Chapter 2: To the High University

(Setting: Crystal Fields: Baku's Home- Baku's Bedroom-Bathroom-Kitchen Area)

(Scene: Baku rolls lazily out of bed and gets ready for school)

[Baku]: *Yaawwnn*... I hate waking up this early in the morning… But, I made a promise to mama...

*Baku preps for his day of school.

*He taps a small light blue crystal and clean water is generated from it allowing him to brush his teeth and wash his face at the sink as he also looks at his reflection from a mirror with tiny smudges of filth and a tiny crack going across it. He separated his hair in two parts and ties the rest in the back with a hair tie. Baku finds a freshly folded basket of clean laundry beside his bed and decides to wear his favorite attire. A green top with cool designs on it and a blue long sleeve shirt underneath and his comfiest jeans.

*He heads out, ready for his day.

[Baku]: Alright Mom, I'm headed to school! For real this time!

[Nicolatrice]: *Smiling* Okay, Baku! Have a great day! I believe in you, sweetie!

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: Main City- Main Street)

(Scene: Baku meets Barrtio, Finn, and Millia at the gate to the Main City)

[Finn]: I'm telling you dude, the ecchi harem fanservice genre is on the comeback.

[Barrtio]: *Confused* Dude, what the--

[Millia Grendar]: Look, there's Baku!

[Baku]: *Smiling* What's up, my dudes?

[Barrtio]: My boy! What's good, bro?

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* You look really nice today, Baku!

[Baku]: *Smiling* Thanks, Milly, I feel really good today!

[Finn]: So what do you guys wanna do today? Wanna catch Stardust Queen Vs. The Galaxy in theatres? I heard it got four stars, and nominated animated movie of the year!

[Barrtio]: Or how about you let me catch that rematch in Ultra Versus Girls at the arcade, Baku!? C’mon, I’m itchin’ for a win!

[Baku]: Ummm… Actually guys, I'm thinking of going to school today, ya know?

[Barrtio & Finn]: *Confused* … Are... You serious?

[Baku]: Yep, I promised my Mom that I would go to my classes for the rest of the week.

*Barrtio and Finn turn their backs to Baku and Millia.

[Barrtio]: Finn, my good man.

[Finn]: Ahh, Barrtio! Hello, good sir!

[Barrtio]: My friend, after some careful studying, theorizing, and research, I have come to a conclusion…

[Finn]: And what is that, professor?

[Barrtio & Finn]: BAKU'S LOST HIS SHIT!

[Baku]:*Annoyed* How long have you guys been planning that skit?

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* Aww, Baku! I think it's really sweet of you to focus on your studies for the sake of your mother!

[Baku]: Well, I mean, I'm only doing it for the rest of the week. But honestly, I don't want to go nor do I care about my grades or anything...

[Finn]: Ugghh... The rest of the week?

[Baku]: What's the problem? It's already Wednesday anyways, and Fridays are always half days.

[Barrtio]: Well, it can't be that bad. Besides the movie theatre and arcade ain’t going nowhere...

[Finn]: *Sigh* I guess so… I’m pretty sure I have a study hall I can take a nap in.

[Millia Grendar]: *Smiling* Well then, shall we get going?

[Baku]: Yeah, let's roll out!

*Baku and his friends head for the School District in the southeast quarter Crystal Kingdom. The buildings in this sector stand tall with high structures and statues of previous headmasters and social figures who put a ton of money into the kingdom’s school system.

*Each building was named after them, and they held hundreds of classes ranging from all types of grades that teach from basic to advanced to college levels. Built with thick steel beams, brick and smooth stone; all powered with crystal energy in every room, the beautiful structures don’t change the fact that Baku hated the environment.

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: High University- Main Hall)

(Scene: Baku, Barrtio, Finn, and Millia arrive at the High University and prepare for their classes.)

*The hallways are packed with students of all cliques and groups coming from all over the Crystal Kingdom. Top and bottom lockers lined the carpeted hallways and there were classrooms that also served as homerooms for the students to show up to before the school day officially began. Alternatively, you can visit the cafeteria for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, cereal with milk. The basics.

[Intercom]: Aaannnddd that will be the end of your Crystal High University daily announcements, students! Remember that today’s date is Wednesday, January 25th, 3012, and go have a super-duper fan-diddly-tastic day!

[Barrtio]: *Annoyed* I hate that human, I hate that intercom, and this place…

[Finn]: *Ugh* This place sucks, can we pleeaassee leave now?

[Baku]: Sorry, not yet guys. Hey Milly, what's my locker combination, again?

[Millia Grendar]: Baku, how the heck am I supposed to know that?

[Baku]: Oh wait, nevermind, I got it. It was something stupid, like this place, thanks though! Alright, let's see what classes I have today... Algebra, Art, World History, Astronomy, and Gym. Hey, a couple of these are actually pretty okay classes!

[Barrtio]: What do you mean, dude? Math and History sucks!

[Baku]: Yeah, that's true. But in Art and Astronomy class, I share with... *inhales deeply*... the most beautiful girl in all of the kingdom of Xeria... Princess Savannah Cree…

*The Princess and her clique of beautiful female friends walk down the hallway.

*She is dressed in her royal school uniform attire. A white and black leather vest with belts that also secure her uniform skirt of the same color. She had eyes that were a piercingly violet shade. Her hair is jet black and silky smooth, reaching down the length of her back. She walked standing straight with perfect posture and elegance, a smile on her face as she was accompanied by her closest friends.

*Beside her and in matching royal uniform, rocking the stylish pink contacts is the tall and golden haired Mitsune Akamiko, whose wealth, popularity and beauty exceeds all others and is only matched by the Princess herself.

*To the princess' right, armed with a bamboo shinai is the stoic and highly disciplined Ayurielli Yamabushi. Her dominance and strength has no equal in the entire school as she demands respect from all students. Though she only stood an inch away five feet, she was not to be taken for jokes.

*And lastly, is Halenday Medellon, a handsome pink haired young man in glasses whose intellect surpasses all of the top students as he is revered by all of the teachers and professors of the High University. They were all in the Upperclassmen grade, two years ahead of Baku and his friends and were each around the age of 17.

[Baku]: Man, she is just perfect beyond all human comprehension… Just how does she freakin’ do it?

[Finn]: Yeah dude, the Princess is a total goddess, and the way her uniform compliments her body's like the work of museum sculpture made of extra smooth marble…

[Barrtio]: And her best friend, Mitsune Akamiko exceeds all of the standards, as she is quite simply the textbook definition of a dime piece… She’s my favorite...

[Baku, Finn, and Barrtio]: *Dreamily* Yeeaaah…

[Millia Grendar]: I wonder what it takes to have such a perfect body? It’s probably a lot of hard work to be so pretty and maintain such an image... Healthy eating, yoga...

*The school doors slam open and Badass Julio and his goons appear.

[Barrtio]: Oh great, Badass Julio decided to come to school today, too… This outta be good...

[Millia Grendar]: *Annoyed* Seriously, why does he and his moron bands of idiots wear matching tuxedos every day? They all look like complete douches...

[Finn]: Just ignore him and maybe he'll go away…

*Julio Bento Avarez was known as one of the single most vile teenagers who attended the High University.

*The 17 year old boy was also an upperclassmen who bullied and harassed any if not all students who were in a grade lower than him or weren’t a Royal. He had slick and glossy blue hair kept up by way too much gel, smelt of heavy cologne and wore an entire tuxedo complete with a tie every single day, as well as a pair of triangular shades even when indoors.

*His band of grunts who swore loyalty to him wore the exact same attire and took every order from Julio without question, who for some reason, was recently given a new status by people worse than him. They ran a gang of more badasses that treat bullying like a business, because they believed, “You can only weed out the weak by forcing them to submit to those already strong.”

[Badass Julio]: *Shouting* Hey, hey, hey! HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYBODY!!! I hope everybody’s ready for a bright and exciting day! Hahaha! ALRIGHT YOU BUNCHA NERDS, LINE UP!

[Group of Nerds]: Here we are, Mr. Avarez, sir!

[Badass Julio]: Alright, which one of you geeks did my freakin' homework!?

[Leonidas Quark]: Here you are, Mr. Avarez! I completed all of your Algebra homework, outlined and took notes in all of your World History books, and finished all 5 of your Old Literature research papers each with 30,000 words and 15 cited sources!

[Badass Julio]: If these papers don't get perfect scores, your whole worthless life is mine! I got a reputation to uphold, got it!?

[Leonidas Quark]: Hehehe, it's not a problem, sir!

[Badass Julio]: Or you'll have to speak to these fine gentlemen over here…

[Badass Goons]: *Smirks and laughs gruntingly*

[Badass Julio]: Heheheee... Alright you bunch of losers, get the hell outta my face!

[Group of Nerds]: Yes, Mr. Avarez! Have a great day, sir!

[Badass Goon]: Hey, Julio, check out who's here!

[Badass Julio]: *Smirking* Ohoho... Look at what street rats dragged in…

*Badass Julio and his goons approach Baku and his friends, slamming his locker shut and demanding his attention with a loud bang.

[Badass Julio]: Hey there, little buddy, so what made you wanna come to school today? I thought I made it clear that field scum like you don’t belong here!

*Baku's eyes intensely glare at Badass Julio.

[Baku]: *Angrily* What the hell do you want, Dumbass…

[Badass Julio]: Ah, don’t be like that, little buddy! I just wanna know how you’re doing today? Besides, it’s been a while since the last time I saw ya!

[Baku]: Why don't you just blow me? You’re the last person I want keeping tabs on me.

[Badass Julio]: Oh, so that's how you’re gonna be, huh? Sounds to me like lil ol' Baku's finally growin' some balls...

[Baku]: How about you get out of my face... Your breath smells like the place you got that shitty haircut styled...

[Badass Julio]: *Smirking* You little bastard, you’ve been out of school so long, you forgot your place… It seems like you don’t know how important the guy you’re mouthing off to is!

[Baku]: He can’t be too important if he’s picking’ fights with low level scum from the fields…

[Badass Julio]: *Smirking* Oh, you’re in for a surprise, buddy!

*Baku clenched his fist until his knuckles were white as they were shaking with a long untouched hatred, as he was face to face with the guy he despised the most in the entire kingdom.

*As early as the third grade, Julio Avarez has been targeting Baku, Barrtio and Finn for reasons that still remain a mystery to the trio, as if he had a personal vendetta against the group of boys, and it only got worse every year. Outside of school, if Baku and his friends were caught on the wrong side of town by Julio and his gang, an outnumbered and losing brawl was ensured.

*He alone was the reason Baku hated attending the High University, as no one clearly had done anything to stop Julio’s terrorizing habit’s on the students since Baku last decided to attend his classes, which were resulted from a previous altercation from Julio months ago. Baku was nearly seconds away from lashing out at him before a voice stopped him.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Excuse me, is there not a class you students should all be attending right now? The first bell has rung, and you will all be late if you're not there in five minutes! You three, go to your classes now, please.

[Barrtio, Finn, and Millia]: Y-yes, Mrs. Alina…

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: And you boys, go to your classes this instant, or I'll assign you another week of after school detention!

[Badass Julio]: *Tch* Whatever, c'mon guys…

*Julio and his gang leave the Main Hall. Baku quietly tries to sneak away.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: And where do you think you're going, Mr. Baku?

[Baku]: Uhh... Algebra class...?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Not quite yet, you’re coming with me to my office.

[Baku]: But I'm going to be late…

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Don't worry, I'll write you a pass. Come along now, we have somethings to discuss.

[Baku]: *Rolls his eyes* Oh great…

(Setting: Crystal Kingdom: High University- Guidance Counselors Office)

(Scene: Baku is speaking with his Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina)

*The guidance counselors office was a tidy and neatly clean room with books and catalogs about clubs and afterschool programs, as well as papers and notices announcing fundraisers and the like. Mrs. Alina, was a tall and slender woman with glasses whose hair was up in a ponytail. She was proud of her job and did not like foolishness occurring in her halls. Her dress was uniform and wrinkle free, she also wore a cute piece of jewelry that was shaped like a flower buttoned to her work tie.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, Mr. Baku, I believe this conversation is long overdue… Please take a seat.

[Baku]: *Nonchalantly* What can I do for you, ma'am?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: So, it has come to my attention that you have been missing your classes every day except for Wednesdays and Fridays every week for the past 4 and a half months. Care to explain?

[Baku]: *Shrugs* Sorry ma'am, I've just been sick like crazy… You know us people from the fields can barely afford medicine, so we get sick quite easily.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: For some reason, I don't believe in you...

[Baku]: You can believe in whatever you want, Mrs. Alina, don’t make a difference to me none.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, well I'm sure you understand that due to this behavior, your grades are nearly nonexistent, right?

[Baku]: *Yawn* I don't know what to tell you.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Well, I can tell you that you have the following grades: a F in Algebra, a F in World History, a F in Modern Literature, and D in gym... How do you have a D in gym? I thought boys your age like sports?

[Baku]: Well I don't, so…

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay... I guess that's beyond me. However, miraculously, somehow, you have A's in both Art and Astronomy... So, my question is, what is the difference between the classes you are failing, and Art and Astronomy class that you have perfect grades in?

[Baku]: *Siigghh* ... Listen, the classes I'm failing clearly suck, they're boring and the teachers are uninteresting, and the information they try to teach me is useless and will not help me in the future. Art and Astronomy, however, have amazing teachers that like me, and I am very interested in what I learn in those classes.

[Baku]: Also, there just electives, it’s not hard to do half decent in those classes. Besides, is it difficult for you to believe that Mr. Yarish and Ms. Cardell might just like me a lot? Just think about it. I’m cool. They’re cool. My other teacher’s aren’t... So, there you have it... Can I go now?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, there are many reasons that I don't agree with your statement, some of which I may have to look deeper into... But, it is my job as a member for the school system that I guide you into the right path to a successful educational career.

[Baku]: Well don't overwork yourself, because frankly, I don't care...

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Mr. Baku, it is my responsibility, to inform you that if you do not increase your grades, I will have to assign you to participate in after school study programs, extended tutoring, and possibly even summer school.

[Baku]: Sorry Mrs. Alina, but if I were to be honest with you, ma'am, I'd probably skip those too… I really don't care about this place or anything that it could offer me.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Care to elaborate?

[Baku]: Okay, here we go... *Sigh* ... This school teaches useless information that will never be applied to in the real world. I refuse to have a job that requires me to use what I'm learning here in it. I hate literally every student that attends this toxic environment except for my friends. All of the teachers suck save for the two I mentioned earlier.

[Baku]: And lastly, waking up every morning to do the same thing with the same people is boring, monotonous, and makes me feel like a brainless zombie. So I refuse to subscribe myself to the way your little society wants to control me. I guess you can say I believe in individualism, which I think is a Social Studies term, but that doesn’t matter because I don’t care.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: So, if you feel this way, why did you come to school today?

[Baku]: I came to school today because I made a deal with my mother that I would try to attend my classes for the rest of the week.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: I don't understand how your education can be compromised in such a way to make a deal with your mother like that. Does she not care about your grades and education at all?

[Baku]: I'm sure she does, but she knows I don't care, so she doesn't bother me about it.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: That worries me, greatly...

[Baku]: Don't worry yourself too hard. No one else seems to care, after all. Wanna take a guess as to know why? It's because I'm just a lowly farm boy from the fields... No one has time to pay attention to us, so why even bother?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: ... *Sigh* ... Okay, so explain this to me. What do you do when you aren't attending school?

[Baku]: Are you going to believe in what I tell you?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Depends.

[Baku]: All I do is hang out in the Main City, not that it's any of your business...

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: So you play hooky, huh?

[Baku]: I suppose that's what they call it.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, here's what I think. I believe you spend time around people who are bad influences on you, Baku.

[Baku]: … Excuse me?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: My theory is that you are spending time around the wrong people, and it is negatively affecting your growth as an individual, and is in turn restraining your evolution to mature and grow positively.

*Baku responds sharply.

[Baku]: Do not talk about my friends like that! You don't know them like I do. And you'll never understand me like they do. You hear me? So keep them out of this conversation, why dontcha? This is between you and me, alright? If you wanna have a conversation about bad influences, save it for someone else, like that blue haired idiot from earlier!

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: I understand, I’ll be speaking with them later, and probably their parents. Speaking of, how come I haven't met your mother yet?

[Baku]: My mother is very busy, she doesn't have time to visit this place because she works all day to provide for the both of us, which is hard by the way.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Are you sure that's true? I don't believe that your mother is so busy that she can never come to any of the parent-teacher conferences.

[Baku]: *Annoyed* Who in the world are you to judge that? I just told you we live in the fields. We raise cattle and grow crops all the time in order to survive and live comfortably. I know you can't relate to that in any way, shape or form. So do yourself a favor, and don't try to compare your middle-to-upper-class lifestyle to my mother and I. Isn’t it enough that she to pay for me to come to this crap-hole you call a school? You’re gonna force her to take time out of her schedule to talk about whatever nonsense you have to say to her!?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Don’t you feel guilty for not using the education she’s paying for you to have?

[Baku]: Don’t try to point that crap at me, this school doesn’t teach me anything worth while anyways...

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, I’m sorry you feel that way. Can you please tell me how you feel about your classmates, Mr. Baku?

[Baku]: I thought I said I hate everybody in this school except for my friends.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: What can you tell me about Julio Avarez?

[Baku]: *Angrily* He's a piece of shit!

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Language please, Mr. Baku. Can you describe, in a cleaner way, your relationship with Mr. Avarez, and what happened today in the Main Hall?

[Baku]: *Sigh* Sorry. I hate Julio Avarez.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Why is that?

[Baku]: I don't know, I just do. I'm pretty sure we despised each other since 3rd grade, maybe even before that, but I don't remember. I don't even recall why he hates me so much. I'm a freakin’ peasant, and he lives in the Main City! At least he lives in a house, I was born in a stinkin’ barn! Julio's just been a huge jerk for as long as I've known him. If you didn't show up when you did, I probably would've fought him purely because of all of the crap he’s put my friends and I through, which still hasn’t been handled by the school’s absolutely “astounding” staff members.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Okay, well I'm glad that you didn't, because I am 100% against violence. Please understand that steps are being taken to make the school a better place for a students no matter what class they are in... *Sigh* Anywho, this is the end of this session, so I'm going to write you a late pass to your class.

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: I also want you to give this message to your mother so that we may have one of those long overdue meetings so we can try to better find a way to understand your family dynamic and also discuss your plans to better your grades. Speaking of which, will you promise me that you will attempt to increase your grades before you lose your credits in time for Mid-Term Examinations?

*Baku responds sarcastically.

[Baku]: ... Yes Mrs. Alina, I promise. May I have my pass, please?

[Guidance Counselor Mrs. Alina]: Yes you may, thank you for coming to speak to me, I really appreciate it. Please be sure to pass my message along to your mother, Mr. Baku.

[Baku]: Yeah, you got it...

*Baku leaves the counselors office.

[Baku]: *Tch* ... Not in a million years...

*Baku crumples up and tosses the message meant for his mother into the trash.