Let me start by introducing myself. I am Raine Kota. I was a 16 year old second year back then. Before everything happened, I wasn't special, and anything that did seem out of the ordinary I kept to myself. It wasn't in my interests to try and make myself appeal to others.
It unfortunately wasn't my style. I am a gaming otaku. My usual game genre is mmorpg's. While I do play other games, I play rpg's primarily, and I get paid on occasion. Life is great in the online world, but on the outside, it ain't that great. I was specifically bullied for my nerdy personality and horrible looks. People would describe me as, "That one scrawny kid with the pretty eyes." The only notable feature that was positive was my eyes, but even that would get taken away from me from all the feminine comments.
I used to live in Kyoto. That was where I was before we moved into Tokyo my second year of highschool. It was nothing involving financial problems or anything, my father, Kiyoshi, adopted me and my non-blood brother when I was 7 and he was 5, and sent us off to school. He was a great father, and then when we were 15 and school had ended, we moved during the summer break to a new school due to my father finally learning about the poor conditions I was in. I love my father, but it was always an issue how he would take such drastic measures like this because he felt like he could afford to make such drastic choices (To be fair, he could afford to make such choices.) I tried to hide it from him to spare him from embarrassment, but it seemed I embarrassed him more by doing so.
"Look at me Raine. If you are bullied at your new school, you come straight back home. Don't even continue classes. If I learn it is continuing, you WILL be taking online classes. Understand?"
"Yes sir." I responded. "No, try again."
"Yes dad."
"There you go." He said, slapping me on the back out the door.
Don't get me wrong, I love the real world when I'm at home. A big house with my former best friend turned brother, it was a dream. However what I loved the most was my video games. I had started playing an MMORPG called "The Orion Journey" only two months ago. When I started playing them, I had learned for the first time what I nicknamed the "ugly guy" effect.
All of my online friends would never even get an online confession from a girl. Not that they were looking for it to begin with, it was always a weird occurrence when someone became interested with someone online. However, for some reason, in the span of 2 months on this game, not even a super noteworthy player, I had been asked out by 3 girls online.
Of course, I rejected all 3 of them each time it happened. The same response each time. "If you met me irl, you would change your mind," and, "Sorry, I can't get into a relationship with someone I don't know the true age or gender of, and telling me wont change my mind."
From here on, Take note that bold words are not being spoken, but typed online.
"I'll never get it bro, why do you seem to be such an online chick magnet?"
"I bet it's just men hitting on him."
"Imagine?"
"Guys!" I stopped them. "If I knew why it happens, I'd stop it too, it's just awkward, especially since all three of them have been members of our guild."
"Yeah, how'd you reject each of them again?" This was Indi, an online friend of mine supposedly from India, part of the influence on his name.
"We've already talked about this. I reject them all the same way, no point in reliving weird past moments. Though the first girl I rejected, Saya, she just completely avoids me now, the second girl Qiqi, talks to me every once and a while, but otherwise avoids me."
"And then there is that one." He says, pointing. This guy was Caurlin, another online friend of mine that I'd been told also lives in Tokyo, but had moved in 2 days prior, not two months ago like me.
"Well now, that's not fair." She says. She was the final piece of the puzzle. Her name is Kaie, and she is one of the girls I rejected. However, unlike the rest of them, it went extremely different.
"I don't mind it. One day, if we meet in the real world, and I can prove to you that I am your age and a girl. I will also prove to you that I couldn't care less how you look. You are kind." Remembering that memory is always something I hold dear to my heart, as it increased my personal self esteem by a wide margin.
I decided to cut off the conversation there. "Well anyways everyone, today is the last day we'll be able to play in the mornings like today. It's time for school, at least for some of us."
We all say, together, "See you guys tomorrow night!"
Now this brings us back to my father slapping my back and sending me out the front door.
"Remember-"
"I heard you the first 7 times dad. If it happens again, I'll come home. I don't want to make you worry again."
"Good." He says, as he slowly shuts the door and lets me take my walk to school.
It's a new school, you should be perfectly fine. This school is apparently notorious for how well it cracks down on bullying. Makes sense, seeing as it is a prestigious school. Just to think, my brother, Yasu, Will be coming here next year as a year one. That'll be fun.
I had finally arrived at the gate, in uniform of course, and closely followed behind some year threes. I had no idea where to go, but knew for a fact there was an orientation, so I just followed them and prayed that they knew where to go. Please go to the orientation immediately. PLEASE!
Once I had arrived at the orientation, the principal gave a short speech, along with the representatives for each year. After the first years speech, a girl walked out from behind the curtain and towards the podium.
"I am the student representative for the second years, Kayoko Hano. I also have the goal of becoming the student council president. So, I wish us all a great year, and I wish for you all to root for me."
What a short speech. I thought. A surprising amount of applause followed, at least more than the first year, and so I immediately thought, she must be popular. She promptly went behind the curtain and the third year representative's speech followed in tow.
The orientation was finally over and we were sent to our classes. I was in the classroom 1-2. The moment I entered, I was unfortunately met with a familiar face.
"Raine! Well ain't that damn perfect." This was Kuro Nikushimi. He was one of my bullies at the previous school, Who I'd heard was forced to move schools because he nearly beat a kid to death, and was threatened with a lengthy sentence if he continued on his path.
"H-h.." I was still an anxious kid. Just because I am now more put together doesn't mean the old me was as good. I was still developing into becoming a more social person.
"Hey Raine. We should go pick up some drinks later. On you." He said, putting his arm over my shoulders. I was visually very uncomfortable with the situation, so I just put my head down while gently nodding. I had also heard the reason he was forced here was because since it is so strict on its bullying policy, it is easier to keep him in check. He even forced a first name basis between each other, he was just a creepy guy altogether.
"Nikushimi. Please let go of him." I slightly looked up to see the second year representative, Kayoko, from the orientation.
"Oh, don't be so boring. We were just going to go get drinks together like the great buds we are, right?" Before I could answer, Kayoko stopped me.
"Nikushimi. You don't seem to understand. You are one of the very few people we have let transfer here due to BAD behavior. You are not even here truly as a student, but as someone who is on close watch."
"You are here not just because you almost killed a kid, but because you almost endangered the whole notoriety and reputation of your father." She walked slowly towards Kuro.
"We had a feeling that you wouldn't be able to resist harassing an old toy of yours, so we purposely put you both in this class to get your reaction, and unfortunately, you failed. This school has a zero policy on bullying, and we always take drastic measures. Starting today, you will be in class 1-7." From rumors I heard shortly after, class 1-7 apparently is a class deliberately made to remove the kids who break the rules from the main student population.
From everything I had also heard, it seemed that it was near impossible to expel students from this school, since most of them had either rich parents or parents of high political power. It was rare for a student, almost seen as a commoner, to come to this school. I'd say I'm well off for sure, but not as rich as a decent amount of the students. I was about in the middle of the pack. However from what I'd heard, Kayoko came from a more High lower class family, meaning she was one of the few kids who gained themselves a scholarship, and it shows.
She was smart, had the spirit of a leader, and seemed popular among the student population despite not being of the same status and class in society. She was the perfect unifying force.
"I will have my Father-" Kuro was cut short.
"Your Father recommended you be put in 1-7 from the beginning. I just decided to give you a second chance. It was clearly unwarranted."
Kuro left, clearly frustrated as he stormed off towards 1-7.
"..Thank yo..u." I said, slightly bowing my head.
"You're welcome. It is my job as the representative to make all students feel welcome and weed out the ones that don't help with my job."
"Again.. Thank you." I had gotten my composure.
"Your welcome."
The Orion Journey MMO game wasn't just a computer game, and could also be played on your phone, of course it wouldn't run as well and would have bad graphics of course. Luckily for me, I had one of the best phones on the market, so I downloaded the game before I left school so I could play on breaks. I opened the game, but before I could hit play, I was surprised by a sudden tap on my shoulder.
"Ah!" I gasped, immediately reaching for the phone and flipping it.
"Sorry, sorry. I just couldn't help but notice the game you're playing." I immediately thought, great, now she's gonna think I'm a weirdo, but I couldn't think of a response.
"Is that The Orion Journey? I love that game!" She said, peering over my shoulder.
"You know what this game is?" I asked. "Oh, sorry that was a bit strong." She said, slightly backing up.
"No, you're alright." I answered. "Do you play it?" I asked.
"Don't tell anyone else, but I started playing it around 3 months ago. People don't really see me as the gamer type." She said.
"Ah.. I see." I said. "Sorry, sorry, I shouldn't have pried."
"No, no you're alright. What's your username, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Oh, let me just grab my phone for you." She ran off to her desk and came back, phone in hand.
"What is she doing, running towards that guy, he's practically a nobody."
Just because there was no bullying didn't mean there was no prejudice and people making offensive remarks along with rumors.
"Look, that is me."
I sat there looking for a second. That second turned into ten, which turned into thirty.
"Oh, I never did ask your name." She asked.
"O..Oh, my name's Raine Kota."
"Ah, well my name is Kayoko Hano. I like your name." She said, with a bright smile.
"Should we exchange online names now?" She said.
"My online name, is well," she paused for a second.
"Kaie. Now yours." My body froze. I felt my blood rush to my heart as it started beating at insane speeds. It felt like my heart was about to implode out of my stomach and fly out the classroom window. Kaie. No way, no way, this is a prank. She is one of the girls I rejected!
"Uh... I'm uh,"
"Yes?" She asked.
"I... I don't have a name yet. I downloaded it yesterday, and never got to play it..." I said. Why'd I say that! Why'd, I'm so stupid, it's not that big of a deal!
Then I remembered. "I will also prove to you that I couldn't care less how you look. You are kind." If there was even a chance she felt that way, I couldn't let her be stuck with me, and if she didn't truly feel that way, I wouldn't want to ruin our friendship.
"Perfect!" She said.
"Perfect?"
"Perfect, because I can be the first person you ever play with!"
End of Chapter 1
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