Since Leonore was young, people used to tell her that, time is something you should cherish, take care of and protect. It's not because time is gold, she already gets that at a young age, but because, time is with you in your life. If you don't use it wisely, your time will catch up with you. And in a glimpse of an eye, you'll never know when will you hear the voice of the "Reaper" as they say.
Walking the stoned pavement path to the school, Leonore sighs.
"Yet, no one seems to notice. Time is not permanent. It passes." Looking at the back of her wrist, there written in white glowing figures, 20: 8: 12: 30: 12: 25. This means Leonore has 20 years, 8 days, 12 hours, 12 minutes and 25 seconds left of her life to spend. Not a lot of people have a time like hers. Some people don't even make it to their sixties. Some only a few years.
Because of her time, people watch out for her. Envy her, mad at her and most of all, hate her. Time, divided people. She can't blame them for her hating her, she is a very closed off person that don't much her weird personality.
She can't blame people who envy her, if she could, back then when she was at her worst, if someone asked her if they could have her time, she would willingly say yes, in a heartbeat. After all, she has a lot of time. More than they could ever know.
One could say, Leonore has unlocked the mystery of the "Reaper". The Reaper is the voice that warns you if you're almost out of time, or if you have ticked your last tock.
Taking a turn to the right, Leonore could already see the blue gate of her school. Sehun High School, it's not prestigious, but it's not anonymous either, their school jus happens to be in the in-between.
Rubbing her thumb around the edge of her red necktie, she already predicted that this will be an exhausting first day of school. Leonore feels dread is coming once she saw her two friends.
'Is it bad that I don't want to see them, like ever?'
"Yo! Leo! We've been waiting for you!" At the distance, Leonore could hear someone calling her. And from the sound of it, it must be a girl, though, her voice was familiar, Leonore can't pinpoint who it belongs to until she was near enough to the gate to see her death.
'Oh my god, she's already here! I'm still not ready!' Leonore was screaming inside, and no one will ever know from the serious yet bored look she always has. She has come to accept her faith once she was face to face with an auburn-haired girl wearing grey vest blazer that hugged the taller girl's slender creamy white arms. Inside was a black vest, with her red necktie tuck inside the vest, in between her white long sleeve and grey vest. With her right hand inside the pocket of her black and grey checkered skirt which according to the school rules, should be below the knee. The auburn-haired smirk at the sight of her shivering hermit friend, a.k.a Leonore.
Leonore can't deny that her friend is a beauty, tall nose, fine thick eyebrows, and with that sharp chin and very well done cheekbones, she asks herself as always. Is her friend sculpted by a very good sculptor? That's the only way her best friend gets that fine face or its just her parents have handsome and pretty genes.
Standing firm with her long legs, the auburn-haired pulled Leonore's hand and started dashing off to who knows where.
"I'm not ready to be in everyone's radar yet you idiot!" Leonore shouted, she could feel her bones shivering, she cursed at her friend in her mind. Killing her as well, she won't know that after all.
"Did you forget who I am? I'm the school's idiot, Ruka Toobichi, and I don't take hesitations very much. And we need to meet up with crazy Joseph too. That early bird of a bitch! He didn't help me at all during my summer class!" With a pissed look, Leonore could imagine that is this is anime, Ruka's eyes would be sharp and red with a nerve popping out at the side of her head. And here she is getting dragged by her reckless friend because Joseph didn't help her cheat.
"You do know making him cheat is like saying that he should jump off a cliff. Just because he can't say no doesn't mean he will agree to your antics." She deadpanned. They can't help her if she doesn't help herself self you know. Ruka Toobichi is a genius! An unknown genius for that. Leonore knows how smart their friend is, Ruka is just being Ruka, it is her pleasure to feel everybody underestimating her and loving the reaction she gets once she proves them wrong. That my people is Ruka's abnormality.
They all have this. As the saying goes, birds of the same feathers stay together.
Ruka stopped in the hallway as she looked at Leonore with a death threatening look. Leonore feels like she has dug herself her own grave.
"But friends do help study right? He could have found another way, you know he will. It is in our nature." With aa cold yet normal voice of Ruka, Leonore felt a wave of coldness envelopes her despite Ruka's warm tone yet cold look. She could need a distraction, where is Joseph when Leonore needed her. That guy is not just gonna feel the wrath of Ruka, but hers as well.
While the two were bickering, students being students looked at the school's two most popular individual bickering beside the seniors' room. The third-year to be exact. Rumors says that the homeroom teacher is evil, cruel and merciless! Training the students to the very bone! This also made some of the students, who took the rumors to the heart transfer school. The very rival of Sehun High School, Fukushima High School. They weren't looking for trouble, but after their school started building up their fame around the little schools as well as getting trampled at some contests, Fukushima High School wasn't exactly happy with that.
Students' eyes were suddenly caught by a brown haired beauty known as Jayleen Green, one of the famous students besides the two abnormal girls bickering beside the third years' door. Her uniform, worn correctly and with that innocent yet mature look in her face made the boys go nuts. Only in their heads and dreams. With her brown hair pulled in a ponytail, her bangs are perfectly seen emphasizing her dark brown round eyes. As she closed her eyes for a minute to take a deep breath, trying to collect her composure, one could see her dark long eyelashes. Unlike some girls in the school, Jayleen dislikes putting makeup unless necessary like some occasions. Her average nose, despite not that tall, still made her pretty alongside her round-shaped face.
Finally opening her eyes and taking a step, what Jayleen's first saw was Leonore's smirky smile with her best friend. It may not be directed towards her, but it made Jayleen's body flinched, and she was regretting the decision to calm her nerves down as she tangled her feet at the last minute and trip.
At a distance a few feet away from Leonore and Ruka, Jayleen's brown hair was caught on Leonore's view and her eyes widen when she saw her trip, and it looks like its face-first down the floor. Leonore's smirky smile quickly vanished and replaced with a frown. But, is it bad that she still finds Jayleen very pretty yet funny at her expression right now?
Ruka, also turning around to find the reason what made Leonore scared, quickly hold her laugh as she clamps her hand on her mouth.
'This will be good for the school years of epic photos!"
'She looks like a person that's constipated. I shouldn't laugh right now!'
"Jayleen!-" Shouting her name even at times like this made Leonore say it all the time, its like chocolate melting in her tongue. That's the feeling she gets. But before she could even be far from Ruka, someone, as always beat her to it. None other than, Ethan Hunt. The said rumor, the crush of Jayleen. And his name doesn't help either! He's not Tom Cruise!
"Ah-"
Jayleen looked up to see Leonore's worried, yet pained face. She furrowed her eyebrow at that, after all, it's pretty rare to see those expressions from Leonore. She could tell, they were once like a paper and pen, always together. This made her forget about the painful thing to come to her face as one thought entered her mind, 'Why... Why did you look at me like that? Why do you always look at me like your in pain?'
Before she could invest her thoughts in that question of hers, strong and masculine arms quickly wrapped its way around her waist, pulling her up inches from kissing the floor, and with a twist, she was met with that charming shy smile and blue eyes. Out of instinct, and fear to fall which will be an embarrassing thing to happen on her first day, she wrapped her arms around her savior's neck.
How unfortunate, one person made her fall, yet a different person caught her. How unfortunate, that instead of those piercing yet caring light brown eyes and smirky smile, she was staring at Ethan's face. How unfortunate that instead of slender yet strong arms that seems to hold her with care and embrace so warm that is so inviting, having the tightness that says to never let go and yet, she was welcomed with strong masculine arms that seem to force her, no grace, a grip that says she belongs. How unfortunate, that she wants a different person to be in her savior's place. How unfortunate indeed.
"Oh, be careful Jay, no worries though, I'm here for you." with a flash of Ethan's smile, he thought he could sweep Jayleen's sweet. Of course, metaphorically as to say.
He was on the way to their new building when she saw her alone, without her four best friends always sticking together, Ethan thought that this is his chance to make a move on her this year again but even better than last time. Climbing up a few stairs, he trails behind Jayleen and played it cool like it was a very normal day like any other. Ethan doesn't want to cause any rumors now. He hasn't won the nice side of Sulpicia, and he needs her for the rumors to come and he couldn't help but grin at that. After all, they do have one target, Leonore Cole.
'That stuck up bitch always stealing my thunder. Screw it that she has also the longest life span in all of us here. I'll prove to everyone that you're one of those Jaded-Timers. Stealing time from people just for your own. Disgusting!' Ethan clenched his fist inside her black pants, just one day and he'll prove it. Glancing at his white glowing figures, which he doesn't pay that much attention, it reads 10: 14: 45: 21: 30. Just 10 years, 14 days, 45 hours, 21 minutes and 30 seconds.
Looking ahead, he saw Leonore with that irritating smirky smile of hers ahead and Ethan lost sight of Jayleen for a moment with he started seeing red. With a yelp coming from in front of him, he quickly that Jayleen was about face plant on the floor and quickly acted.
And still, staring at Jayleen's disappointed look at him, he tightened his grip. 'Why do I disappoint you? Is my love for you ain't enough?' Ethan flashed her a smile, a smile he was sure would give him a reaction from her. But no, as always, she gave him a polite smile and with a force from her hands, untangle his arms around her waist.
"Thank you for the concern but I will be fine like I have done in 16 years of my very existence, Ethan." Jayleen quickly but gracefully took a step back, making it seem like she wants to have her personal space back when in reality, Jayleen doesn't wanna be near Ethan. Jayleen can't point out the exact reason. Maybe because he's obsessed with her or because Ethan gives off that unsettling atmosphere around him.
Unbeknownst to Jayleen, Leonore was watching the whole exchange, emphasizing the staring contest they did. Ruka, looking at her very first friend was feeling helpless. She knows her little Lion has a thing to their class Ace, Jayleen Green. Even though Leonore has no idea that she's also one of the known 4 Aces. The 4 representatives in everything.
Just with the look giving by Leonore, Ruka knows, Jayleen is one lucky girl, just too bad that Jayleen messed up a chance with Leonore, that ended up Leonore to be all confused and tangles up ending in even more mess. But, as her best friend, no matter what happens, all she can do is to always watch Leonore's back and not to mention start to play cupid to the two clueless soon to be lovers. Which will be hard thinking now that they're seniors, top it with being famous, rumors well surely start like wildfire and storm? Ruka's shoulder sagged, almost forgot the Sulpicia girl, which is very known to have feelings for Leonore.
'Little Lion, why do you have so many girls after you? You're making my work harder!'
Ruka, softly patted her friend's shoulder to get her attention and softly smiled when Leonore turned to look at her.
"Come on Little Lion, let's just go inside and beat the hell out of Joseph until he's teary-eyed." And with a devilish smile, Ruka quickly made Leonore lose a little attention from Jayleen.
"Woah! If you make him cry I'll also break your bones! But let's do that." Leonore grinned, the two of them teamed up to take revenge on their very responsible friend, hell will break loose. But Leonore almost back down, again, Ruka plus Joseph on her? She will not stand a chance.
"You know what? Let's just greet each other normally when seeing him. He saved as seats like a gentlemen friend he is." Sensing that Ruka thought the same as hers, only Joseph and her team up, it will be a battle between wits and minds, and oh, violence coming from both of Ruka and her.
Turning their back from the 'cliche' scene, Ruka went ahead Leonore and opened the door but they were stopped from entering by Jayleen's voice.
"But why do you have to shout my name Lee, it's like the hallway doesn't know me. To top it up, it was girly." Jayleen went beside Leonore and by the looks of it, Ruka facepalmed. Her Little Lion quickly turned into a cub.
'Man up you Lion!' she thought as she watches her friend look at her with pleading eyes. She shook her head with a look, and Leonore knows she's doomed.
But wait, girly?
"Who are you calling girly?!" emphasizing her whole body with her hands she gave Jayleen her famous smirky smile, "Do you see girly features huh?" Leonore said in a challenging voice.
Of course, Jayleen won't back down. 'Is that a challenge softie?' Jayleen smirked and crossed her arms. Looking Leonore up and down, seeing those boyish features on Leonore's face, especially her piercing eyes that seem to haunt her, Leonore's pixie hair cut that Jayleen is positive that have grown long during the summer vacation, and don't start her off with Leonore's collar bone and creamy white neck that seems to have tanned a little bit. Jayleen almost regretted her decision to try and intimidate the brunette. She can't help but feel like it suddenly has gotten hot in the hallway. And she has no idea that Ruka is now watching two with twinkling eyes at the sidelines.
"Why, I don't only see girly features but also disobedience. No school's blazer, only in white long sleeve and vest, plus the tie is not tuck in and loose.", Leonore, shrunk as one by one as Jayleen points out her tardiness. It was not her fault the clothes are too hot. She's planning to sulk later on her seat and table. Poor furniture. "And the girly features? Your breast."
Leonore shot up, ears all read. She would never think that Jayleen would say such a thing, note that a lot of students are in the hallway waiting for the bell ring, which Leonore predicts that it will be in any minute now.
Ruka was silently cheering from the back of Leonore. Dancing silly dances, forgetting that she was already inside the classroom and their classmates could already see her. Most of them gave her an incredulous look.
"What the hell is Ruka doing?"
"I have no idea dude. No idea."
"When did we even know what she is doing?"
"Oh right."
Jayleen almost lost her composure when the last word left her mouth. 'What the! Why did I say that! I'm doom, I'm doom, damn it, softie! What are doing to me? Again.' Silence. A very awkward yet uplifting silence and thanks to Ruka's idiotic dance moves.
But all the fun ended when the bell rings.
Glancing beside her, Jayleen caught a glimpse of Leonore's red ears, and from knowing that she did that made her all smiley. Yet, she has no idea why. Feeling like she needs to calm down Leonore, she went inside not before giving the words that didn't calm Leonore down, it only made it worse. "Don't worry, you look hot as always, Softie." and with a smile, she passed by Ruka, who faced her and cheering silently.
Jayleen giggled at the sight. Opposite to Ethan.
'One day Leonore Cole, your good day is almost over.' Ethan quickly went for the door and bumped his shoulder 'accidentally' on Leonore's shoulder breaking her lovely trace.
"Dude, that's not very nice." frowning Leonore put back her serious look again. Her eyes make people intimidated, well not until she smiles.
Sensing trouble, Ruka turned back to face Leonore but was face with a cold look from Ethan. Ruka and Ethan have the same height making Leonore stood among them but only reached their shoulders, unlike Jayleen, she'll have to face at their chest.
And with Ethan's height, he can make people be intimidated but it was out of character for him, and Ruka knows something is going on with this guy.
"Not nice? Your very existence is the definition of that." shivers run down Ruka's skin hearing the cold and menacing voice of the so-called Ethan Hunt, that got girls panties dropped.
With that, Ethan went pass Ruka hearing a double beep from his arm. Glancing at it, the glowing figures changed. Ruka's eyes went wide at this. She had never heard of people's time changing, no, it's impossible. Turning her head to Leonore, what she saw on her face was even more shocking.
'You know this?' and from the look of Ruka's face, she knows Leonore could read her unvoiced question and be only answer with a smile. A genuine smile that even shocked Ruka.
'A genuine smile from Little Lion? This will be one heck of a school year.'
Letting Leonore pass her, they quickly found Joseph laying on top of three chairs while reading a book as some people around him are arguing.
"Abnormal but nice tactic Joseph."
//////////////////////////////////////////
"Well that's all for today's class like I said, the war does not start until tomorrow so you guys got time to ready your weapons! A.k.a knowledge people! Go and have lunch. Class dismissed."
Students quickly stood up and went for the door, hungry and exhausted from the teachers' lectures. Yet it was still not the whole lesson, just explaining what the class will tackle this year.
"Man, I'm beat! I have no idea how you guys were able to take note of all of that. Too many and too fast." Ruka said while stretching arms towards the ceiling. Joseph and Leonore could only give her an incredulous look.
"You can't do it because you're just too lazy." both of them said at the same time and fixed their notebooks and textbooks. Notebooks inside their bags, and books under their table.
"Nope, because I'm way too cool for that my friends."
"Too cool that's why you need to go summer class." Joseph fired back while smiling at Ruka. This guy sounds so nice but his words aren't. Leonore will warn anyone who tries to befriend his guy's best friend.
Ruka was about to retort when she was cut off by Joseph, looking down at his table with his eyes hidden from his navy blue hair as they fall.
"We need to know more about the Reaper."
This caught the other two's attention. It's very unlikely for Joseph to be this... serious. Serious is for Leonore and Ruka kind of know that this has got to do with Ethan Hunt's time.
"Is this about the beeping and time changing thingy?" Ruka said as she hears a sigh came out from Leonore.
Joseph quickly looked up with his sharp eyes already glistening in unused tears. Ruka and Leonore moved their table as they could already see the drool coming. Joseph may be your all charming studious guy but he is a cry baby. Just like how Ruka is an idiot and how Leonore herself is very complicated.
"Yes! How do you know? You guys probably saw my wrist didn't you?"
This made Leonore furrowed her eyebrows.
'Don't tell me...'
Leonore stood up abruptly making Ruka jumped back in surprise. She can feel her hand's tingle and sweat started to form on her forehead. Shoving Ruka to the side with a shout of protest from her friend, she slammed her hand on Joseph's table.
"Man! That is so not cool-"
"When did this happen?"
The seriousness in her voice made Ruka stop and turn to Joseph who was now a bit uncomfortable from the attention. He can't hide it forever, he doesn't know what happened after that incident and now his family is avoiding him. Changing one's time is just absurd, but Jaded-Timers is not.
"After I witnessed a Jaded-Timer stealing time from a cashier back in my old home town. I got him in jail and after that, my wrist started beeping and then all I know is that 6 years have passed."
Leonore widens her eyes. 6 years was too much, she was expecting 3 or 2 at maximum but not 6 years. She grabbed Joseph's left wrist and faced the back of it towards her. The white glowing figures were as Joseph said. It passed for 6 years.
Ruka peeked and saw the figures," 1 year, 1 month, 3 hours, 24 minutes and 30 seconds... but how does it do that? Weird and weird things are happening now. First, 5 years ago, Jaded-Timers appeared and now this? After also five years?"
Five years, does everything keep appearing every five years? Leonore stared at Joseph's hand as she traced the numerical when they suddenly heard a beep. Leonore was so deep in thought that she jumped back at the sound. They all looked to each other, asking the same question. Who's wrist is beeping? With all of them sweating in suspense, they all count to three and raised their wrist.
They all widen their eyes when they saw to one's wrist read, 2 months, 3 hours, 24 minutes and 15 seconds.
"What the hell did you do Leo?" Ruka asked her voice panicking she started talking in high pitched voice.
"I didn't do anything! Joseph give me your arm!" Leonore quickly grabbed Joseph's arm but it started beeping again, but now, it's both their wrist. Leonore quickly put her left wrist above Joseph's.
"Shut it up! Turn that fucking beeping off! It's too loud!" Ruka put her hands beside her ears. She has no idea when did the beeping increased volume or if they should really be doing that but the sound is hurting her ears.
"What are you doing Leo?! What's happening?!" Panicking, Joseph tried to get his arm but Leonore's grip was tight. This is his doom.
"Condividere." Closing her eyes, she could feel it travel from her arm to her wrist, that warm slow sensation seeping out of her, like blood, she can feel her self getting dizzy like bleeding out.
Ruka opened her eyes to see a glowing light between Leonore and Joseph's wrist like they're performing a blood pack. The beeping ceased as she walks closer to them and saw Joseph's hand as it as the one facing them.
"You better explain this Leonore or I'm gonna force you to!", looking around the room, she quickly sprinted to the door and lock it. They were lucky no one decided to eat lunch here, it was the first day of school so everyone's out looking friends and catching up. "Did you just reverse what Jaded-Timers do? Instead of taking someone's time... You give him yours..." finally coming with the only reasonable thought Ruka looked between Joseph and Leonore as the light faded. And their remains Joseph glowing figures, 6 years, 24 days, 3 hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds.
Joseph can't believe it, he was just on the brink of death yet now, his time came back like it was there all along. Ruka and Joseph both looked at Leonore's exhausted face. Leonore was panting slightly, she knows what she did was dangerous, if Joseph's time exceeds her, he might have drained her.
Finally found the strength to stand up, Leonore looked at the both of them.
"What the government taught us, is wrong. Wrong after all these years. They have deceived us. I was not expecting to reveal this so early, Joseph, Ruka, your every action, is what determines your time."
Ruka was deep in thought, the government lied? Let's say they did, but for what reason? Power? Wealth? Her eyes widen at a sudden thought that came across and looked at Joseph.
"Eternity? Do those guys want to rule forever? That's nasty."
Joseph frowned, he feels there's still a missing piece. Eternity, then what? Eternity to what? To rule? That is not it, that will just be a lot of work and people will notice. After all, no one stays young forever, so for what reason?
"That's too shallow Ruka. There must be more if what we are thinking is true. To rule forever? People will notice. They will not get old, if what we're thinking is connected, then the appearance of Jaded-Timers must be from the government then.
"Just let it slide, lunch is almost over and I'm feeling very well. We will talk about this after school okay? But believe me, Your time depends on you. Proven and tested. And my thoughts about why you Joseph was about to die? It's either your timer is busted which is impossible," Leonore took a glance at her friends and sigh, "or someone was out now to kill you. My guess? The Jaded-Timers."
"Oh fuck. We are now up against criminals looking for our friends. Just great!" Ruka raised her hand in defeat as she went to the door and unlocked it, just in time for the bell.