of course!”

“. . .Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Pinky promise?”

“Yes, Ichigo-chan. Pinky promise.”

But even though I’m excited, I’m also sort of scared.

Retasu waved as her friends hurried to the middle school across the street. Biting her lip, she prepared to enter her first-period classroom. The science classroom was just past the lockers, where she’d been standing moments before. She briefly wondered if it was too late to turn back, becoming terrified at the sight of tenth-graders entering the classroom ahead of her. The bell interrupted her thoughts and the girl gulped, knowing it was now or never.

What if no one likes me? Or the work is too hard?

She clutched her bookbag tighter, following the student in front of her.

It was early February in Tokyo, the large city that Retasu had been born and raised in. She lived in a modest apartment with her mother, father, and brother, Uri. She had always gone to the public school, and spent most of her time at the library. Although her friends found her to be shy and a bit of an introvert at times, they loved her all the same.

Retasu stepped through the doorway, immediately bumping into a young man. She stammered an apology, looking up at the older boy. He replied with only a slight frown and a raised eyebrow.

“Oh. You must be the new girl,” he said coldly, pushing past her and taking a seat.

The class quieted as the teacher rose at the front of the room, where he wrote out the daily assignments on the board while announcements were made over the loudspeaker.

“Now today, as you know, we’re starting the science fair projects for the semester grade- I’m sorry, can I help you?” The middle-aged man glanced over at the still standing Retasu, noticing her for the first time.

“I-I’m the new student, Retasu Midorikawa,” she said quietly, distinctly aware that every eye in the room was focused on her. Her shoes squeaked against the floor as she fidgeted nervously.

“Oh, right. From the middle school, correct?”

She nodded weakly, still staring at her laces. They could stop staring at her any time.

“Class, this is the newest student, Retasu Midorikawa. I expect you to make her feel welcome,” he said calmly to the twenty-three students sitting expressionless before him. “Retasu-san, you can take the seat next to Zakuro-san at the table over there. Zakuro-san, please explain the lesson to Retasu.”

Zakuro was a beautiful, violet-haired young woman, and fairly nice (if only a bit unsmiling), as it turned out. Retasu took the seat next to her, dropping her stuff onto the ground. Across from her at the small table were a blonde boy and an empty seat.

“Hello. My name’s Zakuro Fujiwara,” Zakuro said, pulling out a black notebook. “What grade are you from?” She had a voice so soft Retasu had to strain to her it. A lavender headband held back her long hair and expensive earrings dangled from her ears. It was obvious from the shining silver watch around her wrist that she came from a wealthy family.

“Um. . .I was in the eighth grade.”

Zakuro flipped through pages of notes. “Hm. I was sure you were older. You could pass for sixteen.”

The platinum blonde across the table leaned over, shaking Retasu by the hand. “Hi, Retasu-san. My name’s Ryou Shirogane.” He returned her smile with a dazzling one.

“Is this class hard, Fujiwara-san?” Retasu asked, staring in shock at her thick notebook.

The older girl shrugged, brushing a delicate hand through her hair. “It’s hard enough. It’s just the science fair takes up almost half the year.”

Ryou sighed, closing his eyes in frustration. “You’re lucky, Retasu-san. You get to skip a couple grades. I was going to start college this year, but my parents are gone so much of the time I couldn’t. This class is dull and the teacher is a complete moron.”

“Don’t listen to Ryou,” Zakuro said monotonously. “If anything he’s the moron. I think you’ll enjoy the class.” She pulled out a curriculum sheet, pushing it in front of Retasu before explaining the project. She helped the younger girl pick a topic and showed her how to set up the experiment.

“And remember, when you’re writing the conclusion-“ The bell cut of Zakuro’s words, and the students rushed to their feet, glad the period was over. Ryou tossed Retasu’s backpack over his shoulder and grinned at her.

“Th-thanks,” she murmured.

“What’s your next class, Retasu-san?”

“Er. . .Math? Room 208, I think.”

“Cool- Zakuro and I have that class, too. You moved up in every class?”

She nodded.

Ryou sat down upon arriving in math, handing the green-haired girl back her things. The introductions in this class were very similar to science, and, needless to say, were no friendlier.

“So how far did you get in math?” the young teacher asked, looking down at Retasu’s record. She stared up at her with large, brown eyes as she tapped her pencil against her desk impatiently.

“I finished algebra and started tenth-grade geometry.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “. . .You should probably sit next to Pai then. Pai?”

A young man in the third row raised his head, meeting the blue eyes of Retasu. It was the young man she’d bumped into earlier.

“Yes?”

“Do you mind showing Retasu here what we’re doing in class?”

“Of course not, sensei,” he replied, looking down at the math book in his hands.

“Then please take a seat next to Pai, Retasu,” the teacher commanded as Retasu hurried to obey. Several girls in the class grumbled about the seating and the teacher snapped at them to shut up.

Retasu, in her ten years of school, had never had a boyfriend, so she was incredibly inexperienced when it came to the opposite gender. She could only remember having a guy friend once, and that was in the second grade. But despite her total lack of experience, Retasu was determined to get off on the right foot with this Pai person.

Pai was probably a foot taller than her and had a very pale complexion. He had dark, amethyst eyes and matching hair that was pulled into a ponytail in front of his left ear. He had a handsome face and his gakuren, buttoned up to his chin, looked good on him. He was, in short, the most gorgeous guy she’d ever gotten to sit next to.

The effect was ruined slightly by the next thing he said, though.

“Ohayo,” Retasu greeted. “My name’s Retasu.”

The older boy didn’t even look up. “I already know your name.”

The two desks were pushed together so the students were mere inches apart, their elbows brushing. Retasu frowned. “Okay. So what are we supposed to be working on in class?”

He tossed her another copy of the book. “Look it up on page 307.”

“But aren’t you supposed to-“

“Page 307,” he repeated dully. “The assignment’s on the board.”

So much for the right foot.

Pai went the rest of the class without saying so much as another word to Retasu, who struggled through the lesson on her own. Occasionally he’d cast her sidelong glances, but that was the extent of their communication.

After band class, Retasu went straight to lunch. Band was the only class she felt really comfortable in, since she’d been taking private flute lessons for years.

“Hey, Fujiwara-san!” Retasu called as she walked into the cafeteria (which was just the gymnasium with a dozen tables placed inside). Zakuro turned in the lunch line and gave her a small wave, waiting for her to catch up.

“How do you like school so far?” Zakuro asked.

“Actually, it’s not much different than middle school,” she replied with a shrug. “Band was really fun, and math was okay. But can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“What’s wrong with Pai-senpai? Is he always so unhappy?”

Zakuro gave the lunch lady her ticket, turning away from the line. “Oh, him? Don’t worry- He’s like that to everyone. I don’t know what his problem is. I do know that almost all the girls in the school have had a crush on him at at least one point in their life, though.”

“Funny- He doesn’t seem like the type of guy to have girls hanging all over him.”

“Oh, he’s never actually said yes to any of them. He’s more of the loner type.” She pointed across the cafeteria at the table where Pai sat. He was sitting a little ways apart from a group of guys. The only person he actually talked to was a green-haired boy.

“. . .Why do you ask, anyway?”

“No reason,” she replied with a shrug.

Zakuro dismissed herself with a wave to sit with her friends, who were all stunningly gorgeous. Retasu found the outside door and joined her own friends in the covered bench area.

“She’s still alive!” Ichigo shouted, and the whole table erupted into fake applause.

Retasu rolled her eyes, but happily took her seat next to Minto. Ichigo pawed through Retasu’s lunch as she interrogated Retasu, looking for something sugary to eat. But as always, Retasu had packed strictly healthy food.

“Seriously you guys! It’s really not that different from middle school so far!”

“Really?” Ichigo said, her face falling. “Are there at least cute guys?”

Retasu smiled. “Oh, right. I forgot to mention the gun fight during second period.”

She rushed through her food so she could work on science for twenty minutes. After the half-hour lunch was P.E., so she had to hurry, since the second gym was all the way across the school.

Smart as she was, Retasu was definitely one of the most uncoordinated people on the face of the planet. She absolutely loathed P.E., even though she took the class with a forced smile. They couldn’t even take the class outside since it was too cold, so she was stuck in a room with thirty-seven other people. She stared sadly out the window, watching stray leaves float gently to the ground.

“You’ll be running laps for now. Since we’ll be timing the mile at the end of the week, please try to run at a reasonable pace,” the coach barked after the students had finished stretching. They all groaned at the thought of running, Retasu included. Great- another way to embarrass herself.

Not that she couldn’t do it on her own. Since the school was on a budget cut, they didn’t have many spare uniforms. The last one left was a size too small for Retasu, and it wasn’t hard to tell most of the guys in the class were staring at her as she left the locker room. The shorts were three inches too short, and the white shirt was too tight across her chest.

‘Please let me die right now,’ Retasu had thought to herself, unsuccessfully hiding a blush.

“Run fifteen laps around the gym, starting. . .Now!” The coach blew a whistle and the students started off at a jog. Retasu still couldn’t believe she had to take a year of P.E. if she wanted to get into a good college.

“Isn’t P.E. just great?” Ryou remarked sarcastically, running past Retasu. She agreed wholeheartedly before focusing once again on the burning sensation in her legs. She grimaced in pain after eight laps as someone pushed past her, easily running ahead.

“Tired already?” Pai remarked in a bored voice, before facing ahead again.

Retasu jogged faster, straining to keep up with Pai. She winced in pain, her heart pounding as she matched his stride. “I’m sorry, Pai-senpai, did I do something to offend you?” she huffed.

His expression remained blank. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, you didn’t speak to me at all during second period.” Oh God, the pain.

“Am I required to talk to you?”

She frowned. “Well, no, actually, it’s just I thought that maybe-“ Her foot-

“Does it matter that much to you?”

“Well, not, but-“ Was giving-

“Then maybe it’s better if you just leave me alone.”

“But then-“ Out.

Retasu stumbled over her shoelaces, tripping as her ankle throbbed in unbearable pain. She grabbed at the nearest thing, which happened to be Pai’s shirt. The last thing that she saw before she fell onto the heard floor was Pai’s expression of surprise, watching as Retasu dragged him down with her. She didn’t hit the cold floor, though, and instead landed on something soft.

“. . .Am I dead?” Retasu whispered, afraid to open her eyes.

“Honestly, Midorikawa-san. Don’t be dramatic. Of course you’re not dead.”

Retasu blinked her eyes open, finding herself on the ground. She looked to the left, and then to the right, trying to figure out where Pai was.

“Now get off me.”

Oh, yeah.

Retasu looked down, quickly determining the arms wrapped around her belonged to someone else, and that that was someone’s lap she was sprawled across.

“Oh my God! I’m sososo sorry!” Retasu squeaked, blushing and pulling away from Pai. Several students had stopped running to come see what was going on and were suppressing giggles behind their hands. Pai easily let go of her and stood up, hiding a blush. He gave her an irritated glance before returning to his last lap. Retasu staggered to her feet, absolutely horrified as she saw several people laughing. A couple of students must have felt sorry for her, though, since four people checked to see if she was alright.

Zakuro left her group of friends to approach Retasu. She grabbed her by the arm and shoved her back into the laps.

“What the hell was that?” Zakuro hissed.

Her blush darkened. “It was an accident, I swear! I didn’t mean to fall on him!” she moaned. “I’m such a klutz. . .”

Zakuro sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s not that, Midorikawa-san. It’s just that all the girls probably think that you were coming onto him.”

“But he caught me!”

“I know, but I’m just saying they might not. But don’t worry, I’ll try and tell them it was an accident if it comes up.” She trotted away as the coach shouted at the slower runners.

“Great first impression, Retasu,” she muttered to herself.