II
Sunday
April 7, 2013 — Evening
Overcast
Shou sat in the passenger seat of the car, looking out the window. The city blocks were a blur; coffee shops, clothing boutiques, restaurants passed in quick succession. There, a movie theater. And then endless blocks of apartment buildings.
Everything was aglow, because the ponderous clouds overhead had rendered the evening prematurely dark. Shou was used to the nighttime lit by old lampposts, or by lanterns hanging from eaves of some traditional-style dwellings; by the warm light that spilled through the windows of family homes. Here, the light couldn't be escaped. It was everywhere. From bright advertisements on LCD screen billboards to the countless car headlights that pierced the dark of evening.
An urban wilderness, Shou thought. Would he ever get used to this? He wasn't sure.
As he looked out the window, snippets of his strange dream came back to him.
A train car. Blue everywhere.
A contract?
The more he tried to remember, the more the dream escaped him.
Driving the car was Hasumi Kumiko-sensei, his dorm's monitor, and a history teacher at the Academy. She was a slight, pretty woman, her straight black hair touched with gray. When she spoke, it was in soft tones, but there was a sort of quiet confidence about her, an inner strength not apparent at first glance.
In the back seat was Yuto, Hasumi-sensei's eight year old son. He was small, even for his age, with a bowl of black hair set over bright, inquisitive eyes. Sometimes Shou found Yuto peering at him, but when the boy saw Shou was looking back, Yuto quickly glanced away.
Shy, then? Shou smiled to show it was okay.
Yuto stared out the window and kept silent.
Shou frowned. He felt like he should encourage the kid, but didn't know how. He lacked the necessary understanding. Maybe in the future he would be better equipped to communicate.
Eventually the countless business gave way to townhouses and small parks. The hustle and bustle dissipated, replaced by a calmer atmosphere. Shou sat up in his seat. He watched the tree-lined lanes with appreciation. These surroundings were something he could get used to.
"It's nice, isn't it?" asked Hasumi-sensei. "Do you know much about Morigami, Tanimoto-kun?"
Shou shook his head.
"It's a fascinating city," Hasumi-sensei said. "It was founded in the 1950s, by the Morigami Mining Company. The city exists against a mountainside, you know. They found a large amount of copper and silver there. Eventually the mine ran dry, but the company expanded into manufacturing and kept the city growing. They turned lots of the old tunnels into metro lines."
Shou nodded. That would certainly make getting around the city easier.
"The academy is on the north side of the city," she continued. "It's much more relaxed in this part of town. You're from the suburbs, aren't you?"
Shou nodded again.
"You don't talk much, do you, Tanimoto-kun?"
Shou chuckled faintly.
"Don't worry, though," Hasumi-sensei continued. "You'll fit right in, I'm sure. Everyone's very nice."
Shou smiled. He was sure Hasumi-sensei was right. He'd always been an easy-going guy. People seemed to find him magnetic, somehow. He wasn't sure why. On the inside he often felt awkward, unable to show his deepest self before others. Yet his outer veneer was one of calm confidence. Aloofness, even. For some reason, that drew people to him. Made them want to get to know him.
Would things be different at Morigami? It was a prestigious school, after all. He doubted he would be any more special than the next student. Probably less so. Maybe his days of popularity had come to close. He'd always been the big fish in a small pond, but now it felt like he was going to the ocean.
And the ocean was full of giants.
He tapped the window and looked questioningly at Hasumi-sensei.
She nodded. "Be my guest," she said.
Shou lowered the window. Spring air flowed into the car, brimming with the scent of new flowers. He inhaled deeply. It reminded him of home. Of walking amid the blossoms, enjoying cool lemonade with the friends that he'd now left behind.
Did they miss him? Tomorrow, when class started, would they acknowledge his empty seat? He could hear their voices in his mind. Hey, that's Shou's desk. I wonder what he's up to.
His throat tightened. He fought back a rising tide of emotion, biting the inside of his lip to ground himself. His vision grew hazy with half-formed tears.
"Are you all right, Tanimoto-kun?" Hasumi-sensei asked.
Shou smiled. "The wind's in my eyes," he said.
"Of course," said Hasumi-sensei.
Life. What a strange and fascinating thing. No one ever knew where it would take them. Though he'd had his reservations, Shou had fought tooth and nail to attend Morigami Academy. He and his father had worked and saved and suffered for this. Could he possibly fulfill the expectations set before him?
What would this next year bring?
A period of overwhelming adversity, he thought. A sacrifice.
That dream still haunted him.
What did it all mean?
Nothing. It was just anxiety, he reassured himself, that had manifested in some bizarre nightmare. Not anything he had to worry about.
And yet he couldn't shake the feeling that to ignore the dream's warnings would cost him dearly.
At last the car arrived at a great iron-wrought gate, set into a tall, gray limestone brick wall. A placard on a stone pillar to the side read "Morigami Academy." A guard came up to the driver's side window.
"Good evening, Saitou-san," Hasumi-sensei said.
"Likewise, Hasumi-san," replied the guard, Saitou.
He stepped back and waved his arm. The gate opened with an electric hum.
The car proceeded down a wide paved line, flanked by towering cherry trees in full bloom. Shou marveled at the countless limbs draped with cottony blankets of pink. He hadn't expected to see something like that here. He never would have known he was in the middle of a bustling metropolis. The academy was secluded — a private, peaceful haven hidden amid a bastion of modernity.
He could get used to this.
The lane gave way to a large square, also surrounded by cherry trees. In the middle lay a fountain, with a bronze statue of a bald, pot-bellied man in a suit, grinning widely. Further back were a series of elegant red brick buildings, with ornate, Roman-style white moldings and columns.
"The statue is Morigami Yoshinori," said Hasumi-sensei. "He founded the academy. It's a silly statue, but you get used to it."
In the back seat, Yuto covered his eyes.
"Yuto doesn't like it," Hasumi-sensei confided. "Maybe it's just too ugly." She covered her mouth, stifling laughter. "Please don't tell anyone I said that, Tanimoto-kun."
Shou grinned.
"Those are the main classroom buildings back there. Behind them are the sports facilities and gymnasium. Everything is state of the art. You'll love it." Hasumi-sensei turned right at the square, proceeding down a side road.
Here the cherry trees gave way to green-needled pines and multi-hued maples — orange and yellow, red and pink. The spring colors robbed Shou of breath. Such beauty. It was so fleeting, so finite, yet also eternal in its yearly cycle.
"The dormitories are this way," Hasumi said.
Soon, they began to pass more brick buildings on the left. Shou watched them with interest, wondering which one he'd be staying in.
Hasumi-sensei smiled apologetically. "Those are the standard dormitories. You'll be staying in G Hall. It isn't as nice as the others, but it comes with a reduced rate. As I'm sure you know, Tanimoto-kun."
Shou nodded. It was the only way he and his father had been able to afford Morigami.
At the far end of the road lay one final brick structure, more weathered looking than the others. The white paint on its columns was cracked in places. Shou didn't know why, but he found its flawed appearance vaguely comforting. After all, how did you live up to perfection?
Hasumi-sensei parked to the side of the building. She helped Shou unload his things from the trunk. Yuto continued to watch Shou with interest, and Shou pretended not to notice. He didn't want to startle the kid again.
Together, they proceeded up the steps to the front door.
"There's a trolley car that stops by every half hour during school days," Hasumi-sensei said. "And it comes once an hour on weekends and in the evenings. You can ride it to class, or into town if you don't want to walk." She pushed open the door.
Shou gasped.
If this was the budget dorm, he couldn't imagine what the other places looked like. The place was far more than he'd expected. A large common room stretched before him. Lush red carpeting lined the floor. Nearby was a lounge area, replete with couches, armchairs, coffee table, and a flatscreen TV; at the back was a dining area with a long dinner table.
"I can't wait to see you tomorrow," said a soft voice. "Yeah. I'll look forward to it."
There was a girl sitting in one of the armchairs, talking on her cell phone.
Shou stopped. She was one of the cutest girls Shou had ever seen.
Long bangs covered her forehead; her chestnut hair fell in waves to her shoulders; her eyes were large, dark, luminous, over a button nose and full lips. She wore a dark skirt, and a form-fitting vest over a buttoned white shirt, emphasizing her lithe figure.
Was this what girls were like at Morigami?
The girl met Shou's eyes. She froze. "Um, I'll talk to you later," she said. She hung up the phone.
Hasumi led Shou into the common area.
The girl with the phone stood and put on a bright smile. She looked flushed. Was she embarrassed? Something to do with that phone conversation? Shou wasn't sure.
"Konbanwa, Tachibana," Hasumi said.
"Konbanwa, Hasumi-sensei," the girl, Tachibana, replied. She turned to Yuto, hiding behind his mother. "Good evening, Yuto-chan."
"K-konbanwa," Yuto said. He turned bright red.
Did the little guy have a crush? Shou grinned. He couldn't blame Yuto. He, too, was having a hard time looking away from Tachibana.
"Who's this?" Tachibana asked.
"Ah, this is Tanimoto Shou-kun," Hasumi said.
"Hi, Tanimoto," the girl said. She extended a hand. "I'm Tachibana Emi. Welcome to G Hall."
"Pleased to meet you," Shou said.
"You're a pretty formal guy, aren't you?" Tachibana asked.
Shou shrugged and offered a self-effacing smile.
Tachibana laughed.
The sound was like music to Shou. It made his heart swell.
"Anyway," Hasumi said, "let me get dinner started." To Shou, she said, "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are always available at the school cafeteria. But we're a small, tight-knit dorm. I try to cook meals when I can." She stepped around to a front desk by the door. There were a series of cubbies behind it, marked alphanumerically. "Your room is 3F." She grabbed a key from a cubby and handed it to Shou. "You can take the elevator up and drop off your things. Food in a half hour."
With that, Hasumi-sensei walked disappeared through a side door.
Shou was left alone with Tachibana.
She shuffled her feet. "So, um, I haven't seen you around before," she said. "Are you a transfer student?"
Shou nodded.
"Welcome to Morigami," she said.
"Thanks," he said.
"So, um . . .". Awkwardly, she offered Shou a hand.
He shook it. He palm was warm and dry. Pleasant. He felt his face flushing. He searched for something to say. "Who was that on the phone?" he asked.
"Oh, that," Tachibana said. "I didn't realize you heard. It was, um, kind of private." She blushed, and looked down at the floor. Shou thought it made her look even cuter. "Sorry. I don't want to go into it. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea."
He smiled, letting her know it was okay.
"Um, why don't I show you to your room?"
Shou's smiled deepened.
He followed Tachibana to an elevator at the back of the lobby, dragging his rolling luggage. Ding. The stainless steel doors parted before him. Inside, Tachibana pressed the button for the third floor. "The girls are on the second floor and the guys are on the third," she said.
Shou nodded.
"So, uh . . ." Tachibana idly twisted a strand of hair around her index finger. "Where are you from, Tanimoto?"
Shou fished out his wallet, showing his old school ID.
"Kamikawa, huh?" Tachibana asked. "Must be really different from the city."
Shou nodded.
Tachibana giggled. "I guess you're the silent type," she said. "I can't say I mind—"
She cut off as the elevator doors opened.
"Oi, what's going on in here?" asked a gruff voice.
Standing outside the elevator was a tall upperclassman with spiky blond hair and dark eyebrows. He wore a gray tanktop beneath his open school uniform jacket, emphasizing his powerful physique. He carried a shinai in one hand, balancing it against his shoulder.
Shou took a step back. The way this guy carried himself, he wasn't to be messed with.
"Who's this guy, Emi-chan?" the newcomer asked. "Your new boyfriend?"
"N-no, nothing like that!" Tachibana turned a deep shade of red. "This is our new transfer student, Tanimoto," she said. "I'm just showing him to his room. Tanimoto, this is Hayabusa-senpai."
Hayabusa grinned and rubbed the back of his hair. "Come on, Emi-chan. How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Kouta!"
Tachibana ignored him. "Hayabusa-senpai is the captain of the school's kendou team."
Hayabusa leaned in close to Shou, sticking a long, meaty finger in Shou's face. "Say, you wouldn't be thinking of trying anything funny with Emi-chan, would you?" he asked.
"Hayabusa-senpai!" she exclaimed.
"Because I've got my eye on you, buddy," Hayabusa said. He jabbed his finger into Shou's chest.
Shou blanched. The last thing he needed was to get on some meathead's bad side on the day before classes. He held up his hands in surrender and inched past Hayabusa, out of the elevator. Tachibana followed.
Hayabusa entered the elevator. He stared Shou down until the doors closed.
As soon as Hayabusa was gone, Shou exhaled. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath until that moment.
"Don't mind him," Tachibana said. "Hayabusa-senpai's overprotective of all the girls in the dorm. He's got a real big brother complex!" She laughed.
Her good cheer was contagious. Shou began to laugh too. He met Tachibana's eyes.
She looked away. Her mirth dissipated.
Sudden anxiety twisted Shou's stomach. Had he been too forward, looking at her like that? He wanted to apologize, but didn't have the courage. He really did like her laugh, though. He wished he was brave enough to tell her.
"Your room's this way," Tachibana said.
Shou followed her down a bright hallway, carpeted with the same red fabric as downstairs. Wooden doors flanked him on both sides.
Tachibana stopped in front of the last door on the right. "3F, right?"
Shou held up his key with "3F" on it.
"All right, then," Tachibana said, "you're all set."
Shou bowed in appreciation.
Tachibana smiled. "I'm happy to help. I'll see you downstairs in a few for dinner, okay?"
Shou nodded. When she turned to go, he watched her leave with his heart fluttering in his chest. She stopped at the elevator, looked back at him. Feeling self-conscious, he waved and unlocked his door.
He entered, hauling his luggage behind him.
Inside, he found a moderately-sized rectangular room, with white-painted walls; a bed with a sky blue comforter; a dresser; a desk; a bookshelf; a small night table; and an old television set. A small window was set into the far wall, over the bed, though with the heavy clouds outside, there was no daylight left to let in. There was also a small closet, within which he found a number of hangars, just waiting for his clothes and school uniforms.
He sighed.
The surfaces were bare. The room was a blank slate, ready for him to leave his mark. He was going to spend the next year living here.
He might as well get started.
Shou unpacked his clothes. He set his books and textbooks on the shelf. He put his laptop on the dresser. He sat down on his bed.
He looked at his phone.
Otou-san, he thought. He should call his father, let him know that he was doing okay.
Was he doing okay? Shou wasn't sure. A vague sense of unease had followed him since the train ride and that peculiar dream. He was looking forward to getting started with the school year, but couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
His father would tell him that he was thinking too much, he knew. And he didn't want to burden dad with the foolish fears of youth. The old man would probably be home from work now, from his job doing quality assurance with a regional electronics manufacturer. He would have an hour to clean up and eat before going to his night shift at the local Family Mart. Shou didn't want to bother him. It would only add to dad's stresses.
At my dorm, he texted. Everything great. Can't wait for class.
There. That would ensure his father knew that he was fine.
Shou flopped back on his bed. His eyes drooped.
Dinner was soon. He didn't want to miss it. He wanted to try Hasumi-sensei's cooking. But he was so exhausted. He yawned. He wanted to stay awake. He . . .
. . . Found himself drifting into . . .
. . . A nightmare.