Preface

This story is a retelling of Toradora!, with a time line beginning from the start of the anime until the end. Written in 1st person perspective from the view of Minori Kusheida, this fanfiction is an attempt to create a more developed character for her as well as to explore the ties and interactions she has with the different cast members of the anime. Additional chapters known as X chapters may be written to provide a view from another character's perspective within that respective chapter. This is an ongoing project and helpful criticism and feedback is very much appreciated. Please enjoy.

The setting to Chasing Ghosts includes a 3 month vacation before the events of the 1st episode. For an understanding of this decision to curious readers, please visit my profile page for an explanation. Thank you.

Chapter 1: My New Day

*BEEP * *BEEP* *BEEP*

"...eh?"

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

I try to force my eyes open to make sense of what just woke me up from bed. I turn my head to face my alarm clock that reads 5:30am. Strange, it shouldn't be ringing this early. It's not time for me to get up and get ready for work. What day is it today? Yesterday I had preseason softball practice. We got off pretty late... that's not important. So that means today's Monday? Ok, Monday work schedule...

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

It's getting difficult to think with me wanting to go back to bed and that loud alarm going off. Monday... I don't go to Jonny's until 5 for the night shift. In the morning I wake up at 8am to get ready to work at the Liquor with Inage-san. So why is the alarm...? Oh right right. I rescheduled with him a few days ago to work on Wednesdays at 4. He asked me why and I told him that...

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP*

"...EEHHH!? The opening ceremony at school! I have to be there early to meet up with the softball team! I have to see what my homeroom is and oh! I promised Taiga I'd te-" I sat up as fast as I could and slammed the alarm clock halfway through my panicked outburst.

*BEE-* *THUD*

"Oww! That hurt!" I gripped my hand gently, fully awake from the shock of both the pain and of the forgotten school day. "Gosh, how did I not remember it as soon as the alarm rung? Minori you're such an idiot! Getting lazy and relying on your habits instead of thinking clearly!" I frantically begin my usual routine to get started for school.

On every other day I would've been on top of things. The morning shower, hair, do the bed, clothes, fruit for breakfast, it's all been engraved in my mind every since I moved into this little two room condo.

"Ok clothes... my uniform! Where did I put that thing? Umm... I put it someplace where I could easily grab it for today, that much I remember. Let's see..." I glance around my closet and then race my eyes across my bedroom to figure out where genius me could have put it. I see a hangar hanged at the top of my door, remembering myself proudly putting it there so I wouldn't forget. I felt my face turn red slightly.

*snatch*

"Geesh, there's no time to get embarrassed over yourself! Hurry up Minori! Ignore it! Move forward!"

After breakfast I get my things, take out the trash if there is any, I swing by the convenience store and grab a boxed lunch and coffee; ah coffee, my lifesaver, then I head to wor-, no not work, school. It was surprising just how reliant I was on my routine. I understood that working more jobs over the summer would take its toll on me somehow, but I didn't expect my conscious to revolve around it. But it was alright. It wasn't important to worry about small things like that. What was more important was the fact that I was about to head out the door as an emotional wreck. I wasn't going to let my feelings bring everyone down around me. I never have and today was certainly not going to be the start. I devour my diet apple and look at my clock.

It was 6:03; the softball meeting starts at 6:30 which gave me time to grab some food at the convenience store and still make it in time for everything. Taiga doesn't come to school that early and will be there around 7:00 for the opening ceremony knowing her. We haven't kept up with each other over the summer as much as I would like because of the amount of jobs I took, so I was going to text her a "Happy New School Year! May our young lives live the glory that is the High School frontier!" message. If there was anyone I would want to see happy first it would be her. I make up my mind to text her after the convenience store and prepare to walk out.

"Ok Minori, deep breaths. In and out, in and out. 1 and 2 and... go! Fight on! The one shot KO that the crowd seeks will be a reality!" It was a tad bit embarrassing to have to say that to myself. Usually I would be able to recite something like that in my head to prepare my zeal rather than blurt it out like a moron, but today was a different case. With the disaster that was this morning my emotions were getting the best of me, and saying something that ridiculous was the only thing I thought to hold it down. Fired up and ready to go, I walk out and go to my local corner store. As I walk in, I prepare myself for the first real conversation of the day. The chime of the door opening was my signal to start being the usual me.

"Ah, Kushieda-san. You're here bright and early this morning." The store clerk greeted me as soon as he saw me. He's gotten to know me pretty well, with me being one his most frequent customers.

"Good morning, shopkeeper! How goes the business today?" I cheeringly ask with a great smile.

"Oh wow, always so full of energy even this early in the morning. The day just started and your my first customer! What kind of question is that?" His response had a greater enthusiasm than before, and it looks like he's a bit happier. Alright, it's going good so far.

"Yeah I guess you're right, kind of a silly question wasn't it?" I put in as much effort to be jokingly embarrassed as possible.

"Yes it was! Besides, with the way you visit my shop I'll always stay open! Anyway, will it be the usual lunch and coffee for you this morning?" The happiness in his voice was relieving on me. I began to use his energy to keep mine up.

"Yes sir! One small discount coffee and a random diet box lunch please with the greatest of sincerity!" I say while saluting him in an outgoing fashion.

"Coming right up! By the way Kushieda-san, I assume by your uniform that this is the start of a new school year for you. Remember to live out your youth to its fullest young lady! But of course, I don't need to tell you that now do I?" The jolliness in his voice followed by a chuckle of good cheer lifted up my spirits even higher. High enough to the point where the feelings of this morning were masked if not gone. Good job Minori, keep at it!

"Of course! To be young is to have the fuel of life in your lungs! The fuel to fight, be triumphant and work hard! To let it slip by would be missing the opportunity of a life time!" I proudly raise my fist up high and make sure my body is just as exuberant as the words I say.

"Well said! Here you are Kushieda-san. Keep up that fighting spirit and keep spreading that good cheer!" We exchange goods and money and I start to walk to the door.

"Roger, oh great shopkeep! May fortune follow you and your merchandise!" By this point I've reached the point where I think I can keep this up throughout the day, even if it is the new school year. I wave and smile using the good side of me I've built up since I moved here.

"Thank you Kushieda-san! See you tomorrow!"

"Right back at ya!" And with that I was out and on the route to school. With the exchange I had at the convenience store I was confident that my emotions wouldn't come crashing out, and I would be able to keep up the excitement to make everyone happy and make this a good day.

In good spirits, I drink my coffee in one hand and text Taiga the message I had planned in the other. No one at school knew I driank coffee and I didn't want them to know I did. I knew it was strange to be embarrassed about something as meaningless as that, but I didn't want anyone to think I relied on it, even though I dd. It was rare when I got a proper nights rest with the way my schedule was, and coffee gave me the kick to push myself until I could get home and drop my guard. It also made being the me everyone liked easier; the energy from drinking it made being cheerful more natural, at least to me it did. I finish my coffee quickly and finish texting Taiga as I pass by the garbage bin that I usually toss my plastic coffee cup in. Afterward, I turn the corner off the split where Taiga and I usually meet and I head off down the path to school.

"Alright Minori remember, first impressions are everything. You're going to meet plenty of new people and you're not going to be stupid. You're going to be outgoing and fun to be around and everyone will be happy and this will be a great year." I say this and similar phrases to myself over and over as I walk down the street. Starting from square one with a new class and new people was a big deal. New people meant more eyes on me, thinking about the type of person I am. I had to be bright as possible when I first met them to give off a good vibe and make it easier to talk to everyone.

*Bzzzt*

I felt my cellphone go off and happily knew without a doubt Taiga responded. She likes to sleep in a lot, but she cares enough about me to respond even when I have the tenacity to message her so early. Although I don't think she would expect any less of me. She's known me as the vocal oddball ever since we first met. To be something different than that would mean me threatening our friendship. I wasn't going to let that happen in a million years. I flip my cellphone open to see how she responded.

"Sorry Minorin, but I'm going to be late for school. I think I caught a cold so I'm going to miss the opening ceremony. Go ahead after you find out where your class is. We can meet up at lunch."

Seeing that message instantly brought me down. Knowing that I wouldn't meet my best friend after we had been apart for the summer was disheartening, and on top of that she was sick. I then thought about just how easily my emotions got to me and shook my head in defiance. I wasn't a weak girl who let my feelings get the best of me. I responded quickly.

" Eh!? You're sick Taiga!? Are you ok!? Do you need emergency attention!? Do you want me to come over with the medical department and nurture you back to health!?" Obviously I knew that wasn't going to happen. She got back to me within a few minutes.

"I'm ok Minorin, don't worry. Go on and get to school." Taiga wasn't the type of girl to send fancy texts. Knowing that I took her advice and did just that.

"OK! Get well Taiga and let's enjoy our first day of high school together today!" It was important that she knew I still treasured her even though the distance between us grew. I wouldn't want her to see me as someone who just abandoned her. A part of me already believed that. But in any case I knew that things would work out and we'd still be the greatest of friends.

I look up the time on my cellphone that read 6:24. It would be another 10 minutes until I reach the school gates, then I would meet up with my softball team at 6:40, and then the opening ceremony would start at 7. I sigh a breath of relief knowing that the day was lined up for me and I somehow managed to make it up to this point. I do my best to calm myself and act as natural as possible. I knew that as long as I could keep being the usual me then this day would go by smoothly. Even with all the new people, even if I might not have some people I might know in my class, if I just rely on making everyone smile instead of on my awkward self, things will be fine. Just got to do what I always do. Time sped away as I self motivated myself and I found myself at the school gates.

"Alright Minori, fight on!" I say one last enthusiastic sentence in my thoughts and prepare for the fresh start of a new school year.

It was relieving to see I could be the energetic Minori everyone expected without any trouble at all. Everything from my body coordination, to my emphasis on certain words to exaggerate the sentence, and even my goofy smile all seemed to flow naturally. It was second nature; I didn't think about it. My body must have gotten used to keeping up the happy display around others, or something like that I guess. I've been this way around people for so long that I can't really imagine being any other way around them. Everyone from old acquaintances, to my softball team, to even just students making their way to ceremony. All of them had smiles on their faces and were easy to get along with. It was one thing to keep it up around people like my softball team who already knew the type of person I was. It was another to keep it up while talking to a freshman who didn't know me in the slightest. To know that the social side of me was so strong that I could depend on it without fail made me really happy. To be able to know that I could make others have others have a good time, to know that I could always do something for them, there wasn't any other feeling like it. What could be better than the happiness of the people your with? It was clear to me there wasn't anything else. And to be able to talk like this made that happen. It was better knowing that my joy didn't come from me or my own selfish wants, but directly from others. It was definitely the way things should be. The best breaks always come from working your hardest.

The morning seemed to fly by with me in a sort of auto pilot. With the feelings of this morning gone or masked to perfection, my cheery attitude carried me until I was able to see what my class was after the opening ceremony. I spent more time talking with my softball team then I should have; I would have rather had my entire class be my team to save a lot of effort in making new friends. But as my teammates went their separate ways to make it in time for class reality hit me, and I began walking towards the homeroom charts. There were only a handful of people hanging around here unlike how it was when I first walked in to school. The amount of new and returning students that were here before was frightening. I remembered seeing plenty of groups of friends enjoying finding their classes together . The thought of Taiga then came to my mind and the idea that I could have been like one of those pairs of best friends enjoying a high school tradition. I breathe a sigh of emotion and quickly brush aside my thinking. I knew the more I thought about things like that the more likely it was I would screw up and let it show. Glancing at the second year classes I could see my name fall under class "2-C". With that knowledge in mind I head towards the main school building and prepare for the greatest challenge today, making a good impression among all of my new classmates. A part of me told myself that everything had been fine so far and I'd easily get along with everyone. Another part of me told me that I could easily screw this up if I was a dimwit and did something stupid. To avoid bickering with myself any further and making me more tense, I thought it best not to think at all and keep up what I've been doing all this morning. It was working so far, and I knew it was the only thing that would work in this hectic time.

"Ok Minori, when you first say hello to your classmates you need to say something after. Can you make a joke? Maybe a weird posture, a dance maybe? No no, you're over complicating things." It was easy to see that my not thinking strategy had failed as soon as I was walking down the hallway to class. "I have to go back to the basics. Be happy and have a great smile, introduce yourself in the most friendly way possible and-" I cut myself off mid thought to happily see a familiar face standing beside the 2-C classroom door. I rush forward to greet him on instinct.

"Yo, Kitamura-kun!" I happily say without a problem. I knew Kitamura the year before as the captain for the boy's softball team. Often sharing the same field on the same days and having leadership over our respective teams as captains, we found common ground and have gotten to know each other pretty well. He's a well known and popular student here, as well as the vice president of the student council. He has an average body size for a male and wears glasses, which doesn't hint at the fact that he is one of the most, if not the most fit member of the male softball team. This combined with a gentle and caring attitude has surprised me that he hasn't been in a relationship, or at least as far as I know. He used to be more reserved when I first met him, but he's obtained his own style of charisma that he shows when he's fired up. A part of me has to think that came from being around me so much. "Are we in the same class together this year too?"

"Oh, Kushieda. You're in class 2-C as well?" It was comforting to find out that a well known friend of mine was in the same class as me. Before I had thought I had to work my way from nothing to make some friends, but now I knew I had someone I could talk and have a good time without having to build a foundation with first. I noticed there was another person glancing at me right beside Kitamura, who I then realize must have been talking to him before I came into the picture. Not wanting to be rude, I knew I had to introduce myself to him as well. Once I got a good look at him I realized he was someone I knew last year as well, admittedly I didn't know him that well. I do my best to let my intuition carry the conversation and begin talking to him.

"It's Takasu-kun right? Do you still remember me? We've met a few times last year with Kitamura-kun." Takasu was also pretty popular, but for different reasons than Kitamura. He's known for being a troublemaker around school, with rumors that he mugs other students and even threatens some teachers. I was scared the first time I met him too, anyone I think would be. His eyes look as if he wants to kill you. Ignoring all of the rumors though, of all the times that I can remember meeting him he has always been talking with Kitamura. He doesn't seem to have a violent or hostile nature and I have never really seen Takasu do anything like punch another guy. I even asked Kitamura about him one day and he said that Takasu was just misunderstood, and that all of the rumors were there just because of his scary demeanor. It all made sense to me, so my fear of him was nonexistent when I saw him. Besides knowing that I knew hardly anything else about him. I assumed he was pretty good friends with Kitamura because a good number of times I've talked with Kitamura outside of softball practice he's been there with him. It was also a fair assumption that we would be sharing the same class, with him being here and school about to start. It was a good idea to start my first impressions with someone who had an idea who I was, especially if he was already friends with one of mine.

"Kushieda Minori-dono, right?" Takasu responded quietly as he shifted his head to the side. Poor guy must be shy around others. I don't really blame him though. If I didn't learn how to talk to people I would have probably been just like him right now. I begin to move the conversation forward.

"Oh wow, remembering my full name and everything! With the formalities too! I'm really happy!" I put in a good amount of cheer to make it known that I want to get along well with him and he doesn't have to be afraid to talk. With the introductions out of the way and knowing that there wasn't that much time before school started, I wanted to see who else was in my class this year and make sure I got off on the right foot.

"Well then, lets enjoy our heartfelt and lively youth together this year!" I say that to the both of them running and laughing oddly to the classroom door soon after. I confess that that sentence was inspired if not taken directly from the conversation I had at the convenience store. Maybe my social side wasn't so original and witty as I had once thought. Either way it worked to get me to where I wanted to be, so I start to begin introductions with my new classmates.

It wasn't even a few minutes before my class and I heard a loud drop on the floor, followed by the gasps of other students from the hallway where I just was. Putting what just happened together there must have been a fight, and on the first day of school too! Out of excitement a good number students from my class (including me) rushed out to see what the source of the commotion was. I was amazed at who the culprits were. Takasu, who I just talked to moments ago, was laying back to the floor a few meters away, defeated. And the person standing above him was none other than Taiga! It took me a second to process the scene that my eyes saw. Around me I could hear the constant murmurs that stemmed from the best day one school gossip material available.

"Hey, did you see that!? The palmtop tiger just wrecked that delinquent! He didn't even stand a chance!" Says one of the groups of students with eyes glaring at Taiga.

"I thought that it was going to be the standoff between the tiger and him too! But the delinquent didn't even put up a fight! I guess the palmtop tiger is still the strongest out of everyone." Says another group walking away from the scene, not wanting to get involved I assume.

I began running toward Taiga to find out what exactly happened between her and Takasu. I wanted to help Takasu out as he did look pretty pathetic laying there, but I thought it best to leave it to a friend of his, or at least another guy, to help him out. It would have been a pretty bad source of rumors if everyone saw me help him up off the ground. I also couldn't leave my best friend just hanging there, even if she was probably the reason why this happened. I apologize a little bit to Takasu in my mind as I go past his helpless state and reach Taiga.

"Hey Taiga, what just happened!?" I ask her in a worried manner.

"Oh, good morning Minorin. Nothing happened really. This guy just got me upset, that's all." Taiga responded with a calm and relaxed tone, like if indeed nothing worth noting did happen. If there was one person that I could think of who would get into a fight on the first day of school, it would be her. Not knowing what to do, I do my best to try and get her into a calmer mood.

"Hey now Taiga, don't you think it's a little much to go and get into a fight on the first day of school? I mean, what if the teachers saw you do that? You can get into a lot of trouble!" I attempt to smile, but I could feel my nervousness from the tense situation push through my face. The face that a person gives where they are uncomfortable and are trying their best to make a better atmosphere.

"It was his fault for not watching where he was going. He pissed me off, just walking into me like I wasn't even there." The annoyance mixed in with the anger in her eyes could easily be seen by everyone watching. I honestly didn't expect to hear anything else besides something similar to what she said. Whenever she would get into a fight she would always get into a hostile frame of mind towards everyone, and it would be best to just leave her alone. In fact that's what most people did. Aisaka Taiga was known as the Palmtop Tiger for a reason. Even though she had a small frame and could be mistaken for a middle schooler, she would get angry and pick a fight with just about anybody if she didn't like them or if they made her upset. There have been a good number of fights involving her ever since last year and it looked just about everybody had gotten wind to steer clear of her. Well, except for Takasu it seemed. There hasn't been an incident with her in a while other than just maybe a frightened student running away from her. Left for a loss for words, I chuckle awkwardly and smile not knowing what else I could do to make the mood better. I then hear running from behind me and turn around to see Kitamura coming to Takasu's aid. It made sense I thought, with them talking just a little while ago.

"Hey Takasu! Are you ok?" Kitamura asks Takasu as he grabs him by the arm and yanks him off the floor. Takasu rubs his chin in pain as he makes his way on his feet, letting me know he got one of Taiga's famous uppercuts.

"I'm fine Kitamura, I'm fine." He replied back to Kitamura in a relaxed manner. For someone who just took a blow to the chin I would have expected to seen him a little angrier than that if the rumors had any merit to them. If he was a coward he would have gone off and ran away by now as well. The expression on his face didn't match any of those reactions, or any reaction I thought an average person would have. It was more of a look of shock and confusion than anything else. I guess he really didn't know who Taiga was after all. Kitamura turns his eyes to Taiga who was standing a few feet away from the both of them.

"Tell me Aisaka-san, what happened a few moments ago between you and Takasu-kun?" The seriousness in his face and voice alone was compelling enough to make anyone want to answer. There was no doubt that he picked up such authority from being in the student council. I take a quick look at Taiga to see how she would answer him.

"Y- yo- Yo Kit- Kitamu- ra-kun." She was stuttering a mumbled sentence while looking at the ground below her feet. It was ridiculous that of all times now she gets embarrassed over what she did. Probably because someone she knew well came to help Takasu. I've introduced them both to each other early last year, so they have a good understanding of each other. Not to mention that Kitamura confessed to Taiga around the end of 1st semester last year and on top of that Taiga rejected him. They didn't really talk much with Kitamura having softball and student council responsibilities, and with Taiga liking to go straight home as soon as school ended. But they knew each other well enough to be acquaintances at the least. But for it to go this far where Taiga would feel this disturbed was something else entirely. I bump Taiga in her arm with my shoulder to try and get her to talk to him.

"Hey Taiga! Go on, answer him already! Hurry!" I urgently whisper in her ear to encourage her to answer make this a less awkward situation for everyone.

"I'm talking with Kitamura-kun. I'm talking with Kitamura-kun on the first day of school. I'm talking with Kitamura-kun." She begins talking softly to herself with a dumbfounded look on her face. She stares into space while seeming to be oblivious to what goes on around her. I begin to ask myself just what on Earth is up with Taiga today. If it wasn't for her rejecting Kitamura last year, my girl's intuition would have told me that she has feelings for him! But that couldn't be the case, with what happened last year and everything. she doesn't even see him that often. Not only that but a crush wouldn't cause a girl to blunder this bad in front of someone.

"Excuse me Aisaka-san, is everything alright?" Kitamura asks her curiously, now with a puzzled look on his face similar to the one Takasu was giving. I look at Taiga again to see if she snapped out of her trance. She looked even more tensed up and ridiculous then she did just a second ago. Now it seemed like her mouth wasn't going to open to respond to him even if the entire school building started burning down around her. I step in and try my best to give a believable answer as to why Taiga was acting the way she was.

"It's aaallllll ok Kitamura-kun, don't worry about it. She texted me this morning saying she wasn't feeling well, so she's a bit out of it right now. Apparently she was so out of it that she accidentally hit Takasu-kun while trying to force her way to class right now! Ehehehehe." I stand in front of Taiga hiding her small body behind me as I embarrassingly try to give Kitamura an answer. The absurdity of the sentence I spoke to him was well seen by everybody and as well as me. Just because I knew how to talk with people to get them to be happy didn't mean that I was smart enough to think of a good enough answer to get out of a tight spot. The nervous laughter I gave at the end of it was the clear indication that I just wanted this moment to end already.

"I see... right." There was a massive amount of doubt in Kitamura's expression just like how anybody with a right mind should have had with a terrible answer like the one I gave. The look on his face than gave way to what looked like remorse. I had hoped that he wanted to drop everything seeing the pitiful state Taiga was in. Just as it looked like he was about to say something however our I saw our homeroom professor behind him hurriedly walking towards us. It came to my mind that class should have started by now, so in reality something like this was bound to happen. I tense up, realizing that we all have to make excuses for why we're all here.

"Hey now, just what on Earth is going on out here? I go and get to my classroom which is half empty on the first day of school, to find out from my students that are on time that the other half of them are outside in the hallway! Is there a fight going on? Go on, someone tell me." Yuri-sensei had a soft and stern aura emanating from her as only a teacher would be able to give. Practically everyone there looked away in shame from her, not wanting to get involved. There was a chance that this whole mess could get much worse if someone didn't start talking. If rumors got around that there were people involved in a fight on the first day of school, they had a pretty good chance of getting kicked off any kind of school activity they were in. This involved me, but Kitamura as well. It was especially worse for him because that kind of publicity would be devastating on his student council reputation. He knew that just as well; any look on his face that told me has was going to say something before was replaced with a seriousness the way a child gives when he's about to get scolded. With thing's looking bad, I desperately try to think of what I could say to get everyone out of here. I knew if I was the one who talked that would make me connected with the fight knowing how the school system worked. And that in turn could get me some serious trouble with my softball team. But I didn't really see any other way out of this.

As my heart races out of fear and anxiety, I began thinking of a plan of action. "Ok Minori, you can't tell the truth and say there was a fight because that would get Taiga and Takasu in trouble. You need to think of an excuse of why everyone's here. Think think. Um... you could say that Takasu tripped and fell down! That'll work! No but then Takasu might say it's not true or something. You're going to have to take the blame for this somehow. Be smarter! Alright... ok, I can say that I made Taiga angry somehow, and in turn she didn't look where she was going and she bu-"

"Excuse me Sensei, I'm sorry, I was the reason why everyone's here. I wasn't watching where I was going and that person over there got uncomfortable when I bumped into her and punched me down." Apparently I was beat to making an excuse for everyone. And it was Takasu of all people who spoke up, one of the people that would get in the most trouble for doing so. But he didn't even tell a lie, he just confidently spoke the truth! What is he crazy!? He's going to ruin it for everyone as well as himself!

"I- Is that so? Well then it really was a fight! We have to go the office and get this sorted out!" Yuri-sensei had an uncomfortable look in her eyes when Takasu approached her. This must be her first time talking with him then if she's not used to his threatening look. Takasu didn't know her name either by the look of it. It was strange because Yuri-sensei was one of the better known teachers of the school who would go out and actively talk with the students; with her just being a younger and more youthful teacher than everyone else. A good majority of students know her name even though they have never had a class with her at all. I guess Takasu didn't. But then again Takasu didn't know Taiga either so it made a bit of sense.

"It wasn't more of a fight as it was more of a misunderstanding. No one really threw any punches that were intended to do any harm. I didn't do anything to her and all she did was hit me once." Takasu replied with a seriousness in his voice that if I didn't know him any better, I would consider to be borderline threatening. I would imagine he's as earnest as possible but his delivery was just far too blunt that anyone would see it another way. It was clear that Yuri-sensei saw it differently than how I did. She looked far less confident than from when she first approached us. She was struggling just to barely maintain composure.

"Well al- alright then. If it wasn't a fight then I-I guess it's ok. But I mean she did hurt you so you should at the very least g-go and report that." She was halfway between nervous and terrified. Any presence of authority she had was completely gone as soon as Takasu began talking to her. It was astonishing just how well this was turning out so far. Could Takasu really get us all out of this mess? No way I thought, there's no way he could.

" It's ok really. Like I said before she was just startled when I bumped into her and it was just a natural reaction someone would have. It's not something someone should file a complaint for and I wouldn't want to do that in the first place anyway." He raised his hand to the back of his head the way a person gives when they're trying say what's right but they need time to think. I couldn't tell if Takasu was trying to be nice or if he was just trying to be as honest with himself as possible. It was hard enough trying to read past his "I'm going to kill you" look.

"Eeek! Hehe alright then I guess then there is nothing really going on here after all then! I mean if you don't want to bring up anything then I guess everything's fine! R-right?" Yuri-sensei backed away instantly as soon as Takasu raised up his arm. She was so terrified of Takasu that she backed down from her position as a teacher and was more of a scared little girl at this point. The nerves that everyone built up were relieved as well. I didn't believe that this was working! Just then Kitamura joined in with a question of his own.

"Excuse me Yuri-sensei, but I believe it's about time that everyone of us got back to class. If everyone was still here when the tardy bell rings than it would look bad on our records on the first day of school. Wouldn't you agree?" Kitamura took full advantage of the situation to manipulate the conversation and save everyone from a lot of trouble. He's always been a bright guy and this was just one of the many actions that showed he was. It also took a little a bit of craftiness as well as wit to pull off what he just did. Nice job Kitamura!

"Oh yes right right! Come on now everyone, you should make your way to your homeroom classes before you get into any more trouble. I'm sure your teachers will be very concerned! As for my students you won't be marked late as long as you hurry in before I take roll!" Yuri-sensei easily went along with what Kitamura said to avoid her fearful situation. It didn't seem she was thinking clearly, with her panicked and relieved way of speech.

And with that said all of the students started heading back to their classes with a weight off their shoulders. It was amazing that it all ended up so smoothly! I was positive it would have ended up much worse than it did. I bring my hand to my chest and breathe, feeling the beats of my still racing heart. I look at Kitamura who is receiving all kinds of praise from different people for getting them out of trouble. Next to him, I could see Takasu smirk slightly as he turns around and makes his way towards class. What a strange type of person he is. It's true that if Kitamura hadn't intervened than we wouldn't be all heading to class, but with that said if Takasu hadn't spoken the ridiculously truthful words he told than we'd all be in a really deep problem. Kitamura couldn't have done anything if it wasn't for Takasu. It was clear that Takasu's harsh look helped him a lot, in fact I don't think it would have worked if another person had said what he did. But for him to actually go on and say all that without any hesitation was definitely something a lot of people wouldn't have done. I knew if I had spoken up before him I couldn't have done what he did. I would have probably made things worse now that I thought about it.

"Yeah, there's no way I could have made things better in that spot." I thought to myself. "I would have just complicated things and made it worse for everyone. I would have made everyone more upset... no, but it's ok. Everyone turned out happy in the end." I look at the back of Takasu's head as he makes his way for the classroom door. "I misjudged you. Good job, Takasu-kun!"

I turn around to see how Taiga is doing. Surely after all that has happened she should have something to say, not to mention that she has to get to her classroom as well. I was greeted with a face of searing anger as she leers over in Kitamura's direction, just as he was being surrounded by other girls wanting to talk to him. Taiga was gritting her teeth and clenching her fist with a presence that would make anyone afraid for their well being. Taiga was a hostile person, no doubt about it, but this was just getting crazy. What on Earth happened with Taiga over the summer? Not wanting another fight to cope with, I try and start a talk with her to hopefully lighten the mood, yet again.

"Hey um, Taiga, isn't it about time we all head back to class? Come on, you should head back to yours too." I didn't know how to deal with people that were already angry or upset to begin with. The smiles and expression were there in my face as usual, except it was alongside a good dose of hesitation and meekness that hopefully wasn't showing through. I knew Taiga was known for getting angry at others but she's never shown it around me before. This was definitely a first for me.

"Those damn dogs in heat, all going for Kitamura-kun like they deserve him or something!" Taiga muttered her sentence beneath a diabolical air. Taiga's anger was flowing out of her as if she was a tiger roaring at it's prey. I don't think she listened to a word I said either, her eyes were clearly focused on one thing only. The apparent death of those girls over there. There was no way that this was going to happen again after we barely just got out of the last problem. Panicking, I desperately try and get Taiga's attention.

"Hey, Taiga! Are you listening? Hurry, we got to get to class!" I position myself directly in front of Taiga's vision to make sure she notices me. Being so close to her while she was this angry was nerve racking, even if she was my best friend.

"It's alright Minorin, my class is just up the hall." Her voice was so sinister it sent chills up my spine. "I just have to punish these dogs and let them know their place first. …. Graaaah!" Just as soon as she finished her sentence, she went around me and dashed straight forward for her prey. On instinct, I leapt towards her backside and grabbed her small body by her waist, lifting her up to stop her. While I held her in the air, she thrashed around and made grunts showing she was serious on the destruction of those dogs, er, girls. This was so much out of my comfort zone that I just started saying excuses for her to stop, all the while terrified about what I was doing to Taiga.

"Stop Taiga! Yuri-sensei just went in her classroom seconds ago and is bound to come out if you start something! Don't get in trouble on the first day!" My panicked tone of voice led me to believe that I had just an equally desperate expression on my face. At the same trying to keep my body planted on the ground while holding back Taiga was more than challenging.

"Let go Minorin! It'll only take a few moments to get those tramps off of Kitamura-kun!" It was pretty clear to me that getting in trouble was the least of her concerns as she practically shouts in my ear. My head was pacing for something to say that would get her to calm down. Before I knew it words had started slipping out by themselves.

"Taiga did you know that a bunch of stress is related to a short life!? You're gonna get a lot of wrinkles too! Did you know that anger causes hair loss!? " I hoped that one of the things I was saying to her would get her to stop, but it wasn't looking good as she continued to thrash around, slowly breaking my hold. I began to get scared. " umm... Right! A person shouldn't get angry this early in the morning! It's bad for your health! It makes it easier for you to get sick! Aren't you already sick Taiga!? Think of what will happen to you if you don't stop! You could get high blood pressure when you're older! You can get even more sick right now! And then we'll have to get the medical department over like I told you befo- …. eh?" Taiga's fuse started to disappear before I could finish my sentence. She was almost lifeless in my arms. Did something I say work? Did I actually convince her? Yes! Way to go Minori! You actually stopped something bad from happening! While I was basking in my own praise I noticed it was awfully quiet all of a sudden. I look past Taiga who I'm still carrying in front of me to see the questioning stares of Kitamura and all of his admirers.

"Err, Aisaka-san, Kushieda, is everything alright between you two over there?" Kitamura gave a half embarrassed expression as he said his question, as if he felt sorry for me and Taiga being in this position having so many blank stares on us. I then felt a massive shock of discomfort go through Taiga like lightning through a lightning rod. That combined with the eyes of everyone watching me in this awkward spot had me embarrassed and uncomfortable to no end.

"Oh don't mind us Kitamura-kun! We're just having a little best friend reunion! You see, I missed Taiga sooooo much that I just wanted to give her a great big hug! It wouldn't have been right to do so when everyone was here when the fight happened, so I waited til after to show her how much I missed her! Isn't that right Taiga!?" All of my emotions combined were in that frantic embarrassment of a reply. I waved Taiga around like a rag doll in my arms with my reply to make it more believable that we were just playing around to them, because I knew I sure wasn't convincing them with my professional tone of voice. Taiga was still dead weight in my arms, not moving a muscle at all. I only imagined how ridiculous this must have looked to all of them watching. "Ahh Taiga, you're so happy that you're embarrassed and can't say anything! But its ok, I can tell how much you've missed me anyway! I've missed you too!" I began to close my eyes and rub our cheeks together together joyfully, to one make a more believable story, and two because I couldn't look them in the face anymore being this embarrassed.

"(chuckle) alright then. Just make sure you both finish and get to class on time. You heard what Yuri-sensei said. I believe she's taking roll right now. If we don't get going we'll be marked late Kusheida. I'm going to start heading back now. I'll see you guys later, goodbye." Kitamura turned around and headed towards the 2-C door as he finished his sentence, followed by everyone else making their way as well. I stand in place for a moment to try to understand how fast the heat was off of Taiga and I. If there was one thing that Kitamura was good at it was reading a situation. He transitioned that entire scene to make me and Taiga look not as terrible as we could have been, and got everyone of our backs as well. What a good friend he's been.

"You got it Kitamura-kun! I'll cya in a bit!" I say one last line to him as he walks through the classroom door. I put all of my effort into making myself seem as normal as possible to him. As soon as he was out of the hallway I dropped my act with a massive relief.

With time shorty running out, I let Taiga down and prepare to say my farewells to her. If I was calm and collected when I first entered the school, then I certainly wasn't right now. I didn't even know how I would make it through class. But at the very least I knew I should start with a proper goodbye to my best friend, the one person I could be the most comfortable around. It was strange considering that pretty much everything bad was caused by her, but she was undoubtedly the person I was the most relaxed around. She just wasn't a few moments ago, that was all. Trying to be the most natural I could be, I get ready to talk.

"Thank goodness, it's over. It was a little scary at times, but nothing went wrong. Wouldn't you say Taiga?" I waited a little while for her to respond, only to be met with silence from her as she stares down the hallway. Just what is she doing!? I could never get angry at my best friend but this was just dumb! She could at least turn around and look at me when I talk to her! I became fed up and dashed in front of her, putting my hands on her shoulders and shaking her for attention. "Taiga what's going on with you today!? You're just starting fights and blanking out for no reason! Do you even realize were going to be late for class!? What's your homeroom!? I'll carry you to class if that's what it takes!" As I talk directly in front of Taiga's face I could see her blank stare passing right through me into nowhere. She was completely oblivious right now, as if she didn't want to see what was going on around her. What could be more important to her right now!? After a few seconds I heard a response in a meek and scared voice.

"... Class 2-C..."

"... EEHHH!?"