hi everyone!
Thank you so much for reading and leaving your hearty reviews!
I manage to get this chapter through because of you! xoxo
Guest: Hahaha, I'm happy that you like this!
Personnn: Lol... Can't really say anything about their development, coz they actually just go with the flow without my permission! (^_^)
Bailey Webster: Thanks! I'm glad that you like this! Anyway, I can only write short stories since I easily got bored and lazy in typing longer ones, hehe.
Wikked: Thanks! here's another chapter for you!
SakKim 98: xoxo
Tsuray: Lol.. We could arrange that, haha with Tora's consent, of course!
The Fall of Igarashi
Chapter 3
"Crap! What was I thinking? I slapped my student! I could be sued for corporal punishment! What should I do?" Keira threw her toy ball harshly to her newly posted human-sized poster of her latest Igarashi caricature in her room.
She had hurriedly ran home after the incident and in the spur of the moment, had created her newest masterpiece inspired by no other than the Igarashi heir himself. She was now using it as her target in her imaginary volleyball match with Tora.
"Well, nobody could really blame me!" she again throws another shot towards Tora's head.
"After all, you provoked me!" (another shot)
"And it was even my first day!" (another shot)
"Besides, I don't even know you yet you dare to mess with my love life!" (another shot)
"And what were you doing with that girl?" this time she was just gripping the red ball as she remembered the situation she had seen as she entered his office. Once again, she blushed at the train of her thoughts.
"Nee-chan, are you sick?"
Surprised, she quickly turned towards her door and saw her brother standing.
"Me? Goodness, no! Why would I be sick?" she replied.
"You look sick though, as in mentally sick!" Ren laugh loudly.
"Ren!"
Ren was still trying to calm down his fits of laughter then, he seriously added, "If I had known that you're first day of school would turn up like this, I never would have encouraged you to pursue your dream in becoming a teacher!
"No, Ren, I'm fine so don't worry about me. I can handle myself."
"Oh, I'm not really worried about you Nee-chan, I'm worried about your students. What would become of them if their future is entrusted in you?" Ren teasingly chuckled.
"Oh, just shut up Ren! Can't you see I've got a problem here?" Keira crossed her arms and pouted.
"Oh? How come?" Ren leaned on her wall to make himself comfortable.
"I have this psycho student who thinks he can do anything he wants to with anyone!"
"Hmmm... He sounds just like you." Ren nodded as if to confirm his newfound discovery.
Keira decided to ignore his brother's mockery.
"So? What did this student of yours do?" Ren is now eyeing the human-sized ugly humanoid sketch of his sister, trying his hardest to suppress his laughter at the sight of disaster in front of him.
"He wants to find me a boyfriend!"
"And?" Ren is so distracted that he could hardly understand what her sister is babbling about.
"And what?"
"Did he find someone for you already?" At last he composed himself.
"Nope... I mean, why would he even do that? Who would want other people to control one's love affairs? C'mon, I don't even want to have a boyfriend, much less have somebody find me one!" Keira exasperatingly said, she sat down on her bed and for the first time, she felt really tired and exhausted.
"Well apparently he is, and maybe, just maybe, he is also thrilled with the idea of playing matchmaker!" Ren calmly said.
"And I even slapped him a while ago!" Keira's eyes lit as she remembered for the nth time her latest dreadful encounter with the Igarashi heir and send a murderous glare to her innocent poster.
"Oh, really? And what did he do?" Keira had now caught her brother's full attention, who had unconsciously raised one of his eyebrows.
"I don't know, I immediately ran outside because I was nervous, but I heard someone laughing though, through the windows." Keira tried to focus her mind objectively on what had happened the whole afternoon.
"Uh-oh! Looks like you really caught yourself a psycho sister!" Ren once again chuckled.
"No way!"
"Oh yes!"
"Ren!"
"Hahaha..."
"Ren, what should I do?"
"Well, judging from his behavior, I could say that he has a problem or problems, and you are his diversion from his reality. And I think, the only way out in the situation you are in, is to find out what his problem is and help him solve it. As his teacher, it is your role to help him and maybe, he will behave normally towards you. Well, that is just me saying, but maybe you could..." Ren wasn't able to finish what he was saying for her sister is now shooting star towards him.
"Ren-chan, you're right! How could I not think of that? I am his teacher, so I must help him. His ways maybe barbaric but I think it's his way of sending SOS signals for help!" Keira has now folded her hands as if to pray. Imagining a chibi Tora crying and asking for help in his cute little voice and she, as a mature pretty teacher is comforting the little child.
"Okay, I'm going help you Tora-chan! So, don't worry okay?" Keira stood before her poster patting Tora's bulging head.
"Well, it's good that you understand now but could you please stop that, you're creeping me out!" Ren rubbed his forearms to ward off his shivers.
"Oh." Keira chuckled.
"So, I'll find out what his problem is and I am going to do everything in my power to help him. And, I need to apologize to him, too! Thanks Ren-chan for clearing my mind!"
"Tsk! You're so emotional Nee-chan, you have to control your emotions a little next time!"
"Hai! Hai!" Keira smiled while performing a hand salute towards Ren.
"So, does that also mean that you're going to put down your self-made poster of your student now? It looks creepy, you know!" Ren warily eyed the monster she created.
"Nah, I'll just leave it there, besides it's a first for me to actually draw a whole human figure. All it needs is a little color and then it's all set!"
"So you're planning to keep it?"
Yup! I'm going to keep my Tora-chan!" Keira's eyes were shining at her work of art while Ren sighed.
"Nee-chan, I really commend your eye for beauty!" Ren chuckled then added before going out of her room, "by the way, good luck tomorrow!"
"Yeah, thanks Ren!" Keira smiled.
That night Keira felt at peace with herself. She already knew what to do. And she is positive that she can help the Igarashi heir solve his problem, whatever it is.
"Good night Tora-chan!" She finally smiled at the poster next to her bed before succumbing into a peaceful slumber.
The next day...
Keira was early in school hoping to find the Igarashi heir in his office but was disappointed to see that no one is there. Just then, the door to his office opened and out came Maki.
"Oh, good morning Miss Matsumoto, do you need something?" Maki politely bowed.
"Ah, yes, is Igarashi-san in?" Keira asked, she felt rather stiff today, maybe because she is nervous.
"Ah, Igarashi-sama will be out for the whole week."
"Why? Is it because of what happened yesterday?" Keira asked, her voice is now full of concern.
"No. Rest assured that what happened yesterday is not his reason for not coming today. He has some important business to attend to, besides, he likes to personally supervise the preparations for the upcoming welcome party."
"Welcome party?
"Yes. A welcome party is held every year to welcome the students both old and new who chose to enroll in this school, and it also welcomes possible investors and partners in business."
"Ah, I see."
"By the way, the theme of this year's welcome party is Arabian Night. I hope you get your costume ready by Saturday night." with that Maki bowed and silently walk away.
"Arabian Night? Wow, this Saturday? Woah, this is really an elite school." Keira mumbled to herself.
"Well, since Plan A needs to be postponed, I need to proceed to plan B now." Keira added as she walk towards the school building.
The days had passed swiftly and Keira had busied herself gathering intel for her plans. She was so dedicated and so consumed on searching the probable problem of the Igarashi heir that she didn't notice that it is already Friday. She barely noticed the hustle-bustle of the people around her trying to prepare and follow up the costumes that they will wear for the next night's party. They were excited and there was festive air around the campus. She was still nowhere in her search and she couldn't even understand what could be Igarashi's problem not until she went to the powder room to take a leak.
She was in one cubicle trying to straighten her uniform when somebody entered and talked.
"Hey, you think she will come? she heard a girl's voice.
"I think so, she's invited you know, together with her fiancée since they're friends now." another girl answered.
"How could Igarashi-sama treat them as his friends?" answered the first girl.
"Well, that just means to say that Igarashi-sama is matured enough to accept that that girl is just not meant for him," replied the other girl.
"Poor Igarasahi-sama. I hope I can help him mend his broken heart" the first girl sighed dreamily.
"Huh, poor? He could never be poor! Silly! But yeah if only he'll take a glance at us then we might be able to comfort him and who knows, if he'll fall deeply in love with one of us, we might become his wife, and we could be rich! " the other girl said earning a chuckle from the other.
"Ahh, so that's what happened!" Keira inwardly sighed.
She felt a pang guilt rising in her chest as she listened to the girls chitchat.
After making sure that the girls are nowhere in the area, she immediately went out of the cubicle, her guilt and sadness never leaving her now confused mind.
"Now, I know why he acts so abnormal. I wish I hadn't known, so that I won't be this affected, urggggghhh..." she was now back in her own table at the faculty room sulking.
She had been sketching an alien look-alike figure in her notebook that she had endearingly called Tora-chan in her mind. Knowing that the Igarashi heir is currently broken hearted had her so stressed on the matter. She sucked at sad love stories and most of the time she ended more brokenhearted than the character in the stories she had read. Ren would often tease her about her trait in indulging herself on the sadness and grief that oftentimes have no connection nor sense in her life whatsoever.
"How cruel! How can love do this to you, Tora-chan? Is that why you want to find me a boyfriend? Because you think I am lonely like you?" Keira sadly sighed while caressing the alien-like figure in her notebook.
"Uhmmm, Miss Matsumoto, excuse me? Can I ask you a favor?" a male teacher who seemed worried stood before her.
"Uh-oh, I hope he didn't see me having drama with Tora-chan here! Keira gulped in surprise before answering.
"Yes, Mr. Mashida? What can I do for you?"
"Could you please send these documents to the Student Council Office, I heard Igarashi-san is there today for his costume fitting and I don't really trust students to pass this to him since these are important documents, I would be very glad if you could help me with this."
"Sure, I will pass this to him now," Keira accepted the long brown envelope and started to stand.
"Thank you, Miss Matsumoto." Mr. Mashida said with a smile.
"You're welcome!" Keira replied.
At the Student Council Office...
"Ne, Maki, how was that teacher?" Tora asked as he tried to choose on the neatly piled Arabian prince outfits in his long table.
"Oh, you mean, that teacher? Maki replied with a smile.
"Yes" was Tora's short reply while concentrating on choosing the right outfit for him.
"For the past days that you were not around, I have seen her somewhat snooping and searching for something. She seemed so focused that she did not even notice me standing beside her one time. She was mostly mumbling and babbling something incomprehensible that is when she thinks no one is around."
"Really? She must be too nervous or too guilty on what she did to me!" Tora chuckled as he picked up the white garb on his left.
"Serves her right!" He added then turned to try his Arabian prince outfit.
Meanwhile, Keira still in her brokenhearted-Tora-chan-chibi-mode nightmare, walked slowly towards the Student Council Office. She was unconsciously gripping the envelope hard which made her knuckles turn to white.
"I never knew that I could be the witness to the living proof of Kyoko Mogami's aphorism that love is the prelude to destruction and despair!"
"Tora-chan, I will save you, no matter what! I will never allow you to destroy yourself!" Keira decided. She was still wallowing in grief when she saw the object of her sadness.
"Oh, you're here!" Tora turned just in time to see the dazed state of Miss Matsumoto. Having no response he asked in confusion, " Are you alright?"
"She must be too nervous to see me that she automatically turned into stone," Tora mentally chuckled.
Little did he know that Miss Matsumoto's vision of him had been enhanced/reduced to that of a helpless lime-colored hair kid, so innocent and so fragile that Keira couldn't help but hug him.
"Tora-chan, I'm sorry..." Keira almost whispered her voice full of sadness.
"What the hell is going on? Maki?" Tora stared at Maki who was also stunned at the sight of them.
But Keira, who had her eyes closed, just pulled Tora tighter into her embrace making both Maki and Tora blush...