archiving for ease of reference
Series: Prince of Tennis
Characters: Hiyoshi, brief Ohtori
Rating: G
The first day of middle school finds Hiyoshi sitting in the far row next to the window, second chair from the back. There is no one in front of or behind him. Class still has a quarter of an hour to begin, though, so his classmates are already busy mingling, renewing acquaintance after a summer vacation apart or beginning anew. Perhaps, if he is lucky, no one will sit behind him; he does not mind if the other spaces are occupied, but he dislikes having people he does not know at his back.
For now he pulls out one of the books he purchased last week, the first in the Nana Fushigi series. His posture is rigidly correct, spine straight with head bent at the slightest angle required for his eyes to travel lines of kanji and hiragana. He does not pay attention to the others in the room; if he does not give them the chance, they cannot ignore him. As long as he does not need other people it is impossible to notice the lack, nor is there any reason to acknowledge the nagging discomfort he has when anyone gets too close. Hiyoshi despises weakness in others, a sentiment magnified tenfold when applied to himself.
He is tough. He is twelve years old. And there is someone casting a shadow over his text.
He glances up, annoyance barely concealed, at the person who obviously was waiting to gain his attention. It is one of his classmates, newly arrived -- it would be hard to miss the head of silver colored hair amidst the sea of browns and blacks. The newcomer towers over him, though Hiyoshi thinks it would not be much better were he to stand. Pause. One. Two. Three. "What do you want?"
"If you don't mind my asking, what book are you reading?"
It is obvious that Hiyoshi does mind; who wouldn't when interrupted? Polished and polite tones make him feel as though he has done something wrong, however, so using his finger as a placeholder he holds up the cover for the other's inspection. Author and title both dispensed. If he wants to know anything else he can look it up on his own. Once it is obvious the other boy has the information requested, Hiyoshi resumes reading. He has almost blocked out the world when he hears,
"The third mystery was my favorite."
When he looks up the other boy is moving past him. There is the scrape of a chair, the drop of a bag, and the shift of body weight settled in the seat behind.
Class begins when their teacher walks in. Partway through the roll call after Hiyoshi Wakashi, Ohtori Choutarou answers, "Here."
Characters: Hiyoshi, brief Ohtori
Rating: G
The first day of middle school finds Hiyoshi sitting in the far row next to the window, second chair from the back. There is no one in front of or behind him. Class still has a quarter of an hour to begin, though, so his classmates are already busy mingling, renewing acquaintance after a summer vacation apart or beginning anew. Perhaps, if he is lucky, no one will sit behind him; he does not mind if the other spaces are occupied, but he dislikes having people he does not know at his back.
For now he pulls out one of the books he purchased last week, the first in the Nana Fushigi series. His posture is rigidly correct, spine straight with head bent at the slightest angle required for his eyes to travel lines of kanji and hiragana. He does not pay attention to the others in the room; if he does not give them the chance, they cannot ignore him. As long as he does not need other people it is impossible to notice the lack, nor is there any reason to acknowledge the nagging discomfort he has when anyone gets too close. Hiyoshi despises weakness in others, a sentiment magnified tenfold when applied to himself.
He is tough. He is twelve years old. And there is someone casting a shadow over his text.
He glances up, annoyance barely concealed, at the person who obviously was waiting to gain his attention. It is one of his classmates, newly arrived -- it would be hard to miss the head of silver colored hair amidst the sea of browns and blacks. The newcomer towers over him, though Hiyoshi thinks it would not be much better were he to stand. Pause. One. Two. Three. "What do you want?"
"If you don't mind my asking, what book are you reading?"
It is obvious that Hiyoshi does mind; who wouldn't when interrupted? Polished and polite tones make him feel as though he has done something wrong, however, so using his finger as a placeholder he holds up the cover for the other's inspection. Author and title both dispensed. If he wants to know anything else he can look it up on his own. Once it is obvious the other boy has the information requested, Hiyoshi resumes reading. He has almost blocked out the world when he hears,
"The third mystery was my favorite."
When he looks up the other boy is moving past him. There is the scrape of a chair, the drop of a bag, and the shift of body weight settled in the seat behind.
Class begins when their teacher walks in. Partway through the roll call after Hiyoshi Wakashi, Ohtori Choutarou answers, "Here."