First day.

Click...

"Crap, I'm gonna be late!" Ryuunouske exclaimed, picking up his bag and leaving the salon.

"Ryu... have you got all you need? Your bento box is still here." His mom said as he began pedalling his bicycle.

"Mom, I'm already late for the entrance ceremony." He said, leaving the area.

Nakamura's cut and ink, that's the name of the name of the salon where he helps his mom out in.

He pedalled his bicycle faster before leaving the quiet streets.

He stopped when the traffic light shone green. He then looked at the time on his phone and then back at the light.

He turned to his right and saw people staring at him and whispering to themselves, their hands over their mouth.

*Urgh...*

A few seconds later, he began pedalling again.

He turned a corner, and the school's imposing structure came into view.

"Please, where's the hall where the new students are having their entrance ceremony?" He asked a girl after locking his bicycle.

"It's in... ah..." She shifted immediately after looking up at him.

"The ceremony...?" He asked.

"I-it's... It's... in the school g-gym. See those other guys, that's where they are going." She said before immediately scurrying off.

"Hm."

He walked towards the building before joining the other students. It didn't take five minutes before the ceremony ended.

*Crap, I didn't even get to hear anything since I came very late. And as usual, I was avoided.* He thought, his hands in his pockets as he walked towards his classroom.

"Oh my, who's that kid?"

"He must be a transfer student, I've never seen him before."

"He looks like trouble, I'd rather avoid him."

*I can't believe I thought transferring will change something.* He thought, seating on a seat beside the window and looking out, his hand under his jaw.

"Hey." He heard someone call as he looked at his right.

"Hmm? What do you want?" Ryuunouske asked, looking away.

"Whoa, the piercings are really sick, man." He said, sitting beside me.

"Yeah..."

"Hajime, Shimada Hajime. Nice to meetcha." He said.

"Nakamura Ryuunouske, nice to meet you too."

"Ha... you put on a fierce face, I thought you'd not even listen to him." A guy said, sitting in front of me.

"Yo." Another guy said, sitting beside him.

*Who are these guys? Don't they know others will talk bad about them if they're close to me. People usually don't come up to me because of my appearance. They saw me as "intimidating." I never thought anyone would try to sit close to me of their own volition.* He thought, his head bent.

"I'm Kojima Juro. Nice to meetcha!" The guy in front of me said as I looked up at him.

"Uchida Haryu, nice to meet you."

"Ah... I'm Nakamura Ryuunouske. Nice to meet you too." He said.

"But dude, those piercings are sick." Juro said.

"Well..."

"See, Hajime-chan has one too!" Juro said, pointing at Hajime.

"Heh...?"

"Shut up, Juro."

"He pierced it during our third year of middle school thinking he'd become rebellious."

"Juro?!"

"By the way, what middle school did you transfer from?" Haryu asked.

"Um... it's Chiba. Chiba middle school."

"Chiba?"

"Yeah."

"Heh...?"

"You're really tall. Do you play basketball?" Juro asked as Ryuunouske gasped.

*Why's he asking about sports? I didn't expect such a question.* He thought, biting his lower lip.

"Nah, I don't." He replied.

"Hmm, really? Well, the three of us used to be part of the football team back in middle school. We plan on continuing." Juro said, grinning.

*Football... I love playing football, but...*

"Do you plan OK joining any club?" Haryu asked.

"Hmm? Oh, not yet. I've not thought of anyone."

"Well, why don't you try playing football with us." Juro asked.

"Juro?! You can't just up and ask anyone to join the club." Hajime said.

"Well, I mean..."

"Um... I used to be in the soccer team back in middle school." Ryuunouske said as they turned to him sharply.

"For real?"

"Yeah."

"Where you in Chiba's line up? I don't think I ever saw you." Haryu said.

"Well... it's a long story." He said, looking away.

"It doesn't even matter. Let's go join them after school!" Juro shouted, grinning.

*He's a loud one.* Ryuunouske thought, a smile planted on his face.

"Ah!!" Juro shouted.

"What?"

"You just smiled."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Wh-what? I didn't."

"You did!"

The homeroom teacher walked in a few minutes later and introduced himself.

*Nah, not the way I expected today to go. I'm sure mom would be happy when she finds out.* He thought, reminiscing what his mom told him that morning.

"Ryu, try your best to be careful today, okay? You're starting in a new school. Don't try to pick up fights. This is a new school so make good friends, okay?"

*Haha.* He thought, looking out of the window.

After all activities for the day, the four of them went straight to the football club to meet the coach.

"Heh...? You want to join our club. Well, it's only natural since we're the coolest team in this school." The coach said with a smug look on hus face.

"Urgh..."

"So! If you want to join such an important club, then show your worth!" He shouted.

"Yes, sir!" The four of the said.

"When the second and third years come, you'll have a quick match with them."

"Huh?!"

"We're just first years."

"And we are only four here."

"Who said you're only four." Someone said, walking towards them with some other guys.

"The new kids are about 10, I guess. It's more than enough."

"So it's a full squad match then?"

"No, it's isn't."

"Huh?"

"I can't accept all 10 of you. Only about two can join."

*Huh? What does that mean?* Ryu thought.

"Huh?! What the hell's with that setting?!" Someone asked.

"I mean, my boys are way better than you can be. I don't even think we need more players. You guys would just be more problem for us, Ouch!" He screamed as someone hit his head.

"Who the fuck are you?!" He asked, standing immediately.

"Need I remind you that this isn't the basketball team?" The person who hit him asked.

"Aki... haha, did you hear all that?"

"Like hell I did! Why would you want to scare all our first years away?" Akihito asked.

"Who's he?"

"Who knows."

"Ah... sorry kids. I'm the football teams coach, Yamamoto Akihito nice to have you on board." He said.

*Ha... thank goodness he's the coach.* Ryu thought.

"Hm?" He asked, looking at Ryu.

*Huh? Huh? What's it?!*

"What's your name?"

"Ryuunouske, Nakamura Ryuunouske!"

"Hmm... I've never seen you in the middle school football team. Is this your first time?"

"No, I got transferred."

"Ah... is that so?"

"Yes sir."

"Make sure you tie up your hair when training or playing for us." He said, walking back.

"Yes sir."

"Haha, I got scared there for a second." Juro said as they walked out of the school premises.

"For real. I didn't think he wasn't the coach."

"Thank goodness he wasn't. But who knows when they'll kick us out. That Akihito guy looks dangerous."

"Um... guys, I'm going this way." Ryuunouske said.

"Ah... we planned on going out for fun." Juro said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't plan for an extra time. I gotta help out at home." He said.

"No problem, we have a full year ahead." Hajime said.

"Yeah."

"Bye, Ryuunouske." Haryu said.

*Ryuunouske?*

"A-ah... bye, Uchida-san." Ryuunouske said, hopping on his bicycle before pedalling away.

"Why are you still in a daze?" Hajime asked.

"I mean, he called me "Uchida-san"."

"Maybe he's still not used to it. I'm sure he's also surprised as to why you addressed him with his first name."

"Maybe..."

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