Ven looks at the dumbass with a confused look, still maintaining his poker face but looking like a local in an east-Asian country when a tourist asks them something in a completely unknown language.
-…P-Pardon?
-Oh i wasn't audible enough? I asked for your humble opinion concerning bikinis.
Is this guy for real?! Why in the ever-living hell is that the first thing that comes out of your damn mouth fool!
-L-Like on myself or…?
-Nah, on the o-opposite g-gender.
-I guess they look pretty good, and it's probably comfortable but super erotic bikinis make me a bit…uncomfortable?
The guy smirks all knowingly looking somewhat pleased with himself. What the hell is your deal man!
-Does that mean you don't like bikinis then?
-N-No I like them, but I feel pretty annoyed when a bikini is needlessly erotic, it's fine to have them and wear them but swimming in public with them? That's the intended purpose, but you don't need to reveal that much.
The fool count seems pretty surprised by that answer.
-And what type of bikinis is your personal favorite?
-I guess…The ones where the strings are connected via a metal ring, I like how it's practical but is also an accessory and looks pretty good while not being too erotic in my opinion.
The king of tomfoolery looks taken aback for a second but quickly regains his composure. You're really not hiding your preferences are you author?
-Is that so? I know you don't care but my personal favorite are swimsuits.
-But…aren't swimsuits not considered bikinis? Aren't they in a separate category?
-Yes. Is that a problem?
-N-no it's just…you asked me what my favorite bikini was, but you said swimsuits are your favorite, I don't understand why you asked me about bikinis when your favorite isn't a bikini?
-That's a pretty good observation on your part, but I refuse to explain my reasoning. Let's just chalk it up to me being a big fan of women's swimsuits for now.
Ven looks in front of him only to gaze upon an empty classroom.
-…Are we deadass?
-Guess we're gonna be late eh? Minute 1 score 1 ain't that right new kid? Or do you prefer Ven?
-Choose whichever I don't care but… who are you anyways?
-Oh me? My name is Rains Claudia , I'm a top tier delinquent, nice to meet you, Ven Sinclair.
Huh? This is…unexpected? İt's not very common to encounter someone with a name as weird as "Ven Sinclair" but I guess here we are. On another note, this is weird. İ'm not referring to the fact that Ven's first conversation with this guy was about bikini's, sorry if the female audience feel uncomfortable but I'm just a narrator, no it's about something else. This guy is…awkward as all hell. Not in the nervous, shaky type of awkwardness but it feels like he's hiding something, paired with the fact that he feels unnatural, almost like an actor, I'm going to chalk this up to be something super important to the plot and this is totally not going to be used as an excuse to justify why the first thing to come out of his mouth was "what is your opinion on bikinis".
-So what the hell are we waiting for, let's get moving party people!
No I take that back I'm pretty sure he's under the influence. Ven gets up and already looks fed up with him but can't deny the fact that he's probably a decent guy.
-Fine let's get moving, but you're gonna make up an excuse ok?
-Eh, it's not necessary, if you get good grades you can be late for up to 10 minutes and they won't even say anything. This school is very forgiving towards it's best students.
-Yes…A top tier delinquent…One of the best students. Aren't delinquents supposed to cut class and get shitty grades? The hell are you doing being a good student?!
Rains averts his gaze, it almost looks like he's embarrassed or something.
-İ am…a very unique delinquent.
-Probably because that's all there is to you, right?
Ven says that pretty enthusiastically, sounding pretty proud of that burn.
-Yeah that's exactly it, great intuition- Oh fuck off!
Rains looks pissed off but amused at the same time, meanwhile Ven's poker face is still going strong, I know all that face muscle training wasn't for nothing! Rains then raises his right arm and positions it directly in front of Ven, demanding a fist bump.
-A fist bump? İn this economy?
-Do it.
-Fine, I guess I'll indulge you.
Ven raises his left arm and bumps his fist with Rain's right arm. Which completely throws them off balance because that's not how you're supposed to do a fist bump.
-Dumbass.
-My right arm is broken how the hell do you expect me to bump it with a broken arm!
They have a fierce stand-off, eyes locked as Ven's eyes finally widen and a bit of emotion seeps into them.
-…hngghgh
-…grrrrhrhrh
Rains gives up and starts laughing, causing Ven to stop and chuckle momentarily.
-Puhahahahi, your eyes look so damn stupid, you tryna be one of those stupid anime characters!
-hihi, like you can talk, your laugh sounds like one of those stupid anime characters!
They stop laughing and get ready to leave the classroom…Only to start laughing again, with Ven trying desperately to maintain his composure.
-Pihuhahahahipu!
-Hihiha!
They stop again and pant for a second. Still letting out a few chuckles here and there while walking towards the classroom.
-Hey, next period is math right?
-İ mean, I think? No, no it's math alright. Which means that the teacher is a…w-woman. İf the teacher asks anything you better be the one to answer Ven!
-Why? And what's up with that long pause between "a" and "woman"?
-Ok Ven, I will share with you the most known fact about me, so keep your ears open and your eyes peeled!
-So you're telling me something about yourself that everybody else knows, how ecstatic.
-İ…am completely terrified of members of the opposite sex.
HUH? WHAT? The delinquent is terrified of WOMEN? B-but how? Most delinquent's are supposed to be womanizers who constantly catcall women and make weird comments about them usually involving their bodies. This dumb ass introduced himself as a delinquent and is already failing at his (supposed) main character trait!
-Y-you're terrified of women?
-Yes, I prefer to not think about them, talk to them or interact with them. More like I'm incapable of doing so but, go fish right? I'm not sexist though. But even having this conversation is taking a toll on me.
-O-ok?
-My reasoning for this is…Rather complex you see, so I won't be explaining it today.
Rains stops in front of a classroom.
-We're here. Knock on the door for me would ya? I wanna enter behind you.
-B-but…Eugh. İ give up.
Ven knocks on the door and enters with Rains following him.
-First day of school and already late? This is expected from you Mr. Claudia but I wasn't expecting Mr….
-Sinclair. Ven Sinclair.
-İ wasn't expecting this from you Mr. Sinclair.
-İ know, what a cliché right? And just what's wrong with clichés, I adore the expected, tired old stories with happyendings, what's so wrong with wanting that?
Ven proclaims that in an exaggerated fashion while dramatically moving his arms, this won't be the last time he does this so copyright be damned! Sorry if this negatively affects your finances author.
-Sorry, I just had to do it, that tirade was just incredible.
The math teacher looks at him in confusion but doesn't look motivated enough to say anything.
-Well, I am miss strawberry, please take your seats.
Ven snickers a bit, I also snicker a bit too because what the hell do you mean your last name is strawberry!
-Just take your seats already.
Conveniently enough there are two chairs at the far end of the classroom, completely vacant and looking very delightful.
-Can't believe you just casually did that in front of the class, are you mad perchance?
-Only if you're psychotic.
-That's true. That is very true.
End of the school day
Well…Would you believe me if I said the school day went by in a flash? Of course you wouldn't because school is a hellhole with an outdated system where time is manipulated to move at a snail's pace! That's completely wrong by the way. This is a reality where the school system is actually great and very respectful towards students and their problems. But anyways, everyone is leaving school, excited of course, because who wouldn't be? Oh, maybe that one girl taking care of the flowers might be a bit sad but she probably has tons of flowers to come back to at home everyday.
-Hey Ven, I forgot something.
-Cool, What is it?
-Heh. I'll remember it by tomorrow. The first day of our last year of high school eh? İt wasn't anything special you know?
-They say that a series has to have a strong and special and unique beginning to captivate the audience, but I find the start of most series to be boring. Most of the cast hasn't been introduced yet, things are set up but it will take sometime for them to be properly explored, things are foreshadowed, most information is kept from the audience and it feels slow. Point is, the beginning of a story or something else, be it good or bad or controversial or stupid will always be boring. There can be some exceptions but that's generally the case.
-Holy tirade dude. I took you for the silent type that doesn't speak often and uses short sentences, but you can talk a lot! But isn't that a bit derogatory? The start of a story is meant to pull the reader in via an interesting setup no? Then it's a nobrainer that the start of most media, hell, most of everything is boring. The beginning is nothing more than the beginning and does it have to be anything else? I mean sure, if the beginning is an absolute slog then it might not be very exciting but if you know the rest is going to be good then it's kinda your fault for not continuing it.
-İf that's the case, then why are most people so nostalgic about beginnings? Season 1 of a long-running show for example, everyone will tell you how nostalgic it is and how good it was when there were fewer characters and less intricate plots. But if the beginning is boring, why do people constantly say it's good or even better than later seasons?
-Because it was the introduction. Without it, they wouldn't have continued it. The beginning of a story is the most important part of a story, any story whether it be good or bad. That's why most people are so nostalgic about beginnings. İt represents a time where most things were simpler, the plot wasn't fully developed, there were fewer characters, they didn't know much about characters and their backstories or motivations and maybe there were somethings that they just didn't get when they first watched it. In another sense, its reminiscent of moat people's childhood, isn't it?
-…
-Are you being silent on purpose because I noticed and mentioned how talkative you can be? You bastard you.
-Well, I'll admit something, the first day of my last day of high school was…not bad, not bad at all.
-But are you looking forward to tomorrow?
-As much as I detest to admit it, I'm always looking forward to something, even when it hurts me.
-Ooooh, how cryptic, you should go write and produce an analog horror story and post it on yotube.
Oh come on author, you aren't even trying with that one, it's not clever, it straight up looks like a typo!
-Nah, I don't have the skill nor imagination to produce anything.
-Have you tried though?
-İ don't have to try, everything he says is true anyway.
-Who's he?
-İt's getting late, I'll see you tomorrow I guess.
-So you also have things that you prefer to hide?
-Who doesn't?
-İ don't know, I just took you for the type of person who doesn't mind sharing anything.
-İ despise sharing but…There were times like that. İ prefer to forget those times and act like they never happened in the first place.
-Same. İ'll see you tomorrow, for sure.
Rains starts Walking away as Ven does the same. A successful first day of school, because it really can't be anything else. Ven puts on his headphones, opens his music streaming app, enters his playlist and…stops as he scrolls through his massive playlist to find a song to listen to, randomly falling upon a song he hasn't listened to in 3 years or so.
-Ugh, I actually listened to that song? İt wasn't bad but…
He scrolls until he finds the perfect song, a song about a black papermoon.
End of chapter