a thing

[junkyardjesus]

Spring had to be Satoshi's favorite season. It wasn't just for the obvious 'because plants' reason either, though that did play a part in it. Spring was the season of rebirth, of renewal. It meant seeing new things born from the ashes of the old. Basically, it was everything Satoshi had gone there to see in the first place.

But spring also meant a different kind of 'rebirth' too. Being 17, Satoshi was technically school-aged and had to go to a high school just like everyone else. And in Japan, where he happened to live, spring was the time of year when everyone moved up a grade. New grades meant new classes, which meant new classmates. New people to befriend!

And befriend people he shall. Starting with the upstanding young man sitting next to him. The school day had only just started, their homeroom teacher hadn't even arrived yet, and already Satoshi was working his social magic.

"Hey there! I'm Aramiya Satoshi, what's your name?"

Comments

[kusai]

Glancing at the boy at his side, Makoto's brows furrow. "Eh?"

Makoto won't lie--he doesn't care much for pleasantries. And usually that doesn't pose a problem, given his reputation around these parts means people stay away. Who wants to be friends with a guy who fights, steals, and swindles? And does all this to adults, no less?

Even now there's a band-aid over the corner of his brow from a self-done stitching job and a number of bruises on his face; Makoto would've figured this could turn anyone off from speaking to him on the first day, but it seems he forgot to factor in the concept of transfer students. More than that, he forgot to consider the additional fact that transfer students wouldn't have even heard the stories about him.

So Makoto frowns, gaze shifting from the kid back to the front of the class. He doesn't care about when their adviser comes in, but his naïvete begs him to pray this means Aramiya will assume he's not all that interested in talking to him.

Still, he grunts a, "Makoto." Because nobody calls him Majima, and quite frankly no-one needs the distinction, anyway.

[junkyardjesus]

Reputation? What's that? Satoshi may have heard some rumors, but he never paid them much mind. He was of the mind that everyone had something good about themselves, and focusing on that good was much better than only thinking about the bad.

The transfer student thing is pretty accurate, though. Satoshi only started at that school halfway through last year, so he still didn't know a lot about the school yet. He definitely didn't know about the crowds to avoid, though he probably would have paid those rumors no mind.

So instead of dropping things at that, Satoshi continued questioning Makoto, looking interested as he talked. "Makoto, hmm? Just Makoto?"

[kusai]

"Just... Just Makoto."

It's weird to have to specify. It's weird that they're still talking at all. He rests his elbow on the desk, hand lifting to prop his cheek up, and effectively keeps most of his face from being seen by the boy at his side.

There're a number of things he could do; he could just ask Aramiya to leave him alone, but that would create the impression that he cared enough to bother. "... why."

[junkyardjesus]

Well, that's no good! Satoshi wasn't going to be deterred, though. Instead of giving up, he leaned forward, trying to peek around that arm to see Makoto. "Well, usually people give both of their names the first time they meet someone. Unless they're trying to be the 'cool guy' and just give their family name, because they don't want anyone to be their friend and call them by their given name."

Yeah, he wasn't holding back at all. But still, he smiled. "I don't care which one you call me, by the way. Both are fine."