Chapter 1
Five years. It had been five years since we graduated and went our separate ways. It was my first year of teaching at the high school we graduated from: Mori High.
Takenaga and Noi had gotten married last year. I was the maid of honor. Ranmaru had finally grown up and he and Tomao were still looking at marriage. I never thought he'd ever give up his play boy days. Yuki was now the senior manager of one of Ranmaru's hotels.
That wedding between Takenaga and Noi was the last time I saw Takano Kyouhei. At the time, he was still a dazzling creature.
Five years had gone by and here I stand. I failed to become a lady. But I had gained my confidence back by the time I graduated. I still have Hiroshi-kun in my house as a reminder of my dark teenage years.
I never became a lady, but I became "more human." I'm an English teacher now.
The school year was coming to a close and everything was going well for me. There was almost no trace of Nakahara Sunako the unconfident, scary, horror-loving girl.
"Ohayo, Nakahara-sensei," the students greeted. I smiled and greeted them in return. This is my life now. Life was perfect…
The bell ran, ending school.
The students scuffled out, while I poured over essays.
"A-ano, Nakahara-sensei."
I looked up at one of my students, Yabuki Tamaki.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering what your plans were for the break. If you want, we could go to a movie."
This had been happening all year. A student gets a crush on me and I turn him down. It hurt me more because I was still uncomfortable with these advances.
"Yabuki-san," I began. "I'm terribly sorry, but a relationship between a teacher and a student outside of school is forbidden. You're a brilliant student, I'll give you that much. But my answer is no."
His face fell and he ran out of the room. Another one to add to the Nakahara-sensei fan club made up of male students whom I had turned down.
I had become used to these advances (they still made me uncomfortable), but they left a sour taste in my mouth after every time. I took some mint and sucked on it to get rid of the bitter taste in my mouth.
I packed up my things and went home. I felt strange since I boarded the subway.
I felt as though a storm was about to come, but it looked beautiful outside. No. It wasn't that kind of storm…was it?
Once I arrived to my street, I saw a crowd of people standing around my house.
"Nakahara-sensei!" Haruhi-chan shouted, coming out from the crowd.
"Yes, Haruhi-chan?"
"You don't know any Yakuzas do you?"
I frowned. Was my dad here? He could be mistaken for a Yakuza at times.
I shoved my way through and froze at what I saw: an actual Yakuza leaning against my door.
He looked at me and smirked, a cigarette in his mouth. He was scarred on one cheek and another scar was over his right eye. But it only made him look more rugged than he did when he was younger. It suited him though, the scars.
"Yo, Nakahara Sunako," he greeted.
I recognized that voice, that stature, and that arrogance. How could I not? I should have guessed this, but I didn't.
Takano Kyouhei had become a Yakuza.
