Chapter 2: My History and a Weird Day
I heard Aunt Chiyoko's bloodcurdling screams from the kitchen. It had been two weeks since I took my entrance exam in Kunugigaoka Junior High and from what I had perceived, I already know how I did. Actually, I already knew what mark I was going to get even before she shouted that loud. I didn't need her horrific yells to tell me that I did quite badly.
Her footsteps made me flinch as she ascended the stairs because the house felt as if it was literally shaking but I wasn't afraid of her monstrous personality anymore. Ever since I was a little kid, I already got used to her scolding and violent reactions. If she was a chemical, all of the hazard symbols would be seen on her brand. Extremely dangerous. Tremendously toxic. Treacherously explosive.
When I heard that she was nearing to my bedroom, I already anticipated what was going to happen in 3… 2… 1…
"I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO GO TO A FANCY, POCKET-EMPTYING SCHOOL FOR YOU TO END UP IN 3-E!" She bellowed angrily, her grip on the doorknob made her knuckles so white. Her face was dripping with perspiration that would make any other person think that she ran a marathon, but of course knowing my dear and beloved aunt, she only sweated that much when her madness kicked in.
I wanted to say that I didn't ask her to send me to a "FANCY, POCKET-EMPTYING" school, but I didn't mutter anything because I knew that it would only worsen her grotesque face. I couldn't even say sorry because she would only say that my apology wouldn't change what I did.
I only looked down, and she just laughed annoyingly. "Guffawed," I thought, might actually be the best term to justify what she was doing.
"Why would I expect so much from you? You're just as stupid as your unintelligent mother." She smirked, wiped a tear from her right eye due to her infuriating laughter, and looked at me darkly. Everything happened so swiftly after that.
I was already behind her, my right elbow around her fat and almost non-existent neck. I wasn't choking her nor harming her, but whatever it was that I was doing, it was making her tremble in tremendous fear. I felt something very unusual with a desire that was beyond my control. I was all hot and cold in the inside. It was like I was emitting a strange and ominous aura. I could feel my heart pumping blood and adrenaline seemed to overflow through my vessels. I was also having a tunnel vision. My system was filled with such oddity that even I couldn't explain it myself. My mind was then filled with death and darkness.
And I immediately thought it wasn't something I should feel good about. It was strangely addicting, but I didn't want it as well. I suddenly released Aunt Chiyoko but she was still shaking in great horror. Her eyes were wide and she was breathing as if she was begging for more oxygen to enter her lungs.
I was also feeling the same thing: suffocated with fear.
None of us made a move at first, we were just staring at each other like we had just seen a ghost. I could see Aunt Chiyoko's face becoming pale and eyes turning red not because of anger, but because, to my surprise, was brimming with tears. She blinked them away and then she ran out of my bedroom, leaving me shocked on what just happened.
"I was in flames and ice
The raven in my eyes
My mind hazy in dust
For I have felt blood lust"
Everyone was silent when dinner came. No one was scolding me at the table. No one asked Uncle Aiko about his work. Nobody requested Aunt Chiyoko to pass the salt. And I could tell that Kenji was sensing the palpable tension. It was probably much worse to feel such coldness in the surroundings than to be aggressively scolded at.
Dinner was finished in a blur and I already went straight to my bedroom so that I could read English-translated Japanese publications. I self-learned English ever since I was 5 and loved writing English poetry in the process. Whilst I was reading a book, I thought that I should help myself with a cup of coffee just because. Before I even reached the staircase, I heard Aunt Chiyoko and Uncle Aiko conversing. The door was left ajar so I went closer to eavesdrop on what they were talking about.
"…was terrifyingly dangerous Aiko. I felt like I was going to die in that doltish girl's room. I didn't know what to do! I was frozen in place," my aunt said in a shrilly voice.
"Do you think she's making a comeback?" Uncle said.
"Aiko, you know that I do not believe in hoaxes."
"But, dear, that girl reminded you of your sister when that incident happened. You told me that your sister had an eerie obsession for blood since you were kids. And you thought that Mika was going to kill you."
"I don't have a sister, Aiko. She never existed. Hiromi is just a name used to make up a stupid legend."
"Chiyo—"
"Hiromi is dead, Aiko! She died in that damned forest fire! She left us with nothing but a burdensome, fatherless child!"
"Maybe she never died. May-"
"Don't tell me that you know better than I do, Aiko! She's my sister and now she's gone! She's gone forever!"
I was taken aback by shock due to all of the things that I had just heard. I hadn't known my mother's name until now. Hiromi. Such a beautiful name. I bet she had a stunningly beautiful face as well. I missed her and I still do. Oka-san, where were you? Why did you leave me? Why? Who was my otou-san? And why did you have a weird obsession for blood? What were you?
What are you?
I never knew anything about you.
I had so many questions in mind that I couldn't bear it. I went back to my bedroom and straight to my bed. For the first time, I felt weak and vulnerable. I cried and drowned myself in tears as I went to sleep.
Kunugigaoka Junior High was reputable academy filled with very knowledgeable students and highly-skilled teachers. Its main building was immensely capacious which I would obviously prefer to go into. The students of all genders were wearing gray skirts/gray trousers with black-lined edges that were complemented by gray blazers (outlined with black along the edges). Others wore a white, button up shirt and a navy blue or black waistcoat. Those pupils in the main building seemed to have the time of their lives. Sadly, I didn't belong in that building.
I went to Principal Asano's office first before anything else because he told my aunt to go straight to his workplace for the reason that we needed to discuss some important and confidential matters. It literally threw me off when my aunt told me so because why would a principal want to discuss private information with a newcomer, not to mention a Class 3-E student? I knocked on his door, which was immediately followed by his words: "Come in."
As I opened his office door, I was suddenly surrounded by dark aura which made me feel unpleasant. He was sitting on his black revolving chair when I entered his eerie office. He swiveled around to face me and honestly, this discomfort that I was feeling intensified. It seemed that the unusual ambiance was emitted by Principal Asano.
"Good morning, Principal Asano," I said while I was bowing down.
"Ah good morning, Shimada-san," he muttered in an insincere voice. I had never heard someone say "good morning" before with such a cold voice. Brrrrr!
"I suppose your aunt had told you that you ought to meet me to discourse confidential matters," he neared to his table and rested his forearms.
"Yes, Principal Asano," I replied with respect.
He told me that I was a part of the "End Class" and that I should do something that any soul should not know of. He started by telling me about the permanently altered shape of the moon. A great, yellow creature was responsible for its forever crescent shape. On our graduation, it would also do the same thing to the Earth. And I, a member of class 3-E, was given the opportunity (holy smokes, do you even call this an "opportunity"?) to assassinate such extraordinary being. The advantage was that I could annihilate it in a very close range (and of course, we were given the privilege to save the world from such a catastrophic event) along with several other students. It also wouldn't be able to hurt us because there was some sort of agreement that he would not harm any of the students from 3-E. Plus, we would be using weapons that would only affect the creature, but not humans. Bad news was that the it was powerful and it could travel at Mach 20 speed.
"MACH 20?!" I was shocked. Shocked, my dear friends, was an understatement. And I had just realized that it was the intimidating Principal Asano that I was conversing with. So, I cleared my throat and said in a little mellow tone, "Mach 20?"
"Yes. And if by chance, you are successful to kill such cold-blooded brute, you shall all receive a cash prize of 10 billion yen. That would be all. Best luck, Shimada-san," he told me. I didn't ask any questions and bid him goodbye. He motioned me to go out of his office.
I could finally breathe! That was the worst 20 minutes in my entire life! Congratulations Mr. Asano, for beating the world record of Aunt Chiyoko and Uncle Aiko! It was much worse being confined in a dark room with a monster of hair-raising personality than with two people maltreating me into a pulp. You go, Principal Asano!
So, I went into a monster's office and talked about killing a creature that could basically destroy the whole world in the blink of an eye like it was a pretty normal thing to talk about. How weird could this day get? Why did I suddenly have the chance to become a goddamn superhero? Anyway…
After that where-art-thou-oxygen moment in Principal Asano's office, I finally searched the whole campus for Class 3-E. Unfortunately, after countless minutes of unfruitful searching, I didn't find my class in the building. Why? Maybe Principal Asano meant that I belonged to Class 3-D, instead of Class 3-E. Perhaps he forgot how many 3rd year classes were there in this campus. Well, I didn't want to go back to that room again so I just asked some students where my class is.
"Oh you mean the bottom of the barrel class, eh? It's a kilometer away from here on the foot of the mountain," a lanky student told me.
Was that even possible? Why on earth did this school implement a system built with discrimination? I didn't want to fight back so I just muttered a thanks and went away. I didn't even let him say, "you're welcome," and it wasn't like he was going to do it because I was a part of, as he said, the bottom of the barrel class.
So, I went out of the school and proceeded to the direction he pointed me. And oh boy, my feet weren't prepared for this physical activity. I took a deep breath, and I was ready to go! I looked at my watch and…
I WAS RUNNING LATE!
I ran straight to the forest with all my might like I was at the speed of light. Speaking of speed, holy smokes I just remembered that I needed to kill someone that possessed a speed of Mach 20. How was I supposed to murder somebody? I didn't even know how to use a gun, or a knife for Pete's sake!
While I was in the midst of my pondering, I saw a petite framed, blue pony-tailed girl running in the same direction as I was. She was about 10 meters away from me. I could tell that she was in a rush too. Great way to start your first day in Kunugigaoka High, huh Mika?
"Hey, wait up!" I yelled a little loudly.
She, then, turned around and I saw her stunning azure eyes. Woah, this girl was so kawaii!
"Hi, are you in class 3-E as well?" I panted heavily.
"Yeah, are you?" She asked me in return while she was smiling. Ah! She was so cute and I bet her personality matched her beautiful smile as well.
I nodded a little too vigorously. I couldn't help it!
She slowed down and was running the same pace as I was. Awwww! That was so considerate of her.
"I'm Mika Shimada, by the way. But you can call me Mika if you wish," I said while I was running. She nodded and…
"I'm Nagisa Shiota. Nice to meet you, Shimada-san," she replied. Wait, Shimada-san?!
"Oh no, call me Mika, please," I pleaded. Who knew that Nagisa-chan was so polite?
"Er… okay Mika, whatever suits you," she winked. Oh my goodness, she's so cute. Really, if I had a yen every time I said "cute" inside my head, I would definitely have more than 10 million yen in my hands right now.
We talked about the crescent shape of the moon and how horrible it was for us to end up in 3-E to assassinate the creature involved to such phenomenon. It was already bad enough that we were being discriminated by the whole school, and then we still had a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. Just great! We also conversed about how we would kill it. Nagisa told me that it was odd that we would assassinate our own teacher.
Wait a minute…
"Sensei?!" I said in disbelief. Okay, I had already overreacted a bunch of times this day. I should stop doing it, seriously. But who wouldn't be so surprised? There was already too much information to handle! Sometimes, you just had to overreact it all out. No really, I didn't know that we had to kill our own teacher. Principal Asano didn't tell me anything about it.
"Yes, our target is sensei, and the only weirder thing than murdering our own sensei is that he, himself, would be the one to teach us how to kill him."
Okay, my brain couldn't handle all the weirdness that it had to contain today. This was just too much. First, that intimidating Principal Asano. Then, I had to murder a terrifying creature for 10 million yen. After that, the "terrifying creature" was actually our teacher.
Before we knew it, we were already in front of a classroom right on the foot of the mountain. And I had to say that it was the complete opposite of the main building of Kunugigaoka High. It was a small, rundown, wooden structure with a few windows bordering along its walls. By the looks of its roof, I bet this little classroom would get a lot of leaks when it rains.
Nagisa-chan and I went into the little classroom and by the time we opened the door, a huge surprise was right before our eyes. The whole class were firing their guns at a smiling, yellow, octopus-like creature who appeared to have a lot of after images. He was swiftly dodging all the bullets. This was what Principal Asano was talking about. Amateur assassins in close combat with a powerful creature didn't go well.
As if on cue, the whole class stopped when sensei looked at Nagisa-chan's and my direction. Uh-oh. This wasn't good.
"Nurufufufufu. What a surprise! Nagisa-kun, and transfer student, Shimada-san, you are late on your first day," he said and then suddenly, his face was a dark shade of purple with a red "x" on it! WHAT?
"Gomenasai, sensei," Nagisa and I apologized in unison.
"Serve this as a warning. I might look like a formidable creature, but I am still your teacher so you must respect me. Come to class punctually, okay?"
"Hai, sensei!"
Everyone sat down and dropped their guns because the class was about to start. The two of us went to our seats and luckily, I could sit beside Nagisa-chan. She was also sitting beside a green-haired and chocolate-eyed girl with the same physique as Nagisa-chan.
"Pst, Nagisa-chan! Ask the girl beside you what her name is!" I nudged her and pointed at the green-haired girl's direction.
And so she did. They clicked really well and then Nagisa-chan introduced me to…
"Kayano, meet Mika. Mika, this is Kayano."
We shook hands and we smiled brightly. This girl was pretty kawaii too!
"Ehem!" Sensei cleared his throat while he was looking at us.
"As I was saying…" He droned on and on about math. And then Kayano and I giggled.
Math time was over! Finally, it was already break time! I could already talk with Kayano and Nagisa-chan!
"Hey, Nagisa, why don't you cut your hair?" Asked Kayano. Why would Kayano ask Nagisa-chan to cut her beautiful blue hair, though?
"Some reason that I can't tell you just yet," Nagisa replied.
Kayano gestured Nagisa-chan to come closer to her and she tied her hair into a neat pig-tail. I could tell that this was the right time I barge in.
"Now, you look even prettier Nagisa-chan!" I complimented her. And following after that was an awkward silence. Okay, what was up?
"Pretty?" Nagisa-chan asked wearing a really confused face. Oh my goodness, did I offend her? I only said that she was pretty!
"Uhm, Mika," Kayano said. "After all this time… you didn't notice?" She added in a very bewildered voice.
"Mika," said Nagisa-chan in a low voice, staring at me intently, with her hands on my shoulders
"I am a boy," she (he) said. And that my friends, made my face turn into a billion shades of red. I was really embarrassed that I couldn't look into her (his) eyes and I couldn't even speak. This was really humiliating! I couldn't even apologize because when I tried to open my mouth to say something, it would close by itself as if it was telling me to keep it sealed it forever.
