Seisaku-san waited by our desks but that was cool, it was a nice feeling to hang out with guys for a change. In middle school it had always seemed to be just groups of girls and groups of guys separate. He didn’t need to speak even, and if he overheard well that was fine too, we weren’t exactly discussing trade secrets or girl stuff. This was new and I liked it.

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"A-arigatou...there were some things from the geography homework that I wanted to check."

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I was dragged along the corridor to the washroom again and then held tightly for ages while someone who sounded like mum muttered lovely things in my ear. I calmed down and gentle hands wiped my face before I spent what felt like forever in someone’s arms.

I only want you to do this. Why can’t you do this for me?

Then she spoke.

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"Now, tell me what's wrong and maybe I can help?"

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I heard and then glancing round, saw the commotion. A few people studiously ignored it, acting politely, but everyone felt it. Tanaka-san was there, thankfully, possibly the only, and best person at times like these. She took Kurosawa-san out the room.

Girl's wash rooms. Possibly the most important place in any school.

Go Tanaka! I thought, seeing her do what she did was heartwarming.

This was the second time I'd seen Kurosawa-san upset in two days. I knew no details but two and two were adding up in my head and looking a lot like four.

I checked my watch, we had a few minutes. I got up and walked to back of class. I sat down on Hibiki's left. That surprised him I bet but even after just a few days around and alongside Takako's Sheido-san I was begining to relax with them, beginning to feel... well not exactly welcomed, but accepted by them. This desk felt different: cooler was a good word to describe the sensation.

I spoke to him, keeping eye contact whenever he let me.

"Ohayo. I won't ask how you are, I don't think I need to. This is a bad time to raise the subject," I looked away pointedly in the direction of the door where the two girls had just gone out, "But I'm not sure if there will ever be a good time." I gave him a slight smile and opened a palm towards him, "I can understand how confusing and upsetting this all is, and that you might want to just try and hide away from it. But the girl I know, Takako Aoi, has begun to accept her companion..." (I looked down at the floor then back up at him) "And she and I have begun to think this could be a good thing. Sure, that person who just went out might be your number one priority at the moment and if she is then forgive me, but Takako-san and I would like to talk with you, please, about the Shadows. If you'd like to do that, then I think this lunch break might be a good time. So... please think about it. And if you need some time, then later in the week is good too, okay?"

I converted the held out palm into a downward facing palm, reached over and put it on his shoulder, squeezing slightly.

DING-DONG! … DING-DONG! … DING-DONG!

The five-minute bell sounded.

Where is Yuichi? I sighed, a little frustrated. Actually it doesn't matter too much. I can just give it to Tanaka or Icchan. Are they here? I glanced behind me. There was Icchan, at his desk and apparently asleep. And I'd seen Tanaka-san a moment ago. So that's fine. Hmm... now I won't say that today will be no more eventful than yesterday. I won't. Because if I do that, I know fine well what will happen. The bell had rung a moment ago. Akuri-sensei's cue to enter was nearing. I really hate that man. He hates me and I don't know why. Actually that's not true, I sort of know why. But it's a stupid reason. I sighed again.

BUMP!

I jerked out of my drowsiness. Bell must have rung. I gave a low groan (a bad habit), rubbed my eyes, and decided to take a quick trip to the toilet to wash my face.

Outside, people were still making their way into the classroom, so I guessed the bell had only just rang, and headed to the toilet at the end of the corridor.

After washing up, I went back to class, dispensing a couple of belated "ohayo" to almost everyone I met on the way back to my chair. I gave a wide yawn. Typical, naps only serve to make me sleepier, not more awake.

I sat there, wondering what to do, when suddenly-

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"Ohayo."

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Post last edited by arren18 on 10.25.2007, 11:52 AM.

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"I was just thinking about that, actually. Arigato, er... Sadoru-san. She's not in just now though. Do you know if she's coming in today? I mean, she's not ill or anything, is she?"

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"No... I don't think she's ill... I've no idea why she's late and I don't have her phone number..."

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Okaaay, that went down well.

"Whoa! Don't worry about it, we just thought you might feel odd with us two... er... you know being... Ah, I just didn't want you to feel like a total loser ya know?Well, I'm sure you have someone you'd like to bring." And getting up I gave him a light punch on the shoulder, "Other than blob-man here."

"So I'll leave that with you. And I reckon that psycho sensei of ours'll be here any minute, so I'll see you later."

I hurried along the hallway and made my way inside 1-A, thankful that Akuri-sensei had not arrived yet. I closed the door and looked around. Some students were missing. The closest desk was Kazuo's, and I gave him a wave as I walked. He seemed to have something on his mind.

Post last edited by Theowne on 10.25.2007, 03:50 PM.

Yuichi-san had arrived, and gave me a quick wave as he went past. "Oh, Yuichi-san wait a minute." I reached down for my bag and began to rummage in it. There it is. I pulled out the little page I'd torn from my sketchbook. I'd written down just what Karinushi-san had said, or rather shouted at me, yesterday. I wasn't actually too sure what to make of it, but I hoped it would help Yuichi-san piece things together. He seemed so eager to get to the bottom of this, and I was eager to help him. "You might want to show this to Tanaka and Icchan-san as well." I said, and handed the note to him. "Keep it if you want. I think it'll be of more use to you."

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“Uh, gomen, it’s just boy trouble, you know? I’m sure it’ll all work itself out. I’m fine now really, arigato.”

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Post last edited by fenkashi on 10.25.2007, 08:49 PM.

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“Seisaku-san and I went out clubbing in Kawasaki, nothing special, a few local indie bands. But it’s a great scene if you like loud music. You can come with us too next time, if you’re into that sort of thing.”

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Post last edited by hikari on 10.26.2007, 02:39 AM.

I returned to my desk and sat down. Before I did so I glanced out the window. Yes, still there, still sat by the main gate doing the faithful dog routine.

Where are you?

In times like this I really needed to be able to get in touch, yet swapping phone numbers never entered my head yesterday. Need to do that asap, I decided, and returned to sit down, giving the New Guy, Morimoto-san and Ameashi-san who sat behind him and who I'd never spoken to, a respectful nod and "Ohayo" in passing.

AKURI-SENSEI:



At the sound of the five minute bell I drained my coffee cup and left the sensei's lounge, striding purposefully along and up to 1-A. I chided a few late arriving children who scurried away mouse-like.

I climbed the stairs and started along the upper corridor, at the end of which was 1-A.

I cracked my knuckles, I was in a good mood today. A mood to inflict unfair and random fear on some unsuspecting little child...

Her response to my accidental evening out offer totally threw me. Wow, she really wants to go. I couldn’t believe someone might be plotting against me yet sound so honest and happy. Surely she hates you? The two of you have been like alley cats for the last two days solid, no way, this has to be an act.

But it just didn’t feel like one.

And then I made the offer of playing a straight game, which seemed fair, it seemed hardly necessary to resort to dirty tricks to win this battle. And yet somehow… the simple act of winning it against this vulnerable and slightly dumb and obviously trusting person seemed dirty in itself.

No, stop thinking like that right now! It has to be an act. How can she possibly like you when she must know you’re going to cause her heartache?

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"Great. I'll sleep better knowing that...Fushida-sama."

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And the smile that followed her joke threw me again.

Okay, Maho, there’s only one of two possibilities going on here. She’s either lying at you like a trooper and plans to stab you in the back… or she’s genuine. There is no middle ground. If she’s lying, boy is she gonna regret it. If she’s genuine…

And I realised that if she was genuine and I went ahead and did this, I would be doing so much hurt to someone. Hurting people who tried to hurt you back was all part of growing up, dog eat dog. No prisoners. But hurting a dove with an olive branch in its beak was beneath even me.

The issue was, trying to find out who I was looking at here, dog or dove? I smiled at her, at her joke.

“That has a nice ring to it, Hikari-san, perhaps I can be a bit less formal in return?” and the smile I gave her back was also genuine.



And my thoughts for some reason drifted back to Kazuo-san, I don’t know why. That was another issue I needed to sort out, why did his face keep swimming up in my mind, such a beautiful face…

Too many things to sort out, too few days to do it in…

I nodded at Hikari-san and turned away, the empty desk beside me reminding me that if Kawaii-hara didn’t come in today then I could either talk with Kazuo-san (or try to) or… well, no idea. I’d be free at lunchtime. Hm, go for a walk, clear my head.

Today started out plain enough, everyone was here, nothing unusual. It was good.

That night was a hell of a night, as my head cleared a little bit more, I remembered the performances, the dancing, that girl Yoko, who was at me the entire night. I have to call her later, commit that to memory.

The day was starting too normal, there was bound to be something ridiculous going to happen, I could feel it. Sometime today the gates of hell will be opened and there is going to be trouble.

But I wanted this, more than anything, truth be told, I wanted there to be more to this world than the hum drum existence i have known. The shadows originally captivated me and i could tell that there was more coming.

I looked curiously at the note that Kazuo had given me, and a sort of shock passed through my body. Fubi-san....her brother...the shadow...This is it!. I looked around wildly to find Mai or Icchan and then as if in a Hollywood movie, Mai seemed to appear out of nowhere to join the conversation. "Look!" I said excitedly, pressing the note into her hands.

AKURI-SENSEI



I entered class.

“Be quiet! Sit down! Hand these out!” I slapped a sheaf of papers on that child Satomi’s desk and strode to the lectern, standing feet apart, arms behind my back, watching the children.

“I have been told to gather information about yesterday’s unfortunate incident. You will spend the ten minutes of homeroom filling in your answers and then the temporary class rep here – ” and I held out a hand towards Satomi, “Will collect them in.” I waited for the boy to finish handing the papers out, holding him with an icy stare all the time.