Not Ordinary Newcomer
*KRING!*KRING!*KRING!*
An alarm clock rang. A hand reached out for the clock and pressed the buzzer to stop the alarm. A young man woke and sat up on his bed. He yawned and looked at the clock only to see it’s already 6.00 am. Like a cat just woke from its slumber, he got up and stretched himself, grabbed the towel and headed to the bathroom for morning bath.
Later on, the young man dressed up himself with his school uniform, tidy up his bed, and packed his school stuff. Before he left his room, he make sure it was clean and then left, heading towards the kitchen to prepare the breakfast. As he walked towards the kitchen, he was surprised to see that his mother was there, in the kitchen, preparing the breakfast.
“Good morning, Tezuka dear. Aren’t you quite early today?” the lady greeted the young man who is her son named Tezuka.
“Good morning, mother. I’ve morning practice today,” Tezuka replied, as he walked to the dining table to put his bag and hang his blazer. He looked at his mother and it seems like she almost finished preparing the breakfast since the tea is already served along with the other dishes.
“You don’t have to prepare anything, dear. I’m almost done here,” Tezuka’s mother said.
Being an obedient son, Tezuka pulled out the chair and sit, much to his displeased as he wanted to help his mother. He poured his tea and started to read the newspaper. As Tezuka was reading, his arrived at the table.
“Good morning, Ayana, Tezuka,” Tezuka’s father, Kinomoto Shin, greeted his wife and son.
“Morning, honey. Like father, like son. You’re unusual early today. Something happened at the department?” asked Ayana, while serving the breakfast for the family.
“We have an early morning meeting. A new agent had been transferred to our department from America. So, we’ve to make sure the preparations are properly done. They said that the new agent is an excellent one and will aid us for the latest case,” Mr Kinomoto replied.
“Okay, but be careful not to overwork yourself, remember the doctor’s advice,” said Ayana, worried.
Tezuka just listened to his parents’ conversation and still reading the newspaper, until his mother told him to eat. Tezuka’s father, Mr Kinomoto Shin is the Chief of First Intelligence Department, Public Security Intelligence Agency. Meanwhile, Tezuka’s mother, Kinomoto Ayana is a full-time housewife and Tezuka is their one and only son. Although there were not many of them in the family, but they live in peace and harmony like any other families.
“Yesterday, I heard that somebody had rented the empty house at the 25th floor,” Ayana suddenly said.
“The highest floor? He or she must come from a wealthy family. That house cost a lot, even for renting,” Mr Kinomoto asked.
“A young female they said, about Tezuka’s age or maybe older. Probably she rented it for couple of days only.”
“Perhaps a new Tokyo’s University’s student. Besides, some of residents here are Toudai’s students.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Minutes later, all of them had finished having their breakfast. As Tezuka was about to excuse himself from the table, his father called him.
“Tezuka, are you walking to school today?” asked Mr Kinomoto Shin.
“Yes, father. Why?” replied Tezuka, with question.
“How about a ride with me?”
“But father, you said you have a meeting this morning. It will take your time to send me.”
“No, besides it’s still early and I don’t think that road is jammed. It’s been a while since I sent you to school,” Mr Kinomoto Shin insisted on sending his son to school.
“Okay, father,” Tezuka finally gave up to his father. “I’ll wait for you at the car park.”
“That’s a good boy. I parked the car outside yesterday, here’s the key,” said Mr Kinomoto Shin as he tossed his car key to his son.
Then, Tezuka wore his blazer and shoes and left the house after bidding his mom goodbye. He walked towards the lift and pushed the ‘down’ button. While waiting, he stuffed his ear with mp3 and entered the lift when it has arrived. When he arrived at the lobby, he walked out from the lift and left the apartment building. He spotted his father’s black Honda Civic and waited in there.
As Tezuka was about to close the door, he spotted someone who was wearing the same school uniform as his entering the building. He had lived at the apartment for almost 5 years but he never saw that person before.
“Maybe, she’s the one who is mother was talking about just now,” Tezuka thought.
Seconds later, Mr Kinomoto Shin arrived at the car and drove away, leaving the apartment compound.
# # # # # # #
The athletics club had just finished their morning practice. After doing some cooling down, they gathered while some of them are putting away all the equipments they have used at the school’s gym.
“We’ll gather again for another practice this afternoon. First-years shall prepare all the equipments like just now. At the same time, second and third years have to run 30 laps after doing the warm-ups,” said Tezuka.
Every member just listened to him silently. Tezuka is the captain of the athletics club and amazingly, he is the first second-year student who became the club captain in the school.
“If I heard any of you broke the rules, 100 laps shall be assigned to EVERYONE!” Tezuka emphasised his voice on the last word. The first-years almost jumped out from their skin, but no reaction from the second and third-years as they knew, as this is Tezuka’s way of leading. “Understood?”
“YES, CAPTAIN!” a loud cry was heard across the school field.
“Dismiss!” said Tezuka and with that, the athletics club was dismissed that morning and the practice shall be continued after school.
All the members then rushed towards the clubhouse to change to their school uniform for the school session. They went to separate clubhouse of course, according to the genders. The boys even had a race, which they decided who is the slowest to change; he will have to lock the clubhouse. Tezuka knew about this, but he neither approve nor disapprove this matter. But so far, all the members managed the clubhouse well and no complaints from the school staffs. As for girls, they did it in the different way; which is much more organised and neat. As far as Tezuka knows, they had prepared the weekly schedule on those who have to clean-up their clubhouse.
“Tezuka!”
Tezuka looked behind him, only to see the owner of the voice was his classmate, who is in the same club with him, Kaoru Hideki. Kaoru caught up with Tezuka, and both of them walked together towards the clubhouse.
“You’re unusual easy today, Tezuka. The seniors and juniors, I mean, us, were wondering about that. Did something happened today?” asked Kaoru as they entered the clubhouse.
Tezuka didn’t give any respond to Kaoru’s statement. What he said was true and that indeed made Tezuka wonder why he was going easy towards the member today. The practice assigned was just as usual they did since last year, but there’s something wrong but Tezuka couldn’t figure his mind out.
Seeing his friend didn’t give his respond, Kaoru just kept his silence. He couldn’t read Tezuka’s stoic face although they have known each other for quite some time since they were in middle school. Both of them walked towards their lockers which were next to each other and changed themselves into the school attire without giving any care to their surrounding which is very messy and hectic.
Soon after that, both Tezuka and Kaoru walked their way to their class, 2-A. Since the morning bells haven’t rang yet, the students are still lingering at the corridors and catching up with each other about their yesterday’s activities. Some of the students also had just arrived to school. When the two boys arrived at their class, they were greeted by their classmates. They walked to their seats.
“Good morning, Tezuka, Kaoru,” greeted Shigeki Nakamura, who is seating behind Kaoru.
“Morning, Shigeki. How’s practice today?” replied Kaoru as he hang his bang at the table.
“Nothing out of ordinary. Osamu-senpai was absent today, so Takahashi-senpai had to take over. You?” asked Shigeki.
Before answering, Kaoru looked at Tezuka, who is sitting next to him. “Same goes to us, but today was quite an easy one,” said Kaoru, with a smile.
Tezuka’s ears suddenly twitched. He glanced at his friend and then averted his gaze to his book in front of him.
“Really? Well, maybe Tezuka got a plan on changing the club routine,” Shigeki said coolly. He noticed Tezuka’s reaction towards Kaoru’s statement. ‘Kaoru and his sly plan, or probably what he said just now was true,’ Shigeki monologue.
“WE HAVE A NEW FOREIGNER STUDENT TODAY!”
A loud cry came from the door. All the 2-A’s students averted their gaze but then ignored as they only see Makoto Kyogoku, who was panting very hard, trying to catch his breath.
“What are you babbling about so early in the morning, Makoto-kun?” said Erika Kitagawa, pulling Makoto to his seat. She just stared at him with her arms crossed.
When Makoto managed to gain back his breath, he raised his face. Tezuka, Shigeki, Erika and Kaoru were staring at him, waiting for him to say something. “What? Oh, about just now. Before that, where are Yuki and Sakura-chan?” he asked them
“They –” as Erika was about to answer Makoto’s question, the two persons he asked just now had just arrived. “Well, speak of the devil. No, I mean, devils. They’re here.”
Yuki and Sakura walked into their classes. Seeing their friends were gathering at Makoto’s place, so they join in too.
“What’s up?” asked Yuki.
“Nothing, just now I told them that we have a transfer student in our class,” replied Makoto.
“Yeap, it’s true. But it’s not confirmed yet which class she will be in. Maybe later – ” before Yuki could continue the morning bell rang and right at the moment, the teacher entered the class.
All the students rushed to their seats. “Good morning, teacher,” greeted Yuki, as the class representative followed by the others in unison.
“Good morning, you may sit down,” ordered Shinji Yamada, the class 2-A homeroom teacher. “Now, before we begin our homeroom, I’ve news for you guys.”
Everyone straightened themselves and looked at their teacher.
“Today, we have a new transfer student. Come in, Yamato-san,” Yamada-sensei called out.
Then, the class door slided open and a female student walked into the class. Everyone in the class stared at her. Tezuka was a little bit surprised to see her. ‘I wonder if she’s that student from this morning,’ Tezuka thought.
The new student stood still in front of school while Yamada-sensei was writing something on the board. “Ami-Jean Yamato. Yamato-san, please introduce yourself,” said Yamada-sensei.
“Hello, my name is Ami-Jean Yamato and I’m from America. Nice to meet you and please give me your guidance,” Ami introduced herself to the class and bowed.
“Thank you, Yamato-san. Now, for your seat,” Yamada-sensei’s eyes lingered, searching an empty desk for Ami. “There, the last seat, behind Kinomoto,” he pointed at the desk behind Tezuka.
Ami walked across the classroom towards her appointed seat, with all gaze upon her. No one knows how nervous she was that time, but she hides it well beneath her calm face. Just the way she wanted, her seat was near the window. She might as well enjoy the scenery of the school from the window.
“So class, this is the first time Yamato-san came to Japan so be nice to her. If there’s nothing, we shall proceed to our lesson. Please take out your mathematics book,” said Yamada-sensei and with that the lesson went on until the lunch break.
During the lesson, the class was in complete silent; the focus was on the teacher in front of them but except one mind though. Ami couldn’t help but to scribble something on her textbook. Her mind flashed back at this morning meeting with Yamada-sensei.
-Flashback-
“Are you sure you want to enter the second year class, Yamato-san?” asked Yamada-sensei.
“Yes, Yamada-sensei,” replied Ami.
“But looking at your academic background, it’s such a waste. Entering the third year would be a better idea,” Yamada-sensei said while looking at Ami’s academic records in his hand.
“I insist on entering the second year and I’ve thought about it thoroughly. This is only for my undercover and I’m not intended to obtain the diploma. I’ll be here until I finished what I have to do. After that, I’ll move back to States.”
Yamada-sensei sighed. He couldn’t say anything. He read again the letter given by Ami before they start their discussions. “Okay, on one condition, I hope you don’t do anything suspicious in the school and don’t let anyone know your true identity. Even if you’re absent, your study must in top-notch,” Yamada-sensei stipulated which Ami had no choice but to agree with them.
-End of flashback-
*DING!*DONG!*DING!*DONG!*
As the time passes by, without realize the lunch break bells rang. The students immediately rushed out from the class to have their lunch soon after Yamada-sensei left the class. Some of them are still in the class, keeping out the books they’ve used for class just now while some still doing the works that Yamada-sensei gave just now.
“My goodness, maths just now almost makes me going crazy.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s only the beginning of the semester.”
Some bragging was heard from the students. Ami could not deny the lesson just now was quite tough and difficult, even for her level she must admit. ‘I guess different country, different level,’ she thought herself as she closed her books and leaving for the lunch break.
“Ah, Yamato-san. Would you like to join us for lunch?” asked someone who was sitting next to Ami.
“Sure, I would love to -”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Nakamura Shigeki,” Shigeki introduced himself.
“Hello, Shigeki. Sure, I would love to. But, the others, don’t they mind?”
“Of course not.”
Shigeki looked at his friends; Tezuka, Kaoru, Yuki, Makoto, Erika and Sakura who were all gathered at Kaoru’s desk ready to go for lunch. All of them welcomed Ami to join them.
“ Okay.”
With that, Ami joined her new friends for lunch. They walked out from the class together, went to the school’s mini mart and dropped themselves at the rooftop of the school. They had some conversations and talking about the newcomer.
“Do you mind if we call you Ami-chan?” asked Erika, during their eating.
“Nope,” Ami answered simply, biting her butter bun.
“So, Yamato-san, you said you were from the States. Which part?” Kaoru asked this time.
“Please call me by my name, I prefer that. I’m from the big city New York.”
“I thought you were from UK. You have a quite British accent when you talked.”
“Oh, my mom was a British. After my parents married for a couple of years, they moved to the States.”
“So, your dad is Japanese then?”
“Yes. Well, that makes me a half-half, though I may not look like one. I look like my mom more than my dad,” Ami giggled.
“True, and to be honest, we thought you’re a complete foreigner if we didn’t know your name. When did you move here?”
“Last week. I was supposed to come to school last week, but issues came up, I have to postpone.”
So indulge with the conversations, the lunch break has come to its end. Ami and her new friends returned to their class, continuing their class for the day. As for Ami, she had a little fun although she must be careful from now on in order to ensure her true identity is not exposed.
# # # # # # #
“Ah, finally! Another day is over, club is coming up. Can’t wait,” said Sakura, as she closed her locker. She turned to Ami, who is keeping her things in her locker, right next to Sakura’s. “Which club are you in?”
“Me? I’m in the taekwondo,” replied Ami. Both she and Sakura walked back into their class. “You?”
“I’m in the stage club. You’re the same with Erika-chan then,” squealed Sakura, sitting at Shigeki’s seat.
“What’s up with me?” Erika suddenly interjected from her seat. Sakura and Ami just gave her a stare. “Sorry, I’m quite sensitive when it comes to my name. So, what’s up?”
“I was asking Ami-chan which club she joins. She said she’s in the taekwondo club, so I said you’re in the same house with her.”
Hearing that, Erika looked at Ami, who has a grin plastered on her face. “Welcome to the family!”
“Thanks,” thanked Ami. Then, her eyes wandered off at the class. She only spotted Makoto and Yuki at their respective seats, “Where are the others?”
“Who?” Sakura asked. Understanding what Ami meant, she said, “Oh, they already took their leave.”
“Aren’t they early?”
“Well, they had to. Tezuka is the captain of the athletics club, so he has to be early at the track. Kaoru is under the same roof with Tezuka, so no doubt, he too has to be early. While Shigeki is the varsity member of the tennis club, he has to do early warm-ups before the team starts practising for the upcoming tournament.”
“Wow, they are good,” Ami replied, impressed.
“They are. Well, we better take our leave too. The changing room will be crowded if we didn’t get there earlier. I hate to get ‘packed’ with the other girls, they are annoying,” Erika put on annoyed face.
“Yeah, I agree,” Ami agreed with her friend’s statement. She rose from her seat and slided in the chair. She grabbed her bag and patted Sakura’s shoulder, “Sakura-chan, we’ll be going now.”
“Okay, see you later,” replied Sakura.
Ami and Erika left their class and made their way to the taekwondo hall, which located at the self-defence club building. Truthfully, the school that Ami had just enrolled in is not just any other ordinary co-ed high school in terms of expanse; it’s BIG! Teitan High School has four-storey six buildings; three academic buildings and three clubs buildings. The academic buildings are where the classes are located while the clubs building including the gym are for the clubs’ division.
Ami and Erika are in the self-defence division; which their taekwondo club is located at the second floor. They were lucky that there are only few girls in the changing room when they walked in and without wasting any time, they started to change into their gears.
“Oh, you brought your own gear?” Erika asked while changing.
“Yes. I was in the taekwondo club when I was in States,” Ami answered, when she put on her long pants.
“Well, that’s pretty well-prepared. What belt are –” Erika became speechless when she saw Ami tying her belt around her waist. “YOU HAVE BLACK?!”
Erika’s loud voice causes all eyes in the room landed on Ami. “Yeah, but I’m still in the first rank though.”
“Even if it’s first rank, still, that’s cool! I’m still in the 2nd kup. Since when did you start taekwondo?”
“Since I was six.”
“That is just so amazing. Not many of us here have earned black belt; to be exact only the captain. The vice-captain is 1st kup. Seriously, you’re not just any ordinary newcomer, but an extraordinary one!”
Ami just let out a nervous laugh. ‘Can’t help it, all the agents’ must’ve at least at 2nd kup. I’m just lucky that dad sent me to taekwondo when I was six,’ she said in her mind.
Soon after they changed to their gears, they entered the taekwondo hall. There were not many members yet. They were chatting and some of them even had sparring match.
“Ami-chan, would you be my sparring partner?” asked Erika suddenly.
Ami gave her a stare. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, it’s not always I have a chance to spar with a black-belter. Not even with the captain.”
“Okay, but we have to get our gear first.”
Erika and Ami then went to the gear room to get protective gear for each of them. Then, they returned back to the hall to start their sparring. Many eyes are on them.
“But, please go easy on me,” Erika pleaded.
“Okay, I’ll give you the 2nd kup moves,” replied Ami.
As usual, before they start, they did some simple greeting stance. Getting ready in the fighting stance, both girls started their sparring match. Their loud cries filled in the large hall. Ami gave Erika a chance to attack her first and told her not to hold back herself.
Erika gave Ami a knife hand, which Ami successfully ducked down. In return, Ami gave her friend a roundhouse kick, resulting Erika to fall on the ground. She didn’t give up; she kept striking Ami which Ami managed to dodge some of the attacks. They didn’t know for how long they sparred until a loud voice ordered them to stop.
“STOP!”
Ami and Erika stop their sparring and turned to the direction of the voice. They didn’t realize that the hall has already filled with the members. Suddenly, all the members stand at the side of the hall as if they were making a way for someone. Then, a group of unfamiliar taekwondo members walked towards Ami and Erika. Both of them took off their head gear.
“Ogami-senpai!” Erika suddenly cried and bowed. Everyone in the hall also did the same. Ami just followed suit.
“I never remember there was another person who has the black belt?” said the young man who was called Ogami, standing in front of Ami and Erika, “I’ve never seen you before, and may I know what is your name?”
“My name is Ami-Jean Yamato from class 2-A. I’m new here,” replied Ami, bowing.
“You’re the transfer student from America, right? I’m Takaharu Ogami from class 3-A and I’m the captain of this club. I see that you’re a black belter.”
“Yes, still in the first rank.”
“Ogami-senpai, we’re very sorry that we sparred without your permission. We thought it will take a while,” Erika apologized.
“It’s okay. Besides, I’ve been watching both of you. Such a nice sparring there, I must say,” replied Takaharu. “Now, let’s not waste our time, we’re going to start our club activity.”
So, Takaharu gathered all the taekwondo members and divided them according to their respective ranks. Today’s activities are: from 10th kup to 3rd kup, they will be given lessons by the instructors, while 2nd and 1st will be taught by Ami and Takaharu respectively, then followed by sparring in pairs. They had their activities continued until it’s time to go home.
After the club has ended, Ami and Erika changed back to their school uniform and met up with their friends at the school gate. Yuki and Tezuka were not there because they had late meeting with the students’ council. All of them wanted to go to the city, which Ami kindly refused to since she had to get home early. Before Ami and her friends bid each other goodbye and went their separate ways, she exchanged her number with them.
On her way home, Ami decided to stop by at a convenience store and bookstores to buy something. When she arrived at her apartment building, she checked her mailbox for letter, which was empty. Then, she walked to the lobby to get lift to her apartment room. While waiting, someone stood beside her which much to her surprise was Tezuka.
“Tezuka-kun!” Ami said in disbelief, “You live here too?”
“Yes, I’m at the 20th floor,” replied Tezuka.
“I’m at 25th, the highest. So, we’re neighbour, although different floor.”
When the lift has arrived, both of them get on the lift and press their each other’s floor button. Tezuka was the first one to get off from the lift since he lived at the 20th floor.
“We should visit each other sometime, if you don’t mind,” Ami said, pressing the open-door lift button. “Just kidding, see you tomorrow, Tezuka-kun.”
“See you tomorrow,” replied Tezuka shortly.
The door lift closed and continued its way to 25th floor, which was Ami’s turn to get off. She then made her way to her apartment room, 25-01, and dropped her stuffs on the sofa as soon as she as she entered her apartment. She went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of mineral water and went to her bedroom. She walked towards the computer at the corner room and switched it on, revealing an FBI logo on the screen. She then put a headphone over as if she was about to make a call.
“Hello, reporting Ami-Jean Yamato here, code number FBI2202. Please direct me to Adam Knight please,” said Ami.
“Please wait for a moment, Mr Knight will answer shortly,” replied the female operator.
Then, a hoarse male voice was heard, “Ami, finally we were waiting for your call. We’ve got the latest news on Tetsu Inaba.”
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