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// Chapter 1 
// Story: Anime Time 
// by 9spaceking 
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“Howdy Felix!” She said, calling me by my first name. I cringed, some boys eyeing me jealously. “That darn thing there’s the hoot these days,” she continued, pointing at the newest gadget from the science club.

“Er... not exactly, Bloom Chan,” I said, scratching my head. How exactly would I explain this gear? I was indeed interested in technology, but the nerds and geeks were far beyond me. Before I could explain, my other friend Dula Chan interrupted me.

“Baka, why would you get something that you don’t even know how to use?” Dula Chan teases, pouting her mouth. “And you, Bloom San, don’t think you can get so close to him, he hasn’t even accepted you on a first name basis! Only I can claim F... F... Garusho San...” She said, stuttering while trying to say my first name, then settling on my last.

“Uh, no idea what ya talking bout, sweetheart.” Bloom said, tipping her hat, “I still ain’t used to ya culture, so do pardon me if I miss out on anything.” Dula Chan blushed in embarrassment, but at the same time had a look of jealousy at Bloom’s confidence. “And uh, I did say you could all call me Apple.” Now everyone nearby was ohhhing and making our recent classmate even more confused. By this point the boy who had long time crush on Dula, Kashu, was getting furious.

“That’s it, Bloom Chan, or Apple! Whatever you call yourself! For respect out of Dula Chan, I challenge you to a fight!” He said, and that got everyone riled up.

“You sure sugar?” She responded, hands on her hips, looking curious. “Now I ain’t gonna go all violent, but if it’s a duel you want I can arrange for something like that.” She handed a toy gun to Kashu’s surprise. “I like keepin these around, they remind me of family while I’m away.”

But Kashu wouldn’t be swayed. He took it in one swift motion. And hence, high noon came and I watched curiously, still fidgeting with my strange gadget. The two faced each other, eye to eye, hand near gun. “It’s the end of the line, son.” Kashu said, imitating those cowboy films he had seen. But Bloom just responded with a smirk. And then it happened— my gadget broke apart at a crucial moment, bouncing off of Bloom’s chest, causing... ahem... much awkwardness. Kashu panicked, shooting wildly, while Bloom dodged in a swift motion and landed a solid hit on his chest. “No fair!” He complained, but it was clear as day he had lost.

Fortunately Dula Chan was sympathetic. “Ah, you don’t need to prove yourself anyways,” she said with a tongue out, “we got better friends than Bloom.”

And so Bloom was somehow left the loser even though she won. Despite this, I congratulated her and said that she had shown me a brand new perspective to school life. It was truly eye opening. Her frown disappeared and she was her original self again. “Well, thank ya, partner! Perhaps we can do something else again soon.”

The bell rang, releasing us. Some had our parents to pick us up, and Bloom even had her own wagon. As I walked home I thought about her, who she was, what she could do. Maybe I should call her Apple after all.