[Monday| August 27, 2012|11:20 AM]
[Eyes of Zetsumu Tenha]
"Wait, what that's it? …" I say ever so quietly to myself having just finished reading yet another light novel. "Seems like whoever wrote this may be a complete amateur in the world of light novels." I heave a long sigh as I close the small pocket book entitled Dark Flames and put it under my desk. "And what may be the reason for your heavy sigh just now, Zetsumu-san? Not enjoying class?" As my teacher calls out to me, the entire class seems to have focused their attention to me. "No, not really… you see sensei, I was just thinking of a lot about my future lately and I somehow got to a bad conclusion for one particular choice." Standing up I try to make up a valid excuse and just as he was to speak again, the school bell rings signaling lunch break. He sighs as he closes his book and signals the class representative to do formalities. And so with the 'Stand up.' And ' Bow.' Formalities done, our teacher leaves the room followed by other students going to the cafeteria for lunch while some stay behind as they have boxed lunches.
"Seems to be another good day for a lunch outside." I say to myself, looking out the window of our hallway. Walking up the staircase passing the third floor, I open a door to our rooftop. With the blue sky and slowly drifting white clouds painted overhead, I take a seat near the shade of a water tank and open my boxed lunch comprised of pork cutlets rice and some leftover vegetables from last night's dinner. "I should have tried to make some of that cutlet sauce from TV last night…" I say, eating through my food now dry and cold due to the early autumn weather. The voices of people downstairs and along the grounds can be heard up here on the roof, though faint, some voices are clearly audible and recognizable from here. Such as the lengthy lectures of the school's resident ken-do club president, Rougan Kenya who is also unfortunately the chief of the volunteer disciplinary committee. Being the head of both organizations seem to fit his 'samurai-ish' personality and way of speaking. "Still, I think I'm going to miss hearing these long lectures of his next school year. Rougan-senpai would be graduating and according to some rumors, he'd be managing his family dojo after graduating. Although it would seem logical for him to take over, it doesn't quite seem it was his choice…" as I think about things that aren't really my business, I eat through my lunch while taking quick glances at the clouds overhead. "Um… excuse me but would you be Zetsumu Tenha-san of class 2-C?" I hear someone calling my name as I was spacing out. "Yes, that is indeed me. Is there a request from the student council again?" looking up at the girl calling me, I can say that she's a first year based on her uniform and her green armband means she's with the student council. "Yes, it seems Jihyou-senpai is looking for you specifically." I nod and finish my lunch before covering it and going down the stairs towards the second floor towards their office.
"Pardon the intrusion." The first year says as she opens the door to a somewhat darkened room. "Ah Tenha-kun great timing for you to drop by." Greeted by the student council president, Jihyou Ensui, who happens to be a classmate of mine the previous year and now for some reason, became the president even though we're still both second years. "What do you want this time, Jihyou? Haven't I done enough for the council already?" I say, sitting down at what seems to be an expensive sofa totally out of place even for a student council office. "That's a mean thing to say to your seatmate for a whole year, don't you think?" "We were only seatmates. You wouldn't even budge until you'd need something from me or someone would need something from you. To top it off, you keep asking for return favors when they'd ask something from you. How do you think I feel now that is the kind of person running and representing the student body of this school?!" I recall the things he made me do last year like taking your shift when you're on cleaning duty or returning nearly due books to the library and the likes. "Now, now, Tenha-kun. I did make quite an improvement since I was seated on this chair. Now then, regarding my request for you…" he takes out a folder, checks it, and then hands it over to me. "Please give the forms to the following clubs. Their rooms should be located beside the name." Having no choice, I take the folder and look inside where almost half of the clubs are written on a checklist. "I'll be sure to have four return favors for this." I stand and prepare to leave until the door opens with Rougan-senpai on the other side. "President Jihyou Ensui. Where are the notices for the club funds you said they'd be done yesterday?" "I understand my lateness, but there was some unexpected business yesterday. Though the notices are done now and are going to be distributed by Tenha-kun over there." He points out to me as I flip through the papers and find the one with the ken-do club. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'll be handing these out. I'll return the checklist later after school." After handing over the notice to Rougan-senpai, I make my way outside of the school building to deliver the notices to the sports clubs first as they'd be busy after school. "That seems to be every sporting club we have… I think I'd better head back for now." Noticing the clock, I decide to head back as lunch break was soon about to end.
As our fifth period class became a study hall session, I took out the book I was reading earlier and reread it again. "Zetsumu-san, didn't you finish that earlier? And besides, you even know what are we supposed to do during study hall." Our class representative, conveniently seated in front of me, asks a question with an obvious answer. "Well of course I know what we're supposed to do. But seeing everyone here chit-chatting with their friends, I don't really have much of a choice, do I? And besides, this book left quite a cliff hanger for the ending despite the writer being an amateur. Furthermore, his choice of characters was quite interesting. If you'd like, I can lend this to you in exchange with another, Inchousan.(1)" She looks at the cover of the book I am holding as she says the words 'Dark Flames' and gives a nod. "I think I'll take you up on that offer, Zetsumu-san. How does romance-comedy genre sound to you?" She asks as she holds out a book of the similar size with a colorful looking cover. "Rom-com eh… well I'm not against it nor am I craving for it. Got any fantasy or fiction works there?" she rummages her desk for other light novels as I open the folder given to me earlier by the student council president and find the paper for the literature club. "I got two. Take your pick, Zetsumu-san." I check the books she laid on my table as I take out the notice about club funds and give them to her. "Ah the notice that was due yesterday… so you were tasked by the president to do it this time again." She takes the paper and the book I am to lend to her as I take the one with the title Moonlit Knights. "You know Zetsumu-san… you can actually avoid doing these kinds of favors for the president if you were only to join a club." I sigh as I listen to her words. "Inchousan, you know I don't have time for a club… I have to work otherwise I'd starve and probably die." She apologizes and soon silence ensues as she knows about my circumstances. "You don't have to apologize. It's been six months since my parents passed away and I've been surprisingly stable for the past months as well." She nods and still apologizes. "Well, whenever you're up for it the literature club would be happy to have a member like you. Feel free to drop by our room after school." "I'll see what I can do for that, for now let us make the most of our time Inchou-san." After glancing around, she propped a textbook and opened the light novel behind it… amateur. "Interesting prologue we have here…" I then start to become fully immersed in reading I didn't notice the time…
"And that's it for today. As for your homework, do the problems on page 65 of the text book. Now then, you're dismissed." And so classes have ended without me noticing the time. "You really should put an effort in studying, Zetsumu-san." Our class representative tells me as she may have noticed I have been reading the whole time. "The teachers don't care what we do as long as we pass without having to cheat. Though my grades aren't topnotch like yours, they're high enough for me and the teachers to ignore other things I do in class." I can hear her heaving a sigh as we leave the classroom. "I'll probably return the book you lent me later this week. Some members of my club may take interest on it." I nod and wave at her as I go up the stairs to continue the student council president's request. "Handing more notices?" "Yeah, and I'll probably return you the book by tomorrow or the day after." With a nod, we part ways as she has club activities. And as for me… Well, I'm stuck with a job that I don't even have to do in the first place. "Well, not like he has a choice. I mean, the student council has three people in it and they all work for the better of the school." I mumble while walking to one of the classrooms on the third floor, knocking on one of the doors where loud rock music was playing. I open it and hand the club fund notice to one of the students and make my way back to the stairs. "One more and I'm pretty much done with this job." I take a pen out and check a box next to the light music club, as I return the folder back I catch a glimpse of someone on her way to the rooftop. "Seems like she's up to break more hearts again." I say to myself walking down the stairs, seeing her long black hair being blown by the wind. Amagawa Rinko of class 2 –B, one of the few 'princesses' in our school. Though she's not as loud and active as the other girls, her quiet nature may be her main selling point for the boys. "Still, I feel sorry for whoever is up there confessing to her. Well, not my business. As long as I'm not affected, I shouldn't poke my nose around." I say to myself as I move towards the last clubroom located on the first floor and hand over the notice to the game club president. "Now then, I just have return this to the student council office then I'll be off." Or so I thought… the student council president seems to be out with the other members and they have the door locked. With a sigh, I return the folder to my bag and leave the school grounds and make my way to the shopping district of our town.
"Boss, can I get the two shortcakes for the order earlier?" "They're on the left. Come get them. I can't leave what I'm doing right now." I walk in the kitchen and take the two finely decorated cakes and place them on the tray. "We apologize for the delay in your order, Okyakusan.(2) here are your two orders. Please enjoy your time here." I place the order of the two girls from my school on the table and return to the counter. "Those two must really like this place, seeing them coming almost every day." "Well, ever since you started working here, business seems to have gone up I cannot thank you enough, Tenha-kun" My boss, a woman in her mid-20s, says it like I'm some kind of good luck charm for a business. "Still, your cakes and pastries are quite good, though the lack of man power around here is what makes things hard for you." Being the only employee in a café like this isn't so stressful but when the customers order simultaneously, then you can say that it becomes a warzone. "I could manage them alone before. Then when you came around, the daily customer count suddenly went up like mad. Well, I'll be counting on you, Tenha-kun" And such is my normal and peaceful daily life. I work after school at a local café and sometimes at the bookstore nearby, which is where I also get the light novels I read. "Still, I was rather surprised back then when you applied for a part time job. Never thought there was someone whose name is written as absolute-dream heaven-blade. It sounds like something from an anime." "You tell that to my parents who happen to be more avid readers than I am." I say, while washing the dishes left by one of the customers. "Say… about your parents. Make sure to take time to visit them, alright?" "I do visit them every now and then but they may not like it if they see me having a hard time just to get to there." My boss knows about my circumstances and employed me despite being a minor. And so, as the time passes, we continue our casual chat while serving customers until my shift finishes at 7:30 in the evening. "Here's some food when you get back home. Consider it a gift for attracting so much customers for the past months." I take a paper bag from her with a bow and leave for home.
"Tadaima.(3)" I say entering my house while checking the time. It has gotten rather late seeing the clock displaying 8:30 PM. Taking off my shoes, I head towards the dining area where I place my school bag and the paper bag I got from my boss on the table. "It's still warm despite the cold air outside." I take out a box inside the paper bag and open it. "Well, even she sure has her special blends, but why do I have to taste test them every single time…" I voice out my complain upon finding out what was inside of the box, curry, and it sure looked different as to what everyone usually makes. "Well, I'm just thankful that all ingredients used are edible." Upon closer inspection, I come to the conclusion that the food was safe to eat despite it's rather 'unique' appearance. "Itadakimasu (4)" I put my hands together and begin to eat a strange mix of curry. And strange it truly was, the taste shifts from spicy to extremely sweet leaving behind a rather peculiar after taste. "As expected from the boss of a confectionery café… even her meals have their own sweetness." In the end, the light coloring of the food was because of her sweeteners. As I finish eating, I take the lunch box to the sink wash it and leave it to dry. I then organize the things in my bag taking out the small pocket book lent to me by our class' representative, who happens to have similar hobbies with mine, and the folder which I am to return to the student council office tomorrow. "That reminds me. We still have homework for tomorrow…" I take out my notebook and textbook in math and start to solve problems on the pages instructed to us by our teacher, slowly passing the time. I quietly work on my assignment with only the ticking of the clock being heard.
It's hard to believe that I have been living alone for the past six months. "Guess like I'll visit them later tonight…" unable to focus, I stretch my arms and head towards the bathroom where I prepare a change of clothes and put mine in the washing machine. "I guess I know how the several protagonists of various light novels feel being alone in a quiet house like this… still, I am thankful for the time they spent and grieving over them wouldn't make them happy either." I reminisce on the events six months ago when some police officers knocked on the front door and told me my parents were involved in a traffic accident. "That's enough thinking now. I still have a lot to do." I stand up from the bathtub and drain the water, after which I wipe myself with a towel and slip on my clothes for my usual night outs. And with that my peaceful normal day comes to a conclusion and comes my nightly runs around the city. "Well, the only good thing with being alone is I don't have to hide this in a place hard to find…" I take out a white mask from under the pile of towels, nothing too special as it is just a mask with holes for eyes and a red line forming a smile. Looking at the clock, the time is already 11:00 in the evening. It was just the right time for me to leave. "Right then before anything else…" I put my clothes on the dryer as I wait for my hair to dry. "That should be it. I better get going or else I'd be sleeping late again." I take my uniform and put it on a hanger for tomorrow. "Time to do my nightly rounds. Ittekimasu (いってきます)5." With no expected response, I close the door and head out towards the business district moving along the dark alleyways. If someone were to see me, they'd either scream for help or probably run away. Well, a man with a mask that covers his face lurking around in the middle of the night isn't quite a friendly sight, especially when he lurks around unused dark alleyways like these.
"Unused by humans that is… and it seems like they're early tonight." Spread out in the dark alley in front of me, numerous dog-like monsters. Their black bodies make me feel like I am staring into a deep pit filled with darkness, and their red eyes project their own ferocity. "Now then… let's get this over with." I have been doing this for the past three months, fighting and killing these things on a nightly basis ever since I got this strange ability to summon a sword and a trench coat to go with it. "Come now, I didn't come all the way here just to see you lot walking aimlessly." Holding out my right arm, I concentrate on the image of the sword and project my thoughts into reality. A faint light glows from my right hand and extends outwards as its intensity grows. As the light dies down and fades, my right hand grasps a long metallic handle which connects to a long broad silver blade. "Bring it on!" My sword reflects the moonlight and at that moment, the dog-like monsters start to charge towards me. With my sword pointed behind me, I assume my stance and at the first one to come near me… "HYA!" comes a quick upward slash. I bring my sword down at the next one and follow up with a diagonal slash, continuing my relentless assault until I reach the end of the alley. "Three months and I can't still determine what happened to me that night…" reaching a clearing in the woodland area behind our school, I look up the crescent moon illuminating, thinking about what really happened to me the night I woke up holding this sword, "Doesn't matter. I know these things are not good for society thus…" I turn and slash one behind me as its other companions run further in the woodland and towards the school. "…The hunt is still on as the night is still young." I chase after them towards the school grounds, letting myself get surrounded as I slash the ones that get too close. "Every part of this nightlife of mine is strange… my strength, this sword, even those orbs of light that come to my sword after I cut them apart." Yet, for some reason, I cannot find my own resolve to stop this every night. I continue to slash through groups. I make a leap towards the rooftop where I find more waiting for me. "This would be the last place I'd expect to find you… still, the view is wonderful here even at nighttime so I can't blame you for choosing this place." Standing on top of the water tank, I drop down to where I usually sit down for lunch, "However I cannot have you loitering around my favorite spot…" I run towards them and slash those I encounter up front, until something pushes and cuts through the entire group sending them flying above and towards me. "The hell was that?!" I say, cutting the last monster that was flying towards me. Before my eyes lit by the crescent moon, stands a girl with a scythe.
1. Inchousan translates to president, chief, director. Usually said between classmates as seen in this case.
2. Okyakusan guest, visitor, customer
3. Tadaima translates to 'I'm home', a form of greeting when entering one's own house.
4. Itadakimasu translates to I humbly receive. The phrase is similar to "bon appétit", or saying grace to give thanks before a meal.
5. Ittekimasu translates to 'I'm leaving used when leaving one's own house.