You could count on both hands how many times you had zoned out today, only to be brought back to earth either to Hinata's concern or the teacher's "smile". You've learned first hand, since coming here, how a smile isn't necessarily all it appears to be. Hers definitely wasn't one of patience and understanding.

And you would apologize, flustered, because it wasn't as if you could give the real reason why your attention wasn't entirely there today. Oh, funny story, I just found out I came from another world where this is just a story and you're all just characters.

Yeah, no.

So you gave it your best effort to concentrate on the lessons, or at least look like you were there in both body and mind. Not an easy task, especially since remembering that Mikey and Draken were coming to "visit" the school today, and taking poor old Takemichi as their souvenir. What a day it'll be.

You sighed audibly, forgetting where you were at.

"(L/n)-san."

Barely containing yourself from jumping out of your chair, you turned your head up to face the front; and your teacher.

"Y-yes!"

You sat upright and alert as she turned her calculating stare on you.

"Please read the next passage." She got straight to the point, arms folded knowing it'll be a while till you respond.

This was clearly a test to check whether or not you were paying attention. And you weren't.

You could only fidget nervously in your seat, the atmosphere nearly as tense as during that fight yesterday. Gingerly, you picked up your book, making as if to begin reciting the passage.

Except you didn't so much as even know which page the rest of the class was on.

From the corner of your eyes, you can see Hinata looking worriedly over at you, knowing that you didn't know. How kind of her to worry about you even when you've dug yourself into this hole.

Looking back up at the teacher, you were ready to admit to not paying attention, and the death of whatever reputation you had in the school. You've dug this grave, may as well lay in it. Better than throwing yourself into a deeper spiral of lies and excuses.

Deep breath, (Y/n), deep breath.

"I'm s-"

DING DONG BING BONG

The sound rang signaling the end of the first half of the school day, and the beginning of lunchtime. Were you literally just saved by the bell?

The teacher sighed at the untimely interruption, giving you some final advice to pay attention, before leaving the classroom.

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding as you slumped in your seat.

"Is something wrong? You've been really out of it today, (Y/n)-chan..."

You turned to see Hinata fretting over you, looking more anxious than you were. What a sweetheart, Takemichi really got lucky.

Plastering on a smile, you were quick to jump to reassuring her, "Sorry for worrying you, I just didn't got enough sleep last night..."

You let out an abashed chuckle to further nail in your story, hoping she'd believe you.

She huffed, "Goodness, I got my hands full worrying about you and Takemichi-kun."

Though you knew who he was, you asked, "Takemichi?"

She immediately dropped her mother hen facade and turned back to being just an ordinary middle school girl in love.

"H-He's my..."

Two words in, she trailed off, unable to get that final word out. You already know what she wanted to say but you couldn't help yourself from teasing her.

"Hmm... is he your brother?"

She shook her head.

"A cousin?"

"No...!"

"Aha, I got it! He's the most popular guy at school and you're secretly hopelessly in love with-"

"He's my boyfriend!!"

She quickly realized she practically shouted it out for the rest of the class to hear, or whatever's left that chose to have their lunch upstairs. You pat her shoulder in consolation, as she folded her arms on her desk and hid her face in them.

"Haha, sorry!" You giggled, not sounding the least bit apologetic. She fixed you with a pout, unimpressed by the little effort you put into your apology.

"Anyways," You herded the conversation back to the topic at hand before it could derail any further, "I think I know him..."

You don't just think, you're positive you know Takemichi. But you decided to leave it open for her affirmation.

"He goes to the same school, but another class." She added.

"Blond hair, blue eyes?"

Her eyes lit up, "Yep, that's him!"

"Hmm, I met him and his friends yesterday at the park."

You picked at a fraying strand of string from the corner of your worn bag. You'll have to patch that up later if you want it to last.

"The park? What was he doing there again? Fighting?"

With your attention split between toying with the fray and contributing to the conversation, you answered honestly by instinct.

"Yeah."

The confirmation slipped out before you could hold it back. You sure hope she doesn't chew him out over this later.

"I knew it." She sighed, a look of annoyance crossing her eyes. "Takemichi-kun is always getting himself into trouble. He cries easily from just about anything. And he keeps picking fights that he can't win..."

You winced at each blow dealt to his pride, your sympathy going out to the main character even if he wasn't here to hear all this. But...

"But!" A gentle smile settled on her lips, replacing the frown, "Even so, he's the kindest and bravest person I've ever met. He fights so he won't lose what he's trying to protect. Even if he knows he's more likely to lose than win, he doesn't ever give up."

Her eyes soften in fondness as she continues, "And... I don't want to lose him too. So if there comes a day, I'll fight to protect him just as he protects me."

It was foolish of you to worry about how she thought of him. It was obvious, in the manga, that they cared deeply for one another despite their flaws and setbacks. It was the focal point of the original story, and you had no doubt that it would be the same even if you were to see it for yourself. But watching her speak so earnestly about Takemichi was enough to set the notion in concrete.

You found yourself smiling along with her.

Yes, you wouldn't need to worry about them at all.

.

.

.

Lunch had concluded, giving way to the last couple hours of school before dismissal. You scraped together the bare amount of concentration you salvaged, from thinking about Mikey and Draken's inevitable appearance, and dumped it into focusing on the lesson at hand. This might not be your world and, therefore, there's no reason for you to secure good grades. But being labeled as the "problem child" in your class wouldn't sit right with you. It's not like you're aiming to be valedictorian or anything, just someone average to avoid standing out. And in your dictionary; average doesn't equate to being called out by the teacher for a short attention span ten times a day.

Could you even consider trying to be average when you're literally "out of this world"? Pun intended. You nearly snickered, before covering it with a cough.

Though there really was no point in hiding it, the teacher had left a while ago, appointing the students to independent study.

Hinata had also left a few minutes ago, excusing herself to use the bathroom, so she wasn't here to see through your little act. You hope she'd return soon, after all, the story can't progress without one of its main characters. Though still reeling from the events of yesterday, you can't deny the faintest feeling of excitement at seeing the two again.

Speaking of which, it does leave some questions to be asked about the flow and logic of the manga. Draken and Mikey found Takemichi in the classroom, not the other way around where Takemichi went out in the halls to confront the duo. So how exactly did they find Takemichi's classroom on their first try?

It seems you didn't need to wait long for an answer.

Some ruckus and yelling outside was all the warning you got before the door slid open with a clatter.

"Is Takemicchi here?"

A head poked in through the crevice, showing a familiar face and shoulder length blond hair, hanging loosely to the pull of gravity. Black eyes scanned the desks briefly, with no interest in anyone other than the boy he was searching for.

"Guess not."

And just like that, he had closed the door as soon as he had opened it. It happened all so suddenly that even you, who knew it was coming, gaped just as motionless at the closed door as all the other clueless classmates of yours. You could have written it off as a trick of the light, it was a rather bright and sunny day, if not for the noise you continue to hear outside.

"What school are you from, you bastard?!"

CLATTER

"Takemicchi is... not here either."

RATTLE

"Are you even listening?!"

THUD

"Get out of my way."

You didn't even need to look to guess that he was probably opening every door one by one, and beating up anyone in his way. Groans of pain filled the hallway, growing further away as he moved on with his search elsewhere. You sweatdropped.

Though unconventional, that definitely fills in the logical side of the situation; confirming he didn't actually find Takemichi's classroom in one shot. It would also explain why Hinata wasn't in her classroom when she heard about her boyfriend being kidnapped. Which means she should be slapping Mikey in the face just about now...

You gave a sidelong glance to her empty seat, only occupied by her bag, before getting to your feet.

.

.

.

Anticipation bubbled within you as you half ran, half speed walk, through the corridor, while throwing out half hearted "sorry"s and "excuse me"s to anyone you bumped into. The "tough guy" third years, laying on the ground, didn't count.

It didn't take long for you to finally find them, the crowd that was formed around the lockers did a poor job in appearing inconspicuous. Peering from around the corner, behind the shoe racks and some even just a good distance behind in plain sight. They should count themselves fortunate that Mikey and Draken weren't the type to beat up random innocent individuals. Or at least girls, which you noticed there were a couple among the group of students that ditched class to see what's going on. Fangirls, you'll find them even in another universe. You rolled your eyes, before excusing yourself through the tight knit crowd the commotion had gathered, trying to get a front row seat to the action-

Ahem, you mean check up on Hinata and Takemichi out of concern, of course.

But the sight that greeted you wasn't the one you're expecting. A pale red mark decorated Mikey's right cheek, a sign that Hinata had already done the deed. Except that Draken wasn't grabbing her wrist, and Takemichi wasn't grabbing his shoulders. Instead, Mikey stood with his fists reared and a deadly look on his face.

At Hinata.

"Brace yourself."

You hadn't the time to question it before you lurched forward, inserting yourself between the two. Your bravado dropped just as quickly as it had peaked, leaving you to deal with the situation yourself after it had thrown you into it. And you can't blame it, Mikey's face was terrifying even without him actually bearing animosity towards you. Your legs, which should be made up of flesh and bones, felt more like jello at the moment, ready to give out under you.

"Who are you?" He asked. Demanded.

His question made you pause. Who were you? You weren't anyone particularly special, other than the fact that you were an outsider. You didn't jump out because you're brave, foolishly brave, like Takemichi. You didn't have that courage that Takemichi possess to stand up to his opponents, each stronger than the last, or the bravery Hinata shows in opposing Mikey. They aren't you, and you'd never become just like them. So why are you trying to play the role of the fearless hero now?

You trembled in place, as you sought out an answer to give him. But then you think back to when Hinata smiled at you when you first met, she was genuinely welcoming you. When Takemichi smiled at you on the way home, he did it because he really was glad to meet you. And you don't feel so out of place anymore, because they honestly accepted you here, in a world you shouldn't belong.

"I'm..." You gulped, "I'm their friend."

He blinked at you, void of any emotions, before he "smiled".

"Oh yeah?"

He drew his fist back once more, and you flinched instinctively, stepping back. He wasn't really going to hit you, right? Mikey wouldn't do that. But it's hard to find any trace of feelings in his blank eyes. Something, anything, to show that he doesn't really mean it.

"Then grit your teeth."

And so you did, squeezing your eyes shut.

____________________

꒪꒪

____________________

In a world so unfamiliar, I found you.