IV
Monday
April 8, 2013 — Early Morning
Overcast
The spring air was crisp; a light breeze blew in from the south, coasting over Morigami Academy's sturdy brick walls, riffling through Shou's hair. He inhaled, enjoying the scent of things growing. It was the sweet smell of new life. Yes, this place was far better than he'd anticipated. But the biggest test was yet to come.
Would he fit in?
He glanced down at his dark blue uniform. His blazer was lined with silver trim, and the Roman character "M" was stitched on the lapel.
The clothes were the right size, at least. He grinned.
Above, the sky was a gray blanket, a pall across the sun. It still hadn't changed since yesterday. Shou hoped there would be some real sunlight soon. At least, oddly, there was no humidity.
Shou's gut told him it wasn't going to rain.
I wonder why . . . he thought.
He felt a little bit like he was sleepwalking. Like life had become somehow surreal. He stifled a yawn, and rubbed his eyes. Though he'd slept nearly twelve hours, fatigue still gnawed at him. He told himself it was just first day jitters, but really, he knew it was the dreams. Thinking about them made him feel like he'd forgotten the name of an old friend. It was information he obviously possessed, but his mind had temporarily misplaced it.
The more Shou thought about the dreams, the harder they became to remember.
Yet he felt like he was supposed to remember.
Rather than waiting for the trolley, he decided to walk the fifteen minutes to the Classroom Buildings. Maybe the exercise would wake him up.
Besides, he wanted to enjoy the spring colors.
Maples lined the road in front of him, their leaves a vibrant array; some crimson, some pink, others tinged purple. An emerald lawn stretched all the way from the path down to the academy wall. Here and there lay wooden benches, in the dappled shade beneath tree boughs. Shou thought the spots looked kind of romantic.
He imagined sitting on one of those benches with Tachibana.
Brrriiing brrriiing!
Shou whirled in time to see Hayabusa jet past on a bicycle, his shinai bag slung over his back, his legs pumping. "See ya, new guy!" he shouted.
Shou exhaled, watching the trail of dust kicked up by Hayabusa's receding form.
If the school accepted carefree guys like Hayabusa, maybe he didn't have anything to worry about.
"Hey, Tanimoto!"
Shou stopped and spotted Tachibana coming up the path behind him. He waved, and waited for her to catch up.
"We missed you at dinner last night," she said.
"Sorry," Shou said.
"Oh, no, it's fine," Tachibana said. "We figured you must have been tired, so we didn't bother you. How did you sleep, anyway?"
Shou shook his head. He told her a little bit about the nightmare he'd had.
She giggled. "I usually get stress dreams during exams. But it makes sense, this being your first day."
He nodded.
Tachibana smiled at him. Then looked down at her shoes.
An awkward silence fell between them.
Shou searched for something to say. Some bit of small talk he could engage her with. He wanted to see that smile again.
But it was Tachibana who spoke first. "So . . . um, I was meaning to ask you . . . Who do you have for homeroom?"
Shou removed his folded schedule from his back pocket. He showed it to her.
"Oh, great, you're in Class B, too!" Tachibana said. "You're going to like Mr. Kudo. He's great. He's young, so he's kind of cool, and super nice. He'll definitely make you feel comfortable."
Shou chuckled.
"Now come on," she said, walking faster. "We don't want to be late!"
Shou arrived with Tachibana just before the bell. They entered a bright classroom with rows of sturdy, relatively new desks. A large chalkboard took up the front wall, and above Shou could see a flatscreen that slid into the ceiling.
The teacher that greeted them, however, was not the "young" and "cool" Kudo-sensei.
"Everyone settle down, settle down. Kehehehehe." At the head of the class stood a stooped old man, his owlish eyes behind thick glasses, his receding gray hair a wild halo. "I'm Abe-sensei. I'll be your captain on this journey. That's a sailing metaphor. Did you get it? Kehehehe."
"Um, excuse me, Abe-sensei?" Tachibana asked.
"Mm, yes?" He peered at Tachibana from behind his spectacles.
"What happened to Kudo-sensei?"
"That delinquent," Abe muttered. "The youth of today, no sense of responsibility. Shirking their duties, leaving it to the older generation to clean up their messes."
"Sensei?"
"Ah, right. Kudo-sensei." Abe rubbed his gnarled hands together. "He didn't show up to the mandatory faculty meeting earlier this morning. So I was called in at the last minute to replace him."
"Does anyone know why?" Tachibana asked.
"It warms my heart to see students so concerned about their teachers," Abe said. A loud buzz sounded, announcing the start of school. "Now take your seat, take your seat. We're about to start."
Tachibana opened her mouth to say something else, then closed it.
She walked to the back of the classroom and took a desk there. Shou managed to grab a desk nearby. He watched her with concern. Her face looked tight and drawn. Why was she so worried about this Kudo-sensei? Did she have reason to believe something serious had happened? What was their connection?
Abe cleared his throat. He took a sheaf of papers off his desk and read from the top page. "It seems we have a transfer student this year. From Kamikawa. Tanimoto Shou? Please stand and introduce yourself."
Shou swallowed and rose from his desk. He was acutely aware of all the unfamiliar eyes staring at him, weighing him. Would they determine his worth with this fleeting first impression? He did his best meet each of their gazes with confidence — a confidence he did not feel. "I'm Tanimoto," he said. He bowed his head slightly. "Thank you very much for having me."
"Ohohoho," said Abe. "The young man has manners. Something decidedly lacking in the youth of today! I have high hopes for you, Tanimoto-kun. Keep up the good work." He flipped to the next page. "Now, attendance."
As Abe called out the names, Shou looked at Tachibana. She had her head down, and was staring at her cell phone, hidden in her lap. He wanted to ask her what was wrong, but knew that this wasn't the time. Besides, he wasn't sure what he could, anyway.
He turned his attention to the rest of the classroom, trying to match the faces and names and ingrain them in his mind. Akiyama, Chino, Ebisawa. There was Endo Takeru, a thin, stern-looking young man with slicked back black hair and glasses. Fujimaki, Funabashi, Hagiwara. He tried to keep track, but it was too difficult to learn everyone's name all at once.
He did pay attention, though, when Abe-sensei called on Sato Sayoko.
A girl to Shou's left answered. He'd been so lost in his own world that he hadn't noticed her before, but now he wasn't sure how he could have missed her.
Tall, elegant, Sato-san was hard to look away from. Her legs were slim, smooth, and muscled. She had high cheekbones and angled, exquisite bone structure. Her black hair, shining in the daylight, was tied back in a ponytail with a large white ribbon.
Shou became aware that he was staring. He quickly looked away, his cheeks reddening. He glanced over at Tachibana, then briefly back at Sato-san. Somehow, he'd found himself between two beautiful women. That was definitely something he could live with.
Suddenly, a ring-ring-ring filled the air.
Everyone looked around, and checked their phones.
Everyone except Tachibana. The ringing had startled her for some reason, and she dropped her phone in her bag.
Abe-sensei pulled open the top drawer of the teacher's desk. He removed a ringing cell phone — the culprit. "It seems Kudo-sensei has left his phone," he said. He answered. "Moshi moshi. This is Abe Ichiro, answering for Kudo-san. To whom am I speaking? Hello?" He lowered the phone. "No one there. Youth today. Don't even have the courtesy to properly hang up."
Shou saw that Tachibana had turned pale. Her hand shot up.
"Yes, Tachibana-san?" asked Abe.
"Can I please be excused?" she asked.
"What's so important that you have to leave during the first homeroom?"
"I feel sick," Tachibana said. "It's an emergency."
Abe frowned. "Go on," he said. He waved his hand dismissively at her.
Tachibana gathered her things and left.
Shou watched her go with concern. She really did look ill. What was going on with her?
"Youth today," Abe muttered, "cutting out on the first day of class . . ."
"Hey," whispered a short-haired girl in front of Shou. She leaned in toward another girl to her right. "I heard Tachibana knows Kudo-sensei a little too well, if you know what I mean."
"Ohmigosh, I bet that's totally true," the other girl said. "Do you, like, think she knows where Kudo-sensei is? That she went to go see him? Oh, maybe they're in a lovers' quarrel. He's married, you know."
"I know, it's like, so totally . . ."
Shou's face burned, hearing all this about Tachibana-san. His fists clenched. It wasn't right that these girls were jumping to conclusions, passing judgment. And rumors like this, once they got started, spread like wildfires. They were impossible to put out.
He glanced up at Abe-sensei, who was prattling on about the club registration date, and the superiority of the clubs of yesteryear. Shou didn't want to get in trouble on his first day, but he had to say something.
"Stop spreading baseless rumors."
Shou looked to his left.
It was Sato-san who had spoken. She glared at the two girls. They shrank back.
"Who's talking?" Abe crowed. "Ah, Sato-san, I see that it's you. I expected more from the Student Council President. In my day, the Student Council stood for . . ." He rambled on.
Sato blushed, but she held her gaze on the two girls.
Student Council President? Shou was impressed. She was only a second year. And he couldn't imagine what responsibilities the position held in a school like Morigami. She had also proven that she wasn't a President who relied on popularity and people-pleasing to maintain her place. Shou respected that. A lot.
With an effort, he tore his attention away from her and returned it to class.
Monday
April 8, 2013 — Lunchtime
Overcast
After History and English, Class B let out for lunch. Tachibana still hadn't returned. Shou was worried. He resolved to look for her.
Out in the hall, however, he was accosted by a gaggle of girls. They didn't get many transfer students, and wanted to know all about where he was from, what his old school was like . . . and whether he had a girlfriend. Shou couldn't say he minded the attention, but he was starting to feel a little bit overwhelmed when . . .
"Excuse me."
Sato-san stood on the edge of the circle around Shou. The group parted for her.
Shou's stomach did a flip when he saw her approaching, but he maintained his composure and offered her a respectful bow.
She nodded back. "Tanimoto, I just wanted to take a moment and formally introduce myself. I'm Sato Sayoko, the Student Council President. I want to make sure that your experience here is a comfortable one. I take my responsibility very seriously."
Shou thanked her.
She leaned in more closely. "I saw that you arrived with Tachibana this morning. I was wondering if you have any idea where she went."
Shou shook his head.
"I see," replied Sato-san. "Please watch out for her, if you can. I'm concerned that she's missing class on the first day of the semester."
Shou nodded.
Sato-san paused, then lowered her voice. "I also wanted to mention . . . I noticed your reaction to those girls this morning. I won't tolerate their kind of behavior, so please feel comfortable coming to me about anything, Tanimoto-kun." She smiled.
He smiled back.
She bowed her head slightly, then left.
He watched her go, his heart fluttering slightly. She had called him "Tanimoto-kun." That made him smile. She really was something else, that Sato-san.
Just then, he noticed someone staring him down across the hall. Endo Takeru, the boy with the slicked black hair and glasses. He looked at Shou for one second more, then hurried off down the hall after Sato-san.
What was with him?
Shou put it out of mind. There were more important matters, like what had happened to Tachibana. The throng of schoolgirls closed in around him as he tried to push his way out.
"Oi, oi, what's going on here?" asked a familiar voice.
Oh brother, not now.
Hayabusa came strolling down the hallway, his shinai propped against his shoulder — of course. The sea of girls parted for him as he strode casually up to Shou. He looked Shou up and down. "Is this new guy taking advantage of your kindness?" he asked.
"No, senpai," one girl volunteered. "We were just introducing ourselves."
Hayabusa turned to Shou. "Is this true, new guy? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Shou swallowed. Not only was Hayabusa his senpai, but also his dorm mate. And, as a team captain, he would be an influential member of the school. Shou couldn't afford to get on the guy's bad side. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple as he searched for the right response.
Where was the Council President when he needed her?
"You know, I think it's past time I had a private word with Tanimoto-kun here," Hayabusa said.
Too late! Every muscle in his body bunched up; he was ready to bolt. But he didn't. He knew that this was a pivotal moment in his high school existence. If he ran from this bully, he'd forever mark himself as a submissive guy, an easy target.
"Um, senpai, I'm . . . not sure that's necessary," another girl said.
"Of course it is," Hayabusa said. Fire reflected in his eyes. "If you're a real man, you'll suffer my teaching you the rules of this school!"
Geez, of all the melodramatic . . .
Still, now that the challenge had been laid down, he couldn't say no. He had to demonstrate his courage, his honor, his . . . manliness. Before the entire school. His heart did a weird little finicky ker-thump ker-thump. Oh boy. Here we go.
Shou sucked in a deep breath. "Please take good care of me!" he shouted.
Then he followed Hayabusa down the hallway.
Some of the girls watched Shou go with big, watery eyes. Kawaii . . . he thought. It eased his fear of the coming pain a little.
They rounded a corner.
They were alone.
"So," Hayabusa said. "I told you I had my eye on you."
Be strong, he told himself.
"And I've come to an important decision."
Wait, what?
Hayabusa got down on one knee.
Shou's eyes flared with dawning horror. Was this a confession of what they called . . . "boys' love?" Not that there was anything wrong with that, but he wasn't . . .
"Bro," Hayabusa said, with grave solemnity.
Here it comes!
"Please let me be your wingman." He pressed Shou's hand to his forehead.
Whaaaaat?
Hayabusa stood, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "There's something about you. You've got that special thing, like they say in French!" He batted his eyelashes. "Tanimoto, what a dreamy guy. He's tall and handsome, his long hair makes him look like a rock star!" He made pouty, kissy faces. "Yeah, and he's so quiet and distant-looking. So mysterious! It just makes me want to get to know him!"
Shou couldn't believe it. This was the real Hayabusa?
Hayabusa clasped his hands together, his eyes practically tearing. "Bro, it's terrible. All the girls just think of me like I'm their big onii-san. I don't know what I'm doing wrong." He waggled his finger at Shou. "But now you've come along, the wise bro-sensei I've been waiting for! You'll help a guy out, won't you?"
How dense was this overzealous guy?
Still, his overflowing energy was . . .
Oddly encouraging?
"Please," Hayabusa said, roughly grabbing Shou's arm, "lend your powers to my cause!"
Shou winced. So dramatic.
But at least he wasn't going to have his head cracked by a shinai. Definitely a victory there.
He looked at Hayabusa. The guy had such hope shining in his eyes. Shou couldn't turn him down. Besides, he was happy to have a friend. He offered Hayabusa hand. "I'll try my best, Hayabusa-senpai," he said.
"Yatta!" he said, and then in English, "High five!"
He and Shou slapped hands.
And it hurt. Oh yes, it hurt. Hayabusa-senpai really was strong. Shou shook out his hand, trying to ease the sting.
"Sorry about that," Hayabusa said. "Oh, and by the way. Call me Kouta."
"Kouta. I'm Shou."
As they shook hands, the warning from the Velvet Room echoed in his head yet again.
A period of great adversity. A sacrifice.
Shou had a sudden premonition that he'd made an important ally.
. . . But for what?