Warming a Frozen Heart

Inquisition

CHAPTER 1

Inquisition

-Kyousuke-

The tall and prestigious school stood proudly before me.

"Well, this is the States for you, Kyousuke," I mumbled softly to myself. I took a step inside and saw the beauty of the school. I gazed at the open field and at the court. Some students were hanging out in the bleachers, some were playing in the field, but most were walking around in small groups. I wonder when I'll be part of one.

I kept walking around to familiarize myself with the school. After all, it's one of the obligations that comes with being a transferee unless you want to get lost.

By the way, my name is Kyousuke Tsukiakari, an exchange student from Japan. I've been sent here by my old school because they said that the curriculum here at St. Peter High School was better for me and my skills. I don't see how this school is better, but I guess I should just follow the elders. Plus, I get to live here in the US.

The school bell rang so we all lined up at the covered court. After the flag ceremony, teachers led us to our respective classrooms. Miss Nina, my teacher, told me to stay behind, as I was a transferee. When everyone was settled, my teacher beckoned me to come in.

"So, everyone, this is your new friend, Kyousuke Tsukiakari. Please be nice to him, okay!" she said. Miss Nina nudged me on the elbow. "Introduce yourself...!"

"Um..." I took a nervous glance at the thirty-nine students before me. "I-I'm Kyousuke Tsukiakari, from Japan. N-nice to meet you all." I bowed and looked back at my teacher to tell her I was done.

"So, Kyousuke, as for your seat..." She ran her eyes through the classroom while I noticed that the girls were eyeing me differently for some reason. All of the students were staring at me except for the girl in the far back. She had short black hair that reached a few centimeters past her shoulders and hazel eyes. I looked at her curiously and noticed she paid no attention to the others.

"Ah, there! You can sit next to JC Snow." She was pointing to the seat next to the same girl I was looking at. The guys had irritated looks on their faces while most of the girls who emptied the seats next to them whined in defiance.

So her name is JC.

I walked towards the seat next to her and sat down. She didn't take time to look at me and seemed to be more interested on staring at the window.

"Hey, nice to meet you, Chinese," someone from beside me said. I looked and saw a blond guy smiling at me. "Name's Luke. Nice to meet you!"

"I-I'm not Chinese..."

"I know. Your eyes aren't quite spitting the image of Asian lineage." He put both of his hands on the back of his head and leaned back. "Seems like you're interested on that girl beside you." He grinned at me.

Heat crept up my cheeks for reasons I don't know. "I-I'm not!" The way the guy said it made it sound like I was checking her out.

He sighed. "Ha, you better not be. Almost every male here, from freshmen, to juniors like us and to seniors, have their eyes on her. You're dead if they discover that a transfer student like you gets interested in JC on your first day."

"How about you, Luke-san?"

"Luke-san?"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to use honorifics."

"It's fine." He closed his eyes. "I'm not interested in that beauty. She may have looks, but she's pretty hard to get. I don't like those kinds of girls. Hmm, we'll chat later. Class is starting." He pointed to the front, where Miss Nina was already writing up notes for us to copy.