Two weeks passed after that guard fiasco. I told Shining that he should keep his security people in check. I don't know if they were fired are not, but something like that better not happen again, otherwise, I call lawsuit!
It turned out I scored advanced on both parts of the exam, meaning I passed. To be honest, I didn't think I'd pass, let alone score advance. Maybe I wasn't as bad as I thought I was. Maybe there really was a chance I could return to music properly.
"Ah! Melody!" I turned around and almost get knocked over, "Hey! I'm so happy we all got in!" A girl named Shibuya Tomochika, whom I had met in the examination hall (She had stopped me in the hallway...) glomps me from behind. "It wouldn't be any fun without Lifesaver A around!"
"Lifesaver A? Shibuya-san?"
"Shibuya-san? No way! Call me Tomo-chan! We're all friends here! And roommates too!" Yup that's right, the three of us are roommates. I thought that was very ironic, but I wasn't complaining.
"Isn't it great?! Me-chan?!" The girl from before was named Nanami Haruka. She kept saying that the only reason that she passed the exam was because of me, Ren, and that other boy. "I'm so excited!" She smiled.
"Me-chan?" I questioned, but I didn't get an answer.
"Come on, let's go in before they take all the good seats!" Tomo-chan said before dragging Haruka and me inside. When we sat down the man onstage started talking.
"Welcome to the Saotome Academy Entrance Ceremony! First, a speech from the headmaster." He then stopped speaking so the headmaster can start, but he was nowhere to be found. The man looked around helplessly, "Uh, sir?"
Loud laughing interrupted the guy, "Anyone who doesn't know love, don't even consider singing and get out of here! Your heartbeat is the source of music!" Someone then spotted someone on the roof wearing a weird jester outfit, and I immediately knew that it was Shining.
"That old fool..." I murmured with a facepalm.
Saotome jumped off the roof and dove down towards the ground (us), before taking a turn upwards and bouncing around a bit, like a puppet on a string. He started talking again, "Yes, children. The headmaster is me, Shining Saotome! Welcome to Saotome Academy, the Shining World!" He jumped down and started dancing on the stage, "Music is love! Remember to enshrine your soul, devote your lives to music, and make the multitudes glow!" What that meant, I had no idea. "Congratulations on your acceptance! Thank you!" And with that he jumped back off the stage and just left, leaving everyone there shocked, but amazed.
I sighed, 'That guy...always taking things to the extreme...'
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I went to Shining Saotome's office shortly after to get some more things straightened out. Apparently, I was categorized into the S class, the "special" class, and that's not where I want to be.
"What can I do for you, Missssss KaSakura?!" Saotome asked all loud.
"Why'd you put me in the S class?"
"Because your scores were amazing! Fantastic! Advanced! Brrrravo Melody! Bravo!"
"But, I don't want to be in the S class. I wanted to start over from the beginning, and the S class is not the beginning."
Saotome paused for a second, "KaSakura-san...Are you asking me...to demote you?"
"Yes."
"But...why?"
"Well..." Actually, I was asking myself that same question. "I guess...It's just like you said. I want to make a fresh start. I think it's the best thing for me right now."
Saotome hmmed, "~Well, I guess if it's what you really want...I'll switch you out with one of the A-class students that had fallen short of the S class rank. But are you surrrre?" I nodded, "Then go ahead then. I'm looking forward to seeing what interesting things come from you, KaSakura. Don't make me regret my decision." I thanked him then walked out calmly. But just as I closed the door, I bumped into someone. I was about to apologize, but when I looked up, I was startled by the pair of angry dark blue eyes that stared down at me.
"What's your problem?!" I asked Tokiya. He just ignored me and walked right into Saotome's office, making sure to shut the door. I sighed and walked on, slightly saddened. As I walked by, someone randomly spoke to me.
"You've got guts, girl." I stopped and looked behind me. A boy was leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest, "It's really unusual for someone to ASK to get demoted from the S class like that. Ya must be pretty confident, or ya must doubt yourself. A LOT."
"You know," I started to say to him, "It's not good manners to spy." The boy sweatdropped as I walked on. He began to follow me.
"You're interestin'." He said walking backward in front of me hands in his pockets, "What's your name?"
"It's none of importance to you." I told him.
"Why aren't you wearing a skirt like every other girl here?" He asked pointing to my personalized school uniform. Saotome knew that I really wasn't someone to wear frilly dresses or any type of skirt. I haven't done that since I was like...9? 10 maybe? But I had worn neither since, so I just had on the girl's top with the bow tie, the sweater (with the A-class symbol), and a pair of jeans. I didn't think anyone would care, but apparently, some did.
I grew annoyed, "None of your business."
"Are you this cold towards everyone, or just me?" He suddenly asked his face really close to mine, the ends of his short blond hair touching my face slightly. Was it me, or were they a shade of pink in some lights? Either way, the boy was just a little too close for comfort. So I decided to mess with him. I mean he wouldn't leave me alone; he was askin' for it!
"Well...Oh hey!" I waved suddenly. Just as he turned around to look, I snatched his fedora and ran down the hall.
"AH!" He shouted, "Wait! Omachikudasai!" The boy shouted, I just laughed and kept running. I turned back multiple times to see him tripping and bumping into people, making me giggle. I knew I had to stop soon; I didn't have time for this. So I stopped behind the next corner. The boy soon flew around it, stopping to catch a breath. "Please, no more...Give me back my fedora."
I placed it on my head and posed, "Why? Doesn't it look good on me?"
"Cause if ya don't, I won't give back the item I took from you." I blinked in confusion.
"What? You didn't~" In between two fingers, he showed me a pair of black square frames that he had retrieved from his pockets. I felt my own pockets and the realization sunk into me. "When did you take my glasses!? Give them back!" When I reach for them, he puts them on.
"Why? Don't they look good on me?" He easily mocked me and I flushed. I had to admit, they did kinda compliment his sky blue eyes. "Fine. Let's switch on 3. 1, 2..." I clasped my glasses, but just as I started to give him the fedora I stopped and jumped back.
"Sike!"
"Hey, no fair!" He cried, "I'm not playing anymore! Give it back!"
I shook my head playfully and clutched it to my chest like it was really mine. Suddenly the boy came closer to me and I backed against the wall, "H-Hey..." I murmured, covering my face with the fedora. I peaked over it to see that he had leaned over me.
His left arm was above my head, "Hand it ova. Before I stop playing Mr. Nice Guy."
"Pfft. You won't. In fact, you won't come any closer. You're not that type of guy." The boy was taken aback by what I said.
He backed up a little, "What makes you say that?"
"I don't know, I guess I just don't see you as the aggressive type."
The blonde gained an anime vein mark, "What's that suppose to mean?"
I sighed and booped him on the nose with the tip of the fedora. "You wouldn't do it. You seem too much of a kind and caring person." He blushed slightly. "I'll give this back on one condition." I gestured to the hat, "Tell me where you got it from?" He seemed surprised at my ultimatum.
"That's easy. I get 'em from a lotta online sites like eBay or Amazon. But I buy some on shopping trips too. It kinda varies I guess." I let the fedora fall on his head. "Why?"
"I like it. It just has that cool feel to it. It's...cute." I say. Just then his face goes tomato red.
"Ya think so?" He rubbed the back of his neck as I looked at the time.
"Oh crap! I gotta go! I'll be late soon!" I suddenly started running.
"Chotto Matte!" I stopped and looked back at him almost disappearing from in the hall of students. "You never told me your name!"
"KaSakura Melody!" I shouted at him.
"EH!? KaSakura!?" I heard him shout as I ran around the next corner. I never got his name though.
'Next time.' I thought and continued on with my day.
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"Melody!" Tomo-chan shouted to me as I walked over. She got up and glomped me, "YAY! We're in the same class too!"
"But why are you in the A-class, Me-chan? Didn't you get advanced? Shouldn't you be in the S-Class?" I just patted Haruka on the head.
"Don't worry about it." A couple of minutes later, Tomo started explaining to Haruka who Shining Saotome was while I listened boredly. I already knew everything she told her, but Haruka seemed a little lost. From what I could tell, she didn't know a lot about the music industry or famous people in general, she probably didn't even know who I was. Not that I wanted it to be known like that, but...
"No way! It's you!" My purple eyes met a familiar pair of ruby-red ones. Taken aback, I almost fell out of my chair. Once again, I was face-to-face with the red-headed boy from the gate incident.
"Ah! Red-Head boy?!" I shouted but mean to, so I covered my mouth.
"Red-Head boy? Oh no! I never told you my name!" He realized as he held his hand out to me, "I'm Ittoki Otoya. Nice to meet you again!" His smile seemed so cheerful. I couldn't help but return it.
"I'm Melody. KaSakura Melody." I told him shaking his hand.
"That's a nice name. Although..." He put his finger to his chin, "I feel like...I can't exactly remember but I think I heard that name before..." I sweatdropped. 'Stop jinxing yourself Mel!'
"Who are you talking to Mel?" Tomo got up and walked over Haruka following.
"Oh, Me-chan! You found him!" She bowed, "Thanks for saving me that day!"
"You're here too!" Otoya exclaimed, "All right! We're in the same class!" I heard him cheer.
"Soooo, this is Lifesaver B." Tomo said.
"B?" Haruka and I repeated at the same time, but she ignored us as she continued to stare down Otoya. She then properly introduced herself and Haruka did the same.
Otoya flashed yet again another smile, "Anyway, I'm just glad they let you in for the exam, Haruka-chan."
"Tiffany! Elizabeth!" We suddenly heard. What happened next happened in slow motion. I looked up to see a tall blonde guy about to jump on Haruka and I. Out of nowhere, Haruka was then pushed out the way by someone nearby. That same person grabbed hold of me too, throwing me into his chest. The person then pushed Otoya into the place that I was previously standing.
"Let go of me!" Otoya shouted after getting tackled by the tall blonde instead. Poor dude. That had to have hurt, at least a little.
"That was close." The distinct scent of laundry detergent in his clothes caught my nose and I instinctively took a whiff. Immediately realizing how weird that was, I peeked up to apologize. The blue eyes of a blue-haired boy stared straight into mine. Aware of how close he was to me, I moved away uncomfortably.
"Um...Thanks. Sir." I tried to hide the sudden blush that had developed on my cheeks with a bow.
"Your "thanks" is not needed. The same goes for the "Sir"." He looked to the side all nonchalant-like. I squinted. Why did this guy look familiar?
After Tomo scolded the blonde dude a little, he explained. "I beg your pardon. They both look so much like Elizabeth and Tiffany that I lost it for a moment there..."
"They looked like someone from another country?" Otoya wondered.
"We looked like old friends of yours?" I asked.
"We looked like your sisters?" Haruka questioned. 'Yeah Haruka, he's going to have a Japanese and a half Japanese, half black girl for sisters. Then again...these days, there are ways...'
"No, No, and Nope. You looked like our family dogs!" We all did a double-take in immense confusion.
"EH?!" Did he just insult us?
"Elizabeth and Tiffany, so tiny and cute! We've been separated ever since I've started living in the dorms!" He cried in tangent form. He calmed himself before bowing with a smile. "I'm Shinomiya Natsuki! I love things that are small and cute. Nice to meet you all!"
The bluenette then felt the need to introduce himself as well. "And I am Hijirikawa Masato. Good morning." He told everyone with his arms folded. I froze realizing that I already know him.
"Wait. Hijirikawa...Masato? Masa...MASA!? MASATO-KUN?!" I shouted pointing at him, "MASA IS THAT YOU!?"
Masato shhed me, "Don't be so loud." He frowned, "Yes KaSakura-san. Does this mean you didn't recognize me?"
"No!" Masato facepalmed.
"It's only been a year since we last spoke..." He grumbled, a small cloud over his head. "What, did you forget about everyone you knew during that time period?"
"That could be a possibility. But you've changed in appearance a lot more than Jinguji-san did! Your voice even did a 180!" The cloud that was over his head multiplied in size and started raining over top of him, "But that's a good thing! I just thought it was funny how I was able to recognize him when I saw him and not you Masa-kun~" With that, lightning and thunder began of course. "Ah! I really didn't mean it like that! Please believe me Masa!"
As I continued to apologize and more introductions and even nicknames were given, we all just started to socialize. That was until a snap of the finger was heard and the curtains suddenly closed.
"Ohayo-pu!" We all heard someone say cheerfully. A spotlight shined on the teacher's desk, and guess who's sitting on it? Tsukimiya Ringo. "Okay, okay, everyone, take your seats!"
'What's he doing here?' I thought sitting behind the desk that was next to Otoya and behind Haruka.
"I'm in charge of the A-Class here! Call me Ringo-sensei! It's a pleasure to meet you!" When Haruka became shocked at the realization of Ringo being a man, he gave her a piece of his mind before going back to his speech. "You all are the top 5% that passed the entrance exams! So welcome to Saotome Academy!" He paused to pose, batting his blue eyes. "As you all know very well, Saotome Academy is a vocational school dedicated to training idols and composers who write songs for them. Our facilities and environment are also fabulous! Every single homeroom teacher here is an active idol! All of the other teachers are famous first-rate poets, and composers too! If you distinguish yourself, you may just be in for a major debut! So with that in mind, I hope you're all raring to go!"
'If I could become just half of what she's...I'm mean he's talking about, I'd be happy with that.'
Later...
I'm starving at this point, so the girls and I headed to the dining hall since it was lunchtime. They just talked as I silently listened. I wasn't here to socialize, I kept reminding myself. I'm here to improve my skills.
"I'm gonna get a hamburger." Tomo told us basically hopping into line, and forgetting she left her lunch card with me.
"Hold on, I still have your..." But I don't get to finish my sentence. I tripped over one of my feet and the card slipped from my hands. The Irony! Luckily both of us were caught before we hit the ground, and by "us", I'm mean the card and I.
"Lunch card?" I analyzed the familiar black painted fingernails the lunch card had slipped through. "Safe. Here ya go."
"It's okay. I gotcha, Lady." I recognized both voices immediately.
"Ren and fedora boy." I said once I'm on my feet again, "Wow. You might be shorter than the average teen boy, but you have some pretty fast reflexes."
"Ha Ha. Very funny! " He exclaimed sarcastically, "And no. Not fedora boy. I'm Kurusu Syo. You ran away before I could give you my name." He told me, handing the card over. He winked, "Oh, and you're welcome."
"Yeah, Domo."
"Watch it, Munchkin." Ren decided to speak again, "I had my eye on this lady first. And don't be mad that someone else is calling you short besides me. You know it was coming, Ochibi-chan."
"Damn it, Ren! Call me by my name already!"
"Eh, what do you mean "had an eye on this lady first"?" He only gave a sly smirk.
"Oh, Me-chan! Are you ok?" Haruka asked coming over, "Uh! You found the other one too!" She bowed & thanked him, "Ano, thank you for helping me the day of the entrance exam!"
"N-Nani?! Lifesaver "C" was Jinguji Ren?!"
"C? Tomo, what are you talking about?!" I still don't get an answer.
"Yes. Do you know him?" I facepalmed. 'Damn. How much does she not know? She really is ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS.'
As Tomo explained everything to her, Masato spotted Ren and basically picked a fight, but Ren, the smoother over, just brushed him off and ended the conversation quickly leaving Masato frustrated once again. I'd seen it all before, it was not new to me. I just wondered if they'd finally accepted their bromance with each other yet. As much as they hate each other, the more Ren flirted with Masato, the stronger it gets.
So call me in 5 years after they're married, lol.
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I laid in bed reading a book, trying to figure out a good shipping name for those two from earlier. Rensato? Masen? I was leaning more towards Rensato...
"HAYATO? You have a poster of HAYATO?" The name sent shivers down my spine every time.
"Of course! I'm going to write music for him one day!" Great. She doesn't know anyone famous but just had to be a... fan of that guy. I sighed. HEAVILY.
"About him," I started, "Isn't he...Oh, I don't know, a little too...happy?"
"Maybe. But his songs saved me." Her response piqued my interest.
"His songs...saved you?" I asked.
"Yeah." She started to explain. What she said made little sense to me, but in a way, it kinda did.
"Well, I haven't actually heard any of his songs before. Let's hear it." In a flash and before I could protest, Tomo turned on our TV and sync her cellphone with it. In other words, we were able to get YouTube on the flat screen. It had been a long time since I had heard his voice, but after hearing it though, I felt a feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time. Warmth.
Ah ... kimi dake ni todoke
Kono kaze no oto yo, Feeling heart...
Mou nakanakute ii yo sono mama de ii
Sora wo mite, Ah ... my sweetest love
Blue ... aoku kagayaku hoo wo tsutau sono shizuku
Rise ... shitteita kai? Ashita e no hikari da to
Truth ... kimi wa tabun ne jibun wo mada yoku shiranai
Sono namida wa kitto kimi wo michibiku niji ni naru
Nagai tabi ni kogoeru nara
Ah ... uta de atatamete ageru yo
Kimi ga negau koto no zenbu ga hoshi ni naranai kamo shirenai
Dakedo shinjiru yume de areba
Ikusen aru "yozora no ichiban kagayaku hazu no houseki" sa...
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Hearing his voice again almost made me cry on the outside. It definitely made me cry on the inside. His song only reminded me of the time I used to love when he sang and he liked to hear me sing. We used to sing together as children, but that time was long gone. I'd never get that back, at least, not until I got my passion for music back. But then, what about the two of us not being friends anymore?
I laid on my bed, a lonely tear falling from my cheek. Tomo and Haruka talked some more before Tomo went to go buy us a drink. Haruka was unpacking some more when suddenly, we both heard a meow. When we both turned to the balcony, we saw a cute little black cat with green eyes. It may have looked a little different from a regular black cat, but it was still a black cat. And in the country I was born in, black cats brought you bad luck.
"Shoo!" I shouted, "You'll bring us bad luck on our first day tomorrow!"
"That wasn't very nice, Me-chan. Where'd you come from, little guy?" She asked nicely. But the cat was too busy looking like, 'Oh no you didn't just say that to me!' to notice. He definitely was a BLACK cat. Out of nowhere, he took Haruka's handkerchief in his mouth and ran outside. "Ah! Little cat!" Haruka then ran out of the room to follow him. "Wait, Haru-chan!" I mentally cursed to myself and followed her.
By the time we did find the piece of cloth, it was abandoned and the cat was nowhere in sight. We had made it all the way down to the lake near a white pavilion. I grabbed the handkerchief off of the ground and stood up as Haruka caught my arm, tired from running after me. Haruka was slower than I was I guess, somehow I ended up in front of her when we ran. "Troublesome cat..." I muttered.
"Where'd he go?" She asked after catching her breath.
"IDK, IDC."
"Huh?"
"I don't know, I don't care. Let's just get back before Tomo-chan sends a search party...for...us..." I froze once I saw a figure appear from the shadows and stoop down by the riverbank.
Haruka tugged at my arm, "Me-chan...that's...that's..."
"~HAYATO." I frowned. She left my side and walked forward towards him, almost in a trance.
Once he noticed her, I couldn't help but notice the hatred in his eyes. I'd never seen such raging hatred like that before. He was really scaring me, plus we were in the dark too! Either he was in a bad mood, or he was really on edge and Haruka seemed like the perfect target to project that on. But, I just didn't have the courage to go up there and help her. I was...I was too afraid of my old best friend, to help my new best friend. "Ano..." She started to say, "I-I'm a fan. I can't believe I'm meeting you here, HAYATO-sama..."
"My name is Ichinose Tokiya." He said firmly, and loud. "Do not confuse me with that frivolous and shallow man, HAYATO." He looked back at the water angrily. I thought of the boy I once knew...maybe evened loved. Then I stared at the guy squatting before Haruka and me.
'That's not him?' I thought. 'Then where is he? Why is he denying his own identity? But most importantly...' Another lonely tear fell down my face.
"Tokiya...What in the world...happen to you?"
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HAYATO: OHA♪YAHHO~I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING FUN TODAY! UTA PRI!
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MPK: So many moments in this episode I loved. Anyway, tell me what you think! Read, Follow, Comment, and forget to Vote please!