Thanks for the comments guys!
@qweakb: there will be more and more mayuki moments in the coming chapters, but the first part is more saeyuki...lol
@bunny_rabbit: I love Yui with Rie and Paruru! Actually I love Not Yet a lot so Team Hormone will be a regular supporting character.
@fuu_kun: like you, I'm SaexALL shipper, even though I prefer Saeyuki! That's why even if they are not a pair, there are many Saeyuki moments here, especially this chapter! But then, I'm possibly the only person who ships Mayuki very hard as well, lol! Since all Saemayuki fics end up with one of them (I mean...Sae:( ) being a villain, I hope to change this dynamic in this fic!
@LoyalFlutist: more of mayuki's relationship will be revealed in the next chapter, so please look forward to it! Also, YuiParu FTW
@rochilu: Gakuran is in the first year. Yuko and Black in their second year. Nezumi is still not in Majisuka yet, she's a senior in junior-high. The fic spans from pre-Majisuka to Majisuka 1 only. Right now, Center will make an appearance in the fic. If there's a chance, I will try to put her in, but Center/Nezumi is so perfect so I don't know what to do!!!!
@kurogumi: love is magical, that's why it's mysterious! Please look forward to it!
@gek geki: Ditto! Geki will make an appearance in one of the chapters, btw
Chapter 4 - BlackThat night after I ran into Black and Nezumi's meeting, I sneaked back home safely and didn't mention a word to Yuko. I decided that I need more time to figure out what's happening between Black and that Nezumi kid. I thought long and hard, whether I should just sit back and try not to poke my nose into anything. After all, I face the good old problem of influencing the future, and my fate, if I accidentally changed the course of things in the past.
But there's one thing I do want to change. I don't want them to fall in love. Maybe then, we will be a happy family, with Dad, me and Mama. Maybe then, I can be a normal kid who can invite friends to stay over at my place. Or someone who can introduce herself proudly to her parents. Or simply, someone who won't become a suspect for no reason.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why don't you just admit it? My daughter will never do such things."
"Mum, we both DIDN'T do it. I was with her!"
"Ssshh honey. I knew it already," Yui's mom turned towards me again. "You are a yankee's kid. Everyone knows you did it. You just have to say 'yes'. Or else, both of you will get accused." Her eyes were almost pleading me.
"Mum!!" Yui's anguish cry pierced my heart.
"For the sake of Yui, do it."
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The next few weeks at school, I won all sorts of big and small fights with other people. I still don't get it, why they love to fight so much. What does it mean to be the best at fighting? No one takes you seriously anyway. All your futures are doomed.
Anyhow, my reputation as the best among freshmen spreads. Some upperclassmen began to challenge me, and though I get hurt more frequently now, I am also getting better. It helps a lot that Yuko replaced Sayaka as my sparring teacher. She taught me many skills, the best of which is the ability to anticipate what your enemy will do in different situations.
"You have to use your heart to feel what they are thinking. Not everyone blocks your punch when you aim at their weak spot. Some might just eat the pain to counterattack. Know your enemy, so that you know what to and not to do. It's hard to learn because you don't actually know them personally. But that's the difference between fighting for the sake of fighting, or taking your opponent seriously. Look into their eyes. And their feet....Most people fool you with their hands and expressions, but their feet don't lie."
"Yuko-san..."
"Hm?"
"Why are you teaching me all this? I feel grateful for all you have done for me, but....I don't understand."
Yuko walked towards me from the couch and looked into my eyes dearly. My gaze softened in pain again as her eyebrows remind me of Mama.
"I don't know. Maybe because you appeared...on the day I needed someone most."
"By the way, don't let anyone know that we met in the hospital. Promise me, Sae, no one in Rappapa should know anything about this."
"Yuko-san...is something happening to you?"
She just shrugged and waved me off.
I think I finally understood what's going on. I recalled the photo where Yuko sat in the middle of the so-called Golden Rappapa Generation. Then beside it, there's another one with a few new faces but one giant framed photo of Yuko in the middle, still at the leader's seat. I recalled how Sayaka mentioned the Bucho of Rappapa once, that she died of leukemia right after graduation.
I closed my eyes to hide my tears. I didn't want Yuko-san to know anything about her future. Not when her reign has just begun. But when are you going to tell your Nakama about this?
----------------------------------------------------------------
Today after school, there's nothing else left to do but go home to take a nap. It's been quite a slow day with less and less challengers from the 2nd and 3rd years, so I just borrowed a book from the library to read. Team Hormone snatched my book and said how I'm the first person in this school actually picking up a book, but I ignored Wota's mispronunciations of those kanji words in the chapter and snatched it back, tearing the corner of the cover off. I'm now looking at the broken corner as I raised the piece of paper up towards the warm spring sun. How do I stick it back to the book?
As I look down the endless empty afternoon pavement, a figure with a swaying gait advances slowly towards me.
It's Black.
Not today man....Our distance is closing in and I began to notice that she's not her usual self today. Her eyes are just staring vacantly at the distance, and I don't think she knows I'm there. Suddenly she slid and fell onto the ground, and before I knew it, I've caught her in my arms.
"Hey...you! Are you okay?"
"...." Black looks up weakly and finally notices me. "Gakuran..."
She is sweating profusely, face in pale white and panting like she's just ran a marathon. I tried to wipe the sweat beads off her forehead when I realize that her skin is scorching hot.
"Shit...you're having a fever, let me take you to the doctor..."
Just as I'm about to pull her up, a bunch of Yabakune yankees appeared. Great, such good timing!!!!!!
"Look at this, one of the four heavenly kings of Majisuka!! Come on, let's fight!"
I stood up in front of Black's slumped body and measure the crowd. They have around 8 people, and two of them have weapons.
"Who are you? Another Maji-jo?" One of them fires at me.
"He's in a uniform! Obviously he's a guy and her boyfriend!" Another yabakune shoots back at her mate. Those people seem quite stupid to me...
"Who cares? Attack!"
I fended off a few kicks from two of them, and threw a strong punch on another's face, but at the same time, somebody's punch landed solidly on my left. After some exchanges of blows, I'm greatly weakened and stars start to appear in front of me. At this point, I'm about to fall any moment, and I wish Black can leave before I can't take care of the crowd anymore. I glance at my back to see the girl struggling to stand up, and another yankee with wooden stick ready to deliver a blow.
"No!" I shouted and threw myself in front of Black, embracing and covering her. A sharp pain follows the loud thud of the stick hitting my back.
It's too late to resume my fighting stance. They have already closed in and surrounded us, who are still crouching on the ground. A series of incessant kicks followed. If I were alone, maybe I could've dashed away between their feet and counterblow with a low swipe, but then if I did, the second I turn around and release Black from myself, she would get hurt.
I can feel her weak breaths on my neck...she's going to pass out soon. Yappari, no matter how much I hate her, I can't let go of the young, weakened girl in front of me.
The pain of their beating began to subside as my senses get numb. A little bit more...I need to stay strong.....
Finally, they got tired.
"It's no fun! We've beaten them easily!" One girl throws her stick on the ground and backed off.
"Yeah...that's enough..." Another girl added while panting, "to teach....Majisuka a lesson."
The crowd left us jeering and snickering at us, celebrating their victory. I turned my head to look at them one more time. I shall remember their faces and seek revenge one day. And then I saw a shadow in the corner of my eye standing on top of the slope. I look up to get a better view but she's gone already. I can only get a glimpse of the backpack dangling low on the back of the person....
"Nezumi..." I turned my head and see Black looking up at the same spot as I did. Her eyes closed and fainted. So apparently, it's Nezumi who arranged this ambush. God knows if she's the one who made Black sick too. What makes her hate this girl so much?
"Black..." I tried to shake her awake but my whole body aches too much to listen to me. I used all the strength I have left to get myself off Black so we're now lying side by side on the deserted pavement.
------------------------------------------------------------------
After resting for long long time, I decided to take her to the hospital.
"Come..." I put her on my back to give her a piggy-ride, but she's struggling to get off.
"No...I can...walk"
"You can't even speak properly, stop being so stuck up." I pulled her arms further in front and grasped her legs tighter to secure her position on my back.
"Take...me home."
"No! You are having a fever, you need medical attention now!" I shouted angrily at this stubborn girl.
"I have medicine....just take me home....please..."
This is the first time I heard "please" from Black, who seems to have reciprocated my hatred towards her equally ever since we met on the first day. A couple of times, she even wanted to fight me, but instead she just clenched her fist probably because Yuko told her not to. I think she's convinced that I'm an infiltrator and has been eyeing me suspiciously at school ever since I came to Majisuka.
"Fine, if you want to die at home, I won't stop you."
I walk slowly and quietly because I'm not in a better shape than her. But the few people who passed by did not extend any help because they saw that we're from Majisuka... Society then and now is not much different...eh? All the bigots who teach their kids about love and helping others...tsk...
Black has fallen asleep as soon as we started walking. For some reason, the steady heartbeat and soft body are calming my senses. Wind blows on her hair, which sometimes brushes across my face. I can smell the same sweetness that I have been used to since a kid. We used to cuddle together in sleep when there is thunderstorm or when I had nightmares. At first, I thought it's the shampoo, but now, I know that it's just her unique smell. Because everyone has a unique smell....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sae-chan, put me down already!!" Her Kyoto-ben sounds so funny even when she's angry.
"Kekeke....Stop struggling, you're gonna hurt your twisted ankle again!"
"What's so funny?" She hit me playfully from the back. "I can walk....come on, the slope up there is steep and I don't want to see you faint when we reach home!"
"Faint? Don't underestimate the star of Basketball Club!"
"Star? Hahahaha...you mean the time when you tripped over the ball and almost broke your nose? You sure are a talented comedian when you made everyone laugh at the practice...hehehe"
"Mou....it was an accident, accident!! How would I know there are two balls in the court...and...and you're waving at me!"
"Baka-Saeee....in other words, are you blaming me now?" She inches her head forward to look at my flustered face, and a pleasant fragrance flushed into my nostrils.
"Baka-Yui..............you smell." Deep down, I meant she smells nice, kind of like jasmine, I'd say.
"Hm?" The girl immediately tensed up and started smelling herself.
"HAHAHA!" She's so gullible.
"Stop it, stop it! Put me down now!!" She started hitting my back.
"Free massage!!! Thanks, Yuihan!! lalalalalalalala"
"It's not a massage!" She started pinching my cheeks. "And Stop singing like an idiot!.....Wait!!! HAHAHAHA" She suddenly burst into her devilish laugh. She's always like that, finding things that no one finds funny and end up laughing out so loudly that people wonder if she's some pathological issues....ok I exaggerate....
"What now?" I ask annoyed.
"Sae-chan, I found a secret about you."
"Huh?"
"...that....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....your nostrils....are asymmetrical!!"
"Eh?!!" I wanted to put her down and examine my nose that very second, but half-way bending down, I decided against it. "Stop distracting me! Everyone's nostrils are asymmetrical..." I lied in a slight stammer. "I won't let you down and make your evil plan succeed." I grinned slyly.
"Are you sure it's okay...carrying me?"
"Yui-chan, you're not heavy. Besides, I don't want to see your pained look while trying to walk. It... hurts me a lot, you know?" I tried to remark casually. There's a short silence.
"Sae...thank you. To be honest, I feel very comfortable and, somehow, very warm on your back now, so much that I don't want to get off." She hugged closer onto my back, resting her head on mine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We finally reached Black's apartment. She's living alone like Yuko, but the big difference is, her studio is a huge mess. I put her into bed and started to look for the medicine, to which she only pointed at the ramen cups, plates and laundry in the middle.
I sighed and started looking, tidying stuff on the way. It must be tough for a girl to live alone...Yeah! I found the goddamn bottle of pills....Eh? What's that on top?
I pulled a framed photo out from the pile of crap. From it, two little girls, the older one in glasses and the younger one in pigtails, are smiling at me.