The First Step

Shoving the last pieces of rice and egg into his mouth, Insei dropped the used bowl and chopsticks into the sink, grabbed his lunch bento and backpack, and rushed out the door towards where his bike normally laid on the side of the house. However, when he turned the corner, the beat-up black bike wasn't there. Then he remembered. It had been totaled when the Mitsubishi crashed into him. He'd have to walk to school until he got a new one.

His watch beeped twice, and Insei gulped. It was already 7:09. He'd have to start running in order to get to the bus stop in time. Holding on tight to his bento, he broke into a sprint down the street, where the bus had began to pull up and pick up students. "Hey!" Insei shouted, and waved his arms, trying to get the bus driver's attention, "Hey! Wait up! Stop! C'mon! Hey!" However, not even a nod or a smile came his way as the bus drove away down the street. "Dumb bus. May thy driver's family be cursed for generations!" Insei shouted at the shrinking vehicle as he kicked a loose stone. His dad wasn't home, so he couldn't get a ride from him. He didn't know anyone who'd give him a ride. All that was available would be to run the distance to school. And then get to run some more once I get there... he silently cursed school PE schedules. Kneeling down to make sure his shoes were tied tightly, he set off in a run, his black trousers and white polo shirt ruffling as he ran the mile and a half to school.

Dumb school uniforms… he grumbled as he pulled the sleeves of the shirt over his shoulders. At least they were able to wear sneakers if they wanted. Insei heard the first warning bell as he came around the corner to his school. He was already sweating from the extreme run he had just made, and the idea of running to class, and PE after that, seemed unbearable. However, he had to do it. One last sprint, and maybe he could get in on time without being spotted. "3... 2... 1... Banzai!" He whispered, and shot off, his feet pounding the cement as he raced down the last stretch. Each second seemed to last an eternity as he skidded to a halt in front of Tokugawa High's front doors. Swinging them open, he continued his rapid sprint down the stairs to Biology where Mr. Okibi waited. You never wanted to get on Mr. Okibi's bad side, especially in the morning.

His motions seemed to be almost connected with the air around him, moving swiftly like a sparrow, gliding... right into another student. The two had lain dazed and unconscious on the floor until one of the janitors on his regular rounds had found the two students, sprawled on the marble tiling. After the nurse had declared that neither had suffered more than a bruise or a small scrape in the collision, the principal had come in to reprimand both of them. "Running through the halls! Being late to class, I can understand its principle, to a degree, but going so fast that you don't notice an oncoming student until it's too late and almost costing you a concussion in the process! What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. ..." the old man yelled, raising a pudgy finger at Insei.

"Kairyuu, sir. Insei Gouka Kairyuu," Insei meekly replied, his voice trembling.

"Kairyuu! And the same for you," Mr. Yakumo grumbled, turning to face the other student, "Same goes for you! Why didn't you see this student coming either? Mr. ..."

"Tenjou... Aaron Reiniku Tenjou, sir. I was in a rush also. Adrenaline flows pretty fast, y'know? Didn't see him coming..." the other boy said, almost whispering.

Mr. Yakumo nodded solemnly, "I'm afraid that isn't an acceptable excuse. We here at Tokugawa High School are training the best of the best for this modern world! Why else would your parents send you through two private schools in order to get here, huh? I cannot accept letting two... lumbering buffoons go around, messing with the entire school! I am going to have to put this on your permanent records, gentlemen. We can't go around having bosses employ people who have falsified data. However, the only way that I could let you get off this is if you both apologize... sincerely... to each other."

An 'oh please' look flashed across each teen's face, but Mr. Yakumo's equally stern face made it vanish just milliseconds after it appeared. Insei turned towards Aaron, and held his hand out to shake as Aaron did the same. Yet, as the two made eye contact, something happened. Even though Insei had never met this other student, he felt as if he knew Aaron from someplace...

some time.. a voice seemed to echo in his mind. He could see the same expression playing itself across Aaron's face. "Excuse me, gentlemen," the principal interrupted, breaking the almost sacred moment and grounding the two back in reality.

"Sorry, sir." Each boy said, bowing to Mr. Yakumo, before turning to each other and shaking hands and apologizing for the accident.

"Thank you. You are dismissed back to your classrooms. I expect this will not happen again."

"No, sir. Of course not." Insei replied as he picked up his backpack and bento and began to head out the door. "And, boys?"

"Yes, sir?" Insei and Aaron turned towards the principal.

"You're both in the 10th grade, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"In a few days, we're going to have the annual Fujiwara-Tokugawa Open House. You know, the one where Fujiwara's 8th grade students come here to check out the building before entering 9th grade? I'm sure you two went to it."

"Yes, sir. I have." Aaron replied, and Insei nodded.

"Well, this year, we need some volunteers in the cafeteria to serve refreshments for the students, and we're fairly short on support this year. I was wondering…" Mr. Yakumo smiled, a mischievous grin cracking out onto his face, and both students knew what he had in mind.

"Yes, sir. I'm free to do that," Insei inwardly rolled his eyes.

"Same here, sir. I don't see any problem with that." Aaron added.

"Good, it's settled then. I'll see you two in the cafeteria on the 8th." Mr. Yakumo got up and let the two out of his office.