Chapter Text
The Motley Crew of the Dead
Chapter 1
How to be a School Kid... Mostly.
After an eventful night happened last weekend with Takashi's group, Jason managed to get to his new home provided by his friend along with his stuff. After settling down with his property, he relaxed on the weekend before his official days as a school student. He started working on his art hobby during the weekend by painting illustrations or dabbling with his special projects last night before tiring himself enough to fall into a deep sleep.
Jason was sleeping quite comfortably in his new warm and cozy bed. As he breathes in softly, he dreams of a particular group of girls he was fond of and still is. In his dream, Jason talks to the girls and cuddles each other by lightly kissing the knuckles, cheeks, and lips. One girl cheekily bumps her nose to Jason, while the other girl goes on touching foreheads and tickling one another.
Yeah, it is a great and friendly dream for Jason to have. Everything was great, and there's nothing in the world that can interfere-
"Jason, it's time to get up! You're going to be late for school!"
Except, a woman's voice called out from downstairs in the kitchen...
"Awww... damn it." Jason groans in annoyance as his dream ends. He turns to the side of the bed as he notices the light rays of sunrise peered through the window of his decent-sized and homey room. Jason slowly rubbed his eyes, cleaned any drops, and opened his uncanny, unique sets of eyes. He is wearing a black t-shirt with white cross-shaped designs and baggy black pants.
Jason had to wake up with a resigned and annoyed expression as today was the first day of school, and he needed to start his new life. Even though he wanted to sleep some more, he knew the sad truth that his legal guardian wouldn't allow him. Jason begrudgingly turns to the side of the bed, standing up, rubbing the back of his head. He got up from his warm, comfy bed as he rises from bed lazily.
He went to the window curtain, slowly opening the curtain, letting the light shine and fresh air throughout the room. As he stretches out his body, he breathes in the fresh air to feel himself. As he breathes out the air, he sees the room he is sleeping.
It was a relatively simple room with a bed and bedside table, two studio desks, and its custom-made two-medium-sized tables capable of folding apart to close it. Each table has a small cabinet with its compartments, inside it has various tools.
The bed was next to the curtained window with a bedside table paired with a lamp, a smartphone with a charger, and different photo frames. The frames contained several photos featuring the young boy with two adults holding peace signs. One stand had the young man sitting on a chair, clinking his drink with an older, muscular mid-aged man with a black patch on his right. The other frame contained an older version of the young boy grinning while covered with dirt and bruises while arm-bumping with two other boys his age; one has a prominent but soft facial feature with dark tanned-skin features, bright, dark-brown eyes, and a short length, braided hairstyle, black hair. Another boy has short, ash-blonde hair with choppy bangs that hang over his eyebrows. His eyes are sharp and bright blue, smiling in response. Finally, the young man smiles in another picture, cuddled by a group of beautiful and adorable girls kissing him from different angles while smiling.
Few missed papers were placed on one studio desk table, showing multiple graphs. It graphs a firearm's efficiency, notes on the improvement of combat techniques and other related topics. The other medium-sized table has various small, delicate tools from screwdrivers, wrenches, sockets, pliers, chisels, torch kits, and other instruments in a neatly put fashion for modification purposes.
Across the table, there are two beautifully crafted pistols with a black color scheme with silvery-white edgings. The two guns' overall appearance is a modern firearm with customized parts such as an extended barrel, longer slide dimensions, extra armor plates, extra picatinny rails, and mini red-dot sights. There are detailed and floral designs etched onto the slide and grips on the gun's barrel. There is a LED-based light designed below the barrel and the cylinder, indicating bullet rounds.
On the other side, it has another studio desk, meant for artistic purposes, where it has a small-sized cabinet with its compartments, inside has various art tools, ranging from brushes, ink pens, paints, etc. The table has an unfinished illustration, which seems to be a water-based illustration with leftover water with dark colors and a couple of dried brushes laid to rest.
Next to this artistic desk, a bookshelf towered over one side with all its grandeur. There were books of all sizes with different titles, from various Japanese manga books, light novels, comic books, and novelty books with another genre. The far corner of the bookshelf has books on politics, laws, economics, weaponry, and martial arts in different languages.
Finally, a board tacked on top of the two medium-sized tables tackled various cut-out newspapers, research papers, and important notes to correspond, describing the events in detail. Some linked together with color variation by attaching strings, while others scribbled over with a red marker.
Jason couldn't help but do something during his leftover free time when he arrived in Tokonossu City, Japan. It was not that it was utterly dull there, and he hopes it be a little peace from the previous years he faced, despite some of his old habits still running hard.
"Time to hit the shower," Jason said.
After stretching his arms and letting out a yawn, Jason grabbed a spare towel from the closet and headed towards the shower.
~ After a nice hot shower ~
After a refreshing morning shower, Jason changed into his school uniform as he looked at himself in the mirror and put his last eye contact to cover his natural eyes. After a last-minute phone call rush, Jason managed to get a brand new set of colored contacts from his friend after a long lecture about being careless by his actions.
Nonetheless, he was able to fit in like a regular junior high student with his military-style uniform with a color of black and consisted of a long-sleeved jacket and matching pants. His facial features accompanied his uniform with his short, neck-long, mixed spiky-unkempt, black hair, and numerous spiky strands pointing backward. However, some of it falls on his forehead, forming a small bang, saving his slight sideburns. However, his uncanny, big scar that ran down his left cheek in the form of a slim cross was something that he couldn't cover-up, so he just let it be naturally shown.
After checking himself one last time, Jason was ready for his first school day. He closed his room door behind him and headed downstairs to join morning's breakfast, greeted by a tall, beautiful woman.
"Morning, Yuko." Jason greeted with a smile.
"Morning Jason, did you get a good sleep last night?" Yuko asked.
"Yep, I slept like a bear," Jason answered as he took his seat, where Yuko smiled back in response.
Yuko is a voluptuous lean-built woman with impressive J-cup bust size, standing at 5'9 height. She has amber eyes and long light brown hair. Her hair is longer than her knees, with her right bangs being long and kept behind her right ear along with the rest of her hair. Her left bangs are shorter than her right; however, they are still longer than her face. This cluster of hair hangs freely in front of her left ear. She wears a hue-green shirt, a white lad coat, a black short skirt, and matching high-heel shoes.
"Good, now let's eat our breakfast before we start the day," Yuko said as she handed the plates of pancakes with a glaze of maple syrup, topped with whipped cream on top and blueberries inside to them and a side of cooked slices of bacon and hashbrown potatoes with cheddar cheese.
Jason grinned widely at breakfast before him. "Hell yeah, the breakfast looks awesome, Yuko." Jason complimented as he started to cut the pancake, taking the first bite and savoring the flavor. Jason sighed with a happy expression. "Man... I missed this breakfast when I was in New York." Jason said as he poured an orange juice onto his cup and drank some.
Yuko laughed softly. "Thanks, I managed to get in some time to cook more for my family along with Nao and Miki," Yuuko said as she was grateful to the chairman for recruiting more physicians and doctors in the hospital. It allowed Yuko to spend more quality time with her family, especially cooking with her best friends.
"I see." Jason smiled as he remembered the mentioned individuals.
Yuko Takamiya, formerly known as Yuko Sagiri, is one of Jason's oldest friends and a well-known doctor and researcher working at Tokonosu General Hospital. She married her husband along with her dear friends. All four of them were part of a particular vigilante organization, specialized in removing certain 'cancers' from the society, and Jason was an honorary member of sorts. After accomplishing their end goals, the organization decommissioned, and the members went their separate ways.
Shortly after the decommission, Yuko invited Jason to a small, private marriage ceremony held on a remote island in southern parts of Okinawa with the members only. An added surprise is the polyamorous marriage between one guy and three ladies. Tenma Takamiya was the husband of the three wives: Yuko Sagiri, Nao Sakurada, and surprisingly Miki Tsurugi. She moved on from her former lover, Shinichiro Inunaki, a...frenemy of sorts to Jason and his friends.
It may seem weird and difficult to ordinary people, but Jason and his friends were anything but average, as they lived a different life from ordinary people, and they were happy. After that private, happy marriage, Jason witnessed the birthing of their respective children, one of which he was honored to name.
They remained in close contact with one another and kept updated with their daily lives. And it's good to hang out with them, even if it was on a video chat. Jason hoped they would meet each other sometime shortly for a reunion of sorts.
Jason smiled as he took a bite out of the cooked bacon. "I'm sure your family is proud of your cooking skills. Speaking of which, how is everyone doing these days?" Jason asked.
"Oh, our adorable daughters are starting their kindergarten years pretty soon. Yuko beamed a smile as she took a sip of her morning coffee. "As for Nao, she's keeping herself busy as a teacher at Mochitsuki Academy, while Miki's working at the lab as a chemist for the hospital."
Jason raised an eyebrow, thinking of a certain someone. "What about Tenma?"
Yuko beamed with a smile. "As for Tenma, he's currently working as a head barista at his cafe right now, and it's getting pretty popular too."
Jason whistled and was impressed by his feat. "Damn, given his track records, I'm surprised Tenma opened up a cafe. Although, I remembered his cooking sucks major ass, too." Jason said as he shook up from a memory that haunted him to this day.
"Hey, he improved thanks to my and the girls' guidance considerably, thank you very much," Yuko responded with a cute pout.
Jason rolled his eyes. "Oooh, sure. I remember that he got banned from the kitchen during our times back in Black Label before you taught him." Said Jason as he took a bite out of his pancake once more.
"It was one time!" Yuuko remarked.
"That one time you mentioned nearly killed me, you know?" Jason remarked back with a flat, deadpanned expression.
"Oh yeah? Name one." Yuko narrowed her eyes as she demanded.
Jason huffed as he took a good bite out of his hashbrown. "You remember that god-awful shit he called pasta during our mission trip to Italy?" Jason grunted as he tasted his bacon.
"Ugh!" Yuko shook up a bit. "W-well." Said Yuko, who turned her head away nervously.
"And may I remind you that particular incident is the reason why we got banned from every restaurant in Venice for five years?" Jason reminded.
"B-but that was-" Yuko tried to remark.
"And you were powerless to do anything due to his...skill he had." Jason cut her off as he mocked.
"Well... I don't know how he does it, but he always gets me with that puppy face of his every time...especially in the bed..." Yuko said, still remembering the cute puppy face he does, and muttered the last part, which Jason rolled his eyes over.
"And I couldn't touch a decent pasta for a few years until getting rid of the trauma too," Jason said with a sad expression for his loss of love on pasta.
"It wasn't that bad..." Yuko weakly protested as she remembered Jason's fondness for Italian cuisine.
"Woman, I lost a good, solid 20 pounds of weight when I ended up in the bathroom for hours after forcing myself to finish that stuff." Jason reminded with a flat, deadpanned expression." Jason huffed as he gulped his orange juice. "I took a big bullet for the team, and I got scarred physically, mentally, and economically, and to pay for the...messy damage." Jason shook up a bit from having a horrible memory of that incident and the mess he had to clean up.
Yuko tried to remark, but she had a defeated look as she slumped her shoulders. "Okay, I was a bad influence on him."
Jason raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Yuko still had a defeated look. "I should've paid more attention to his cooking..." Said Yuko as she pokes her fingers at one another.
Jason gestured his hand. "Aaaaand?"
Yuko groaned in annoyance and huffed. "Aaaaand, I admit that he manages to reel me in time and again, especially in bed. But, I am in total control when it comes to food; Happy now?" Yuko hummed as she looked away with a cute pout.
Jason nodded greatly. "Good then."
"Okay then." Yuko nodded in agreement.
Then a few seconds later, both laughed together, thinking everything back then was funny how the horrible, cooking memories of Tenma were a pleasant one even though it was pretty haunting. After returning from Italy, Jason remembered that Yuko, Nao, and Miki went into a full Spartan chef mode with Tenma day and night until he learned to do them right, and there has been no unhealthy incident since then...yet.
"So, any plans for this year's semester?" Yuko asked as she took a sound bite of her pancakes.
Jason hummed in thought. "Nothing special." Said Jason as he took a chunk of a bite of his pancakes. "I'm probably spending my days leisurely as a student," Jason said as he gulps his orange juice.
"What about friends?" Yuko asked as she refilled the cup.
Jason hummed in thoughts before remembering Takashi's group. "Well, I told you about the three students I rescued?" Yuko nodded in response. "Yeah, I'm probably going to hang out with them and just chill, you know?"
Yuko sighed in slight disappointment from his lack of enthusiasm. "Well, I am glad that you are making friends and fit into peaceful life, but there has to be more than that." Jason shrugged his shoulders in response. "What about sports, or even clubs? I'm pretty sure that you can fit in pretty well." Yuko suggested kindly as her doctor's side kicked in.
Jason shakes his head. "I don't want to attract any attention to myself. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to have fun and hang out and all, but I don't want the others to know the real me." He frowned sadly at the last part.
"Jason..." Yuko looked at him with a concerned look.
Jason sighed tiredly. "Yuko, I appreciate your concern that I should...move on with my life, but it's not easy." Jason rubbed his head in response. "It takes time for me to adjust after all the shit I went through... Just give me time, okay?" Jason smiled sadly.
Yuko sighed but beamed a smiled motherly in response. "Well, I'm sure you'll think of something. And if you need anything else..." Yuko said as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Then I'll let you know. I promise." Jason smiled appreciatively.
Yuko nods in approval. "All right then. Now we should finish eating and head out soon. I'll drop you off at the school as it is on your way." Said Yuko as Jason nodded in response, finishing up eating their breakfast.
~ At Tokonosu Junior High School, Front Gate ~
"All right, we're here!" Yuko said as Jason exited the car.
"Hm. not bad at all," Jason said as he gazes at the junior high he's going to.
"Did you get everything? School supplies, IDs, papers, and documents?" Yuko asked to make sure everything was in order.
Jason sighed as he took out his folder, checking the papers. "Yes, yes, yes, and yes, I did," Jason answered. "Don't worry, Yuko, I'll be fine," Jason reassures Yuko, who was looking at him with a disagreeable and flat expression.
"Riiiiight," Yuko said sarcastically.
Jason huffed. "Fine, don't believe me, woman." That caused Yuko to laugh.
Yuko nods as she starts her car. "All right, anything else you need?"
"Tell the girls and the others we'll be having a reunion party sometime this month or the next month because of their tour," Jason responded as he started to walk.
Yuko narrowed her eyes, smiling mischievously. "Ooooh~? Does that mean you're giving quality time to your girls, or should I say your harem?" That comment caused Jason to falter, almost fall before regaining his balance.
"Really? You're saying it right here, in front of the school?" Jason said with an annoying frown on his face.
Yuko giggled playfully. "Oh, come now, you should know how they're demanding you're...manliness," Yuko said as she looked at Jason's... particular part, causing Jason to cover with his folder.
"Hey, eyes up here, woman." Jason flickered his fingers, causing Yuko and Jason to laugh heartily. Jason then turned around, started to head towards the school, looking back at Yuko. "Anyway, thanks for the ride, Yuko." Jason thanks her.
"No problem at all, Jason." Yuko beamed at Jason.
Jason looked over his shoulder towards Yuko. "No, I mean... thanks for always looking out for me," Jason said gratefully with warm looks on his face.
Seeing such a face, Yuko couldn't help but chuckle fondly. "You know the others, and I always will. We're family, after all."
Jason smiled fondly. "Yeah, I know. And I wouldn't trade it for the world." Jason said gratefully with warm looks on his face.
"All right then, I'll be going now. And remember, have fun at your new school!" Yuko exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'll let you know how school went and all," Jason said as he waved his hand goodbye towards Yuko as she started to drive away.
Jason chuckles as he passes through the school gates, humming in his thought. 'Now then, here's to my new life as a school student.' He thought as he headed towards the school reception to check in.
~ At Tokonosu Junior High School, Reception Desk ~
'Jesus, that was so awkward.' Jason thought as he found his way to the school's reception.
As he was entering the school, some of the students looked at him and commented on him. He was commented to be handsome, charming, and wondering if he was a transfer student of sorts for the girls. On the other hand, the boys commented him to be a nuisance, another handsome guy scoring away girls, while other boys thought he looked cool and all with his crossed scar on his cheek.
Jason managed to find it and walked up to the school's reception thanks to a kind but rude pink-hair colored, twin-ponytailed girl, pointed where the reception was. The receptionist noticed him and smiled politely towards him.
"Good morning, and welcome to Tokonosu Junior High School. I'm Yumi Kirishima, and how may I help you?"
"Hi there. I was transferring to this school and came here to find out how my first day would be.' Jason asked the receptionist with a smile on his face.
Yumi nods. "Okay then. Can I ask what your name is?" She asks politely.
"It's Jason Wilson. I was transferred here from my homeschooling. Jason answered back.
Yumi nods as she looks at some of her paper. "And may I ask where did you homeschool?"
Jason nods. "It's America, specifically in the state of California."
Yumi nodded as she hummed, looking at her paper. "Hmm... let's see here," She beamed with a smile as she found his name on the form. "Ah, here you are. We were expecting you today." She said as she stood up from her seat, grabbing her clipboard with her papers attached to the board. "Now, if you follow me, I'll lead you in here where you have to do an introductory exam, so we know how far you're along," Yumi explains as she leads him.
"All right then, lead the way." Jason smiles as she beamed him back with a smile, leading the young man into a small but empty classroom.
"Now, you can take any of the empty seats around here." Yumi pointed towards the empty seats. "And here's the introductory exam, a pencil, and an eraser for you to use." Said as she gave out the paper, pencil, and eraser to Jason.
"Thank you very much for guiding me through the process." Jason thanked the receptionist, who beamed back with a smile on her face.
"Don't mention it. It's part of my job, and I do enjoy it after all." Yumi said as Jason nodded in response. "When you finish with the exam, come back to the reception desk, and I'll go over the exam to see how well you did, okay?"
"Got it. Thanks again." Jason thanked her once more.
"You're most welcome, and good luck." She said with a smile as she left the room, leaving the boy standing there.
"Hm. Lovely lady, polite and friendly and all." Jason wondered as he sat down and looked at the exam.
"All right, let's do this," Jason said as he started his exam.
~ 30 minutes later ~
"That's a wrap, I guess." Said Jason as he stretched out his body while sitting in his chair. After finishing his preliminary exam, he went through the exam papers, checked his answers for the questions, and nodded in satisfaction.
"All right then, time to head back," Jason said as he grabbed the exam paper and his school kits, walking out of the empty classroom to make it back to the receptionist's desk. After a bit of walk, Jason sees Yumi, who was working on a bit of paperwork. As she noticed a presence, she saw Jason and smiled towards him.
"Welcome back, Mr. Wilson." Said Yumi.
"Thanks," Jason said, placing the exam on the counter. "Here's the exam."
"All right then, let me check it for you," Yumi replied, getting out the answer sheet.
~ 1 minute later ~
"Well, Mr. Wilson, you have got more than 95 percent of the answers correct. It looks like you've been taught well." Yumi said, impressed by Jason's knowledge.
'Well... my homeschooling was more...practical than any normal students.' Jason thought while smiling for the compliment. "Thank you very much."
Yumi checked her wristwatch. "And you finished precisely in half an hour by my count. Have to say, I'm impressed with your education and efficiency too."
Jason raised his eyebrow. "Really? Is there anyone who got a perfect score?"
Yumi nodded. "Yes, by my count, she was considered as the highest scorer among the entrance exam we've had in years. And you're considered the second-highest by records."
'She? So it's a female student'. Jason thought as he could guess who the student's identity was but brushed it off out. "Huh, I guess I'm smarter than I thought."
She chuckled in response. "Quite humble, I see."
Jason shrugged. "Meh, I study decently enough for me to pass."
She chuckled once more. "Hehe, all right then. Now, if you follow me, I'll lead you to the principal's office." The receptionist once again stood up and led Jason up a flight of stairs to the principal's office. Yumi knocks on the office door with the sign 'Principal' on it.
"Yes?" Came a voice from the inside.
"Pardon the interruption, Principal Sakai. I've brought the transfer student." Yumi responds.
"Ah, thank you, Ms. Kirishima. Tell him to come in, please." The voice from the inside responded.
"Yes, Sir." She responds, turning to Jason with a smile. "Well, here is where I leave you. I hope you enjoy your stay in Tokonosu Junior High School, Mr. Wilson."
"Thank you, Ms. Kirishima. I appreciate the gesture." Jason said as he puts out his hand for a shake. Yumi gratefully took the hand for a shake, then left him standing there. Jason then opened the door and walked into the office. The principal was a tall, lean, aged man dressed in a dark gray suit and pants, a black shirt with a white tie, and many grays on his hair, giving him the vibe of a wise, whimsical fox. He was wrapping up signing a paper, rose out of his chair, and approached him with a welcoming smile.
"Welcome, Mr. Wilson, to Tokonosu Junior High School." The principal bowed slightly to Jason, in which he returned the gesture.
Jason smiled politely. "Thanks for the warm welcome, Principal Sakai."
Sakai smiled. "You're welcome, my boy. Please have a seat." Sakai gestured his hand towards one of the sofas. Both of them sit across from one another. Sakai sat first, followed by Jason, and gave him the exam paper and the document papers for the school registration.
"I hope your stay in Japan has been enjoyable so far?" Meanwhile, Sakai asked the boy, taking out the document papers and examining them along with the exam paper.
"Hmm, can't say." Jason hummed in thought. "I've only been here about a few days. But, I like how peaceful and quiet it is in Tokonosu."
"I'm glad that you find the city enjoyable to you," Sakai said as Jason returned an appreciating nod. Sakai examined the exam paper first and then the document paper, all to find it impressed by Jason's scores and recommendation. "I must say, from the looks of your exam and the documents you have, I don't know if you can learn more than what you already know."
"What do you mean by that, sir?" Jason was puzzled by the response.
Sakai coughed lightly. "Well, first off, the exam you took was created from the input of the teachers within this school to test newcomers, to evaluate the education level, and make a basic guideline for your future curriculum here and beyond." Jason nodded in understanding. "And there's the recommendation you have."
Jason raised his eyebrow once more, in which the principal chuckles. "I found it quite surprising to found that the one who wrote your recommendation and your legal guardian is the famed surgeon, Dr. Yuko Takamiya, one of the famed doctors in Tokonosu."
"And that is good because?" Jason quizzically asked.
"My boy, having a recommendation from Dr. Takamiya to vouch for your education is equated to granting a full-right scholarship to known educational institutes," Sakai answered with a serious look.
That surprised Jason a bit. He didn't know that Yuko was that famous in Tokonosu.
"I'm sure that any top students would die to be in your position to attain such privilege," Sakai answered thoughtfully. "And especially being your legal guardian is going to bring an extra trouble."
"I...see," Jason couldn't help but to answer in annoyance, rubbing the bridge of his nose. 'Note to self: Don't mention Yuko's name openly.'
"I agree with the sentiment you're feeling. Just letting you know to be careful." Said Sakai in thoughtful advice, in which Jason appreciated the gesture. Sakai then clapped his hands together. "Well then, I guess I held you long enough here. I am honored to accept such an exemplary student to attend this institution, Mr. Wilson. "
"Thank you for accepting my placement here, Principal Sakai. I look forward to learning what I can hear if there's anything that is." Jason said to the principal with a witty remark, in which the principal laughed.
"I'm sure you will. Now then, let us get you to your new class." The principal explained while opening the door allowing the boy to walk through.
"Luckily, the semester started recently, so you won't have to worry about falling behind nor not being able to introduce yourself," Sakai explained, earning a nod from Jason. "As for the class, we are going to put you in one of the first years. I noticed you are a year or two older than them on your record, but I'm afraid you have to be placed in the first year since you're transferring from homeschooling. I hope you can understand this." the principal continued with an apologetic look.
Jason shook his head and smiled in response. "It's nothing to worry about. It wouldn't seem fair to the other students if I came in and joined later class like that." Jason replied to the older man.
Sakai nodded. "Very true, anyway this is your classroom here, class 1-A. I'll go in first and let the teacher know you're here before I give you permission to join us and introduce yourself to your new classmates. Wait here." The principal told the young man before knocking on the classroom door and entering the room, leaving the young man outside.
'Come to think of it; I didn't ask what Takashi and the other's classroom were. It's a damn shame because they were the first ones I met in Tokonosu and befriended nicely.' Jason thought, hoping to sit with them in the same class. 'Well, the best thing I can do is to find them and hang out during lunchtime and after school.' Jason thought as he sighed in response. 'I hope I'm not sat with either a short-tempered, horny jock or with some egotistical bitch.' Jason thought, hoping to sit someone next to who is decent and friendly enough.
The door opened, and the principal stuck his head out to find the young man.
"You can come in now," Sakai told Jason, who followed the older man inside.
'Well, here's to hope a life of peace and no trouble.' Jason thought as he entered the classroom.
~ Dozen minutes before Jason comes in ~
After an eventful night happened last weekend with the thugs, Takashi, Hisashi, and Rei managed to get to their respective homes. Honestly, the group felt grateful to Jason when he came to their aid, plus getting treated with the injuries and bruises they had. Thanks to his expert first-aid treatment, the boys felt less sore on their bodies and could better relax on the weekend.
The group was currently back in school and didn't attract many thanks to Jason's medicinal ointments, only having light bandages on their heads. They were now talking to one another until the class started.
"So Takashi, how're your injuries faring?" Hisashi asked.
"Well, surprisingly, I feel better than I thought," Takashi said as he turned his shoulder around a bit. "That ointment that Jason gave us sure worked like a charm too."
Rei sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear it. The injuries you and Hisashi got were quite bad."
Takashi nodded. "I know. But I'm okay now, thanks to his treatment." Takashi grinned in response.
"Still, you shouldn't be so reckless," Rei said with a concerned look.
"She's right, you reckless dolt." A voice of a young girl was heard. It revealed a girl of teenage age of under-average height with a slender but curvy build, resembling a bikini model physique with F-cup bust size. Her distinctive long, pink hair was quickly recognized, kept in two ponytails on either side of her head. She glared at Takashi with her fierce, orange eyes, matched with furrowed eyebrows.
"Come on, not you too, Saya." Takashi groaned in annoyance.
The girl named Saya scoffed as she gently pushed her two thin, long bangs at the sides with two thin strands of hair over the left side of her forehead. In contrast, the more prominent, spikier portion of her hair covered the right side.
"Admit it, Takashi. What you did was reckless and stupid to do." She responded, showing a visible pointed tooth that appears at times on the right side of her mouth. "Honestly, it doesn't take a genius to figure out such stupidity." she pointed at him with her index finger.
The girl lecturing harshly towards Takashi's action is Saya Takagi, one of the childhood friend groups with Takashi and Rei, whom they were close to back in kindergarten to today.
"Geez, laying it on me straight, huh?" Takashi responded with a tired tone.
"Of course I am, moron!" She exclaimed loudly, causing the three to flinch in response."
"Saya, you don't have to be harsh about it," Rei responded as she tried to soothe Saya's remark.
Saya sighed in huffed manner. "Rei, you can't keep indulging him with such a soft attitude." She breathed out to calm herself down. "Good grief, I was worried when I heard about the news from Mama too."
Rei sheepishly smiled, although she felt grateful for her concern. "I know, and we're sorry to worry you." Saya glanced at Rei. "But the important thing is that we're okay and safe. So please don't be mad at us anymore, please?" Rei pleaded with her cute smile.
Saya flinched in response as she was weak to her smile. As much as she wanted to resist her smile, she reluctantly nodded in response. "All right, I'll drop the topic..." said Saya with blush and furrowed looks, causing the three to chuckle in amusement.
"Oh right, hey Takashi, I remember something," Rei called out to him.
"What's up, Rei?" Takashi responded.
"Do you think Jason's going to be in our classroom?" Rei asked.
"I'm sorry, who?" Saya asked as she raised her eyebrow.
"Oh!" Rei clapped her hands together. "We did mention you during the weekend that someone saved us from the thugs, right?" Rei confirmed, earning a nod from Saya. "Well, that person will attend the school too!"
"Hold on a second." Saya stopped the conversation, earning their attention. "Does this Jason happen to be a tall, handsome guy with short, spiky-unkempt, black hair and has a big scar on his left cheek?"
That caused the others to widen their eyes in surprise.
"How did you know what he looks like?" Takashi asked.
"Yeah, we only told you his name, not his appearance," Hisashi added in further.
Saya rolled her eyes. "Well, before I came in, I saw the guy wandering around the school like a helpless idiot," Saya answered in huffed manner, causing the others to smile weakly. "It annoyed me when he asked me where it was, so I told him where the receptionist's desk was for registration. I'm pretty sure that he'll take the preliminary exam for his curriculum."
"Well, all in good, it'll be cool to have him in our class." Takashi grinned.
Hisashi hummed in agreement. "Well, it'll certainly make our class lively."
"Me too. But I wonder..."Rei hummed in thought as she puts her finger at her chin. "Do you think Jason's going to be in our classroom?" Rei asked.
Hisashi hummed in thought. "Hmm... It's hard to say, and there are several other classrooms after all."
"And besides, it also depends on how he did on his exam," Saya responded.
"Well, let's hope for the best that he'll show up in our classroom. If not, then I'm sure we could hang out after school." Takashi responded, earning a nod from the three.
As the chatter went on, the glass door slid open, showing a young, mature-looking teacher with a dark-red women's suit with a black shirt underneath the suit. She wears a dark-red skirt with a black leather belt on the bottom, wearing a sexy black-colored garter stocking with dark-red heels, coming in with a black folder.
"Good Morning, Class." The woman greeted the class warmly as the students were getting seated.
"Good Morning, Ms. Sakamoto." The class greeted back to her warmly.
Sakamoto smiled as she went to the front wood podium. "Well, I'm happy to see everyone is having a good morning. Goodness, I can hear your chatter from the hallways." Sakamoto joked a bit, causing the students to laugh softly in response.
"Now then, first and foremost on our agenda today," Sakamoto said as she opened her folder, pulling a series of paper and placed on the classroom podium. "I like to announce that the recruitment for school's club and sports activity will start somewhere in the next week," Sakamoto announced, causing the students to get excited and chatter a bit amongst one another.
"Awesome!"
"I want to join the Basketball Club."
"Art Club for me!"
"I wonder if the Tea Ceremony Club requires a new kimono?"
"Hey, which club are you're going to join?"
Sakamoto couldn't help but sigh fondly at the view. Before it got out of hand, Sakamoto clapped her hands together a couple of times.
"Now now, settle down, everyone. I know all of you are excited about the activities, but let me finish," Sakamoto said as she waited for a few moments to settle down. "Right then. I want to remind you that whatever activities you have decided on, you need to ensure that your school curriculums don't hamper your academic studies."
That brought a series of small chatter amongst the students. Rei raised her hand, earning a nod from Sakamoto.
"Is it because of the conflicting schedule that clubs might have?" Rei asked.
"Yes, that's correct." Sakamoto nodded. "I'm sure you realized that students that attend club or sports activities will miss school to attend the events. Sometimes it could go on for several days to more than a week, depending on the club or sport you're in. So Make sure you don't slack off on your studies, understand?"
"Yes, Sensei." The class answered.
Sakamoto nodded in response. "Good then. Once you decide on your activities, please write down your activities on this sheet of paper," She said as she was holding a piece of paper in the air. "This paper will let me know which one of you goes to which club or sport, which allows me to know what you guys are doing, and I can talk with the advisors for future updates. I'll post the paper up on the board for you to write. You have until the end of the recruitment period to fill it out. Everyone understands?"
"Yes, Sensei." The class answered.
"Very well then." Sakamoto smiled. "Now then, what else on the agenda..." Sakamoto said as she looked at her paper.
Knock Knock.
Just then, a knock came on the door.
"Come in," Sakamoto called out.
"Morning, Ms. Sakamoto, and good morning to everyone," Sakai said as he came into the classroom with his hands behind his back.
"Good morning, Principal." The classroom chimed together.
"Good morning, Principal Sakai." Sakamoto bowed lightly. "What do I owe the visit?" She asked.
Sakai smiled in response. "Oh, I hope you spare a few minutes since I brought a transfer student today."
Sakamoto is surprised as her hand comes to her mouth. "Oh, you did mention that during our last staff meeting."
Sakai nodded in response. "Yes, he just finished the exam, and I just led him here to start his day as a student of our institution."
Sakamoto bowed in appreciation. "I appreciate the help, principal. Speaking of which, where's the transfer student?" She asked.
Sakai realized his mistake and laughed lightly. "Oh goodness me, I almost forgot. Let me call him in." As he walked out of the classroom, it caused the students to chatter regarding the transfer student, not knowing that the student was a friend to three students in particular.
~ Back to the present moment ~
As Jason entered, he noticed the praying eyes of around thirty other students staring at the boy who followed their principal across the room. Amongst the students, Jason raised his eyebrow in surprise as he recognized four of them, three of whom smiled in joy and happiness as they were grateful to see him again, causing Jason to grin lightly. At the same time, the other one just furrowed her eyebrow in response, observing him like prey.
'Well, Well. Guess I lucked out.' Jason thought as he smiled inwardly.
"Now then, I'll leave you to Ms. Sakamoto then." Sakamoto acknowledged with a nod. "Once again, welcome to the school, Mr. Wilson. I hope your future here is a fruitful one." Sakai said as he puts out his hand.
Jason takes his hand to shake. "Thank you, Principal Sakai. I appreciate the help." Jason respond.
Sakai smiled. "No problem, my boy. Now, farewell, everyone. I hope you all have a fine day." He waved his hand towards everyone, causing the students and the teacher to say farewell to the principal as he headed out of the classroom, leaving Jason to the class.
"Now then, since you are going to be in this class for the next year, would you do the honors and introduce yourself to the class," Sakamoto asked Jason.
"With pleasure Sensei." the boy replied before turning to the class.
After bowing slightly to the class, Jason spoke.
"Hello there everyone, my name is Jason D. Wilson, and I was transferred here from America as a fresh start to continue my studies. I hope I can get along with everyone here." He bowed lightly to everyone in front of the class. "Well, almost everyone besides the three." Said the mentioned three smiled jubilantly.
"Oh my, I didn't know you met some of our students," Sakamoto said.
Jason laughed lightly in response. "Well, I had a little encounter last weekend."
Sakamoto widens her eyes. "I'm guessing you're the one who..." Sakamoto said.
Jason confirmed with a nod. "That's right. When I first came to Tokonosu, I saved Takashi, Hisashi, and Rei from the thugs last weekend and had some great time at Hisashi's restaurant." Jason responded, causing the student to be amazed by his abilities, save for the three rescued, plus an irritated girl with pink-colored, twin-tail hair.
Sakamoto smiled in appreciation. "I see then. I appreciate the help you have given to our students." Jason nodded. "Now, I'm assuming that you also treated them to some extent judging from their wounds, correct?" Sakamoto asked.
Jason chuckled lightly. "Yeah, that's right. I mean, I have to with the way their face was swollen so much like a fat walrus." Joked Jason, causing the students to snort loudly, covering their mouths from laughing.
Takashi rises quickly from his seat with an angry face.
"Hey! You don't have to put it like that!"
Jason shrugged his shoulder in response. "What, Takashi? I mean, you did look swollen so much to the point that you were a walrus when I saved you." Jason responded, waving his hand jokingly towards Takashi. "You should thank me that you're decently looking better now, thanks to my treatment."
Takashi flinched in irritation with his fist gripped hard. "Well, I appreciate your help...! But that is still a low blow, man!" Exclaimed Takashi as he pointed his finger towards Jason, who just blew his air out with a bored expression.
"Pssshh, Wimp," Jason commented, causing Takashi to flip him off, and the classroom filled with laughter from their interaction with one another.
"If you guys want to know me more, you guys feel free to start asking questions. I'm sure you have some time, right?" Jason said towards Sakamoto, who was checking her wristwatch.
"Hmm... we do have time on our hands. All right then." "To start, I understand that you came from America. Can you speak some English to the class as not many of us have heard it spoken before?" Sakamoto asked.
"Sure, anything specific you want me to say?" Jason asked the teacher.
"Well, your hobbies would be a good start. Care to translate some of them?" the teacher once again asked the boy.
"Okay, (In English) one of my hobbies is going outside to draw and paint as a hobby. I do occasionally sell sketches and paints for a fair price online. I also get contract work from the companies that need help designing and creating some concept arts for a fee, although rarely. The other hobby I can think of is cooking since I appreciate good foods, so I wanted to cook my meal. Plus, I have lived alone for a while, so I have no choice but to cook. (Translated into Japanese afterward)." Jason explained in both languages.
After the explanation, everyone in the room was impressed by his skills in language and artwork.
Meanwhile, Saya raised her hand with a suspicious look.
"What happened to your cheek? It doesn't look like it's from the recent event from rescuing Takashi and the others."
The question aloud caused the class to be shocked by asking such personal questions, who couldn't help but be curious by the scar he had, save for the three who were sighed tiredly and felt sorry by her personality to Jason.
'Oh, Saya, she doesn't have to be that cautious towards him.'
'Ah damn it... I guess I'll need to fan out the tension during the lunch break or after school.
'Well, I wouldn't want to feel awkward, so I'll have to help the two to break off the hostility.'
Usually, Jason would find it offensive or tired of asking about his scar, but he was somewhat surprised by her straightforward, honest question this time.
'Damn, she certainly doesn't beat around the bush, huh?'
Sakamoto sighed in response. "Takagi, I'm sure there's a reason why he's gotten that scar. I believe asking such a personal question is..."
The latter shrugged his shoulder in response. "Can't blame her for being curious, Ms. Sakamoto. I'll talk about it, although shortly." Jason said, causing the class to widen their eyes from the response. Jason sighed tiredly. "The scar on my cheek, I got it years ago in a...accident when I was a kid," Jason said as he was reaching for the scar with his left hand with a sad look. "I was only six back then, and it reminded me when I lost my parents too..." Jason responded, causing some of them to have sympathetic looks.
Jason rubbed his neck, gathered his thought to answer, showing a somber expression. "I had some rough times back then..." Jason breathed out and smiled a little bit. "But now, I manage to...handle it well enough to go by."
Feeling bad for bringing up a tragic memory, Saya puts an apologetic look. "I... I apologize for asking it, and I didn't know it was that bad." She responds with honest condolences.
Jason shakes his head. "It's okay. My scar is a rather big one, so I'm bound to ask such a question time and again. You don't need to feel too bad about it. That goes for all of you, too, since you didn't know about it." Jason said, earning smiles from his new classmates and his homeroom teacher.
As the mood in the class improved and students were about to ask questions, Jason cut them by raising his hand.
"I know you have more questions for me. But I'm afraid we're cutting in times with the classroom, so we'll do it some other times, okay?" Jason said, getting an agreement of nods.
As the classroom was about to begin, Jason raised a finger, earning the attention of his classmate and teacher.
"But I will answer this main question for the class."
The sudden answer to a mysterious question Jason brought an infectious curiosity from everyone in the room, as they were leaning towards him to listen closely.
"I am dating someone, so I'm sorry for the girls if you're interested in my handsome looks and all. As for the boys, the girl is so hot and sexy that you wouldn't have a snowball chance of having a shot with her." Jason said with a flat, deadpanned expression.
The answer aloud caused the class to be so shocked by Jason's response; they couldn't help but let out two distinctive responses from boys and girls.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, HE'S TAKEN~!"
"GO TO HELL, YOU ARROGANT PRICK!"
As the answer came out, Jason laughed loudly from the response he had, causing the teachers, the students, and Takashi's group to laugh and play along with the nonsense he had.
After calming down from the laughter, Sakamoto wiped her tears from her eyes.
"Well, that was quite the introduction you have for the class, Mr. Wilson. As such, you'll be sitting in one of the seats in the third row next to Komuro." Sakamoto pointed towards Takashi, who was saluting with his fingers, and Jason nodded in response. "All right then, please take your seat, and we will begin the classroom soon when the bell goes."
"Right, one last announcement for all of you."
Jason and the class couldn't help but to browed at her suggestion. Did they miss something in the paper?
"Welcome to Tokonosu Junior High School, Jason Wilson. I hope your school here is a great one!" Respond Sakamoto as the classmates go along with their teacher's response by whistling and clapping for a warm welcome.
"Yeah! Welcome, Man!"
"Even though an ass, great to have you here!"
"Let's get along well!"
Hearing such a warm welcome from the school, Jason couldn't help but smile warmly at such applause.
"Thank you, Ms. Sakamoto. And thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome!" Said Jason went towards his seat, fist-bumping with Takashi and Hisashi and waving his hand towards Rei.
"Well, that was certainly an impression I'll never forget," Hisashi commented with an amused smile in the left of Jason's seat.
"You got that right, and you just made a legend of yourself, dude!" Takashi commented on the right of Jason's seat.
"Hey, I'm just awesome and adaptable," Jason responded, earning a snort from the boys and hitting his shoulder playfully, while an annoying rolled-eye response from Saya, while Rei giggled at the remark.
"Well, I, for one, am happy that you're here with us. Let's get along well, Jason." Rei said with a welcoming smile in front of Jason.
"Hey, same here, Rei," Jason responded the same, all the while looking towards Saya at the back. "I know we started wrong, but let's get along, right, Takagi?" Jason offered a handshake towards Saya.
While initially shocked by his gesture, Saya reluctantly shakes his hand. "Fine, you should feel privileged to befriend me. I hope you keep up with me, buster." That comment earned soft laughter from the others.
"Geez, you should loosen yourself more freely. You don't have to be so uptight about it and all." Jason responded.
Saya scoffed at the remark. "Ha! I would rather be more disciplined than being a lazy jackass."
Jason shrugged it off. "I think I will be since I scored more than 95% on my preliminary exam." That response earned a surprised look from the group.
"Oh, I have a challenge this year, huh? This will be interesting." Saya said with a challenging grin on her face.
Jason waved his hand in a lazy response. "Pass on that, too much work for me. I just like to relax and live."
Saya huffed at the remark. "What's the use of showing your intelligence since you're going to be a lazy jackass."
"I think I like to live happily with the ones I care about," Jason responded.
"What's that supposed even mean?" Saya was confused by his response.
Jason shrugged his shoulder in response. "Oh, you know, just respecting the fact that you wanted to live happily with your loved ones too, regardless of discipline or rules whatsoever."
Saya was confused and browed by Jason's answer. "What are you possibly insinuating..." Said until she widens her eyes and looks immediately towards Takashi with a scar glare. "You didn't."
Takashi flinched, slowly shifted his attention away from her glare. "Well..." "I mean, it had to be fair since he did save us from the thugs last weekend."
Saya gritted her teeth in response. "That doesn't mean you get to spout about the promises we made to random strangers...!" Saya remarked angrily and quietly.
"Now now, Saya, don't be so mad at us. Jason looks at it with positive support." Rei calmed her down.
"Wha, are you serious, Rei?" Saya was surprised by Rei's response.
"Yeah. I mean, I'm just happy that there are people who support it too." Rei smiled in response.
Saya flinched in response as she was weak to her smile. As much as she wanted to resist her smile, she reluctantly nodded in response. "All right, I'll drop the topic..." said Saya with blush and furrowed looks, causing the three to chuckle in amusement.
Saya turned her attention to Jason, who noticed the shift.
"You're not weirded out about this?" Saya asked.
"What, the polyamorous relationship between the three of you?" Jason asked.
"Yes." Saya nodded, forming a somber, furrowed expression. "I mean, normal people would have been disturbed by such thoughts-"
"Listen, Takagi," Jason cuts her off. "I'm not telling you what to do with your life, and it's your choice and your choice only," Jason responded with a firm, strong tone. Saya browed in response with interest. "This is my personal opinion, but everyone deserves to have a happy and prosperous relationship with their loved ones. The only thing that matters is that you deal with both the rewards and consequences of your actions when the time comes."
"That sounds like valuable advice," Saya responded with sarcastic remarks and rolled-eyes response.
Jason chuckled at her response. "Anyway, my advice to you is that you don't bottle your feelings to yourself, instead be more open and share your thoughts. The last thing you want is bringing misery not only to yourself but also to the people you're close with when not sharing your thoughts and feelings, all right?" Jason said in a wise, sounded tone, earning a firm nod from Takashi, while Rei and Hisashi appreciated him, all the while Saya felt rather impressed and surprised by his helpful thoughts.
"And besides," Jason added in further, earning a brow from Saya. "You'll need to learn on satisfying not only your future husband but also your...co-wife too in the future, yeah?" Jason teased, causing Saya, Takashi, and Rei to blush madly at such a response. All the while, Hisashi snorted in response.
As much as Saya wanted to refute and exclaimed back at such slanderous remarks, she has to admit that his advice is helpful and thoughtful despite being a stranger to her. Still, earning the trust of her childhood friends made Saya reluctantly nod in response. "All right. I'll...think about it... thanks." Saya blushed in embarrassment while muttering the last part but didn't miss by the group.
Jason shakes his head with amusement. "Anyway, after this school, you guys wanna hang out at the eatery again?"
"I'm in," Takashi said.
"I'm down too," Hisashi said.
"Count me in, too," Rei said.
Jason nodded at three, turning his attention to Saya. "How about you, Takagi?"
While initially shocked by his gesture, Saya reluctantly nodded with a blush on her end. "Fine, and I'll allow you to call me by my given name. You should feel privileged to call me. I hope you have some serious cash on you when we go there, buster." That comment earned soft laughter from the others.
"I think I'll manage it, Saya. Especially if you have a big appetite." Jason responded with a smile, earning various smile and tired sighs at the end, signaling his starting his day as an average student.