It was a clear afternoon, as the crack of a baseball bat could be heard from a distance. The school's baseball team was practicing for their upcoming game and was more determined than ever to make it to the postseason. Across from the field, the soccer team was practicing for their upcoming tournament for their season. They too, wished to win and see the postseason. From the second story window of a classroom, Takashi overlooked the baseball field and wished he was there. For the next hour, however, he had to remain a prisoner of the classroom. For the rest of the students, it was a chance to participate in after school activities. While for Takashi, it was another Tuesday afternoon in detention.
Come on, already! Why da fuk doesn't this thing move! He thought, as the second-hand of the clock moved at glacier-like speed. Seating at the front of the classroom behind the teacher's desk, was Kyoko sensei. She was eating an apple while reading a book, her way of dealing with the boredom that came with carrying out her detention duties. Unfortunately, for Takashi, no such relief existed for him. He continued to stare at the clock, but the more he stared at it, the more it slowly moved. Frustrated with it, he let his eyes wandered across the room, coming to rest on Kyoko sensei as she took a bite of her juicy apple. She caught him looking at her, and for a few seconds, their eyes met. Takashi darted his gaze to something else, while sensei simply smirked and blushed, continuing to read her book.
After an hour of excruciating boredom, Takashi was finally freed from detention.
"Komuro-kun, see that you don't skip any more classes. Otherwise, you'll be getting more than detention next time." Kyoko-sensei warned him sternly.
"Don't worry, sensei, it won't happen again!" He said as he ran out of the classroom.
With that attitude, it's no wonder he's been getting detention! She thought.
The sun was already beginning to set in the horizon, as Takashi ran out of the school gate and went to get something to eat from a nearby Lawson's. Once he arrived there, he grabbed two packs of red chicken nuggets, a corn dog, and a small strawberry milk carton. The boredom from having spent time in detention had left him hungry.
Got eat 'cause mama doesn't make anything like these chicken nuggets. He thought as he paid the cashier, made his way to a window counter to seat down and eat his meal. Ever since Lawson introduced them, Takashi had become a devoted follower of their chicken nuggets. It was the perfect reason to visit the store. And for the times he could sneak a peek at the porn magazines when the cashier was too busy helping other customers.
After he finished his meal, he checked his phone for any text messages. Nothing. Something he felt out of the loop by his friends. He texted Imamura:
Yo! U at home?
No trying to get in at Yoshio's
Don't get kicked out like last time!
Fuk u man!
He chuckled, got up from the counter, and left the store.
Twenty minutes later, Takashi arrived home.
"I'm home!" He yelled as he entered the house and changed his shoes to his house slippers. He could already smell his mother's cooking.
"Welcome back." His mother yelled from the kitchen. He could hear her taking out plates and utensils from the cupboard.
Takashi made his way across the living room and was about to walk up the stairway and go to his room, when his mother came out of the kitchen carrying a tray full of food for his dinner.
"Here's dinner, Takashi. Now go wash up before it gets cold." She said with a smile, as she placed the tray on the dining room table. "Why were you so late today? Did you get detention again?" She asked sternly with a raised eyebrow.
"No, I was just hanging out with my friends." He said, avoiding making eye contact with her.
"Well, ok." She said, looking at him suspiciously, "Now hurry up and wash up before dinner gets cold."
"I already ate when I was hanging out with my friends."
"Why? You know very well I cook dinner for you every day."
"I was hungry! I didn't wanna wait until I got home to eat."
"Then you should have come home instead of spending time with your friends."
"I didn't feel like it, ok."
"You got detention, didn't you? That's why you came home so late."
"Get off my case, man!"
"Listen! You're father and I are tired of hearing about your truant behavior at school. You either get your act together or you will be severely punished, you understand?"
Takashi stormed off the dining room, "Takashi! Takashi, we're not finished here!" his mother called out, as he ran up the stairways, went to his room, and slammed the door. His mother, still irate, sat down on the dining table and began to eat her meal alone.
Still fuming from his argument with his mother, Takashi threw his backpack into the corner of the room, grabbed his pillow and punched it multiple times. "Fuk dis sheet!" He said as he finished venting his anger and frustration at it. Tired from the days' event, he jumped on his bed and drifted to sleep.
Lunchtime had just ended, as Imamura took a cigarette from his pants' pocket. The access door to the school's roof opened and he quickly stuffed it back into his pocket.
"Yo!" Takashi said casually as he spotted him.
"Oh, it's just you." Imamura sighed, taking out his cigarette from his pocket and lighting it up.
"Why, you were expecting some else?" Takashi chuckled.
"Nah, just thought you were a teacher, that's all." He said while taking a long drag of the cigarette before exhaling it.
"So, did you get into Yoshio's yesterday?"
"Nah, couldn't get in. Place was packed and they had dudes outside working as undercover security." He said, as he took another drag.
"Dude, you got be careful. If it's true what they say about that place having Yakuza connections, they could kill you just for trying to get in."
"Don't believe the rumors, man. People are just talking bullcrap. Ain't no way a dump like that is a Yakuza front business. Besides, they're not the only Pachinko parlor in the city. Might as well try my luck in some other joints. I heard Kagawa's easy to get in for high schoolers."
"Just be careful, man. You might wanna take a break from all this gambling."
"Ain't no monkey on my back, so don't worry 'bout it." He said, blowing a large cloud of smoke. "Did you see Shizuka sensei wearing that new blouse today?" He said with a grin, "Dayuum, those mega milkers look fine!"
"Yeah, she's a total babe." Takashi whistled. "Wouldn't mind getting a physical from her."
"Yo, man! That's my idea. Get your own fantasy!"
"Doesn't matter who's idea it was, half the school wouldn't mind going all the way with her."
"Only in their dreams! I'm gonna make it happen for real."
"Hey, guys!" Morita called out as he stepped out from the access door. "How's it hanging?"
"Yo, Morita!" Takashi said smiling.
"Not much. What brings you here?" Imamura asked.
"Just trying to brainstorm some names for my band." He said.
"What you have so far?" Takashi asked.
"Nothing, really. It's just I have a hard time coming up with some cool band names."
"I got it!" Imamura snapped his finger, "How 'bout Coochie Cosmonauts." He said with a smug look.
"No way, man! I want a cool name that's gonna attract a bunch of hot chicks, not drive them away."
"That's a cool name, dude. You're just being oversensitive. You think the Sex Pistols had any trouble getting groupies?"
"They're different. Having a cool band name is 50% of the secret to success." Morita said.
"What's the other 50%?" Imamura asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not sucking at playing a musical instrument." Takashi responded sarcastically.
"Hey! I don't suck at playing guitar, ok." Morita said defensively, "And besides, I'm holding auditions for new members. By the time we start playing, the school is gonna wanna rock out with us. We're gonna be so popular, we'll be drowning in so much coochie, you guys are gonna beg me to spare you some."
"Yeah, dude. Whatever you say. I'll believe it when I see it." Imamura said chuckling.
"I better go." Takashi said, walking towards the access door.
"Why? I thought we were ditching today?" Imamura asked surprised.
"Not today. School's already on my ass 'bout the classes I've been skipping lately. We'll go some other time when the heat's died down." He said. "I'll catch you dudes later." He said as he opened the door and waved back at them.
"All right, dude." Imamura responded.
"See you, Takashi." Morita said.
The door opened again and Takashi popped his head out, "How this for your band's name— Dead Otakus." He said grinning.
"I said I wanted a cool name that would bring in all the chicks, not the school weirdos and future suicide statistics." Morita looked at him disapprovingly.
"Hey, don't look at me. I'm just throwing out an idea." Takashi said chuckling as he closed the door.
"Yo, check it! How 'bout Skank Hunter69." Imamura said while blowing smoke, "It's got that cool edgy flow for today's wayward youth, man."
Morita rolled his eyes and groaned. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
Takashi ran down the hallway when he turned the corner and crash into Saya. The impact was so great they both landed flat on their backs, as the books she was carrying by her side flew across the hallway.
"Ow! Watch were you're going, you idiot!" Saya said, rubbing her head and trying to get up from the floor.
"I'm sorry, Saya. Here, let me help you up." He said, extending his hand. She grabbed his hand and got up.
"My contacts! I can't see without them." She said, kneeling down to try to find them on the floor. Takashi followed suit and began to help her find them.
"Why were you in such a hurry anyways? Trying to skip class again, or is it ditching school this time?" Saya fumed as she felt the floor for her contacts.
"Mind your own business, Saya" He responded, annoyed by her intrusive question.
"Komuro-kun! What are you doing here?" Kyoko sensei said, looking down at him with her hands on her hips. "You're going to be late for class." She said angrily.
"Sorry, sensei. I'm just helping Saya find her contacts." He said nervously, stopping his search and and standing up to face his sensei. "I accidently ran into her and caused her to lose them."
"Is this true, Saya?"
"Yes, sensei. It's his fault he ran into me and caused this problem." She said, as she continued looking for her contacts.
"Here they are!" Takashi said, spotting them on the floor. He bent over and gently picked them up.
"Finally!" Saya said, relieved, while taking them from Takashi's hand.
"Now that you found them, both of you better hurry up to your next class. And no running! Otherwise, you'll get into another accident." Kyoko sensei warned them.
"Yes, sensei!" They both said.
Takashi picked up Saya's books from the floor and handed them to her, "I'm sorry about this, Saya." He said remorsefully.
"You better! Next time watch were you going!" She said, snatching her books away from his hands and walking away to her class.
That boy is a lot of trouble. Kyoko sensei thought, crossing her arms across her chest, as she stood there watching Takashi leave the scene.
Takashi went the opposite direction as Saya, and when he was away from Kyoko sensei's sight, he sprinted to make it just in time before the teacher began taking attendance.
As the teacher took attendance and instructed the class to open their textbook, Takashi sat next to a window overlooking the baseball field. Just my luck. One whole hour of absolute boredom. He thought.
"Komoru-kun. Komoru-kun?"
I should have ditched school today. Maybe gone to Lawson's and try those new chicken nugget flavor, or checkout that latest issue of—"
"Komuro-kun!" The teacher shouted.
"Yes!" Takashi responded, immediately standing up. "The Daimyōs sold the rice to the fudasashi during the Edo period." He said.
The class burst out laughing. Takashi blushed deeply.
"This is English class, not Japanese history class! Will you please read the next paragraph in your textbook?"
"Uh, what page?"
The class laughed again, making the teacher palm his face and regret joining the education profession. This is going to be a long day. The teacher lamented as he already saw himself after school, drinking past his alcohol limit to numb the pain away.