April 7, 2009. Tuesday.

Starting the day off early, Makoto had the time to groom his morning routine. Soon enough, someone knock in the door.

"It's Yukari, are you awake? "Yukari ask.

At the same time, the auburn haired girl came down the stairs, she waved at them. Forgotten to mention, her name was Minako. Minako Arisato, was it? It sounded familiar to Makoto but he best shoo the idea off.

"Good morning. Did you sleep okay?" Yukari asks with a smile, "Mitsuru-senpai asks me to take you two to school, are you ready to go?"

"Totally!" Minako smiled.

Makoto just nods in agreement and followed behind.

"Okay, then let's go!" Yukari went ahead.

Taking the train, Anehazuru. The trio simply used the time to converse and update one another. Although, having to slept late, Makoto couldn't help but doze a bit, unable to understand what both girls were saying.

Soon enough they reach the school. Shown to be a three-story building, tons of trees to pass by as students left and right, greeting one another as they enter the gate.  

One of the female students chimed in to greet, "Mornin'!"

"Morning," Yukari replied, "Well, here we are. Welcome to Gekkoukan High! Your gonna love it here!"

Entering the school entrance, they saw a group of students wandering close by to the bulletin board.

"You two are both okay from here right? "Yukari ask, "You should go see your homeroom teacher first."

Yukari then pointed to the left giving them directions, "The faculty office is right there to the left and that concludes the tour. Do you two have any questions before I go?"

"No, not really" Makoto answered for the both of them. How he knew why was something he couldn't answer. Minako didn't mind either way.

Before Yukari left, she turned at them and whispered only for them to hear, "Hey...about last night. Don't tell anyone what you saw, okay?"

They nod and said their goodbyes.

"See ya later," Yukari said as finally leaves them alone.

With that being said, Makoto thought it would be best to check the bulletin board to take update on the school announcement. Before he could suggest, Minako had already pull his sleeves without a second thought.

"Hey Big-" she retract her words to quick when she realize her mistake. Big what? "Makoto, let's check it before we head out, shall we?"

Already on a first name basis despite meeting just yesterday? There was no problem to Makoto on how he was referred but he was still surprise to jump quickly.

Nodding in agreement, the pair push in through the crowd. Class rosters are posted in it, both Makoto and Minako tried searching there names but to no avail. Trying once more gives them another chance to learn that they were on the same class. Not to mention, the name Yukari Takeba is on the same list, meaning the three of them would be classmates.

Satisfied with the output, they went to the direction they were told. Straight to the faculty room.
Noticed, a teacher was there and ask them. "Oh, are you both the transfer student?"

She took her file and check their names. "Makoto Yuki and Minako Arisato. 11th grade, correct?"

Flipping through the pages, the teacher continues to skims through their information.

"Wow, Yuki, you've lived in a lot of different places." The teacher read "Let's see...in 1999...that was 10 years ago? Your parent..." To him it wasn't unexpected. When the said teacher had read through the information, a slight gasp could be heard. It was only, after all, natural. His parents were dead.

The teacher put down the file and apologize, "I'm sorry, I've been so busy I didn't have time to read this beforehand. I'm Miss Toriumi, I teach Composition. Welcome to our school."

"Oh...Thanks," Makoto simply nod.

"Have you seen the classroom assignment? Both of you are in 2-; that's my class. But first, we need to go to the auditorium. The welcoming ceremony will be starting soon." Ms. Toriumi explain. "Follow me."

As they went to the auditorium, Minako and Makoto were separated, going to their respective seats.

Soon it started, the Principal has entered and readied his long speech "As you begin the new school year, I'd like each of you to remember the proverb, 'If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.' When applied to student life, this means..."

Aside from the Principal's welcoming, a classmate of theirs came close and whisper, "Psst...Hey..."

Makoto look behind and then his classmate continued, "You came to school with Yukari this morning right? I saw you two walking together."

Makoto nod letting his classmate continue. "Hey, I have a question. Do you know if she has a boyfriend?"

He simply shrugs.

"I see," Makoto's classmate said. "I thought you might know but I guess not. So, how well do you know her?"

Makoto was about to answer until a teacher from another class replied, "I hear talking. I believe it's someone in Ms. Toriumi's class"

Ms Toriumi looks at her class and hushes them "Shh! Be quiet! You're going to get me in trouble!"

And yet, a lot of students are still talking.

Everything went by so fast, soon class have finished. Homeroom is over, his first after school-session is about to begin.

Before he could do anything, a student came close and greeted, "Sup dude?!"

Looking around, a guy, who has dark buzz cut hair, greyish eyes, taller than Makoto, himself, wearing a purple collared shirt, a baseball cap, a silver necklace around his neck and a chain attached to his pants, "How's it goin'?"

"Who are you?" Makoto ask.

"Me?" the student point at himself, "I'm Junpei Iori. Nice to meet ya."

Minako joined in, waving at Junpei who nod at her.

Junpei came close to Makoto and place his arm over his shoulder, "Personal Space..."

Like he didn't hear it, Junpei continues with his greeting.

"I transferred here when I was in 8th Grade" Junpei said, "I know how tough it is bein' the new kid so I wanted to say, "hey." See what a nice guy I am!"

"Personal space..."Makoto murmured again, making Minako chuckled a bit.

Soon, Yukari came in and sigh.

"Hey, it's Yuka-tan!" Junpei waved "I didn't think we'd be in the same class again."

Sighing, she replied. "At it again, huh? I swear, you'll talk to anyone if they'll listen. Did you ever think you might be bothering someone?"

"What? But, I was just bein' friendly." Junpei retort, tugging his arm away from a relief Makoto.

"If you say so," Yukari shrug then look at Minako and Makoto. "Anyway, some coincidence that we'd be in the same homeroom..."

"I'm glad to have a friend." Minako said.

"A friend? Oh...you mean me" Yukari said, "Yeah, I-i'm glad we ended up in the same class, too."

Minako nod slowly as she rub the back of her head before turning around and walking a few steps away from them.

"Um, hello? Are you forgetting that I'm in this class too?" Junpei complain, "By the way, I heard you three came to school together this morning. A couple of cuties like you both, walking side by side between you, Makoto, the whole class was buzzing about you. What's up with that? C'mon gimme the dirt!"

"Wh-what are you talking about!?" Yukari exclaimed. "We live in the same dorm. There's nothing going on, okay? I mean I'm used to it but they just got here, you know? Don't you feel bad spreading rumours like that? Why are people even talking about it!? Now you have me worried..."

Turning her attention to Makoto, she said, "Hey...You didn't say anything to anyone about...you know what, did you?"

"Uh huh." Makoto nod.

"Okay, good" Yukari said with relief, "Seriously, don't say anything about-"

But before she could finish her sentence, Minako suddenly tackled her in surprise.

"About yesterday, right? Got it!" Minako said before letting Yukari go and expressing an apology. What was that all about?

Junpei suddenly came in, eavesdropping, "W-what?" Yukari ask.

"Nothing."Junpei muttered those words.

"Listen! I just met them yesterday and there's absolutely nothing between us! Geez..." she again looks back to Minako and Makoto, "I've gotta go. I've got something to take care of for the archery team stuff. But you better not start any rumors!" and left.

Junpei sighed and ask. "What is she, your nanny? Ah, who cares? No one takes rumours seriously anyway. She's so paranoid."

Minako simply laughs it off.

Junpei then grinned, "But hey! It's your first day here and people are already talking about you. Believe it or not, she's actually pretty popular. You da man!" as he places both arms in Makoto and Minako's shoulder.

"Personal space" Makoto continued.

"This is going to be a fun year! I can feel it!"

After the happily chat, Makoto, Minako and Junpei decided to go home together.

"Woah, check out the jocks on their run." Junpei mused as he watch the students run, "Say, you thinking about joining a club? Girls can join too, so why not do it if you're interested? You'd be joining as a new member though, so you won't be able to apply for a little while."

The three of them made small talk as they walk back home.

At the Iwatodai Dorm, both of them were greeted by Mitsuru.

"Welcome back," Mitsuru said.

Feeling tired, Makoto felt he should get some rest. Heading first, he went to his room.

Later, in the dormitory lounge. A young man, who has silver hair, gray eyes and a white band-aid above his left eye, wearing a slightly modified uniform of Gekkoukan High, replacing the standard jacket with a red sweater vest and a black leather gloves,walk down the stairs while Mitsuru was reading a book on the couch.

"I'm going out a bit," he says.

"...Hm?" Mitsuru looks at him.

"Didn't you see the newspaper?" He ask.

"...I know." Mitsuru replied. "People who had no problem before are suddenly developing acute cases of Apathy Syndrome. I've seen it in the news quite often lately. They say it's due to stress but..."

Frowning, the sliver haired said, "Yeah, right. It has to be THEM. Otherwise, it's not worth my time..."

"You have a one-track mind..." Mitsuru said, "Will you be okay on your own?"

"Don't worry, I'm just getting a little practice." He waved farewell before leaving the dorm.

Sighing to herself, Mitsuru muttered, "This isn't a game, Akihiko..."