Chapter 2 - Who is He?

"I'm so late for school!" I told myself while running to school. It's almost 8 and I need to run as fast as I can. 

I was about to turn left and then I crashed to another person. 

"Aw! That hurts!" I said. I immediately stood up and said sorry to person. I didn't have time to look at his face so I just bowed and apologize. I dashed again and it's almost 7:59. 

"I can still make it!" I said to myself.

And yes, I was able to make it. I was out of breath when I arrived at class room. Then Asano-kun, passed by my chair and said, "You're late... Idiot. Haha"

"Mind your own business, stupid!" I responded annoyingly. I let out a sigh. I fixed up my desk and books that I need in class. I sat on my desk and started to check my notes.

Class has been boring and the only thing that keeps it alive is Asano.

"Hmmm, good thing I know at-least someone from my class..."

I thought to myself. I simply glance at him and to my surprise he was also looking at me, then he made a funny face.

I laughed. 

The teacher caught me laughing so, he scolded me for disrupting the class. After the teacher left, I looked at Asano to shout at him, but he was already talking to the other guys in class. So I turned around and faced my desk. 

Now, I feel lonely again. I haven't really introduced myself to the other girls in my class 'cause I feel embarrassed and shy.

"I have to do this. Be brave!" I told myself.

I didn't realize it was already lunch so I took out my bento box and placed it on my desk. Suddenly, two girls from our class approached me.

"Takahashi-san? Do you want to have lunch with us?" both of them asked me.
"Sure!!!" I jumped for joy as I was already at Level 2 on making new friends.

They both laughed and set their chairs beside me and once they unpacked their lunch they started to introduce themselves. 

"My name is Maiko Tanaka and this is Yu Nakamura", Tanaka-san said while introducing themselves.

"uhm, my name is...", as I was about to introduce myself, Nakamura-san interrupted.

"We already know. Haha, you're the transfer student! From Niigata right?" She said.
I nodded to agree on what she said. So we started on sharing stories about their life in Tokyo, at school and what they do for fun. I shared stories of mine as well. It was quite pleasant. I've never felt like this since the last time I was in middle school.

When it was going all too well, Asano came to the picture. 

"Well, well, well, now the new comer is making friends... Interesting.", He teased me while standing in-front of us three.

"Ohhhhh, looks like the transfer student is the new target of the Master Asano-kun!" a guy jumped in while He grabs the shoulders of Asano.
Asano, brushed off the guy's hands and looks at him annoyingly shy.

"Oh by the way, my name is Akira Sato!" Sato-kun introduced himself while he shakes my hand. 

"Haha, then there's a pair of two idiots." I said while both Tanaka-san and Nakamura-san laughed. 

Lunch has ended quickly. We went back to our seats when the teacher arrived. It seems to be the day is not bad at all. I thought this was going to end like yesterday.
It's the end of our classes. Everyone is packing up their things and it seems like Tanaka-san and Nakamura-san are waiting for me. 

So, I rushed to them and we started to continue chatting while we walk towards the school gate. But then, I saw a familiar face. He was standing near the school's gate and it seems he is waiting for someone. Checking his appearance, he seems to be wearing the same school uniform.

"He must be from another class, huh...", I thought to myself.

As I walk with the newly found friends, this guy approached me. 

"Takahashi!!!" He's wearing this big smile on his face and it really seems that he knows me. But, I don't recall him. I was confused. Tanaka and Nakamura is looking at me and teasing me with their eyes. And it seems they have the wrong idea!

"Uh-Oh, We forgot that we have this thing!" Tanaka-san said, obviously lying.
"Oh yeah! That thing!" Nakamura agreed.
"See you tomorrow Takahashi-san! Don't forget to bring us lunch!" They both said while running away from me.
"Waaaaaiiii...", as I was about to respond to them to wait. The big guy suddenly jumps in-front of me and looking at me like I was a kid. The guy is incredibly tall. He might be in the Basketball Club.

I was super annoyed as he was grinning and looking at me like I'm something weird. 

"What the hell are you looking at?" I asked him irritably.
"Ehhhh?!? You don't recognize me, Minakoooo-chan!" He suddenly responded and used my first name. No one has called me like that since I was in middle school in Niigata. 

Then it hit me. I looked at him again from head to toe.  

"AHHHHHHH!!!! Kyou-chan!!!" I remembered him. 

He was small back then and he was teased a lot back then. 

"Haha, you don't have to call me Kyou-chan anymore. I'm already taller than you!", as he responded while smiling and teasing me. "...Call me Kyou." he suddenly continued.

I nodded my head to agree on what he said. Since he was an old friend. Which is good!

"Alright then, don't call me Minako-chan!" I responded.
"Hmmm, Nope! Haha. It's proper for someone your size! Haha", He teasingly replied while hopping. He really is happy to see me. And, I am too.

As we continued to tease each other. We arrived at the bridge near the lake. I think this is where we go on our separate ways. It was fun seeing a childhood friend in a new school. I thought everything will crumble once I live here in Tokyo. We said our good byes and Kyou-chan went on his way.

"I think this will be a great year!" I thought to myself while I walk happily home.