In Front of The School Gate [Open]

[Sakamoto Aki]

ooc: I posted this not in any sub-boards because it takes place in front of Karasumori High School.
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Sakamoto Aki stood in front of Karasumori High School. He leaned casually on the gate, gazing at the students who were walking out of school.

Akira, Aki’s best friend and (though he doesn’t admit it) long-time crush, went to Karasumori High School. They were going to meet up with their best friends from junior high school. They had been keeping contact with each other but it had been a long time since they hang out together.

They were supposed to meet up in a train station. Karasumori High School was on Aki’s route and before he knew it he was in front of it.

Why did I drop by here?

He thought hard, trying to make an excuse for her, and himself.

I’ll just say to her that I happen to be in the area and think that we could go to the meeting place together.

He shook his head.

No, no, no, no. Why should we go together? We could just meet up there.

He sighed.

Maybe I’ll just go to the meeting place. I don’t have to wait for her.

Once again he gazed at the flock of students. His head was telling him to go but his eyes were still searching for Akira.

Then his eyes encountered a sight he considered odd. A boy who was wearing a pink shirt.

So boys are into pink now?

[Azuma Wataru]

ooc: i hope this post is okay =S

It was almost the end of the day and Wataru felt like going for a walk to soothe his muscles a little. The team has been practising hard today and he wanted to walk to the beach a little for some fresh air. The beach was nearby anyways. Maybe he should drop by the convenience store to buy something to eat too. Just something for a break.

He was rolling his shoulders around while he was walking to relax them a little. Man, there are so many students thought Wataru. Well, it was the end of the day.. Somehow, Wataru hated crowds.

Walking just past the school gate, he felt someone gaze at him. It was kind of obvious. Wataru returned a look at the guy standing there. Who was that? The person standing there almost looked like a nerd, the serious type. He was certainly not from this school.

The boy seemed younger than Wataru and Wataru realised he was looking at him. What the... He didnt look like he was going to pick a fight with the yankee. But the way the boy looked at Wataru made him extremely uneasy.

Oh, that was it. It was his pink shirt that the boy's eyes were fixed on. Clearly, the boy did not acknowledge the fact that the team tumbling shirt was very very important to Wataru. It almost appeared as though...was he mocking the team shirt?

Immediately, Wataru's impression of the boy was not good. Slowly, he started to stoll towards the shorter boy. "What are you looking at huh?" Intimidatingly, Wataru was staring at the boy with the most un-welcoming look he could pull off.

"Got a problem with my shirt?"

Oh, If only someone level-headed could stop the situation from worsening...

[Sakamoto Aki]

Aki was still staring at the boy’s shirt. The shirt had imprints on it. It said “Jumping, Dancing, Tumbling.”

Could he be a member of a tumbling team?

Washizu had tumbling teams. The boys team had achieved prestigious awards. That’s all Aki knew though. He’s not into sports.

What’s with his hair?

The boy’s read hair made the impression of a delinquent.

Okay, there’s a yankee who likes pink and a member of a tumbling team?

The boy just seemed so illogical to him. He kept on staring at him and didn’t realize he was walking towards him.

"What are you looking at huh?"

The boy said in an intimidating manner as he stared at Aki.

"Got a problem with my shirt?"

He definitely realized that Aki was staring at his shirt. He looked really angry.

Aki smirked mockingly. He’s not afraid of yankees.

“I just never knew a yankee who likes pink and tumbling.”

Aki just blurted out.

I just lost it. All these years Akira has told me to control my mouth. I just can’t do it. Oh well.

Clearly not regretting what he had said, Aki threw a glance to the red haired boy, turned his head, and ignored him.

If he wants to beat me up it’s his choice. He will be the one who gets blamed.
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ooc: : I hope this is good….

[Azuma Wataru]

"Got a problem with my shirt?"

Wataru was almost tempted to grab the boy by his collar. But he controlled himself. After all, he wasnt the same old yankee and there was still alot of students hanging around. Yep, acting violent here was certainly not a good idea. It could bring trouble to the team aswell.

“I just never knew a yankee who likes pink and tumbling.” Wataru almost thought he had heard wrong. The boy WAS mocking him.

Wataru's gut feeling was right. It was like how sometimes, when you meet a person for the first time, you knew that you wouldnt like them. And no matter how much you interacted with that person, you still would not change your opinions on them. This was that feeling right now.

Wataru glared at the boy as he turned and ignored him.

Calm down.. calm down.. Breathe...Breathe

"Is there a law saying that yankees can't do tumbling?" Wataru's voice was challenging the boy. "Atleast I have something better to do other than SOMEONE whose loitering around another school acting like some stalker."

Heh, Beat that. Wataru wanted to piss the boy off alot. He loved winning a fight, no matter verbal or physical.

Still fuming with anger, Wataru felt someone else approach..

[Hino Tetsuya]

Hino made his way to the school gates on his way home. The day had been rough, and he was in no mood to dawdle. His body was a little sore as he walked, he knew he’d over trained during the day but he had needed to push himself to the limits if he was going to be the best. He dug his left hand into his pocket as he thought, while the other held his school bag tightly.

He drew his eyes from the ground when he heard a familiar tempered voice from just outside the gates. He released a heavy sigh. A certain yankee was getting himself into trouble once again. It was none of his business really, as far as Hino was concerned, Azuma could do whatever he wanted as long as it didn’t effect on Hino’s own training.

Though him getting into a fight on school grounds would certainly put knife into the already not so stable roots of the Tumbling group.

He rolled his eyes, he could check up on him in the very least.

On approach Hino noted that he didn’t recognise the boy in which Azuma fought with.

Though… Hino thought, he didn’t lead a very active social life, so this boy could be in his own form for all he knew.

He stepped next to Azuma knowing very well he would only need to take a step forward to create a physical block between Azuma and what he would consider the Yankee’s prey if size was any way to judge.

“Azuma…” He said firmly, hoping his tone would be enough to deter the red heads sour thoughts. Thoughts he could only assume were sour because of the face he had become very accustomed to seeing and had dubbed Azuma’s angry face.

“Is everything ok?”

[Sakamoto Aki]

He’s completely ignoring the red-haired boy, but clearly the boy wasn’t satisfied with that.

"Is there a law saying that yankees can't do tumbling?"

Aki heard it, but he didn’t bother to let him know that.

"Atleast I have something better to do other than SOMEONE whose loitering around another school acting like some stalker."

He glanced at the boy.

Am I a stalker?

Horrified by the thought of him as a stalker, Aki leaned restlessly on the school wall.

I am not a stalker. I don’t follow her everywhere and I don’t secretly take her picture or something. WAIT, I do have a picture of her, hidden in my study table. But why does it have to be hidden? We’re best friends, there’s no need to secretly keep her picture. Anyway, is waiting for her in here considered as stalking?

Confused. He just couldn’t find the logic in all these thoughts.

Busy with his own mind, he once again ignored the red-haired boy. He didn’t even realized that someone else was approaching them until he said “Azuma…”

He turned his head just in time when the newcomer said “Is everything ok?”

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ooc: Hi Boe. Thanks for joining! Gok, nice with the stalking thing

[Azuma Wataru]

OOC: sorry for the delayed reply guys ><

“Azuma…” Wataru recognised the voice straight away. Not much people called him 'Azuma'. He wasnt really used to it either.

“Is everything ok?”

Hino.

Wataru didnt know whether he was glad that someone else had intercepted or even more pissed off. He was surprised though, to see Hino actually step in and didnt know what to say.

Whose fault was it really? It was the other boy wasnt it? He was the one that started it... For some reason, sometimes Wataru felt a little uneasy around Hino. Maybe because it was that the 2nd year boy always wore an expressionless mask and was always so mature.

One thing Wataru knew for sure was that he like Hino WAY more than the other boy.

"Ask him, he was the one standing in front of the school and teasing us yankees doing tumbling." Wataru remembered that he wouldnt even have approached the boy if he hadnt been staring at him. "Isn't that right, Mr Stalker?" Mockingly, Wataru said this louder and in a polite way, drawing some attention from nearby students which were heading home.

Wataru didnt know if Hino was going to be on his side, but he was certainly hoping for it. He didnt do anything wrong, and he knew it.

Yankees arent always the ones wrong.

Then, he glared at the boy and loomed over the boy. "I'm glad you're not someone in our team, since you hate our shirts so much". It came out pretty harsh but Wataru didnt want to take it back. He didnt regret it at all.

No one messes with the team.

[Sakamoto Aki]

The red-haired boy seemed to be as surprised as him at the appearance of the newcomer.

"Ask him, he was the one standing in front of the school and teasing us yankees doing tumbling."

Who is the newcomer anyway? Is he the red-haired boy’s friend? It didn’t seem so though. He seemed to be mature and smart. Not a perfect match for the red-haired boy. Is he a member of the tumbling team? Anyway, Aki thought that he could like this boy, at least better than the red-haired boy. If they didn’t meet in this circumstance...

"Isn't that right, Mr Stalker?" the red-haired boy said in a mocking way.

I am not a stalker!

The red-haired boy glared at him and tried to look threatening. Still not working for Aki though.

"I'm glad you're not someone in our team, since you hate our shirts so much".

He couldn’t take it. Blaming his sarcastic mouth, he blurted out.
“Well, I’m not into that girly sport after all.”
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ooc: I’m sorry for the late reply and sorry if Aki’s too mean. (>_<)
Should I bring Akira?

[Hino Tetsuya]

"Ask him, he was the one standing in front of the school and teasing us yankees doing tumbling. Isn't that right, Mr Stalker?"

Hino looked from Azuma to the other, this other seemed to have a completely careless look to his face. Hino had the feeling he cared for Azuma as little; if not less, than he did himself. Hino sighed lightly, though he knew that his dislike for Azuma and his usual uncouth behaviour didn’t really give this strange the right to come over to their school and judge the Yankee.

"I'm glad you're not someone in our team, since you hate our shirts so much”

He shook his head lightly. It was blatantly obvious that Azuma never thought ahead before speaking aloud, and in this case the was no change. Though he did wonder why Azuma though such thing would bother someone who clearly has no interest in their team or their shirts. Though Azuma’s way of thinking was special and he couldn’t be expected to follow his though processes.

“Well, I’m not into that girly sport after all.”

The newcomer blurted out. Hino’s eye twitched unwillingly and he tilted his head lightly to the side.

“Excuse me..?” He questions with a sharp flick of his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

“There are few sport in the world that take as much physical strength and talent as our does!” He lifted his chin slightly so he could give the impression of authority.

“I doubt you would ever have the stamina to handle it!”


ooc: sorry I'm a little late to this party >.<

[Azuma Wataru]

“Well, I’m not into that girly sport after all.”


Wataru thought he was going to explode. The boy's face was just pissing him off so much. But to his surprise, it was Hino who snapped. And it was not a very nice sight.

“Excuse me..?” He questions with a sharp flick of his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Wataru noticed the change in Hino's expression. He was not happy. But this reassured how much passion they both shared for rhythmic gymnastics and a part of Wataru liked how they were both standing up for the sport.

“There are few sport in the world that take as much physical strength and talent as our does!” He lifted his chin slightly so he could give the impression of authority.
“I doubt you would ever have the stamina to handle it!”
Although Hino was not very tall or built, they way he said it seemed very powerful. Maybe because he was almost like an adult and handled things were maturely.

"You know, I thought you were very logical.. but actually, you dont know anything and just make stupid comments. You're worse than me. Atleast I dont go around making fun of other people's sports." Wataru seemed to have forgot that when he first heard of rhythmic gymnastics, he mocked the sport and called it 'for girls' too.

But this has changed.

"I agree with Hino. You don't know how much practise and skill it takes. Only the strongest males can do this. As for you, Mr. Stalker, you could only dream to be like us. You wont understand what we love so much about it"

[Minami Akira]

It had been another great day for Minami Akira. And on top of it, she was going to have a small reunion with her junior high school best friends. They had been keeping contact since graduating, but it had been a long time since they met each other.

Today Akira didn’t have any tutoring job to do. Her student, Ami-chan, were going on a trip with her family. So she was free to go out with her best friends.

She walked out from school feeling happy. And she became happier when she saw Sakamoto Aki in front of the school gate. Aki is one of her best friends in junior high school. She wondered why he dropped by, but was less concerned about that.

As she walked towards him, she realized that he was not alone. Standing near him were Azuma Wataru and Hino Tsuchiya from the boys tumbling team.

Recently Akira had been interested in the boys tumbling team. The broadcasting club was also interested in them and decided to do a show about them.

It was too far to hear what they were talking about, but Akira was quite sure it was not something good. Aki tended to blurt sarcastic comments. She was concerned about it. She didn’t want him to ruin his social life. And he wasn’t a very social type to begin with. Did he blurted out and made those two boys angry?

Their faces didn’t look good. Not good at all. Akira sped up. She better be there before Aki said something bad.

“I’m not into that girly sport after all.”

Too late. She was now close enough to hear their conversation, when she heard Aki said those words in his usual careless manner. Akira was stunned by those words that it stopped her steps.

Oh, Aki, why did you say that?

She saw Hino got angry. “Excuse me..?”

“There are few sport in the world that take as much physical strength and talent as our does!” He lifted his chin slightly so he could give the impression of authority.
“I doubt you would ever have the stamina to handle it!”

He just snapped.

She was filled with fear as she slightly turned her head to see Azuma’s reaction. The broadcasting club had dug up the fact that the yankees in tumbling team no longer do fights. But there were times when they showed up in school with bruises and bandages. Did they still fight even though they’re in the team now? What would Azuma Wataru do about Aki’s sarcasm?

"You know, I thought you were very logical.. but actually, you dont know anything and just make stupid comments. You're worse than me. Atleast I dont go around making fun of other people's sports."

To her surprise, Azuma handled it better than Hino. He was clearly angry, but he didn’t lose control.

"I agree with Hino. You don't know how much practise and skill it takes. Only the strongest males can do this. As for you, Mr. Stalker, you could only dream to be like us. You wont understand what we love so much about it"

Hearing the last sentence, Akira felt sympathy to the boys tumbling team. Basically she had no problem with them. Though the fact that the yankees still had bruises was still a mystery, she felt that they had stopped fighting and there were other explanations for those bruises. They had changed. They wouldn’t go to the gym everyday after school if they were still the same yankees who didn’t do anything except random fights.

Now, Minami Akira was dissappointed. And it was shown in her voice.

“Aki.”

She walked towards them and stopped beside Aki.

“How could you say those words.” she said in inquiring tone.

She looked at her best friend straight in the eyes. She softened her tone and said “Apologize to them, okay?”

She turned to the boys from tumbling team and bowed. Then she looked at them and said,”I am sorry for what he had said.”

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ooc: Is it okay that Akira joins? Aki couldn’t react to confrontations. He would just went silent until his opponents got tired and go away. So I bring Akira. I hope you guys don’t mind (>_<)

I realize that Aki is not a very good character. It’s not about his sarcastic personality, it’s the depth of his character. I didn’t think through when I wrote his application. Now he seems so vague. I’m really sorry.

[Azuma Wataru]

"I agree with Hino. You don't know how much practise and skill it takes. Only the strongest males can do this. As for you, Mr. Stalker, you could only dream to be like us. You wont understand what we love so much about it"

Suddenly, someone else just walked in, disrupting the tense conversation, if not to the extent of an argument. But it was interference in a good way.

"Aki"The girl stopped next to the 'Aki' guy.
Oh, so that was his name. Mr Aki.

“How could you say those words.”

Wataru had seen this girl around school before many times but couldnt remember her name on top of his head. He was bad with names. Sometimes, he is very forgetful and this was just one of those moments.

The way the girl spoke seemed to disagree with her friend. Wataru was glad that she confirmed that Hino and him were not in the wrong. He almost thought that she would be on Aki's side and stand against the yankee. And Hino. But Wataru was wrong.

Facing Aki, she continued “Apologize to them, okay?”

Wow. Wataru was genuinely surprised that the girl requested this and wondered if Aki would comply. She had this type of 'commanding' sense in her which made her powerful and confident which was rare to find in many females. Aki didnt seem like the type to listen but maybe this girl could overpower him. Maybe.

"I am sorry for what he had said.” This made Wataru take a step back and gestured for her to stop bowing. His hands were giving the 'no' signal.

"No, no. It's not your fault" Wataru almost wanted to add that it was all the little brat's fault in the first place, but managed to control his temper. Having a girl apologise to him was making Wataru very uncomfortable. It wasnt her fault to begin with anyways now that this started, so she didnt have to hold herself responsible.

Although Wataru was pissed, he decided to let it go. Turning to Hino, he asked "Let's leave it be yeh, Hino? I mean, I don't want to waste my time arguing about this no more. What do you think?"

What a lucky guy, thought Wataru. The girl really did seem very concerned over her friend and on his behalf. They must be great buddies. Or have a very close relationship.

This thought made Wataru's pea sized brain come up with something. An evil smirk crossed his face.. "Oh, could it be that you were standing here all along waiting for her?" He nodded to the direction Akira was standing. With the question directed to Aki, Wataru thought that the answer was obvious. More than transparent.

He wanted to have a little more fun before completely letting the issue slip.



OOC: thats alright, his character is just fine! I have to apologise for replying so slowly ><

[Minami Akira]

"No, no. It's not your fault"

Akira looked up to Wataru.

The boy turned to Hino and said, "Let's leave it be yeh, Hino? I mean, I don't want to waste my time arguing about this no more. What do you think?"

She smiled to him, thankful of his kindness. Azuma Wataru turned out to be quite a nice guy after all.

Then her eyes widened.

I’m here with two boys from the tumbling team!

The realization struck her. She had been wanting to talk to these boys. And here’s the chance!

But before she could say anything to those boys, Wataru said, "Oh, could it be that you were standing here all along waiting for her?" He nodded to the direction Akira was standing.

Akira didn’t think about that.

“Yeah... Why are you here? Everyone is going to meet up in the station, right? And there’s still plenty of time before the appointed time”, she asked as she turned her head to Aki.

“Hmm? I think the way from your school to the meeting place doesn’t cross this school”, she said in a curious tone.

“Okay... We’ll go there together then.” She smiled.

Seeing Aki’s reaction, she chuckled. “Thank you for picking me up”, she said teasingly.

Sometimes Aki went suddenly nervous and pout. She thought it was cute.

Then her attention turned back to the tumbling boys.

“I am Minami Akira, second grade, head of the broadcasting club. It’s nice to meet you. Congratulation on your winning and I wish you good luck on the Kantou championship.”

She waited for their responses. She hoped that they were not reluctant to talk to her because of the uncomfortable first meeting.

[Sakamoto Aki]

“Aki.”

Before Aki even turned his head, he already knew that Minami Akira was walking towards him.

“How could you say those words.” she said in inquiring tone.

He froze. Oh no, she heard what he said. He had promised her to try not being sarcastic.

Well, I tried.

That’s not the point!

He couldn’t say anything. He knew that he’s wrong. He didn’t want her to be mad at him.

And then she looked at him straight in the eyes. With those beautiful eyes.

I hate it when she does that.

When she looked straight at his eyes, it’s like she could see through him. Moreover, he became very nervous. Beads of sweat flowed down his face. His eyes twitched uncomfortably.

She softened her tone and said “Apologize to them, okay?”

Her tone was softer so she might not angry with him, he hoped. But, apologize? No. No way.

He threw a quick glance to the other boys.

I am not apologizing to them!

His arrogance took the better of him.

She turned to the boys from tumbling team and bowed. Then she looked at them and said,”I am sorry for what he had said.”

Wha-why does she has to bow to them?!

The read-haired boy took a step back and gestured for her to stop bowing. His hands were giving the 'no' signal.

"No, no. It's not your fault"

Turning to the other boy, he asked "Let's leave it be yeh, Hino? I mean, I don't want to waste my time arguing about this no more. What do you think?"

Akira smiled to him.

Aki didn’t like this.

And then Akira looked at the red-haired boy with gleaming eyes. There was definitely something about the red-haired boy which attracted her.

Aki hated this.

And then the red-haired boy said, "Oh, could it be that you were standing here all along waiting for her?" He nodded to the direction Akira was standing.

He got him. Well, yeah, he was waiting for her. So? But he couldn’t say it. His jaws were locked.

“Yeah... Why are you here? Everyone is going to meet up in the station, right? And there’s still plenty of time before the appointed time”, she asked as she turned her head to Aki.

Aki stuttered his answer. “It’s just... the way from school... to the meeting place. By chance, this school is on my way. “

“Hmm? I think the way from your school to the meeting place doesn’t cross this school. “

He didn’t answer. No, he couldn’t answer.

“Okay... We’ll go there together then.” She smiled.

Her response and her smile made him blushed. Hoping that nobody noticed it, he quickly looked away. Still turning his head, he pouted.

Seeing Aki’s reaction, she chuckled. “Thank you for picking me up”, she said teasingly.

And then she turned to the other boys. “I am Minami Akira, second grade, head of the broadcasting club. It’s nice to meet you. Congratulation on your winning and I wish you good luck on the Kantou championship.”

Aki looked at her. To him, it was obvious that she’s interested in those boys. Maybe it’s her journalistic instict.

And Aki didn’t like this.
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ooc: I enjoy torturing Aki *evil laugh*

[Hino Tetsuya]

Hino was furious for some reason; he couldn’t explain it entirely. It wasn’t as if he’d never had someone insult his sport before, or his team, because he had, plenty of times. And he’d always been able to blow it off as being their own fault for being ignorant twats. But this guy bothered him, more than usual.

He ran his tongue over his teeth as he listened on to Azuma and the other talking. Himself and Azuma apparently on the same side for one of those special moments in time, though he would have been a little surprised if Azuma weren’t.

Soon enough a girl joined them, one he recognised but didn’t know the name of. It was instantly obvious she knew the boy that had made such a bad impression on him. She gave him a disappointed look.

“Aki. How could you say those words. Apologize to them, okay?”

Hino kept his gaze firm and controlled on the boy as he was whipped. She turned her attention to them.

”I am sorry for what he had said.” She offered her apologies. Hino felt most of his anger dissipate then. She had a voice that would have been hard for him not to forgive, even if it was her friend that had done wrong.

“No, no. It's not your fault" Azuma seemed just as willing to forgive because of the girl’s apology as he was.

The yankee then turned to him. "Let's leave it be yeh, Hino? I mean, I don't want to waste my time arguing about this no more. What do you think?" Hino nodded, he really had no reason to associate with the other boy any longer, it was eating up his time and his brain cells.

"Oh, could it be that you were standing here all along waiting for her?" Azuma oh-so subtly questioned. Hino held back a roll of his eyes; he figured that had been oblivious.

The two then proceeded to speak about something he wasn’t sure about, though it was mostly because of his lack of interest that he didn’t listen to the following conversation. He almost turned to leave when the girl got his attention again, a smile on her face.

“I am Minami Akira, second grade, head of the broadcasting club. It’s nice to meet you. Congratulation on your winning and I wish you good luck on the Kantou championship.”


Ohh…

Hino tisk-ed himself.

That was why he recognised her.

He bowed slightly and offered her a weak gentle smile.

“Hino Tetsuya, Nice to meet you.” He greeted in return, though she probably already knew his name seeing as she knew of the Tumbling team. “Thank you, we will try our best”