For several weeks after beginning my new job I entered a sort of routine. I'd wake up around 7:00 clean up, drink a Coke Zero (thank GOD I found that corner shop) pack a lunch, (vegetables of some sort and usually canned tuna. Not the meal of kings but it got the job done.) Walk to the school, say good morning to Miss Shizuka, help her with anything she was bringing to the office, we'd talk for a bit, nothing major, music, books, movies and the like.
I learned she was a sap for romance novels or romantic movies, when she'd gotten to see Titanic in Highschool she admitted she'd cried at Jack's death and the ending where Rose and Jack were together again in the afterlife.
I told her about my interest in Fantasy and Sci-fi and my preference for the more historical stuff. Though the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit had been my favorites growing up. I was a bit surprised when she'd told me she'd never read them though she said she'd enjoyed the movies and had admitted to having a crush on the character Legolas.
"You and half the planet." I'd commented dryly.
"I was in middle school!" She huffed though not she wasn't really all that mad.
I chuckled and shifted the cardboard box in my arms, "So what's in this one? Your brick collection?"
That set her giggling again. "Nothing like that Brody-san. It's just some rubbing alcohol and bandages...and maybe a few microscopes."
"A 'few' microscopes? What do you need that many for?" I asked, no wonder this thing weighed a ton.
"I'm also in medical school to become a full doctor, remember? I need to get some studying in whenever I can and the hospital was kind enough to lend me the equipment while I work as a nurse her."
I nodded, "That makes sense. Though I don't think my arms will appreciate it."
That got her laughing again and I laughed with her. It was rather nice talking with a pretty woman, I'd never really done that back home, a combination of nerves and time had curtailed my socialization opportunities with the fairer sex. Meaning that I relished these moments.
Eventually though we reached the Nurse's Office and I was able to put down the arm-killing box. I shook my arms and winced at the pain in my elbows.
When I started my cleaning job I had found to my pleasure that Fujimi High had a state of the art weight room for the student athletes. Thank-you wealthy alumni and parents!
After a short conversation with the principle I got the deal that so long as I cleaned up after myself I could use the weights to my content. A deal which I had taken quite willingly. I remembered full well what was coming and I needed every chance I could get to increase my odds of surviving the hell that was coming.
I'd quickly started a weight training regimen, thanking my lucky stars I'd memorized the routines that my old man had hammered into my skull though I would freely admit that this was the first time I'd followed through the routine start to finish on a daily basis without ever cutting corners. The results were that I'd been slowly getting stronger, interestingly at a rate I was sure I hadn't achieved since high school, another trait from my transfer to this world? The downside was that some of my joints were sensitive after the punishment I'd given them.
Apparently Shizuka had seen my pain and had immediately walked over, a slight look of concern on her face. "Is everything alright Brody-san? Did you pull something?"
I shook my head, "Nothing like that. My elbows are just a bit sore, remember I mentioned that I'd started weight-lifting? Just comes with the territory to maintain these muscles." I flexed a bicep to prove my point.
That look never left her face, "But if you're hurting then it's my duty as a nurse to help. Hold on I think I might have something..." With that she turn and began searching her cabinets, eventually searching into one of the lower cabinets...rather far back. I quickly glanced out the window and took a different view than what everything my Lizard Brain was screaming at me to do instead. Finally I heard a muffled shout of "Found it!"
I turned and watched her wiggle herself out of the cabinet and produce a jar about the size of your average canning jar, a look of satisfaction on her face. A clear viscous material was visible through the glass the container and I could catch a hint of something mint like. Even from over where I was standing.
"An old family remedy, I learned how to make it from my grandmother and it does wonders for sore muscles and joints." Then she opened the jar.
A moment later and my senses were outright assaulted by a wave of mint or some sort of vaporub. I could feel my sinuses clearing themselves and then begin to burn.
"Wow! That's some strong stuff. What's in it?" I asked through a few coughs.
"Now that'd be telling family secrets Brody-san. But you can use it as much as you want whenever you want. Just come here and ask me. Go ahead and put some on your elbows. Not too much, this is quite strong."
Sniffing in an attempt to clear my nose I nodded and took a bit on two finger tips, it was extremely cool to the touch, then I began to rub the gel-like substance into my elbow. There was an odd combination of cool and burning for a moment, then incredible relief as the pain just vanished.
I audibly sighed in relief, which elicited another giggle from the veritable Angel of Mercy. "It seems like you like it Brody-san."
I shook my head, "Um, yes, thank-you, thank-you very much, this stuff works like a charm."
"Happy to help Brody-san. Now we both need to get on to our jobs. Keep the jar, I have a few more in the cabinet there." She said with a smile.
"Thank-you again Marikawa-Sensei." I said with a appreciative smile on my face.
"Oh you can call me Shizuka if you like."
I blinked a bit at that, then I grinned and bowed again. "Thank-you again, ...Shizuka. I guess you can call me Tom then."
"Good day Tom." She replied. With that I headed out of the office towards my own glorified broom closet, the jar under my arm and a smile on my face. Today seemed like a good day. I even began whistling a tune as I headed down the staircase.
My smile vanished when I almost bumped into someone coming up the stairs at the same time. That someone else turned out to be the biggest dick in this entire damn school, one Shido Koichi, a teacher as well as the Track & Field coach. He was also arrogant, and sadistic to a disturbing degree and the only reason he had a job at this school was because of the string pulling of his old man, who was some big shot in the national diet. Well the old fart sure as hell didn't have my fucking vote.
Either way the smug bastard did his best to look down his nose at me, a difficult venture when the man was a couple of inches shorter than me and at least 100 lbs lighter. It was a comparison in opposites, the lean, clean-shaved, slick-haired, bespectacled, and smartly dressed Paragon of Japanese handsomeness on one side. While on the other was a prime example of Gaijin. Big shoulders and limbs, shaggy hair that was starting to look like a mop, shaggy beard (needed a trim) and wearing the somewhat shapeless outfit of a custodian.
"Ah Brody-san, good morning." He managed to eventually say, God the bastard's voice sounded oily.
"Good morning Shido-Sensei, surprised to see you in the stairwell."
"Not that surprising I was just giving some of my students some advice on a private matter on my way to my class. Well good-day Brody-san." He then moved on past me.
As soon as he was out of sight I turned my head and spat. Scumbag had no business advising a rock let alone the young people who attended the school.
I then headed down the stairwell and found the students he'd been advising. In actuality it had been a trio of sophomores bullying a freshman. The poor kid was in a ball as one of the jackasses was rearing back for a kick.
"HEY!" I bellowed. The three wannabe-thugs snapped their heads to look in my direction. Any retorts at the Gaijin butting in died in their throats when they got a look at my green eyes seeming to almost blaze in fury.
"I suggest the three of you get to class, NOW!" The three boys scrambled up the stairs like the hounds of hell were after them. Once I was sure they were going. I turned back to the kid they'd been beating on. "Hey kid, you alright?"
The kid in question was still curled up on the ground, shaking as he fought back sobs.
"Hey kid, you okay? Those jackasses are gone, I scared them off for the moment. Here let me help you up." I said in as gentle a voice as I could.
Eventually I managed to get the kid back on his feet and one look at his face triggered recognition in my mind. Hirano Kohta, official marksman and gun-nut for the canon team about a year from now. He didn't seem much like the dead-eye crack-shot I knew him to be, but then again he didn't have much in the way of confidence when he was unarmed.
"Are you hurt? I know the nurse and I can can take you to her if you want."
"N-no I'm alright Janitor-san." The young man fought to hide any tears though the red eyes and sniffing were dead giveaways.
"You sure? If you're worried about those jerks I think between me and Marikawa-Sensei we could have the Principle throw the book at the three of them." I mused.
"N-no! I mean, no I'm alright. No need to interfere." He said, "Thank-you for helping." He brushed himself and began to head up the stairwell.
I'm still not sure why I did what I did but I sighed and called, "Kid wait a moment."
He stopped and turned back to me. "Thinking about it. Yes, I don't think that just going to the Principle will solve anything. Even if we get rid of those jerks another pack of them will pop up to replace them in a heart-beat. Bullies like that can smell weakness like a shark does blood and they'll come out of the woodwork if there's a soft target for them."
Kohta seemed to curl up on himself as he heard himself being described as a soft bully-magnet.
However I wasn't finished, "However, that doesn't mean we can't do something to resolve the problem. We just need to make you NOT a soft target. Tell me kid you part of a club?"
"No, I'm not in a club." He said weakly, a look of interest on his face, curious about being NOT a soft target.
"Excellent! Tell you what kid I've got a plan that is a sure-fire way to get those jerks off your back, heck if you listen to what I say then might even be a chick magnet by the time I'm done with you. You interested?" A smile spread across my face.
Kohta stared at me before rubbing his eyes and nodding. "Yes, of course! I'll be under your care Sensei! Oh erm..my name's Hirano Kohta."
"Calm down ki-er Kohta-san, I'm not much for standing on ceremony. Brody-san or Tom-san's fine." I said with a chuckle."
"Alright Hirano-san if you're really dedicated then meet me at the door to the dorms at about 6:30, make sure you're wearing your P.E. clothes and we'll get started. Will I see you there?"
"Yes Brody-san I'll be there!" With that the young man scrambled up the stairs just noticing the time. I chuckled then headed down to my broom closet to drop my lunch off and then head off to make my rounds.
That evening Kohta was true to his word. I started him working the same sort of program that I did, though at a much lower weight and intensity. No point in killing the kid. After the weight training we then did stair runs, after the classes were over and the clubs were done we mostly had the building to ourselves. Kohta didn't make much of a showing that first night, but honestly he had a dogged determination that allowed him to get back up after collapsing from a minute long sprint up the stair-case.
When we finished Kohta was exhausted and he stank up to high heaven but he seemed quite happy with himself. "Not bad kid, you've got a fire in ya kid, you'll need that for this stuff."
A weak smile spread across his sweaty face. "Thank's Sensei, I mean Brody-san."
After making sure he got to his dorm and got cleaned off I went back and cleaned up the equipment, locked the buildings down and headed home myself.
I had no idea what the consequences would be but I felt that I was doing something good for everyone involved.