You Forgot
Sakagami Tomoyo
Retired Staff
Student Council President
In-Character Posts: 121
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Post by Sakagami Tomoyo on Oct 1, 2011 23:35:27 GMT -6
Sakagami Tomoyo ______________________________________________________
Date: May 6 (Tuesday) Time: 12:00pm
The day after vacation...
Tomoyo’s sapphire blue eyes shone brightly, honing in on one particular student.
Her footsteps were clear and distinct as she made her way across the half-vacant classroom, wallet in hand. Normally, one wouldn't hear their own footsteps so easily. It was lunch time, after all. The clamor of schoolmates talking over their food tended to make the classroom a fairly noisy place for lunch (although, not nearly as loud as the cafeteria by any means), but today, the classroom scene could only be described as quiet.
As always, there was still plenty of energy during lunch, but today it was a different kind of energy. If anything, it was comparable to that of a testing environment. It was odd and unnerving. Even more odd was the fact that this seemed to be a common occurrence today.
As if merely recognizing the unnatural mood of the room was enough of a cure, one by one, the students' voices rose up and blended into that incomprehensible murmur which every high school student is familiar with.
With that, the ordinary, casual lunch time environment returned.
Sandwiched between Tomoyo's slender hand and the desk, the only sound the wallet could muster was a muffled clunk which was hardly audible more than a few feet away, drowned out by the constant murmur of students, just as it should have been.
“Hey, Koji. What was up with that weird atmosphere...?"
[/color] Tomoyo asked. She couldn't deny that she was starting to get paranoid about it, seeing as how this was the second time she'd stumbled upon an unusually silent classroom within the span of a few hours, but that wasn't the reason why she came here. "Anyway, it’s a good thing I checked here first,”[/color] she declared, moving on quickly. She figured it was probably just coincidental that she happened to walk in at the wrong times today, and so she allowed her concerns to ease their way into the back of her mind. It being lunch time, Koji could’ve been practically anywhere in the school. Her first choice had been to check the classroom; the cafeteria was her second for very obvious reasons. Now with both her hands on Koji’s desk, Tomoyo leaned forward and sighed lightly, staring at the young man in front of her. “Koji, did you even realize you left your wallet on the bus?”[/color] She'd thought this guy had sense, but maybe she'd been wrong. Or maybe he did have sense and he was just clueless enough to have left his wallet out on the seat of the bus, for whatever reason. Not bothering to stop and wait for an answer, she continued on, automatically lecturing him much like a teacher would, without even realizing it herself. “I don’t even know where you live, so I couldn’t give it back to you during break.”[/color] Tomoyo stood upright again, resting her hands on her hips this time. “You should be happy I was the one who found it. If it were anybody else, they might not have given it back.”[/color] Despite sounding like a teacher, she was smiling. She wasn't peeved about it. Honestly. Sure, holding onto Koji's wallet had been troublesome, but it wasn't like it'd been an unbearable task. Returning it was probably the most rewarding part of the deed -- partially because she was able to keep it safe for him, and partially because she was finally able to get it off her hands. “I’m just telling you this so you’ll know,”[/color] Tomoyo stated matter-of-factly. “But, I guess trying to survive through break without your wallet is punishment enough, so you probably don't need me telling you this."[/color] [/blockquote][/size]
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Oct 2, 2011 0:53:47 GMT -6
Gruuuuumble~
There it was again. It had to be at least the fourth, no it was the fifth time that it, the unearthly noise, had made it's presence known in the past ten minutes. It was as if his stomach had decided to punish the boy every few minutes with an uncomfortable knotting sensation that reminded him that he hadn't offered it food, to satisfy it's low growling pleas. Malcontented, Koji placed his right hand upon his belly and rubbed it, trying to ease away the hunger pangs. Somehow, he had misplaced his wallet, and with it, his lunch money for the entire week. His parents refused to lend him money, chiding him for his carelessness, neither would his brother nor cousin share the familial wealth with him. His 'job' of cleaning and maintaining the equipment of his brother's band yielded little in the way of pay, save for a few thousand yen here and there.
As much as he tried to justify that he was not careless, the evidence was stacked against him, and the jury were back with their conviction. They found Otomo Kojiro guilty of losing his wallet. Just one of the bad things that had happened to him today. Married with his unpleasant hunger, and lack of food, were the whisperings of a small handful of his classmates. The same whispering he'd been privy to, or rather, not privy to, in his junior year. The same he'd heard when he took it upon himself to shoulder the problems of the bullied. Such a weight had crushed him mere days ago, and the ever-ready Sakagami Tomoyo had rode in on her horse, and chased the bandits away with her mere presence. For Koji, it really was quite awe-inspiring to see a bunch of thugs trip over themselves to flee, in terror he might add, from a junior girl who barely came past his shoulders.
Sighing, Koji drummed his fingers on his desk, smelling the smells of lunch, of food. Food that other people were enjoying. Maybe he was going through the same punishment as Sisyphus, and forgetting his wallet meant he was cursed to do without lunch today, as his boulder to be pushed, endlessly up the hill. He had a lot on his mind however. The realization that jaded him slightly, Tomoyo saving him from a violent thrashing. Tomoyo. There was a girl who took nothing laying down. Koji admired her. She would definitely go places in life. Koji was happy to count the xanadu-haired girl amongst his friends.
Taking his mind off the hunger, Koji turned his inklings to a line of thought common to him as plant life was in the earth. Fujibayshi Kyou. With his blunderers error in confessing his true feelings (though in hindsight he was feeling slightly under pressure and had, in his opinion made a rash decision) to the wrong Fujibayashi sister, none other than his class rep. Perhaps instead of having his ears numbed by the spitfire chatter of his younger cousin, he could turn to Tomoyo for help. Shou was, at heart a good person, but was very ambitious, reckless, and impulsive... Some might even say borderline psychotic. Tomoyo on the other hand had a wisdom beyond her years, and could offer him some valuable advice on asking the fiery Fujibayashi out on a date. She was, after all, his only other girl friend. Chuckling to himself about the "girl friend" part, Koji then wondered if Tomoyo had any experience with dating, and anything she could offer him as advice.
Then, the sound of imitation leather making contact with wood flooded into his ears. As if summoned by his mind, Tomoyo stood before him, with something Koji could hardly believe it. His wallet! She'd found it. Was she the living incarnation of Anthony of Padua, Saint of Lost Things?
“Hey, Koji. What was up with that weird atmosphere...?"
So she had clicked onto it too. It made sense. Tomoyo was infamous for dealing with a group of trouble makers from another school. If those thugs she'd rescued him from, merely by being there had spread any rumors... Then, could this be why people in his class had shot them a few sour looks? Was something like that really so easily believed? Well, if the story of a ghost girl was anything to go by, then yes? It really wasn't a good sign. So close to the election, the last thing Tomoyo needed was another influx of nasty rumors creeping up. It was his fault too. Finding no way to answer the girl, Koji breathed a sigh of slight relief when she continued talking.
"Anyway, it’s a good thing I checked here first,”
Tomoyo soon veered in close to Koji, and in a movement scarily reminiscent of his grandmother, questioned him. Though without the lack of glasses, and certainlly lacking a heavily-wrinkled, aged face, it was quite a surprise for Koji to behold.
“Koji, did you even realize you left your wallet on the bus?”
The boy shook his head. Truthfully, he had no idea it was missing until earlier this morning, when he went to purchase some melon bread from the cafeteria as a snack, having slept in late, and as a result, had to skip breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
"No, I honestly didn't... I had other things on my mind on the bus," he began, shrugging his shoulders, which gave way quickly to a broad beam, "but it looks like it found it's way back to me huh?"
“I don’t even know where you live, so I couldn’t give it back to you during break.”
Koji scratched the back of his head. He was sure he had his address on a small card slotted in behind a picture of his brother and he with Shou when they were all younger. Deciding it not best to dwell on it, he took it upon himself to apologize.
“You should be happy I was the one who found it. If it were anybody else, they might not have given it back.”
"Ah, you're right... Sorry. It's been a bit of a burden to you for such a small thing hasn't it?" Koji asked rhetorically. Of course it had been slightly troublesome for her. The initial discovery, the wondering? Of course, opening it, Tomoyo would have likely spotted the picture, and easily figured out the wallet's owner. Now, here she was, returning it to said owner, who graciously accepted it back.
“I’m just telling you this so you’ll know. But, I guess trying to survive through break without your wallet is punishment enough... so you probably don't need me telling you this."
"Yeah..." He responded, trying hard not to shake the feeling of dread he got from the nearby chatter of other students. He placed one hand to the side of his face, and beckoned for Tomoyo to move in closer.
"Listen Tomoyo... I don't know if you heard, but there's a few people in this class that've been whispering about... Well, us. Apparently there's a little tale floating around that you and I beat up some guys at the hot springs." Koji informed, regardless of whether or not Sakagami had actually heard.
"It's all my fault really. I should've... Well, frankly, I should have been taking more care since we were away from school. Now you might not win the student president election because of me." He continued, placing the blame, as usual squarely on himself. He'd bore the weight of several people's problems on his shoulders before, so what harm would there be, in doing it all again for one person, a good friend at that?
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Sakagami Tomoyo
Retired Staff
Student Council President
In-Character Posts: 121
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Post by Sakagami Tomoyo on Oct 3, 2011 21:20:58 GMT -6
Sakagami Tomoyo ______________________________________________________
“Hm?”
[/color] Koji had his hand at the side of his face, gesturing for her to move in closer. Tomoyo stood there for a second, confused. Why the sudden need to whisper? “What is it?”[/color] she asked, puzzled, but brushed her silver locks away from her face and leaned in anyway. There were those people who needed an explanation for everything before they did anything at all. Lucky for Koji, Tomoyo wasn’t one of those people. She knew when things didn’t need an explanation. This was one of those “just do it” moments. “Listen Tomoyo...” came Koji’s hushed voice. She didn’t know what could’ve prompted him into speaking so secretively, but she hadn’t had enough time to actually be concerned about it; that is, until the words, “I don’t know if you heard,” came tumbling out of his mouth. Tomoyo’s lips tightened to form a thin line. Those kinds of words were dangerous and always preceded bad news. “But there’s a few people in this class that’ve been whispering about... Well, us. Apparently there’s a little tale floating around that you and I beat up some guys at the hot springs.” It appeared she was one of the few people still left in the dark about the story; or she had been, until she’d heard about it from Koji himself. She would’ve been fine if the story was only about her; after all, it was somewhat true. Tomoyo once said she wouldn’t harm any of the students from her school. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to uphold that vow. She’d been left with no other choice. When those same guys who'd picked on Koji charged at her after she tried to let them off with a warning, the only thing she could do was defend herself. It was hardly even a fight. It... ended quickly. That was the best and simplest way to put it. Nobody knew of this "fight" other than the parties involved, meaning she and the guys who thought it'd be a good idea to try and pick a fight. But, Koji didn't stop. He continued talking, babbling on about it being his fault... but why? His words became indistinct to her. She’d stopped paying attention as soon as he started placing the blame on himself. How could he possibly think this was his fault? Why was he so insistent on carrying her problems on his own two shoulders? Tomoyo pulled away from Koji, indignation flaring in her eyes. “Why’s your name being mentioned? This has little to do with you,”[/color] she protested, hardly aware of her overly loud voice. It didn't seem fair for Koji in the slightest. The only way he was related to the issue was merely due to the fact that his name was included amongst hers in a rumor which had spread like wildfire within the first few hours of the school day. “Voting starts tomorrow. Whatever happens can’t really be changed at this point, but don’t be so worried. Like I said, you’re not part of this, so don’t think any of this is your fault,”[/color] Tomoyo insisted, seemingly unconcerned about the elections. “I’ll be fine.”[/color] It wasn’t like she didn’t care about the elections. These elections meant everything to her. They were the reason she transferred to Hikarizaka High School; or rather, they were one of the many stepping stones which led up to her sole reason for transferring. If she faltered here, her path to her goal would be cut off completely... and she couldn’t let that happen. But this small incident, she felt, wouldn’t be able to throw off her momentum. What she did at the hot springs was the right thing to do; she didn’t have any regrets. The only thing she regretted was the fact Koji had somehow gotten tied up in her affairs. “Here,”[/color] Tomoyo said, her gaze already determined, her mind made up. “Do you want me to tell them you had nothing to do with the fight?”[/color] As if deciding he’d already given his answer, she turned from him on her heel, just about ready to stand in front of the senior class to declare Koji’s innocence. [/blockquote][/size]
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Oct 5, 2011 16:27:43 GMT -6
Ignoring the knotting sensation in his digestive tract, Koji was reminded of just why people were talking about him. It was likely his would-be attackers from the other day wanted revenge on him yet again. They were the ones that had probably spread the rumor around. It didn't bode well for the aspiring student president. Tomoyo wondered too, why his name was mentioned. She would have her answer.
"You remember when I mentioned what I did in my junior year? I was caught, once by a teacher after school. It all came out. Since then, my track record's been shaky," he explained, taking a sour look, "and... My parents threatened to pull me from this school if I got another suspension. Well, my mom did. Ken was pleased I stood up for everyone, but that isn't important. What's important is that you got dragged into all this, because I wasn't careful enough, and now you might lose the election."
“I’ll be fine.”
The boy frowned, and lost himself in thought. The first thing that popped into his mind. It was foolish, but his younger cousin made a habit out of working around the foolishness of being impulsive. Why couldn't he take his turn in being impulsive, instead of over-thinking? Koji took a deep breath of air, filling his lungs.
“Do you want me to tell them you had nothing to do with the fight?”
Amidst the chattering class, he shook his head, and stood up, before Tomoyo could... Before she could explain things to his gossiping class. All eyes were on him. Some whispered under their breaths, asking if he was going to slug one of the gossipers for their whisperings. Others simply restated their confirmation that he was just another delinquent, like Okazaki and Sunohara.
No... You won't be fine. Not unless I...
Koji cleared his throat. His mind was racing with thoughts about how stupid he was for doing what he was about to do. He just prayed there were no teachers in close enough proximity to hear him.
"Everyone... Listen up. The rumor you've all been hearing is true... Well, half-true. Tomoyo wasn't involved. It was me. I started that fight. I beat up those guys at the hot springs." He announced, unflinching as silence fell on the class, as if they couldn't believe it. Whatever reputation he had managed to restore for himself was more than likely gone. He looked toward Tomoyo with as serious as a look one could have, before calmly taking his seat again. He did not blink. He barely moved. The only indication that he was still alive, was the rising of his chest with every calm breath he took. Tomoyo must have thought he was such an idiot for jumping on this grenade for her, when he knew, that truthfully, he had almost nothing to do with it. He was a victim, and the thugs that attempted to beat him up were lying. It was their own fault if they decided to try their luck against Tomoyo.
If he was kicked out of Hikarizaka, Shou would likely bludgeon him to death with one of her skates. He knew she was very interested in his relationship with a certain senior. Interested enough to chew up Okazaki, outright insulting him. He wanted to say something to Tomoyo, but despite his calm exterior, he was truly frightened inside. His class too, must be thinking the worst of him. After the silence, they returned to frantically talking amongst themselves. Another series of stomach pains reminded him he had yet to eat. He didn't care. He'd lost his appetite.
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Sakagami Tomoyo
Retired Staff
Student Council President
In-Character Posts: 121
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Post by Sakagami Tomoyo on Oct 7, 2011 17:31:26 GMT -6
Sakagami Tomoyo ______________________________________________________
The sound of someone rising from their seat halted Tomoyo in her tracks and prompted her to look back. Koji stood there at his desk and cleared his throat, his resolute gaze set straight ahead and trained on places farther than the reach of the classroom’s walls. Tomoyo, still with her back turned, stared at him from over her shoulder, perplexed.
“What are you --“
[/color] she began to question him, but she was cut off before she could get another word out. “Everyone... Listen up,” Koji said. His eyes were those of someone with a decided mind, determined to see a deadly deed through to its completion for the sake of the cause. Already the mood in the room had changed. Some students continued their chatter; others shot him dirty looks for interrupting their lunches, while others only gawked at him. “The rumor you've all been hearing is true... Well, half-true.” At this, Tomoyo raised an eyebrow. What was he getting at? Somehow, she felt like she knew where this was going... and she wanted to yell at him, to tell him to stop being so stubborn. “Tomoyo wasn't involved,” Koji said, nailing his own coffin. It was me. I started that fight. I beat up those guys at the hot springs." It was a lie. And the only thing Tomoyo could do was stand by, frustrated and stunned by his confession. Oh, how she would have liked to laugh about it! To tease him about how awkward he looked quieting the class and pleading guilty. But, there was nothing at all awkward about this, nor was this any laughing matter. Why was Koji such an idiot? Why was he so self-forgetful and why was he so stubbornly insistent on taking the blame all of the time? His eyes met hers. She took the time to study his face, but Koji’s expression was unreadable. The predominant thought in Tomoyo’s mind was simple, mainly consisting of only one word. “Why?”More importantly, why was he doing this for her, intentionally drawing the fire away from her and instead, toward himself? She just couldn’t wrap her head around it. She didn’t know if she should be grateful for his misplaced actions or if she should be annoyed... and right now, she was feeling both of those. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Koji broke eye contact and took his seat again. He was suddenly a lonely island in a sea of snickering, accusing glares, and doubtful glances. Some students in the class ignored him and immediately resumed what they were doing before they’d been interrupted by his unnecessary confession. Others talked about the two of them, judging both Koji and the popular underclassman girl. What they were saying, Tomoyo couldn’t discern. She continued to stare down at him and then let out a sigh. “You’re hopeless...”[/color] Tomoyo said, drained and with a lack of anything else to say. What else could be said? She didn’t understand Koji. She already told him he wasn’t involved and that he didn’t need to do anything about it. He was only complicating the issue... but, Tomoyo couldn’t bring herself to hate him for it. She was grateful and somewhat happy he was willing to cover for her. But, feeling like this was wrong, wasn’t it...? Tomoyo frowned, clenching her jaw. How could she be happy knowing Koji was tearing his own reputation apart for her sake? She couldn’t possibly be happy with this. Drawing in a sharp breath, Tomoyo placed a hand over her chest, gesturing to herself, and swept her gaze over the classroom, this time ready to address Koji’s classmates. “What he said isn’t the truth,”[/color] she declared loudly, pausing only for a second to regather their attention. “He’s just confused, so don’t mind him. He’s not related to the fight in any way.”[/color] Tomoyo didn’t stick around to listen to the comments that ensued afterwards. She was already out of the classroom, swiftly walking down the hallway, her long silver locks trailing behind her. Her overwhelming urge to be anywhere but near Koji was overwhelming. Was she running away from him? No. That much she knew. She had nothing to run away from. If that was the case, then why was she feeling this way? She didn’t quite understand it herself, but... "Because he's worked too hard to let someone with your reputation drag him down."Tomoyo stopped in the middle of the empty hallway, gazed outside the window, and smiled wryly to herself. Someone close to Koji once said those words to her. Those words hurt the first time, but now she thought she knew what they really meant. It wasn’t her reputation dragging him down, but him dragging himself down be cause of her reputation. Whenever she was around Koji, drama seemed to be unavoidable. Tomoyo shook her head lightly, amused by the thought of it. Why couldn’t things be more carefree with him? [/blockquote][/size]
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