Chapter Four
Crimson eyes gazed at the beauty around her. She was at the gardens behind Fuka academy. It was the only place she could be alone at where no one would follow her. Where she could stop time and reflect. But her thinking was disturbed when a blunette was seen across the distance in a hurry. Ara? This was the first time she had ever seen someone discover this place, and at such an early hour too.
"Ara, is Ms. Kuga lost?" Shizuru asked when she was closer to her. Once the teacher noticed the president, she slowed her pace to meet her. As casual as usual, Ms. Kuga wore her usual informal clothing.
"No? Why do you ask?" she asked breathing heavily to catch her breath.
"Because these grounds are off limits to everyone." Shizuru stated with a light tone ending with a smile. These actions made the teacher somewhat crunch her face in a questioning manner.
Ms. Kuga challenged, "Then why are you here?"
Shizuru gazed out to the nature surrounding them. "Because it's beautiful." She landed her gaze at the teacher at the very end. She made it seem like 'beautiful' was a loaded word, but Ms. Kuga wasn't interested in finding out its deepness.
That explanation didn't fit what the teacher was looking for. Not at all. But she settled with it, for now. "I was taking a short cut," she explained.
"To class? Ara, Ms. Kuga should arrive earlier to not set an unpleasant example for the students." She sounded more of a teacher than the actual teacher. Ms. Kuga seemed taken aback by her comment, but regained her composure. She must have realized that Shizuru is the Student Council President, whom in this school, is highly regarded by everyone.
"Why do you keep addressing me in a third person perspective?" She deflected.
"Why did you address me as Ms. Fujino?"
"Wow, I was expecting you to do your homework and have already figured that out. Now don't be slacking on me Fujino. You are the president and need to keep a pleasant example for the students." Ms. Kuga smiled victoriously.
Crimson eyes sparked. This was turning out to be a thrilling day. "I did do the homework but I wanted confirmation. Is it because my answer matched a famous poem that was a response to another?"
"You deserve the title." Ms. Kuga said blankly.
"How?"
"You're smart." She paused. "But don't worry. I'll stop calling you in that sense, since it bothers you so much." The teacher ended with a smile and looked at her phone to check the time. She started walking away, but she called out, "Hurry up before I mark you tardy, Fujino!"
Shizuru was left dumbstruck and still questioning. A brush of wind accompanied the blunette's exit. Is that her answer or is she telling me to figure it out? She brushed it aside from her mind since she was going to be, indeed, late for homeroom if she didn't start walking. So she walked casually there.
As she arrived to homeroom, everyone was already present including Ms. Kuga.
The blunette shot a look to her side, as if simply acknowledging her presence that she was almost late.
The bell rung and Shizuru stood next to her seat. She started the class off with saying 'good morning sensei' to the teacher, and the class repeated. Ms. Kuga looked at the class with a bored impression and waved them off. "Must you guys greet me like that?"
The blunette received blank stares, but a student responded to her almost rhetorical question, "This is the first thing we should do when in homeroom—greet the teacher properly."
Emerald eyes gave a bored expression. "Yah, I'm an English teacher from America. None of that anymore, at least in my class. K? Thanks." Annoyance was very apparent in her voice. She gave them a tired expression and started taking roll.
Shizuru looked at the teacher intriguingly. Wasn't she just fine a moment ago?
While the teacher was taking roll by just simply searching for the students' faces, she was able to already put the names to their faces—like she had anything else to do for homeroom. She let out a question, more to herself than anyone, "What do we even do for homeroom?" She was aware that the students help clean, or clean, the room if it needed it, and that was all.
One of the students spoke out, "We're supposed to help out the teacher if you need us to."
"Also we're supposed to be a team if there was a competition around the school," another one said.
Shizuru raised an eyebrow. She found it somewhat surprising that the students didn't try to take advantage of the situation and tell Ms. Kuga that they goof off or do their homework.
"Fujino-kaichou," another spoke, "when are we going to have one, by the way?" The student was right. It was the middle of the semester, and there still has yet to be a competition. "How about that dressing up thing for Halloween?"
Ms. Kuga interjected, "Halloween? Isn't that an American thing?"
"Yah! But it seems so cool that most of the students have been asking the Student Council to allow us to dress up for it since last year!"
"Hmm… is that true, Ms. Fujino?" That title? Again?
She looked at Ms. Kuga trying to analyze the meaning behind it. "Ara, yes it is. We, the Student Council, are actually going to set up something within the next class period. Everyone, please be ready for our decision within this day. If we do decide to hold something, please be prepared for anything." Lie. Ara, how odd. How come this is the first I've heard of this notion? I remember last year that being a very popular idea to everyone, but there was just not enough support from the faculty. Why hasn't anyone asked me about it?
"HAI!" The class reverberated.
Well the solution is rather easy. Shizuru had already come up with a plan from last year's discussion about the topic. She let her gaze fall on the unsuspecting teacher whom was busy looking over her freshly printed stacks of paper and laptop, cross referencing to see if all met to par. The rest of homeroom was spent with Ms. Kuga doing just that and ignoring the loud chatter from the students and the crimson eyes fluttered shut, finally having a moment to breathe.
After homeroom, Shizuru was on auto-pilot. She gave her signature smile and cheerful greetings to everyone who greeted her as she was on her way to the student council room. When she opened the door, everyone was already there waiting for her—like always. She sat down with the greatest of grace with her eyes closed. No one bothered to start the meeting till the president received her ritual tea.
Like on cue, there was a knock on the door to signify someone coming in, regardless. A teal haired girl with an asymmetry haircut came into the room with a cup of tea in her hand. She sat the cup down delicately in front of the president. She bowed her head.
The president took the tea in her hands and took a testing sip. A small smile curved up the edge of her lips. She opened her eyes and thanked the younger girl with her soothing Kyoto-ben.
"It's nothing at all, really, Shizuru-sama," the younger girl turned around and walked out the door.
A blonde was glaring at the chestnut haired girl, "Can we get this meeting started now?"
"Of course," Shizuru calmly stated.
"If it's alright, Fujino-san, may I start the meeting?" The mousy girl voiced.
"Certainly." She continued to sip her tea.
The younger girl started by lowering her laptop screen, "Many of the students have brought it up to my attention that we haven't set up a school competition so far, and they have been asking about what we plan to do for Halloween, again."
The overbearing blonde stood up and slammed her hands on the desk. "Seriously, these teenagers need to grow up! Dressing up and running around the school in weird costumes is a risk for everyone! Maybe there could be a serious lunatic and that would be the perfect opportunity for them to strike!"
"Haruka-san, I really doubt that that could possibly happen," interjected by a male voice, "the school is in a very secluded area. Chances are highly slim. Plus the students just want to have fun." He shot her with a million dollar smile.
She held a glare at him. She was certainly not fazed by the Kanzaki smile. "Kids these days! I bet they just want to dress up like those vampires from that stupid movie Moonlight!"
"Twilight." Corrected by both Yukino and Reito.
"Whatever! Same thing!"
"Not really," Reito looked to the side as he said under his breath.
A cough uttered from the president. It caused everyone to settle down. "Because we didn't have any time last year, we'll do last year's plan. We'll have a dance for the whole school to attend. The theme with be a Halloween party. Every homeroom class will take part in helping with the preparations. The school policy will not allow us to let the students dress up during school hours, due to concerns like Suzushiro-san's. Does this settlement sound alright?"
Everyone nodded but Yukino spoke, "What about the chaperones? Would you like me to send out an email to the entire faculty?"
"Yes, please Yukino-san." It would be much easier than having to ask each individual teacher if they would be able to. "Tell them to notify you by the end of the week, just in case we don't have enough, I'll need to know." So I have enough time to persuade them. The president internally sighed.
Natsuki sipped her coffee as she perused the contents on her laptop screen. "Hey, still at the computer I see?" The familiar voice resonated to her ears. She peaked up from the screen to confirm the person in the teacher's lounge. Yep. It was her cousin. She went back to work. "You've been working all last night. I hope it's not on just one day's plan…" Yohko walked up behind her to see what she's been up to.
"Of course not! What do you take me for! I'm almost done with the entire school year plan." She scrolled up and down to show her cousin.
Her cousin was indeed impressed. From what she knows, most teachers take a few weeks to a month to finish their plans. Natsuki had definitely been working hard.
Suddenly a loud buzz came from the loudspeakers: "Attention students and faculty: this is your student council president. Because the school doesn't allow any students to not attend school without their uniforms, the student council will be holding a Halloween ball on October 31st where everyone is allowed to dress in whatever they would like. With this ball, homeroom classes will be asked to help out in the preparations. The student council will send faculty an email about the details for the preparations. That is all, have a wonderful day, and thank you." One could almost feel the smile on the other end of the speaker.
Yohko filled the air. "Oh good. They came up with something in time. They weren't able to do that last year and the kids were really disappointed."
Natsuki gave a simple shrug and went back to her laptop. "I bet we're going to get emails soon asking who'd volunteer. Natsuki, think you'd like to go?"
Her eyes did not leave the screen. "To a dance? No thanks." It came out very monotone.
"You haven't even thought about it! Come on, you'll probably have fun."
"I don't know. I'll think about it." Lie. Why would she think about it? She'll be chaperoning people her age. She wouldn't fit in for sure. She may be their age, but she is sure not in their shoes. She is not a student. She is their teacher. It seemed inappropriate to her.
The bell rang. She gathered her stuff. Yohko gave her a worried look. Natsuki couldn't help but feel guilty. "Yes! I'll really think about it!" Not really.
"Please, Natsuki. It'd mean a lot to me too. I don't want to suffer knowing I'm spending my night at school while my dear cousin is at home not having to watch children!" Natsuki sent her a glare. Oh yes, she just hit a nerve. "I mean… you know what I mean! You're different Natsuki!"
Natsuki just left the room. How is she different from everyone in school? Just because she graduated early doesn't mean she's different at all! Okay maybe just by intellect but that doesn't count. I guess I'll always be alone. The feeling of being shunned and 'different' started to itch at her being again. It didn't bother her in college, but throughout her youth, everyone teased her. She had to hide from everyone's remarks and the only place she could do that was the library. It only fueled her distance from society. Sometimes she just wanted to feel like she belonged…
She entered the English room and propped her stuff on the desk. Students filed into the room and to their desks. Natsuki got out a stack of papers from her bag and placed it in the front desk near the door. "Everyone, grab this!" She pointed to the stack of papers. "It's going to be your syllabus and what we're expected to cover per week." She started writing on the board: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Once she finished, she sat on her desk waiting for the rest of the students to enter.
When the bell rang again, the blunette spoke, "If you didn't grab a piece of paper, do so now. We'll be reading this book. It's a very popular read in America when studying British literature. We'll be covering some stuff in your textbook, still. As well as doing some more poetry. We'll start reading Brave New World once everyone has a copy, which will be hopefully next week. You get extra credit for buying your own, if not, I'll supply them. Now pass up your homework."
English went smoothly. So smooth that it surprised Natsuki. She was very proud of herself. Her very first class, by herself. She felt very successful. She couldn't wait to start Brave New World. It was one of her favorite books, no not because of the sexual content, but by the concept behind the book. She smiled to herself in glee.
A redheaded girl waited in the locker rooms to make sure a certain blunette was attending class today. Once she spotted her, she quickly rushed out of the room with a smirk on her face. She was wondering what could possibly be up to today to challenge the assistant teacher.
When she got to the gym, the busty teacher wasn't there. Nao looked around, and Tokhia wasn't insight anywhere. She shrugged, leaned against a wall, and started to file her nails.
The blunette teacher came out and had a clip board in hand as well as a note. "Okay guys, Tokhia-sensei isn't here today, but she left me a note of what you guys will be doing today. It says that you guys have to do your timed mile. Girls need to finish within 12 minutes, guys—10. So let me take role and we'll start heading to the track."
Oh great. I just love running. The redhead thought.
Everyone lined up, ready to run. The young teacher had a stop watch in hand. "Ready? Set! GO!" She clicked the watch and the students sprinted away. Now it was time for Natsuki to wait. She hated waiting, especially outside. She wished she could be running with them, but then she wouldn't be able to keep track of their times.
But time passed by quickly as the first person to finish their mile was there. To Natsuki's surprise it was the redhead Yuuki. She didn't peg Yuuki to be a good runner, especially since all she does is file her nails. She looked at the watch and it said 6 minutes and 49 seconds. Natsuki was really impressed. Damn, is she running for track or something? I have a hard time doing 8!
"Good job, Yuuki! 6 minutes and 49 seconds. I'm really surprised." Natsuki congratulated.
The younger girl heaved, "Thanks."
"Are you in track or something?" Natsuki asked out of curiosity.
"No," Nao tried steading her breathing, "I just work out. Sports isn't my thing."
"Oh I see. I wanted to join track, but my grade level changing didn't help give me time to do such things, so working out is all I'm used to." Nao gave her a quizzical look. She was probably wondering why the younger teacher was confiding in her.
"Grade level changes? Just how old are you anyway?"
"19."
"WHAT?"