Chapter Text
I’m a lucky kid. I won’t deny it- I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to a fancy school up north, I’m lucky enough to find a group of other poor kids that do the same illegal shit as me, I’m lucky enough to be there when she arrived.
September 27th-2011
7:45 AM, passing period
Our second week of school, starting junior year. And I stand next to the dumb garage band I've been in for two years; Me, Nikaido, her dumb boyfriend Kaiman (who I’m sorta cool with, it’s not easy being friends with someone who’s kissing your sister..), Aikawa, and Risu.
It’s been, what, three years since we met— well, I’ve known Nikaido my entire life, her being my sister and all. Not biologically, we just live in the same broke apartment complex. My mom took her in after her parents abandoned her or whatever. But it doesn’t matter, people think we’re siblings anyways and she definitely acts like an annoying little sister…
We hang out by Nikaido’s locker like we usually do, joking and asking for the answers for the homework when she brings up something. She always does this, bringing up random things that those gossip girls that walk in groups like a school of fish would care about
“In my first period Spanish, I heard from some chick that there was a new girl coming, and that she was Mr.En’s cousin. I didn’t even know he had any living family, let alone any family that would willingly live with him..”
I stare at her and raise an eyebrow. In what world would I care? The only people that care about that are the snooty society poodles who want her in their fucked up, Mean Girls cliquey friend group because her cousin comes from money.
“Okay? And?”Aikawa looks at her and scoffs.
he isn’t being mean or anything, that’s just Aikawa, we know he cares. And just like his twin brother too, even if it is his girlfriend they act like their just friends. At least that’s what it seems like if you haven’t been to a movie theater with them. (traumatic experience coming directly from the person who was there, including Aikawa and Risu)
“Why would I care? She’s probably just some rich girl who thinks she’s better since her cousin is rich and shit. Probably has a bow in her hair and is a dumb blonde- all offense Shin” Kaiman suggested with an annoying smirk plastered onto his lips
I glared at him and rolled my eyes, he always finds a way to make a dumb comment. But it was true, she probably was. Short, annoying, stuck up, just like every other chick you come across in this school. I tug at the jacket of my uniform, trying to remember the schedule for today as I ignore Nikaido’s and Kamain’s flirting which was just teasing each other. It was almost painful to watch. No, no it was painful to watch and should be considered a hate crime towards the rest of us.
“They are so dumb y’know,” Aikawa states, leaning back against the locker and running a hand through his hair.
He played with the drawstrings of his hoodie that he was wearing underneath his uniform blazer, as I chuckled softly and slightly fixed my glasses. Kids poured in and found their friends by the lockers, teachers dress coding kids for having their shoes untied or for some other dumb shit. Aikawa keeps talking to me and Risu as she walks in.
It's like this whole building was suddenly colder than it needed to be at 7:30 on a, not even autumn yet, Monday. Just a split second, a split second of this pure white hair and ivory skin, like a really fast snowman walked into the building before they were lost in a sea of nasty and perfume smelling kids… I don’t think there’s been an albino kid here.. no, not that I know of— not that I talk to many people besides the group of friends I have, but with cold features like that… how would I be able to miss it..?
“…Shin…shin, Shin! Hello??”
Risu waves a hand in my face to snap me back to Earth, and it worked. I don’t get it, but it’s probably some dumb Hormonal shit. I ran my fingers over my hair, I was growing it out during the summer, I liked the style I had, but apparently to my mom and Ms. Amya next door, it needs to be cut because apparently every decent looking boy who’s going to school needs to cut their hair short.
Now I just have a fuzzy buzz cut.. at least it’s not too short despite moms complaints. Nikaido even suggested dying it or something.. which I would never let her do, I’d rather shave my head bald than let her near my hair, not after that shit job she did on her bangs last year..
“Y-yeah? What were you talking about?” I managed to mutter out, switching my attention from the crowd of people back to whatever nonsense Risu was spewing.
Aikawa rolled his eyes and made some counter arguments about whatever was happening, but I didn’t care. I didn’t hear because like every other bitch in the school, I was only looking for that girl that just seemed to blur past everyone..
8:10 - Homeroom, 1st period
My mind is no longer caught up on that girl thanks to Kaiman’s brain rotting voice plus me trying to explain the math homework (that was due like a week ago may I add) and him still somehow not knowing his times tables. I think he’s actually fucking doomed. I take off my glasses and put my head in my hands, groaning out of pure annoyance and frustration. Inhaling sharply I put my glasses back on and kept trying to explain to Kaiman even though I know he’s probably a lost cause.
“I’ll take you through this shit step by step if I have to. Again, what is 12 • 45? Do. The. Algorithms.”
“…What’s the algorithm?…”
“I’m so done with your shit. ask Aikawa.”
He’s doing 5th grade level math in junior year. I think he’s fucking dumb- no I don’t think, I know. I take my pencil back from him and put it in my pocket, I’m honestly just ready for the day to be over. I took out my phone to check the time, sighing as if I was expecting the day to be over.. I wish it was over, this place sucks.
The bell rang and the teacher walked in, doing the usual morning message and then letting us do whatever until the next bell rings. I rested my head on my hand. I wanted school to end so bad, I hated being here with all of the annoying Upper North Side rich kids at this stupid Upper North Side school. I’m so done with all of them, none of them are actually real probably, just a bunch of bots or some shit like that.
It was all going like a normal day until Risu just felt the need to bring up that girl again, and like a good friend who listened to all of my friends' conversations, and not because the conversation in question was about that girl I saw that I thought was relatively attractive- I tuned into the conversation. I turned down the music that was playing in my ears and looked at him.
“I bet she’s even more stuck up than like all of the Upper North Side kids, especially since she’s the principal's cousin or whatever,” Risu said, putting his hands behind his head and leaning back in his chair, which Aikawa had told him not to do numerous times.
Kaiman decided to pitch in his idea about this new girl too.
“We’re lucky if she ends up like Angie, but also unlucky because she ended up like Angie.”
I let out a small chuckle at the half insult half compliment about Angie, then shut up because Risu was giving me a look like he was about to say something about me that was embarrassing, and then proceeded to make me embarrass myself even more.
“What about you Shin? I’m sure you have something to say about the new girl, since you seemed to be searching for her or whatever this morning.”
My head snapped to look at him. I glared at him and rolled my eyes. I wasn’t going to play into Risu’s little games that get the both of us in trouble and in detention. I’m not trying to get another email home for my “reckless behavior” even though it’s all Risu’s fault.
“People stare Risu.. and I wasn’t even looking for her.. I was just.. lost in thought, I guess. Whatever— it shouldn’t even matter to you.”
Kaiman scoffed at my words, not believing any of the shit that was coming out of my mouth and kept talking about whatever with Risu, that’s when I started tuning out again until the bell rang for passing period. When it did eventually ring I got my stuff quicker than the others and made my way to Chinese class. Most people decided to take the easy route and learn Spanish or French to get that easy A, and that’s what I would’ve done if my mom didn’t bug me about it…
She said I was “losing my roots” or whatever, complaining that I only ever speak English anymore even though I can easily understand her and as long as she can understand me I don’t give too much of a fuck to practice my tonals every goddamn day for no reason.
I pushed through annoying kids in the hallway that decided they wanted to do everything else but go to class. I was falling asleep already, I should probably start being thankful for my annoying friends for keeping me up 24/7. Everything was going fine in the hallway, it was the usual weird or uncaring looks from people, some smelly guys who think deodorant is an option (especially the ones that play sports) shoving past me and making my eyes water with their horrible smell, and some kid getting tortured by the lockers.
All of a sudden a head stood out in the crowd, just for me though, no one else was paying attention. But it was rather tall and white hair…it was that girl again wasn’t it? I felt my body wanting to force itself to run forward, to get a glimpse of that snowstorm that passed through this morning too. But I couldn’t do that.. no, that’s weird..
I kept my eyes forward anyways and kept walking only a little faster, letting the random noises of the hallway consume my brain so I couldn’t hear myself think. I walked into my Chinese class and sat down, waiting for Sun Laoshi to get here to start the lesson that wasn’t even going to happen. Kids walked in talking in English since when Sun Laoshi wasn’t here, us talking in any other language that wasn’t Chinese did get us points taken away from our final grade. Crossing my legs and changing the song I was listening to, I felt like my brain was going to explode if this day didn’t end right here and now.
The bell rang once more which was the warning for students to get their asses to their class. Sun Laoshi walks in finally, making the whole class shut up and listen. One thing about this class is that it’s easy to sit through, but when we actually learn shit it’s hell,
I turn down my music and sit up. Sun Laoshi walks to her desk which gives kids a few extra seconds to whisper whatever to each other and do some other dumb shit. She makes her way back to the front , starting the class with a polite “同学们好” waiting for the whole class to stand up and bow, greeting her back with a ”老师好.” And just like that we sit down and class starts, and I get to zone out unless she calls on me or something dumb happens.
She was half way into the lesson when I felt something hit the back of my head and the sound of girls giggling, two annoying things in one, this had to be something dumb. I turned around and looked on the ground to see a piece of paper that said my name in pretty cursive handwriting with a heart, now this usually meant that it was a love letter, but no girls with trust funds and a pretty little red convertible would give me one of those.. I waited for Sun Laoshi to be turned towards the board to pick it up.
The note was folded simply which didn’t make much noise when it was opened, when I did open it however it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I used to think that girls only bullied other girls, well, that’s what I thought before I got to this annoying prep school.
“I don’t know why this school let in a poor and dirty Chinese-dog in here. You’re a disgusting disgrace to this school. I hope you kill yourself when you get to your nasty home, my dad (if you know what those are) has a loaded gun for you if you’re too poor to own one. Just make sure someone cleans it after, I don’t want your dirty Chinese blood on it.”
I stuffed the note into my pocket, not a single scoff or anything coming out of me.. I dug my short nails into my thighs to stop myself from punching one of them. The teachers and mom always said I had anger problems, mom said it didn’t make me different than any other kid, but I knew it did. I hate this school and I hate these kids. I looked back up at the board and paid attention, which I basically never do. I didn’t want to admit it but I wanted to vomit. I don’t get how people can say these things to people who haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t get why it has to be me. They don’t even know who I am.
10:14 - Religious history, 3rd period
I sat there bored out of my mind as I watched Mr.Miles lecture. On most days I would pay attention to him, and on most days me and Nikaido would comment on how hot he is. But sadly it was one of those days where Kaiman decided he didn’t want to skip class. Which meant that I got to sit next to the two of them as they whispered and giggled to each other about how cute the other is, and how Nikaido is the better blonde in the friend group. It's brain rotting.
I took notes brainlessly like the mediocre student I am. Well, in most classes at least. I actually enjoyed Religious History, I was quite good at it too. But today was just not my day I guess. All of a sudden he stops class as the door opens. As a kid in a school full of other nosy bitches, like the rest of them I turned around to see who it was…it was that girl again. It's like I get chills for no reason every time I see her. I don’t even know her. Just like that Mr.Miles speaks;
“Ah, I was waiting for you to join us,…?”
“Noi.”
My eyes widened and my jaw almost dropped to the floor. That was her.. the albino chick. I knew she was new. No one could miss features like… like that… was she Ens cousin or was that someone else? She didn’t look like En at all.. not much resemblance unless being albino immediately cancels out any resemblance you have to any family member, which it definitely doesn’t. But the only talk of “new student” was for En’s cousin.. so it was safe to assume.
“Alright, Ms.Noi. Have a seat next to Ms.Zuri and we will continue the lesson.”
She nodded and started walking to her new desk, my eyes glued to my paper so I didn’t seem like a creep with my eyes following her like everyone else’s did.. I mean, who wouldn’t be staring? She looks like a vampire who was left out in the snow for too long.
The lesson continued, everybody exchanging whispers and glances to the ghost with rosy cheeks and ruby red eyes.
12:00 - Lunch, 4th period and/or free period
We all ate in our home rooms like we always did, kids from other classes coming in to see their friends from other classes(on Mondays and Wednesdays Nikaido and Ai always came to our homeroom), another kid doing vending machine runs for people, while the rest of us just ate in peace and talked until next period.
We were all listening to Kaiman tell us about a ghost with no head he supposedly saw in some alley, the rest of us made fun of him for being a total idiot while Nikaido gave him the benefit of the doubt like she always did. It was sweet how much she cared for Kaiman, and it was sweet how much that sweaty and freaky bitch (Kaiman) could somehow learn how to be sweet to someone else. It's impressive that it takes such little things to change the course of someone's whole life for the better and the worse.
And that’s exactly how I felt when Angie walked over and slammed The S.S.P down on the lunch table.
Angie. N. Stevens; the person in question, was the person everyone knew, they ran the yearbook committee/schools newspaper. They were a gossip, and if you heard a rumor, best believe they either started it or heard it first. But despite them being relatively annoying and loud, they were… chill, I guess. They're the only Upper North kid that doesn’t avoid us. Sometimes I see them around my side of town hanging out with friends and probably gathering dirt on people..
The whole table went dead silent. Usually this meant there was something about one of us in there that was important. The S.S.P was what many called the The Secret School Paper. In short it’s the drama that is in our school that they won’t let the school paper committee publish since it’s against the rules, but somehow, someway Angie and the rest of the committee found a loophole.
“A little birdie told me that one of you will be the new kids..’Welcome Buddy’” A mischievous smile was plastered on Angie’s lips.
They knew something very important obviously. Their gel painted nails clicked a few times against the folded newspaper with a pink wax printed star in the middle of it (helping kids differentiate the S.S.P from the normal school paper since they look the same)
“And who it is…is in here.” Before sliding it down the table to whoever they deemed worthy to read it until they spoke again. “Oh, and don’t worry. This is a draft version, we wouldn't want to post something about one of you to the entire school without any of your consent, so this hasn't been published…yet.”
They slowly slid the paper towards Nikaido to read it and took their hand off of it for her to pick up. Just like that they were gone like the wind, leaving us to bear the fear of which of us would be THE principals cousin welcome buddy (what a kindergarten ass name). What I want to know is why he would choose one of us? I would assume he would choose one of the kids with better grades and richer parents, aka none of the people at this table. Unless you count me and Nikaido for the good grades part, other than that there is no reason for any of us would be a good candidate.
Nikaido read the paper allowed but not loud enough for other kids to hear. It felt like waiting for a death sentence or something.
“Mr.En requested to have the new student, Noi.En, cousin of our esteemed principal be guided around by a particular person, also known as having a ‘Welcome Buddy’ to help her get used to this new environment with new kids after being homeschooled for 16- almost 17 years. Now the person he chose didn’t just surprise Mr. En, but every single educator at Upper North High School. The student was suggested by the non other: Human Studies teacher, Professor and/or Dr. Kasukabe and his two assistants Mr. Johnson and Dr. Vaux…”
Nikaido stopped for a moment and took in a breath, giving us all the dreaded time for us to think which one of us it was. Dr.Kasukabe favored all of us, if he said we were his favorite students i’d believe it. Ai tapped my shoulder and started speaking. Breaking the silence.
“If it's me, you owe me 20 dollars” He randomly states and before I could protest he slips in something else.
“- but if it's you then I owe you 20 dollars…?” he raised up his eyebrows and took out his hand for me to shake it like he was the devil and I was signing my life away... I could use 20 dollars right about now…
“Deal.”
Nikaido took a deep breath before continuing to read out loud. I was still a bit scared though, why would Mr.En want one of us to be his little cousin's guide around school. We were the lower East kids, we were violent (mostly me), we were disrespectful (Just Kaiman), and we were poor and dumb (partly true). But even then those were the things everyone believed us to be, even Mr.En himself.
“The vice principal Mr.Chota had a few words of shock, he said quote: “i never would have thought that our most elegant, brilliant, sexy- i mean, esteemed principal would choose such a kid. But either way i but it’ll be some kind of love at first sight kind of story!” end quote. Now we have had you at the edge of your seat waiting to know who this kid is, its no other than the Lower East side “freak”…Shin.Hosoya”
My heart dropped immediately and Ai swore under his breath, mostly because he now owed me 20 dollars. Why me?...why out of all people would Mr.En choose me? I snatched the paper out of Nikaido’s hands and read the line over and over again to make sure she wasn’t fucking with me. This was real…i was snapped out of my own panicked state when i smelt the stench cigarettes and mint gum behind me. I turned around to see Thirteen, absolutely baked.
“Woah, i didnt know that there was a new publish of the S.S.P…”
I flipped it over immediately and shrugged, trying to play it off. Nikaido laughed a greeted him while Kaiman stared daggers into his head. He never liked Thirteen, mostly because there was a rumor about him and Nikaido dating last year. He is so petty..
“Nah, this is an old copy that we just never got to read-“ my excuse was immediately cut off by Kaiman who was ready to assume the worst.
“Why the fuck are you here, Thirteen?” He crossed his arms. I honestly considered keeping Thirteen around just to piss him off. And I did, hes been an official member of the band for a year now, he’s just usually grounded when we have practice.
“Just wandering I guess, getting high, y’know, the usual. Mind if i have a gyoza?” he nudged Nikaido which made Kaiman clench his fists.
Everyone knew that whatever Nikaido brought for lunch Kaiman got a share too, and nobody else was allowed to have any unless she offered it. Once i got permission from her to taka a gyoza and Kaiman literally fought me for it- He’s fucking insane, acting like I don’t literally live with her… Nikaido lifted up her bento box and let him take one, he popped it in his mouth. I swear I heard Kaiman’s knuckles crack from how tight he was clenching his fists.
I exhaled gently out of pure relief that he wouldn’t be another person to know about the paper, as much as I trusted the guy he could be a bit of a blabber mouth. I slipped the paper into my bag and looked down at my food, i wasn’t even hungry anymore. I cannot let Angie publish this, I would get bullied so bad! Well, worse than i already do. I didn’t even know this girl, and by the looks of it she seems to already be well acquainted with the popular group of kids. Zuri Mendez was one of them, and since she now sat next to her in Religious History and Noi already has a skyrocketing reputation she's probably already had a spot in the Bitch Council waiting for her. It would be no surprise to me if she replaced them as their bitchy little leader. I don't want to be a Welcome Buddy for someone who was going to bully me for the smallest things..
I decided I wanted to clean up early, considering that I needed to clear my head and make sure I could actually still walk correctly after hearing those news. Kaimans eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head the way he was looking at thirteen, I sighed deeply and got up out of my seat, walking over to the trash can to dispose of whatever food I didn’t eat. Today wasn’t the best, never liked school and I don’t think I ever fucking will. As I waited in a line of students to throw away their leftovers and put their trays away I felt a tap on the shoulder. Naturally I looked behind me assuming it was Kaiman coming to complain to me about something I didn’t give two shits and a fuck about (thirteen talking to Nikaido like it’s some sort of crime) but I didn’t…see anyone behind me…was I like- Schizo, or something.
That’s what I thought until I heard the same voice saying: “h-hey! Down here!” I looked down to see some freshman boy with the worst buzz cut and hair color ever, he was so skinny I could snap him over my knee like a twig. He looked like he was about to shit his pants just looking at me, I thought this year's freshmen were all annoyingly loud…this kid is just annoyingly quiet.
“…what?” I asked the kid, watching him shake in his boots.
“H-hello, I’m Fujita and I-I, um, kind of help Mr. En run errands- oh! And this is Ebisu..” he stepped to the side to reveal an even shorter and skinnier freshman who had the face of a chiwawa with a purple pixie cut.
“..‘Kay, I guess-“ I began turning around before he said something else. Does this kid know how to shut up? Or at least cut to the point before I shoot myself in the head..?
“I-I was told to inform you that Mr. En wanted you in his office…r-right now-“
“GET YOUR ASS OVER THERE!!!” The girl which I was told was Ebisu cut Fujita off just to scream loud enough for my ear to ring…maybe even bleed.
People in the line turn their attention to her… to me. I shot the girl a glare and looked back at the cowardly boy. I can’t blame him for her actions… but I would if I fucking could.
“Yeah, cool, whatever…. Just learn how to shut it up…” I stated, pointing at Ebisu and turning back to my front. What an eventful day, I bet I’m going to dread every day I have touring this stupid girl around the school…
Why the fuck would Mr. En choose me anyways..