1.3 - Fateful Encounter

The first bell rang, and the sound of students rushing to their classrooms filled the halls. Two boys, Steef and Sora, known as the unpopular duo, walked in and took the front right seats closest to the door. Following them were the three popular boys, Ryota, Daiki, and Zero, who took the row behind Steef and Sora. They were known as the jocks of the grade, always playing sports. Just before the second bell rang, the three troublemakers rushed in, giggling at each other as they made their way to the back row. Once they sat down, the second bell rang, signaling the start of class.

The teacher swiftly opened the sliding door and entered the room with a sense of urgency. Her high heels echoed with each clap of the soles of her shoes, her lab coat billowing around her. As she jumped through the door, she let out an exasperated sigh, saying, "Safe." Mrs. Yuuki, a young woman in her early 30s, was an attractive teacher who always wore skirts and her lab coat. She possessed an impressive educational background, holding a double master's and a Ph.D. in chemistry and biology, making her extremely overqualified as a high school teacher. Her lectures were filled with energy and enthusiasm, often delving into topics that surpassed our current level of understanding, as if we were university students in our third year. The entire class stood up in unison and greeted her with a cheerful "Good morning."

"Good morning, everyone. Please take your seats. I hope everyone had a good break," she began. Miss Yuuki was indeed the same teacher from last year, the one with a fiery spirit when she talked of science and school life. She was quite pretty, but I could never take her seriously as a teacher, considering how odd and humorous she was. Miss Yuuki had a cheerful personality, but she was notorious for her weird and, at times, dangerous experiments in class.

Over the next hour, she proceeded to take attendance and other boring introductions, calling out each student's name and marking their presence. She started with the students seated at the front, going through the list with ease since she already knew all our names from the previous year.

Yumi, who sat in front of me to the right, was known for her perfectionism, always achieving top grades, and actively participating in class. "You're an exemplary student and a teacher's pet," Mrs. Yuuki added with a smile. Everyone called her the class rep, as you will soon find out why.

"Haruka, in front of me by the window," she continued, referring to the girl who often dozed off during class, rarely speaking, and known as the sleeping girl.

"Next, we have Kendra and Mackenzie behind them, inseparable as always," she acknowledged our presence.

"Then we have Sara and Rino behind the two of you," she stated, pointing to the girls seated behind Kendra and me. Rino had blonde, curly hair and was the idol of our grade. She was the subject of many crushes as all the boys in the grade and classmates had crushes on her. Sara was a timid girl with short brown hair. She was challenging to get to know, but when she got comfortable, she became very talkative. However, around bigger groups or newer people, she often hid behind Rino and was seen as her sidekick. She had a small lisp, which was very fond and teased among the boys.

In the back, you'll find Kyle, Chad, and Melody," Kyle and Chad were the ones who playfully jumped on my neck earlier that morning. They were known for their lively behavior, often engaging in cheerful chatter and contagious laughter during class, making it hard not to focus around them. Melody, on the other hand, is spirited and equally boisterous, fitting in perfectly with the boys' energy. Although she doesn't talk to me much, I've heard from Kendra that Melody has a reputation for being outgoing and vivacious. I don't quite understand what Kendra means by a "polyamory relation," but it seems to be some kind of unique relationship dynamic involving three individuals. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

Moving on, we have Ryota, Daiki, and Zero. Ryota was the leader of the jock trio, a larger guy who excelled in all sports. Daiki, the older black twin brother, was tall and athletic and skilled in various sports. Zero, the smallest of the three, was incredibly shy and tended to stay in their shadows. Despite his timid nature, he was interesting and fun to talk to. He was my favorite among them, but for some reason, he seemed to be afraid of Kendra.

Lastly, let me introduce you to Sora and Steef. Sora, the younger twin brother of Daiki, possesses a more slender frame than his athletic sibling. Unfortunately, Ryota and Daiki occasionally tease Steef, but it's only Daiki who truly picks on his younger brother, Sora. As for Steef, he has vibrant red hair, which stands out in the crowd. He often becomes the target of their playful banter, though I try to show kindness, understanding why he ends up receiving much attention.

That sums up the 15 students in class 2B. Yukon High is a small school, and they value personalized education with only 4 classes per year. The smaller class sizes allow for more individual attention from teachers. As Mrs. Yuuki proceeds with her homeroom speech, out the window, lost in my thoughts. The responsibilities and duties are discussed, but I can't help but feel that it's all standard information, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Let's move on to the class representative. Any volunteers?" Quick as a bolt of lightning, Yumi’s hand shot up. “Is anyone else willing to challenge Yumi? We can have a quick vote," As expected, no one volunteered to become the class representative. It was a thankless job that required too much planning, attending meetings, and working with teachers and the student council. I was just too lazy and wanted to relax. It was a fool's job for more work.

A soft knock on the door interrupted the proceedings. A moment later. "Come in!" the door slid open, revealing three senpais. Two ladies entered first, followed by a giant man with a beard, who looked like he belonged in college.

"Welcome, President Midori, Anna, and Luke. Is it that time already?" Mrs. Yuuki seemed shocked at the time. "Listen up, class. The student council has an announcement. Pay attention," she tried to snap the daze back into the reality of the class, but it seemed unnecessary as everyone was on the tip of their seats trying to get closer.

President Midori walked to the front of the class, brushing her hair back. The classroom fell into complete silence, not a sound to be heard. It was a common occurrence whenever she was present, her mere presence and beauty commanded attention. Even the girls seemed drawn to her for some inexplicable reason. As for me, I had no interest and continued to gaze out the window, watching the clouds float by.

President Midori holds the title of the most popular girl in school, and her charisma can overshadow even Rino's charm, a feat not easily achieved. People speak highly of her, and it's easy to see why. The Midori family has long been associated with the local shrine, known for bringing good fortune and blessings to the community. As the student council president since her freshman year, she's gained immense respect and admiration for her influence and likability. With her grand entrance, President Midori confidently takes the stage to begin her speech.

"Good morning, fellow students. For those who don't know me, I'm President Midori. We're here today, going class to class, to invite any students who are interested in joining the student council, particularly for the treasurer and vice president positions. We're also here to answer any questions. Please visit the student council room today at lunch or in the afternoon if this interests you. Thank you. Any questions?"

A short round of applause came from the whole class, mainly led by Yumi, the newly appointed class representative, no doubt going to try and join the student council. The sound of clapping brought my attention back to the front of the room, and instinctively, I joined in applauding. As I snapped back to reality, I found her staring directly into my eyes, as if peering into my soul. It shook me to my core, and I quickly shifted my gaze to Kendra, then back to the window to dodge her gaze.

She effortlessly answered questions like a pro, displaying little effort and providing insightful responses. It was the total opposite of me, as I preferred to hide from sight and avoid speaking in front of crowds. When someone asked if there were any perks to working in the student council, such as days off or grade boosts, she quickly and wisely replied, "The student council enjoys some perks, like a private space in the club room and a trip during summer break. However, these privileges come with hard work and time investment. Unfortunately, our grades are not boosted, but the experience looks great on college resumes." She asked if there were any further questions, but no one responded, as everyone's gaze was captivated by her beauty.

Next, the towering college-like student, who resembled a British queen's guard, stepped forward. He grabbed my attention, and as he began speaking with a volume and low voice that exceeded what was necessary to be heard by the class, I realized he was not a normal high school student. "Listen up, maggots! Do you have what it takes..." Mrs. Yuuki intervened, expressing her disapproval. "Luke! you can't call students maggots."

"Yes, ma'am!" With hardly any delays, he continued his speech. "Listen up, larvae!" Mrs. Yuuki shook her head, placing her hand on her forehead in disbelief and disagreement. However, the class erupted in laughter at the remark. Luke's voice boomed with enthusiasm resuming his speech, "Do you have what it takes to become a member of the disciplinary committee? We are looking for brave men and women to join our ranks. Do you have what it takes?" Suddenly, I felt faint, and my head slipped from my hand, hitting the desk with a bang! I wasn't sure if anyone heard the noise or if I caught myself in time, but he continued his speech without interruption. However, Kendra, sitting beside me, noticed my mishap.

I don't remember much of the speech after that, only hearing about honor, strength, and joining the committee.

I felt faint and ill, I looked around to see if anything is different. My vision is slightly off as a fog of sorts is in the room. The fog-like substance wasn’t there just a minute ago as I looked around a faint green glow shined through the smoke. What the…its Presidents, her eyes remained locked on me, glowing green eyes, showing no fear of looking away. Waves of more dizziness and weakness washed over me as if my energy was seeping out. more mist fog got thicker enveloping the room. Kendra shook my arm and leg, jolting me back to my senses.

"Are you all, right? You don't look very well," she expressed concern, her voice tinged with worry.

"I'm fine. Is it foggy in here, or..."

“Fog, I don’t see any.”

I trailed off, realizing that I wasn't okay.

The student council eventually left, and for the next hour or two, the class continued. I rested my head on my hand and gazed out the window for the remainder of the time, eventually succumbing to sleep. The bell rang, signaling the end of the second period and the start of lunch.

"Well, that's all for today. There are no classes this afternoon. Go explore and join a club. Club participation is mandatory! Have a good day and stay out of trouble," Mrs. Yuuki announced as she exited the classroom.

Kendra and I were the last to leave the room. I was still confused about my surroundings, feeling lightheaded. I felt sluggish and couldn’t walk fully straight. Kendra appeared deeply concerned about my well-being.

"Are you okay? Do you want to go see the nurse?" she asked, her worry evident.

"I'm fine. I just didn't eat enough for breakfast," I replied, attempting to dismiss her concerns.

Kendra persisted and insisted that I see the nurse. In hindsight, it was the best decision. I was still unstable, confused, and light-headed. The nurse kindly gave me a Tylenol and allowed me to rest on the bed for a while.