The bell rang at Bright Star Private Academy, a school for the rich and privileged. Nozomi stared at the clock. The day ended with a surprise test, and she felt grateful for her study session the night before. She beamed at the A+ on the paper.
Her best friend Paisley glared at the F on her paper, "Oh man, my parents are not going to like this," She almost crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
Nozomi stopped her, "You'll be in more trouble if you try to hide it from your parents. Remember the last time you failed an assignment? Your parents grounded you for weeks. I had no one to hang out with at the comic store. Victoria Templeton and her little squad spend all their time being rude to me."
"It's not my fault I'm stupid," Paisley played with her pink and blue-streaked hair, and she waved to a few boys who stared at her with love in their eyes.
"You are lazy, not stupid. If you could get your mind off of boys for two minutes, you might pass history," Several young men waved to her, and Nozomi ignored them. Her parents expected her to put her studies first.
"Wow, you snubbed those guys. Let your hair down once in a while. There is nothing wrong with being friends with a boy. Do your strict parents look down at that?"
Nozomi glared at her best friend, "Maybe I have standards. Sometimes I think any boy with two legs and a heartbeat is what you like."
Paisley glared back, "At least I live on the same planet as men. You're like Queen Fury from our favorite comic."
Young men dressed in practice uniforms headed toward the gym. Paisley pointed to the only boy dressed in sweatpants and tank top. He stopped long enough to lock eyes with Nozomi. The staring match lasted for ten seconds.
His handsome face melted her heart within seconds, despite the displeased look on his face. Nozomi held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Nozomi. Who are you?" She put on her friendliest smile.
The handsome stranger's face went white with terror, and his body stiffened like a board, "Ummmm," his voice tone had a tinge of panic to it.
Paisley giggled, "Your beauty has left him speechless." She reached out to touch him.
"Gack," He cried out. Without another word, the boy tore down the hall toward the martial arts dojo. Papers flew up in his wake.
Paisley and Nozomi stared at each other with confusion and then burst out laughing. "How adorable a tough guy nervous to talk to girls," Paisley slapped her knee.
Nozomi covered her mouth for her parents taught her it was rude to laugh at another's suffering, "Quite the first impression. I wonder who he is?" At that moment, Nozomi became determined to find his identity.
"You have the thinking face on right now," Paisley pointed at her.
Nozomi blushed to the tips of her toes, " I think we should find out who he is. I think someone like that wouldn't have too many friends."
Paisley's face went wide with shock, "You like him or think he's cute, don't you?" She accused.
"No," Nozomi's face now had the color of a ripe cherry.
A slender arm wrapped around Nozomi's shoulder. A sly grin slid across Paisley's face, "Your secret is safe with me."
"Grrr," Nozomi ripped her friend's arm off of her, "There is no secret," She bellowed. She walked hastily toward the dojo.
Paisley giggled, "Okay, you're right. He doesn't seem the type to make friends easily. We could be his friends until you decide he's worthy enough to be your boyfriend." She quickly raced down the hall.
"Hey, you're not going to get away with that," Nozomi balled her fists and gave chase.
***
A large group of girls had gathered on the bleachers to watch the boys practice. The platinum-haired Victoria Templeton and her snobby cohort were there as well.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Nozomi spoke in a soft voice, "The last thing we want to do is make a scene. I heard a couple of rule-breakers wound up in the troubled student's class. I don't think your parents would appreciate that, and we wouldn't get to hang out as much."
"Live a little Oz," Paisley used Nozomi's nickname when she tried to talk the straight-arrow into taking risks. "It's not every day you meet your future boyfriend."
"I suppose you're right..." Nozomi trailed off and knitted her brows in anger, "Hey, I heard that."
"Pffft," Paisley waved her hand dismissively as she scoffed, "It's okay to like a boy. You don't have to date him or anything. Think of our silent friend like a piece of fine art to be admired."
"I suppose you have a point. I can hear my father right now," She deepened her voice and pointed the parental finger at Paisley, "Nozomi, you are a born and bred Bushida, and that means we do not settle for second best."
Paisley giggled, "Sounds like your father when he talks to me about your safety and how you are the future of Bushida enterprises," she paused, "What business is your father in?"
"Good question," Nozomi took a few moments to contemplate the question. Her finger tapped her lips, "You know he never said."
"Looks like someone else has eyes for our shy friend," Victoria and her cohort of snobs pointed at the handsome boy in sweat pants. Handsome's loosely wrapped hands were in contrast to the padded gloves of the others.
Coach Shinji pointed to sweatpants, "We will start practice with a light spar. Each of you will test your mettle against Daiki," all the other members of the dojo scoffed, one scalding look from Coach Shinji silenced them, "Daiki is a nationally ranked martial artist. I'd wiped the smiles off your pathetic faces. Our school is ranked dead last."
Daiki stood ready. The air shifted around him, and he raised the wrapped fists. A gleam in his eye wiped the smiles from the boy's faces.
Coach Shinji raised his hand and brought it down between Daiki and his first opponent, "Begin," he bellowed.
"This should be good," Paisley commented.
Nozomi, stared at Daiki. She couldn't look away. Her stomach filled with butterflies, "It doesn't make sense I expected to be more attracted to someone more refined."
"You mean boring?"
"No, I mean cultured. You know into art and stuff."
"Yes, boring," Paisley playfully punched Nozomi in the shoulder.
The first attacker threw a sloppy punch at Daiki, who caught the fist in midair and twisted the arm until the boy submitted. Challenger after challenger fell to Daiki, who seemed bored.
"Look alive, Daiki, you're here because of the incident near the science lab," Coach Shinji shouted.
Daiki dropped another team member without looking, "Was I supposed to let those idiots torment the younger students? Getting the help from a teacher would've taken too long," He paused and swept low.
"Not again," Another boy growled, who got up and attacked again, "I'll make dogmeat out of you," He started to throw punches wildly.
A long yawn escaped from Daiki, "Please, you should be ashamed of your sloppy technique. If you spent more time in practice, you wouldn't be so terrible." Daiki's hands became a blur until Daiki knocked the boy from the ring with a single blow.
A loud whistle blast forced all to cover their ears, "Daiki, hit the showers. As for the rest of you, let that be a lesson about taunting opponents more powerful than you." Shinji shouted at his team.
Paisley grabbed Nozomi's arm, "Quick, we have to talk to him before Victoria does."
Too late, Victoria already barred them access, "Where do you goody-goodies think you're going?"
Nozomi groaned, "And there goes the day."