Chapter 8
TWO DAYS LATER, THURSDAY(TWO DAYS LEFT TILL POLL)
"And stay out!"
Slam!
Another clubroom door slams shut in my face after being tossed out on my butt. A poster with my face on it and the words Keep Out is taped to the door. This is the fifth time I've seen said poster today. After a day of forcefully putting myself into sport club practices, shredding outdated(I think) documents, carrying boxes, sweeping floors, and a few other things, I had not earned the love or respect of the people I helped as I had hoped, but instead only further stoked the flames of their ire. Today I've been witnessing the results of my labor - getting shoved out the door. My forceful approach had backfired. All my forms of assistance had been interpreted as some form of bullying, harassment, thievery, or long term conspiracy. I guess the last one is remotely true. I was conspiring to earn their good will.
Maybe If I was a cute girl they would have found it endearing?
Had I been someone else, someone different, I might have taken the time to try to discover the mystery of how others have perceived me since birth - This strange negative filter. But being me, someone who has dealt with this since birth, I don't question it too deeply. Sometimes I'll bitch and moan about it, but at some point I've accepted that this is just the way it is and always will be. However, this is not meant to be a depressing realization or an acceptance of defeat. I have accepted that this negative filter exists and will persist, but I endeavor to win against it - to have my positive qualities shine through. This time I lost. My qualities did not shine through, but I don't think that will always be the case. Sensei is a living example of that. My club members too, I think. They could be. To be determined.
While contemplating the results of my efforts and my life long stigma, unknown to me, my feet had taken me to my club room. Though I had no business there, there was no business to be had elsewhere, so I opened the door and let myself in. It was already unlocked.
"Kagami-chan. What are you doing here?"
"Howdy Ken-kun. Omikuji."
I found Kagami already in the club room making Omikuji. There were already over eighty slips of paper fortunes completed on the table.
"Wow that looks like a lot and you're making more!? What for?"
"The school."
On top of giving fortunes during the day, she's also making omikuji fortunes after school. This little one is such a hard worker, that or she really loves fortunes. Why not both? I should help.
"Mind if I help?"
"You're not busy?"
"Unfortunately not…"
"Ok. Here."
Kagami patted the seat next to her, directing me to sit. I sit in the chair as instructed and she begins showing me how I can assist her. I would fold the fortunes handed to me and tie them with string. I begin my work. It's simple, but satisfying. The crisp sound of the paper folding, the tautness of the string when forming the knot, the faint breaths of the coworker beside me - it's pleasant, serene.
"Good job. I go so much faster now."
A sense of contentment washes over me.
Having something to do, being appreciated for my work, I needed that.
Tears well up in my eyes and I quickly wipe them away with my sleeve. Neither Kagami nor I say anything about it. She gently pats my head and we continue working.
At this moment, Kagami looks like a senpai in my eyes for the first time.
"Thanks…..Senpai."
"Oh!"
Kagami appears pleased. It's likely that no one has ever called her senpai before, which would make sense. She's too cute in both her looks and mannerisms. She gives the image of a little sister or even a defenseless animal. And sometimes a silly mascot. She's something you have the urge to protect. Yeah, I'm not comfortable calling her senpai, sorry Kagami.
"Uh Kagami….how is everything going…with the fortune telling? Having any trouble?"
Kagami looked disappointed that I stopped calling her senpai, but after what looked like a form of brief meditation she recovered. It may be that she was trying to preserve that moment in her mind. It's a technique that I use sometimes when I see a pretty girl and want to preserve her image for later….personal use. Strictly scientific mind you. In fact, there was this one time I saw Sensei wearing a bikini at the beach. Such a rare occurrence that I thought that I had to engrave it into my mind for all time. I still ruminate on that paranormal event to this day…..sometimes….the amount of times a normal healthy teenager would.
"It's been good. Lots of people come. They like my fortunes. No complaints."
She's not lying. Things have been going well on her end. Even Though I asked her, I already had an idea of what was going on since I've checked in on her a couple times during lunch and after school. In the beginning it was slow going. People were hesitant to use her services. They'd call her all sorts of names, write mean things on her working space, and one person even rubbed their ass cheeks on her crystal ball. The face she made when she was cleaning it. That's how it started. It was rough. That was until she offered free bread with every fortune telling. I'm not sure how she swung that. Could she have some kind of deal with the lunch ladies? I don't know. I just hope she didn't spend any of her or her parent's money. That's a lot of bread.
"That's good. What kind of fortunes are you giving people? Stuff about grades? Future careers?"
"Romance."
"Ah."
Of course, that'd explain the rise in couples over the last few days.
While I had been busy with putting myself out there with the clubs and faculty of the school, I still needed to attend classes, eat lunch, use the boys room, study in the library, cleaning duty, all the things a normal highschool student usually does day to day. During those times I'd notice. While looking over my history notes, people were making out next to me. Sweeping up the classroom floor, people were making out next to me. Taking a leak in the bathroom, people were making out next to me. I was jealous, I mean, I was furious. Have some decency! I thought it strange at the time that suddenly people were hooking up at an alarming rate. Couples were forming all over the school. Now I know why.
Who would've thought that free bread leads to love. Or maybe it's lust? Does this mean Olive Garden is the number one most effective way of getting laid in Japan? In any case, these fortunes are something else. At this rate she could open up her own matchmaking service.
"I've noticed lots of couples forming around campus. Must be your handiwork then? Lots of good fortune going around?"
"No. Not all good."
"Oh?"
Kagami looks as solemn as she can look without it being betrayed in her facial features.
"I try, but….not all good. There's a balance. Some have bad luck now. Some later. Not everything good. That's why I make omikuji and tie it on tree. You help?"
With omikuji fortune slips, people often take their fortunes, especially bad ones, and tie them to a tree at the shrine they got them from in order to help better their luck. Kagami wishes to do this for the people at school, tie them to the big sakura tree in the quad and better their fortunes. It's noble,commendable, and quite the undertaking for one small senpai.
Inspired, I take out my phone and take a picture of Kagami and the omikuji populating the table.
"?"
"Sorry. Felt I needed to capture the moment….and yes I'll help."
***
Hanging the omikuji on the tree was less daunting than anticipated in part due to Kagami's ability to scurry up and down the sakura wood like a fervent tree squirrel.
Noted: not only is she a prolific fortune teller, but also an able climber as well.
When she had fallen asleep during our first meeting I had thought it was her "powers" that drained her, but maybe she's more physically active than I realize. That or her love of omikuji has given her new found vigor.
We managed to wrap everything up before nightfall.
In that time between light and dark, the paper slips lightly jostled as a faint breeze carried three pink sakura petals through the air. One petal landed on Kagami's dainty nose. Her clear blue eyes went cross eyed.
"Would you consider that a good omen?"
"...Not really."
"Haha."
Her serious response mixed with her silly appearance made me laugh. My time with Kagami had brightened my spirits and put me in a playful mood. Inspired by her appearance, a silly idea bloomed forth.
"How long do you think you can keep it there?"
"Hmmm….I don't know."
Kagami went silent and continued looking cross eyed at the flower petal.
I think she's concentrating. Oh. I should probably be timing it.
After losing about ten seconds I pull out my phone, pull up the stopwatch app and hit start. Not a second goes by as that faint breeze returns and the petal is carried away again, this time off of Kagami's nose.
I stop the counter, exit the app and notice the time. It's almost 6pm.
"That doesn't count…."
"Consider this contest postponed on account of wind. Also it's getting late."
"Leaving?"
I locked eyes with her for a time. It felt uncertain whether she wanted me to stay or not, and I felt unsure as to whether or not I was just imagining things. In the light of the club room, Kagami appeared to be content, someone who had things all figured out, in her own, fortune telling, club mascot sort of way. But out here in the open, in the onset of night, she appeared lonely and lost. It was hard to tell if this was real or merely a projection. It may well be that all emotions that I perceive in her are just machinations of my own psyche. In a way, it was inevitable. Kagami's lack of outworldly emotions made it easy to project oneself onto her. Was she a canvas to paint whatever picture suited my fancy, or a mirror to reflect myself back at me? Could I ever get to know the true Kagami? It was not the time for such thoughts and I was not the person to have them.
When did I become a philosopher?A deep thinker? I'm about the NOW damnit!
I scurried up and out of that rabbit hole and offered to walk Kagami home. I had learned its whereabouts on that day we visited Lisa's mansion. She lived alone in an apartment. The complex was a twenty minute walk from the school.
"Yeah. Gotta head home. Need me to walk you?"
"No thank you. Not leaving yet."
"Still have something to do?"
"Yes."
"Ok. See you tomorrow then. Bye bye."
"Bye bye."
She obliged me with a wave. I head to the gate as she heads back inside. I'm curious as to what she's got going on, but I decided not to pry. A sixth sense and an empty belly compelled me to leave.
It's probably none of my business.
My business at the moment was to head home and eat some chow.
***
My business is put on hold outside the school gates. Suzu is there playing with three stray cats - orange, black, and gray.
This is definitely more important.
Still in a playful mood, I pull out my phone and take a sneaky pick.
I've got the evidence. Time to make an arrest.
Using a soundboard app on my phone a police siren emits from its speakers. Imitating the sound with my mouth I burst onto the crime scene.
"Weeewooo weeewooo. Ma'am please step away from the cats! I repeat please step away from the cats! Cease and desist!"
"Hehe…Ahh!"
My mischief extorted an awkward giggle from her but spooked the cats. Orange leapt near her face, startling her. She fell over from her crouching position landing on her back while somehow preserving her modesty. There was no panty shot. Gray was on censor duty, biting at and pulling down her skirt.
Unfortunate. Noted: I am not a lucky pervert. Am I an unlucky pervert?
Orange settled on her stomach while black brushed itself against her arm. I offer my hand to help her up.
"Here, let me help."
"Thanks."
Orange gracefully detaches from Suzu as I help her off the ground. Suzu dusts herself off and checks her uniform for any blemish or imperfection. Finding one, she sits on a nearby bench and pulls out some needle and thread. She begins to stitch, I think. It's the first time I've seen anyone do needlework before.
The cats make their way over to her and sit at her feet, purring contently. I take my seat beside her on the bench at what seems like a reasonable distance.
When it comes to benches, I'd say a reasonable distance is the equivalent of an average person's width. Personal space is important after all. A lesson I've learned many times. I once considered carrying a ruler with me just to be certain I got it right, but whenever I carried anything stick shaped or a foot or more in length people thought I was brandishing a weapon. This is why I no longer eat sub sandwiches in public.
"I'm sorry about your uniform."
"It's no big deal. I like doing this kind of thing anyway."
"Getting spooked and damaging your clothes?"
"Ha no. More like patching things up, making sweaters, mittens, that kind of thing."
"So you're a seamstress?"
"I guess you could say that…."
Suzu responded timidly, with a weak voice, and a lowered head. Her eyes seeking refuge in her work away from the young man interrogating her. It surprised me, but only momentarily. Her few brazen exchanges in the clubroom had left such an impression that I almost forgot this is what she's usually like. After all, she did say her reason for joining the club was to work on this very side of herself. If only her classmates could see this side of her, a shy girl playing with stray cats. It's such a stark contrast from the fictional punk girl image they cling to.
I guess she's only bold when it involves THAT….which reminds me….
"How are things going by the way?"
"With what?"
"With improving your image?"
"Oh!"
Suzu's face lit up and her hands worked faster than before. In the blink of an eye she wrapped up her knitting job, put away her tools, and turned her attention to me. She was now giving me direct eye contact and exuding new found vigor. Her face seemed to be saying, "Is it time to talk about my favorite subject?!?!"
As I thought, she's become a completely different person.
When the topic of conversation becomes about achieving her goal: overcoming her fear of people and men, a fire is lit under her. There's a distinct note of passion in her eyes and an intimidating feeling of relentlessness.
"Actually, I think I'm making some serious progress."
"So you were able to talk to people and give them advice?"
"Not at the start….in fact, it was really embarrassing, but just in the beginning."
Since we share a homeroom together, I was forced to witness some of those early stumbles, but her breakthrough must have been fairly recent. It was only the other day that I spied her bungling her approach to some of our fellow classmates. She'd approached a group of students who at the end of homeroom had yet to leave. Determined, she stomped her way over to them, glaring unblinkingly at them all the while. She must have been so focused she forgot to blink, and so uncomfortable she forgot how to walk. Like scared kittens, they stood, quivering, doing what they could not to piss themselves. Reaching the quivering kittens she mumbled something unintelligible.
"Umoo….mabeyoudlik..somadvis onfishinor sumthin imrlygoowit thatsordastuff… Inoticurmissinabuton andurhairpiunisndunriugh…"
Aided by her unimpeded gaze and demonic reputation, it wouldn't be a surprise if the group of students misinterpreted her clumsy mutterings as some kind of satanic chant.
"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON"T KILL ME!" they cried, as they fell to the floor in despair.
"Uh…."
Suzu, realizing that things had gone as bad as they could have, was unable to muster a verbal response. Instead she made a tactical retreat back to her seat. The students feeling lucky to be spared and not wanting to push their luck any further decided to make a retreat of their own and left the classroom. Yeah. How embarrassing.
"However, once I got the ball rolling, there was no stopping me. I just talked and talked and talked. I talked more and with more people than I ever have before and about something I like. How neat is that, hehe?"
She let out a giggle of delight as she cracked the most authentic smile I'd ever witnessed. So unprepared for it I was that I almost fell in love on the spot. Her enthusiasm was endearing, like that of a top idol.
How could anyone ever confuse such an angelic visage for that of a violent demon? Gah, that's so moe. It's unfair how moe it is. I need time to recover. Ask a question to keep her busy.
"That's great. So how'd you do it? How did you work up the courage to talk properly?"
"I used the tried and true classic method. I imagined everyone was naked."
I'm pretty sure in the classic method people still had their underwear on, but we're talking about someone who suggested doing nude sketches as our first club activity. Thank you Suzu. I was one heart flutter away from becoming a Suzu Suzuki stan, buying all her merch, and waving around those silly looking glow sticks. An Idol doesn't imagine her classmates naked, or at least I like to believe that's the case. Why does she insist on making others naked anyway? I worry about her upbringing.
"People were pretty put off by my constant giggling. But when I eventually stopped and spread the gospel of proper make-up usage and how to prevent fashion faux-pas, everyone really took a liking to me."
I can imagine that. If people saw what I see now it's hard to imagine them not liking her. As a matter of fact, that's what I thought the first time I saw her too. Damn, she's cute. Wait, I'm sitting on a bench with a cute classmate aren't I? That's a huge milestone. I also just had an after school event with a cute senpai, another milestone. What's with all my club members being so cute anyway? Makes me want to pat them. Ok me, calm down. This is how one ends up on the path of a sex offender. It's just the hunger…..and the hormones. Look, a cat! Oh, how funny, the orange one's on her head. Stop being sus and pet the cat. It's right there. Pet it.
I reach out to pet orange. Before my hand makes contact, the cat flees my touch, landing on the open spot in the middle of the bench. In kind, my hand lands on the now vacant spot on Suzu's head.
Aw shit….welll..fuck it.
Trying to figure out the least awkward move to make, I decide on arguably the most awkward one. Instead of apologizing and removing my hand,I went with it and started giving her a head pat.
"Good job Suzu. You did great."
As a result of the head pat, Suzu's face goes flush and she retreats back into her shell. She stops looking at me and goes back to shyly looking downward.
Smooth move Ken. I must come off like a real creeper right now. I bet she's really uncomfortable too. I'm really uncomfortable. How do I stop this? How did they do it in those manga? I'm blanking. Fuck.
Contemplating what my next horrendous move will be, divine intervention strikes.
Grrrrrumble!
My stomach, feeling ignored for too long, audibly grumbles. With something new to feel embarrassed about, I reflexively pull my hand away from Suzu's head to cover my face. An unbearable heat permeates from my ears and cheeks.
What a disaster. How do these manga protagonists do it?
"Haha, I forgot I was hungry...how embarrassing."
I peer through my fingers as I coyly admit to my lameness. Suzu stares at me for a moment, unblinkingly, before bursting into laughter.
"Pfft! How could you forget that?"
Uh, at least the mood's better, thank God.
As the relief progresses from my brain to my face, my hand transitions from hiding my face to scratching the back of my head.
"Haha yeah, how silly of me."
"Would you like to have some of my bento? I still have some left since I didn't have time to finish it…you know, with all the talking I've been doing in between classes."
Suzu said that almost as if she was gloating. She's really feeling herself. Proof that the storm had passed and we're back to smooth sailings. With a bit of luck, she'll forget that moment entirely. A teenage boy can dream.
"Sure, I won't turn down free food. Thanks."
Suzu grabs her school bag from under the bench, fending off black who's been nuzzling and scratching at it. Fortunately there doesn't seem to be any tears on the bag as Suzu pulls her bento from it. She opens the lid and presents the contents to me. There on full display, perched on top of her two immaculately smooth hands is an opened translucent turquoise container. What lies within are an assortment of tasty classic bento treats. The ever charming octopus sausages, the yellow soft fluffy tamagoyaki, the delectably cute mini tomatoes, and some hefty looking meatballs. One corner of the bento, the spot consumed by Suzu herself, seemed to have sparse remnants of potato salad. I take the bento from Suzu gratefully and dig in. It tastes as good as it looks.
"Mmmm this is good. Did you make this yourself?"
"Yes I did. You really like it?"
"Yeah, I'm impressed. You sure got some crazy high specs."
"What's that?"
"Oh aha..nothing, just thinking you have some interesting hobbies and pretty girly ones too…not that that's a bad thing! I mean that in a good way, you know, considering…."
Considering people think you're a violent psychopath.
"Yup…"
Suzu hung her head briefly again, probably because I just reminded her of her poor reputation.
And now it's awkward again….maybe I should consider how to make my escape and head home. I don't know how much more of this I can take.
As I considered the best way to transition into saying goodbye, gray leapt up into my lap and made itself comfortable. Suzu lifted her head and raised a brow.
"That's odd", she said.
"What's odd?"
My hand moved to gray's head of its own accord, alternating between gently stroking its coat and lightly scratching its chin.
"I've never seen her so relaxed. Rebecca's always so defensive and alert. She never snuggles with me, I'm so jealous."
So it's a she. Figures it'd be a girl cat that has a problem with fan service….Maybe this is just another defensive move by her. Sitting in my lap to prevent….uh whatever, I don't really care for some reason. Her fur is so soft.
"Hmm I wonder what makes me so special then….Huh Rebecca? What do you have to say about this?"
Rebecca just closes her eyes and gives a satisfactory purr as I rub the contours of her jaw.
"Ken, have you ever had a cat before?"
"No, never. There was a time that I wanted one, but unfortunately my mom's allergic. Never knew anyone that owned one either."
It was truly unfortunate. Growing up as a boy that people instinctively hated meant a lot of lonely days that could have been made better with a furry friend. Animals in general didn't seem to possess the same negative disposition towards me as humans did. That didn't make me some kind of animal whisperer though. It just meant that cats and dogs were my one outlet for normal human interaction. But as previously stated, I never owned any pets nor did I know anyone that did, so my interactions with them were scarce.
"That's a shame. Could have sworn you did, but I guess we are similar in that way."
"Oh? How so?"
"I can't have any cats at my place either. That's why I'm looking after these ones here. Rebecca, Galloway, and Mr. Jones-"
She pointed to the cats as she named them. The gray cat Rebecca, the orange cat Galloway, and the black cat Mr. Jones.
Interesting naming sense…
"I keep them here at school."
Nani?
"Not outside the school, but at school? You mean they've been living on the school grounds? How?"
"Sensei."
"Ah."
That explains it.
"She hides them for me using the club store room or the utility closet. So far nobody's found them."
Sensei's got ties to everyone it seems. But if I think about it, it makes sense. It's everyone in my circle, she's important to me, and the club, and she's the one who brought in my fellow club members. It's likely she was already helping with the cats before making the club was even a thing. My past, Kagami's contract, now Suzu's cats - all three of us are indebted to sensei in some way and we are all conveniently within reach in a club with her as advisor. Here's hoping that's irrelevant. My sensei is so benevolent and cool after all.
"Speaking of….I should probably get the cats back inside before it's too late and they get locked out."
"Right. I should get going too so my mom doesn't worry."
I take Rebbeca off my lap and set her down on the bench next to Galloway. Galloway flicks his tail at her and she takes offense, baring her fangs in a hiss. Galloway saunters off to a nearby garbage bin. Suzu picks up her school bag with Mr.Jones still firmly attached. I turn to leave.
"Oh that reminds me. Before you go…."
I turn back to Suzu approaching me with a lint roller. She reaches me, pressing the roller against my chest.
"?"
"Since your mother's allergic."
"Oh, good call. Thanks."
"No problem."
She goes about rolling up all the cat fur and dandruff on the front and back of my school vest. Mindfully she rolls up and down, careful not to press too hard. When she reaches my pants she stops.
"You should probably do this part."
She hands me the roller which I use over my crouch, butt, and any other areas that'd be inappropriate for someone else to come into contact with. Suzu tactfully looks away while I do so.
"All done. Thanks again."
"You're welcome. And Ken?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm feeling hopeful….about the club."
"Me too Suzu. Me too."
***
Walking home, the beating of my heart finally settles into its normal rhythm. Ten minutes of slow steps and self-help book breathing exercises seem to have done the trick.
These chance encounters are bad for my heart. Seriously, how do these romcom protagonists do it?
I was honestly jealous of the protagonists in Sensei's manga. Accidentally bumping into cute girls on the way to school. Accidentally having cute girls fall onto you from the sky. Accidentally getting abducted and becoming the foster father of cute twin alien egg babies. It all seemed so thrilling on that small square panel. "Why couldn't it be me?", I thought. I never once considered the possible downsides of such starcrossed conjunctions. That is until today.
Three consecutive encounters (Shizuku-dono, Kagami-chan, and Suzu) - with varying degrees of 'chance'. None of which involved toast, collisions, or aliens, and my heart still went from completely stopping to beating out of my chest at multiple intervals. Needless to say, I have a newfound respect for harem romcom protagonists.
If there's a muscle for handling shame and moe, I need to start developing it pronto…. I've got about twenty minutes or so left before I reach home. Might as well start now.
With the concept of strengthening my shame muscle in mind, I began my image training, visualizing embarrassing situations to help build immunity. My mind conjured up the one club member I didn't run into today, Lisa Auclair, to be the harbinger of humiliation.
SCENARIO 1:
Lisa casually sketches a male portrait in the clubroom afterschool. There in the dimly lit clubroom, it's just her, her canvas, and the subject of her immodest painting. She sneers. The male model comes into view. It's me. To my dismay, I'm nude.
SCENARIO 2:
A samurai Lisa Auclair sits to rest against a lone tree in a wilderness clearing. She turns her weary head. She spots a man bathing in a nearby spring. The man noticing he's being watched turns to meet the lady's gaze. She sneers. The man quickly attempts to cover himself. But it's too late. He has already been sullied by her. I can no longer be married, because that man is me. And, as you'd expect, I'm nude.
SCENARIO 3:
I'm kneeling in front of a proud and haughty Lisa Auclair. She's dressed in the fluffiest and frilliest of royal garbs.
"Did I not say that the next time we met you'd be kneeling before me?"
"Of course Lady Auclair. Your foresight is unmatched. Your beauty, unmarred. I can do naught but kneel in your presence. Forgive my past transgressions, I beg of thee."
"Oh, I don't know…Should I? Whatever shall I do?"
She sneers. I sob uncontrollably. And of course, I'm completely nude.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE:
"To my dismay I'm nude? As expected I'm nude? And of course, I'm nude? What is this shit? I was nude in every scene."
The up and coming film star Ken rushes into the director's office to file his complaints directly. He had taken this acting job, because he believed in the director's original vision. He believed that his own talents would shine all the brighter in the hands of this respected master and that it'd be his stepping stone to stardom. But with these recent revisions to the script he was beginning to doubt the director still had control of the film, and that Ken himself still had control of his own destiny.
"This wasn't in the original script! No one will ever take me seriously in this business again, because of this!"
"I'm sorry Kenny boy, but it is what it is."
Mr.Director puts his feet up and takes a long drag on his cigar behind his big mahogany desk.
"You think I like this? You think I've got any say in the matter? When the big wigs call, you answer. When they want change, you make change and it sticks. That's the way the world works, kid. Welcome to the big leagues."
"Screw your big leagues. Your people will be hearing from my people!"
*SLAM*
My actor persona storms out of the director's office and locks himself into his modest private trailer. The interns and coffee fetchers are sent to retrieve him, but to no avail. Since our star refuses to return to set, production is halted and the image training comes to a close.
- -END OF IMAGE TRAINING - -
All these scenarios where I'm nude….damnit Suzu. I think I've been inceptioned by that nudist obsessed cat lady. Sigh, Lisa though….I haven't seen or heard about what's been going on with her side of things. Considering it's her, not having heard anything is pretty scary in itself. I hope everything's alright….I just hope she hasn't done anything too drastic. I'll just have to hope for the best and see what she has to say tomorrow. Man, I'm really putting all the responsibility on the girls here. I didn't come through in the end. Not when it mattered. There's only tomorrow left, but what can be done at this point? What can I do in a day's time?
*Beep beep beep*
My thoughts are interrupted by the beeping sound at the crosswalk signaling me to cross. I clear my head of all thoughts, look both ways, and focus only on the steps taken on the road. Something my father taught me when I was younger was the importance of crossings, both literal and figurative.
"It's important to take heed of these moments. Look both ways, note every step, and clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts. Focus only on the present", dad said.
It's something I took to heart considering all the shit that's happened to me at crosswalks - primarily getting into fights. If I had cleared my mind and focused on the present, I wouldn't have bumped into so many people and caused so much needless bloodshed. That's why I treat crosswalks as a holy ceremony of sorts these days, something sacred. It's one of the few things that I put under the label of divine, besides my vision of an ideal highschool life, and Sensei of course.
Focused on the now, I take in a breath of the brisk evening air. I feel the pavement under the weight of each deliberate step. I scan my surroundings, seeing what's directly ahead of me, but also looking further to what's on the horizon.
That's when I notice a group of rowdy young men on the other side of the street. There are eight of them. Half of them are bigger, smoking cigarettes, sporting hairstyles that go against school regulations, and wearing matching black tracksuits - probably lowlifes. They are surrounding the other half who are wearing school uniforms, the same one I'm wearing. They are fellow first years of Bakageta High. As I walk closer I can overhear what sounds like an unfriendly conversation. The kind of unfriendly crosswalk conversations that I once grew accustomed to. The kind of conversation that leads to an all too familiar bloody scene.
Thug A: "You bumped into my friend here and you don't even have any cash to reimburse him for his troubles…..That's just rude."
Thug B: "Rude I tell ya. What's Japan coming to?"
Thug C: "We're gonna have to fuck you up for that you understand right? For the culture."
Thug B: "Right? For the culture."
Freshman A: "Eeep!"
Thug D: "Ah look, these highschoolers are scared HA! I don't think they've gotten their asses kicked before. May be doin them a favor."
Thug D takes a drag of his cigarette.
Thug D: "They should be thankin us. Yeah, thank us. Come on, thank your kind senpai here."
Thug A: "Ha ya, thank us."
Thug A blows a thick cloud of smoke in Freshman A's face.
Freshman A: *Cough Cough*
Thug C: "For the culture."
Thug B: "Hehehehehehe."
Freshman B: "We're sorry. Please let us go."
Thug D slowly and meticulously puts his cigarette out on freshman B's forehead.
Thug D: "Bzzt, wrong."
Thug C gives a swift strong knee to the stomach of freshman C.
Thug D: "I said to thank us didn't I? Why are you apologizing? Are all Bakageta High kids this stupid? Fine then, let this Senpai teach you the difference between being thankful and being sorry."
Thug B grabs the kneed freshman(freshman C) by the roots of his hair and holds him aloft for Thug A to Wail on. Thug A winds up to punch the freshman's face and lets it rip, but before it can connect it's caught!!! Caught by me - Ken Furukawa.
Can't believe I caught it. It actually kind of hurts. It's been awhile.
When I saw fists about to fly my body reacted on instinct. It was happening again. Another crosswalk incident, bound to end in bloodshed and I was in the middle of it. Crosswalks are no joke.
It appears I have failed you once again father. Forgive me. Now what?
Freshman A: "What's that?"
Freshman D: "Where'd he come from?"
Thug D: "Oi, who are you? Let go. You trying to hold my hand?"
Thug C: "Look, he's got a crush. How sweet, kekekeke."
Thug B: "A crush, keke."
Thug A: "But it's a dude….though…he does have pretty blonde hair. Maybe put a nice dress on him….that can work."
Thug C: "Bro, ever since you got out of jail your tastes have been different…."
Thug B: "Kekeke."
Thug C: "It's not funny…."
Thug A: "Hey man, don't judge me."
*Blush*
Thug D: "Whatever. Anyway blondie, let go of my hand now and you'll still be breathing when I'm done beating you."
Thug A: "Why haven't you broken free yet, anyway? Fallen for him? Hey, let me hold his hand, it looks soft."
Thug D: "I don't know. This dude's got a pretty strong gri-ARF!"
I couldn't take it anymore so I punched Thug D in his stupid face. The cigarette he was smoking soars through the air and into Thug B's eye.
Thug B: "Argh!"
Thug D's two front teeth fall out of his mouth and settle onto the pavement. Shortly after Thug D himself crumples to the floor, no longer moving.
You want to put a dress on me? You think I'm soft? Screw you, I'm not your prison bitch!
"I'm out here trying to live my best highschool life, I don't need to take this!"
Thug C: "What is he saying?"
Thug A: "Kill'em already!"
Thug B: "Why yoU!"
*Smack*
*Kick*
*Pow*
*Slam*
Thug B, C, and A throw away their cigarettes and all try rushing me at once. Thug B reaches me first and I slap him as hard as I can with an open right palm. The sound of it disarms the other two causing them to halt in the tracks. I take advantage of the opening, connecting a spin kick to Thug C's stomach. Thug A no longer hesitating goes for a tackle. I take the hit and stand my ground. I return the favor lifting him up and over my head and slamming him into the ground with a German suplex. Thug C and A now join Thug D motionless on the ground. Seeing this, Thug B holds his sore cheek and cries while fleeing the scene. I had done it again. Another chapter in my long dark crosswalk history.
***