<div align="center"><em>"So... Are you nervous?"<br/><br/>"Nervous...? Why would I be nervous?"<br/><br/>"It's going to be our first day back at school, and nobody even knows we're a couple yet. Aren't you the least bit worried at how the rest of the guys are going to look at you when they see you with the head cheerleader draped over your arm? My hearts pounding just at the thought of it."<br/><br/>"I think you just want me to worry about them so that you can show off your new boy-toy."<br/><br/>"What's wrong with being proud of the way my boyfriend can fight?"<br/><br/>"See?! I knew it! Gosh Mikomi, one of these days you're going to get me killed."<br/><br/>"Nah... You're too strong to let yourself die for a girl like me."<br/><br/>"... What am I going to do about you?"<br/><br/>"..."<br/><br/>"..."<br/><br/>"... Katsu..."<br/><br/>"Yeah?"<br/><br/>"You know you're more than just a boy-toy to me, right?"<br/><br/>"Yeah... I know... And if it came down to it... I'd die to protect you with no regrets."<br/><br/>"Baka! Don't say things like that!"<br/><br/>"What?! I was trying to be romantic." <br/><br/>"Yeah, really romantic. Did you ever think how it would be for me if I were to ever lose you?!<br/><br/>"Ow, ow, ow! Stop hitting me Mikomi!"<br/><br/>"I don't know how I could even continue living if you weren't in my life?!"<br/><br/>"..."<br/><br/>"What...? Why're you looking at me like that...?"<br/><br/>"You're crying."<br/><br/>"Eh... Well, it's your fault you jerk!"<br/><br/>"Mikomi..."<br/><br/>"Huh...?! What're you doing?!"<br/><br/>"Comforting you."<br/><br/>"What?! Here?! Now?! But we're about to pull into the station! The people leaving the train will see us!"<br/><br/>"So, let them see. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"<br/><br/>"Yeah, but... This is too much..."<br/><br/>"Then how about just a kiss?"<br/><br/>"A kiss?"<br/><br/>"Yeah... Don't you think that would be a romantic way to start off the new year?"<br/><br/>"I guess..."<br/><br/>"Oh, Mikomi... You're so cute when you're like this."<br/><br/>"Baka..."</em><br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">"Now Arriving at Tachibana High!"</span></strong><br/><br/><strong>Character:</strong> Katsu Kouseitani<br/><strong>Location:</strong> School Dojo<br/><strong>Uniform:</strong> Sports Uniform</div><br/>Katsu's eyes slowly opened as the train conductor's voice echoed through the car via the loud speaker. He had been in a deep sleep ever since the train had left his home back in the U.S., so it took his body a brief moment to recover from the haze of his relaxed state. His long, muscular arms stretched upward and a yawn escaped his throat as his yellow eyes shifted toward the seat next to himself. It was empty, although that was a different story a year ago. Katsu shook his head to rid his thoughts of his memories, not wanting to show up on the first day of his final year with a depressed look on his face. She wouldn't have wanted that. He stood up from his seat, fixing up his sports uniform so that he was presentable. His eyes traveled around the car, noticing the other students. Some were looking back at him, but he tried to pay them no mind as he reached up for the overhead compartment to grab his bag. However, it wasn't a good enough distraction to keep him from overhearing their whispers about him. As he pulled the bag down and over his shoulder, he shot his best 'I'll end you where you stand' glare over to the kids. The whispering ceased, and with that, Katsu was on his way out of the train.<br/><br/>It didn't take long before Katsu was standing at the front entrance of Tachibana High, taking in it's familiar sight. Several students rushed by suddenly, one of them shouting to the others about making it on time for the school assembly. "First years..." He sighed, pitying the youth for their eagerness and naivety. If only they knew how this school would change them over the few years. At least, if they were even able to make it that far. Alas, there was nothing that Katsu could do. They would have to find their own ways to overcome the obstacles that lie ahead for them.<br/><br/>However, the students had reminded Katsu of something very important, and that was the school assembly. It wasn't long until it started, and Katsu, being a member of a sports club, knew that his appearance there would be most important to the school, hoping to set a good example for the incoming students. Still, on this first day, Kastu was not really up to showcasing himself in front of the entire student body for a school that he just wanted out of. All he really wanted to do was reach his sanctuary, the Tachibana High's dojo. Before he could go there, though, he'd need to drop off his bag at his dorm. After having stood in the same spot for over 5 minutes just thinking, Katsu finally headed into the school, making his way to his dorm.<br/><br/>On Katsu's way through the halls of the male dormitory, he managed to pick up on several of the peculiar new rumors that circulated among the students, both incoming and returning. A giggle came from him as he remembered his first year and how gullible a new rumor reached his ears. Things were different now that he was in his final year. He knew what was truth and what wasn't, so keeping to himself was probably the best option for him since he didn't like to get caught up with the mumbo-jumbo of the others, although somehow he always fell in the middle of it.<br/><br/>Katsu had approached his room, and noticed that the door was open. His roommates things were already set up in the room, but once again, he or she wasn't there. {{Great... Another year of an 'invisible roommate'...}} The red-hairded boy thought as walked inside. He immediately went over to bed, dropping his bag on. Rather than relaxing for a moment in the familiarity of his surroundings, Katsu reached into his bag, pulling out his martial arts uniform. As quickly as the boy could, he changed his clothes and left the room, heading over to the school dojo.<br/><br/>Finally, Katsu had arrived at where he wanted to be ever since awaking off of the train. The dojo was always the only place that felt like a home to him since the 'incident', so every time he entered it, his mind was at ease. It appeared that he was the only one there, but that didn't bother him. He relished in the privacy whenever he could get it. Plus, it wasn't that unusual for the dojo to be empty since there wasn't usually many member. Part of him wondered if there would be any more this year, always eager to welcome some competition. A grin formed from his lips at the thought.<br/><br/>"Now, time to warm up a bit." Katsu said aloud as he approached the center the dojo. He began simply with his stretches, cracks being heard with each move of his muscles, revealing how tight his body had become just from sleeping on the train. Once his body was loose enough, it was time to begin his training. "First, calisthenics." His body dropped to the floor and got into push-up position. "1... 2... 3..." The martial artists counted as he began his workout. Soon after came sit-ups, crunches, squats, and jumping jacks. He kept his voice low as he counted, not wanting to alert anyone who came by that he was already in there training.<br/><br/>After he was done, it was time for Katsu to get into the real part of his training, his techiniques and fighting style, if you could call it a style. Even though his nickname was 'Tachibana's Bruce Lee', he didn't actually fight like Bruce Lee. Katsu, although having begun with tradition fighting methods, had veered off from tradition and used his own unique style of martial arts to fight. He felt it seperated him from other martial artists and kept himself unpredictable to his enemy. This was the main reason that he preferred to practice alone, the other reason being that his technique was still very raw and didn't want another's eyes to witness it until it was perfected. That's why now was a perfect time as ever for him to train.<br/><br/>Katsu approached a punching bag, took a deep breath as his body relaxed, and he then took a fighting stance, southpaw. Originally, he was an Orthodox fighter, but in order to train himself to be complete, he practiced the southpaw as well. That way, if there was ever a situation where Katsu could not use his right hand, his left hand would be just as strong and quick in order to compensate. His eyes closed for a brief moment, giving his mind a moment to focus, before they re-opened, capturing the sight of his target and sending a signal to his body to begin his combinations upon the punching bag.