CHAPTER 5
Mitsuko's Arrow
I didn't sleep well last night. I played Digital Sin Online until 2am, practicing what Maya taught me. I even landed a few headshots! I logged off and laid in bed, staring at the black ceiling for two hours. Maybe I should have practiced with actual moving targets?...
My alarm goes off. Wake up, get up, get out there. The dying sun is rising. I look out at the gray sky. A bird drone opens its mouth and sprays the outside of my window with soapy water. My brain feels foggy, just like the foam blocking the vague sunlight. I chug my last two 4 oz cans of Mad Bull and head to school.
Mitsuko's hair is tied up with a blue ribbon that matches her eyes. She's not wearing any tights today. I can see what my classmates on the volleyball team were gossiping about… Mitsuko's legs look powerful… Her crossed thighs flex with each movement, clear striations between her hamstrings and quads, and her calves are…
"Jin Hazuki?!" Ms. Ogawa yells.
I turn my attention to her, my face flushed and fearing the worst. "Yes?" I reply, my voice quivering.
"Y-y-yesss?" Mitsuko whispers mockingly. My classmates chuckle.
"I called you three times…" Ms. Ogawa pinches her nose bridge and irritably repeats the question. "What is the layer of radiation above the Earth called?"
"The Van Allen belt," I reply rapidly.
Ms. Ogawa's stress leaves her face. "Well done. Yes, the Van Allen belt is…"
In the corner of my eye I see two blue planets. I shift just enough to witness Mitsuko piercing me with her diamond dust gaze. I freeze. I wait a while, pretending to pay attention to Ms. Ogawa… I see at the bottom of my field-of-vision Mitsuko's bare ankle hovering in the air, twirling clockwise. I try my best to focus forward, but my mind is on that minuscule lower fragment.
I think she's still staring at me. Sweat slides down my forehead. I look at the clock. Two minutes until the bell… It rings. The longest two minutes of my life. I grab my books with my back turned toward Mitsuko. I rush outside of class.
I head to the auditorium where the Digital Sin Online competition is being held. It's only 12pm. I have 5 hours to practice. Zenith's are set up on the front-row chairs. I login and practice.
2:45pm. I take my headset off. The auditorium is now full of other competitors practicing. I get up and pretend to go use the bathroom. I head outside to the soccer field where the archery tournament is taking place.
The bleachers are full of spectators; students, parents, friends and faculty members. Archers line up on wooden platforms in the grass. The targets are 25 meters away. To my disappointment, none are wearing the traditional kyudo uniform like the one in the flyer.
I don't see Mitsuko. Did I come too late? A guy from another school shoots his bow. He barely hits the target. I try not to judge; I've never shot a bow outside of Digital Sin Online. The guy gloats to his cheering comrades and walks off the platform.
Mitsuko takes his spot. She's mesmerizing. Her blonde hair is down, elegantly reaching past her hips. She's wearing a blue kimono with black hakama pants. Every girl in school is jealous of her beauty. Every guy devises pick-up lines for later. Mitsuko looks focused.
I hear our classmates on the bleachers next to me. "Whoo! Mitsuko, let's go!" She gives them a humble wave. Our eyes lock together. I blush, but I'm far enough away that I have the strength to maintain her gaze. She can't possibly be looking at me. I see what looks like a smirk. My pitiful imagination.
"Mitsuko Williams!" an announcer calls enthusiastically. Mitsuko takes her time setting up. She pulls the string against her lips. The world is silent.
Choo, Mitsuko releases the arrow. Her blonde hair dances in the wind. Doo. Bullseye. The crowd cheers for a second then retracts back to silence. Another bullseye. Then another. Her final two arrows cluster next to the others.
She has a total of 50 points; a perfect score. Bebop Academy cheers, but our class is the loudest. I smile and clap. She faces the applauding crowd, gracefully bows and retreats to the back. The cheering continues until she's gone.
The scores are in. Mitsuko is the winner! She looks like a goddess standing atop the first place podium, her hair flowing like petals in the wind. A gold medal is slung around her neck. She is the new pride of Bebop Academy. She gets surrounded by people. I wish I had the courage to congratulate her, but she probably doesn't want my praise.
I slink back to the auditorium filled with headset-wearing students.