Act: 33
-The morning before school started-
Jumping out of his neatly made bed and rushing to the kitchen; Making something delicious to eat and letting it simmer on the stove. Going to the bathroom to complete the following tasks that involved washing his face and hair, he stopped, focusing on the mirror, noticing that the strands of hair which were only mere bits of black became much more noticeable, lengthening out and covering more of his head.
He finished getting ready and rushed to eat his food, putting on some casual clothes, sweatpants, and a black jacket, given the fact his normal uniform was somewhat destroyed and tossed. Not paying too much mind, knowing that he would have to stop off by the lounge and get himself a new uniform. Shizu took off for school, running down his creaky stairs and down the street ready to be on time like always.
- - - -
'The gates are closed!'
*…*
A silent pause.
"I'm late!"
Once he was able to get inside the building, stopping at the office located on the first floor by the shoebox leading from the entrance he managed to give his reasoning for being late and how the work he missed overtime will be addressed by his teacher along with a new uniform to switch into. When he finished his business with them, changing clothes and being exhausted, he built up enough courage to head into class.
Standing outside the door to his class.
"Man, I'm nervous, I can hear Ito Sensei talking... Do I wait? Or should I just enter...? Ah, I'm not sure."
Gripping the handle tightly, he doubted himself, thinking it would be better if he just waited until class was over.
"Come in."
"…"
"Wait. Huh?!"
Shizu slowly slid the door open and stared at Ito Sensei's Black dim hair which looked messy and had been put in a bun, the bags under her eyes were much more noticeable than before. Taku, who sat in his usual spot with his hand resting on his chin, dropped after seeing him.
Ito Sensei spoke up.
"Shizu?"
Without any hesitation, he ran up to her, reaching his arms out.
Patting gently on her head. While having a big smile.
"It's ok Sensei, I know I was gone for quite some time, and I know you had to have missed me. Don't worry I'm back and ready to take the work off your shoulders."
*Tch*
"Shi-"
"Sensei, Sensei, Sensei, you know you shouldn't be staying up super late. It's bad for your health and your eyes. Hmmm? The bags under your eyes really are showing well... Me being gone for this long had its effects I, see?"
"Rgh!"
"You know Sensei it's all-"
*Smack*
She chopped him upside the head with her hand causing him to stop patting her, and him crouching down to grab his head from the pain.
"But... But why Sensei..."
He looked up at her with baby eyes.
*Ugh*
"Go sit in your seat so I can continue class, I would like to get over this so I can have my break."
"Ok… Sensei…"
Walking to his desk and sitting down he glanced over at Taku, and Taku tried to make it seem like he wasn't paying attention to him.
'I bet I worried him a bunch... Underneath all that cold he's still warm.'
Shizu smiled while looking at him.
"What are you looking at! You're gone for a month and all you do is smile, where the hell were you-"
"Shut up! I'm trying to teach!"
Both the boys put their heads down and continued to listen to her speak until she was finished with class.
- - - -
"Class dismissed, that's all for today, and great job Shizu being able to answer every single question even though you were late."
She lazily grabbed her stuff and walked away.
"Bye, Ito Sensei!"
"Man Shizu… You really are like a teacher's pet…?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's whatever."
"Ohh Taku! I have an idea. It's been a while but let's go get some food and eat on the rooftop like normal."
"Dude. How do you even get up there? Last time I was stopped."
"Hehe..."
'It's nothing that special. All I did was ask Ito Sensei for permission...'
Shizu and Taku both got up and headed off to the cafeteria to get food.
The boys from before in their class glanced at Taku wondering why the hell became so tame around Shizu.
- - - -
During lunch.
Shizu got himself a yakisoba bun along with a small bottle of green tea. Taku ordered a rice ball and bottled milk.
"Dude how do you eat those things!? They're not even that good?"
"Huh?! What do you mean they're the meaning of fine life, fit for a fine man like myself… With a run-down Star…"
Shizu's facial expression dropped, and he stared off into space before snapping back to reality.
"You know, speaking of Stars. Let's talk while we head up to the roof. I've been meaning to ask, where have you been all this time?"
*Thud*
"Hey, watch it! You almost made me drop my milk!"
The tall man that bumped into Taku looked down at him.
"You again."
"I know I'm not that proud, myself."
He peeked over Taku's shoulder and noticed it was Daichi.
"Daichi! How are you doing."
"Hm?! Shizu!"
Daichi pushed Taku aside grabbing Shizu by the armpits and lifting him up in the air.
Tuku adjusted himself while puzzled looking at the two of them, especially Daichi spinning Shizu around with joy.
"Hold on, hold on, you mean to tell me Shizu you know this loose screw?!"
Daichi put him back down on the ground, responding to what Taku said.
"We don't go way back but, I've seen him around and I help him with work here and there- Mainly I met him when I was with Ito Sensei and she needed me to deliver some papers to another staff member, and that's when I saw him."
"Yep."
"So, then I became buds with him, though other people just call him a bad influence, I personally would have to disagree with them. But what about you? How did you meet him?"
"I only ever heard of him. I ran into him when I was being chased by the student council, after hearing them talk amongst themselves and some information regarding you."
Silence filled the air for a moment. Shizu somewhat stuttered his words and replied a little quieter.
"What would they want with me? I didn't do anything wrong- not that I know of. Oh well, I will pay them a visit later, wanna join Taku?"
Daichi snapped his fingers in response to thinking of something out of nowhere.
"Shizu I'm happy I got to run into you, and I'll see you later, there's something I have to take care of, and I need to head out. Cya bud!"
Daichi jogged his way down the hall turning the corner and disappearing within the school.
"There he goes... Shizu, I can't join you on that better, yet you shouldn't even go yourself. I feel like they are plotting something, and I don't need you to get in any kind of mess before the tournament. I want that rematch!"
"..."
"Thanks' Taku for your concern but I should be fine. They won't be able to hurt me that badly!"
'Shizu… I can safely say they are on a different level in strength than we are… Especially you. Without Daichi, I would've 100% lost that fight- Those two.'
"I will make a visit to their office maybe tomorrow. How about we eat for now. I'm hungry and I don't want class to start before we even dig into our food."
"Yeah-yeah."
Shizu and Taku made their way up the stairs leading to the roof, with the key Shizu had unlocked the door gaining access, closing the door behind them they both made their way over to the bench sitting down and relaxing.
'Has his training really paid off? He does look much more toned than his skinny build from before- I should try and convince him not to become a Ranker… No matter what he goes through in training it won't be enough to compete with everything else these monsters and the Rankers around here, not to mention, villains.'
"Shiz-"
Shizu stood up abruptly moving in front of Taku with half of his yakisoba bun in his mouth while talking at the same time muffling his words.
"Just you wait for the tournament. I will win regardless of my Star. I'll overcome and claim victory just as you watch."
He stuck his fist out by Taku's chest.
'!!!'
'He can't be serious right now…'
Taku snickered…
"Eh! What's so funny!?"
"You. You always find a way to be so odd, I just was thinking of telling you how it may not be that good of an idea to become a Ranker, knowing that you'd only be in the backlines watching and you would hate that. But That passion. I see the fire in your eyes! Win the tournament and prove me wrong then!"
Taku smiled and fist-bumped him back.
"Man... Those are some cold words."
"After all I am Ice. It is the truth though."
"Heh. Taku, I will win and become the best, no. The number one Ranker. You watch as I climb the ranks!"
"You? Climbing the ranks now? You still have to watch out for me, if you can't beat me then kiss that goodbye, and don't expect me to go easy on you now."
The two grinned at each other and time passed until the bell rang for the next class to begin. Shizu was the first to get up, saying bye to Taku hurrying to class.
"Shizu... I feel bad for you- I hope you can get past the first round..."