First of a three-shot that I might eventually expand into a whole story.

"What. The. Fuck."

"Rima!" My mother scolded, no doubt for my improper language. I ignored her and pointed at the gigantic campus.

"This is my new boarding school? How the hell did you get Dad to agree?" She opened her mouth and I held up a hand, cutting her off. "Right. You got divorced in exchange for him funding all cost of my education and necessities, blah blah blah. Are you sure I'm only going to be stuck here until you find a job and a place to live that isn't your friends' house?"

She nodded. "That is, unless you want to stay longer." I could practically hear her thinking, 'I wouldn't mind using more of your father's money.'

I sighed and picked up my bags. "I won't." As I was about to enter the gates, my mother pulled me back awkwardly. I looked back, thinking that she wanted to say goodbye, but was dumbfounded when she held up a giant hoodie, guy jeans, and sunglasses. A pair of sneakers dangled in her other hand.

I crossed my arms, confused. "What's wrong with my outfit?" I had chosen to simply wear a white blouse with a sleeveless black vest over it, and a red plaid skirt. My hair was curled into perfect ringlets, and sheer tights hugged my legs before disappearing into a pair of leather riding boots.

She cringed. "Well, Rima, you see…"

"I see…what?" I prompted.

She winced again. "This school happens to be an…um… allboyschool." She said the last three words so fast they blurred together. I glared.

"Come again? Did you just say that this is a boys-only boarding school? Wait, are you telling me to pretend to be a guy?" I asked incredulously, the clothing she was holding suddenly making sense. I considered whacking them out of her hand and stomping all over them, but held.

"Yes." She squeaked. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Rima, but you wouldn't have agreed!"

"I don't!" I shouted, furious. "I can't pretend to be a guy!"

My mother hesitated before plunging forward. "Well… it's not like you have any breasts."

Oh, that is it.

"Yes, so I should obviously go to an all-boys boarding school. Mhmm. Perfect sense. Just so you and Dad can get divorced and all that. That's a happy, happy thing! You know what, just give me the clothes and I'll change right here! In the middle of the road! That way, I can blow my cover before I start pretending!" I snapped, glaring with cold fury at her.

She sighed. "We don't have a choice. You can't go to a public school because there are no dorms or places for you to sleep. We can't both intrude on Yukari's hospitality forever, and I can't take care of you while I'm looking for a job. And unless you want to move to Europe with your father…" She trailed off, looking pleadingly at me. "This is the only boarding school in this area within your father's budget."

I took several deep breaths and admitted that she was right. Internally, of course. Finally, I grudgingly took the clothes, and changed in the car.

I tucked all my hair into the hoodie, making sure none of it showed. Then I put on sunglasses and wiped off my lip-gloss, and took off my face makeup as well. I couldn't say I looked like a man, but I definitely didn't resemble a girl in this getup. People would probably think I looked like a young boy. No different than usual, just the gender had changed.

I stepped out and my mother smiled gratefully. Then, she embraced me. "Call me, okay?" I nodded and hugged her back.

"Go find a job." I retorted, but not unkindly. She laughed and nodded, then drove away.

"Home sweet home." I muttered sarcastically as I lugged my bags onto my new campus.

I had to wander around for quite a bit before I found my room. "301." I read out loud. My roommate was… Fujisaki Nagihiko?

"Wonder what he's like." I said to myself, before pushing the door open.

A guy was laying on one of the beds and tossing a basketball aimlessly into the air and catching it while he talked to another boy, who was sitting on the cushy chair next to the bed.

The one on the bed had long, silky, violet hair. From the back, I might've thought he was a girl, but his handsome face and toned physique obviously suggested otherwise.

The brunette on the chair had shockingly green eyes, and a wide, easy grin. I didn't know which one was Nagihiko. Both were amazingly attractive, and seemed nice. Geez, I had better not make any comments like that out loud, or else they might think I'm gay.

They turned towards me as I awkwardly opened the door. Purple head sat up. "You must be Mashiro Riku."

I nodded, realizing that my voice would give away my gender. (What the hell, mother? My name is Riku?)

"I'm Fujisaki Nagihiko." He introduced himself, smiling kindly. I shook his outstretched hand.

"I'm Souma Kukai." The brunette said, smiling and patting me on the back. Ow. Guys hit hard. "Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?"

Fujisaki reached forward, as if to take them off, and I reeled backwards, cradling them protectively as I tried to lower my voice. "Nghkngh!" I grunted, trying to convey that I wanted to keep them on.

He drew back, looking confused and slightly alarmed. "O-Okay, then. Sorry." He looked guilty and ashamed, and I realized that he must've thought that I was blind.

Dammit, how do I communicate? I really need to get my hands on some paper and a pen.

I smiled to show that no harm was done, and then turned to unpack. I froze when I realized that I would only have girl clothes. I unzipped a tiny portion and peeked inside, breathing a sigh of relief when I realized my mom had repacked the suitcase. I didn't know whether to be impressed or disgruntled.

Hurriedly stowing my undergarments in a small, hidden compartment in the suitcase, I pulled out a bunch of hoodies and jeans and t-shirts and hung them up in the closet. Fujisaki and Souma were talking about basketball again.

I finished unpacking and sat awkwardly on the bed, wondering what I was supposed to do now. I had arrived after all lessons were done, and now was free time.

Fujisaki tapped me on the shoulder. "Want me to give you a tour?" I nodded, as Souma said goodbye and swept out the door.

Fujisaki took me to see the school portion of the campus, touring the classrooms. Teachers were grading papers in some of them.

I crashed into a girl running hurriedly by, pink hair clipped by a black barrette. She dropped the papers she was holding and her mouth dropped open. "I'm so sorry!" She apologized, picking up her papers and then running away. Her honey eyes had been striking.

I thought that this was an all-boys school, though. I gestured in the girl's general direction and raised my eyebrows. Fujisaki understood my question. "Ah, that's the new T.A. They keep leaving 'cause of us."

It took me a moment to realize that by 'us', he meant guys. I grunted. "Hmm." He took it as a sign to continue.

"Well, they're usually girls, so a lot of us harass them. I don't, though. It's quite rude. There is one T.A. that's been here pretty long. Name's Utau. Blonde, beautiful, with violet eyes. Kukai's head over heels for her, but she won't give him the time of the day." He grinned.

He tilted his head towards the pink girl's direction, where she had run off. "That was Amu. She's quite pretty, too. Her hair is quite unique. I think she might quit soon, though. She's kind of clumsy and Ikuto, this upperclassman, is always teasing her. Shame, really. She's a really sweet girl once you get to know her."

He thought for a second. "There's one more named Yaya. Hyperactive and bouncy, but her looks keep people from making instant judgments. Despite the energy she has, she makes a great friend."

I immediately decided that I did not like Fujisaki Nagihiko.

I know. It's a totally irrational judgment, right? He was being nice, and he was attractive, and he had good things to say about other people, even behind their backs. He was evidently good and knowledgeable at sports, and had good grades, from what he and Souma were talking about. The guy was perfect.

And perfect people are always hiding something.

Okay, and maybe I was jealous of the perfect ones. Just a bit. But my main reason was still that Fujisaki Nagihiko probably had some giant secret that none of his friends knew about, and he was despicable for keeping it from them. That was all.

"Mhmm." I said in response. He stopped walking.

"You…um… you do talk, right?" He asked cautiously, trying not to offend me if I was mute as well as blind. I rolled my eyes behind my shades, even though he couldn't see them.

I nodded. He looked relieved, but then asked another question. "Well, why don't you?"

I grunted. "Mhmm."

God, even I was getting tired of this 'Hmm' 'Mhmm' 'nod' 'shake' 'gesture' business. I wanted to talk, dammit! Instead, I mimed writing. He understood and pulled a small notepad and pen from his pocket.

I wrote, I'm not talking because I don't like talking. And I don't really like you, either, Fujisaki. Then I handed it to him. His face fell as he read it.

Blunt, but the closer I got to him, the harder it would be to keep my own secret. Besides, I didn't want anything to do with someone that lied to his friends like he probably did.

But then he smiled. "Well, you barely know me. I'll just keep trying. I hope we can be friends, Riku-san."

He gave me the notepad and pen. "You can keep this. I'll be in the dorm if you need me."

I looked down to what he had handed me as he strolled away. He had written something, too. You can call me Nagihiko.

I scowled. "Never."

So yes, Part 1. It'll get funnier once Rima can talk, I promise. Though I found the grunting thing kind of amusing. I might turn this into a whole story after I finish AMI. (Speaking of which, shameless self-advertising! Please read my main Rimahiko fanfic, All My Imperfections. If you want.)

Review?

~Sea