Note- For those who have been following this, thanks for waiting this long. I'm sorry for the delay. Any and all feedback is very much appreciated. Thank you always.
Disclaimer- All that is EC is owned by Minekura Kazuya.
Warnings- Language for now.
Stay Here With
Across Platform C – Part 7
That…that had gone better than I had expected…
Or had he expected that outcome from the beginning? He wondered this absently as he leaned against the wall across from the office and searched his pockets until he found his cigarettes. He felt the pack with his fingers and frowned. He held it up, shaking it and smiled to himself when he heard something soft hit the inside wall of the pack. Still one left.
"This will have to do until after school," he said softly as he shook the last cigarette out into his hand and then fished around for his lighter. Bringing the flame up to his mouth, he lit the tip and then after a moment, breathed out a thin stream of smoke. "…I wanted this the entire time we were in there." He closed his eyes and enjoyed the familiar taste. Even without Suzuki, it had really worked out, thanks to the final cooperation from his former partner. He opened his eyes and looked towards the Council Treasurer, and found the other boy glaring at him. He held up the empty pack in response. "Did you want one?" he asked, jokingly. "Sorry, but I'm all out."
Matsumoto's glare darkened. "Good, then this will feel even better." Kubota gave him a questioning look, but Matsumoto only responded by walking up to him and without warning, snatching the cigarette out of Kubota's mouth and dropped it on to the ground.
"Hey, that was my last one." Kubota watched as Matsumoto placed his foot on the cigarette and pressed it into the floor.
"Well, now that you're suddenly interested in performing your duties, we might as well go all the way and obey ALL the rules here, including no smoking on campus." Matsumoto looked up at him. "Now, what the hell just happened?"
"Well, you just took my cigarette," Kubota looked mournfully at the floor, "and might I add, my last one, and threw it-"
"I mean IN THERE!" Matsumoto pointed into the office. "What the hell was that?"
"I believe that was a meeting, Council Treasurer, between us and the principal. I think it went rather well. Don't you think so, Tachibana?"
Tachibana looked up, and by his expression, was surprised to be suddenly included into the conversation.. "Well…yes, it did seem to…go well, as you say, but I can't say I understand all the circumstances involved."
"You're not alone," Matsumoto's eyes narrowed. "I think only one person understood fully what was going on in there, and that's about to end NOW. Explain, Makoto. What the HELL just happened?"
Kubota watched his former partner carefully. Something was definitely different. Matsumoto's normal facade of cool irritation seemed to be slipping little by little. Maybe his office stunt had pushed the other boy a little far, he thought to himself. That didn't really bother him too much though. What would Matsumoto do? He was now in the same boat as him, and he had placed himself in it.
"What? Now suddenly you have nothing to say?" Matsumoto's voice went up an octave, one of the few signs Kubota knew that he was getting close to the Treasurer's don't-cross-me line.
"Excuse me," Tachibana looked back towards the door. "If I may interrupt, perhaps we should move this conversation somewhere else?" But neither boy seemed to hear him, nor did they make a move to leave the hallway.
"What do you want me to say, Matsumoto?" Kubota asked.
"How about starting with why are we here? What was that in there? You and I both know there is no secret initiation process with the EC, so if you wouldn't mind, how about an explanation that doesn't come out of your ass."
"You wound me, Matsumoto." Kubota held up his hand to his cheek, a look of hurt on his face. "Are you telling me that you didn't get the paperwork either? But you sounded so sincere. I never imagined that you also weren't aware of our new recruitment plan."
Matsumoto's face was turning a dark red. Kubota knew he should start to pull back, but he couldn't help himself. Rarely did this opportunity stand so clear before him, and he was feeling too elated not to take it. With the meeting over, and all of them coming out of it unscathed, he didn't feel there was anything that could bring him down at that moment.
"I have had enough of you for today, Makoto." Matsumoto spoke slowly, his voice low.
Kubota just cocked his head and looked at him. "Council Treasurer?"
"Ignoring the meetings, fighting without wearing your armband, calling us down from class so you can play out your version of reality-"
"My version of reality? Now that's a little much."
"Oh, I beg, no, I stand to differ." Matsumoto stood in front of him. Their height difference forced him to look up, but didn't minimize the defiance in his eyes. "Because only in Kubota-land would those rules you said in there make any sense."
"Well, Principal Takahata seemed to believe it." Kubota countered lightly.
"Only because of me, Makoto. Do you understand that?" Matsumoto spat back in anger. Kubota took another step closer to the line when he made a show of wiping a few flecks of saliva from his glasses.
"What are you trying to say, Matsumoto?"
"You tell me, Makoto. What's stopping me from going straight in that office and taking it all back? Saying 'Why, no, there was no planned fight, no missing paperwork, and no new initiation process?"
Kubota looked down, studying his face. He lowered his head so their noses were only a few inches apart. "And admit you lied? I don't see you doing that, Future Candidate." Kubota leaned back against the wall and placed his arms across his chest. "On the other hand, why don't we get passed our usual routine and go straight to the point, shall we? You wouldn't have played along with, now what was it, with my version of reality, if you didn't want something in return."
Matsumoto's brow furrowed and he opened his mouth to reply, but then closed it. Kubota just returned his usual knowing smile. Matsumoto averted his eyes, and seemed to be thinking. He turned and looked back at Tachibana. The other boy just stood quietly aside, watching him. He looked again to Kubota. "You can believe what you like, Makoto. I'll have you know that I have no ulterior motives."
"Really?" Kubota gazed back at him coolly. "Then tell me this. Why lie? Why play along?"
Matsumoto returned his look. "…You first, Makoto."
"Excuse me?"
Matsumoto's eyes were intent on his. "Why don't you tell us what's so important that you risked not just expelling one student but yourself if Takahata found out? Why, Makoto, why did you lie?"
Kubota didn't respond at first. He instead just pushed his glasses back up. Was Matsumoto waiting for some grand statement here, he wondered. He barely understood why he had walked into that office. It had just seemed like the only way at the time…the only way to…
"No reason really," he answered simply. "Just felt like it, I guess."
"WHAT?" Matsumoto tone again went up an octave. He clutched at his throat and grimaced at his own changing voice. "No reason?" he hissed. Kubota shrugged in response. Matsumoto's hands went to his head, as if trying to fathom Kubota's words. "Just…felt like it?" He rubbed his temples for a moment, and all three stood in silence in the hall. In the quiet, a scratching noise reached his ears, and Kubota turned his gaze from the others and towards the window.
Tachibana used their pause to try to get their attention again. "…Maybe we should continue this in a more private setting, the student council office perhaps?"
The secretary was again ignored. Matsumoto, still rubbing his head, seemed to finally collect his thoughts. "You always do this," he said in a low voice, looking at Kubota. "It's always how you feel and you never care if anyone else around you gets hurt by it."
Kubota glanced back at him and then returned to looking at the window.
With barely a pause for an answer, Matsumoto continued. "Nothing ever matters to you. Not the school, not the council, not the executive committee. It's always you and what you want, even if it completely ruins- are you even LISTENING to me?"
Kubota was in fact, not listening. "Excuse me for one moment," he said as he walked passed Matsumoto and Tachibana towards the far window. Matsumoto opened his mouth to protest, but Kubota just held out his hand to stop him and then placed a finger over his lips. "Inside voices, Council Treasurer," he whispered and then crept up to the window. Standing by the wall, he peered over. He caught sight of a familiar curly-haired head bent down among the bushes. Kubota could just make out a pencil moving furiously, its tip scratching away at a surface buried somewhere in the leaves.
"You're going to get all dirty kneeling in the grass like that," he called out.
"Oh, it's okay," the curls in the bushes answered back, "I'm sitting on paper…" The bush trailed off as the realization slowly hit. The head looked up and their eyes met for a moment. "…oh, crap…" He made to run, but Kubota's long arm shot out after him.
Both the Council Treasurer and the Secretary stepped back in surprise as Kubota's hand came back holding onto the collar of a familiar student. In the student's hands were a tightly held notebook and pencil.
"Hey, let go!" the editor and only reporter for Araiso's school newspaper flailed his arms about, but Kubota just dragged him back.
"Once you stopped talking, I could suddenly hear something else," Kubota dropped the boy on the floor. "It took me a second to realize it was someone writing, and doing so very close by."
"Sato!" Matsumoto hissed. "How long have you been sitting out there?"
"Long enough!" Sato stood up. "Long enough to know that the institution set up to protect the innocents here is really built on a foundation of corruption and lies!"
"You just figured that out?" Kubota said behind him. "Sato, I'm disappointed in you."
"Joke away, Kubota," he turned to him, his hand, still gripping tightly to his pencil, raised high in the air. "But I'll see to it that all students here will know that the web of deceit runs all the way down, even to the Executive Committee, the moral marrow of Araiso!"
"Moral marrow?" Kubota scratched his head.
"You like it?" Sato's expression quickly changed from indignation to pride. "I just came up with that. I like the alliteration. It's got this nice little flow to it."
"I'm pretty sure no one thinks we're either moral or the marrow-"
"Enough!" Matsumoto's voice broke in. "This is the LAST thing we need right now. You," he pointed to Sato. "Stop writing!"
"What? You expect me to drop this?" Sato stepped back away from them, clutching his notebook to his chest. "This is gold, here. Corruption, lies, unrequited love between council members- I am so winning the national school newspaper prize this year."
"Unrequited WHAT?" Matsumoto took a step towards the retreating editor.
Sato quickly licked his pencil and started to write, "Would their lies protect their love…or shatter if? Cool ambition brought him high into the council, but would the ties to the past be the final blow to his future political career?"
"Wha- you- I- ARGH!" Matsumoto gripped his head in frustration and then turned his full anger towards Kubota. "THIS, THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Kubota nodded his head towards the office. "Inside voices, Council-"
Matsumoto threw himself towards Kubota then, taking the taller boy by surprise. Kubota stepped back as the other boy's hands went for his throat. So this is crossing your line, Matsumoto, he thought as he brought his hand up to block. Somehow…I'm disappointed. But his eyes widened as something quickly slid in between him and the charging Treasurer.
Matsumoto brought his fists down, but they were blocked by a raised arm. He bounced back a step, his angry expression replaced quickly by surprise. "You…"
Tokitoh glared back at him. Without glancing back to Kubota, he slowly lowered his arm, and stepped forward. "If you're gonna hit someone, than hit me. This whole thing is my fault, ain't it? So isn't it me you're really angry at? So go ahead and hit me. But let me tell you this." He spoke in a low, controlled voice, his eyes never leaving Matsumoto's. "This- this is your only freebie. Any other time, and I'll hit back. I don't care who you are."
Matsumoto said nothing, just looked back at him. His hand was raised, but it stayed still in the air, as if frozen. Kubota looked at the figure standing in front of him. It's like he's protecting me...he thought. How strange? He then looked towards the office door. How long had Tokitoh been standing there? He turned back to see Matsumoto and Tokitoh still staring at each other. The hall was completely quiet. Even Sato stopped writing to watch them with rapt attention.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
All jumped at the sounds and turned to see Tachibana by the office door. His fist lay now still on the glass, but the echoes of his knocking seemed to ring out down the hall.
"Yes?" they heard Takahata's voice call out from inside.
"Now, if I may be so bold to interrupt," Tachibana smiled lightly at them, "Shall we finish this in the Council office?" They heard the heavy footfalls of the Principal walking towards the door. "Or would you all rather have another meeting this afternoon?"
When Principal Takahata opened the door to the hall, he found it mysteriously empty.
------
"Your tea, Sato-kun. You said two sugars, yes?" Tachibana smiled graciously as he handed the editor a full cup and saucer.
Sato took it and opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Under the Secretary's beaming gaze, even he was struck silent. He only nodded thank you and brought the cup to his lips. Kubota smiled as he noticed the saucer shake. He had never seen Sato's cheeks that shade of pink before. It seemed that Araiso's newest council member did have a way with the students.
Tachibana turned the smile towards him. "Are you sure you don't want anything, Kubota-kun? Water perhaps?"
"I'm fine, thank you." Kubota smiled back, unfazed. Even if Tachibana's name was quickly climbing up the "wanna-screw" list that hung secretly about the school, the boy wasn't his type, no matter how pretty his face was. Kubota had a hunch that he and the Secretary, although very different in character, were similar in other…more aggressive ways. He kept this opinion to himself though. Wouldn't want to ruin the fantasies of the list-makers.
He looked sideways to Tokitoh, who was fidgeting next to him. He also refused the tray of refreshments. Kubota noticed that the warm glow that Tachibana emanated didn't appear to even register with the other boy. Tokitoh just glanced around the office nervously, his hand inching towards his mouth. Just as he was about to gnaw on the nail of his thumb, Kubota flicked the back of his head, getting his attention.
"You're not going to have any left if you keep doing that."
Tokitoh seemed to just notice that his thumb was practically in his mouth. His cheeks reddened and he quickly stuck both hands in his pockets. "What's it to you?" he muttered.
"Nothing. It'll just be a pain to have to open up all your drink cans for you because you bit your nails off."
"Hey," he scowled back. "Who said I'd ask you for anything-"
"Ahem," Matsumoto coughed and they all turned. While Tachibana had been getting everyone "settled" in the office, he had been collecting together a stack of papers on the desk, and in doing so, he seemed to have collected himself. His expression was cool and controlled, and didn't betray even a hint of his earlier outburst. He sat down in the chair that was normally reserved for the president.
"You seem very comfortable there, Council Treasurer," Kubota nodded towards the desk.
"Do us all a favor, Makoto, and keep your observations to yourself for the moment." Matsumoto turned his gaze to Sato who still had his nose in his tea. "Sato. Can we move beyond our usual council vs press relationship for today and have you just drop the story?"
Sato looked up. "You're asking me to join in on the cover-up? No way. That goes against everything the Advantage stands for. I'm here to spread the truth- not hide it like some sell-out."
Matsumoto closed his eyes and rested his mouth on his clasped hands. "Sato, do you even really know 'the truth' here? Because I can't even tell you what the straight story is."
Sato took a sip from his cup and then brought it down. "…I heard what you said to Kubota, that you all lied to the principal. I know it's about what happened outside, and that the Executive Committee and the council are involved. I know that you're hiding something from the administration and the students here, and it's my job to make sure what's hidden doesn't stay that way."
Matsumoto opened his mouth to respond, but Kubota spoke first. "Even if what you're doing would get someone kicked out, someone who risked themselves to help you in the first place?"
Sato turned towards him, his expression confused. "What are you getting at?"
"I'm getting at the fact that he," Kubota tapped Tokitoh's head, "was in that office today because he left class to save you." He then pointed towards Sato. "So you're telling us that this truth of yours is more important than helping out the person who got in trouble for you. You get the story. He gets kicked out. Is that it?"
"No, that's not it. I mean- today-" Kubota hid his smile behind his hand as Sato, normally a fast talker, started to stumble. "…like, yeah, he helped me, but that doesn't me I have to not tell the truth."
"So he sacrifices himself but you don't have to? That's quite the system you got there." Kubota shook his head. "Maybe that will work for today, but if that got out, that those who help you will risk expulsion without any aid in return, I can't see the paper getting much support after that."
"…Are you threatening the Advantage?" Sato's turned instantly defensive.
Matsumoto sighed in the background. "Not again."
Kubota shrugged. "Take it as you like, but I call it reality. No one's going to want to talk with you if they think they're too much at risk. Most people will want to protect themselves first and truth second."
"That's 'cause most people are losers," Tokitoh added in a low voice.
"See? Perfect example of someone who blindly tells the truth and gets nowhere for it." Kubota flicked Tokitoh's head again. "Sometimes though, you need to balance between that truth and what keeps you in the game. Right, Matsumoto?"
Matsumoto didn't respond, but was watching him carefully. Kubota turned back to Sato. "So what are you going to do? Tell the truth, get him kicked out, and wreck any future confidence in your ability to protect those who help you, or keep this one little story quiet, and maintain the belief that the Advantage can in fact shield those who go out of their way to aid them?" Kubota held up his hands in the air, as if balancing both choices. "Ball's on your side. How are you going to play?"
Sato chewed on his lip and looked from him, to Tokitoh. He chewed some more and Kubota could hear the clock on the wall tick the seconds away. Both Matsumoto and Tachibana stood back, waiting, and Tokitoh's hand again began to inch towards his mouth. Kubota finally just took his hand and placed it on the arm of the chair, keeping his on top. He could feel the other boy's fingers twitch under his own, but he didn't move his away. Tokitoh looked up and their eyes met. Kubota gave him a reassuring smile and hoped that his silent wish for the other boy to remain still for just a moment would get through, but he started to think his look must be saying something else because Tokitoh's expression just became more confused.
A sound of ceramic on wood woke him up, and he turned to see Sato putting down the saucer. "…So, if it's all really just a game, as you say…" The editor looked from Kubota to Matsumoto. "If that's it, and you need me to play along, then you have to sweeten the deal more."
Matsumoto frowned. "Meaning what?"
"Meaning I need something to replace the two stories I lost for today." Sato expression was firm. "My readers expect something worthwhile to put in that space."
"Two?" Matsumoto sat back. "What else is there?"
"Ah, I see." Kubota answered for Sato. "He's referring to the article he started already about the fight with Yutaka, the one that we jumped in on. What was it called, 'the Underwear of Araiso'?"
"Underworld, Kubota." Sato rolled his eyes. "And that's exactly what I'm talking about. If the fight was supposed to be a fake as you said back in the hall, then there's nothing to write. If you want me to drop all of it, you need to give me something good to replace it."
"How about keeping your budget for this year?" Matsumoto countered. "How's that for a deal?"
Sato's eyes narrowed. "Okay then. Why don't I just reuse 'Which way does our new treasurer lay?' With all the extra space, I can put it in big, bold letters."
Matsumoto's mouth fell open and he started to stand up when a hand dropped on his shoulder, keeping him in his seat. Matsumoto looked up to see Tachibana smiling down at him.
"It would be only right to provide a proper replacement for the work Sato-kun has done already." Tachibana turned his gaze towards the editor. "I would be happy to sit down with you for an interview about the new council positions. Of course, if that is not a suitable choice, then maybe-"
"Deal!" Sato stood up quickly, knocking the small table before him with his knees. Kubota reached out to catch the cup and saucer before it fell onto the floor.
Matsumoto studied the Secretary for a moment. "…You don't have to do this."
"Oh, but I want to," Tachibana gave him a comforting smile. "It would be my pleasure to help."
Sato was already getting his pencil ready. "I think we should hit the important questions first, of course. Your role in the council, your background, are you dating anyone currently…"
Kubota smiled at the irony. Thanks to his hormones, it appeared that even their noble editor had his price. He sat back and watched Sato dance about, throwing question after question towards Tachibana, who fielded them expertly, never losing his calm smile. Matsumoto, on the other hand seemed to be getting even more irritated as the questions continued to move deeper into personal matters. "What does his sexual history have to do with this?" he asked coldly.
"Inquiring minds want to know," Sato waved him off and continued. "So what kind of reporter type do you prefer? Strong or pushy?"
Kubota looked towards Tokitoh who again was nibbling on his thumb nail. The boy seemed completely lost in thought and oblivious to the sudden interview and everything else around him. Kubota was about to flick his head again, when Tokitoh looked up and spoke.
"What about the guys?" he asked loudly, interrupting Sato's questions. "The guys who fought today? Are they just gonna get away scott-free?"
Everyone turned towards him and Tokitoh looked back expectantly.
"…That's not cool either," he continued. "I mean…what they did was wrong. They tried to beat you up. If they get away, what's to stop them from doing it again?"
"Exactly," Kubota answered. Tokitoh looked back him, surprised. "There's nothing to stop them from doing it again. They'll be confused at first why they're not in trouble, and then they'll feel confident about it, like we couldn't nail them. They will then act again, but this time, we'll be paying more attention because we'll be expecting it. So, yes, for today they will get off, just as you did." Kubota pointed towards him. "But that doesn't mean they'll get off next time. The EC will just have to be on better alert for them specifically. Any other questions?"
Tokitoh shook his head. "Nah…I guess."
Kubota nodded, and then stood up and stretched. "Well, if that's it, Council Treasurer, then I think everything is settled for now." He started towards the door. "If you'll excuse us, we have last period to finish." He looked over his shoulder to Tokitoh. "Coming?"
Tokitoh nodded slowly and then followed. Kubota's hand was on the door when Matsumoto's voice stopped him. "One second, Makoto." He turned to see the Treasurer walk over from the desk. "I need to finish something else with you." Matsumoto's eyes flicked over to Tokitoh. "Alone."
Kubota looked back at him for a moment. What else was there? He started to ask, but Tokitoh just shrugged and began to walk down the hall.
"Whatever. I need to go take a piss."
Matsumoto eye's followed him and then narrowed. "Hey, Tokyo!"
Tokitoh stopped, and turned, scowling at him. "That's not my name."
Matsumoto didn't seem to care. "Just because you're in the Executive Committee today doesn't mean it's final. Blow any more rules and you're out, that's it. No more saves."
Tokitoh's face darkened, but he didn't say anything. Instead he just turned and walked off. Kubota stood and watched as he disappeared around the corner.
Matsumoto coughed and he looked down to see the other boy's eyes now on him. "Do you need to lead him there by the hand too?" he asked icily.
Kubota shrugged. "I don't know what you mean."
Matsumoto's mouth was a thin line. He then looked both ways down the hall before speaking. "Listen, and I mean, listen, Makoto. Today was as close to a disaster as I want to be. I know you don't give a damn about anything, or at least you didn't until today, but for the sake of the council and EC, and whatever else there is," Matsumoto's gaze shot towards the direction that Tokitoh had left in. "Just for once, act responsible and know that something's on the line here. Everything you do reflects on the EC, and everything they do reflects on the council. Like you said in there, it's all a game, but if you and whatever want to keep playing, then stick to the rules. Otherwise, next time, I may not remember too well when someone asks me to confirm your little plans. Do you understand?"
Kubota nodded. "Crystal clear, Council Treasurer."
Matsumoto seemed satisfied and he turned towards the office, but then stopped. With his hand on the door, he spoke, his back to Kubota. "…You were right earlier, Makoto." He tapped his fingers on the door for a moment. "…You were right when you said that I had a motive. I did then, and I still do." He looked back over his shoulder. "You owe me now and you know it and you can't bullshit your way out of it. So what I want is for you to start doing what I ask, when I ask it. I want you to follow the rules, I want you to keep an eye on Hiragi, and the next time I call a meeting, yours is the first face I'd better see. Do whatever else on your own time, but when it's my time, I don't want you to waste it anymore." With that said, he opened the door to the office and stepped inside.
The sound of the door closing on him seemed to echo down the hall. Kubota just stood there and listened as echo drifted off, and somehow, his wanting to return to class drifted off with it.
Maybe he had gone a little far this time…
He scratched his head and then turned, walking towards the stairs.
And maybe things will be a little tougher from now on.
His hand moved to his pocket only to feel the empty pack that he had slipped back in it. His last cigarette probably still lay crushed on the floor in front of the main office.
But it was worth it, right?
His mouth twitched. He missed that familiar feeling of holding something between his teeth.
Whether it was with Matsumoto, or him, or this new nail-biting member of the Executive Committee, things were definitely changing.
And where these changes would lead him, he wasn't quite sure, but he felt that suddenly he wanted to mourn for the rest of his lost cigarette someplace not here, someplace high and away from the council and his ties to it and everything else.
----
He sped through the halls with barely a glance to where he was going.
"Who the hell does he think he is?"
Blow any more rules and you're out? No more saves?
"Like I'd ask you for any favors?" he steamed. Who died and made you big-shot-jerk-face anyways?
"Calling me Tokyo, like that's some kind of insult." He clenched his fists and started walking faster. "I'll show you Tokyo." He threw one fist out in front of him. "Here's Shibuya, for ya! You like that?" He smiled, his mood already rising. He turned the corner, throwing his other fist out into the air. 'Then how about seeing Shinjuku?"
A uniform flashed before his eyes, but didn't register in time for him to stop his punch. He moved sideways, trying to avoid the impact, but he felt his fist make contact. The next second he was on the floor, kneeling next to the student he had just knocked down.
"…shit," he breathed, and looked over the other boy. "Are you okay?"
"…Yeah, fine," the boy muttered, feeling his stomach. "But damn…I don't want to see Shinjuku if that's the welcome I get."
Tokitoh just looked back at him confused and remembered then his tirade down the hall. He slapped his forehead with his hand. He was such a dumb-ass. He couldn't go five minutes without screwing up. "Look…I'm really sorry."
"Not as much as me," the boy looked up and their eyes met. Tokitoh's widened as he recognized the face from earlier that day. He had been one of the students that had run up when he had been fighting outside. He was…what the hell was his name?
"…Grand Pooh-bah…?" It sounded so stupid, but that's all he could remember when Kubota had introduced them all.
The boy gave him a surprised look and then recognition seemed to slowly dawn on him. "Yo, new kid, right?" Tokitoh nodded. The other boy smiled. "Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, funny meeting you like this? You just can't stop hitting people!"
Tokitoh's face heated up, and he lowered his head in a bow. "…Sorry."
"Yo, no problem." The boy stood up and dusted off his pants. "Next time wait until you turn the corner to throw a punch, unless it's a sneak attack, and then it's cool." He turned to look around. "That wasn't a sneak attack, was it? Damn, I love that ninja-shit."
Tokitoh shook his head. The other boy started to peer around the corner cautiously. "Damn, wasn't I supposed to go down to the office and meet you and Smokestack or something? Shit, I knew I was late." He frowned and tapped his finger on his chin. "If you're here then it must be all over. What the hell did he want me for? Running into the bathroom like there's some fire or shit. Damn. I gotta talk to him."
Tokitoh just looked back at him, slightly stunned. The other boy finally stopped muttering and looked at him fully. "So what's your deal? You still here or are you out?"
It took him a second to realize what the other boy was asking. "I'm still here…and I'm in that…that EC thing too now."
"Huh? Really?" The other boy's face brightened for a moment and then he went back to peering around the corner. "That's cool. Come on by tomorrow and we'll get you settled." He gave Tokitoh a quick glance back. "You sure that wasn't a sneak attack." Tokitoh just shook his head again. "Damn…" The other boy chewed his lip. "I thought I heard my name called over the intercom of something. I must be getting all paranoid. Whatever…" He began to creep away down the hall. "No one is going to sneak on my ass, I'll tell you that!" He turned and waved back. "Tomorrow, come on by the EC room. Since Smokestack seems to have taken up with you, we'll pair you guys up. That's good for us since he's been flying solo ever since Curry Bread skipped out."
Tokitoh didn't understand what he was talking about and just watched as the other boy slid down the hall. "Ninja-Suzuki strike!" he heard him cry out as he disappeared around the corner and out of sight. He stood in the now empty hall, his anger from earlier replaced now with disbelief.
"I don't get any of this."
He repeated that in his mind as he washed his face in the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he was reminded of how much of a mess he was from the fight outside. Takahata's mirror only flashed him a glimpse of his blood stained nose. There were no paper towels so he found the one clean corner from the handkerchief Kubota had given him earlier, dampened it, and began to clean away what he could. The coolness of the wet cloth felt good against his skin and he just left it on his nose for a few moments, letting it soak in.
He leaned his head against the mirror. The glass too felt cool to the touch. He closed his eyes, and for a moment his red-nosed reflection was gone.
Are you still here or are you out?
He had said he was still here, but in reality, he didn't really know. Everything that happened, Kubota jumping into the office, the council members joining in, that weird reporter-kid, somehow it all had come together and somehow he was still here, but it felt so strange, like some game that he was in, but everyone else was playing around him. He just sort of was standing there and throwing punches without looking where they hit.
He thought he had it all figured out before, when he had walked down the hall with the Principal. He thought it was all over then. He had thrown the wrong punch, and he was out of the game, out of Araiso, just like before, just like every other time.
But now he wasn't. He was still here, and even if he threw the wrong punch, and knocked down the head of the club he was now in, it didn't seem to matter. Somehow, he was still in the game.
And what weirded him out most was that it seemed to really matter to someone else that he stayed in the game.
Since Smokestack seems to have taken up with you, we'll pair you guys up.
He didn't really know what the other boy meant by that, nor did he really understand anything else he had said, but somehow, he had a feeling…
He heard a small snap, and he opened his eyes and saw that his hand was at his mouth, the nail of his pinky finger between his teeth.
You're not going to have any left if you keep doing that.
He sighed and looked down at his hand. The nails were so short now that the skin of his fingertips peeked out beneath each.
Somehow he had a feeling that whatever he was about to do at Araiso, whatever game he was about to play, that already he had a good idea of who was going to play along with him. And for some reason that felt okay, that whatever he was about to do, he wasn't about to do it alone. And that weirded him out too, since he was always alone. It was a fact he'd accepted a long time ago.
But now something was up, something was different…but what he didn't know though was why…
Another sound broke into his thoughts. This time it came from behind him. He turned around. He thought he had been alone in here. Although all the stall doors were closed, the bathroom had been completely quiet ever since he walked in. He stood silent, and listened, and in another moment, he heard the sound again, a wet, sniffing noise.
He walked over to the stall he thought was most likely the home of the sound. After another second, he raised his fist and knocked quietly on the door. "…Hey, you okay."
There was silence from the other side. He knocked again. "Seriously. Everything alright?"
"Go away," a voice called back. "I'm fine." The voice, young-sounding and shaky, sounded so the opposite of fine that Tokitoh didn't move.
"…Yeah, sorry, but I don't buy that."
There was silence again on the other side. He frowned and ran his hand through his hair. He could just go now, and leave the crying kid in the toilet, but…damn, he hated this stuff. Why do people have to be so lame, he wondered. He turned and looked around, and spotted a stack of wrapped toilet paper rolls in the corner. He grabbed them and walked back to the stall door. He held one in his hand and in one movement, tossed it over the top of the door and onto the other side.
"…Hey!" the voice yelled. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to make you come out!" he called back. He looked down at the three remaining rolls in his hand. "…I have tons more where that came from too. So many you'll be able to climb out on top of them. So either come out, or prepare to be TPed." He tossed a second roll over.
He heard another loud sniff. "What's it to you if I come out? Hey, stop it!" Tokitoh had tossed another roll over. He had one left now.
"It's nothing to me. It's just…not cool to be all cooped up here, you know? I mean…" He looked around. "Geez, it's the friggen toilet. How lame of a place can you hang out in?"
"So what, you're calling me names? You're the one who's throwing things!" With that, one roll was tossed back over. Tokitoh caught it easily.
"Hey, that's not too bad. Try catching this one." He tossed it back.
Whether or not the kid was really catching it, Tokitoh didn't know, but he continued to toss it right back at him. Tokitoh would just throw it over again, and with each time, throw out another question.
"Whatcha doing in here?"
"…Nothing." Another loud sniff.
"Is it just taking a long time to come out?"
"...No! That's not why I'm here."
"So what are you doing?"
"……"
"Did you get stuck in there?"
"No!" The roll came back a little harder that time.
"So why don't you come out?"
Silence again. The roll stayed on the other side of the door then.
"…It's just…" the voice again was shaky. "Today just went all wrong."
"What do you mean?" Tokitoh turned over the cleaning bucket and sat down.
"…Today…" the voice started. "…it was supposed to be…but then it wasn't…just…all wrong…"
Tokitoh sat with his chin in his hand. Weird. This sounded a little familiar. Before the words really formed in his mind, he spoke.
"So? You gonna let some bad day keep you in here? It's not even over yet, and you're already giving up? What's up with that?"
"You don't know what's it like!" the voice shouted back. "Today was my first day here, and it was awful, every part of it. I hate it here!" With that said, the roll of paper came hurtling over. Tokitoh leaned back, stretching his arms out, but he missed catching it. He turned and watched it roll away.
"…Look…" he said slowly. "You don't gotta believe me, sittin' in there. But for me, you know, today was my first day too here, and yeah…" He bit his lip, thinking and began to toss the last roll of paper between his two hands. "…it really sucked in parts. I mean, some jerk-off punched me in the face. The kids who run things here are totally nuts. And talking about nuts, the doctor-guy here, he's got this problem with squirrels, saying they're all out to get him and shit. I mean, for crying out loud, could this place be any more fucked up? I mean…" he trailed off, thinking back. "Man, I'm glad someone else sees how wrong this place is."
He heard another sniff. "…yeah?"
"Yeah." He nodded to the closed door. "But you know what?" And suddenly, it seemed like he was talking to himself more than anything at that moment, like he, more than the person behind the door, needed to hear this. "This may sound all messed up too, but even though this place is really fucked up, it's our fucked up. You get it? We can't all just say, 'this is wrong so I'm gonna chill in the toilet all day.' You gotta go out there, and if you don't like it that much, you gotta fix until you do. You get it? Staying here ain't doing nothing but getting your clothes all smelly. Out there ain't much better, and man, I know it too…but, I mean, you gotta try still…right?"
The other side was quiet. Tokitoh wondered if the kid fell asleep somehow. He leaned back and moved to toss over his last roll when there was click, and the door started to open.
"Alright." He smiled, but then his expression quickly fell when the door was open fully. There stood the figure of a beaten, bruised boy. His uniform was rumpled and torn, his hair was plastered to his face, his lip and a cut over his eye were still bleeding. "…Holy shit…I mean…" He looked up and their eyes finally met, and he realized then that this was the second time that they had met. It suddenly dawned on the other boy too.
"You!" he shouted and he ran up to Tokitoh, knocking him off the bucket. Tokitoh held up his arms to block, but the other boy started to pound his fists into him. "This is all your fault!" he cried out.
Tokitoh tried to look up over his arms to see the other boy's face. Tears were streaming down, and mixing with the dirt and the blood. It was the same kid from that morning at the station, the same kid that he had jumped on the tracks for to get his bag. But now, he looked completely different, like it was him who had been on the tracks, and somehow got trampled by the train itself.
"Hey, lay off!" he yelled back. He finally was able to push the boy off. "What's your problem?"
"You're my problem!" The boy's chest was heaving, and he gasped for breath. "If you had just stayed away this morning. those guys would have left me alone!"
"What are you talking about?" Tokitoh stood up. "They were about to beat the shit out of you? What was I supposed to do? Just fucking watch?"
"Yes!" the boy spat back. "Then it would have been over. But no, now I've been pegged for life! They did this!" He pointed to his face. "And they said they'll do it again! And all they did was talk about how they wanted me to be you while they did it!" The boy picked up the overturned bucket and threw it at him. Tokitoh held his arm up and felt it bounce off and then heard it clatter to the floor.
He was speechless. Never had he thought that this would happen. He had just done what he thought was right…but it had been all wrong…and now someone else was getting punished for what he had done.
"…I'm sorry." He looked back at the boy. "Look, I didn't mean-"
But the boy didn't let him finish. "Just leave me alone!" he shouted as he headed for the door, his hands wiping at his eyes. "Everything would have been fine if you had just stayed out of it! Now my life is going to be hell and it's your fault!" He ripped the door open and ran out, slamming it shut behind him.
Tokitoh stood in the now-empty bathroom, his arms limp.
This was all wrong…
He picked up the bucket and looked at it.
How did this…why did he…
He threw the bucket against the wall, and when that just bounced off, he threw his fist against it. It hurt, but he did it again and again.
He was so stupid…
He slid to the ground. The pain in his hand throbbed, but it didn't match the tightness in his chest that seemed to want to squeeze all of his insides out.
He sniffed, and realized now that his own face was wet, just like the other boy's. He held something up to his eyes automatically, and he opened them to realize he still was holding on to Kubota's handkerchief. He looked grimly down at the stained wet cloth, feeling the fabric with his fingers.
He was so fucking stupid…
He had never been in this game. He knew that now.
He had fallen out from the start, from the very beginning.
He had thrown a punch out without looking, and he had hit himself.
The door opened up suddenly and some boys walked in. He stood up quickly and wiped his eyes with his hands. They didn't seem to notice him.
Why should they, he thought bitterly. If you're not playing, you're not even here.
He hurried out of the bathroom into the hall. He walked without knowing where he was heading. He just kept moving and kept rubbing his eyes.
He came to some stairs and went up with them.
He didn't know where he was going.
The only thing he did know was that it didn't matter anymore.
He knew now that it never had.
-tbc
^^