Chapter 2: In Trouble
Izumi walked to the front, where Yanagimoto-sensei and the driver were furious at her. The driver, Mr. Hoshino really didn't know her but he was still mad for having to stop. While Izumi was at the front, Miyamoto looked into Izumi's knapsack and took out some items just for the fun of it and set it at the back of the bus. She and her friends snickered in their seats.
"Sit!" Yanagimoto-sensei ordered. Izumi obeyed and immediately stared at the floor and at her lavender shoes.
"Just what is your problem, Orimoto? You go off and hurt Miyamoto like that? She screamed so shrillingly that it startled Mr. Hoshino and slammed the brakes! Look at the trouble you caused! They didn't teach you anything in that country, did they? Now, I want you to apologize to Mr. Hoshino. Then I want you to stay in your seat, and don't get out of your seat. Also, when we get back, I want you to write an apology letter to the class and Miyamoto. I want you to give Miyamoto a verbal apology right now. I'm going to be watching you," Yanagimoto-sensei said. "Now go back to your seat."
"Yes, Yanagimoto-sensei," she said very submissively.
"I didn't hear you, Orimoto!"
"Yes, Yanagimoto-sensei!" she said only slightly louder. Izumi marched back to her seat towards Miyamoto and her friends, and Miyamoto, acting like she was seriously injured. As Izumi was almost to her seat, Yanagimoto-sensei also said "Oh, yes, I'm writing a letter to your parents."
Izumi was even more concerned as she approached Miyamoto.
"I'm…s...s-s-orry, Miyamoto," she said through her teeth. She walked heavily to her seat and plopped down, ready to cry, but she tried her hardest to hold her feelings in. She began to think,
"Now everyone hates me and sees me as a monster. I hate it in Jiyuugaoka School. I haven't even made any friends for how many months! I might as well leave for all they care…" she said, droned into her sadness as she buried her face in her lavender gloves. Then she began to hear the squawking of Miyamoto's voice.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so lucky you guys were here! I have some friends to protect me…unlike some people…" she sneered, implying Izumi, obviously.
Izumi ignored her the best she could, but it was no use. Then she heard Yanagimoto-sensei and Mr. Hoshino.
"You really should get that girl put somewhere else," said Mr. Hoshino, while driving.
"I know" replied Yanagimoto-sensei.
It was more than Izumi could handle. She put her elbow on the window sill and concealed her head as crystal water drops began fall from her eyes and splash onto her fuchsia-colored snow gear pants. Her thoughts escaped her, as she wanted it to. No one understood her. She loved her country, Japan. No one could see it. Everyone thought she was different and a troublemaker. Kouji was watching her and noticed the drops falling onto her pants. He reached into his black pants and took out a tissue and held it our for Izumi. A few seconds later, she wiped the tears away from her eyes, then just noticed the tissue in front of her face.
"Thank you," she said faintly while wiping her eyes.
Kouji nodded and went back to his seat across from her.