Chapter Two
Tuesday, April 13
"We have to stand?" Takeshi heard a couple of first-year girls complain behind him. He shifted the position of his feet as the teacher tried to appease the two girls behind him, only to fail miserably under a torrent of shrill whines. It wasn't like it was that bad. The homecoming assembly was at the end of the day so once it was over they could all head home. Not the worst way to end a school day in Takeshi's opinion.
"Yo Takeshi!" Someone rammed into Takeshi's side, nearly sending him off balance. Takeshi caught the glimpse of spiked up brown hair and felt like exhaling a breath like what one would do in face of a child with an insatiable amount of energy.
"Hey Satoshi." He said in response, turning to look at his classmate, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be hanging out with all your jock friends?"
"I can't find any of them." Satoshi admitted, "So do you mind if I hang out with you for the assembly?"
"Gee, sorry you have to settle for less." Takeshi said dryly.
"No problem! Glad you understand!" Satoshi patted Takeshi on the back and faced the stage, eagerly awaiting the assembly.
"What a doofus…"
The assembly started in exactly five minutes in which everyone on the auditorium floor was told to quickly hush or be threatened with immediate suspension. The major officers of the student council took the stage in order of importance: Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President and President.
"Yeah, Akira!" Satoshi hollered, cupping his hands around his mouth as their blond classmate took the stage.
"Keep quiet!" A teacher barked out in response, unsure of where to direct it due to the crowd like formation the student population seemed to have taken. Satoshi sniggered and Takeshi shook his head though a faint trace of a smile could be seen on his face.
Satoshi's comment seemed to have completely unaffected Akira. She remained poised with a regal like smile on her face as the president Makoto approached the podium. He tapped the microphone a few times to test if it was operating then began to speak into it.
"I hope that everyone is settled in because the homecoming assembly is about to start." He announced. The auditorium soon began to quiet down, all eyes focused on the light-haired boy standing on the stage. "Before we officially begin, I'd like to introduce myself. For those of you are unaware, my name is Makoto Atsumi: president of Sotoguchu High's student council." Applause sounded at this point and Takeshi and Satoshi joined in, though only to appear polite.
"As we begin our new year here at Sotoguchu, I would like all of us to wonder what high school necessarily means. Many of us feel that it is comparable to a waste of time. Some may feel on the contrary. Really though, high school should be and is…the stepping stone that will propel us forward into the future. Being a third-year at this school myself, I anticipate a year of awaiting college entrance exams and cram school sessions that will have me completely and utterly stressed. However, many close to me have said that it will all pay off since in the end is graduation, the supposedly 'greatest day of our lives.'"
"I would like to say though that graduation is not the greatest day of our lives." Makoto said, slamming his fist against the podium, "Instead, high school should be the greatest time of our lives. It is not at graduation that we finally step out into the world and become adults. No. Graduation is merely the end of what we have been trying to accomplish throughout high school: to prepare ourselves for those 'greatest days of our lives.' So I leave you with this everyone, take advantage of what high school offers and grow! Broaden your horizons, try to mature for at the end of this journey lies our first step outward into the world where we will finally reach those days that we have so long been anticipating."
"High school is not the set amount of time in which we have to mature. It is the first taste of what we all should expect when we are adults. So everyone, enjoy the beginning of what should be part of your 'greatest days of your lives!' Thank you." Signifying that was the end of his speech, Makoto took a step back and gestured to the side of the stage for someone to come forward. Meanwhile, the whole auditorium floor burst into applause.
"Wow that was incredible! Makoto-senpai is such an amazing speaker!"
"I'm glad we elected him president! Having him in charge makes me feel like this year won't blow."
Satoshi ribbed Takeshi in the side, "Man, Makoto's speech was amazing huh, Takeshi?"
"It was pretty good." Takeshi answered, continuing to applaud. He watched the stage as an elderly man walked toward the podium, pulling at his collar like the temperature had just risen a few degrees.
"Man, Shiraume looks nervous as hell!" Satoshi commented, leaning closer toward Takeshi so he wouldn't be overheard.
"That's pretty much an understatement…" Their principal looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Principal Shiraume was a small man, slightly round too with a pair of small circular lens over his eyes and a painfully obvious toupee. Takeshi wouldn't want to be him right now, following right after Makoto's speech.
It was one thing to be showed up by a co-worker. It was another thing to be showed up by a kid thirty years younger than you.
Takeshi watched the scene unfold like how he would watch a car crash. Eyes slightly squinted, ready to close shut if anything too ugly happened.
"Erm…well now thank you, Atsumi for that wonderful speech." Shiraume said, dabbing at his forehead, "I had a speech to say as well but…" His eyes moved around the room nervously, "I believe that our speeches held the same contexts and I wouldn't want to be redundant."
"Yeah right, old man…" Takeshi thought smugly.
"So without further notice, everyone is excused for the day. Thank you and welcome back to school." Shiraume quickly scurried off the stage, leaving the student council officers with confused expressions.
"Hey, let's go talk to Akira!" Satoshi suggested. The people in front of them had already dispersed to the auditorium exits to the back so it was easy to make it to stage. Akira was currently attempting to jump down from the stage, tucking her skirt under her legs as she sat down on the edge before hopping down onto the auditorium floor.
"Oh Takeshi-san! Satoshi!"
"Akira, you were pretty cool up there." Satoshi complimented.
"But I didn't say anything…"
"Still…you're eyes said it all for you."
Takeshi rolled his eyes and pushed Satoshi gently to the side, "So are you going home now, Akira?"
"I have to get some student council stuff organized first but yeah, basically." Akira began to twiddle with a strand of her hair, "I feel kind of bad for Makoto-senpai though. He has more to organize than I do so he'll probably be here for a while…"
"Ah well, when you're the hotshot president, I guess it just comes with the job." Satoshi shrugged, "So see you tomorrow?"
"Eh hmm." Akira nodded, "Take care."
Takeshi and Satoshi waved farewell then exited the auditorium, heading over to classroom 2-C to pick up their belongings.
"Hey Takeshi. Do you want to walk home with me?" Satoshi suddenly suggested as they reached the second floor of the school.
"Huh? S-Sure, I guess so. Why the sudden interest?"
"I'm just thinking 'why not', you know? We're already walking together now."
"Well can't argue with that logic…" Takeshi began to speed up his pace, "Let's hurry up and get our stuff if you want to walk home."
Satoshi at his side, Takeshi finally reached their classroom. He slid the door open and walked in to see that there were still a few students left in there. While Takeshi walked through the aisles to reach his desk, he saw Satoshi jumping over seats to reach his.
"Ha, got here first!" the boy cheered as he grabbed a single strap of his backpack.
"We weren't racing." Takeshi replied blandly as he retrieved his suitcase at his desk, "Besides you're in track. How am I supposed to compete with that?"
"Whining is only for babies, Takeshi." Satoshi said philosophically. He started to head back for the sliding door. Takeshi began to follow after him when something suddenly grabbed his attention. Daniel's suitcase was still hanging on its hook on the edge of the boy's desk.
"He hasn't gone home yet?"
"Takeshi! What are you doing, slowpoke? C'mon!"
Takeshi shook the cobwebs out of his head and hurried over to join Satoshi, dismissing the very thought out of his mind.
"So didn't you move to Wasakira last year?" Satoshi asked as the two passed out of the school building.
"Yeah. Complicated family stuff." Takeshi replied.
"Really? Like divorce or…"
"No. Just…complicated family stuff." Takeshi said in a tone that suggested he didn't want the topic discussed further.
Satoshi seemed to have caught the hint now as a flash of sympathy appeared in his eyes, "Well I've lived here in Wasakira as long as I could remember." He said, folding his hands behind his head, "My family is some…ancient holder of a form of ninjutsu or something like that."
"Ninjas?" Takeshi said incredulously, "You're lying."
"Nope, dead serious." Satoshi said as the pair passed by the silver school gates, "My dad's pretty hardcore about that ninja stuff. He tells me and my sister that we should 'uphold the family honor' and all that crap."
"You have a little sister?"
"Yeah. Her name's Akimi. She's a first year at the junior high here in Wasakira."
"That's cool. I wish I had a little sibling…"
Satoshi chuckled, "No, you don't. Trust me. They're a pain in the ass." He looked to Takeshi curiously, "You don't have any siblings?"
"I said I wish I had a little sibling, remember?" Takeshi said, "I have an older brother. His name is Ryuuho."
"Ah it must be cool to have an older brother. Someone you can talk to about girls, cars, sports…" Satoshi said airily.
Takeshi looked down at the ground, focusing at the cracks on the sidewalk, "Right…"
The two suddenly reached a fork in the road and stopped, "The dojo's right from here…" Satoshi announced.
"Then I guess this is where we split off. My house is to the left."
"Ah well, it was good talking to you Takeshi." Satoshi patted him on the back and backpedaled in the direction to the right, "Later!"
"Bye." Takeshi waved as Satoshi jogged in the other direction, his backpacking jerking behind him. Turning his back, he left in his direction of home, the sound of wailing cars and bicycles in the background.
Wednesday, April 14
The next day of school started off oddly.
"Hey did you hear?" Satoshi whispered over as Takeshi took his seat, "They say Makoto didn't come to school today!"
"So what of it?" Takeshi asked while leaning his head against his propped up arm, "He could just have gotten sick."
"Yeah but everyone is saying that he was found in front of the school unconscious this morning!" Satoshi whispered. His eyes looked warily to the side as Daniel took his seat in front of Takeshi wordlessly. He paused for a brief moment before moving his focus back to Takeshi.
"That's probably a stupid rumor someone just made up so they would let us out of school." Takeshi said with a shake of his head, "Come on now, Satoshi. Grow up."
"Dude, I'm being completely serious right now!" Satoshi said with exasperation, "Oh look there's Akira."
Takeshi looked to see that Satoshi wasn't lying, Akira had entered the classroom. However, her face held a sullen expression, her bangs hanging in front of her eyes as she tilted her head down. Walking over quietly, Akira took her seat and laid her purse on her desk wordlessly.
"Hey Akira!" Satoshi leaned forward, "Is it really true? Did something happen to Makoto-senpai?"
"You don't have to answer that Akira." Takeshi cut in, "It's obviously stupid gos-"
"It's true…" she whispered. She turned around in her seat so she faced them, her slender fingers gripping tightly against the head of her chair. Her brown eyes were drooping slightly, barely able to brighten under the dark hues of worry. "He's at the hospital right now. He's in a coma."