"Hello?"

"Yes honey?” my airhead of a mother answered the phone. "Wait, shouldn't you be in school right now? Why you calling me."

"It's regarding my legal guardian."

"Ohhhhhhh~~"

"Ohhhhhhhhh~~"

"I don't see a problem with that." My mother chuckled. "Put me on loud speaker please."

I pulled the phone from my ear and pressed the speaker button on the screen.

"Suu, you ok with this right? Only for 3 month until Kelly turn 18. In return I'll pass you my recipe book."

"Deal." Suu replied, without second thought.

"Ok honey, that solves the problem. Mummy need to go back to work now. Have fun"

"Dooo....dooo....doooooooooo." The phone cuts off.

"Wait but..." I trailed off as I started an internal assessment of the situation. Do I have anyone else to put down as legal guardian in japan? No. I will be 18 in 3 month. And Suu is surprisingly good at looking after people. And he is ok with the situation.

"Sigh, let's get to class."

"I thought you going to complain a little more before we get over this." Suu observed, sound amused. He can turn almost any situation into a fun game if he wanted to.

"When people grow older, they learn to complain less and think more.....Most people." I added.

Suu gave me an impressed smile as he starting walking towards the stairs at the end of the hall way. I followed his tall frame and watch the sunlight reflects off his shoulders and his light soft hair, and the dust particles floating in the stairwell.

.............................

Class was well underway when Suu knocked on the door. The teacher went quiet, and tension suddenly filled the room, so much so I can sense it from this side of the wooden door frame. They are expecting a new transfer students, without giving me time to prepare myself, Suu slides opens the door.

Natural sunlight flooded the room and the twenty odd students. Shion and Matt, sitting near the centre of the classroom, are waving their hands at us. My legal guardian explained to the teacher of my state of the uniform and lateness. Judging by the notes on the black board, it seems to be an English class we are disrupting. Shakespeare quotes littered the board, looks like "Hamlet" is popular even in Japan.

Suu walked in front me, then made his way across the class, and set in the second last desk next to the window overlooking the cityscape of Shinjuku. I swear, in some parallel universe he is the main character of some shoujo light novel. I noticed the building was indeed modified from an office building. The outside "walls" are just glasses. From the top to bottom, allowing so much sunlight to filter through. The views looking out is beautiful, the surrounding buildings are not tall at all, I can see kilometres after kilometres of the beautiful Tokyo scenery. The reflections and sparkles of the sunlight bouncing off glasses and metal made it much more dreamy. How does someone even concentrate in class?

"Why don't you introduce yourself?" My new teacher beamed my way, in British accent. She is so bright and cheerful for a teacher it feels almost uncomfortable. Her long light blue skirt sways as she walked towards me. She is wearing a round collar white business shirt covered by a nice and thin cardigan that hangs loosely by her shoulders. Her light brown eyes and soft waving brunette hair is braided and hangs on one side of her shoulder.

I involuntarily smiled back at her and faced the crowd. The black board is covered with English expressions and phrases and I dare not to disturb them by writing my name on the board. My new teacher has beautiful handwriting, I observed as I address the class.

"G'day everyone," I tried my best Australian impersonation, "My name is Kelly, home country is Australia, but been travelling around the world ever since I was little due to parents work circumstances." I recited my practiced lines for occasions like this, then added a little extra. " I have been staying in Japan for the longest time and consider this country my home now. Yoroshiku onegiemasu." I finished with a bow.

The tension in the room snapped, everyone is excited and clapping and cheering. I would imagine they used to having people transferring in and out of the school. But perhaps because of that, they made sure that everyone who joins will feel welcome.

"Alright, your seat will be over there," my teacher pointed in the direction over to the hallway side of the room, along the walls, second in row, "Michelle, would you please take care of Kelly for the day?" She directed the question to the girl in glasses next to me.

I turned to Michelle and made an apologetic sign, no one should waste their time for a stranger.

"It's fine, I'll let Suu show me around." I replied to the teacher, my legal guardian should be the one doing the baby sitting anyway. I turned back to Michelle and smiled, only to find her dark eyes watering, looking sad and disappointed. Oh, god what have I done, she is so cute and adorable, and I just made this kawaii creature cry. "On second thought, I ...."

Three options popped in to my head:

1st: play it cool like nothing happened and sit back down

2nd:state the fact that I can't handle cute things cry

3rd:crack a bad joke like no one's business and probably ruin the remining of my highschool life.

"....I am tired of seeing Suu's sheep face all the time."

I choose option 3. I can hear Matt and Shion chuckling in front. The class that was noisy and loud with the excitement of a new transfer student now become silent. The other girls in my class are gazing daggers at me, no surprise there. This isn't good, I thought, when Michelle put her arms around me and squeezed. I don't know when she got of her sit, but I know I am now being hugged by an adorable fluffy creature. Worth it, I affirmed as I melted from the inside out. Now the guys are glaring at me, half out of jealousy, half out of... well you know...guy fantasy. I am sure we are now surrounded by mountain lilies and sparkles and sugars and spice and something nice.

I could be ok with this.

"Alright class, enough with the High school drama series and get back to your seats." Sensei clapped her hands together and took back control of the classroom. Michelle reluctantly let go and sat down on backthe chair. She smiled at me and pointed at her text book. I pulled mine out from my bag and showed it to her while smiling back. Maybe I can get used to this whole girl-friends thing.

Class went on as if nothing happened. Apart from the invisible daggers of jealousy been drown in my direction. I cried a little on the inside, this isn't going to turn out good. But when that happens, I would always look to my side and see Michelle smilling. And that will make everything warm and fuzzy again.

.......................

The bell rang, it is now lunch time, and the true battle begins.

"What is your relationship with Suu." A twin tailed blonde asked. Arms crossed and staring directly at me. I glanced at Suu, but he was still staring outside the windows. Damn it Suu, why do you have to be so popular.

"uh...legal...I mean childhood friend." I almost dug my own grave.

"Does people really ride emus and Kangaroos?" Another girl asked a familiar question.

"Yes." I lied. One must uphold the Australian tradition after all.

"What is your relationship with Michelle?" The boy behind me bravely.

"I don't know what you mean, we just met today." I replied

"But I know we will be good together," Michelle added. god her voice sounds so soothing. "Maybe it's love at first sight." a slight grin on her face. I can hear the collective sounds of hearts cracking from half the male population. Half... I expected more.

"Have you been to Japan before?" a nicer girl asked

"I spend my middle school years here."

"Does Australia really have deadly snakes and spiders."

"Yeah sure, I saw one in my backyard the other day."

"Are you single? "

"No comment."

This episode of Q&A continued for another 5 minutes before the rest of the gang showed up from the other class. Daichii, Chihiro and Tomo walked in and joined the circle of people with me as the centre of radius. Suu isn't in his seat anymore, he sneaked out during my interrogation. Matt and Shinon looked at the scene with amused faces.

"Yo Kelly," Tomo begin, friendly as ever, "I thought we should come and show you around, Suu have some club business he needs to attend to if I remember correctly."

So that's where he disappeared to.

"You came too late, Michelle over here already took monopoly of this market."

"Come on now Michelle, sharing is caring." Matt addressed Michelle. It seems they all know each other well.

"Matt, go play with other girls."

"But I think I get well with Kelly."

"I am honoured." I looked around. Daichii and Shion are now part of the circle. And all of them seems to squiz pass everyone else and surrounded me. I don't remember them pushing people around though. Then I realised people simply moved away for them, unconscious of what they were doing. I somehow got involved in the party with the highest charisma stat average and now surrounded by them.

"We should really show you through the school." Michelle got up and took me by the hand. ‘So soft’ was my thought before being dragged out of the door. Matt, Shion, Daichii, Chihiro and Tomo followed. This beginning to feel like a parade.

"Do you guys have nothing better to do?" My new friend asked the boys.

"Not really, otherwise we wouldn't be here." Chihiro answered, it's first time I heard him speak. Nothing special really.

"It was Matt's suggestion to see Kelly, so we just followed." Tomo added.

"Uhm.... Am I disrupting you guys?" I asked.

"No, not really. We just a bunch of guys who gets bored easily." Matt answered.

"You boys should go out and play fetch or something, like the rest of your kind." Michelle suggested.

"Sounds like a good Idea." Matt retorted sarcastically

"It does, maybe I should join too." I agreed wholeheartedly.

"Pass." Tomo said

"Pass." Everyone followed.

"You guys are not very athletic are you."

"Don’t feel like it today."

"Alright you lots, go wait there," Michelle instructed the boys outside the lady’s room.

I said thanks from the bottom of my heart. Just remembered I haven't been to the bathroom since last night.

"Why does girls go to the bathroom together?" Chihiro asked as we walk back to the classroom after the school tour.

"It's like a bonding experience." I answered

"Uh, ok."

"Maybe we should try some bonding too with the boys." Daichii offered.

"NO."

Damn. That almost worked.

Boys, I thought. Weird creatures. I just realised everywhere we go, the people usually would part ways for us. Everyone else in the group will receive looks and stares. How did I ever mingle in the popular group? I want out. But as if reading my mind, Michelle took my hand and prevent me from escaping.

...........................

The classes went pass by rather quickly. It seems the study pace is rather slow. Probably taking account of the students coming and going from different part of the world. The homework seems easy enough. I worry about my future outcomes if we must compete with the major schools in Tokyo. But there are more pressuring concerns at present. "Go home club" will look really bad on my resume, and there is nothing for me to do apart from watching anime, play games and rolling around while reading light novels and mangas. Not that I choose the lifestyle, it choose me. Honestly I don't have much friends that I can hang around with in real life, nor do I have many friends that will be awake and online in the same time zone as me. The world is such a small place, everyone is so close yet so far away.

I made my way to the top floor of the building where most of the clubs are located. Michelle and everyone else simply followed and wasting their precious lunch time with me. There is a wide sign board with all the club flyers attached in the centre hall way. The flyers are not childish or simple like the ones in middle school. Each one of them is printed on an A4 poster paper. The design ranges from famous tennis players to amazing food around the world and black white contemporary photography. The amount of photoshopping and professionalism that are used amazes me. Are all high school clubs this serious?

I searched the board for sports clubs. It would be good to get in shape again. The only ones recruiting are the tennis club and the soccer club. Everything else are cultural clubs such as English literature, business management, different types of food clubs, Design clubs, photography clubs, and computer clubs etc. There's even a share market club! What are youngsters thinking these days? Enjoy your youth to the fullest mate, why you do this to yourself. I complained internally after realising my own incompetence.

"Kelly, if you are looking for a club feel free to join us." Matt suggested as he looked over my shoulder.

"That's a great idea Matt!" Michelle agreed.

"Are you two going out?" I blurted out

"No"

"No, his 3D and all. I only interested in 2D males."

"Michelle have a really high rotten level, we few who knows about it, don't want anything to do with it." Matt observed.

"Oh," I am starting to understand the situations, I need her mail address latter to see if I can partake in some of her collections. "So what clubs am I been invited to?" I quickly changed the topic.

"Let's just call it the multimedia production club."

"That sound's hardcore, I like it. What do you do?"

"We watch anime, play all ages visual novel, read light novels and manga. And occasionally work on some uh, anime related, projects."

That sounds exactly like what I do at home by myself, but I kept the thoughts to myself. Well, these are Suu's friends. But they are also the most popular people of the school!

"Wait, does everyone here are all in the same club." I gestured to the rest of the party

"Yeah."

"Pretty much."

"So, the most popular group in the school is also a bunch of otakus."

"Not sure about the first part, but the second part is true."

I have a headache, this is too much. What have society became? These people took the phrase "Elite Otaku" and innovated it. SOMEONE WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT PLEASE!!!!

"But why is it called the multimedia production club?"

"Because we draw our own doujins, make our own games and write our own novels and manga." Matt replied proudly.

BUNCH OF HARDCORE OTAKUS!

"I'll join." At least I don't have to pretend to be a normal student if I join this club.

"Yeah~~~~~~~" Michelle cheered.

"That was fast," Matt observed, " I thought you are going to internally debate about it and have at least one paragraph for it."

"What you talking about." Confused.

"Nothing, it was just a metaphor."

"Alright everyone, lunch at the rooftop!!" Michelle declared. "We are celebrating Kelly joining the club!"

Uh, ok. Sure, why not. I thought

......................

The rooftop is amazing, it feels like a greenhouse rather than the old dusty roof tops I had in middle school. There are no fences around, rather it is covered by tall glass panels on all sides. The top is a dome, simple steel beams and glass. I can see the entire city scape around me while keeping the cold winds out. They even have garden beds with pretty plants and flowers. There are benches and tables in the middle of the wings of the building, we found a comfortable sunny spot, just as I got comfortable and relaxed while grinning like a stupid house cat in the warm sun light I remembered I haven't packed any lunch for today as everyone put their bentos on the table.

Matt took the lid off his box, flipped over and took some fried chicken pieces from his lunch and put it on the lid. Michelle took out a onigiri with a cute neko face made out of dried seaweed and placed on the other side of the lid. Everyone else contributed a little as well, by the end of the rotation I have a lid full of fiesta of international cuisine.

"You know how to use these right?" Matt hands me a pair of clean chop sticks. Do I really look that incompetent to him?

"Thank you matt~" I took the chop stick, "Is it ok for me to eat this?"

"Sure!"

"Don't worry, it's not poisoned...I hope."

"Go ahead Kelly, you must be hungry," Michelle beamed my way, "I think I heard your stomach grumbling during class."

"Uh......" I really should take the offer, otherwise the afternoon classes is going to be Kelly's one girl musical feat. Stomach-chan. "Thank you everyone!" I took the lid and the chopstick and started wolfing down the offering.

"No need, it's what friends are for right?" Matt replied." We usually do this when one of us didn't bring anything, usually that person is Suu though. He can take care of others but never really care about himself.......It's not like I care or anything."

"Do you have like a tsundere crush on Suu or something?" I blurted out again. Almost spiting out rice.

"I know right, this is too cute to not be true." Michelle joined the siege.

"Hell no. I mean if he was a girl then sure, but I am not attracted to males so no."

"Now that I think about it, if Suu is a girl, would she be the most popular piece of adorable cupcake that god has ever created?"

"No, because Suu-chan will still be a hopeless otaku."

"But otaku-ko is now a moe factor." Matt observed

"Oh, it is?" Me and Michelle grinned, "Tsun tsun Matt goes dere dere about Suu."

"Not in real life, No."

"So if Suu became an anime girl you will totally dig her?"

"And you won't?"

"Sadly Yuri isn't my thing." Wow, this escalated quickly.

"I rather have Suu as a shota character." Michelle suggested

"I don't know, I think I treat him like my blood related sibling. Or one of my best-girl-friends."

"I can see that." Matt concluded.

While we happily chatting away, having weird fantasies about Suu and convincing Matt that he have a tsundere crush on Suu on this side of table, the boys are having a deep serious conversation about some piece of computer code. All I can make out is something about bugs and trees and branches and architecture. Sounds like a nice scenery, although I doubt that is what they actually talking about. Just as the conversation gets lively, Suu appeared from the stairs, his holding a few packet of bread, probably brought from the school cafeteria. Knowing Suu and how little he eats, his holding my share as well.

"Suu, you late. Did it really take you that long to get those bread?" Daiichi called out first. Making room for him on the edge of the table.

"Sorry, club issues took me awhile to solve." He replied as he pulled over a chair and dropped the bread on the middle of the table. "Feel free to take whatever you like."

"Damn it Suu, eat something first, we all know you haven't had anything." Matt barked, his cool expression wavered a little and looked mildly annoyed. Oh the ship is real, I thought, I looked at Michelle, she is thinking the same thing.

'We don't have much time left, let's get this over and done with." He said as he pulled out the melon-pan and the yakisoba-pan from the pile and started munching on it. Matt pulled out a piece of paper and placed it in front of me.

"Club registration?" I saw the title. Where was he hiding that?

"Yeah, even though we are just playing around most of the time and wasting our lives away on anime and manga and LN, still need to go through the official process." Michelle answered.

"You see, this school is a little different with their clubs, the students here are mostly from families that runs businesses or head of large companies. They want their children to have sufficient knowledge about running companies at an early age."

What kind of anime setting is that? Does who ever writes this stuff think it's going to fly?

"Surely it's not." I tried to argue.

"But it is, sadly," Matt reassured me, "I was sent to this school for this specific reason."

So Matt is hot and tsundere AND rich. The more you know.

"I was sent to this school so I can find a rich dude to marry, so my family said." Michelle added.

"Ok." I don't think my mother knew about all these when she applied for me, but it would be useful information to learn. Make friends and connections now, have better chance at everything later in life. A plan formed in my head as I quickly brushed it aside. Not my way of thinking.

"So the official process is?"

"Each club is like a subsidiary of a company, when we recruit there must be a formal process of interviewing and looking at their resume."

"NANI!"

"And the successful application must obey by the club rules and the rule set out by the student council." Michelle kept explaining. "If a club have poor performance over 2 semesters, it will be closed, but on the bright side you do receive ridiculous amount of funding if you can prove that the club can achieve something of value."

That would explain the professionalism of all the posters out there, they must be really good at what they are doing to be able to survive.

"Is that why there is almost no spots clubs because they can never win anything?"

"Pretty much," Suu answered, "That is why Matt, our former ace of the basketball club, is now part of our group."

So Matt is hot, tsundere rich AND a former ace. I am going to have to watch my back when I walk alone in this school. Those jealous girls might just stab me. Maybe I should not hang out with this group, it sounds dangerous. I shivered at the thought, but realised this school is full of elites, plenty of fish in the sea. Surely the girls here would have better things to do than planning my death.

"And the multimedia production club have achieved results of value?' I asked.

Michelle laughed and almost choked on the strawberry milk she was drinking, and Matt was coughing too. Suu had an amusing look on his face and the other guys looked our way from the other end of the table after they heard the word ‘achievement’.

"We put up a doujin short film store at comiket and made back our budget." Suu answered. "In the eyes of the student council that is good enough reason to let the club live on."

"So you milked the poor hard working anime fans that is already living on nothing but rice and soy sauce for months in preparation of this event." I probed.

"Yes, and as a proud Otaku I can fully understand their struggle. But trust me, they will not regret their decisions in life. Because I haven't yet." Suu argued.

I can imagine Suu not eating anything but rice and soy sauce for 2 month straight before the event to save up money for figures and doujinshi and games and shirts and anime goods. I just want to walk into my imagination, slap him and cook him some good food.

" I hereby ban you from committing such crimes again yourself." Matt was the one to speak my mind.

"But, all the merch, my only enjoyment in life. My reason for existence."

"You reason for existence is cute anime figures and anime?"

"Of course! Are you denying who I am?"

Matt got quiet, guess he can't win this one. I need to say something otherwise these stupid "couple" is going to have a big argument. And yes the ship has sailed. I mean, Matt looks so cute when he worries about Suu.

"So what is the process of joining a club in my case? Do i have to do an interview with the club president or something?"

"Usually yes," Matt directed his attention back to me, " We have to prepare a report and submitted it to the student council and let them approve it after the interview. But since you are a transfer student we'll let that slide, I am sure the student council president understands."

"I am sure he understands." Michelle confirmed.

I don't know about this, it sounds like whoever the student council president is, he will be stiff, and business minded. He sounds like someone who had his eyes on the multimedia production club for a while now. Just waiting for them to have some sort of mishap, just like any slice of life anime. I totally expect him to just smash the club doors open after school and announce the club crippled.

Matt slides the application to me and pointed to the line that have my name filled. Looks like I need to sign away my peaceful last year of high school here. He then produced a pen from his inner pocket, with his warmth attached to it. What's this? It smells faintly of cheddar wood and mint. Oh dear, just imagine how much this pen can sell among the girls market.

I quickly signed away my peaceful school life and passed the pen back to Matt, he in turn put the paper in front of Daiichi on the other side of the table. Daiichi picked up the pen and signed on the club president box. So they actually got someone relatively level headed as the club president, I am impressed. Daiichi would have a much easier time communicating with the student council.

"Alright, now we just need to bring this to the student council president." Michelle squealed

Suu got up, walked to Daiichi, pulled out his own pen from the inner pocket and signed on the Student council president section of the paper. What with guys carrying pens in their blazer reverse pockets?

"Eh" What is going on here. Wait I know this pattern, Suu will always display something dramatic and leave it at a cliff hanger. I should not let myself be surprised anymore.

"So uh, Suu is the student council president?"

"Yeah, basically."

"Why am I not surprised anymore."

Matt picked up the paper, folded and slipped in his front shirt pocket as the chimes rang.

"Alright, this will be continued at the club room after school."

.........................

Afternoon class was a blur, I think I ate too much at lunch time and felt sleepy afterwards. I swear those sleepy bubbles was visible and popping as I sway front and back in my chair. I vaguely remember getting little sleep on the plane. That's right, I was in Australia until just yesterday. And the 12-hour flight did tire me.

"Kelly?" someone called my name. It took me a whole minute to come back to reality. And focused on my conversation partner.

"Oh, good morning Matt," I yawned, "Are the classes over?"

"Ages ago," he replied, "Everyone already headed to the club rooms, Michelle had some class duty to attend so I was charged with the task of escorting you." Matt cracked open and handed me a serving of canned coffee from one of the vending machines on campus.

"Thank you, Matt, just what I need, that was very considerate of you." I gladly took the offering and tried a sip from it and almost spit it back out. The dark liquid tastes diluted, there isn't enough coffee o water ratio and it is sickeningly sweet.

"Thank you, Matt, but I pass on this, you drink it." I passed the can back to Matt. Rather than wasting the entirety of the content, might just get someone who can show some appreciation to it.

"You don't like it?" His handsome face full of concern, now that I have a close look at him, his eye lashes are long and pretty. The way his hair curls at the tips makes me want to pat him.

"No not really, I am sorry Matt, once you had coffee in Melbourne you just can't appreciate anything else."

"Are they that good?" He looked at me, visibly curious and amused. "Maybe I should go give it a try next time."

"Please do," I nudged the coffee can at him again. This time, Matt took it back and looked at the lip of the can. Surely he cant be thinking about that right? What is this? A high school otome rom-com?

"It's not like I like it or anything." He took the can and chugged. It certainly amazes me how someone could handle something like that.

"Sorry I'm late." Michelle burst back into the room and run over to me and performed the most spectacular and fluffiest tackle hug on me. "I hope Matt isn't bullying you."

"Why would I?" Matt took another mouth full of the foul liquid.

"Because you the are type of guy who bully the people you like." Matt almost choked, his cool expression never wavered though.

"Here, you must be sleepy and thirsty." Michelle handed me a bottle of chilled green tea. Which I gladly took. "Matt probably got your something like super sweet coffee or something, I am sure he meant well, but girls are very picky creatures." Matt chocked this time, coughing some of the black liquid onto the back of his hand. Looks almost like dried blood I thought.

"It's ok Matt, I really do appreciate the thought." I am glad there are no other girls in the room left, otherwise I would be in some serious trouble. Damn it Matt, take a hint that you are being hunted by quarter of the school.

Michelle Unscrewed the bottle for me and passed the tea over. Ahhhhhhhh, Japnaese green tea is the best. Strong and delicious with no sweetness at all. Sugar is a girl worst enemy, we love it, but are better off without it. Those calories are best avoided.

"I am sure Matt will someday obtain enlightenment on the ways of the otome."

...........................

We made our way to the top floor of the building, turned around a few corners until we reached the multimedia production club. This is it, my first high school club. I still have no idea how I ended up here, but the excitement I felt was real, Little butterflies are fluttering in my stomach. Michelle hugged me from behind while Matt opened the door to the club room. And I walked in with light steps and anticipation.