The woman who changed everything, part 2
Later after having received their diplomas it was decided they would all meet up in the classroom afterwards in order to say goodbye to Yankumi.
Shin did not correct Kuma as he wrote the wrong kanji on the blackboard, already thinking of what Yankumi would do if she noticed the mistake. He did not intervene when Minami placed a small towel on top of the door either. Unlike in the past, this was a clean and dry towel, and therefore would not do any damage.
When Yankumi finally entered they all began laughing when the towel hit her on the head. Even Shin had to smirk a little. Feeling the joy of everyone around him.
Shin's joy evaporated the second he realized she was not angry, or even laughing together with them. His love was crying.
Instead of taking her into his arms as he wanted Shin spoke her name out in a gently voice, making everyone else realize what was happening. The silence which fell over the room was only broken by her small sniffing sounds.
When Yankumi finally found her voice again she confessed she had been worried she had imposed her opinions on them. How could she possible feel worried that her teaching about life might seem like she knew everything? Shin wanted to confess everything he was feeling that moment, but let her continue.
Seeing their homeroom teacher cry in front of them as she told them all her worries she had held inside broke him a little. It was not until that point Shin really realized that despite them finding her to be an unique but great teacher, they held a special place in her heart as well. Yankumi might be their first real teacher, but they were her first real students. They had been each other's firsts. Just the thought made him grin a little.
Yankumi had been concerned she was doing everything wrong. Maybe for normal, traditional students, her teaching might be a little unconventional, but for the young men in class 3D she had been perfect. In Shins eyes, she might not be perfect in every aspect of life, she was giving to much of herself on behalf of others, she was ignorant and surprisingly easy to manipulate and her family was to put it mildly special. Nonetheless these things was all in which made her both lovable and adorable in his eyes.
Not that he could tell her so in front of all his friends, not yet at least.
When the school bell rang for the last time they all exited the classroom together with Yankumi.
Wishing to say one last goodbye to the woman which meant so much to him Shin stopped and turned around. He could feel his (former) classmates doing the same, all looking in the direction of the lonely female lagging behind them.
One by one Shins friends confessed their future plans and how they were planning to work in order to achieve them.
The only one not telling her about his future was Uchi. When he told her to call him if she ever felt lonely his jealousy began to burn inside of him. How dare he. Yankumi on the other had did not react to his obviously flirtation, and instead reminded him to take care of his mother. Before she could tell him anything else, Shin interrupted her. "You said you could be our teacher up until today. You'll be a home-room teacher for a long time. Forever. And ever."
It might not have been as obvious as Uchis approach, but Shin knew some of his friends comprehended what he was really confessing. Up until this point she had been his teacher, but as of now he was no longer her student. Shin was now someone who could openly show his interest in her romantically.
Walking away from her and the school was one of the hardest things he had ever done. Nonetheless he did so, surrounded by his friends, with a smile on his face. Shin might be walking away from her right now, but his steps would lead him on a path which would transform him from a student and into a man. Someone which could stand by her side day by day for as long as they lived.
oOoOo
A few days after graduation Shin was on a plane, heading for Africa.
This was something he had already decided since the time when his friends had all discussed what they wanted to do in the future. During those discussions Shin had no idea what to do with his future, he only knew he needed to grow up. One day as he was out walking he came across an advert for a organization looking for volunteer workers to build schools in Africa.
He was kind off sold.
In order for young children to meet a teacher such as Yankumi they logically needed classrooms. Shin might not wish to become a teacher himself, but he could make it easier for students to find such a teacher themselves.
How strange his life had changed these last few months.
Three months with Yankumi, and he was now planning on building a school which represented something he hated in the past. He was even signing up to do it voluntary.
Sawada Shin's time in Africa made him stronger both mentally and physically. Something he needed in order to keep up with, and protect, Yankumi in the future. Shin had always been smart, but this trip strengthened both his resolve to be of use to her and her family, and despite the fact he did not get into any fights his lean body gained muscles in places he had never seen them before.
When his time was up after a few months he went back home to Japan. His skin was a little darker, his body a lot tougher and his resolve to court his former teacher still strongly imprinted on his mind.
Sawada Shin was now a changed man. A man which now was more content with what he had back home, but still yearning for more. Yearning after a strange female by the name Kumiko.
The main thing he learned from his trip was to never take anything for granted. During his time building the school he had seen more than a few orphan children who smiled despite everything life had presented them with so far. Shin quickly decided he would use those children as an source of inspiration. If a young child of nine would work hard in order to change his life, then Shin should put in a lot more effort as well.
After landing on Japanese soil, and greeting his parents for the first time in months, Shin sat down in front of his old computer and started applying for collage.
He ended up taking an college entrance exam and passing it with flying colors. The school was situated close by, but was suppose to have an excellent program for those who wished to gain a law degree.
As a lawyer Shin could help the Oedo family in the future. Beside he knew Yankumi would be proud of him when he gained an degree.
During his time away in Africa, Shin had realized that if he ever wanted to become Yankumi's partner in every aspect of the word, he needed to become something which could be of help to her clan. Yankumi was in line for becoming clan head, despite her protests and wishes to stay as a teacher.
Her grandfather had always respect her choice, but Shin had seen obvious signs that both the older man and his followers wished for her to follow her grandfather's footsteps in order to become the head of the family. However unorthodox it would be for a female to lead a traditional yakuza clan.
Since Shin knew Yankumi's true calling lied in teaching he knew the man who married her would probably have to take over the role as the next clan head. A huge responsibility to put it mildly.
Shin might not be connected to the clan by blood, but since he wished to be so throughout the connection of marriage he knew he needed to start making a name for himself inside the clan.
Without voicing his reasons openly Shin started to visit the clan. Most of the time when Yankumi was not around. He did not need the distraction. Beside, if she was not around she might not realize what he was doing.
In the beginning Shin met some restrictions from the clan. The members did not wish to turn one of Yamkumi's former students into a member of the yakuza. To afraid of her reaction if she found out.
Luckily for Shin, Yankumi's grandfather took his side and started including Shin in the clans everyday life. The older man, although never voicing it out loudly, had noticed how the young man was watching and acting around his granddaughter.
In the beginning the older man was a little worried, but then he realized that Shin did not turn into this path blindly. Sawada Shin was a smart young man, smitten by his granddaughter, and was spending most of his time crafting himself to become someone new in order to hold on to his first love.
Unlike most young men his age, Shin were not afraid of the yakuza connection, and understood most of the clans both dirty and good sides. Sawada Shin might be under twenty years, but his wisdom in life and brain made him a seem like an old man sometimes. He understood the importance of tradition, and Yankimi's grandfather approved of him.
Shin, as a lawyer student, started helping the clan finding loopholes and ways in which they could do things more legit. Without stepping on anyone's toes.
Slowly the discussions, which had been private between the two men moved from the office inside the Odeo household and more publicly. As time went by fewer and fewer started questioning the place of the young man sitting at the boss's right hand side during clan meetings. Kuroda might not have publicly announced Shins connections the family, but the young man's place next to the older man, and his insight in clans secrets, made everyone understand that they were probably looking at the next head of the Oedo clan.
Having witnessed the young man's brilliance during the meetings, few dared to object. Those few stupid enough to do so was beaten into submission, either by Shin himself, or those closest to him.
oOoOo
For the first time in his life Sawada Shin felt like he was included in a real family.
Despite the fact that his relationship with his parents had changed a lot in a positive direction the last year. Both his parents, especially his dad, had tried to make him change his way. They were both glad he had started college, and the fact he was excellent at it, but they were both worried about his close bonds to the yakuza clan.
One evening Shin finally felt like he should be completely honest with his parents. As the three of them sat in the living room together Shin confessed that he was hoping to strengthen his bonds to the clan even more. He was hoping to convince Yamaguchi Kumiko that he was marriage material.
When his words had first left his mouth it looked like his dad was having an heart attack. His mom on the other hand, told his father to get an grip. She reminded her husband that they had already had this conversation and that they both knew their son would be too stubborn to change his view.
Shin just sat there gaping as his mom congratulated him on taking such an grown up decision and that she wished them both happiness.
His father on the other had did surprisingly not utter a word after being told off by his wife. He did not express his joy, but he did not voice his disagreement either.
A little shocked by the way things had gone Shin walked out of his childhood home with a heart filled with relief.
Now he needed just to convince the love of his life as well.
oOoOo
Getting closer to Yankumi was easier than Shin had first thought it would be.
When he first expressed his interest in her she did not flat out tell him no. instead she asked him to go for a walk together with her. As they were silently walking together through the neighborhood more than a few greeted her as Ojou. Her face showed a shocking expression the first few times he was addressed by the same people as Young Master Shin.
As they walked further and further away from the busy streets they found a small park and sat down on a bench.
The woman sitting next to him started talking about her family, and what was expected from her in the future. She told him about her love for teaching and how this affected her position inside the family.
Dating was not that normal inside the clan, onami was more traditionally normal for someone in her position. She could not just enter a relationship with whoever she wanted, she had to take into consideration what her clan wished. Especially since she did not wish to cut her ties with them the same way her parents had in the past.
Yamaguchi kept on talking about how her future husband would be affected by her way of living. That her future husband would probably be deep in clan business, and maybe even the head at one point since she had no wish to lead the clan by herself.
Yankumi then questioned how he, her former student, could even imagine the two of them together? She even told him he had probably just confused himself into imagining that what he thought was love was originally just a small crush on the first teacher he respected.
For a moment Shin became frustrated. How could she not believe the extent of his love?
He gave himself a few moment before he realized what she was not saying.
She had not once told him she did not feel the same way. She was just trying to make him realize that if they entered a relationship it would be for life. That they would practically be considered engaged. If her family accepted him of course.
After a few seconds of silence Shin looked his former teacher in the eyes and asked her a simple question. "Why do you think all those people addressed me as Young Master Shin?"
Before she could come up with an answer to his question he told her about what he had done the last few years. His reasons as to why he had chosen law school, and his close connections to her family and clan. Everything he did because of his feeling for her.
The reasons as to why he was addressed as the young master and that it had to do with his grooming to become the boss of the Odeo clan in the future. Ha was already preparing to take all the steps she had expressed her worry about.
He might have had been her former student but behind him he had practically the support of her whole family and clan.
Before he could confess every small detail of his complicated plan in order to gain her as his wife, Yankumi had grabbed the front of his shirt and dragged him down into a kiss which made him see stars despite the fact it was a sunny day with a blue sky.
oOoOo
Few are lucky to be happily married to their first love, but fortunate for Shin, he did and he is.
oOoOo
AN: thank you for reading.