*warning: story deviation. i've been reading excerpts from the 'tale of genji' and somehow i wanted to incorporate it in the story, so i did some research. you can skip that bit if you want. muahahahaha. evil cackle*
a million thanks to my beta, galythia. your insights were really colorful. and yeah, i'm fan-girling here. gyahaha.
Chapter IX
"So—analysis aside—Murasaki Shikubu's 'The Tale of Genji' is noted for its internal consistency and psychological depiction, not to mention its characterization. Here's the argument: 'The Tale of Genji' was written and completed during the Heian period. So—if it is considered to be the world's first modern novel, how come it is the first novel to still be considered a classic? What makes it a modern novel in the first place? Any ideas? Yes, Minamoto?"
Kahoko stopped pacing and fixed her gaze at the bespectacled piccolo major.
"Um, sensei, I think it is classic literature, if we are to consider the novel's time of completion. As for its being a modern novel, well, it has the characteristics of a modern novel—it contains a central character, a very large number of major and minor characters and as you've pointed out, sensei, well-developed characterization."
Kahoko nodded.
"Correct, although at the time it was considered rude to name people in the Heian court society, which results to different designations for the same characters depending on the chapter. What makes it a modern novel, for one, is that it contains a sequence of events happening over a period of time covering the central character's lifetime and beyond. Today, we follow Genji's official descendants."
Kahoko spent twenty more minutes discussing that week's focus on her Japanese Literature class, and then she sat down on her chair, piling her things neatly on top of the table. She glanced at the wall clock on the back of the room. Fifteen minutes to three in the afternoon.
"Tomorrow, we start on the main character's relegation to the commoner status. Please read on the customs of the aristocratic society of the time."
She decided to give her Class 3-A students a break.
"Alright, the rest of the meeting would be study period. You can review your materials and please, minimize the noise." It was impossible to ask students not to make any noise. She stood up and cleared the board with the room-assigned eraser. Her students giggled. Kahoko whirled to faced them.
"Yes?"
"Wai, sensei," a brunette piano major said. "Isn't that a gorgeous ring?"
Kahoko's face flushed bright red.
"You're getting married to a movie star, sensei! Sugoi Sugoi!!" another girl gushed. Kahoko ignored her students' teasing and assumed her seat.
"I thought I asked you to minimize the noise." She gestured to the more serious students bent over their books and musical scores.
Momentary silence. Kahoko opened her modern copy of the 'The Tale of Genji' and began to read on the episode following Genji's death.
"Sensei?"
The one who spoke was a violin major. She finished fourth at last year's intra-school concours.
"What is it this time? Miyano?"
"Well, when you were still a kid—er—a student, sensei…Have you ever heard of the Violin Romance?"
The girls oohed and aahed. It was a subject frequently discussed among girls, obviously. They turned to Kahoko eagerly.
"Why, is there someone you're particularly interested with?" she teased.
The student Miyano denied vehemently but she stole a quick glance at the direction of a yellow-haired boy near the door. Kahoko smirked. A violin major.
"Hino-sensei?"
Violin Romance.'Is this some kind of a joke?' Kahoko fought the urge to storm out of the room.
"Oh well…Hmm. There's this story about a guy and a girl who both played the violin, many years ago. Both of them got the chance to join the concours. The only difference was that the boy was brilliant while the girl was mediocre to the last degree. It was impossible from the very start."
"Eh, sensei," her students protested. "She couldn't have joined the concours if she's that mediocre."
Kahoko smiled knowingly. Even the boys were now paying attention.
"The girl's friends often teased her. They told her of story about the Violin Romance. Well, two violinists fell in love with each other, but they were supposed to be rivals. Together they found a fairy hidden in the school. The fairy blessed them. The girl believed, and she hoped."
"Oooohh."
"As I've said, the boy was brilliant. The girl knew he would be someone someday. As expected, he won the concours."
"And as for the girl, sensei?"
Kahoko figured it wouldn't be too much of a give-away if she'd say something about the 'girl.' She shrugged and struggled to maintain her cool composure.
"She came in last. But she worked hard, and she hoped. Eventually the boy left to study music abroad, leaving the girl broken-hearted."
"Ehh! That can't be right, sensei!!" her students protested.
"Violin Romance!"
"Yeah!"
Kahoko waited for them to settle down and then she went on with the story.
"Years later, the boy indeed became someone. Everyone admired and respected his music."
"And the girl?"
"I'm afraid I don't know."
"Oh."
"And then? And then, sensei?"
"He returned to Japan to announce his engagement to another woman."
The violent reaction of the students startled her.
"That sucks!"
Even the violin major boy frowned and commented, "That's rubbish."
Kahoko shook her head sympathetically.
"That's the irony of it all. The one he's supposed to marry is a great violinist herself. Now, wouldn't you call that Violin Romance?"
Her students kept quiet. It was indeed a Violin Romance.
"Huh. But that's sad. Whatever happened to the girl?"
"She got on with her life. It was pointless to hope."
"Eh. That's just too bad, sensei," her students seemed suddenly sad and disheartened.
"That's tragic, but it's just a story, after all." Miyano shrugged. She stole another glance at the bored violin major near the door.
"Yes," Kahoko agreed as she stared at her ring distractedly. "It's just a story."
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sorry for the long wait, guys. i hope this chapter was worth the wait. comments? violent reactions? chapter ten's all wrapped up and i'll be posting it soon as we're done with the edit bit. and again, thank you, galythia, for taking the time to review my drafts. gyahaha. review! ja! ^-^
