... Actually, the thing about even bad fan fiction being a step in the right direction was what sold me. Consider that your one and only warning.
To summarize, this starts pretty close to where the original starts, and differs from the original due to the introduction of an OC, who is a total Marty Stu who will steal the show because that's how bad fan fiction writers roll. Right? Right. At the risk of potentially spoiling the work for whoever cares, pairings ultimately will be Hisao/Lilly and OC/Hanako. Hey, at least I left it in spoilers, for those who care about such things! Assuming, of course, anyone cares to actually read this travesty I'm about to inflict on--I mean, post to these forums. Still undecided if I should post more than this here, or just keep going on FFN. Eh!
So, without further ado... A story, from me, to you.
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Chapter 1: Ham On Wry
Brown eyes wandered over the black wrought iron gate skeptically. After a moment, they flickered to the red brick and gray plaster. The young man to whom the eyes belonged frowned.
It looked far too pompous for what it actually was, he decided. In fact, gates in general seem to do that, but this one especially so.
His thoughts were interrupted by another arrival. He wondered how he'd missed the newcomer, as he looked over at the other man who now stood beside him.
"Yo," said the newcomer with a nod before he looked at the gate and stroked his chin. "Huh, nice place. Very... hm. Art deco, I suppose. No, that doesn't seem right.... Gothic? Definitely not. Hm...." He switched from his chin to his head, and scratched the scalp underneath his very short dark brown hair. "Ah, it doesn't matter."
The newcomer's bluish-green eyes met the young man's brown eyes.
"You too?" The newcomer gestured with his head toward the buildings beyond the gate.
"That's right," the young man admitted, as he tried and failed to figure out where the newcomer's accent came from.
"Cool," said the newcomer. "Name's Maru. Given name. You?"
"Hisao," said the young man. "Hisao Nakai."
"Ah, pleasure to meet you," Maru said, and extended a hand while sizing Hisao up. Huh. Sweatervest. Don't see that too often. Kinda nerdy. Pretty normal seeming guy otherwise, really. Seems nice enough, at least. And brown idiot hair. Don't see too many ahoges, actually.
Hisao shook Maru's hand while returning the favor. Black shirt and shorts, white long sleeved button-up shirt unbuttoned... and an artificial leg. He looked away. "Thank you," he said after a moment. "Likewise," he added as an afterthought.
If Maru noticed Hisao looking at his leg, he gave no indication. "Not a problem," he replied as he looked back at the school. "So, what're you in for?"
Hisao stared at Maru, mouth open to reply, but not able to get a word out.
Maru winced slightly. "Ahh... touchy subject?"
"...A little bit," Hisao admitted.
"Ah, well, forget I asked then," Maru said with a wave of his hand. "Sorry, I pretty much ran out of tact a long time ago."
"It's fine," Hisao said evenly.
"As to me, well." Maru waved his left arm around.
Hisao noticed for the first time that there wasn't a hand sticking out from the long sleeve.
Maru pulled the sleeve downward, revealing why. It truncated abruptly a little over halfway down his forearm. Leading up to the stump was increasingly heavier scarring. "Suppose my reason's pretty obvious really," he said with an amused smirk.
Hisao blinked. "...I'm not sure how to respond to that, actually." Is it alright to joke about that sort of thing? What is with this guy?
Maru let out a barking laugh. "Don't worry about it, it's cool. Shit happens, and all that." He waved his hand dismissively. "I have to say though, this place is expensive as hell."
"Oh?" Hisao frowned. He didn't know how much his parents were spending to send him to Yamaku, but he knew it probably wasn't cheap.
"Yeah," Maru said as a grin split his face, revealing a missing canine on his lower right and a chipped incisor on his upper left. "This place costs an arm and a leg!"
"Uh." Hisao groaned as the pun came through.
"You're groaning now, and I've barely even started," Maru said with a smirk. "I have a million of these. And that's only slight exaggeration."
"Is it alright to be joking about that?" Hisao said.
"In my case, yes," Maru replied seriously. "What, do you want me to start bawling?" He got down on his knees, and pantomimed putting his hands together before talking again, in a more emotional voice. "Oh mama! They took my arm and leg! Whatever shall I doooooo?!"
Hisao's face twitched briefly.
"Oh, it's the end of the woooooorld! Oh nooooooo!" Maru began to roll around on the ground.
"H-hey!" Hisao took a step back from Maru's melodramatic actions. "That's enough of that!"
"Hah!" Maru pushed himself back up and dusted himself off. "Well that was fun."
"...You're a very strange person," Hisao said at last.
"Damn straight," Maru said, and gave Hisao the thumbs up. "Anyway, shall we go in? They're probably wondering why there's a crazy guy out here."
"Oh." Hisao turned back to the gate. "Yeah." He shook his head and pushed the gate in, heading at a brisk pace. It felt good, until he noticed Maru limping slightly right alongside.
"Nice place," Maru said.
"I suppose," Hisao replied with a shrug. It feels more like a park than a school. Clean and hygienic. He shuddered.
"Lovely ambience," Maru continued as he looked around, unaware of Hisao's discomfort. "Clear air...." He took a deep breath. "Nice."
Hisao didn't reply, as he tried to shake off his feelings about the school and be open minded. It was his new life, after all. He looked over at Maru. I guess we don't all have the same reaction to this sort of thing. Of course, he may be used to being in this kind of place. He shook that thought out of his head. I need to get used to it too, now. Maybe I should follow his example.
Maru continued through it, oblivious. I wonder how this'll be, he thought. Guess it doesn't much matter, though. Really is a nice place for it, at least. Kind of reminds me of a college campus. Big halls, lots of trees and open land.... Kind of nostalgic, really.
They entered through the front door of the main building. Maru opened the door for Hisao with an 'after you', and then followed him inside.
A tall man with bad posture noticed them as the pair entered. "You must be...." The man smiled slightly, as if at some in-joke. "Kobayashi and...." The smile disappeared. "Ni... Na... Niki?"
Bugger, thought Maru with a wince.
"Nakai," Hisao said as he looked over at Maru.
"Yeah, hole in one," Maru admitted with a sigh.
"...Kobayashi Maru?" Hisao ventured as he tried to stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
"Dad was a fan of Star Trek," Maru replied simply with a frown and shrug.
"You don't say," Hisao said.
Maru snorted.
"Excellent," said the tall man lethargically. "I'm your homeroom and science teacher. My name is Mutou. Welcome." Mutou shakes Hisao's and then Maru's hand before looking at his watch. "The head nurse asked you for a brief check-in visit, but there's no time for that now."
"Oh," said Hisao.
"Probably just as well, really," Maru said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Got awful sick of doctors and nurses. No sense of humor, most of them. Always 'do this, Maru.' 'Stop that, Maru.' 'Enough with the puns, Maru!' Sheesh."
Hisao leaned away from Maru while Mutou sighed.
Maru coughed. "Ah, anyway.... After classes then?"
"Yes, afternoon is probably fine," Mutou replied. "We should get going and introduce you two to the rest of the class. They're waiting already."
"Splendid," Maru chimed happily, in contrast to Hisao's sudden nervousness. "Shall we, then?"
"Well, that answers for you," Mutou said. "Hisao, do you want to introduce yourself to the class?"
"Yeah, sure," Hisao replied. "I mean, isn't that normal?"
"Only if you don't do it right," Maru interjected. "If you're going to make a first impression, make it memorable."
"It is normal, of course," Mutou said as he directed a brief glare at Maru. "But not everyone likes to be at the center of attention."
Hisao glanced meaningfully at Maru, who looked to the side and whistled innocently.
"Certain people notwithstanding, of course," Mutou admitted.
"Right, well, it's no problem," Hisao said.
Maru turned and gave him the thumbs up with a grin. "That's the spirit! Now, let's take them by storm!"
"Oh bother," Mutou muttered under his breath before he shook his head. "Let's go then."
Hisao wasn't sure whether or not Maru helped, as the three of them went up the stairs with Mutou in front. He was still nervous, but he also knew he wouldn't be the only one to do an introduction, which was calming; misery loves company, as it were. Maru also seemed like he would draw most of the attention and keep him out of the limelight, which also helped.
On the other hand, he wasn't sure he wanted to know how Maru would introduce himself. Given his overdramatic display earlier to a complete stranger, he suspected anything was possible. Maru could also be one of those people that acted fine but folded when given a bigger audience, unlikely though that seemed.
Maru, for his part, wasn't entirely sure how he was going to introduce himself either. Man of wealth and taste? Naw, wrong impression. Funny idea, though. Good Morning Vietnam reference? ...Don't want to deafen anyone. Kirk speech? ...The puns will be bad enough as is- wait, am I rejecting bad puns? ...Provided that anyone gets the reference anyway.... Well, Hisao did, but.... Hm.
Mutou led them to the third door down the third floor, a door appropriately marked as 3-3. He opened the door and entered.
"Good morning everyone," he said, "sorry I'm late again."
Hisao hesitated for a split second, which let Maru slip past him into the classroom.
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Oh god 16 views people are actually reading this....
Yeah, I'm aware it makes no rational sense to post this (thus inviting views) and then be terrified when you get views, but that's what's happening. Nyeeeeh....
