Episode 4: Like Male, Like Female
Part 1: Hardball, Corner Pocket
Nightfall on Tenjin Island. The moon illuminated the entire seaside. The trees and the mountains were mellowed out to create a haven. All was calm...
Until a body washed up on the shore. His clothes were gone. His body covered in blood and scars. All reserve strength diverted to survival, gone. He was on the brink of death.
And yet, he still crawled forward. He was desperate to find any kind of shelter he can. After the harsh scuffle he recently suffered, if he doesn't find refuge soon, he will tip below the brink and die. He knows that. Yet his body doesn't. It is ordering his brain to shut down and allow time for rest. But his brain and his heart have put his body on hyperdrive; they will not rest until the bones start withering. He fought himself with all his might. But alas, it was only enough to get him behind the green. And even then, he had to cross the piercing threshold of well-grown bushes that pricked his skin and caused him even more pain. He bit down on his free arm hard to prevent himself from making a ruckus. This struggle continued for almost an hour, before he finally gave in. He collapsed on the grass and fainted, waiting for the moment when he would leave for another world.
That moment would not come so easily. After some time, he finally came to. He slowly opened his eyes and warmed up to the softness of the sunrise's touch.
"Nnn...Am I...in heaven?..."
"No, you're still here." A female voice echoed in his mind.
"Really?...But everything...seems...so radiant...so bright..."
"That's because it's morning. On the Tokyo coastline."
"Huh?" That surprised him. He quickly sat himself up- "AAAAAGH!" -but his broken rib prevented him from doing so.
"No, don't be so brash! You have to take it easy!" The woman pushed him down, squeezed his hand, and shoved her arm into his mouth to silence him as much as possible. He was squirming around, desperate to find a way to expel this pain out of his body. Finally, she pinned him down with her knee and took out a tranquilizer. She jammed it in his neck, and he began to calm down immediately. "Ugh...finally," she let go of him.
"Oh man..." Sokoto finally grabbed some air. Most of the pain and nearly all of the feeling in his body were gone, though he could still feel that rib piercing his insides, "Hey...what was inside that thing, anyway?"
"Just shut up," the woman said as she 'operated' on Sokoto, "Oh, and you might need this," she stuffed a rather large mouthpiece in his cake hole. With his most excitable body parts completely numb, she could proceed without any more interruptions. She felt around the injured area and found the target rib. She immediately stuck a needle inside it, which prompted Sokoto to let out a muffled yelp. She slowly drew the needle back, trying to move the broken rib back into place. While she maneuvered the rib, she administered another injection directly at the site of the fracture. That made Sokoto howl. And since he can't move his body at all, he felt like he was watching someone cannibalize his ribs.
Five grueling minutes later, she finished the operation. She took the needle out of him and placed a small patch on the wound.
Sokoto felt a surge of pleasure now that the pain was completely gone. He felt her remove his mouthpiece, and sputtered all manners of saliva all over the area beside him. He laughed it off, "Oh, ho ho ho ho...What the hell were you trying to do, woman?..."
"You can still walk around normally," the woman stately said, "but please don't do anything stupidly dangerous or stupidly dangerous for at least a week."
"Really?...That's all the info I get, huh?...Ok...Mind telling me why you even-" The moment he turned to her, she was gone. Without a trace. He stood himself up, fighting the pain after the fight and the operation. He went to the sealing to check his surroundings. She's not here anymore. How could she have disappeared like that? He didn't even get a good look at her because he was crying like a pansy. How was he going to track her down? Well, he can't, not in this condition, or this situation. The only thing she left him is a lunchbox full of money, some new clothes, bath house tokens, and a message saying, "I'll come get you once things have settled down. Again, try not to act your usually self." Finally, some sound advice that even Sokoto has to take into consideration. I mean, the cops must be going irate by now; they probably got eyes in the sky, hunting him down with every single bit of woman power they can find or steal.
"Well, not gonna get anywhere hobbling like this. Come on Silvia, let's-" He can't feel anything around his neck! "Hey! Where'd you get off to?!" Oh, yeah. That weird rabbit girl snatched her away from him. "No choice but to continue on foot...Let's try to get moving, then!" He hauled himself along the path, enduring the throbbing after-fight pain.
Man, the trip off the beach and into the city was even more painful than he thought. Every step he took felt like someone shoved a needle into his feet. Even the slightest movement of his arms or head would send a jarring signal throughout the entire body. And when he finally entered the streets, it got much, much worse. The streets were crowded with people, to the point where there was absolutely no elbow room to squeeze in. And it really shows; he was trying his damnedest to hide the pain, lest he scream out loud and attract any unnecessary attention. Somehow, he was able to survive all the way to the ferry and relax the entire way to the mainland.
Somehow...yes. For the entirety of the ferry ride, he had the most uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Not just because of his near-death encounter with what he'd call a chickadee psychopathic jokester, but because of the woman who healed him, and the people whom he fought with on that weird island. How did they find him so quickly? They couldn't have found him without eyes on the streets. If that's the case, then who can he trust? Anybody could be a spy for the government, or one of those crazy terrorist organizations. He slowly scanned the audience. The ferry occupancy was almost completely female-dominated. Most of them resorted to the indoor cabins, while the men remained outdoors to soak in the seawater and the sun. Nobody out of the ordinary, and no signs of spy activity. And yet, the atmosphere was tensed. Not much of a relaxing joyride, but it'll have to do, since it's the closest thing one can get to a comfortable seaside adventure.
Once the ferry landed, he slowly eased himself onto the dock, taking a breath of fresh air-
"Move it, deadbeat," someone shoved her elbow into his head, "We don't have time for your stupidity."
"Ack! What gives?! What's your problem?!"
"What's YOUR problem? Why are you even shoving your dirty face into my dress?"
"Fine. I'll go now."
"No, you won't," she grabbed his hair, "Security!"
"What's the problem?" A female officer arrived on scene, but then she caught wind of you-know-who, "Oh, dear God. What is your springy ass doing on this vessel?"
"What?" Sokoto asked, "Is there a law against me riding a giant boat?"
Well, that stunned them. Momentarily. Before she grabbed his shirt and yanked him over.
"Now, you listen here, punk," she growled, "This is my turf. My law. My word is final. If I ever see your dirty face around here again, I'll whip you so hard, you'll be screaming for that bullet."
Sokoto was about to crack a joke, but then he remembered that woman's words. He has to allow time for his body to fully recover, or else he'll be in worse shape than when he emerged from the compound.
"Right, right," he swallowed some of his pride, "Stay away from the ferry. Got it."
"What you got in that much box, boy?"
"What this? Whoa-hey!" She pushed him down and swiped it from him. She checked inside. Nothing.
"Well, looks like your mama done a good deed taking away your lunch," she spat on his face and chucked the box at his hair, "Get your ass outta the dock before I change my mind."
He simply got up and left, leaving the box behind. The officer noticed that box and lit up an evil smile. She threw it at him.
"Ok," he said silently, "Now I'm just baffled." He tilted his head to avoid the hit, and caught it. The woman and the officer saw everything and donned an outraged demeanor. They tried to go after him, but he was already lost in the crowd of pedestrians.
"Tch...amateurs," Sokoto couldn't resist after all. He could still act like his usual self; just keep it on the down-low, and no one will notice. Yeah, I'm positive no one will notice the unusually large wads of who-knows-what inside your pockets.
After an awkward bus ride, the next stop was the bath house, which, thankfully, still had two entrances to go off from. He walked up the the men's side, but it had an OUT OF ORDER sign plastered across the doorway.
"Huh?" What gives? The other side's working just fine! Why you gotta call end-of-game on this side?! Oh, don't tell me...
"Excuse me, miss? Is there any reason why the men's side is out of order?"
"Oh. We're destroying it."
"Say, wuh?"
"Calm down! It's not like you need a bath, anyway! In fact, you'll always be filthy no matter what you do." Again with the male smack-talk. What's their grill, anyways?! Why do men hate women?!
Sokoto checked all around him until he was sure no one could spot him. Then, he hopped himself over the fence and made a quick five-minute freshen-up session.
When he hopped back over, he was as cleaned as a schoolboy making his first impressions. Matter of fact, he was disguised as one, too. He couldn't believe how drastic a change a clothing switch could make. Toss in a shower, and, well, he was invisible to his hunters. Well, almost. He has to do something about that hair. He found a knife and sliced off a portion of his hair to make it less like a hedgehog and more like a school rebel. Now, he was ready to infiltrate the city! And what better place to start than a school!
Ōgusu High. The first stop on the "Gender Conflict Exploitation Expedition" (Thank you, Sokoto for the clever terminology)! Good God, what possible antics could occur on this trip!
"Ok," he said, gripping his lunchbox tightly, "Gotta find a way to gather info on the local scene." He walked through the gates and surveyed the immediate area.
The place was renovated to fit the futuristic age, but it still had its humble roots displayed. It had information tickers and 3-D projectors littered about the sidewalks, while grass and trees populated the inner areas of the courtyard, serving as barriers to the open spaces that are used as recreational grounds for students who want to catch a breath.
"Dang...what kind of whacko decided to go the Hi-tech interior design route?" Within two seconds, he completely forgot that there were people tailing his every presence to pin him down. He went full-on transfer-student-slash-tourist mode, exploring every nook and cranny of the courtyard, peeking under every bench and tree, and just plain marveling at the splendor of school life.
"Hey, you! What are you doing?! Orientation starts in fifteen minutes! Get inside now!"
"YIPE! Uh, yes, ma'am!" Um, hello? Did you forget why you're here? IS renegade pilot, ladies and gentlemen...
Inside the school's main gymnasium, it was the usual meet-and-greet. Staff and faculty meeting students and their parents; giggly girls talking about their next victim of love, it seems like; and calm and collected boys planning their next steps into the future or into the headlines of the school newspaper. Yep. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Except that the females outnumber the males by only a small margin, this time. What's up with that little stat?
He approached a dude since all the girls he talked to were overgrown tumors, "Yo, what's the word on the scene?" Really?
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm new to this area, so I was wondering if there's anyone who's familiar with the events happening around this school." Nice adjustment. Now, for the love of society, KEEP IT THAT WAY!
"Oh, that's all. Well, it just so happens that I'm the sponsor to the Chairman of Relations in Kanagawa Prefecture. I'll be able to tell you about everything on this front if you need it."
"Ok, thanks a lot. I'll be asking for your help since I get the stiff legs and overactive mind."
"Yeah, I get that a lot, too. What's your name?"
NAME?! Oh, man. He can't use his regular name, can he?! They might know his face, but no one's ever found his name, right?! Only one way to find out...
"I'm Fukuyama Sokoto."
"Sokoto? That's a weird name." Whew...close one!
"Is there a problem with my name?" And he dropped his guard. Kinda have to if you wanna fit in.
"Well, no, but there's this chick I met with a name Mikasa."
"What the-seriously?!"
"Yanaga! Yanaga Shinto!" A female voice boomed over the gym, "Get up here! We're about to start!"
"Uh-sure! See you at lunch, Sokoto!" Shinto scurried off to the stage area.
"Ehh...sure..." Wel, that wasn't too bad. Hard to find a stoic, level-headed human being nowadays!
During lunch, Sokoto got it off with some of the male students. He cracked all sorts of jokes and one-liners about the surroundings of the campus, how women and men are destined to conflict like Black Friday, whatever he could come up with. Thankfully, he remembered that he could be spied on, so he kept the laughs to a moderate, and the jokes away from the past couple weeks. His banter got the attention of some of the female members of the student body, who looked on with either jealous, curiosity, or disdain.
After lunch, there was a campus tour, but Shinto received special permission to personally tour Sokoto.
"Yo, Shinto! Can't believe it's been five minutes since I last saw you!"
"Likewise! How could I not resist that charm you cast on the entire freshmen class back there!"
"So, who are these two fellas?"
"Well, this is Nashima Misato of the Beautification Club, and Honda Kazuo of the Tennis Club." Greetings exchanged.
After that, the tours continued, with the added bonus of touring the new wings only built a couple years ago. Fully furnished, up-to-date, and waiting for the students to populate. And, of course, Sokoto cannot believe that he missed out on this part of his childhood. He walked with Shinto and the gang, wide-eyed and mouth agape. Finally, they came to an old classroom that never really got any touch of the times.
"Whoa...you'd think someone would dust off the crack of this place, but who overlooks something like this?" Sokoto asked.
"Well, that's because we had a horrible incident occur here," Misato noted, "Someone was bullied to the point of drop-out and isolation from our society. I petitioned for a complete renovation, but he Beautification Club would have none of it for some reason."
"Wait-I thought you're the president of-"
"Vice, actually..."
"Oh." Sheepish, then investigative, "Well, if no one's been in this room for decades, it must've had time to change since that incident. Maybe its impact won't be so profound now."
"Well, we can't know that for sure," Shinto commented, "and I doubt we'll want to know at all."
"That so?" Sokoto made up his mind now, "Then, I'm gonna be the first to break the mold and force them to know it all and make a decision on it!"
"Wait-What?!"
"Sokoto, don't be so brash!" Kazuo tried to stop him, "We're not even sure if we can escape that room unscathed!"
"Well, I'm not gonna let some school's overaged dandruff collection stop me! I'm gonna find that jewel no matter what!" Sokoto, ew.
"Alright..." Misato gave up, "Be our guest. Shinto?"
"Fine," Shinto grudgingly stepped aside, "But don't blame me if we get caught or you get expelled."
"I know what I'm doing!" Sokoto reassured his fellow comrades as he shoved open the door.
What the heck? It is dark, dank, and very dusty...but it's empty. Nothing here but what you'd find in a regular classroom. But there was one blatant exception to that statement: a single desk. Sokoto cautiously approached it. He could see some writings on it, but what were they? He got in even closer to get a better view. Then, he saw it. The secret that those three had warned him about.
That desk was covered in ink. That ink formed the most brutal insults you can imagine: PLEASE HURRY UP AND DIE, YOU CREEP, GROSS, DIE, PIG, C*** ADDICT, S***, GO AWAY, B****, PIECE OF S***, F******* S***, W****, PERVERT, etc.
"Wha...what is this?..." Sokoto could not believe his eyes. Why would they do something like this? Did someone amass so much hatred for one single person that someone actually formulated a plan to get rid of that student? And why the words on the desk?
"You like what we spiced up, there, don'tcha?" Sokoto heard Kazuo's voice behind him. Before he could react, the door shut. "Of course, no one knows it's us." Sokoto sensed three presences in the now blackened room. He got tense. They did this? Why? They seemed like such a nice bunch of friends, too!
"You wanna know why, right?" This time, it was Shinto's voice, "We saw that s*** waltz right outta the love hotel like it ain't nothing. Little b**** hogged up all the action to herself and didn't let us in on the action. We got a slice of that ass, and for what? A bleeding heart and a cover up."
"You guys?" Sokoto was now awestruck and frightened at the same time, "Y'all know what kind of position this puts you in, right? That was a human life you just took-"
"Who the f*** cares?!" Misato's voice boomed, "She was just a little b****, born one and died one, God f****** rest her soul!"
"Do you have any idea what they've done to us?! DO YOU?!" Shinto menacingly hissed, "Ever since that f****** b**** Rabbit-head introduced the IS to the world, everyone stared cowering under those giant breasts and stuck-up lipstick!"
"Rabbit-head..." Sokoto recognized that woman...
"That s***head f****** ruined us!" Kazuo stepped in, "At every turn, we men are being looked down on and spat upon! Those b****** need to be reminded who's in charge around here!"
"And something tells me you've experienced that pain as well," Shinto played to Sokoto's emotions, "That pain of being suffocated under those nails of the f****** wench and getting your balls clawed at...We know you deserve better..."
"Join us, Sokoto..." Kazuo was in a state of a trance, "Together, we can finally end their b******* on us and reassert our dominance. As we have the right."
"IT'S THE C***-F****** WHO SHOULD RULE THIS G****** WORLD!" Misato was losing it, "NOT THOSE C*** S****** S****!"
"Join us, Sokoto," Shinto said once more, "And we will assure you, you will rise to lead the students out of this hell hole they call society and into the ideal world that you envision."
"I see..." Sokoto made an agreeing gesture, "I get it now. Everything that's been happening...it all makes sense..."
"Yeah," Shinto reclaimed his level-headed state, "We need another inside guy like you to get the dirt on those b****** here who whip us like f****** pigs."
"We can't go on like this," Kazuo joined in, "under the heel of the female..."
"We ned your help," Misato chimed, "We need your-"
"Save it," Sokoto stopped them, "I've heard enough. I'll join in."
"Really?!" Misato exclaimed.
"Finally! We can strike back against the president!" Kazuo cheered.
"Good," Shinto nodded, "We just need to get you set up, and you'll be ready to fight back."
"Ok!" Sokoto said, "But I just have one tiny request for all three of you."
Those three stopped.
"Well, now's the time," Kazuo said, "Speak now, or forever hold your peace until men rule again."
ONE HOUR LATER...
Sokoto was in the town square, leaning against a wall, beside a window with a TV that displayed the news report. Eyes closed, arms folded, and listening to the news anchor woman anchoring away:
"We've confirmed just a few minutes ago that three dead bodies have been found inside Ōgusu High School's forbidden wing. The bodies have been identified as Yanaga Shinto, Nashima Misato , and Honda Kazuo, all of which are staff of the school and sponsors of the local clubs there. What's more revealing is that these three had been shoved down the legs of a desk that bore very disturbing remarks that seem to be directed towards a former student of Ōgusu High. The Kanagawa Prefecture Police Department has been asked to investigate this matter during the school's orientation~~~"
"Well, what was I supposed to do, Silvia?" Sokoto said to himself, "The ladies may be bickering butt sticks, but these guys literally took someone's life. The way the world is now, I can't let anyone get away with it." He stopped himself and gave a moment of silence, as if to pretend to let someone else talk. After about fifteen seconds, he continued his useless banter with: "Dude, everyone's hands were dirty way before that time. Hell, MY hands were dirty WAAAAAY before I found you! And even then, you didn't mind it during your escape from Scientific Hell!" Another few seconds of silence before he realized he didn't have his collar or his bracelet anymore, but he still kept the illusion going, "C'mon, Silvia. Let's find that bath house again. I feel like I'm gonna have scrub both of us off for twelve hours straight."
And he just left while the newscast trailed away...