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An Otaku's Take on the Judgement of Paris

Karen_Tendo09_XD
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Synopsis
There was once a tale that caught my eye, the passages that opened the doors yet to be entered. He made a choice, an impossible decision to declare. Torn between the beauty of three Goddesses that stood before him, awaiting his answer. One offered reign, another offered power... Yet the last offered love. The authority to rule all, military might to conquer- not fall or the most desirable woman alive to be your bride. It was a tough choice, a tough decision that shouldn't have been made. His choice caused a thousand ships to launch, chasing him and his men to no end... The Judgement of Paris. The saying- "History tends to repeat itself."- could be the most accurate of all sayings. Thousands of years later, another takes his place. An Otaku of the modern world- forced to choose between not only three, but another. What could be the outcome of this chaotic ride of four women and one man?
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Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Pluviophile

[ Chapter 1: ]

I'm boring, they're interesting. Im horrifying, they're dazzling.

What an unfair world to be born in am I right?

My name is Zack Valdez.

If you're reading to find something as amazing as some kind of superhero society, magical wizard academy, hot vampire family and whatnot... then turn away.

I hate to break this to you but I'm just an average sixteen-year-old highschool student, with average grades, and an average dose of fun.

If my inky black hair and brown, uninteresting eyes are something to base on... Then I'm as plain as they come.

I live in a small island that you most likely had never heard of your entire life. Heck, even the map hasn't seen it yet. It's called Nowhair, secluded yet still accessible to ones who know of it. Mysterious I tell you.

I'm roughly around six-feet in height which we can maybe count as a good thing? I kinda... sorta... work out from time to time so maybe I'm not that frail and wimpy. That's another plus.

Other than those, the only interesting fact about me, setting me apart from the majority is that I love watching anime anytime, everytime.

That's interesting... but in a bad way if you're enrolled in a school full of jocks and bullies left and right, where you get pummeled to the ground just cause you and your friends talk about your waifus.

So this is my story. A boring everyday ride towards the end...

...Or so I thought.

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 7:30 a.m.]

[ Zack's POV ]

The rain was pouring bullets just outside our classroom windows. Endless tapping of raindrops on glass making it kind of soothing to the ears. Storm clouds above, promising to continue its chaotic yet somewhat melodic downpour. The familiar grayish hue cast upon the whole city giving off a great deal of melancholy.

That's good and all but unfortunately for me, I wasn't a boy scout.

I don't run around yelling 'Be prepared!' as my daily Motto so as fate would have it: "I forgot my damn umbrella again..."

I sighed as my indifferent eyes stuck to the wet window glass, accidentaly disregarding the teacher yelling my name to get--

"VALDEZ!"

"Yes ma'am?!"

My squeaky, panicked voice solicited some snickers from my classmates.

My head immediately found it's way around the room, snapping towards the front only to find the deadliest glare that Ms. Lesley could make.

She was a very attractive woman, no questions asked. Tall with hourglass-like curves. Long, silky, dark hair reaching up to her waist.

Her incredibly alluring body clad in a tight pair of blue-jeans and white long-sleeved button-down shirt along with some casual checkered slip-ons.

Her eyes always intrigued me the most; they had this rare grayish shade which made it incredibly hard to turn away from her... Especially with her glare piercing my whole body, causing me to stiffen with fear.

She walked across the room, obviously marching towards me. I could faintly make out the snickers of my classmates in the background, progressing things for the worse.

My eyes followed every sway her hips made. Like a graceful dance in the rain... only in this one, the dancer was dancing to kill me.

"Do you want to take a run around the field in the rain?" she asked.

Her voice filled with venom, through her gritted teeth she spoke. Anger so potent it made my eyes watery with panic just by hearing it.

My vision became somewhat smudged, a blur of misty gray as she comes into a hault infront of me with crossed arms. My nostrils felt stingy, like they were threatening to shoot snot out at any moment. At that point in time, there was nothing I wanted more than to crawl into the deepest hole and stay there until she goes away because I for one, would like to say that being rained down on while wearing my favourite gray turtleneck sweater isn't something that I'd write on my bucket list.

My head shook a signal saying 'no'... shaking in my gray Converse All Star Hi Sneakers as I watched her tower over me.

She slammed her hand down on my desk and leaned over, getting directly infront of my eyes. I could feel her searing breaths touch my skin, making my hair stand on edge all the way. Her perfume giving off a sharp sweet-vanilla scent, my sense of smell fully in taking it. A woman of Ms. Lesley's caliber being virtually anywhere near would totally drive you insane, I can tell that much.

Our eyes met, hers fueled by rage mine by fear. A perfect combination if you're into torture or perhaps S&M.

"Detention..."

There it was. The only word I didn't want to get from her, especially today. Thanks to that, my Anime marathon would be cut short.

I wanted to say: 'No way in hell' but me against her? I'd rather dig my own grave and kill myself right after... so instead, I nodded.

"...Good. meet me in the faculty room after that."

I didn't think it could get worse, but it just did. Looks like I'll get another concert about: 'Pay attention in class!' or perhaps some 'You dont deserve your grades!' and maybe I'll even get a disco version with additional verses along the lines of: 'You should just drop out!'

Whatever was going to go down later, I'm sure it won't be pretty.

My eyes closed with hopelessness as I answered. "Yes... ma'am."

The mocking laughs of my classmates just bringing me down even further as I watched her walk away, back infront of the class to continue her lesson.

I allowed myself a small sigh born of dejection. The cold, humid air making my breath seem relatively hotter in comparison.

The topics continued yet the repeated sounds produced by the raindrops only drowned it all out for me. My mind was in another place, a place where I wouldn't get detention that's for sure.

I tried my very best ignoring the glances I was getting. I could tell they weren't eyes of pity just by hearing their teases.

'School sucks...' I thought.

A sudden light tap on my right shoulder dragged me out of my mindscape. I looked over to the side only to see my fellow Otaku or as our bullies named us; Anime nerdies.

I suddenly felt my heartbeat calm down, a sense of having someone by my side coming over me. Like how a soldier's fear during a war could go away once he sees his comrades firing bullets along side him. Yeah, it definately felt like that.

Alfred Gregory. Sixteen-years old. Slightly chubby build and short stature. Curly brown hair and brown eyes masked by square-gridded glasses.

He might not be handsomest man alive but I can assure that this guy could be the kindest one out there.

"You forgot your umbrella again right?"

So he heard that... I nodded. Scared that if I verbally answered, Ms. Lesley would come like a riptide out of nowhere. The thought alone made me shiver.

His smile was warm. Summer after the winter. Bringing me hope that he would be able to bail me out of my future hellhole of wetness.

"Do you want me to wait for you? I got a spare umbrella..." His whisper was soft yet still audible. Music of a saviour ushered directly into my ears.

I smiled. "That'd be great."

We shared a secret fist bump below our desks before turning our attention back to the lesson...

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 11:55 a.m.]

[ Zack's POV ]

The skies were still crying, makes me wonder if the rain would ever stop as I stared outside the window beside me. Literal drops coming from heaven, falling towards the soaked soil of the running track that was sandwiched in the middle of the Square-shaped building formation of our school.

The air always felt fuzzy when it comes, not sharp like when the heat is at its peak. I like it that way.

My peaceful, quiet appreciation for this natural occurrence interrupted by a sudden--

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

"That's a wrap everybody! Time for lunch..." Mr. Sanchez, our Math teacher, announced. "...Have a great lunchtime!"

There's something really fascinating about how melodious some random repeated sounds could be; the raindrops against window glass, and even the pairs of feet stomping down on the tiled floor of our classroom as my classmates run around talking about their lunchtime conquests. They were soothing in a way, like how the Earth was telling us that there was beauty in everything no matter how chaotic it may seem.

I lazily tore my gaze off of the outside and began packing up my things. My science book, a pen and notebook. The sounds of shuffling feet and talking surrounded me in this seat.

Beautiful.

Now, an Anime themed notebook didn't seem like something a high-school student would have but hey, no judging right?

Wrong.

As soon as I picked the damn thing up from my desk, a hand yanked it away.

"What's this Valdez? Thought we got rid of this one last week?"

Ah yes, bullies. Almost slipped my mind...

I turned towards the origin of the sound and sure enough, there he was. Earl Green, my five-foot-tall bully sporting his 'Cool' undercut like a boss. You're probably wondering how a guy literally one-foot smaller than me could do some damage, well... lets just say he's got some daddy bills backing him up.

"Just hand it over. I don't want any trouble today." Damn well I didn't.

"Someone's getting cocky again... ordering me around now Valdez?"

His hand shot towards my collar and tried to lift me, only to fail...

Nonetheless, I lifted both of my arms in sarcastic surrender and looked deep into his green eyes.

"Drop the tough guy act Anime nerdie."

That nickname really is gonna stick to the end huh?

"Leave him alone, Green."

I recognized that voice immediately upon hearing it. Like a ballad sang by an angel.

"Erika?" I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of someone really mysterious... well for me atleast. Someone who was always magically there in the nick of time. Someone who, even though it still scares me just thinking about it, possibly knows more things about me than I do. My guardian angel of sorts? Sounds about right.

Erika Hera. A fitting family name for someone so queen-like. Well, given that she's the heiress to their family company, that's not such a farfetched comparison.

Her long, light brown copper hair reaching up to her waist. Perfect baby blue eyes stained by the glare she was giving my bully.

She was definately on the tall side, almost reaching up to my nose so maybe five-foot-seven? Her body always seemed too... erm, mature for her age? We walked home together once and I could clearly hear adult women saying that they wished they had her body. Talk about perfection.

Clad in her white turtleneck sweater, black ripped jeans and white suede-leather mid-calf length flat boots, she strode towards us.

I could feel my bully slowly letting go of my collar, releasing the tight

tension I felt around my neck.

"Someone's scared..."

"What you say to me nerd?!"

His arm reeled back as a threat.

This was it, I knew I was gonna get hit. I gently closed my eyes and accepted my horrible fate with the blackening marks that await. Nice rhyme...

...Yet nothing happened.

I slowly opened my shutters only to see my saviour grabbing both of Earl's wrists, restraining him.

"Let me--"

His infuriated tone interrupted by Erika shoving him away. I silently sat there, watching as she stood in the middle of me and him.

"You again..." Earl told her through gritting teeth. "...Why do you even care about that low-life? Just let me do my job."

He was clenching his fists with anger yet the woman infront of him simply crossed her arms and stood her ground while me... well atleast I can proudly say that I was just right behind her along the way after this is over.

"You're 'job' is getting on my nerves and this low-life's my friend, buddy."

I snorted a little at her comeback. Really funny stuff but apparently, Earl didn't find it to be such.

He glared at me over Erika's shoulder, green eyes ablaze with rage. He mouthed four words, four words enough to make me fear for my life. "I'll fucking kill you..."

I cringed as a reflex but hey, on the bright side, the school nurse is always available.

"...And you..." His glare moved away from me, hitting Erika's direction in return. "...Your family name's gonna get dragged down when people see you hanging out with this anime nerdie, just saying."

"Thanks for the tip, I'll think about it."

Judging by her tone, she was planning to do anything but think about it.

With a bad-finger aimed at me, he walked away. Nice exit for the nicest kid in school, know what I mean?

I felt something repeatedly being rammed on my chest, as if trying to get my attention. I looked down and saw my notebook in her hands, in Erika's hands.

"Take it, low-life..." She playfully giggled. "...and stop wearing that turtleneck everytime I do, it makes us look like a couple or something."

I gratefully took the notebook from her, stuffed it somewhere inside my bag and stood up. I gave her a little grin in return. "Sorry, your highness..." She giggled again, making my chest float just by watching her. "...If you want, you can send me a schedule of when to wear turtlenecks."

"That kind of talk won't get me to date you nerd..." Her smile radiated absolute glee and innocence, something I didn't expect from a highschool student. She really was something else, someone rare if you must. "...Your fellow nerd's waiting for you, might want to hurry up."

She pointed towards the doorway. I followed and found Albert waiting there, noncholantly leaning by the doorframe.

I turned my attention back to her. "I'm not trying to get you to date me you know?"

Both of her hands found their way towards her waist. "Really now? A lot of guys would definately kill for even just some casual talk with me."

Judging by the stares of envy I was getting from exiting guys of my class, I knew she wasn't kidding around with that.

"I'm not one of those guys..."

The rain was still raging outside the windows behind me as we conversed. I've never liked talking, lucky that the rain drowns out almost everything like the secretive murmurs of my classmates but...

...She was different, even as she said: "Are you sure? Not that I like you but I'm pretty sure it'd be fun if we're a couple." the rain never made it vanish into the wind or anything at all for that matter.

"...Sure. The nerd and the class beauty together, that'll be fun. What's next? Bet you'll say that Hentai is suitable for children?"

She snorted as a response. "Come on, lets try one date. I've never been with anyone before so you'll have the honor of being my first. What do you say?"

Her smiled glistened with mischief, an expression I grew to recognize after countless failed 'plans' of hers.

"You'll be the talk of the town. 'Guy that dates Ms. Hera'" Her voice transitioned from her normal, sweet voice to acting out a raspy deep one similar to a male reporter.

My mouth couldn't help but release a playful chuckle. "How about 'Ms. Hera dates local Anime Nerdie'? I'll just 'drag your name down' like Earl said, so don't even think about it."

"Who cares about what they say?"

"You should." I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Rich people have it rough with the media these days. Don't want to burden you any further."

She gave off a brief pout born of dejection. "Sheesh, you're no fun."

"No need to state the obvious. Anyway, talk to you later."

I was beginning to walk away but felt her grabbing my wrist before I did so.

"Marathon at my house tomorrow? It's a saturday plus Mom and Dad actually liked you..."

"Really?"

"Yeah so is that a yes or...?"

"I'll call you."

"...I'll take that as a maybe."

I nodded and walked off...

...to yet again, be grabbed by her.

"What now?"

"Take my lunch."

"Excuse me?"

"Atleast eat a decent lunch for once, my treat."

"I already have a--"

"Just take it. Please."

I turned and faced her, raising an eyebrow of wonder and curiousity. I suddenly felt warm. Warm even amidst the cold air that entered the school building, why?

Pretty sure it wasn't my sweater, this sudden rise in temperature came from my insides. The areas around my nose, eyes and ears felt like they were on fire. My head felt like it was being compressed, forced to a compact state.

Emberrasment? Fear? Annoyed? Whatever it was, I didn't know.

"Wow, you blushed just from that?" Her voice of disbelief snapped me out of my thoughts.

"What?"

Her smile, wider than ever as she pointed at my face. "Look! You're all red and stuff!"

"Yeah right. That's probably cause it's cold today."

For some reason, an obvious reason of wanting to tease, she started poking my chest. "You like me, just admit it and lets try dating."

I chuckled, gently pushing her hand away. "No thanks."

She shot me another one of her dejected pouts, saying: "Whatever..." as she grabbed my hand and dragged me along like a puppy on a leash. I would make a GREAT Otaku puppy, just saying.

We came to a hault in the very back of our now-empty class. The windows captivating my eyes once again as I felt the soft pressure on my hand subside into nothingness. The raindrops danced in the wind as it blew in all possible directions it could. The heat I felt, it went away. The pleasing sensation of fluttering insides, gone.

"Here."

I felt something warm pressing up against my chest, a comforting feeling. Like drinking hot coco during the cold winter, yeah, that's how it felt.

"Come on, take it.."

I looked down on the origin, seeing a medium sized, blue, steaming container being pushed onto me.

"This isn't your usual lunchbox..."

She looked like she was avoiding eye contact, turning towards the back wall only to say: "I bought it for you. Knew you weren't going to take it if I didn't."

I reluctantly grabbed it and turned back towards her. "Thanks..."

"Anytime. Anyway, got to go." She gracefully walked past me, leaning down on her desk and grabbing her, from what I can tell, very expensive crocodile-leather louis vuitton bag. "Make sure to eat that Zack."

I twisted on my heel, facing her back. "I will and thankyou again by the way. For this, I mean"

She didn't even turn around, simply started fixing her hair and smugly answered: "Take me out on a date and we're even."

"I told you--"

"Yeah, you did and now I want you to change what you said for me."

Now this... this is why you never go to school kids. A lot of things could teach you to be hardheaded, not in a good way.

I sighed for the millionth time today. "I'll just--"

"Drag my family name down. Blah. Blah. Blah." She suddenly gripped the straps on her bag and turned to face me. Her grin, there it was again. "How 'bout a little hug then? You won't drag any kind of... whatever down and you'll be able to properly thank me. A win-win situation."

I thought it through and found out that there wasn't anything to THINK THROUGH so... I nodded.

"Now you're speaking my language." She stretched her arms outwardly, most probably waiting for me to act.

I placed the lunchbox on whoever's desk was closest to me and stepped closer.

Here goes nothing...

There's something weird about guys like me. Guys who aren't used to physical contact with women.

Once I entered arms-lenght, she wrapped her arms around my torso... In an awkward position.

Like I said, not used to hugs and all that. My arms were stuck between hers and my body so naturally, I couldn't move. Nice way to give someone a hug.

My nose immediately picked up the sweet yet spicy-hot fragrance of her cinnamon perfume. Her body felt... fragile for some reason; like any strong force I apply would hurt her. This warm feeling matched with the cold air courtesy of the beautiful rain? Perfect.

My lips couldn't help but smile. She swayed playfully, making me move with her.

"Isn't this fun? Being with someone I mean..." I felt her head resting on my shoulder, a comforting sensation sent to my brain.

"I guess...?"

She giggled. The vibrations created by her gesture, going through my whole body with my shoulder as its epicenter.

"That's not the best answer, but yeah." Sweet, soft voice ushered right next to my left ear.

Silence. Lovely silence accompanied by the melodic rain enveloped the room.

It actually felt nice being wrapped inside her arms. Kind of like a blanketing of warm, delicate marshmallow. The cinammon aroma that entered my nostrils only adding to the beauty of it.

I wouldn't mind staying there but...

"Thanks..." She said, releasing her embrace. Giving me another warm smile before turning around and proceeding to walk away. "...I'll see you later. Have a great lunch."

"Yeah... sure... you too."

Then she was out, leaving; me, the lunchbox she gave me and Alfred--

AND ALFRED!

My head bolted towards the doorway, panic slowly surfacing. "Is there ANY chance you didn't see that?"

He was there; standing silently like nothing happened, staring at me with his blank brown eyes. If this was a cartoon, a tumbleweed would've came barreling between us right about now. But this was real life, only the sounds of the winds and rain on the other side of the windows filled the area.

"Did you just hug 'The' Erika Hera?" His question wasn't one that simply sought out answers, his emerging grin was proof of that.

The heat I felt earlier returned, only this time, I knew it was born of emberrasement. How could I have allowed ANYONE to see my act all familiar with one of the popular girls in school. I might as well send a flare declaring: 'Hey Everybody! I... one of the Anime nerdies, hugged your crush. You can kill me now!'

"Don't tell anyone or you're a dead man."

This time, he bursts into a full blown laugh. Clutching his stomach, forming tears around the corners of his eyes.

I on the other hand, just grabbed the lunchbox and walked out of the room through the other door; The one without the laughing psycho with it.

Immediately after I went through the doorway, relatively colder air hit my everything. The halls were empty, silenced with a hint of falling raindrops sounding on glass from each and every classroom that I pass. Every step I made created an echo, reverberating through these cold, empty corridors with nothing but lockers lining the right wall.

'What a boring hallway...' I thought

"Hey wait up!"

Alfred's new set of echoing footsteps trailed behind me.

"That was rude..." He equalled my pace, now walking beside me with his signiture pouty face. "...I waited for him but then he just walks through the other door, acting like I wasn't there. That was smooth."

"Believe me. If other people saw you laughing like that, they'd act like you weren't there too."

"Ha! Ha! Someone's cracking his mean dad jokes again."

"Hey, I admit that sometimes they're mean but they're not dad jokes!"

"Yeah, yeah." He sarcastically rolls his eyes. I saw it! Saw it clearer than glass.

"But..." His grin returned, a teasing gesture of some sorts. "...You hugged her and THEN got her to give you lunch. Do you have a death wish or something? I mean, how'd you even do it?"

This time, I was the one who rolled my eyes. "If you call what I did 'Giving someone a hug' then you're glasses aren't doing such a good job."

"You're dodging the question..." I could feel his elbow nudging me, begging for an answer. "...Come on, I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything."

I chuckled, absent-mindly gripping the lunchbox she gave me. "Drop it. Please."

He sighed. "Fine."

I turned my attention back to what she gave me. It was warm, cozy, comforting in some ways. Contrasting the cold, rainy weather. My lips unconsciously curled up into a smile. "Its cool that she's still friends with us even when we're... well, nerds."

"What are you talking about? She's friends with YOU. YOU basically have a bounty on your head now. Not me, just YOU."

Another chuckle escaped me, a playful one in response to his grin.

"Now come on!" His arm draped over my shoulder, a friendly gesture. "Lets go eat lunch."

I chuckled playfully. "Where?"

"Restroom?" He noncholantly asks.

"I guess."

We both sighed, having enough of this crappy nerd life...

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 12:15 p.m. ]

[ Erika's POV: ]

The rain, the talking, the yelling...

Everything that resounded around the cafeteria made me want to stab my eardrums with my fork.

The smell of chicken, curry, and other spices that filled the area made me want to rip my nose off.

Tempting stuff I tell you.

Usually I wouldn't mind all of these things especially when it's a little chilly but after what happened earlier...

...I meant it as a tease but him saying all those things... it still hurt a bit to be honest.

"Erika?"

"Yeah?"

I looked up from the eating utensil that I was intensly glaring at and faced my group of friends. The two girls both sitting around the table, eating their lunches. One looking at me with her 'Weirded-out' expression while the other... well she was silently reading a book.

"What's up?" I raised an eyebrow of confusion.

"You want to kill that fork or something? I don't...?" Replied Jana Aphrodite, my very... outdoorsy friend?

Well she did chase a random dog with her car around the city until midnight-ish times so... yeah.

She's kind of tall... I mean, five-foot-five is not that short considering we're just on our last year in highschool. Her hair on the other hand, is definately gorgeous; Long, dark-chocolate wavy hair tied up in a simple pony-tail reaching up to her elbows matched with an equally wavy side-bang. She legit had the prettiest pair of eyes, naturally sea-green tint with little hints of blue popping out here and there.

I gave her a little giggle in return. "Sorry about that. Just thinking about stuff is all."

She raised an eyebrow at that. "What kind of stuff?"

"Just... Stuff."

"Hmmm..." Her eyes narrowed down at me. She almost looked like she was trying to shoot two holes through my head, scary.

"What're you doing?"

"Trying to figure out what you're not telling us."

Her face inched closer and closer. Her eyes getting slimmer and slimmer, almost turning into horizontal slits with green orbs inside.

I leaned back, away from this... admittedly weird friend of mine.

"I smell secrets Erika."

I cringed, her face an inch away from mine.

"What are you? Bloodhound or something?"

"I'm a very cute puppy, thankyou very much." Her confident grin, slowly emerging. "Is this about a boy?"

Now this... this got me thinking. With a raised eyebrow, I asked: "How'd you come up with that?"

"Ohh, that's simple..." She leaned back on her chair, thankfully giving me back my personal space. "...You smell like men's cologne. Unless you have VERY bad taste in perfume, the only possibility is that you've come in VERY close quarters with a man."

"So you finally used your brain for something that actually makes sense."

Our attention shifted towards the source of the witty trashtalk A.K.A. my other friend, Franzine Athena.

A grin plastered on her goddess-like face as she placed her book down. Waist-lenght jet-black hair with a totally fashionable curtain-fringe. Skin literally as white as snow complimenting her onyx eyes. Overall, she's a bombshell with her busty body only completing the picture.

Jana on the other hand, really felt that. She visibly pouted, crossed her arms and turned away. "Oh? The book worm signs off and the meanie comes on."

"There's the pouty beauty..." Franzine placed her elbows on the table top, resting her chin on her palms. "...Someone give her a kiss."

"Hey! I'd like to reserve my first kiss you... beautiful nerd."

"I'll take that as a compliment..." Franzine's gaze turned towards me, disregarding Jana sticking out her tongue as a childish taunt. "...Now, who's this lucky prince?"

I thought about it... and then thought about it some more... and more until His faced flashed into my mind. "Zack...?"

"The Anime nerdie guy?" Jana question but her tone was obviously filled with faint but still present dose of disgust, even going so far as to lean away from me as if I had cooties or something.

"Who's Zack?" Franzine asked.

Jana suddenly gasped which is totally understandable at the moment. I mean, even though he doesn't have the BEST reputation, Zack's pretty popular when it comes to the ladies. The Guy's definately pretty...

...But they don't like Otaku types.

"He's this guy in our class. Zack Valdez... You know? Umm..." Jana placed her finger under her chin, thinking stuff through until-- "AHA! You know? Detention boy!"

I raised an eyebrow hearing that nickname but surprisingly, Franzine just said: "Ohh... Him..."

"What do you mean 'Ohh him'?" I asked.

Jana raised an eyebrow at that though. "You didn't know? He's getting detention later. But damn, that guy can really navigate his way towards life's worst offers..." She leaned over the table to whisper. "...I saw Earl and his gang take money from him earlier."

"Really?" Sadistic, book-worm beauty asked.

Jana nodded and while she rambled on, adding more firewood to the flames of my Anime Nerdie friend's bad reputation, I chose to silently continue eating. There was no use discussing something I saw first hand, I helped him with lunch, that's enough.

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 12:15 P.M. ]

[ Zack's POV: ]

The stinging smell, the heat, the annoying repeated sounds of the leaking faucet bombing the sink with droplets every damn second made me want to stuff my head into one of these toilets.

"Come on Zack, just eat. We're going to be late."

I gave Alfred a weak thumbs up, my eyes still locked on the lunchbox she gave me.

"Hey, Fred..."

"What now?"

"...You think I could still watch My Hero Academia later?"

"You could..."

"Really?"

"...Really? No."

Ahhh, Sarcasm. Stings like nothing else. Burned so much that I couldn't help but rip my eyes off my meal and refocus on the source of it all.

"Hey, Fred?"

"Again?"

"How would you know if someone really likes you?"

His sigh reverberated across the four, tight walls of the small comfort room. The small clanging of his utensils as he placed them down followed suit. "I'm not good with the advice, can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?"

My face turned deadpan. "No sir, I'm good."

"Exactly. Now eat."

"Gotcha."

After that very brief, and very pointless, exchange of words, our miserable restroom lunch commenced.

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 2:55 P.M. ]

[ 3rd person POV: ]

-- The rain never ended, the cold never wavered and his mind forever wandered -- A great quote to describe what happened today.

Lessons after lessons passed for nearly three hours straight, yet none had managed to seep into his mind.

His eyes glued to the window, a pluviophile basking in the beauty of his beloved rain. Dozens of drops snaking downwards the glass only making the scene more aesthetic in a sense.

Head resting on his palm, elbow resting on his desk. A lazy day nearing its conclusion.

His mind was torn, competing whether to celebrate the end or to beg for God to freeze time.

It wasn't because he liked the rain so much as to wish for such an adjustment to be made, no, rather it was because of the fear of the unknown. A very common psychological function, the immediate fear that ushers itself into humans whenever facing what was to come.

He sighed. Detention was the only thing certain for him at the moment, all the more reason to pursue a time freeze somehow.

But there was a knocking behind the very back of his mind, a calling for more caution to be exercised.

"Meet her at the faculty room after..." he mumbled, recalling the words she had told him earlier.

He had gotten this kind of treatment from the ice-cold teacher but this time, her wordings were off by a mile.

Meet her, and her alone. It had never been this way.

And now his mind was split between whether if he was over thinking things or not. Great.

Another sigh crawled out of the chambers of his body, having no other ways to just blow all of his worries out.

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

"Well, that's all for today I guess. Everybody get home safely!" Sir Lawrence announced.

Walking and talking turned into running and yelling all around him as soon as every trace of their teacher left. He felt out of place, the anomaly amidst the hyperactive lives of his classmates.

The third sigh of the hour was released with no effort. He ripped his eyes of the beautiful scenery outside and began packing his things.

Chaotic— was the only word left in the dictionary able to describe his surroundings. Notebooks, books, and all sorts of 'ammunition' flew aimlessly through the chilled air.

He even had to duck just to avoid an EXTREMLY disgusting, soggy, crumpled-up piece of paper. Just thinking about what liquid drenched that thing made him shudder.

Once tidied up, he turned around just enough to view Alfred fixing himself as well.

"Hey Fred!" He called out, competing with the sound of rain and noise that filled the room.

Luckily, his friend managed to catch that and immediately turned towards him. "Go on! I'll wait for you by the exit! Goodluck with detention!" Alfred replied.

Giving him a thumb, Zack stood up and bolted straight for the door.

_________________________________________

[ August 28: Friday... 3:00 P.M. ]

[ Zack's POV:]

The halls were crawling with students, it felt suffocating. I suddenly feel... puny.

Everywhere I go, there was somebody just waiting to bump into me. The noise was unbearable. Sounds created by approximately three-hundred loud teens in a two-meter narrow hallway. Not the best thing in the world.

I pushed my way through the sea of bodies, holding my head low and my shoulders compact. It was a gruesome tread to my detention hell... or so I thought.

I entered the detention room and boy did I want to eat my words, spit them out, and eat them again.

A smile found its way onto my face as I surveyed my newfound sanctuary. It was just a normal classroom but no one was around aside from Sir Lawrence. The windows were wide open, offering a magnificent view of the outside world.

"Good afternoon, Zack. Take your seat."

"A-Ah.. Yes sir."

Without thinking twice, I took the last front-row seat, closest to the window. Countless students filing out of the school exit, a river of colorful umbrellas in contrast to the gray skies.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

I raised my eyebrow and faced who asked the question.

"What do you mean, sir?"

He just smiled at me, wisdom simply oozing out of his aged eyes.

"I meant the rain. It's similar to us, don't you think?"

"What?" The rain, similar to us? I wanted to ask him if his head was still in check.

"Do you remember the basic phases of the water cycle?"

Now I wasn't the best in class, but I wasn't the worst in it too. That sad spot is saved for Jeremy Boose.

"Of course. Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation." I answered.

"Human lives aren't infinite. Our souls are harvested, said to depart from this realm and move onto heaven. There, we are cleansed as we serve the kingdom of God. And lastly, sent down to Earth as guardian angels of the living..." His distant gaze turning back to me, the usual wise smile still present. "...Seems awfully familiar, don't you think?"

"I guess...? But I didn't think you were the type to believe in God. You know, science prevails and all that."

All I got was a laugh from the old man. "There are things that even Science couldn't explain. We tend to lean on God for the answer, and obviously, the answer is God himself."

Now this made my eyebrow raise higher than it already was. Sir Lawrence Barley, our proud science teacher, was now saying that science couldn't explain everything. I just know that a small cheshire grin managed to crawl up my lips at that moment, I asked him. "Really? Like what?"

My teacher seemed to be taking the challenge and leaned over his table. He answered. "I have a junior who, believe it or not, has an allergy to men."

"And you expect me to believe that cause...?"

He laughed again. Not the mocking type though, just the genuinely amused one. "Well, I'll leave the answer to you."

"O...kay." I awkwardly turned around and looked out the window.

An allergy to men. How would that even happen?

[ To be continued...]