Time skip to 7 years:-
The monotony of the classroom enveloped Jun as he stared at the ground below, lost in thought. His mind wandered, drifting away from the teacher's lecture on algebraic equations. The hum of the lecture became a distant murmur, fading into the background as he contemplated something far more profound.
His daydreaming was abruptly interrupted when his teacher, noticing his distracted state, called him out sternly. "Jun, pay attention to the lecture," the teacher admonished, pulling him back to the reality of the classroom.
Reluctantly, Jun refocused his gaze on the whiteboard, where a myriad of formulas and algebraic symbols sprawled across the surface. The numbers and letters blurred together, the teacher's words becoming a drone in the background.
In that moment, the classroom door burst open, creating a stir among the students and even surprising the teacher. Draken, with his unruly demeanor and confident stride, entered without so much as a glance at the teacher. His presence exuded an air of authority, his eyes fixed on Jun, and a sense of urgency etched across his face.
"Oye, Jun. There's something I need to show you," Draken declared, his voice cutting through the hushed atmosphere of the classroom.
Jun, always attuned to Draken's cues, immediately picked up his bag, his curiosity piqued. He addressed his teacher politely, seeking permission to leave the classroom. "Sensei, may I go?" he asked, his voice respectful, though tinged with a hint of urgency.
The teacher, still taken aback by Draken's unconventional entrance, nodded hesitantly. "Yes, you can go," he replied, granting Jun permission to follow Draken.
With a quick nod of gratitude, Jun hurriedly made his way towards the door, his classmates' eyes following him, filled with a mix of curiosity and envy. Draken led the way, his steps purposeful and determined, as if he had an important secret to share.
The quiet corridors of the school seemed to echo with anticipation as Jun and Draken hurriedly made their way, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken questions and a sense of impending mystery. Jun, his shoulder-length black hair falling gently around his face, couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. With a slight frown and a sense of urgency, he asked, "What's going on?" His eyes, pools of curiosity, met Draken's determined gaze.
Draken, in response, unfastened his ponytail, letting his blonde hair cascade down his face. With a swift shake of his head, he spoke without turning to look at Jun, his voice low and serious. "I will tell you later. You go get Mikey from his class, and I'll fetch Shino and Eugene." His words held a note of command, indicating the urgency of the situation.
Jun nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Okay," he replied, his voice soft yet resolute. With a determined air, he turned and headed towards the classroom adjacent to theirs, his steps purposeful.
Pushing the door open, Jun entered the classroom with casual movements. The teacher, engrossed in a lecture, briefly glanced at him. Jun approached the teacher politely, his demeanor respectful. "Sensei, may I please speak with Mikey?" he asked, his tone gentle but firm.
Before the teacher could respond, Mikey, seated near the back, seemed to sense Jun's presence. With a casual yet commanding air, he stood up, his movement fluid and confident. His presence demanded attention, a silent display of dominance that left an impression on the other students.
Without sparing a glance for the teacher or his classmates, Mikey walked towards the door, his steps exuding an air of confidence. His blonde hair shimmered under the classroom lights as he moved, a silent declaration of his charisma.
Jun and Mikey exchanged a brief hug. The unspoken bond of their friendship resonated in that moment, reinforcing their trust in one another. As they stepped out into the corridor together, Mikey's gaze flickered to Jun, a question in his eyes.
Jun met his gaze, his expression serious. "There's something important going on," he explained briefly, his voice low. "We're meeting Draken, Shino, and Eugene. Follow me."
Meanwhile, Draken had swiftly made his way to the classroom beside theirs. He entered with an air of quiet authority, his eyes scanning the room until he located Shino and Eugene. The two friends, caught in the middle of a discussion, looked up as Draken approached, their expressions turning serious as they sensed the urgency in his presence.
The group of friends, their faces etched with curiosity and anticipation, followed Draken as he led them through the school corridors. The atmosphere was charged with a sense of mystery, their steps echoing in the quiet hallway. As they arrived at a particular room, Draken, with an air of authority, pushed the door open, revealing a scene that none of them had expected.
Seated behind the desk was Ryosuke, his posture exuding confidence. As he stood up, he spread his arms wide, a triumphant grin on his face. "What's up, guys? Let me tell you the exciting news. I, your very great friend, have now become…" he said, his voice laced with pride, the anticipation palpable.
Eugene, ever nonchalant, cut him off before he could reveal the news, his expression uninterested. "Became what?" he asked, his tone betraying a lack of enthusiasm.
Ryosuke, clearly irritated by Eugene's lack of excitement, rolled his eyes, adjusting his glasses with a flick of his finger. "You can't even let me enjoy this moment for a little bit, can you?" he retorted, his annoyance evident. Despite his irritation, a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.
With a theatrical flair, Ryosuke finally revealed the news, his words echoing in the room. "I have become the president of our school's new club: the Gunpla Battle Club and Artistic Gunpla Building Club."
The announcement hung in the air, met with a mix of confusion and intrigue. Jun, in his absentminded state of fixing his hair, clapped instinctively, not fully grasping the gravity of the situation. His action was met with bemused glances from his friends, who were still trying to wrap their heads around the concept.
Shino, always the voice of reason, voiced the collective confusion. "Gunpla what?" he asked, his tone a blend of curiosity and bewilderment.
Ryosuke, his enthusiasm undiminished by their confusion, launched into an explanation. "Gunpla stands for Gundam Plastic Model," he began, his words flowing with excitement. "It's a hobby that involves building intricate scale models of robots from the Gundam anime series. The Gunpla Battle Club focuses on battling these models using plavsky particles, while the Artistic Gunpla Building Club emphasizes the artistic and creative aspects of building these models."
Mikey, his disappointment palpable, addressed Draken with a furrowed brow. "Is this why you took us out of our classrooms?" he questioned, his gaze fixated on Ryosuke, who stood there with an air of misplaced importance.
Draken, shooting a glare at Ryosuke, echoed Mikey's sentiment. "If I knew this was this nonsense, I would never have done it," he remarked, his annoyance evident.
Shino, always the one to find humor in any situation, burst into laughter at Ryosuke's expense. "I didn't know you had an interest in plastic models. Hahaha! Now, what are we going to be making, figures of anime girls?" he teased, his laughter infectious.
Ryosuke, his face turning an impressive shade of red, seethed with anger. His short stature seemed to add to his frustration, making him appear even more like a fiery little cat ready to pounce. "Why, you—" he started, his words cut off by the brewing tension in the room.
Amidst the escalating commotion, Jun, always the peacekeeper, stepped forward, his calm voice cutting through the heated atmosphere. "Hey, guys, we should support Ryosuke now that he has become the president of the Gunpla club," he suggested, his words carrying a tone of reason.
Ryosuke, feeling a sense of vindication from Jun's compliment, straightened his tie with pride. "Thank you, Jun," he said, his tone still bristling with defiance. "Anyway, I want you guys to join my club. Together, we can dominate the nationals this year at the Under-19 Gunpla Battle Tournament in Japan."
Ryosuke, clearly frustrated by Draken and Mikey's refusal to actively participate in the Gunpla Battle Club, attempted to reason with them, his tone a mix of exasperation and urgency.
"You guys, you have to understand the seriousness of this situation," Ryosuke implored, his voice tinged with desperation. "The principal isn't just playing around. He means business. If we don't perform well in the regional battles and make it to the nationals, he'll meet our parents. We can't afford to take this lightly."
Mikey, ever the cheeky one, grinned mischievously as he walked away. "Don't worry, Ryosuke," he said, his tone nonchalant. "I'll just get Grandpa to come and pay a visit to the Princi. He knows how to handle stubborn adults."
Draken, following Mikey's lead, added his own sarcastic remark. "Count me in. I'll bring my uncle too. Between Grandpa and Uncle, our dear principal will have his loose screws fixed in no time," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Ryosuke, despite his frustration, couldn't help but crack a small smile at their antics. He knew that Mikey and Draken, while unconventional, were fiercely protective of their group and would do anything to shield them from trouble.
"Alright, alright," Ryosuke conceded, his tone more resigned than before. "But please, just try to participate, even if it's minimal. We need all the support we can get to make it through the regional battles."
Draken and Mikey exchanged a knowing glance before nodding in agreement. "Fine," Mikey said, his grin fading into a more serious expression. "We'll at least show up and pretend to be interested. But don't expect us to be enthusiastic about it."
(A:N :- Thanks Israfill for supporting this book.) : )
+------------------------------+