DAY FIFTEEN – THURSDAY – 19 APRIL 2007 – “WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.”

NARRATOR



The following days were quiet and unremarkable. The weather continued mild and breezy, though with a few short showers, the wind picking up to strong gusty levels towards the end of the week. On Thursday several friends from 1A had agreed to go after school down to Hino for what was being talked about as the "Sendo-san Visit".

It was morning on that Thursday. The students of 1A had arrived in homeroom and the second bell had just rung for the start of morning classes.

I arrived into school on time, with a few minutes to spare in fact, and made my way through the noisy corridors to 1-A. Strolling in and saying some hellos to a some people I made my way to the row next to the window and sat down, turning in my seat to greet a few others.

I relaxed and leaned back, pushing the chair back on two legs. For some unaccountable reason I was in a great mood this morning. Must be the weekend approaching.

Must be.

I thought about that and smiled to myself. Going to her house. Going to meet mum and dad.

When I woke up this morning, it came to my sudden realization that this year's Showa Day, April 20th, the only public holiday this month, will be on a Sunday.

I suddenly felt like skipping morning's archery.

I dragged myself out of bed, dragged myself into my uniform, and dragged myself out of the door. Seems like today, I was about to be doing a whole lot of dragging if my mood does not pick up any time soon.

I did my usual routine, made a note to hunt down Kazami-sensei later (she still had not gotten back to me for a while), and dragged open the class door.

"Ooooosu~~" I said lazily to no one in particular.

I had springs in my shoes today. A lovely mood, I was positively floating. I breezed into school, smiling at people, changed shoes and went up to 1-A positively looking forward to the day.

I strode on in and waved to Icchan who I had seen turn in from the corridor ahead of me. he was making his way to his seat. I sat in mine and in a cloud of euphoria waited for the day to be even more wonderful.

Sadoru had arrived and I gave a silly little wave to him.

This morning was pleasant. Having woken up early, I took my time getting ready and yet I still managed to get to class earlier than usual. There weren't very many people in, I noticed. Sadoru-san was in his seat and I waved at him. Fushida-san was also in her seat so I turned my smile on her before making my way down the aisle to my desk. They're both looking happy today, I thought to myself.

On the way, I paused at Icchan's desk and said hello.

"Osu, Tanaka," I replied with a tired smile. "Pretty as always, eh?"

...

Wait, what?! Why the hell did I just said that?

My smile drooped as the realization sank in.

I waved to Tanaka as she came in.

She looks OK... wonder how she's getting on with... things...?

My eye then caught a very playful wave from Fushida-san.

Oh? You've a particular love of Thursdays or something?

The wave and the look were very unlike her. I thought back a few weeks and realised she'd changed. She used to be so cold and distant, now she was smiling and waving around.

Isakaya seemed to have interesting effects on everyone.

I sat back and waited for the second bell to go. Any minute now.

quote:

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"Osu, Tanaka. Pretty as always, eh?"

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AKURI-SENSEI



I was half way to class when the second bell sounded and the noise of its chimes and the skittering of kids' feet down corridors had only just faded away when I slid open the door with a firm shwupp!-clunk! and allowed my frame to fill 1-A's doorway. I glanced at the young lady stood on her own outside the room.

"You must be the 1-B girl. Wait there. I will call you shortly."

I strode in, sliding the door closed behind me.

"Good morning class. Be seated. Be quiet."

I waited for people to go to their desks. I looked around the room scowling at the usual suspects. Not looking down I opened the register, "Respond to your names..." I began calling out family names, still not once looking at the register on my desk but flicking my eyes to each face as I called the name. We had a couple of absences. I'd red 'X' them in the book later.

"Tsugara-san, you may make any Student Council announcements."

The boy came to the front desk and mentioned a couple of items, one about some upcoming tests and one about a school trip to Kyoto in May for which people should register their interest by signing the forms pinned up on the main notice board in the locker area at main entrance. He nodded to me and returned to his desk.

"Good. Now, class, I have one more special announcement to make. We have someone joining us." Returning to the door I slid it open and stuck my head round, "Enter!" I barked at the girl.

I held the door open as she came in and I pointed at the spot on the floor beside my desk, "There."

Going back to my desk I sat and took a few minutes to ink in the register, selecting green and red pens and applying ticks or 'X's as necessary, all the while letting the class stew in silence and the new girl stand there in front of them all. When I was done I glanced at her, then at the students.

"We have a new student joining us from today. She is transferring from class 1-B." I gestured to her with a hand, "You may introduce yourself to us all, then find an empty seat."

I hurried into school, i'd woken up far later than usual and it was taking a toll on the pace of my morning. Skidding down the corridor, I let out a squeak of terror as I passed classrooms full of teachers taking register. I must be later than I thought!

I came to a sudden stop before my classroom, please not be there, please not be there, please not be there... I slammed the door open a little harder than I meant to.

I turned bright red under his angry glare, he was there.

"Sorry sensei!" I yelped, running my hands through my wild, messy hair in an attempt to look a little more orderly.

I scurried to my seat, my cheeks flaming and my eyes downcast, not wanting to catch anybody's eye. Akuri seemed to choose to ignore my being late and carried on with what he was saying.

The difficult thing with living quite close to the school is that you don't have trains or buses to make sure you're on time. And so there I was, breaking into a run near the top of the street, praying I wouldn't incur the wrath of Akuri-sensei.

Still in a rush, I entered the school building. There were a few teachers wandering about, heading for their classes. Just in time... unless everyone's favourite teacher came in early to keep you on your toes!

As I turned the corner and walked towards Class 1-A, I saw Akuri-sensei advancing from the other end. I suppressed a victorious smile and slipped in through the open door at the back of the room, spotting a girl I hadn't seen before, waiting by the other door. By the time the teacher had burst in with all the grace and subtely of a redwood tree landing on a shrew, I was in my seat.

Crap, crap, crap, crap...! I rushed through the corridor, almost knocking someone over as I raced to homeroom. Why me? I stopped outside the door to catch my breath for a moment, before opening the door as gently and silently as possible. He was halfway through registration. A few more seconds and I'd have been marked absent. I responded as he called my name and then collapsed in my chair, my nerves thoroughly frazzled. Chi's impromptu arrival about half a minute later gave me a little bit of relief. Poor girl, she looked so embarrassed and she sat down at her place beside me. "Hey," I whispered, "daijobu." I sat back in my chair, and watched with interest as Akuri-sensei made an announcement and an introduction.

She laughed, and I laughed.

Q: What do you call a laugh with overly glaring eyes and a worried frown?

quote:

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"I see you're funny as always."

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I felt pretty good walking into school, knowing I was in a different class. I hope these ones are more... attractive, I thought, smiling to myself a little mischievously.

Not really sure what was happening, I went straight to Class 1-A. There was a clock on the wall, showing that the bell would go soon. I leaned against the door for a moment, but then the teacher came crashing along the corridor. I'd seen him before and he didn't seem like the nicest of people...

quote:

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"You must be the 1-B girl. Wait there. I will call you shortly."

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Akuri-Sensei arrived and did his thing like a soldier with the authority of martial law. I merely looked at him with as dead-pan an expression as I could muster; do nothing, show no emotion, give him no reason to pick on you.

Then a new girl was introduced to the class, moving in from next door. She seemed alright, a bit unsure but then who wouldn't be.

She took a few minutes to find a desk but went out of sight behind me and I didn't look round to find out where she had settled though it sounded like she was near Mai.

I waited for homeroom to start.

I had come into school quietly that morning, moving quickly, head down, just blocking my mind to all the chatter and loudness inside people's heads that wouldn't stop and shut up.

It was getting worse and I couldn't make it go away. A slight headache began to come on. I sat down and hugged my bag against my front and stared at my desk very aware of Takeo's desk in front of me.

I didn't dare look in his direction.

I stayed still and quiet as a mouse and thankfully no-one spoke to me. I looked round furtively and tried not to catch anyone's eye.

When the new student came in and introduced herself I looked up and smiled at her a little. She looked pleasant enough and I wondered if she would like to make a friend... though... she wouldn't want a nutter like me...

I waited for classes to start hoping the day would zoom by and I could get home again.

NARRATOR



Registration was followed by homeroom study period, then morning classes. Before the students were hardly aware, the morning had flown by and the bell rang for lunch.

Physics was the last class before lunch, held in the science lab at the gymnasium end of the ground floor of the second wing.

The Sensei dismissed 1-A and the students began to collect their bags and books and things...

Today is a stupid day.

Whoever made our timetable, I don't blame them. But going down for PE, coming back up for English, then down again for physics?

Oh wait, and up again, because I forgot to bring down my lunch. Not that it would matter, who in their right mind would eat lunch with the physics books still under their arms?

I spotted Tanaka and walked towards her-

"I see you're funny as always."

- and did a U-turn for the nearest familiar face, Sadoru.

"Yo," I called out to him. "I don't feel like going up and down for the third time today, so I'm thinking the cafeteria, which does not require stairs to access, is my next destination. You want anything?"

quote:

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"Yo, I don't feel like going up and down for the third time today, so I'm thinking the cafeteria, which does not require stairs to access, is my next destination. You want anything?"

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quote:

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Originally posted by Saddletank
"My lunch is up in 1-A but if you want some company I'll go get it and meet you over there."

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