[ The sound of a cute little ringtone fills your ears, and slowly, your eyes flutter open. You find yourself in a bedroom, yours, the time 4:45 AM. It's time to get up and get dressed for school, finish up the majority of your unfinished homework, grab a banana for breakfast and make yourself a small lunch, and head out to the train station.
As you board the subway, it's packed, filled with busy people heading to work, and many teenagers in the same uniform as you. You're all headed to the same place, to the same school, and while they greet each other pretty merrily, they don't come to you. Instead, they give you looks, and some start to giggle.
Over the sound of the train as it begins to move and the other chattering of passengers, you can hear a few of the girls talking. ]
Just who does that Takamaki think she is? It's like she doesn't even try to fit in. [ One girl mumbles, and the other girl with her laughs. ] Yeah. I don't get it, that horrible hair and those eyes make her stand out like a sore thumb. She should dye her hair.
[ You hear it, but you are actively ignoring it, pretending instead to look down at your phone, pink in color and sadly, devoid of much other than a few game apps, something to listen to music on, and a few text messages from someone named 'Shiho'.
A boy pipes up next, though, sounding more hushed but still audible enough. ]
Hey, be careful what you say. Didn't you hear? That's Kamoshida's girl, [ He whispers, sounding cautious. You stiffen slightly, more focused on listening than before. ] Do you think they're really screwing around? Man, she must be easy.
[ You shift, chew your lower lip as a horrible feeling of upset and guilt eats away at you suddenly. What those kids are saying isn't exactly true -- you're only seeing your stupid teacher because if you don't, your friend will be benched and her chances at getting a scholarship to an amazing college will be forever destroyed. And it'll be your fault.
As the train stops and you exit, a few of the same girls rudely bump into you and laugh, but you don't respond. You just watch them go, and then follow along. You walk down the path, and up the stairs into school, and the mumbles, the rumors only continue as you make your way upstairs. ]
Hey, there's Kamoshida's bitch! She'd better not screw this up for the volleyball team! [ Whispers another boy to one of his friends, who laughs and replies: ] When Kamoshida is done with her, I wonder if I can have her?
[ As you finish your way up the stairs, a large, overly friendly man greets you. A whistle hangs around his neck, he's a gym teacher. A volleyball coach. The man whose blackmailed you into 'dating' him. ]
Morning, Takamaki! [ He greets you with a bright smile, and all you can do is swallow the bile that threatens to come up and deal with this. If you don't, Shiho's future will be ruined. ]
Morning, Mr. Kamoshida... [ Instinct has you grabbing onto your schoolbag tightly, and your gaze averts. The man, unfortunately, takes this as a sign that you're clearly playing hard to get, and he laughs. ]
Have a good day, I'll see you after class... [ He states, clapping a hand on your shoulder and giving it a knowing squeeze before he departs. You shudder, and walk into the classroom -- where your classmates have seen the interaction, and immediately, they're all whispering. Did you see that? It's true, they're banging! or Wow, she's got some nerve, dating Kamoshida. What a slut!
You ignore it all and slide into your seat, staring blankly at the front of the classroom and waiting for the teacher to begin her daily lesson. She makes no attempt at stopping anyone from mumbling, even though it's clear that she can hear what they're saying.
Your phone buzzes, and it's Kamoshida. He's blowing your phone up with text messages, and your heart sinks. ]
rumors - Ahsoka Tano
As you board the subway, it's packed, filled with busy people heading to work, and many teenagers in the same uniform as you. You're all headed to the same place, to the same school, and while they greet each other pretty merrily, they don't come to you. Instead, they give you looks, and some start to giggle.
Over the sound of the train as it begins to move and the other chattering of passengers, you can hear a few of the girls talking. ]
Just who does that Takamaki think she is? It's like she doesn't even try to fit in. [ One girl mumbles, and the other girl with her laughs. ] Yeah. I don't get it, that horrible hair and those eyes make her stand out like a sore thumb. She should dye her hair.
[ You hear it, but you are actively ignoring it, pretending instead to look down at your phone, pink in color and sadly, devoid of much other than a few game apps, something to listen to music on, and a few text messages from someone named 'Shiho'.
A boy pipes up next, though, sounding more hushed but still audible enough. ]
Hey, be careful what you say. Didn't you hear? That's Kamoshida's girl, [ He whispers, sounding cautious. You stiffen slightly, more focused on listening than before. ] Do you think they're really screwing around? Man, she must be easy.
[ You shift, chew your lower lip as a horrible feeling of upset and guilt eats away at you suddenly. What those kids are saying isn't exactly true -- you're only seeing your stupid teacher because if you don't, your friend will be benched and her chances at getting a scholarship to an amazing college will be forever destroyed. And it'll be your fault.
As the train stops and you exit, a few of the same girls rudely bump into you and laugh, but you don't respond. You just watch them go, and then follow along. You walk down the path, and up the stairs into school, and the mumbles, the rumors only continue as you make your way upstairs. ]
Hey, there's Kamoshida's bitch! She'd better not screw this up for the volleyball team! [ Whispers another boy to one of his friends, who laughs and replies: ] When Kamoshida is done with her, I wonder if I can have her?
[ As you finish your way up the stairs, a large, overly friendly man greets you. A whistle hangs around his neck, he's a gym teacher. A volleyball coach. The man whose blackmailed you into 'dating' him. ]
Morning, Takamaki! [ He greets you with a bright smile, and all you can do is swallow the bile that threatens to come up and deal with this. If you don't, Shiho's future will be ruined. ]
Morning, Mr. Kamoshida... [ Instinct has you grabbing onto your schoolbag tightly, and your gaze averts. The man, unfortunately, takes this as a sign that you're clearly playing hard to get, and he laughs. ]
Have a good day, I'll see you after class... [ He states, clapping a hand on your shoulder and giving it a knowing squeeze before he departs. You shudder, and walk into the classroom -- where your classmates have seen the interaction, and immediately, they're all whispering. Did you see that? It's true, they're banging! or Wow, she's got some nerve, dating Kamoshida. What a slut!
You ignore it all and slide into your seat, staring blankly at the front of the classroom and waiting for the teacher to begin her daily lesson. She makes no attempt at stopping anyone from mumbling, even though it's clear that she can hear what they're saying.
Your phone buzzes, and it's Kamoshida. He's blowing your phone up with text messages, and your heart sinks. ]