Sovereign: This is my way of kicking off the New Year and celebrating Makoto Shinkai's recent announcement of his next film which I absolutely cannot wait. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own The Garden of Words, Makoto Shinkai does.
Also, special thanks to Phi for drawing this story's cover artwork for me! Check out her Instagram at www dot Instagram dot com/heyphifi/ and her tumblr at phi-fi dot tumblr dot com
To Walk Again
The New Teacher Part 1
Takao Akizuki was rudely woken up from his sleep shortly after his phone rang. He moans as he turns to the side and places his hand down on his phone. After turning off the alarm, Takao adjusts himself back to his original position and looks back at the ceiling. He lets out a sigh, knowing that today is the first day of a new school year in Japan. But after everything that had happened to him last year, he is honestly not looking forward to it.
After removing the sheets from his body as he sits up from his futon, Takao lowers his head and murmured, "Everything is going to be fine."
It took less than fifteen minutes for Takao to brush his teeth and change into his uniform. He steps out of the bathroom and quietly walks into the dining room. He finds his mother, sitting at the table and watching the news on a small flat-screen television mounted on the wall while drinking a can of beer.
"Good morning mom." Takao greeted her. His mother responded with a moan as she takes a sip of her beer.
Takao quietly walks past her and heads over to the fridge to grab some fresh vegetables and a jar of honey mustard. After closing the fridge, he walks over to the kitchen counter and places the vegetables and honey mustard jar down before grabbing the loaf of bread placed at the side. He begins preparing the sandwich which he will be eating for lunch later. He applies the mustard on a loaf of bread before putting the butter knife aside and grabs a larger knife to cut the vegetables. After carefully cutting the tomatoes and lettuce leaves into neat and thin slices, he places them on the bread and finishes it by putting the other loaf on top of them.
"Takao, please don't get yourself into trouble in school again." His mother said dully with her eyes fixated on the television.
"I won't." Takao replied as he grabs his empty lunchbox and opens the lid.
"Can you promise me that?!" His mother suddenly raised her voice as she turns to her son.
Takao flinched for a moment before replying, "Yes mother."
As he carefully places his sandwich into his lunch box, another person enters the dining room as he adjusts his tie. Unlike Takao, his hair is neat and he wears glasses and a business suit. When the man sees Takao standing at the counter, he greeted his younger brother, "Good morning Takao."
"Good morning Shouta." Takao replied to his adult brother who is eleven years older than him.
Shouta turns to his mother and his smile instantly vanished. "Good morning mom." He said. His mother snorts as she turns back to the television and takes another sip of her beer. Shouta sighs as he turns to the fridge and opens it. He frowns as he sees the entire lower shelf is hogged with cans of beer. "Seriously mom? Drinking beer again in the morning?"
His mother slams her can on the dining table and scoffed, "Why do you care? Don't you have your girlfriend to attend to?"
"Please don't bring Rika up right now." Shouta said flatly, closing the fridge after grabbing the bottle of milk.
Knowing that another argument between his mother and older brother is about to erupt, Takao quickly closes his lunch box and hurriedly walks out of the dining room without making any eye contact with his relatives.
"Tch. You really are just like your father." His mother said scornfully. "Abandoning me because he only thinks about himself and his job, and now you are planning to do the same thing by eventually marrying her and leaving me and your brother behind. Repulsive."
"Excuse you!" Shouta flared up as he stomps his foot. "At least when I have problems, I don't go drinking and lying around, hoping for a miracle to come!"
"Shut up!" His mother snapped at her older son as she got up from her chair. "Who's going to take care of me and Takao when you are no longer around?!"
"Then go get a job!" Shouta shouted as he slams the bottle of milk on the dining table. "I want to be with Rika for the rest of my life and that's final!"
"Why? Because you care more about her than your own mother? If that's the case, I rather not have one so you won't have to move out!"
"How much more selfish can you be?!"
"Who's more selfish?!"
While Shouta and their mother continue their argument, Takao steps out of his room after grabbing his schoolbag and quickly makes his way to the door. After stepping out of the house, Takao took one last glance of his mother and older brother shouting at each other before closing the door shut. He sighed inwardly before turning and walking his way down the corridor.
'What a way to start the year.'
Takao quietly walks through the streets of Shinjuku, dwelling over what had happened.
It has been nearly two years since his parents divorced. He was in his final year of junior high when they made the decision to break up. As his father spent more time with his work than his family, their marriage gradually collapsed. Things certainly didn't get any better after the divorce. The financial debts soon piled up for the Akizuki family and as a single parent, his mother struggled to work twice as hard as an administrative worker in a local university to support her sons and make ends meet. The pressure of working to support her family and being constantly reminded of her failed relationship with her ex-husband gradually deteriorate his mother's mental health, and she soon found herself drowning in alcohol in an attempt to wipe away her sorrows and depression.
Her alcoholism only damaged her mentality further, to the point that she would now constantly get into arguments with Shouta and she was eventually fired from her job due to her frequent disruptive behavior. She is now unemployed and still drowning herself in alcohol every day at home, which means his older brother is now the only person left to support the family. But recently, Shouta announced that he has gotten into a romantic relationship with his co-worker, Rika Teramoto. The announcement displeases his mother as she believes that they may eventually marry and move out of the apartment, leaving her and Takao behind.
While Takao respects his brother's romantic relationship with Rika, he knows that Shouta also wish to marry the love of his life and become fully independent so that he can move out of their apartment and no longer have to deal with their problematic mother. But what will happen to him when he does? Right now, Takao is only 15 years old and currently studying his second year of high school. If Shouta moves out, he will become the only person left in the apartment who still lives with his mother. But with his mother being a heavy alcoholic and not having the desire to look for another job, how can Takao possibly take care of her and tolerate her violent behavior all by himself?
The constant arguments between Shouta and his mother, and the dwelling of his family's uncertain future, have greatly affected Takao's personal life. He couldn't concentrate on his studies throughout most of the first year of high school, and this was greatly reflected upon when he failed his final exams. Now, he is heading to school to begin his second year, and after everything that had happened to him last year, he dreads what the future will hold for him. Will he end up failing his exams again? Will the tensions within his family get even worse? And what will happen to him after his brother leaves? How can he think of taking care of himself and his mother if he couldn't graduate from high school with flying colors?
Takao sighed heavily. He kept wishing every morning that things will get better for him and his family, but they don't. And sadly, after what just happened back home, it seems things won't get much easier as the days go by. The only thing he could do is live through it no matter how emotionally painful it is for him.
Before he knew it, he arrived at the gates of Shinjuku High School. Takao gaze at the school building for a few moments before letting out another heavy sigh and walk through the open gates.
"Hey Takao!"
Takao yelps as he suddenly felt an arm wrapped around his back. He turns his head and sees a boy with dark tan hair who is a few inches taller than him flashing a mischievous grin at him.
"Hey Matsumoto." Takao greeted flatly.
"Nice to see you again, Akizuki-kun."
The two boys turn to their left to see a girl with long chocolate brown hair walking over to Takao's side.
"Good morning, Satou." Takao responded to the girl.
"So, how was your winter break?" Matsumoto asked as Takao gently removes his arm from his back.
"It was alright. I mostly stayed at home with my family." Takao mumbled.
"Are things okay with you and your family during the winter?" Satou asked with her hands placed behind her back.
"Sort of." Takao replied. He paused for a moment before asking his friends, "What about you guys?"
"My family and I travelled to Bali for the holidays." Matsumoto replied as the three friends begin walking over to the main school building.
"And my family and I went to Gold Coast, Australia!" Satou said, smiling cheerfully.
Takao chuckled and said to his friends, "No wonder you two look like you got a tan." Satou giggled in response.
"Anyways, I'm just glad we are all back together and studying in the same class again this year!" Satou said enthusiastically.
"Joy." Takao said sarcastically.
"I can't wait to see our teachers again too. It's nice to know we are getting the same ones as last year." Satou said.
"But I heard we are getting a new literature teacher this year." Matsumoto said.
"Really?" Satou momentarily widens her eyes before lowering her head in disappointment. "That's a shame. I did like Endo-sensei's lessons. But I hope our newest literature teacher will be just as enjoyable as him."
"Oh literature." Takao rolls his eyes. "Never was my favorite subject."
"I wonder how our new teacher looks like." Matsumoto said.
While Takao and his friends enter the main building of their school, a young woman walks past the metal gates. The woman has dark brown chin-length hair, carries a purplish-gray leather bag over her left shoulder and dressed in a light pink long-sleeved jacket with a white shirt underneath, a light yellow ribbon tied loosely around its collar, dark grey pants and black high heel shoes. Shortly after entering the premises of the school, the woman came to a halt and looks up at the main building of Shinjuku High School. A smile takes form on her face as she gazes at the building that immediately brought her many nostalgic memories.
"I'm back."
Takao and his friends walk through the school hallways as they make their way to their classroom. While they are walking, the three friends continue discussing how their new literature teacher would look like.
"Maybe she's a woman with long elegant black hair and a fine body." Matsumoto smirked as he rubs his chin.
Takao rolls his eyes as Satou said, "Or maybe he's a middle-aged man with glasses and a huge body size."
"Or maybe a man with short hair and a moustache." Takao suggested.
"Like you if you are older?" Matsumoto teased. Takao grumbles under his breath while Satou laughed at her friend's joke.
"Nice to see you three looking enthusiastic on your first day of school."
The three friends stop and look up to see a woman dressed in a pink suit, pink skirt and black high heel shoes standing in front of them with her arms folded. She also has brown hair that is tied to a long ponytail.
"Good morning Murasaki-sensei." The three greeted as they bow to her.
"Good morning to all of you. This is your second year of high school and I hope you three have reflected upon your experiences from last year to motivate yourselves to work harder and behave as proper and modest people before entering society." Hitomi Murasaki said sternly to the three students before narrowing her eyes at Takao. "Especially you, Takao Akizuki."
"I understand, Murasaki-sensei." Takao replied solemnly.
"Now then, get to your classroom." Hitomi walks past the three students, making her way to the staffroom.
Takao sighs as he and his friends continue walking down the hallway. "I can't believe she hasn't forgotten about it." He said.
"After what you did last year, you do deserve her scorn." Matsumoto chided him. "You should have thought twice before getting yourself into trouble with the third years."
Takao frowns and lowers his head dejectedly. But only a few seconds later, Matsumoto and Satou place their hands onto his shoulders with smiles on their faces, causing Takao to look back at them.
"Come on Takao, cheer up! This is the first day of a new school year. We should just forget about the past and look forward to the future." Satou said cheerfully.
"That's right. And next time, whenever you have a problem, you can always turn to us." Matsumoto said confidently.
Takao gave a wan smile to Matsumoto and Satou. "Thanks guys, you two really are my friends."
The staffroom is packed with several teachers either working at their stations or packing their files and books, getting ready to head to their respective classrooms and begin their first day of lessons. One particular teacher however is slumbering at her workstation with her arms and head placed on her desk. For a while, everything was calm and peaceful for the teacher as she slept soundly at her desk with a wide dozy smile on her face. Up until Hitomi walks up to her side and leans forward before yelling directly into her left ear.
"FUJIMURA-SAN!"
Taiga Fujimura squeals in shock as she jolts up from her desk and pivots on her chair as she turns to Hitomi.
"Yes, Murasaki-san!" Taiga cried as she gave a salute to the school's dean.
"Seriously?! Sleeping on your first day of work?" Hitomi rebuked with her hands placed at the sides of her hip. "Don't you have any dignity in your profession as a teacher?"
Taiga pouts sheepishly as she ruffles her short light brown hair. "Gomenasai, Murasaki-san."
Hitomi sighs heavily and shakes her head in disdain. "You are working in this school for nearly five years now, Fujimura-san. Stop fooling around and take things seriously." She chided.
Taiga moans as Hitomi walks past her. And only a few seconds later, Taiga's moment of peace was interrupted again when she felt someone giving a gentle tap on her head with a literature textbook.
"Taiga-chan!" The woman in the pink jacket greeted cheerfully.
As the woman removes her book from her head, Taiga looks up at her and a huge smile takes form on her face.
"Yukari-chan!" Taiga said.
Yukari Yukino chuckled and asked, "Didn't sleep well again?"
"My favorite movie was on TV last night, so how can I not resist watching it all the way until the end?" Taiga said before holding a hand in front of her mouth and letting out a heavy yawn.
Yukari shakes her head in amusement. "Well I sure hope you won't stay tired throughout the rest of the day, even during our planned dinner after work." She said to her friend.
"Of course I won't!" Taiga perked up. "I'm never too tired to eat at the greatest ramen shop in all of Tokyo! But anyways, are you ready to give your first literature lesson in a long time?"
"It's been a while, but I still know the ropes of giving a good lecture." Yukari said, smiling confidently.
"You dang well better." Taiga said to her with a lopsided smirk. She stood up from her chair and brushes her long dark green dress before grabbing her leather bag from the floor and glancing at her wristwatch. "Now then, look at the time. I had to get to my own class now. See ya later, Yukari-chan!"
"See you." Yukari said as she holds up her hand.
Taiga places the strap of her leather bag over her left shoulder and walks past her friend. But after only taking a few steps, she turns back to Yukari. "Oh and Yukari-chan…" Her eyes softened as a warm smile plasters across her face. "It's really good to have you back."
"It sure is." Yukari smiled back at her friend. Taiga waves her hand at her before she walks over to the door and leaves the staffroom.
Yukari makes her way to the far corner of the staffroom where her workstation is. She places her leather bag down on the floor and elicits a sigh as she sat down on her chair. She took a moment to look around the staffroom and her lips curved into a blissful smile. Even after she first left Shinjuku High three years ago, the staffroom looks almost exactly the same as she remembered.
Yukari never imagined that she would return to this school again, as well as going back to what she has always fall in love with throughout her life, being a teacher. She will never forget the tragic incident that made her quit teaching at Shinjuku High three years ago. But that is in the past now. Since then, she has been able to regain her strength and self-confidence during the time she left thanks to the help of her friends at her last job. Yukari has become what she is now thanks to them. And after everything they have done for her, she is not planning to disappoint them now.
Yukari went through her leather bag and brought out a small wooden picture frame. She places the frame down at the corner of her desk and gazes at it. It is a group picture of Yukari and her friends at her previous job. Everyone was smiling and standing close to each other as they all stood at the bow of their large metallic gray yacht. Yukari was standing in the middle of it all while her previous boss and second-in-command stood at her sides with their hands place on her shoulders. Two other men stood at the left while two other women are standing at the other side. The picture is the last snapshot she and her friends took together before leaving her previous job. It will forever serve as a powerful reminder of how she was part of a family who helped lift up her spirits and self-confidence again.
As Yukari continue gazing at the picture with a warm smile, her eyes softened as she said to the occupants of the picture who stood alongside her, "Good morning. I hope all of you are doing well."
Takao and his classmates stood up shortly after the school bell rang. They solemnly bow to their teacher and said in unison, "Arigatou, Nanami-sensei."
"Arigatou, minna-san. Get ready for your next lesson." Mr. Nanami said to everyone present in the classroom. Takao and the students sit back down behind their desks while Mr. Nanami makes his way out of the classroom. Takao gave a yawn before putting his social studies textbook under his desk.
"Starting to give up already? We haven't even had recess yet." Matsumoto said to Takao as he sat beside him.
"Maybe I wouldn't feel so tired if things weren't so uninteresting." Takao said flatly as he places his arms on his desk.
"As if you ever find anything in school interesting." Matsumoto smirked at his friend. Takao groans in response. "Well, unfortunately you have to tolerate a little longer, especially since our next lesson is literature."
"Oh great." Takao said sarcastically, holding up his left arm and placing the side of his head onto his hand. But just before he could stare into space, the classroom door slides open. Takao briefly sees Yukari standing at the doorway before he and every student stood up. Yukari walks into the classroom and turns to her students, smiling at them as she walks over to her desk. After placing down her leather bag, she turns around and grabs a chalk. After writing her name on the chalkboard, she puts down the chalk and turns back to her students.
"My name is Yukari Yukino and I will be your literature teacher throughout the year. It's nice to meet all of you." Yukari greeted.
"Good morning, Yukino-sensei." Takao and the students replied in unison as they bow solemnly to her.
"Good morning everyone. Take your seats." Yukari said. As everyone sat back down, Yukari leans forward and places her hands on her desk. She takes a moment to look at everyone in her classroom before giving an introduction. "Some of you may be wondering, why do we study literature? I mean, you must be thinking that as a literature teacher, all I ever do is tell a story or a poem and you just have to memorize what I've said and write down the lines on your notebooks, right? Well, not entirely true. Whether you are reading a book or watching a movie and a television drama, it is fun to read and watch a story. But there can never be a story without its characters and most of all, its message. For example, why does Superman want to protect humanity? What motivates him to find a new place where he can be accepted by society? What is the moral of the story that you have playing inside your head as you read and watch him struggle to achieve what he desire? Ever thought of that?"
Yukari noticed some of her students nodding their heads in response. "By imagining yourself in the shoes of that character, and seeing what they do to overcome that situation, as well as empathizing the emotions they have while they struggle and endure through it, is what helps us learn to become better thinkers in society. It helps us widen the breadth of our views and visions, understand more of yourself and the people around us, and even find dreams and solutions that we have never imagine before." She said. Matsumoto raises up his hand and Yukari nods her head to him. "Yes?"
"How so, Yukino-sensei?" Matsumoto asked curiously as he lowers his hand.
"Well, do you know that you are already someone special just by your name alone?" Yukari asked him and every student. "Let me give you an example." She turns her head slightly and sees the student sitting beside Matsumoto. "You there."
"Y-yes." Takao said, looking back at Yukari.
"What is your full name?"
"Takao Akizuki."
"May I know how it is written?" Yukari asked. She attentively watches Takao moves his finger around in the air as he writes down his name. Yukari nods her head and explained, "Ah yes. The kanji for Akizuki literally means 'autumn moon'. Has the autumn season ever affiliated with you, Akizuki-san?"
"Well, my birthday happens to be in November." Takao replied.
"See? You do have a reason why your surname is Akizuki." Yukari smiled at him. The other students chuckle as well. "As for your first name, the first kanji, 'taka', means 'filial piety'. And the second kanji, 'o', means 'hero'. I assume somewhere and sometime during your life, you made a vow to always care and respect your parents and relatives who are older than you. And by doing so, you are already viewed as a hero in their eyes, by always doing the right thing and making the right decisions in life."
"Well, I guess you could say that." Takao said, turning his head away for a moment to contemplate the ongoing situation with his mother and older brother.
"That's good to know." Yukari said with a wan smile. She turns back to the rest of the class. "See? Even within your own name, literature exists around us. And that is why literature is important to us. It's more than just listening to or reading a story. It is also about finding our value and virtues, and expanding our imagination. And that is a way of life. Don't you agree?" Takao and every student nod their heads in response.
A wide smile appears on her face as Yukari stands up straight and claps her hands together. "Good! Now then, class. Please take out your textbooks."
As everyone pull out their literature textbooks from their bags, a wan smile appears on Takao's face as he thought about what Yukari had said. 'I'm some sort of hero, huh?'
The school bell rang again an hour later, signaling the beginning of recess. Every student in school leave their classrooms to spend the next thirty minutes having their lunch and simply relieving themselves from their studies.
Takao, Matsumoto and Satou head to the school rooftop to spend their time away. Satou sat on a bench in front of the tall metal fences that are built on top of the parapet that line along the edges of the roof. She watches Takao and Matsumoto play as they throw a tennis ball at each other.
"So my last name literally means the base of a pine tree." Matsumoto said to his friends as he throws the ball back at Takao who easily catches it with a hand.
"I guess you were fated to have that last name because you are as strong as the roots of a pine tree." Takao flashes a smirk at him. "But perhaps not as strong as the trunk!"
Takao suddenly lifts his leg up, swings his arm back and throws the ball forward like a baseball pitcher. To his surprise however, Matsumoto swiftly moves to the side and swings his left arm, slapping the ball hard with his hand and sending it flying back to Takao at incredible speed. Takao yelps as he quickly moves to the side. He watches the ball flew past him and bounces over to the other end of the rooftop.
"If you think you can outsmart me with skills like yours, you are sorely mistaken." Matsumoto said with a smirk.
"Excuse me for not having a sport as my curriculum activity." Takao murmured before turning around to collect the ball.
Satou chuckled as Matsumoto walks over to her. "Anyways, even though it's only the first day of school, I reckon we should start preparing which subjects we want to focus on passing for our midterm exams." She said.
"I've already decided I want to pass Japanese, social studies, science and history." Matsumoto said as he sat next to Satou and places his lunch box on his lap.
"For me, I'll definitely want to pass Japanese and mathematics. And maybe literature and social studies." Satou said to Matsumoto. She turns to Takao as he walks over to them after picking up the ball. "What about you, Akizuki-kun?"
"My Japanese and fine arts are okay, so I'll definitely focus on those." Takao said, tossing the tennis ball over to Matsumoto, who catches it.
"Any other subjects?" Matsumoto asked.
"Science, I'm terrible at it. History and social studies, I can't handle them. And mathematics, forget about it." Takao grumbled with his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"Akizuki-kun, you know you need to pass at least four subjects for the midterms and final to guarantee that you'll pass the first term with flying colors." Satou said, frowning in concern.
"If you are struggling with your studies so much, get yourself a private tutor." Matsumoto suggested as Takao grabs his lunch box from the bench and sits beside Satou.
Takao lowers his head and stares at his lunch box. "I would…but due to my family's current state, how can I afford one?"
Matsumoto and Satou stare wordlessly at Takao as he opens his lunch box and takes out his sandwich. They cannot deny that their friend is right. With his family still trying to recover from their financial debts and the decline of his mother's mental health, how can they possibly hire someone to teach him right now? They are both aware of the troubled state happening within the Akizuki family, and every now and then, they wish they could find some way to help Takao out through such a difficult time. But sadly, all they can really do is to comfort him whenever they are together.
Suddenly, Satou gasped and widens her eyes when an idea hatched inside her head. "I know! How about asking one of our teachers to help you out?"
Upon hearing this, Takao's eyes nearly bulge out from their sockets as he barely manages to swallow his food. He turns to his friends and responded incredulously, "Huh?!"
"Why not? If Takao and his family couldn't afford a private tutor right now, that does sound like a good idea to me." Matsumoto said.
"H-hey! Don't you think it's far-fetched to believe that you can request a school teacher to be your own private tutor?" Takao asked his friends dumbfounded.
"What other choice do you have?" Matsumoto asked.
"Just tell them about your family's current state and they will ponder whether to have you under their wing. If one of them rejects your request, you can always ask others. Of course, you have to ask a teacher who teaches us a subject that you're weak at, which are plenty for you." Satou said to Takao.
Takao grumbles under his breath as he lowers his head again. His friends always think of the craziest ideas for him. But he couldn't help but agree with their suggestion. His family is still in financial debt and with his mother's disruptive behavior; nobody would think to come into his home to teach him privately. So if requesting one of their teachers from their school to be his tutor is his last resort, he has no other choice but to take it.
"I guess I'll try then." Takao replied as he looks back at them.
"Good." Satou smiled at him.
"So, who do you think of asking first?" Matsumoto asked Takao.
Yukari continued working normally at school until the final bell rang. The students leave the premises of the school while Yukari and the teachers return back to the staffroom to finish whatever work they have left before packing their things and get ready to leave as well. After she finished doing the last of her paperwork, Yukari puts her pen back into her holder and closes her file.
"See you tomorrow, Yukino-san!" A teacher waves goodbye to Yukari as she gets up from her workstation which is in front of hers.
"See you!" Yukari smiled and waves back at her before the teacher turns and makes her departure. Yukari continue to smile blissfully as she looks around the staffroom one more time. It is the end of her first day at work, and she couldn't be any happier that the entire day had gone smoothly for her.
She can remember how her last day of work at this very same school went three years ago. It was painful and somber for her, and she didn't have the strength to endure the emotional pain she went through back then. She had broken off so many connections she had made with her former students and co-workers back then, which also gave her a heavy sense of guilt. It is a traumatic experience that Yukari will never forget.
Thankfully, returning back to Shinjuku High and introducing herself to her new class has truly made her happy again, as if the emotional suffering she had went through before is now gone within a blink of an eye. The only thing Yukari can do now is to remain positive and keep moving forward.
After she finished contemplating, Yukari realized that Taiga is still waiting for her outside the school building so that they can go out and have dinner together. She chuckled and inwardly reprimands herself for keeping her friend waiting. She gets up from her chair, places her leather bag onto her desk and puts her books and files inside it. When she is done packing, Yukari slings its strap over her shoulder and walks her way out of the staffroom.
When Yukari reaches the door, she slides it open…and widens her eyes as she sees Takao, Matsumoto and Satou standing right in front of her.
"Yukino-sensei!" Takao exclaimed, surprised to see his literature teacher opening the door in front of him right when he was about to enter and make a request to her.
"Akizuki?" Yukari said, bewildered to see her student standing before her. She turns to the other two standing at his sides. "Matsumoto? Satou? What are you three doing here?"
Takao stays silent as he looks away from his teacher and stares down at the floor. His cheeks blushed as he couldn't help but feel shy about making a formal request to an older woman whom he had just met today.
"Come on." Matsumoto grins as he nudges Takao on the back of his left shoulder. "Don't tell me you're going to chicken out now after coming all the way here."
Takao growls in annoyance as he glares at Matsumoto while Satou giggles as she idly watched.
When the three students look back at Yukari, Takao takes a deep breath and finally musters enough courage to talk to their teacher. 'It's now or never.'
"Y-Yukino-sensei? Would it be alright…" He looks down again and paused for a moment, making Yukari stare at him questioningly. Furrowing his brows, Takao looks back up at Yukari again and continued, "If I could discuss something with you?"
After Yukari continues staring blankly at Takao for a moment, a large smile takes form on her face as she nods her head and replied, "Sure! Perhaps you can discuss whatever it is you want with me over dinner."
Takao drops his jaw, startled by his teacher's response. "Dinner?!"
Sovereign: That is the end of the first chapter, everyone! I hope everyone enjoys reading it and I hope you can leave a review to tell me what you think. Stay tune for the next chapter!
Taiga Fujimura is actually a character from Fate/Stay Night. Hitomi Murasaki is an OC of mine.
