Shin looked around the school courtyard. Kumiko had found herself a school just about as nice as Shirokin. He wrinkled his nose at memories from high school. Why had he agreed to talk with Kumiko's students? He turned around to leave, but reconsidered. He had promised, and it might be good to see what Kumiko was dealing with this year. With a solemn determination he stuck his hands in his pocket, and wandered towards what looked to be a more dilapidated section of the school. Kumiko had said it used to be more trashed, but over the years she had gotten them to paint and keep it a bit cleaner. It was still in need of work judging from the tarps and scaffolding still on the outside. The hallways were still painted in ways he guessed the school didn't approve of. Shin never remembered leaving the school trashed, or painting the walls outside the classroom.

Kumiko was waiting in the hallway; the walls behind her were almost vibrating from all the talking. Yes, these kids were like his class. "Sawada! I'm so glad you came!" She trotted over to him. "I wondered if you would show." Shin shrugged his shoulder. If he was the same person from high school, he never would have.

"What do you really want me to talk about with them anyway?" He leaned against the wall, feeling it pulsate.

She looked up and pulled her mouth slightly inward, a traditional Kumiko thinking face. He imagined she was having some far fetched dream of him leaning against the podium, dictating in a strong voice about how they should trust Kumiko, and invest themselves in school and their dreams and friendship. Really, he wasn't too far off. "I don't know exactly… just tell them to do their best…"

Shin chuckled and shook his head. A simple Kumiko answer that he could have guessed. "Alright." He gestured for her to enter and introduce him.

"Just a second Sawada! We have to do something first." She stuck her arm out, and waited until Shin begrudgingly did the same. "Fight oh… OH!" Sawada dropped his hand immediately as she finished. "Come on Sawada! At least say OH! With me!" She pumped her fist again, "Fight oh… OH!" He did as he was asked, mostly to get her to stop. One thing that would likely always be true was that Kumiko could get almost anything just by wearing others out.

Sliding the door open, the students went almost silent. She had told them something about an old friend coming to class today, and if nothing else, they were curious. Glancing around, he saw a lot of faces that wanted to be elsewhere. However, there was nobody quite as disinterested as he had been in high school, although a few came close. "Hello. I am Sawada." He glanced around, resting his arms on the podium similar to how he had at his desk in high school. His eyes traced the room, noting the art on the walls, and that the desks were in the semblance of rows. "Nice art. Especially outside. Sawatori does look like an ape." Sawada couldn't help but remember when the class painted his car with the giant ape. "We did the same thing to his car. Oh… I was one of Yankumi's students a few years ago."

No longer feeling comfortable on the podium, he leaned against Kumiko's desk, arms across his chest and feet crossed. "I know he's a pain in the ass, but just don't get caught, and he's all talk." Kumiko was looking slightly concerned; she definitely hadn't asked him to come to teach this particular lesson. "Yankumi… will you leave us alone for a few minutes?"

"But… Sawada…" Her hands were together, and she shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, an even more concerned look growing under her glasses. Sawada looked over at her, clearing the hair from his face, and raising his eyebrows. So much of their communication was done without words. "…Okay… Sawada." She couldn't get rid of her expression, but she knew Sawada wouldn't incite a riot.

When Kumiko had slid the door closed, Sawada turned back to the class. All attention was on him; because it wasn't often they were left alone with someone who wasn't a teacher. "Alright… Kumiko… sorry. Yankumi, didn't ask me here to tell you how to deal with Sawatori. I can't blame her, you guys have to figure that out on your own." He moved the podium and sat down on an unoccupied desk in the front row.

"Really, I think she wanted me to tell you all about my school experience, and why you should trust her. I'll do a little of that, but it's up to you guys on whether or not you trust her." He looked around the room again; making eye contact with the few that seemed the least interested. "You know, I was expelled from my first high school for beating the shit out of a teacher. The guy deserved it." If there was one thing Shin would never feel, it was regret for the things he had done. "After that I went to Shirokin… a school that shut down… maybe 3 years ago? I don't know exactly. I got put into the same class you are all in. From there, it became 'which teacher can screw us over the most?' It was that way until Yankumi started teaching us when I was a senior." He took a long pause, organizing all the thoughts swimming around.

"Naturally, I didn't believe any of the crap she spouted. Friendship, trust, loyalty. And more importantly, that she would get us all to graduate. No one dreamed that was possible. But every time we got in trouble, she got us out of it, and we all graduated. I get the feeling she's already helped some of you." There were quite a few heads nodding. "But she can't do everything for you. Don't do stupid things that are going to put you in harms way, because you are going to start regretting it. All the things she will do and has already done… it'll be on your shoulders if you mess it up." He leaned back a bit, holding his knee. "It's strange, but at the very least, guilt will start to keep you in line. All Yankumi wants to do is help you, so don't fuck it up."

The sea of faces took the last bit in, and a few looked a little more than defiant still. "But like I said, you don't have to trust her… or me for that matter." He swiveled off the desk, taking a few strides to the door. As he slid it open, Kumiko almost fell through the opening, ear still pressed to the air that had been a door moments before. Sawada stopped from completely falling. As he released her, she looked about the classroom, slightly embarrassed.

"Uh… thank you… Sawada. For the speech I mean." Certainly not for catching her, after all, she wouldn't have fallen. She only would have fallen if it was Shinohara. All of her students were snickering, and resuming their previous conversations. Taking advantage of the lull in attention, Kumiko pulled Shin back outside for a moment. "Do you think… you could join me after school? There is something I have to talk one of my students and his sister about, and it would be good to have you there for it."

Shin raised an eyebrow. My that was awfully vague. "I guess Yankumi. Although next time you're gonna have to be more specific. Just call Kuma when you're ready." He stuck his head back in the classroom. "Have a good school day. And remember that trust thing." A few looked back up, but most were too engrossed even to hear him. "Good kids." He looked over at Kumiko, half smiling. Without any other words he slid the door closed, and set off toward the courtyard. He was tempted to find Sawatori, but decided against it since he was almost sure Kumiko hadn't mentioned his visit to anyone.

He took small strides through the school. Tomorrow he would be joining Uchi at his place for the next month. Without anything to pack, the rest of the day was free. At least until Kumiko needed him again. He pulled his journal out of his pocket, and set on a slow walk back to the restaurant. Looking over the entries of the past few weeks, it seemed like Africa was years ago. The last test had gone very well, and Sawada felt slightly confident about his chances at Keio.

Out of convenience, Sawada started carrying a ball point with him. He still vastly preferred the fountain pen, but it was easier having the ink in the pen as opposed to in a jar in his pocket. He jotted down notes about the week, and a rough map of the school. The little high schooler still in him drew a Sawatori ape next to the map. He laughed and made a mental note to show Kuma. Though he had grown up, Kuma would still appreciate something from their younger years.

After writing a bit more he decided to close his journal again. It wasn't quite freezing, but it was far from warm. Since returning to Japan, he had acquired a coat, and was quite happy to button it. Feeling a chill pierce the wool, he decided that a bus would be more habitable. He stopped in front of a bus list, but realized a bus to his destination would be another half an hour. He could walk most of the way in that time. Holding his coat a bit tighter around his chest, he resumed his course, although considerably quicker.

He covered as much ground as he could, and when he came to a bus stop a bit closer to the restaurant he waited. It was only a few minutes until it came by, and he put a few yen into the machine. The bus driver welcomed him aboard, and he walked towards the back. Taking hold of a bar, the journey resumed. The bus was decidedly more comfortable. After a few minutes, he saw his destination, and was very happy to have ridden.

Inside, Kuma was busy behind the counter, and Ami was at the tables, taking orders. They looked a bit short staffed, so Shin grabbed an apron and joined Kuma. "Need some help?" He put his hand out for a pair of tongs, or a ladle, or any number of the utensils Kuma was juggling.

A bit of relief sunk into Kuma's face. "Yes!" He passed Shin the tongs, and together they began plating a few ramen orders. "My second called sick today and no one else could come in. I remember when I didn't even have a second." Kuma took a moment to reminisce. Shin laughed at him, and together they managed the lunch rush.

Once most of the plates were out, and everything had fallen a bit quieter, Shin tied his apron up, and occupied the table that seemed to now be his. He watched as the people slurped their noodles, and he found a chorus in the sounds. Out of boredom he rested his head on the back of the chair, but did not sleep. Instead he took a book from his pocket, and immersed himself in it.

It was many hours until the phone rang for him. Kuma tapped his book, and pointed to it. "Yankumi wants to talk to you." Shin nodded.

Shin greeted her, and Yankumi sounded a bit stressed, although she never let her emotions show too much. "I want to go to a small tea shop in my neighborhood. Hisao won't join us for awhile, and I want to explain the situation to you." Kumiko sighed a bit. "It's around the block from my house. It's just called 'tea house.' There's a big sign outside."

"Okay… I'll be there in a bit." Shin had regained his mental map of Tokyo, and knew of a bus that could take him very close. It was the same bus that had not come the night he stayed at Kumiko's. They said goodbye, and Kuma glanced over at him when the phone was back on the hook.

"Everything okay?" Kuma's eyebrows were raised. He could tell Yankumi was slightly distressed, just as Sawada could.

"Yeah, Kumiko is alright. I'm meeting her near her house soon. Anything you want me to tell her?" Kuma shook his head. With a brief wave, Sawada headed out of the shop, and down the street.