Today was Imani's first official day at Shingakuen Academy. She had just arrived to Tokyo the day before. She had barely gotten any sleep last night, despite jet lag nagging at her body. She was too nervous and excited. She always wanted to study abroad in Tokyo and now she finally could. She was nervous because she was going to school with a bunch of bourgeois students. She was already feeling out of place, being the foreign student, but now more so, being poor and foreign.

"Just do not bring any attention to yourself and you will blend in, kind of". Imani told herself as she stood in front of a vanity mirror.

She fixed up her natural, thick, curly, dark hair and pushed up her glasses to the bridge of her nose.

"Can this skirt get any shorter"? She asked as she pulled at her skirt, embarrassingly.

Imani straightened out her school uniform and grabbed her school bag, checking to make sure all of her books and personal items were present, along with her schedule, and headed down the stairs of her host family's house.

Imani's host family was an average family of four. The mother of the household, Yumi Kobayashi, had made breakfast and had the table set. Yumi worked as a elementary school teacher. The father of the household, Shiro Kobayashi, worked as a human resource manager at a small business firm. Rin and Rina Kobayashi were twins, male and female. Both of them were in grade school, the same school their mother taught at, same class too. The eldest daughter, whom Imani exchanged with, is Miyuki Kobayashi.

Imani felt too nervous to eat, but she did to want to be rude to Mrs. Kobayashi. She sat down at the table and dined with her host family. There was a warm and friendly atmosphere around the table, which eased some of Imani's nerves.

When breakfast had ended, Imani had bid the Kobayashi's a farewell, before heading out. She didn't want to burden Yumi or Shiro with driving her to school, even if they had insisted. Instead, she took Miyuki's bicycle to school. It was good exercise and she needed/wanted the fresh air. Besides, the school was of biking distance.

Imani's glossed full lips married a relaxing smile as the wind blew in her face, made the thick coils of her hair sway, and as the sun's rays warm her ebony skin. It felt nice and took her mind off of going to school with wealthy students. What was up with that anyways? Her high school couldn't have made a partnership with a normal and local school?

Imani stopped immediately when she arrived at the gates of her new school. To make her feel more out of place and self conscious, all of the students were arriving in limousines and being chauffeured in expensive vehicles.

"Seriously? Come on!" She whined to herself. "At least try and act like you're not trying to show off your wealth". She mumbled.

Imani then looked at Miyuki's bike and felt embarrassed. No way she would blend in riding up to school in this. She decided to park/lock the bicycle where it wouldn't be seen and far away. She didn't want any negative attention from the snobs.

Imani followed the massive crowd inside the building, clutching her bag to her chest. The inside of the school was so grand; Imani was afraid that she might get lost.

"What did my school have to do to partner with them? Sacrifice a first born son?" She thought as she glanced around in awe.

She made sure not to bump into anyone as she strolled around. She wanted to avoid any unwanted confrontation.

"Okay, locker, where is my locker?" She thought as she glanced at the sheet of paper with her locker number and combination on it.

"Of course, it's going to make me go over the river and through the woods to get to it". Imani groaned as she had climbed many staircases and gone through many hallways to get to her locker.

When Imani finally found her locker, she was relieved, until a group of boys pushed another student up against her locker.

"Really? I can't catch a break?" She asked, particularly no one.

She sighed in irritation as she was forced to watch the scene in front of her. She was hoping that this wouldn't take long.

"If these idiots make me late, they will have to deal with me". She whispered as she placed her hands on her hips.

Soon, a crowd started to gather around the boys, which made Imani nervous. She didn't like large crowds.

The scene consisted of four male students: a pudgy one with short, dark, disheveled hair, dark brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, a tall, scrawny fellow with longer hair than his friend's that basically covered his eyes, how he could see anything, nobody knows, he also had dark hair with red streaks and pale skin, the one in the front of the two boys, who looks more like the leader. Imani has to admit that the leader looked quite attractive. He was tall, well built, with slightly sun kissed skin, slightly long hair that was messily parted to the right. He had both of his hands on the locker above the fourth male student, pinning him against the locker. Imani had found him quite cute as well in a nerdy sort of way. He had neatly combed, short, dark hair. He was pale skinned and thin, but not scrawny. He wore black, wide framed glasses that resembled Imani's but hers were blue. He looked nervous and afraid, so much that his body trembled.

Imani couldn't make out the whole conversation. Her Japanese was a bit new. She was new to the language, so she wasn't fluent. She could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation. It was something about messed up shoes and shirt and owing the leader money or something.

"What is he, the school bully?" She asked as she stared at the leader towering over the cowering student. "What, is he going to do, shake him for his lunch money too?"

She checked her watch to make sure she wasn't late for her first class. Nope, she still had plenty of time. She gave herself enough time, just in case she got lost.

However, her attention went back to the four boys when the leader kneed the student with the glasses in the stomach.

"Hold on!" She thought.

All of the other students cheered when the student with the glasses held onto his stomach as he knelt down on his knees. The leader kicked him again, even as he he fell onto the floor.

"Come on! Why in front of my locker? I just wanted to blend in, be invisible, but you couldn't let that happen, now can you?" She sighed. She can't just stand around and watch this happen. She knew she shouldn't interfere. Her brain was telling her not to do anything. It wasn't her business, but her heart wanted her to help the poor boy.

Imani sighed again as she pushed her way through the crowd of excited student.

"Hey, pick on someone your own size!" She screamed as she pushed the leader off the guy in the floor. "Yeah, nice going Imani. You couldn't have said something cooler?" She thought as she helped the male student off the floor.

"What's your name?" She asked him, smiling warmly.

He pushed up his broken glasses to the bridge of his nose and stared at Imani.

"Tetsuya...." He whispered shyly. He wasn't used to talking to foreign women.

"Nice to meet you. Imani is my name". She said, dusting off his clothes.

"Who the hell are you?" Came the angry voice of the leader.

"Imani and who the hell do you think you are, bullying this person?!" She asked, more like yelled.

"You definitely must be new here, besides from the obvious reason". He said, mentioning her skin color.

"Look here, you little..." Imani was cut short.

"I'm Haruto Akihiko. Everyone calls me Haru. That's Daisuke". He said pointing to the pudgy friend. "And that's Akio". He said pointing to the scrawny friend. "My family is very well known here. Everyone here knows that, so they do not act like nosy little brats and interfere in my business, otherwise, expulsion might happen to them suddenly. And that's just the tip of the iceberg". He warned Imani.

Imani scoffed at his pathetic and idle threats.

"I don't care about you or your gang of misfit losers. You do not frighten me". She said, stepping closer to him.

There was a large height difference, so Imani was looking up at him and Haruto was looking down at her.

"What I do care about is how you treat others. I don't care about who you think you are, but you do not treat other people like a welcoming mat". Imani said, poking his chest.

"I will treat anyone how I damn well please and don't think for a second that just because you're a girl, I will not hit you".

"And don't think for a second that just because I'm a girl, I can't kick your spoiled ass right here and now".

Tetsuya chuckled slightly. Haru glared at him, grabbed him by his shirt collar, pulled him up off his feet and head butted him, before dropping him on the floor.

"Hey!" Imani yelled as she gave Haru a mean right hook to his jaw.

The crowd gasped and 'ooed' as Haru spat out blood on the floor and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Imani just sent glares at him.

"Keep your hands off of him". She growled.

Tetsuya held his bloody nose as he stood up and got behind Imani.

"You're asking for it, you little bitch". Haru growled at her.

He was shocked and confused. No one has even hit him before, unless it was in a gang fight. No other students defied him, until she came along. What was with her? He didn't like it or her.

"Oh I'm sorry. Did my girly punch hurt you?" she asked in a mocking tone.

It did. Haru never met a girl or anyone that could pack a punch like her. What the hell does she eat for breakfast?

Haru grabbed Imani by her shirt and pulled her up to his face, readying his left fist to smack her. Imani's glare only narrowed as she was readying her next attack, which was a kick to his groin. However, a teacher had dispersed the students and broke up Haru and Imani.

"That's enough, Akihiko-san. Class is about to start".

"You're lucky, you little cunt". Haru whispered to Imani, before putting her back down on her feet.

"I think you're the lucky one. Your balls are safe". She whispered back, smirking.

All the other students dispersed and headed for their classes as the teacher led Haru and his gang of misfits away. Imani adjusted and dusted off her uniform, before turning to Tetsuya.

"You should go wash your face. I'm glad you're okay now". She told him.

"Thank you, Imani. I will never forget this". He told her, before running away. He looked back just in time to notice Ayumi pushing Imani down the stairs, before rushing to the bathroom.

Imani had sprained her ankle as she was pushed down the hallway stairs.

"Oh no, are you okay?" Came a faux worried female voice.

Imani sat on the floor, clutching her ankle as it was throbbing with pain.

"No, I think I sprained my ankle". She groaned.

"You must have tripped and fell. You have to be more careful".

Imani looked up to see a female student with long, light brown hair, brown eyes and white skin and petite figure.

"I'm Ayumi Yoshika".

"Imani Williams, nice to meet you". She tried to smile, but she was in too much pain. Her ankle hurts along with her legs, back, and head.

"Let's get you to the infirmary". Ayumi suggested as she helped Imani up off the floor. She wrapped her arm around her neck, so Imani could lean in her a bit.

"Thanks".

Ayumi helped Imani limo her way towards the infirmary, where she laid her down on the bed.

"She sprained her ankle falling down the stairs". She told the nurse.

"Thanks, you are dismissed. Don't be late for class, Miss Yoshika". Came a deep male voice.

"Yes sir. See ya Imani". Ayumi said, before leaving for class.

Imani sat up slowly, trying to resist the urge to move her ankle.

"Look nurse, I'll be fine. It's only a sprained ankle". Imani said, not wanting to take up his time with a minor injury.

"Hey, who's medically licensed here?" Said the nurse as he twirled towards Imani in his shrivel chair.

"Good Lord, he is the handsomest nurse I have ever seen". Imani thought as she ended up staring at him in awe with a tint of warmth on her cheeks.

He was young, early to mid twenties. He had neatly combed hair with highlights, brown eyes, nice, well build and creamy colored skin. He had some facial hair, a small mustache and goatee, neatly groomed and trimmed.

The nurse noticed Imani's stare and chuckled to himself.

"Yes, I'm young for a nurse. I'm twenty four. I get that a lot".

"That's not what I or the other female students and some male students were thinking". Imani thought as she snapped from her trance and laughed nervously.

"Sorry, didn't mean to stare". She apologized."

"No problem. No harm done. Now let's look at your ankle".

"I'm Kaito by the way". He introduced himself as he gently grabbed Imani's ankle.

"Imani". She simply introduced herself, before wincing and hissing in pain.

"Hm, I see. Your ankle is swollen. Suffered joint inflammation. Must have been a rough and nasty fall".

"Yeah, I must have tripped. As clumsy as I am, it's not surprising. However, I swear I felt someone push me". Imani said.

"Well, you better be careful".

"I will".

Kaito rubbed some ointment on Imani's ankle, before wrapping it up.

"The ointment should soothe and cool down the inflammation. I suggest you go easy on that ankle for a few days".

Imani nodded.

"I'll write you a note to your teacher to excuse tour tardiness".

"Thanks Kaito. It feels weird calling you by your first name".

Kaito chuckled as he handed Imani a slip of paper.

"I prefer it. I don't like the formality. Anyways, come by anytime. Maybe not injured though. I also try to counsel the students as well. Students here can trust their nurse more than actual counsellors". He told her, smiling at Imani, making her heart melt.

"Of course".

Imani gently and slowly hopped off the bed.

"See you around, Kaito". She said, before limping out of the infirmary. She already had all of her school books, so she headed towards her first class. She didn't want to be later than she already was.

What a start of her first day of school, huh?