Motivated by getting such a fast review, here comes the next chapter. Hope you'll enjoy it.
I'm positively surprised by the amount of food in cafeteria. I'm not too picky, but having something to choose from is a great thing. Hisao doesn't seem all that pleased though and that's when the realization hits me that most of this stuff is likely to be here so certain students can peacefully eat their lunch. Something for people with diabetes, for example. That being said, I'm quite pleased with the outcome.
The fact that we have to carry girls' lunch is just a minor inconvenience.
We all sit, Misha and Shizune on one side, me and Hisao – on the other.
"Well, chow time!" Pink-haired girl says with a grin, starting to indulging herself with sweet bread. She didn't sign it, but the fact she just said "enjoy your meal" is blatantly obvious, so Shizune only nods and gets to work with her bowl of ramen.
It must be confessed, I've never tried much of Japanese food. Back when I was living in Tokyo, I rarely went outside to eat, preferring to just go back home and have some chops with potatoes. Like mentioned, I'm not picky.
Now, however, there was a bowl of ramen before my eyes. The one thing I had was a pair of chopsticks. How the hell do I even eat a soup with chopsticks? I've been practicing how to grab them and hold them firmly, but when I observe both Shizune and Hisao, I start to think how inexperienced I am in this matter.
Okay, that shouldn't be that difficult. I just need to remind myself of that one "Naruto" episode I watched before I decided that watching an idiot of a ninja in an orange jumpsuit is an insult to my spare time... You get everything from the soup with chopsticks... Then drink the soup straight from the bowl...
"Huh? Something's wrong, Caschan?" Misha's voice catches me off guard. I look back at her and, much to my surprise, realize that she looks genuinely worried. Perhaps even she cannot keep a smile on face forever.
"Uh... It's nothing." I usually tend to have a pretty good poker face when lying, but the fact that I lie about something as feeble as ramen soup makes my eyes dart sidewards, making for a very phony impression.
"You most certainly don't look okay." She responds. The fact that she's worried piques Shizune's interest who now looks at me from beneath her own bowl. Hisao didn't help matters, stopping with his own bowl and giving me a slightly surprised look. Great, just great. The fact that only one part of my face can blush with embarrassment doesn't make it any better.
"I... Uh..." Should I really say that I have no idea how to eat this thing? Bluff? I could also just say I'm not hungry for whatever reason, but that would mean I need to endure the whole class without food.
That's a thought too terrible to even consider.
"...I've never eaten ramen before." It takes me a while to say it. Misha's reaction says everything. She's so genuinely surprised she cannot even muster a grin. "I've no idea how to hold chopsticks properly. Pretty silly of me, don't you think?"
"Hey, that's not a problem!" She finally responds, but not before signing everything to Shizune. She doesn't seem even as half surprised as her friend is, but the glint of mockery in her eyes hurts. Well, I suppose I well deserved it. "I can teach you." Her straightforward response catches both me and Hisao(who has been awfully quiet for some time) off guard.
"...You what?" I finally respond. An important note, Misha's voice is incredibly loud.
"Like I said, I can teach you how to hold chopsticks. That's not that difficult actually." Her honest grin actually makes me feel worse. I'm not a little kid to need help with eating. Japan and its lack of normal cutlery is still something I cannot fully understand. "How about from tomorrow? Catch me after school." That wasn't even a proposition. That was an order, albeit a one carefully hid. The fact that she keeps on signing the whole conversation and Shizune keeps smiling mockingly doesn't help matters.
"But now! We need to feed you!" Okay... This is getting ridiculous. Girl with glasses doesn't even try to hide her silent chuckle as she sees another signs of Misha.
"...Thanks, but no thanks." I finally reply, shaking my head. I feel like an idiot for even bringing this up. Hisao seems to be conflicted on his emotions right now. Not sure if he's jealous, amused or as dumbfounded as myself.
I'm so grateful it's so loud in the cafeteria. No one pays attention to our table, because if they were... Hoo boy, I would arrange a spontaneous combustion from embarrassment.
Pink-haired girl leans a little towards me, grabbing my chopsticks and fishing out a large piece of meat before turning it in my direction. She makes it look so easy... I suppose I would pay more attention if I wouldn't try to hide how shamefaced I am right now.
"Okay, here's the first train! Choo choo!" Shizune starts openly giggling like crazy. I'm so grateful right now that she's mute.
Misha has good intentions, but, boy, I feel like everyone is now watching me. Just a few hours ago that didn't seem like a big deal, but now... I could as well be the girl with a fringe, scurrying away from everyone. Hisao pointed out later that there are some benefits from being fed by a cute girl so fast as on day one in school. It took me some strong will to not punch him in the face.
After finishing the lunch it was still some time left, so both girls showed us around the school. All floors look the same. They even have the same painting on the wall. Everything here seems so modern, so... sterile. That's definitely a stark contrast between the outside look of the Academy.
From both of us learned, the school has a rather large library, a swimming pool and a vast array of clubs to pick from. Newspaper club, literature club, art club, sports club... Especially the first two seem interesting. Shizune mentioned – through Misha, of course – that joining the club isn't compulsory, but is encouraged. Well, I suppose it's always something to do after school. Sure, I have my laptop, but sometimes you just don't have enough creative vein to write and net connection here is shaky at best.
We made a quick trip around and made it to the class just as lunch break was about to end. Interestingly, a girl with a fringe is absent even for a short while after a bell. Just as Mutou starts his spiel, she makes a hasty entrance. Our teacher doesn't seem to pay mind to this as she makes her entrance. Nobody pays her attention, save for me and Hisao. Weird. Seems like this is something she does on regular basis.
The lesson goes on and on... I'm starting to think Mutou likes to talk much. Oh well. It would suck to get caught on not paying attention so early, so I need to at least write down essential things. Hisao does the same. It's funny how many things we do in exactly the same way. I suppose it has something to do with us being here for the first time.
Finally... The bell rings! Yes! About time, the lesson's over. And again, the girl with a fringe disappears just a few second later. Before I can even stand up, Misha's behind me, grinning. Shizune does the same with Hisao and, well... Judging from his expression, he really had enough of their company for today. Can't blame him, I start to get fed off as well.
"...Can I help you?" I ask, slowly turning a stare at her. She's still smiling before erupting into another laughter. I swear, what is it that she finds so funny? What's her secret? Come on, girl, share it with us. You know how many kids in Africa could smile again?
Ugh. Bitter and cynical even for my own tastes.
"I just wanted to tell you where you can find me tomorrow for our practice." For some reason that sounds somewhat wrong. Perhaps it's just me being a male.
"Sure, go ahead."
"On next lunch break I'll tell you where the room of Student Council is. That's the place." She says with a smile. She... Ugh. I think I had enough smiles for today.
"Okay... Uh, thanks, Misha."
"Don't mention it. Me and Shicchan are here to help you." She responds, giggling and as she turns to leave, the realization hits me that I could possibly ask her about that fringe girl.
"Oh, right!" I say out loud. A little too loud for my own tastes, but that's enough to pick pink-haired girl's interest.
"Huh? Something else you need to know?"
"Yeah. Who's that girl with a fringe?" Surprisingly, Misha's smile drops a little. In the meantime, Hisao tries to figure out how to communicate with Shizune without her interpreter's help. So far, his choppy attempt to sign back has been met with a large frown. That's... kind of amusing. I can see him being on the verge of giving up and grabbing a pen and paper instead.
"You probably mean Hanako." Misha's voice snaps me out of thought. Her smile is still somewhat smaller than usual. Pink-haired girl gives a look at Shizune and Hisao before getting a bit closer and lowering her volume. Dunno why she does it, considering that the girl with glasses is completely deaf, but I suppose I shouldn't complain. "She's, uh... She's very secretive." Thanks for stating the obvious, Sherlock. "Nobody really knows her that much, apart from Lilly... But, uh, well... She and Shicchan aren't on good terms." As if I could believe Shizune can be on good terms with someone not named Misha.
"You know, it's kinda suspicious when she darts out of classroom so fast. Not to mention, that moment when she just walked out into class good ten minutes after a bell and Mutou didn't even bother to look at her..."
"That's... somewhat common here. You've probably noticed that nobody pays attention to that, Caschan."
"Yeah, I did."
"Uh... I asked teacher about it once and he mentioned something about special needs, but didn't develop the topic any further." Huh. I suppose those scars probably need some treatment. Well, that's probably more than I needed to know.
"Thanks for an answer."
"No problem." Hm. Her wide smile returned, but there's an air of uncertainty about her. Makes me wonder who that Lilly person is who apparently is able to talk to Hanako without scaring her...
Me and Hisao went to boys' dorms to get our things unpacked. Turns out this part of a dorm is pretty much empty: Apart from us, there's only one other guy in here. Strange. Haven't got an opportunity to meet our co-locator yet so for the time being I'll just get things done.
The room I'm situated in isn't exceptionally big. Its furniture consists of things absolutely necessary and nothing else apart from that: A bed, a wardrobe, a desk with a chair and a lamp, a bedside cabinet... And a large pile of majority of my things, packed neatly in few bags. From what I've seen so far, a school uniform is obligatory. Eh. If there's a thing I miss from European schools, then it would be an absolute freedom in your clothing, so long as it fits ethics and good taste. Here, however, I need to familiarize myself with one set of clothing. Boy's uniform consists of a green jacket, white shirt, black necktie to go with it and green pants. From what I saw though, wearing a jacket isn't obligatory. Well, at least there's that. I'll try to get around wearing a necktie as well. I don't like neckties. They're not only complicated to knot, but also don't look all that great. It's just as you just had... something dangling down your neck. Not exactly the most pleasant of feelings.
Well, time to unpack stuff anyway. Exercise books go here, schoolbooks go here, my personal notebook... Here. Now, laptop with those few games I took with myself, here. Pens, here. Posters... I think I'll hang them sometime later. All in all, organizing myself doesn't take that much time as I expected it to be.
Alright... Checking TV Tropes may wait for now. That's when I got reminded about something Mutou said to both me and Hisao earlier on, when we first met him. Something about meeting a school nurse... I suppose local medical staff needs to make a check on me. Knowing my condition, I'd likely get some gel to place on the other part of my face to make it regenerate or something...
I can only hope there won't be a mention of my... other problems.
I exit the room just to see Hisao discussing with our neighbor, a black-haired guy with extremely thick glasses. Judging from Nakai's reactions, he'd love to exit the conversation while not sounding like a complete ass.
"Oi, Hisao." I call him. He turns and I can see he's helluva grateful. A pleasure's all mine.
"Huh? Who's there?" The guy with glasses asks with a threatening tone.
"I'm your other hallmate, mate. Casper Stratoavis, a pleasure." He almost immediately lights up.
"Another guy in here? Awesome!" Heh. Since our appearance here, this poor sap had likely lived on his own.
"Always here to help, mate. I didn't catch your name though."
"Kenji Setou. Pleased to meet ya, man." He almost throws his hand at me. A little awkwardly, I shake hands with him.
"I'd love to stay and chat, Kenji, but... Uh, me and Hisao need to visit a nurse." I say. Nakai very silently sighs with relief, but I can see that he didn't think about such an idea.
"Oh, right. Yeah, that's an important stuff. Just watch out for feminists on your way there, man." Kenji warns me and this kind of warning catches me a bit unprepared. Feminists? Interesting. "Anyway, catch ya later, dudes." He gives us a nod and returns to his room before locking it on... holy shit, that's a lot of locks. I exchange looks with Hisao.
"How is he...?" I dare to ask. If my partner in conversation's face says truth, I suppose it didn't go well.
"...Weird." He responds after a moment of looking out an appropriate word. I only nod.
"He gives off strange vibes, but seems like a nice guy. Maybe a little... paranoid, considering that warning, but a nice guy."
"I'm not the one to judge." Hisao shrugs. "Anyway, shouldn't we be off to nurse for check-up?"
"Most certainly, mate." I respond with a nod. "...Do we know the way?" A long moment of silence makes me realize that neither of us had paid any real attention to Mutou's initial lecture. Well, crap. "Gotta ask someone for direction." I murmur after a while and Nakai only absentmindedly nods. Hope there's no particular time we were supposed to meet with the nurse.
As we exit the boys' dorms, someone bumps into Hisao and knocks him over. Actually, "bumps" isn't the most appropriate word, considering how he almost got bowled over a meter or so. The perpetrator of this, a short girl with pigtails and, surprisingly, a sports uniform, stands up quickly, incredibly abashed. It took me a while to notice that she has prosthetic legs, just like the Indian girl in our class. Those, however, seem less... humane in their appearance. I suppose those are more fit for running.
Dammit, Casper, stop staring at them like that.
"I'm so sorry!" She exclaims very quickly, offering Hisao a hand. He, however, doesn't get up... His eyes are all wide. He seems to be in pain, clutching his chest... Clutching his chest?
Fuck.
"Where's the nurse's office?" I ask sharply.
"I've just came in from here." She responds. She seems pretty observant as she notices something's off with Hisao. Well, that shouldn't be hard to notice, given how hard he tries to not scream. "Nurse had sent me to look for Hisao Nakai and Casper Strat-tra..."
"Well, you quite literally hit the bullseye." I cut her off, not even paying attention to the fact she can't spell my last name. "Help me out with him." He seems as if he was about to vomit everything from esophagus to bowel. We slowly help him stand up and take under each arm. "Lead the way." I say to her and she only nods before the three of us depart to nurse's office.
Wow, didn't take me that long to come up with another chapter. Here you go. Read and review as always. :)