A New Bond Forged!

The next day, walking down the beige hallway, Toshiko looks at the paper given to him earlier. "Alright let's see.. it's 10:30 so I should have some downtime! What to do is the question.." he whispers to himself. Toshiko looks around at the quiet hallways. "These uptight rich kids need some real excitement! And I have a good idea!" He runs off, looking around the school for a secluded spot.

He quickly rips off a curtain and scribbles something. He hangs the curtain up again, admiring his handiwork. From outside, students gather and stare the graffiti'd curtain. Small snickers break out as a teacher comes out to see the commotion. "What's going on?!" She shouts. She looks up to see a message. "This place is boring, so I look forward to lightening things up! Don't try and catch me though, you'll just be DRAGGING behind! - Soryu!" The teacher clenches her fist in anger.

"So we have a jokester on our first day do we? ALL OF YOU! Leave the area! I know where that hall is, I'm gonna take out all the troublemakers before it spreads." She yells, storming off. Toshiko watches her leave in a hurry. "...Oh, she's on her way here. Okay, well time to make like a tree and lea-" he says, turning on his heel and running away from the scene of the crime. While blinding running, he crashes into someone as they both hit the ground. "Ah, sorry about that! I should've been watching where I was going!" Toshiko exclaims, slowly standing up. "It's alright, you didn't hurt me that bad-" The female voice says, also standing up.

They rise, and come face to face. Toshiko then realizes who he just bumped into. "Oh, it's just you Emi!" He exclaims, staring into her eyes. "You're that guy everyone's been talking about... That village moron.. You shouldn't even be in the same CITY as me!" Emi shouts. "But here I am? Funny how fate works right? Anyway, I'd love to talk but I'm actually VERY busy right now so I'll catch you later Emi!" He retorts, trying to leave. "I can already see what you did from behind you, you do know that right? And stop calling me Emi, I don't know you." She responds. "...Okay, I know this LOOKS bad.."

"LOOKS bad?! Are you an idiot?! They'll expel you the second they find out it's you. There's always someone on the lookout for pranks on the first day. I guess it really IS funny how fate works." Emi taunts. "Expelled..? But I just got here.. Mom.. Dad.. They gave up everything... I didn't mean for any of this, I just wanted to break tension you know? Life is too short to only be focused of stuff like grades or caring about status.. I wanted others to see that too. Maybe I went about it the wrong way though..? it's all my fault. I'm such an idiot." Toshiko says to himself, slumped on a nearby wall. "...Listen. I don't like your pity party so I guess.."

"I'll help you.." She whispers. "Huh? You said something?" Toshiko asks. "I said I'll help you.." She says again, a little louder. "I seriously can't hear you, what're you saying?" He proclaims. "I SAID I'LL HELP YOU, OKAY?!" She yells. "Oh, I heard you the first time! I just wanted to hear you say it!" He retorts, hiding his pain behind a weak smile. Emi blushes bright red. "Whatever! Just come with me and we'll figure it out!" She exclaims. 

"Right. Nice working with you, Emi!" He smirks, his confidence returning almost instantly thanks to his newfound partner. The two get away from the scene of the crime, but once they pass the faculty office a woman in a significantly fancier version of the Hakuryu Academy school uniform.

Her black and gold blazer and her cold stare intimidated Toshiko to no end. Nevertheless, he stood unwavering. "Ah, good timing. Will you two please follow me?" The woman asks, gesturing them to follow her inside the faculty office. Toshiko leans in, whispering. "Emi, I'll be fine. If she catches us then.." she looks conflicted for a moment, but hardens her resolve. "It's okay, I promised I'd help you so I'll stick with you till the end." Toshiko smirks a bit. "Alright then, let's do this together!" Emi and Toshiko walk into the faculty office, beginning the showdown.

"So, as you probably know, someone defaced our school's property. I'll be blunt, You're the one responsible for this aren't you Toshiko?" The woman says. "I'm an innocent man! I'd never do that!" He shouts. Emi slams her fist on the table, pointing at the woman determined. "OBJECTION! As a new student at this school, he's getting used to the layout! Students come and go from that area all the time! It's how you get to the other half of the school!" Emi exclaims. "That would be valid, however just so happened to be near the scene of the crime. If you were truly innocent as you claim, you would've seen who defaced the curtain." She retorts.

Toshiko looks a bit shocked, looking to Emi out of desperation. "Hey, she's not wrong... I think we lost this.." he whispers. Emi chuckles to herself. "What's so funny, miss Watanabe?" The woman asks. "Because.. we DID see who defaced the curtain! In fact, we were on our way to report it!" Emi reveals, slamming her hand on the desk dramatically. "We were?" Toshiko says. "Well then, who's responsible?"

"Dragoncrest Academy! They've always pranked us!" Emi shouts. Toshiko gasps dramatically. "Gasp!" The woman looks at Emi with a hint of skepticism, but thinks deeply about it as well. "Dragoncrest? But Dragoncrest Students couldn't have been on campus.." Emi closes her eyes, slams her hands on the desk in front of her, and dramatically opens her eyes. "They were! And I have several witnesses who saw a few students lurking around! Ask anyone in Class 1, they'll back up my story!" The woman ponders for a little, ultimately nodding in response.

"Alright then. I apologize for suspecting you Toshiko. Thank you both for reporting this." She responds. "Your break ends quite soon so don't be late to class." The woman swiftly leaves. Toshiko exhales exaggeratedly, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He shoots up and hugs Emi. "You saved me! You actually saved me, thank you!" He exclaims. Emi's face immediately flushes red as she pushes him off. "G-get off! Don't touch me! You'll infect me with your.. village-ness!" She shouts. "Like that's a bad thing. Still though, I'll catch you later, Emi-tan!"

Emi's face grows even more red, fully embarrassed now. She punches him in the shoulder. "W-who do you think you're calling "Emi-tan?!" I-I literally just met you!" Toshiko rubs his shoulder a bit. "It's like what Kinoko-chan says, you know? Like Mushrooms in a forest, friends sprout and grow-" Toshiko starts. "Because potential new friends are everywhere." Toshiko and Emi say in unison. "YOU KNOW KINOKO-CHAN?!" They both shout again. "Of COURSE I know Kinoko-chan, she's a Matsukawa CELEBRITY! among the children.."

"I loved her! She taught me so much, I even have a Kinoko plush at home and-" Emi excitedly shouts, however she stops in her tracks. "...Forget you heard that. Goodbye." She slowly walks to the door. "C'mon, it's not that embarrassing! It's just that the famous elegant Emi Watanabe is a huge Kinoko-chan fanatic! That's my Emi-tan all right!" Toshiko jokes. Emi's head steams with embarrassment as she runs out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Toshiko looks at the empty room.

"...I forgot we were in the faculty office." He notices. "Wait, we're in the faculty office. I'm sure no one would mind if I.." a devious smile spreads across his face. Minutes later, Toshiko whistles as he exists the faculty office. At the same time, a male faculty member enters the room. From a distance, Toshiko hears yelling. "WHO IN THE HELL REPLACED THE WATER WITH A POTION AGAIN?!" The man yells from a distance. Toshiko walks away even faster, running from the scene of the crime and throwing away a blue sports drink. As break ends, Toshiko returns to class as if nothing ever happened. Still however, Emi lingers on his mind.

Chapter 3 - The End.