( More on P@treon.comLordCampione)
Tysone and Saya's appearance caused the students to stop listening attentively to Shido's class—and the man actually looked upset at losing his limelight. Tysone, for his part, did not react at all when the attention of all the students shifted to him.
Shido walked over with a charming smile.
The janitor hurriedly bowed multiple times to the teacher, excusing himself, leaving Tysone and Saya at the latter man's mercy. Shido took notice of Saya and that distinctive pink hair that could only belong to—
He frowned, still, a fake smile hung off his lips.
He spoke, and, naturally, Tysone offered a confused tilt of his eyebrow. Shido's frown deepened, before Saya helpfully piped up to explain Tysone's circumstances.
Shido eyed him curiously for a brief moment. A faux nice smile dawned on him once again and he extended a hand for Tysone to shake. "I believe this is how you greet each other in your country, no? Pleasure to meet you, I'm Koichi Shido, the civics teacher."
Tysone narrowed his eyes subtly and grabbed the extended hand to shake it.
It was pasty white and frail; he could have crushed it if he so wished, and for a moment, he was tempted. "I'm Tysone. I've heard great things about you, sir."
Flattery. Who disliked it? Certainly not this sissy wimp who thought himself above others. Shido then quickly released the handshake, as if he had just touched a wet, trash bag by the roadside. Still, he professionally smoothed a smile on his face. Slick bastard.
"You don't speak Japanese, do you, boy?" Shido asked with an indulgent smirk, acting like the smarter, intellectual man despite being quite young himself.
Tysone smiled politely. "Not yet, though my friend here has offered to give me classes. With her genius, I reckon I'll have a firm grasp at it in less than two or three months." He purposefully shot Saya a smile, much to her bewilderment, while the latter nodded furiously at the teacher to confirm his words.
The corner of the teacher's lips twitched up. Tysone couldn't be any less fazed or perturbed by the man.
He was merely playing along and being friendly for the time being; he didn't want the man to get on his nerves so early on. Shido wanted recognition—what else? Perhaps, an easy target for harassment or bullying?
"Ah, yes... Takagi-san." Shido eyed Saya, whose brow furrowed at the slimy gaze of the teacher. "You'll be attending our institution soon, yes? I look forward to it."
"I hope your classes are up to standard." Saya shot back haughtily. "Though, I doubt I'll struggle too hard."
"Of course, of course~" Shido laughed indulgently. He looked like the epitome of charm; a sweet, cheerful gentleman. He turned his attention back to Tysone, before grinning widely. "Will you be one of our newest additions as well? A foreign transfer student, perhaps?"
"Not quite." Tysone chuckled, imitating Shido's indulgent tone. "Just sight-seeing a bit to see if it's a good enough place for my brother to get that kick he needs."
Shido slightly lowered his glasses to take a better look at Tysone. "Your… brother?" There was a momentary tinge of disgust in his voice, but it was quickly covered as he pushed his glasses back into place. He flashed Tysone a polite smile. "Fujimi High offers an excellent environment that cultivates both student characters and minds! Of that, I have no doubts about it. Though... we're in the middle of the semester, and we won't be accepting any transfers or new students, anymore... a pity." Shido almost sounded like he meant that.
Tysone chuckled lightly. "Oh, I won't enroll him on such short notice—though I suppose I could delay my plans..." He feigned contemplation, a pensive hand under his chin.
"It's... truly... a pity that we won't be welcoming new additions, anytime soon. Nevertheless, perhaps you could enroll your brother in another school?"
"Perhaps. Thank you for being so understanding though." Tysone's friendly facade almost fell for a second. "I almost thought the idea of a dark-skinned American walking in your hallowed halls was unfathomable; that Fujimi High's doors were too high and mighty for a black face. But it sounds like there might still be hope for my younger brother."
"Haha, indeed..."
Shido's smile was so strained, Tysone could hear teeth grinding.
Shido waved his hand dismissively. "Now, if you could excuse me." The teacher bowed lightly as a show of politeness and flashed his trademark, artificial smile. "I still have a lecture to conduct. My dear students must not be waiting on me. Oh, and you got yourself quite a friend. You're quite lucky." He whispered the last part, intending only for Tysone's ears.
He turned around, waving that skinny paw of his at Saya. "I'll be waiting for you~"
"..."
Saya threw Shido a hard stare behind her pretty features before tugging a quiet Tysone out the class by the hem of his tank top, pulling at it like a kitten pawing at a human to get its owner's attention.
"Jerk." She mumbled under her breath. Then she looked up at that giant new friend of hers. "You should be careful of what you say and who you say it to, Tysone."
She wasn't wrong. A short fuse and a loose tongue hardly built bridges. But Tysone knew how much of a slippery bitch Shido was. As much as he wasn't too invested in the idea of murdering someone in cold blood, that man couldn't be left alive once the apocalypse broke out.
Well, there'd be plenty of time to enact some good 'ol karma on the snake.
"I'm sorry, Saya." Tysone said, lightly. He ruffled her hair, which earned him a pouty glare. "It must have made you uncomfortable. Come on, let me get you back home. I may not have a head for puzzles like your genius self, but I'm pretty good at solving problems that walk on two legs."
She snorted, rolling her eyes. "It looks like I have to teach you common sense as well." She said—and as Tysone continued to gently pet her head, Saya unconsciously reverted to Japanese. "Baka."
…
Time really flies by when you're in an anime world. Or maybe it was simply his skewed perception of time. After all, this was real life, and Tysone wasn't a victim of a time skip. Not yet, at least.
It was already dusk and the skies were darkening with each passing minute. It was getting cold as well. Tysone and Saya walked side by side down the streets of Tokonosu City, illuminated by glowing orange street lamps that splashed amber shadows on every moving vehicle or pedestrian.
"Thanks for today, Saya." Tysone said. There was a deep chill in the air as the sky finally darkened.
"Mhm..."
They stopped at a junction. From there on, she'd be safe on her own. It was a high class neighborhood, and Tysone didn't exactly feel comfortable loitering around there.
Saya tilted her pink twin-tailed head up at him with an unimpressive frown marring those delicate, doll-like features.
"Be careful on your own, country bumpkin." She muttered in her endearing accent and barely reached an arm out. Tysone held back a smile. She was obviously hesitant before lightly tapping at the side of his chest, shoving a note into his hands. "Here. This is my address. I'm expecting you to drop by every weekend for your lessons. Be grateful, do you know how many people get such privileges from yours truly?"
"None?" He arched one eyebrow.
"Exactly!"
He couldn't help but laugh, ruffling Saya's head again. She let him do it this time around, a red face scowling adorably up at him. He patted her hair for the last time before letting go.
"Don't you dare be late! Be punctual! Don't miss your lessons and make sure to dress up before seeing me." She sighed, quietly. "You're lucky my parents aren't in town..."
'Turns out that I'm luckier than I realized.' Tysone rolled his eyes, though considering who Saya's parents were, he didn't know how he could possibly charm Mr. and Ms. Takagi.
"Got it, Miss genius."
She gave him one last toothy smile before she ran off, her school bag bobbing up and down her back. However, as luck would have it—or fate, unfortunately—Saya ended up tripping down in a very compromising pose. Yes, because when everyone falls down, they do so while sticking up their ass in the air. It didn't help that her skirt was hitched up, and her panties were—
Tysone looked away. No. He wouldn't fall for that trap. He was too old for that shit.
"..."
Saya scurried back to her feet, turning around to glare at Tysone. "Did you see it?"
"See what? Oh, look… a comet…"
"..."
It was Saya that rolled her eyes this time around before she power walked away like nothing happened.
Tysone stood alone under the starry sky. 'Is this the part where the protagonist would usually make some sort of cringe, motivational and friendship driven speech while holding his hand up to the sky?'
He snorted.
A chilling breeze swept past him.
'Not today.'