Aki Kitsune (Autumn Fox): Chapter One

Story is in alternating POV of characters.
For explanations on Japanese terms used in this story, check Terminologies at the following url:
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Torikawa Sekai:

I had never figured out the need for humans to go for school.

And I absolutely did not accept any of the crap reasons about acquiring new skills. It was most probably just another plot to brainwash teenagers into becoming slaves of money so we could boost the country's economy.

To me, school is all rubbish, which explains why I was always late for classes even though I was studying in a boarding school.

I thought there would be no one else later than me but, surprise surprise, I knocked into a brunette along the corridor. I ignored her and continued on with my gloomy journey to another boring day of "noble" education.

Hey, who would give a care about a minor scuffle? There was a tough world out there and she would have to learn to look out for herself sooner or later.

"You wanna die?" she snapped at me from behind. Friendly, wasn't she?

"Torikawa! Late again," the teacher whose name I did not bother to remember said matter-of-factly when I entered my classroom.

The rest of the students either snickered at me or took the opportunity to chit-chat.

"I wonder why you even attend school at all," she shook her head.

"I'd like to know why too," I muttered as I shuffled to the end of the room where my table was, two places from the window.

Just as I was slumped comfortably in my seat, the door suddenly slammed wide open. Half the class jumped while the teacher dropped her marker.

The brunette I met on the corridor earlier on walked in. Talk about coincidence. She took a look at the teacher, snatched the marker from her and began to write her name on the whiteboard.

"Uh... class, we have a transfer student and she'll be with us from today onwards. She's-" the girl put the marker back in its tray none too gently.

KUROMURA AKI

"-Kuromura Aki. So I hope you'll all be nice to her and help her adapt..." blah, blah, blah... as the girl swept her eyes over the room and finally locked in on-

Mine.

Kuromura started walking towards me, keeping her glare consistent, while I gave her a mildly-amused look. As she finally stopped at my table, her ice-like glare deepened, piercing right through me, ripping me bare of my thoughts.

Not wanting to let her know how uneasy I was beginning to feel, I maintained eye contact. Barely.

"It is only manners to apologise if you knocked into someone," she said clearly with strength and composure before taking the seat by the window, which was conveniently beside mine.

And I thought I had the worst attitude in class.

I knew it would be soon before Kuromura got herself into some sort of trouble because you see, my school has its own collection of gangs and most of them definitely do not treat transfer students nicely, especially if Kuromura's attitude was in question.

By the time we got back from the third period, there was already a letter waiting on her desk. From some short-tempered and very pissed off seniors, I presume.

Her face showed no expression of surprise or confusion as she read the letter.

Hah, I've seen people like that but ended up crying and transferring to another school at the end of the day. I wondered how long she can keep up with that façade before breaking down.

Kuromura stood up abruptly at the beginning of our last lesson, then walked swiftly out of class.

The teacher blinked before realising what had just happened. But instead of rushing out to get Kuromura back, he continued on with the lesson. Obvious how normal it was for students to just walk out of class in this school.

Well, I could only say that our teachers were already numb to everything that we did. At least I would not be bored after school today.

I had grown accustomed to the fact that some of the students in my school would "christen" new or transfer students in their own special way. Knowing that and having nothing to do, I would sometimes collect their "remains" if I feel kind enough that day. Maybe add in a laugh or two while I was at it.

When the lesson ended, I walked up staircase that led to the rooftop of the school building. It was the typical place for the gangsters in my school to pick a fight. However, the door to the clearing swung open forcefully before I could open it, revealing Kuromura, who stood in the doorway.

Her hair was a mess, with strands sticking out at random places while her blouse had wrinkle marks and half of her right sleeve was dangling from what that tiny fragment of cloth left at the shoulder could hold.

There was also an angry-looking cut that was oozing blood to match her murderous scowl.

Overall, I would say she had looked the least tousled out of the many victims that I had seen ever since stepping into this school.

I received yet another glare as she brushed pass me.

"The school doctor might be needed here," Kuromura said.

"Obvious, isn't it?" I eyed her.

She turned around and gave me an irritated look, "Not for me, duh," and walked off.

Huh?

I walked through the doorway and gaped at the sight that greeted me.

The two most feared seniors of this school were sprawled out on the floor. One was in mid-groan while the other had a weird distorted grin on his face.

What in the world?

Kuromura Aki:

It had been the typical first day of school for a new student, who just so happened to be me.

It was the usual stuff, irritated the seniors, be late for class, pick on a classmate who I did not like from first impression, beat up the bullies. Yeah, pretty much the usual routine.

I grabbed a towel and draped it over my head as I walked out of my bathroom and plopped down on the floor. While I examined the damage done, I pulled out the first-aid kit and a mirror to assess that cut on my face.

"Juniors should show more respect to their seniors, girl," the guy with chicken-head styled hair sneered.

"I don't give a damn for seniors in stupidity," I replied smoothly.

The another guy who had long hair tied up in a ponytail and a nose ring (ugh... nose ring...) reached out for my collar and hissed, "You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into."

In one swift movement I avoided his oncoming punch, grabbed his right arm, turned and flipped him over my shoulder.

WHAM!

He hit the floor. Hmm... the impact was not very satisfying. Maybe I should have "thrown" him instead of "flipping" him.

"Ow..." Pony-tailed hugged his right arm as he writhed on the floor. Guys were such babies. I did not even twist it when I "flipped" him, did I?

I did not respond fast enough to the Swiss-army knife that he threw at me. I evaded enough to just suffer a small cut on my left cheek. I gave him a glare before kicking him. I then turned and threw a fist at Chicken-head, who came up behind me.

Chicken-head ducked my fist and grabbed my shoulder in an attempt to aim a punch at me. I got out of his grasp a little too violently, tearing my right sleeve.

There went one school blouse. This was getting boring. I had been to schools with more intimidating bullies.

As he turned to have another try, I gave him a hard kick between his legs, and he fell to his knees with a strange look on his face.

I peeled out a plaster, stuck it over the cut on my cheek, and pulled my blouse onto my lap to stare at the ripped sleeve.

Hmm... Tricky. But I had dealt with situations like this before. I pulled off the piece of fabric that was hanging on pathetically and stashed it in my bag. I could easily get someone to sew on a new piece anytime.

My digital alarm clock read 11:38 PM. It was too early for me to sleep and too unlike me to do homework.

I lay on the bed and stretched, waiting for the need to sleep to slip in. Should I continue to torment the guy from my class tomorrow? It was amusing to watch him trying to not show that he was uneasy under my glare.

What was his name, anyway?

"Torikawa Sekai!" The teacher called the fourth time before the guy on my left lifted his head, obviously just woken up.

He pushed his fringe out of his eyes, "Yeah?"

"The discipline mistress wants to see you now," the teacher said monotonously, as if this was a routine that she went through frequently.

None of my business anyway, so I turned my head back towards the window.

"She wants to see you too, Kuromura-san." Me? Three guesses what she wanted to talk to us about.

I pushed back my chair roughly, making it screech against the floor and stood up to follow Torikawa out the door. Too lazy to close it, I left it open.

We were walking in silence for a while before Torikawa opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.

"If you don't wanna die earlier than you were supposed to, don't try to talk to me." He pressed his lips together and shrugged.

Just as we reached the office, the weird pair from last evening's fight was leaving. Their eyes widened in fear as we passed one another. I gave them my trademark glare and snickered inwardly at their horrified reaction.

I stepped in the office after Torikawa, not bothering to bow to the DM. I saw that he did not either, and was standing casually in front of her desk with his hands in the pockets of his pants.

The DM let out a soft sigh before addressing Torikawa. Was she used to getting this sort of treatment? Or was Torikawa a regular here?

"Torikawa-kun, you were the one who informed the school doctor about the two seniors. Can you tell me your side of the story?"

"I don't know what happened. I just saw the two injured so I went to get the school doctor," he lied smoothly.

"You didn't see anyone leaving?"

"No," he answered a little too quickly and loudly. I rolled my eyes.

"Actually, he saw me," I admitted, not because I feared the consequences but rather that I did not like to cover things up.

"Really?" she acknowledged me for the first time since I walked in, "So, what happened?"

"The seniors picked a fight with me. One had a knife. I just gave them what they deserved," I replied calmly.

She looked surprised at my truthfulness and paused before speaking again, "So you are saying that they deserved a sore back a twisted arm and some other injury that the other did not want to talk about."

Torikawa choked back a laughter. The DM gave him a puzzled look but continued.

"By the way things seemed, it is only reasonable that you receive a punishment. New student or not, fighting is prohibited within the school compound and the staff treats every student equally. So-"

"She still gets a punishment? But she was being challenged! They were even armed! Plus I think that she has the right to protect herself. Personally- OW!"

I glared at him while grinding the sole of my right foot harder on his left toes.

"Those two will also receive appropriate punishment," she pointed out.

"It is only fair that I get my share of it for fighting in school. I am fine with the arrangement," I said.

"What?" Torikawa exclaimed, only to be glared at from both the DM and me this time.

"You will receive your share of the punishment, Torikawa-kun, for not telling me the truth right from the start," she said coldly, "You will be informed of your punishment by next week. You may return to your class."

We turned around and I was about to step out of the door when she called me back, "I would like to have a word with you, Kuromura-san."

"I have your past records and I don't like what I see," the DM continued when Torikawa closed the door after stepping out.

Here we go again. I waited for the typical "We care for you and we want to help you" crap that all the schools that I went to gave me.

"It seems that you have been transferring schools all the time due to bad attitude and worse behaviour. Is there a reason for this?"

...To be continued