18 Chapter 18 Im Kita Duran (1/2)

Duran was relieved he had made it to class before the first lesson had begun. He saw Fumio talking casually with Aki and a couple of other classmates near his desk.

From the corner of his eye, he spied Saski leaning against his own toward the middle row; surrounded by a bunch of glasses wearing boys and girls who seemed to hang off his every word.

'Here's trouble,' Saski said when he saw Duran strut past him.

'Aim to please my friend.' Duran flashed him a cocky grin and chuckled at the incredulous pffts, tsks and eye-rolls from the Saski's posse.

'Sup. You're Mr. Popular this morning.' Fumio lightly joked.

'Haha. Well, I'd hate to steal Tsubaki-kun's thunder, but can't help the admiration his posse gives me when I say those things.'

'Infamous dude. Speaking of, heard you got called into an early meet with the Princ. How'd it go?'

If it was one thing Duran had learned about his new friend Fumio. The guy seemed well informed with people and topics. At least those that seemed to be of interest to him. He was slowly discovering the sharp mind beneath his friend's aloof exterior.

'It was scary.'

'Yeah. I guess having to face up to the popo can be like that.' Aki joined their conversation.

'Have you had to deal with him before Fujita-kun?' Duran asked him politely.

'Geez. Call me Aki. I feel like my old aniki when you call me that,' Aki said and chuckled at Duran's flushed-red cheeks.

'Heehee. It's not like I'm asking you out on a date. Just call me Aki as a friend would aye?'

'Um, er, okay. Aki-kun.' Duran complied with a mousy voice and yelped at Aki's ”mate's” slap to his back. For a small guy, he had a heavy hand.

'Geez man. Just Aki okay? Even the honorifics makes me feel old. We're the same age after all.'

'Dude you call me Fumio too. I can call you Duran? Been saying I'd like to call you by your given name. It's too cool not to be used.' Fumio jumped in.

'Um, yeah. I'm cool with that.'

'So. Yeah, we were called into his office when he found out the Otaku Machima Club was gonna happen. He was real pissed about it.' Aki continued with his story on his visit to the principal's office.

'Oh yeah. Didn't he tell you to prove the worth of the club or something like that?' said a classmate Duran had yet to have a conversation with.

'Something like that Isao-kun, but he predicted the club wouldn't last more than six months. So let it go. Turns out he was right. No fault to anyone but our members too. Man Dai'chi was pissed to the high heavens about it all,' Aki explained.

'But to start a music club. Now things are getting interesting huh?'

'It's interesting to see what Kita-kun has to satisfy to get one.' Saski called out, having eavesdropped on the conversation.

'Hey Tsubaki-kun. Whadya mean by that?' Aki's eyes narrowed at Saski's comment.

Saski made his way to them. He took over Fumio's seat. Ignoring Fumio's complaints and scowls.

'Just. For that type of club request to be approved. Something has to give right?'