Chapter 2 (Hisao)

I am quietly reading a book in my apartment when I'm startled by my phone. I don't get a whole lot of phone calls these days. It seems to be a number that isn't programmed into my phone, but something about the number seems…familiar.

"Hello, this is Nakai speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Nakai."

I recognize this voice, but it has been quite some time. I feel like it is a voice I heard a whole lot of, but it has been awhile. Suddenly, the pieces are coming together.

"Sensei Mutou! Hello, how have you been?"

He laughs, "I'm glad you still recognize my voice." He laughs, "I suppose it would be hard to forget, given how much I like droning on. Anyway, It has been some time."

He's right. The last time we talked was when he called me after Saki passed away to offer his condolences. I was surprised to get a call from my old teacher, but I really appreciated it. We talked for a couple of hours, catching up on things. It helped me during a dark time.

"It has. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I'll cut right to the chase. We'll have time later for some pleasantries. I am going to be retiring at the end of this trimester. The board wanted to know if I had any recommendations to replace me as homeroom and science teacher. I told them I had only one."

"You don't mean…"

"I do. I recommended you for the position. How could I not? You are an alumnus and you are doing quite well for yourself as a teacher. However, I told them I would call you first before I get the ball rolling. I know you've been teaching at that school in Tokyo for awhile now, and you may not want to leave. So, are you interested in the job? I can give you some time to think about it, but not too much I'm afraid. They want to get rolling on the hiring process, so I will need an answer by tomorrow."

I have always wanted to go back and teach at Yamaku. If I'm being honest, it is the first thing I imagined when I decided I want to become a science teacher. Yamaku was a special place for me, and I would love to go back. This is like a dream come true. I know the pay is better too. The only downside I can think of is that I would have to move. But its worth it. I don't need time to think about this.

"I am interested in the job sensei. Very interested, actually."

"I'm glad to hear it! I will let the powers that be know. You will have to do an interview of course, but I will say you're likely to get the job. There is still some other faculty here that knows you. I will set about seeing if I can extract any recommendations out of them. Expect a call phone tomorrow to set up the interview."

"Thank you so much for recommending me. I look forward to the phone call."

"Have a good evening Mr. Nakai."

"You too sensei. Goodbye."

—-

As Mutou predicted, the job interview was mostly a formality and I got the job. It was hard saying goodbye to Chisato and Mitsuru, but they were both actually really happy for me. I think they thought I could use a change of scenery. Now that I am here, I have to admit, I do feel a little better. I will be keeping in touch with them, and visit them often.

I think Saki would be happy I ended up here. She never thought Yamaku was perfect, but we both got a lot out of being here. Now I'm back, and I can help students the same way the Yamaku staff helped me.

So, I've moved to the town outside of Yamaku, where I found a nice apartment. I am walking up that old familiar hill.

It is Spring Vacation. I moved up here early to get settled in my new surroundings, and to take part in some special training at Yamaku. While this sort of thing was pretty awful at my old school, I think this will actually be helpful. While I have a whole lot more experience with disability than most teachers, there are still some things I need to learn when it comes to teaching at a school like Yamaku. I was always impressed with how calmly the faculty could deal with emergencies. Mutou always knew what to do when Hanako had a panic attack or Naomi had a seizure. Hopefully this training can help me with that kind of thing.

I stop for a moment at the familiar iron gates, reminiscing about the past. I do the same while walking the school grounds. I visit the places that were special to us. I think about the festival where I first really spent time with Saki. I think about sneaking around the dorm security so we could spend the night in eachother's rooms. I remember meeting her outside the performing arts center, and later proposing to her there. I remember our graduation day.

This place really is special to me. I'm happy to be back.

Just as I am walking past the performing arts center, lost in my happy memories, I pick up something in my peripheral vision. Before I can identify what it is, I feel an impact on my side and stumble a few times before falling ass first on the ground.

Meanwhile, the person that ran into me also ended up on the ground, but she has already pulled herself up and is dusting off her skirt.

"Sorry about that. Are you okay? I was in a hurry and you came out of nowhere from the other side of the building! Are you okay?"

I rub my eyes, because I can hardly believe who I see. Surely I have somehow stepped in the past. Did I some how end up within my own memories? Am I in the Twilight Zone? Have I lost my mind?

"E…emi?"

She looks up at me and scans me with her eyes, but she ends up with a confused expression, as if she kind of recognizes me, but it isn't quite clicking.

"Do I…know you?"

No doubt about it. This is definitely Emi Ibarazaki. The Fastest Thing on No Legs, as she used to call herself. I haven't seen her since graduation. She looks different of course. After all, it has been sixteen years, but there's no mistaking it. Those bright green eyes, her petite frame, and of course, those prosthetic legs that start just below her knee. In high school she used to try to conceal them by wearing tights or socks, but it seems like now she's fine with people seeing them.

Gone are her trademark twintails, in favor of a simpler and more adult ponytail. And she certainly looks older than she used to. In high school she could have passed for a middle schooler. Now, I'd say she looks like someone who has just finished college and recently became a working adult, despite the fact that she must be in her mid-30s.

She's dressed professionally in a knee-length black and white pinstriped skirt and a white blouse.

I get up and dust myself off.

"Yes, you definitely know me. Believe it or not, this isn't the first time you've knocked me over while you were rushing somewhere. Though it has been about 16 years, so maybe you forgot."

She walks up to me and looks at me for a few more seconds in silence, walking around me as if she'll uncover some clue about my identity if she looks hard enough.

I smile at her. "You've probably knocked over a lot of people, so don't feel bad if you need me to remind you."

I can see on her face that the realization has finally dawned on her.

"Hi…sao?" she says as if she almost can't believe it herself. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing myself."

She laughs, "I actually work here now, believe it or not. I'm a physical therapist, so I'm part of the nursing staff here. Been back here for five years now. I'm also the advisor for the track club of course," she says with a wink.

"Wow, that's great. I actually work here too, though I only just started."

"Holy crap." She slaps herself in the forehead, as all the pieces fall together for her. "You're the new science teacher aren't you? They sent out an e-mail about the new hire but I normally don't read those. Guess I should have this time."

She pulls out her phone and checks the time.

"Listen it has been really cool seeing you again, and I'm sure I'll see you around now that you're here, but I have to go teach a first aid class for some of the staff and faculty, and I'm getting close to being late."

I laugh at the fact that this is yet another coincidence, and she looks at me confused for a moment, unsure of the joke that she missed out on.

"You're…headed to that class right now, aren't you?"

"Yep. Lead the way!"

I learned a lot from Emi's first aid seminar. Some of the stuff I already knew of course, but I gained a lot more insight on how to respond to a wider variety of situations. It was really interesting being taught by her after all these years. She is her same old chipper, bright-eyed self, so she infused some much-needed levity and humor into what would otherwise be a very dry two hours.

After the class has emptied out and she is getting ready to leave, I walk up to her.

"That was a really helpful lesson Ibarazaki-sensei." I say with mock respect and she laughs at my use of the honorific.

"Really though, it was actually very good. I was a little worried about this side of things, but feel much better now."

"Glad to hear it. What are you doing now?"

"Well, there is time for a lunch break now, and then I have another workshop this afternoon."

"Do you want to join me for lunch? It would be nice to catch up."

"Sure! I brought my lunch. Should I meet you on the roof?" I say with a laugh.

"Real funny, Nakai. For your information I do still eat on the roof sometimes. Not usually when classes are in session. But that's exactly where I was planning on having my lunch today."

She realizes how silly that sounds and adds, "You must think I haven't changed at all since high school. From your perspective it is like you left Yamaku and I've just been here all along, eating on the roof with Rin, running through the hallways, winning all the track meets, and breaking all the boys' hearts."

I give her a hearty laugh.

She adds some mock sentimentality to her voice, puts her hands on her hips, and acts like she is looking off in the distance, "Ah, the good ol' days."

She steps out of her silly pose and says, "Come on Nakai, let's go to the roof!"

We have just finished our lunches on the roof, which feels pretty surreal. The last time we were up here together she gave me a rice ball while trying to pump me for information about me and Saki. While she has changed in many ways, the very unlady-like way she devours her food certainly hasn't.

I get the conversation started.

"So, are you still close with Rin?"

She smiles, "As close as I've ever been. I still don't really understand her of course – no one does, but we do talk from time to time. She lives in Sendai, so it also isn't too hard for me to go to her fancy art shindigs from time to time. We hang out sometimes too."

"What about you? Still friends with any of your old Yamaku buddies?" The question hangs in the air for a moment as I hesitate about how to address her question, and then her smile turns into a guilty frown.

"Sorry, I…shouldn't have asked that." She pauses, clearly thinking about whether to add something.

"I was…sorry to hear about Saki, Hisao. She was a great girl. I was in classes with her all three years here, you know. I probably should have sent you my condolences back when it happened…but I'll offer them now."

"That's okay Emi. It isn't like we really kept in touch, so I'm not offended you didn't reach out or anything."

"Yeah well, maybe I should have made more of an effort to stay in touch, though. I'm pretty bad at that. Other than Rin I don't talk to anyone from Yamaku, and I don't even keep in touch with people from university. But anyway. I really am sorry. I'm…sure that was hard."

"It was…it is. But I'm coping. Anyway, to answer your original question about my other Yamaku buddies, I am still quite close with Chisato and Mitsuru. I'd say Chisato is probably my best friend, actually. And I see Noriko every now and again."

"That's good. Are you still swimming?"

Shit. Leave it to Emi to think of one's exercise regimen as one of the first things to ask someone about when you're catching up after sixteen years.

"No. I kept at it for quite awhile but I…stopped actually. I mostly go for walks these days."

She gets the trace of a concerned expression on her face.

"Don't you kind of…have to do some cardio because of your condition?"

"I…yeah. I'm supposed to. My doctor, my parents, and my friends are all on me about it, and I know I need to but I just…haven't."

"Okay, when I tell you this you're really going to think I've never left Yamaku and haven't changed a bit," she laughs "...but I run at the track every morning. If you're interested in trying to take up running again, I can help! Oh, and this time I won't almost kill you. I actually know what I'm doing now. I went to college and everything! See, that's different." she says with a wink.

I laugh, "Well, that's a relief. It is really nice of you to offer, Emi. I'll think about it."

She shifts from a silly face to a serious one in less than a second. It is more than a little frightening. "You need to do more than think about it, Nakai. The only reason I got off your back about it back in the day is because you started swimming. You need to be doing something. You can try running with me. I'm there most days at 6:30 a.m., so it is a standing invitation. If you try it and don't want to do it, and even if you don't want to try it all, I can help you find something else that will be good for your heart."

I have a serious case of deja vu.

"I…kind of feel like I'm talking to the head nurse. But I guess having talks with students about how to take care of their physical health is your job now. So it makes sense."

She laughs, "Funny story about that. That head nurse from when we went here? He's married to my mom now."

My mouth falls wide open in shock, causing Emi to laugh at my surprise.

"I guess you didn't know this back in the day, but I've actually been kind of close to him since before Yamaku. So…there's probably more truth to what you're saying than you might think. He has definitely been a mentor to me."

Her face suddenly turns serious again.

"But don't try to change the subject Nakai. You need to be doing cardio, and I am going to make sure that happens."

Now her face shifts back to happy-go-lucky Emi. How does she do that?

"Here, put your number in my phone. I will be checking up on you."

"Yes ma'am."