Kana: WAFFO! #3: Counterpoint in C

Note: Please read the guidelines before posting a story instalment.

Premise

It's late spring, and Kana Todo has recently recovered from her transplant operation. She's beginning her first year of high school at Taramigaoka High School. The melody of Kana's life will soon start intertwining with those of Ryo Sasaki, Kaho Nagira, Kyoko Ashihara and many of the other students at her new school...

Tone

It's Kana meets Crescendo. So, naturally, emotions are going to take precedence. There will be hurt feelings and misunderstandings and blossoming relationships. At the same time, a bit of light humour won't be entirely out of place, so we don't need to restrict ourselves to a completely sombre tone.

Direction

To keep the feel of Crescendo, I'd like the story to be written in third person. My preference would be present tense, but we'll see how that goes.

I'd like to keep it to a couple of characters' perspectives, as far as possible: Ryo and Kana, presumably. I'm sure we'll settle on a 'central' cast of characters as we go, but I don't want a cast of thousands.

It would be great to develop romantic relationships between the characters, but I think we should steer away from making any of the pairings permanent until later in the WAFFO. Along the way, we can discuss what pairings we want to pursue.

I would prefer it if Taka played a minor or non-existent role in this WAFFO. Kana is the main character from KLS in this story. No appearances by Yumi or Yuta, please.

Continuity

* Kana is starting her first year of high school late, after having had her transplant operation. It's already a couple of months into the school year - late spring.

* Kyoko has already joined the literature club. Kana will probably want to join as well.

* Ryo is a third-year student. Kana and Kyoko are first-year students.

* We can assume that all of the major backstory events from Crescendo have taken place. However, events will diverge at this point, and we're not locked into the rest of the game's timeline. For instance, Kyoko may decide to confess her feelings for Ryo early, Ryo may fall in love with Ayame early, etc.

* Taka and Kana are both still living at home. Taka has returned to his studies at university.

* Kana and Taka made love when Kana returned from the hospital, but things have been slightly uncomfortable between them since then, and they haven't been intimate recently. Neither is sure where the relationship is going now.

Reminders

* Start your instalment with the instalment number - in bold. Set the font size to 'Huge'. Make it a pretty colour, if you like (but not red or green).

* Keep the instalments separate - don't include discussion in the same post. Hopefully this will make it easier for people to read back over the story so far.

Additions

16/3/07 - Those of us who understand Japanese honorifics should feel free to use them. However, I don't want the honorifics to get in the way of the story or discourage people from contributing, so it's pretty much a matter of personal taste. If you don't understand the honorifics but still want to take part, that's fine - just have the characters address each other by name.

20/3/07 - How characters currently address each other
(in this order: Kana, Ryo, Kaho, Kyoko)

Kana: (self), Sasaki-senpai, Nagira-senpai, Ashihara-san
Ryo: Todo-san, (self), Kaho-chan, Kyoko-chan
Kaho: Kana-chan, Sasaki-kun, (self), Kyoko-chan
Kyoko: Kana-san, senpai, Kaho-senpai, (self)

11/4/07
The chairs don't really match the table that well, but it's all the school can afford right now. This is because they are starting to undergo major renovations and additions to the buildings.

Most of the students are excited about the new school gym that is about to be opened. It's a compromise almost every student agrees with, because they had been going without a gym the whole time. It got annoying because they always had to play outside during breaks instead, and their sports teams had to borrow another school's facilities for home games.

1.

"Well, here we are, Kana."

Kana looks up, somewhat nervously. She and her brother are standing in front of the gates of Taramigaoka High School, Kana's new school. They're about twenty minutes early, but students are already walking through the gates, carrying their satchels and bags, or pushing bicycles.

Kana finds that she can't say anything. She and her brother have been here before, so she'll be able to get here by herself in the future, but it all seems so different now. She feels awkward in her new dark blue blazer and green plaid skirt. She already feels like she doesn't belong.

"You'll be fine, Kana," her brother says, reassuringly. "It's a fresh start, after all, and you're better now. You won't need to spend so much time away from school anymore."

"I... I guess that's a good thing," Kana squeaks. Her brother reaches out and squeezes her hand.

"You'll have to tell me all about your first day when I get home tonight, okay? Tell me about all the friends you've made and all the fun you had!"

"I, uh... hai," Kana says, dejectedly. Will she make any friends here? Will her life here be any different to her existence at junior high?

"Now, you've got that letter from Doctor Kashima for the school nurse, right?" Taka reminds her. "Nurse, uh..." He pauses, trying to remember the name.

"Nurse Shito," Kana whispers. Her heart is pounding and she doesn't want to let go of his hand. "I'll try to see her during the day some time, Bro."

"Good," he says, approvingly. He smooths back her fringe and leans forward to kiss her forehead. "I'd better get going. See you tonight, Kana."

"Okay, Bro," Kana says, mechanically. "Have a good day."

"See you, Kana." And, with that, he lets go of her hand and turns around to walk back to the train station.

Kana stares after him long after he's turned the corner and vanished from sight.

Bro...

She sighs heavily and walks through the gates.

---

Taramigaoka High School is more old-fashioned than Kana's junior high was. As she walks through the corridors, a little lost, she's daunted by the frosted glass windows that face into the classrooms. It feels cold and sterile in the sealed corridor. It reminds her of the hospital.

No. No, she's going to be positive, like Bro said. There's so much she wants to do. She has to greet her new class cheerfully and present a new image. They've already been together for almost two months now, so she'll have to work hard to be accepted.

And then there are the clubs. There's one in particular that she heard about - the literature club. She wonders when they--

"Todo-san?"

"Huh?" Kana stops in her tracks, looking around to see who's addressing her. It's another first-year student, with large brown eyes and long, dark, somewhat scruffy hair. The girl smiles, a little hesitantly.

"Todo-san, right?"

"Um... hai," Kana says, bowing. "Kana Todo. Pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you, too," the girl says, bowing in return. "I'm Kyoko Ashihara. Sensei asked me to keep an eye out for you. We're in the same class," she adds, at Kana's obvious confusion. "Come in. You'll be sitting next to me."

"Th-thank you," Kana says meekly. Hanging her head and hunching up her shoulders, she follows Kyoko into her new classroom.

2.

The classroom is filled with new faces.

"Too many..." Kana thinks to herself. She's still getting used to meeting so many new people. In the hospital, the only people she saw were her family and the hospital staff.

"Bro..." She remembers her brother telling her to be strong now that she is healthy.
"I'll be strong, Bro. Don't worry about me anymore."

"Hey!"

Kana is suddenly interrupted from her thoughts by Kyoko, who is smiling gently.

"What's wrong?" Kyoko asks.

"Oh...nothing. I'm just looking at the big classroom."

"Have you got any textbooks yet?"

"Um...No. Not yet." Kana murmers.

"Well you can share mine for now, but I'll show you the bookstore so you can get yours" Kyoko glances at Kana's lithe frame while she says this.
"You also look like could use some good food" Kyoko giggles.

"Ah...hai" Kana embarassingly replies.

"We can eat at the cafeteria together at lunch time, then we can go to the library. I have some friends I want to introduce you to."

Ding-Dong!!
Just as Kana is about to reply, the school bell rings, signaling the start of Kana's first class in high school.

"Hello, class!" their enthusiastic teacher greets them with a warm smile.
"We have a new student today. Her name is Kana Todo" She gestures to Kana to come to the front of the classroom.

"Kana, can you come here and introduce yourself to your new classmates?"
It isn't really a question, but a command.

Kana shyly walks to the front of the class. As she walks by, the class quiets down and looks at their new classmate in curiosity. She's smaller than them, but they heard that she's actually a little bit older. There were rumors that she was in the hospital a lot because she was sick.

"Uh...Hi, my name is Kana Todo" she says uneasily while she bows. Her eyes are downcast as she continues speaking, "I am Taka Todo's little sister and I like to read books."

The teacher, sensing Kana's agitation at having to speak in front of the class interrupts her and says, "Alright class. Be nice to your new classmate and show her around. Kana, you can go back to your seat now. Thank you for introducing yourself."

The class continues afterward. The first class is mathematics.

Most the students become listless as the class goes on.

Occasionally, Kana receives quick glances from her classmates.

"It's hard, Bro. They keep looking at me" she sighs.

"Psss." Kyoko whispers. "Kana-san. Just five minutes left until its over."

Kana notices Kyoko looking at her and smiles and nods back.

Ding-Dong!

Class is finally over.

All the students start to pack up their bags to head for their next class.

edit:honorifics updated.

3.

After hastily eating her lunch together with Kyoko in the crowded cafeteria, Kana is following her classmate to the school library. She can't help but notice how tall Kyoko is - the dark-haired first-year even towers over some of the third year students who pass them by in the corridors.

"Do you... do you play basketball, Ashihara-san?" she asks, hesitantly, scuttling closer to Kyoko for fear of getting lost.

"Eh... basketball?" Kyoko asks, looking back at Kana with a blush. "I'm... afraid not. I'm not very good at sports."

Kana smiles. "Me either. I don't have much endurance. I'd probably fall asleep in the middle of the court before the first quarter was over."

Kyoko laughs, merrily. Her laugh has a clear, pure quality to it, and Kana feels her eyes widening at how much the smile lights up Kyoko's usually sleepy-looking face. "I've been known to do that too, Kana-san. Ah, here we are."

As the two of them enter the library, Kana finds herself glad that her eyes are already wide, because it saves her the effort of widening them again. The library is large and spacious and filled with the scent of books. Shelves, filled with books, and an array of desks and chairs where people can sit and enjoy them. Kana looks around in longing. Where to start...?

"This way, Kana-san," Kyoko says, leading Kana over to one of the desks, where a third-year girl with dark red hair is sitting alone, reading a book. She looks up at the two first-years as they approach, and smiles as she recognises Kyoko.

"Hello, Kyoko-chan," she says, brightly. "You've brought a friend with you today, I see."


Edit: Changed 'Kana-chan' to 'Kana-san'.

4.

Kana approaches the pretty redhead beside Kyoko.

Gosh, she's so pretty!, she thinks to herself.

"Kaho-senpai, this is Kana-san" she politely gestures to the young woman standing next to her.
"It's her first day of class so I'm showing her around school. We're in the same class!" Kyoko has a big smile on her face as she says this.

As Kana begins to bow, Kaho laughs merrily.

"Kana-chan, so nice to meet you!"

"Ah, hai! Nice to meet you too Kaho-senpai." Kana blushes.

"Here, have a seat, you two." Kaho points to the seats opposite her on the table. It's a table for four, made of wonderful Ikea-type quality. The chairs don't really match the table that well, but it's all the school can afford right now. This is because they are starting to undergo major renovations and additions to the buildings. Most the students are excited about the new school gym that is about to be opened. It's a compromise almost every student agrees with, because they had been going without a gym the whole time. It got annoying because they always had to play outside during breaks instead, and their sports teams had to borrow another school's facilities for home games. How ironic.

They begin to chat energetically, with Kaho participating most vigorously out of the three. Time goes by quickly. Almost too quickly. There's now just 5 minutes left of break.

As they continue chatting, a handsome male starts to walk toward them. He notices that there is a new girl that is talking amongst his two friends. He immediately notices how she slightly hunches over in her chair. Her slender figure is in stark contrast with the other two girls, who while being very slim themselves, look much more robust than the new girl.

Maybe she is hurting, the thought quickly flitters inside his head.

Suddenly, Kaho sees the familiar face and exclaims, "Sasaki-kun! Why are you so late?" She scrunches her face in displeasure.

The others turn around and see who Kaho is talking to.

"Ryo-senpai!" She then says in a much quieter voice, "How was your weekend?"

"Good, Kyoko-chan. Who is your new friend there?" Ryo's gaze meets Kana's, who quickly looks to the side.

Kyoko giggles. "hai, this is Kana Todo. She's my new classmate."

Edit: fixed honorifics yet again..

5.

"You still haven't answered my question, Sasaki-kun," Kaho says, playfully. She nudges Ryo as he slips into the seat next to her, across from Kana and Kyoko. "Where have you been all lunch period?"

Ryo gives her a dirty look. It would be too embarrassing to admit the truth - that he was skipping class by taking a nap in Kaori's office, and that she 'considerately' chose not to wake him when lunch period started.

"I had things to do," he says, curtly. His eyes keep being drawn to the slender brown-haired girl sitting across from him. Kana... Todo? She looks so young.

"You and Kana-chan have something in common, Sasaki-kun," Kaho continues, filling in the gaps in the conversation as she usually does. Between Ryo's sullen silences and Kyoko's habit of falling asleep in the middle of conversations, Kaho is usually the one who does most of the talking.

But Ryo likes that about her.

"Oh?" he says, feigning uninterest.

"You're both seventeen years old," Kaho says, correctly interpreting his remark to indicate curiosity on Ryo's part - otherwise, he would just have grunted or made no response at all. That's another reason he likes spending time around Kaho. She doesn't push him.

"Seventeen?" Startled, Ryo looks at Kana, who blushes at the scrutiny. "Todo-san, you're seventeen? But I would have thought--"

"Yes, she looks younger, doesn't she?" Kaho laughs. "I actually thought she must have skipped a grade or two when Kyoko-chan introduced her to me! Still, it's good to look young, isn't it, Kana-chan?"

"I... I guess..." Kana stammers, her large violet eyes wandering to the ceiling in embarrassment. Smiling, Kaho leans forward over the table and touches her arm gently.

"I think you're going to fit into the club just fine," she says. "For the longest time now, it's seemed like club meetings have just been me and Sasaki-kun, sitting here in silence together reading books."

"You... and Sasaki-senpai?" Kana asks, looking startled. "There are no other members?"

"Well, we have a couple of 'honorary' members," Kaho admits. "Otherwise, the club wouldn't have been allowed to continue last year. And now we have Kyoko-chan too, of course. But up until the start of this year, Sasaki-kun and I were the only active members."

"So what do you--" Kana begins, but is cut off by the musical 'ding-dong' of the bell, indicating that lunch period is over. "Oh," she says, disappointed.

"We'll have plenty of time to cover the club's history, Kana-chan," Kaho assures her, with a smile. "You two had better get back to class. Kyoko-chan, take good care of her! Heading back to Shito-san's office now, Sasaki-kun?"

Ryo jolts straighter in his seat, with a start. "No! Of course n-- What makes you..."

"It was actually my suggestion that Shito-san let you keep sleeping," Kaho says, with a glint in her eye. "Now we have two sleeping beauties in the club!"

Ryo makes a half-hearted swipe at her as he gets up and prepares to leave the library. The two first-year girls excuse themselves and depart first.

"So... what do you think of our new member, Sasaki-kun?" Kaho asks, when the girls have left.

Ryo looks in their direction - the tall, willowy Kyoko and the short, slender figure of Todo-san. There's something about the new girl, he has to admit...

He shrugs. "Whatever."

Kaho laughs. "Yes, I think so too."


Edit: Changed Kaho's dialogue to include Kyoko as a current member of the literature club.

6.

As the school day winds down to a close, Kyoko and Kana are making their way towards the local bookstore. The bookstore was just a few blocks away and as they walked toward it they started to chat about the day's events.

"So, how was your first day, Kana-san?" Kyoko asks as she looks over at Kana, who is following just to the side of her.

"Umm...It was ok." Kana says as a small but visible smile appears. "I really like your library, but I didn't get a chance to take a look at the books..." she adds, her smile turning into a slight frown. "I hope you guys have a lot of good books!"

Hmm..this girl must like books Kyoko thinks.

"Well I'm glad you like books because we have to read a lot since we're in the literature club." As she says this, Kyoko notices that Kana is looking straight ahead. She looks in the direction she is looking and notices a good-looking older boy talking with an attractive girl. They seem as if they're a couple, and her female natural curiosity compels her to see who they are.

"Ah, Kana-san, do you know those two?" She inquires.

Kana's concentration is suddenly jerked and she snaps out of her gaze.
"Oh...hai" she says flustered. "It's my brother... " she then adds in a lower voice, "I think that's his new girlfriend that he's talking to."

Kyoko, noticing Kana's change in voice, decides to drop the subject.
"Well the bookstore is just up the corner. Do you want to go say hi to your brother or shall we just go to the bookstore?" As she says this she turns her head to watch Kana's facial reaction.

Kana, realizing she's being scrutinized all of a sudden, tries to remain calm.
"Uh, thats ok. I have to go home to catch up on my missed work so lets just get our books, ok?" Kana then adds a meek smile to try to disguise her obvious agitation.

How odd...why doesn't she want to say hi to her brother? He must be at least a few years older. Probably in college. And his girlfriend is really pretty. She could be a model. I think she's prettier than Kaho-senpai! Oh well, I guess her brother is really mean to her or something. It's best to drop it for now.she wonders.

Kana's steps quicken as they approach the bookstore.

7.

Booklist... booklist... Kana thinks, distracted by images of Bro walking with that girl. Who is she? Did Bro meet her at college? Are they... Have they...?

She shakes her head, briskly. Bro has been home in his room every night. He comes home straight after university and doesn't receive many phone calls.

But I've only been home for a few weeks... she realises. What if Bro and this girl have been... What if they were sneaking around together while I was still at the hospital?

"Kana-san?"

Bro came to visit me every day, but I slept so much that maybe he got bored of me? Or maybe when I came back and we... we were together, I wasn't good enough for him?

"Kana-san?"

That must be it. That must be why he's been so distant to me lately. He doesn't love me anymore. I'm not pretty enough for him. That's why he's going out with that beautiful girl and ignoring me...

Someone is poking her.

"Ehh?" Kana asks, snapping back to reality to find Kyoko looking at her in concern. "Ashihara-san?"

"Kana-san, are you all right?" Kyoko asks. "You're not feeling ill, are you?"

"Oh." Kana blushes and drops her satchel, flustered. "No. I, um, was just wondering where I put my booklist... It must be in here somewhere."

She crouches down on the tiled floor, unsnapping her satchel and peering inside it. Exercise books, her pencil case, a sealed letter...

"Oh!" she says again, bringing her hand up to her mouth. The letter to the school nurse! I had so much fun at lunchtime today that I forgot all about it, and then Kyoko was so helpful after school, offering to bring me to the bookstore, that I--

Kana's shoulders slump. I have to remember to deliver it tomorrow.

She finds the booklist and takes it out, then stands up again. "I've found it, Ashihara-san," she says, unfolding it. It's a long list, and the titles all sound so interesting. "Where should we start?"

"Let's see..." Kyoko says, leaning closer. Kana twitches a bit, involuntarily, as the fragrance of Kyoko's hair drifts around her. It's not confronting, though. It's... nice.

Ashihara-san must take good care of her hair, Kana thinks. It's so long, but so shiny. It courses down in textured waves from Kyoko's head, unlike Kana's hair, which has always hung straight down. Kyoko's hair is pretty.

"We'll start with history," Kyoko decides, pointing to the appropriate section of shelves. "This way, Kana-san."

"Hai," Kana says, with a smile.

8.

"Sasaki-kun!" Someone is insistently tugging his sleeve. "Wake up, class is over, sleepy-head."

Ryo slowly opens his eyes and starts to adjust to the light. Still groggy from his long nap in the nurse's office, he yawns and stretches his arms and legs.

"Aahh. Wha---t time is it?" Ryo asks the familiar figure hunched over him.

"The time? It's time for you to get up, thats what time it is! School finished a few minutes ago and I couldn't find you in class so I came here. Are you sure you can just cut class like this so often?" Kaho has a disapproving look on her face.

"What? Yeah of course I'm sure! I've been doing this for a while now and I'm still passing all my classes. That's all I want from school anyway." Ryo yawns again for good measure. He slowly raises himself from the small bed and rubs his eyes.

"So typical of you, Sasaki-kun. I can't believe they let you get away with that." Then, quickly glancing around the room, she closes the curtains surrounding the bed and inches nearer to Ryo.

"Hey, watch it. The nurse is gonna get weird ideas---"

"Sshhh. I just wanted to know why she lets you sleep here all the time." She decides to put a bit more distance between them, seeing as how Ryo reacts to her close proximity. "She's never nice to me, but she seems to accept you."

"Huh? She thinks I'm a nuisance because without me coming here she would have the entire day to herself. But I need to make her work otherwise she'd be getting paid for nothing. Plus, there really isn't anywhere more comfortable to sleep in than these beds here." Ryo pats the bed fondly and yanks the curtains apart. "Lets go, this place just makes me more sleepy."

As the two pass by Kaori, the school nurse's desk, she looks up and says, "Bye."

Just one word, but in that one word Ryo feels relief. She doesn't look so pissed off. Actually, she kinda looks happy now that I'm leaving because now she can go home since there aren't any students here besides me and Kaho."

"See you later, Miss Kaori. And thanks for having me." Ryo smiles sheepishly as they head toward the door.

As soon as they're in the halls, Kaho speaks up. "Sasaki-kun, what do you want to do now? I couldn't find Kyoko and her new friend in the library or on their floor. I think they left already. Should we try to find them?"

Kana, that was her name, wasn't it? There was something about her that intrigued him.
She seemed a bit lost and shy. She smiled whenever she was addressed. A meek, unsure smile. Almost as if she was trying hard not to displease the addresser. I wonder if its just the jitters of being the new kid in school.
He remembered his first day at high school too. He was nervous, but he didn't show it outwardly. No, that would not be like him. He actually didn't care much about what others thought of him. This was the reason why he never tried to reach out to his peers, and hence was why he had so few friends. Friends...his only friends at school now were Kaho and Kyoko.

"Sasaki-kun?" Ryo snaps out of his thoughts as Kaho's piercing words break his concentration.

"Huh?"

"I asked what you wanted to do for the rest of the day!"

"Oh, lets see.." Ryo ponders what to do next.

9.

Ryo was gritting his teeth.

Just a few seconds ago, the gravity of the situation was pulling him down, towards the grown, as he worked the muscles of his jawbone in an effort to mask and lessen, though fruitlessly, the pain of falling headfirst to the ground. Falling.... no, that would be the wrong word.

Thrown. That's right, he ws thrown towards the ground, by the collar.

He could smell the bitter earth, the damp soil that one could feel beneath the grass if he looked pass the foliage, with the leaves of grass staining his uniform. All around him he could hear the baboon noises of the pack, those stupid noises, the nosies of those who appreciated the thought of what elder people would call, quite simply, 'bad company'.

He attempted to pick himself, but he could feel his collar being picked up, once again, this time, from the front.

Both men came face to face with each other, and both could only see two things in each other; a hock of hair, a bag of fat. One excercising his might, the other excercising his defiance.

"What's it looking like now, you piece of s***."

Ryo stared at him straight in the face. This wasn't like the other time, that one time that they just called to him. He knew that this one case was quite different.

"You arrogant ***k, you and your moral police, seeking to support some cheap b****. Best of all, you tried to take on me in front of everyone.

Do you know what you are ?"

Ryo could only stare straight into his eyes. Nevermind the jeers and the dark laughs

"You, are a waste of skin."

All that mattered was that he grabbed the collar of the punk in class that day, and, in a Hammurabi-fashion, the punk was about to exact his vengeance, with a free gift.

"You know, you're lucky that you didn't throw your fist at me, you little c***, cos' that would've made us even."

As he said this, he raised his arm in his hair, the five digits forming the emblem of a man's hatred.

"And if there's one thing I'd rather be, that is being on the upper hand..."

"OI !"

In the distance, the clear figure of a man, sweating, fresh out of a physical training lesson, acting purely out of instinct, could be seen, as he called out the name of the culprits.

"KIRISHIMA ! SASAKI !!"

The authority, the one thing that Ryo sought to challenge in his own peculiar fashion, was now his saving grace, though he couln't be really be bothered, as he continued to stare at his accuser, even though he was no longer at him.

"S***, it's that old man again."

"Lets beat it before he recognises who the hell we are !"

The delinquent took one last look at Ryo before he used his other hand to grab him by the collar, and threw him down towards the ground with the full force of his arm strength. Ryo could only continue staring, as his body feel backwards, his back facing the ground, with his eyes looking straight into the sky, eventually clouded with the image of the gym teacher, and with that, a slowly forming darkness.

"Sasaki-san ! Are you alright ?

Wake up, class is over, sleepy-head."

~

10.

Ryo was gritting his teeth.

His face was in deep thought, as he had no real apparent plans for that day. That, and aside from that one recollection of a brutal experience in the past year, he wanted to do something, something a bit refreshing, something that could help him take his mind off things for a while.

Wait... were his friends just Kyoka and Kaho ? What about...

"How about going down to the basketball court to meet Tomonori ?"

Kaho was a bit dejected. "Awww.... such a nice day and you want to spent it looking at a bunch of guys throwing a ball into a net. Besides, why would a guy want to watch other guys ?"

"But I thought you liked Tomonori."

"Well, maybe I do...."

Kaho was somewhat silent at this point, her face betraying, for a short while, a second opinion.

"... but there are other things we could do. Besides, we have yet to print out another set of flyers today."

Oh yeah. Ryo slapped his head, as he realised that, one way or the other, Kaho would end up making him do extra-curricular work.

"Fine then, let's go."

At least better then lying around in that lazy world of the nurses's office. But, then again, there was one thing about that nurse's office that didn't make sense. He had been going to the office for some time now, and he had been using the excuse of poor constitution to get some extra rest in that one room. the nurse, Kaori, had grown accustomed to it, and both were reply each other in the short, but curt, hello and goodbye, entering and leaving, almost every single day. And yet, despite the nurse's exterior, Kaho had that point. And, why is it that Ryo always drank from that one coffee mug...

"Coffee..... coffee....."

"Hmm, Sasaki-kun ?"

"How about a short trip to the cafe ? Afterwards ?"

~

"So, who exactly is this Kana ?"

"Her name's Kana Todo"

"Oh, I see."

Interesting, thought he.

"So, just why is Todo-san in her first year when she's about my age ?"

There was a slight look on Kaho's face, realising that it wouldn't be easy to say the answer out loud. Kyoka only mentioned the condition, and very briefly, to her at tone time, and she had no idea if it would be fair or even impolite to mention it at this point of time.

"She was... held back."

"Ah, it's nothing new; I've had classmates who had to repeat one to two years for failing their papers."

"That's funny, coming from a person who doesn't to seem to like to go to class."

"Hey ! Like I said, I already had it all figured out. Just go for the ones that matter, read the right books, and the rest is simple. Leaves more time to sleep, eat and do other stuff."

"What other stuff ?" asked Kaho, in an interrogative tone.

"Oh I don't know... maybe the odd movie, like a classic, or the latest existentialist thriller."

"Exist-what ?"

"Existentialist thriller. You know, like 'Time out of Joint'"

"I never got the hang of that book."

"To be truthful, 'Flow my Tears, the Policeman Said' did it slightly better."

"Ryo, right now, I have no idea what you are talking about."

Ryo let out a kind, yet hearty laugh.

"It's alright. We can't know everything in this world. Well, we could try, but in the end, we just can't. Hell, there are even things we can't be bothered to bother about."

And, as he continued laughing, a question came to his mind.

"Say, is Kana..."

"Yes Ryo, she's joining our club."

That was fast. He wasn't sure if Kaho told him this detail before, and he had fogotten, he would casually forget small details like this from time to time.

"And you look out for her, the way you always look out for Kyoa."

"Yes, yes, I will."

And he smiled. He wasn't sure what he was smiling about though, whether it was the fact that he had a new member in that fledging club no one noticed, or that he managed to get some time along with the one classmate who was closest to him, aside from his long-time pal, Tomonori.

But still, the thought of Kana would be intriguing. A junior who was his same age ! What sort of expereinces would she have ? How would they contribute to the club ? Ryo was both interested, and not interested. Interested, because it would have some relevance to him in future, not interested because, at the moment, things were uneventful on that ending day.

"I'll be making a move."

He said this as he picked himself up from his chair and took one last sip from his coffee.

"See you, Sasaki-kun."

"Yeah, I'll see you too. And tell Kana I said hello."

~

As Ryo walked off, Kaho looked at him for a while, before she heard a couple of footsteps, and a familiar cry.

"Kaho-sempai !"

11.

"Ryo, dinner's ready, please come down."

Ryo was at home now. He was studying. No, studying was not the exact word, as Ryo never really studied the way most people studied. While there was the inevitable cram session here and there, Ryo had a penchant and preference for pure reading. He had a small library of works that he kept in his room, and for every textbook he bought, he had already finished it even before the semester started. Lectures and classes were a waste; they merely regurgitated the same information he could get from those textbooks.

"I'll be coming down, onee-san."

He was almost done with the revision, just to re-read that chapter, and that's it for the day. Ever since he netered high school, lessons had beena drag, and homeroom was the ultimate boredom. Nevertheless, even though Ryo had found a viable solution, and a loophole that can guarantee his freetime, that was one visible fact he knew that he had to settle.

But that's for another time. He was hungry now.

~

Dinnertime at the Sasakis had always been like this, quiet. The parents of Ryo and Ayame died three years back, borne out out of a rather tragic situation, and it had left a bitter taste on the relationship between the two siblings, to the extent that both seldom embraced each other.

Yet, there was at least one member of the family who could manage responsibility and dignity,a nd with that, concern.

"Ryo, I received word that you've been skipping classes, again."

"Who told you ?"

"It doesn't matter who told me, what matters is that they have their eye on you."

"Mah, who cares; I already got things figured out even up til now, onee-san."

"Baka, you think things are as simple as all that ? Why do you think they have these classes in the first place ?"

"To waste my precious sleeping time."

"You ignorant, selfish baka. How can you graduate when you don't even spend time in the class ?"

"Speak for yourself ! You quit colle-"

Ryo cut himself short. It was a rather painful subject, but one they both knew. Ayame, out of concern for her brother, temporarily, if it was, quit schooling to get a job so that she could look after her little brother.

"I am sorry," said Ryo, with full resonance.

"It's alright. I'll get back on track some day."

As her hand reached out for a bowl of soup, Ryo could feel that his hand, which was collecting more rice, was hovering too dangerous close to her. She seemed aware of this too, but she attempted to keep her distance weel enough. And Ryo knew why, though, he knew that he was to blame for this silent tension, a guilt that he couldn't possibly reconcile with.

As both of them resumed their seating positions after getting their food, a thought came to Ryo's mind.

"SOmeone knew joined the Literary club today."

"Oh ? And whow as that ?"

"A Kana Todo. She's about my age, but she's in the first year."

"That's unusual."

"I know. Apparently, she got held back."

"See Ryo, if you don't study, you'll be retained yourself."

"Onee-san !"

Ayame smiled cheekily, something she rarely ever did.

"Anyway, Ryo, there's a small thing I've been wanting to pass to you for a while now."

"Oh ? And what's that ?"

"Well... it's a small surprise... but it's one of the many thing things you like."

"Well, what is it."

"It wouldn't be a surprise if you knew what it was, wouldn't you ?"

~

The next morning, Ryo was up and early, and was already on his way out of the house when he noticed a certain book on the couch. He picked it up and examined the title. realising it, quite plainly, what it was; a certain classic that he had been trying to get himself to read for a while, but he never actually managed to get.

Can't harm taking this book with me, he thought.

~

"So, he took it after all."

Ayame sighed, somewhat out of discontent, and yet, out of hope. Ryo was soemtimes guilty of picking things without questioning their origin. And yet, there was a slight practicality to this nature.

~

[b]ADD: 1. There is no movie titled "Flow my tears" and "Time out of Joint", there that have been other movies that were adapted by Phillip K. Dick books which had similar concepts

2. The last entry was a bit rushed.

3. As for the book Ryo is reading, it's not so much a foreshadowing as it is simply a reflection of the one interest Ryo has. Thes tory would sometimes, though not always, of course, reflect itself in a humorously coincidental way to the plot. As to how this will happen.... next time. But I've done my bit

4. And lastly, apologies for that lengthy, first flashback. It wa,s however, the one scene that stuck in my mind whenever I think of Sasaki. Well, not always, but its one such scene)

12.

"I want to thank you again, Ashihara-san," Kana says as the two of them walk down the city street together. The two girls stand out in their school uniforms but, for some reason, Kana doesn't mind. She feels strangely at ease, in fact.

I've never been out on my own like this before, she realises, looking up at Kyoko's profile as the taller girl walks along next to her. I've always had Bro with me. Dropping me off at school and picking me up afterwards. If I went anywhere, it was with him. So this is... strange. But it's also nice... Is this how high school life is supposed to be?

"Please don't mention it, Kana-san," Kyoko says, turning to smile at her. "We're classmates, after all."

"Yes... but no-one else in the class offered to help me get my textbooks," Kana points out, blushing. She still remembers the awkward feeling that morning when she was the centre of everyone's attention. She hopes that she'll never be put in a situation like that again. "And then showing me around the city..."

"It's convenient, isn't it?" Kyoko asks. "So many shops and places to eat. Lots of students from our school come here in the afternoons."

"Hai, I've noticed," Kana says, then hesitates. "A-Ashihara-san, I'm not keeping you, am I? Is your home very far from here?"

"Iie, iie." Kyoko waves her hand casually. "It's very close by, actually. I have leftovers from last night, too, so I don't have to worry about cooking for myself tonight. It's actually quite--"

"You... you live alone?" Kana asks, shocked, then claps her hand over her mouth as she realises that she just interrupted Kyoko while she was still speaking. "Ano... Ashihara-san. Gomen! I didn't mean to be rude..."

"That's fine!" Kyoko laughs, a smile briefly lighting up her face before it passes again. "Yes, I live in a little apartment not far from here. My father... Well, he-- Oh. Kaho-senpai!" She brightens as she looks down the street, and Kana turns to look too.

Nagira-senpai is standing there outside a cafe, looking in the opposite direction. She turns as Kyoko hastens towards her.

"Kyoko-chan! And Kana-chan! Welcome!" she says, brightly. "You've been shopping, have you?"

"Hai," Kyoko says, as Kana stumbles forward to join her. "Kana-san needed to buy textbooks."

"I see," Kaho says, smiling as she looks at Kana. Kana just blushes and clutches her heavy shopping bag in front of her with both hands.

"Hello, Nagira-senpai," she says, politely. "It's nice to see you again."

"Same here, Kana-chan," Kaho assures her. "Kyoko-chan is so kind, showing you around like this."

"I... I know!" Kana blurts, relieved to find something to talk about. "I was just saying that to Ashihara-san. She must have so many other things to do..."

Living alone must keep her very busy, Kana thought, glancing across at Kyoko again. Ashihara-san is not only nice; she's strong too. I... I like her. And Nagira-senpai too. They're both so kind.

I think I'm going to enjoy high school life, she realises, and smiles.

13.

"Kana-chan, you look so cute when you smile like that." Kaho teases her. "You must be happy."

"Oh?!?" Kana reacts, embarrassed. She's not used to being praised. The only other person who praised her was her brother.
But he hasn't praised me these past few weeks... No matter, my new friends can fill that void. At least I hope so.
"Hai." Kana brushes her hair aside, as a habit. "Nagira-senpai, I'm just glad you guys reached out to me my first day at school. Ari-gato gozaimasu." she says as she bows.

Kaho smiles as she sees that Kana really means it.
"It was fun meeting a new student for me too, Kana-chan." Kaho replies.
"I'm sure we'll have lots of fun hanging out together for the rest of the semester." As she says this she notices that Kyoko has been lagging behind. She sees that Kyoko's eyes are half-closed as if she were daydreaming.

"Kyoko-chan!" she chides as she shakes Kyoko by the arm. "Have you been sleeping while walking with us? Is that even possible?"

"Err- huh?" Kyoko snaps out of her daze. She had been at the halfway point between sleeping and waking up. This was usual for her though. She often fell asleep when she wasn't being talked to. It wasn't as if she didn't get a lot of sleep at home, but something about being left out of a conversation got her sleepy. Did she get bored that easily?
However, this was the first time that she had sleepwalked.

She must be real tired. I think helping me out all day drained her. Maybe I shouldn't cling to her all the time from now on.

"Ashihara-san, maybe you should go home and rest. I think I kept you today for too long.." Kana says, feeling responsible for Kyoko's tiredness.

"Ahh, ano- I'm alright Kana-san. Don't worry." She says, trying hard to wake back up and not wanting to worry Kana.

"Heheheh" Kaho giggles. "Kana-chan, this is the usual Kyoko. We don't call her "Sleeping Beauty" for nothing!" She playfully pats Kyoko's back.

"Oh...I didn't know that about Ashihara-san." Kana admits meekly. She blushes slightly from hearing something she thinks is embarrassing for Kyoko. Being different from other people had made her painfully aware of anything that was pointed out about her own characteristics. So this was why she also felt bad when someone would comment on people's quirks in front of her. She didn't want other people to suffer the way she had.
"Are you really ok Ashihara-san?" She asks just to make sure and also to calm herself down.

"Hai. I'm fine Kana-san. But since we got all your books now, I guess you don't need me anymore. I should go home and finish up my homework."

Kana smiles before she talks. "Hai. No problem, Ashihara-san. You've been very helpful today. I hope to see you tomorrow too."

Kyoko nods. "I'll see you guys tomorrow then. Kaho-senpai, are you going home too?

"Yeah, I'm going home soon. I just need to tell Kana-chan something though."

Kana perks up upon hearing Kaho's words. She has something to tell me? I wonder what it could be? Did I make her mad at me?

As Kyoko heads off to the left, Kaho turns to Kana and starts to speak.
"Kana-chan, I know this is sort of sudden and all, but every year the school asks the clubs to give a short presentation at the annual school festival. So since there are only four of us in the literature club, we need to work on something together." Kaho pauses to gauge Kana's reaction, then she slowly adds, "I don't want to push you because you're a new student and new member of our club, but we're going to start to plan and discuss what we're doing in our next club meeting. It would be really helpful if you can participate as well. Is that alright with you?"

Kana breaths a sigh of relief. She had thought that Kaho was displeased with her. I should stop worrying like this. She's a nice person. I need to start trusting people more.
"Umm, hai. I would love to help you guys out." She says, a genuine smile appearing on her petite face. Surprised at her own behavior, she can't help but blurt out, "Thank you so much!"

"Thank me? I should be thanking you for agreeing to help us! Anyway, I should also be going home. Kana-chan, is your home far from here?" She looks around noticing that her house is just a block away.

"No, its not that far from here. Just a few minutes further, I think."

"Ok, well if its close then I guess I don't have to walk you home. Is that ok?"

"I--- I'll be ok Kaho-senpai." Kana replies, not wanting to bother Kaho any further. "I had a fun time today. Good-bye!" Kana bows.
As she starts to walk off she starts to think to herself, today was a good day...

EDIT: fixed spelling for "gozaimasu" and edited Kana to Kyoko honorifics

14.

The train is crowded, but Kana barely notices. Her head is filled with new images - new experiences and faces - just as the heavy shopping bag she's clutching with both hands is filled with new books.

Kyoko-san... Nagira-senpai... The library, filled with the wonderful smell of books, both old and new. Her classroom and her new desk.

It's really happening, she thinks, as the train rattles and sways on its way down the tracks. Bro, I'm finally a high school student. I... Sometimes I never thought I'd--

She lowers her eyes as a choking sensation swells in the pit of her stomach and rises up her throat.

I'm happy, I'm happy... she tells herself, fiercely. I... I won't cry. This is what I wanted. This is... what I...

See you this afternoon, Kana!

How was school today, Kana?

I don't care if people look down on me, Kana. Not as long as we're together...

"Bro..." she whispers. A tear forces its way free and slowly trickles down her cheek. No-one else in the carriage notices, and the train continues beating its lonely rhythm as it hurtles into the deepening night.

---

"Tadaima," Kana says as she enters the house. She puts down her satchel and the heavy shopping bag thankfully, then leans down to untie her shoes.

"Okaeri!" she hears Bro's voice call from the living room, over the sound of the TV. "How was your first day?"

"It was... it was okay," Kana says, peering down the corridor. She can see the side of his head as he sits on the couch, watching TV. "I... I'll tell you all about it, later..."

"Oh." There's a vague rustling from the living room as he gets up from the couch. "Otousan and Okaasan are out at a meeting. They won't be back until late."

"That isn't a surprise," Kana says, feeling a warm glow in her stomach as she looks at him, standing in the doorway. It's just you and me tonight, Bro, the way it's always been. I'll cook you dinner and we'll--

"And, um, I'm going out with some of my university friends as well," Bro says, a little awkwardly, then digs in his pocket. "Here. Okaasan left us some money to buy dinner. If you want, I can go get it for you before I leave. I don't have to go for another forty minutes..."

Kana just stares up at him, straining to keep her feelings pushed down again, even though she can feel the pressure behind her eyes - the tears threatening to burst free. She imagines that her eyes must look watery and glassy; she has to force her lip not to tremble.

"That... that's all right, Bro," she says, after a moment. "I can order something in. Please, relax a bit before you go. Would you... like some tea? I'll go make us some tea. I..."

"Kana..." Bro starts, his face creasing, but Kana just walks determinedly past him, heading for the kitchen.

It's better this way, isn't it, Bro? We... we can both move on with our lives. Your life, and my life. And... and never the twain shall... shall...

Kana stands in the dark kitchen alone, her shoulders heaving with sobs.