Chapter Three: The Schoolyard

Chisa stood, straightened her kimono, and sat back down. "I suppose now is the time…"

Thirty-two years prior in Kyoto:

A rooster crowed, indicating the beginning of an unseasonably cold spring morning. A frost was on, in which footsteps of many young children could be seen. A teacher had built a fire in a stove in her small classroom to keep her students warm and to prepare tea. On the chalkboard, the students were learning sums.

Six-year old Chisa was not a particularly healthy child, and often begged to miss school even when she wasn't unwell. She had a few friends but none that were especially close to her. They may come over to her small house to play, but she wasn't anyone's best friend. At this age, her hair was no longer streaked with gray, but was jet black with eyes that matched. Her mother fixed her hair the exact same way everyday: Long and down with a single small braid on one side that she often tucked behind her left ear.

She shared a room with two sisters, Akari, who was 16-years old, and a two-year old Rin. Her twin brother Chutaro slept in the room with their parents. Their house was small, with the largest room being reserved for their father's work bench where he made gears for watches and clocks. Akari was always in charge of getting the twins off to school, a duty that she didn't mind really. She loved to tease the two early in the morning when they were still waking up.

"Off to school you two!" She smiled and forced two bento boxes into their hands.

"Ugh…Please not today…I don't feel well…" Chisa lied. She lost her credibility with her parents in the past year, as she stated she didn't feel well everyday. They knew when she was genuine and today she was not.

"Nice try but today you'll be at school with the rest of the brats! Off we go!" And the trio made their way to the schoolyard not far from their house.

At school, a class of about 18 students had gathered around their teacher who had begun to take roll. "Kitagawa Chisa and Kitagawa Chutaro, you are running more behind than usual. Knowing Akari and her own punctuality this does not surprise me though. Class, today we will be changing the seating chart due to some discipline issues I have been seeing lately. If we cannot get along with our friends, then we lose the privilege of sitting with them."

This upset Chisa, who already hated school and enjoyed sitting with her few friends. A few people can ruin good things for others. One by one her friends, the more quiet students in class, were placed near the rowdy students, most of whom were the young boys. Chutaro was no exception from the rowdy boy category. Chisa was seated in the row closest to the window, for which she was grateful. Maybe this could distract her from whatever nuisance they would put her by.

"Jin-e, take a seat to the right of Chisa. Maybe she can discourage you from fighting so much." Their less-than-patient teacher glared. Jin-e had been part of the original issue that caused the seating chart to be changed in the first place. He scoffed and took his seat.

Jin-e was taller than the other boys in his class, with brown hair and light eyes. This was always a point bullies made, as he had no idea who his father was. He stood out. His yukata was shabby compared to the other students as well. It was evident that he came from an impoverished home. On his face he bore a swollen black eye that made his eyes stand out even more.

Chisa was vaguely aware of him, but knew very little about him. He was a mediocre student and spent most of his time alone. He had gotten into a fist fight with his only friend the day before. She turned her head to look out the window and avoid eye contact. She could feel his eyes on the back of her head, a very strange feeling.

Chisa whipped her head around and met his gaze. "Stop staring at me!"

He seemed genuinely surprised that she had called him out. He shook his head and faced forward. Chisa felt a sting of guilt. She had her fair share of bullies and certainly didn't want to become one herself.

"I'm sorry, Jin-e-san. I just don't like being stared at. If you want to talk to me, just talk to me." She crossed her arms. She could feel Jin-e's eyes on her again and she turned to face him. There was something in his eyes she had never noticed before with him or any other student. She couldn't exactly name what it was, other than the fact that not many other children had eyes as light as his.

The day went on like most other school days, with math and language class and some limited time to play outside in the chill. Just by nature of sitting close, Jin-e and Chisa walked outside at a similar time. Three older boys greeted Jin-e.

"What's with the eye, squirt? You get that fighting or did your mommy give you that one like last time?" One of the boys jeered. He had dirt on his face and knees and it seemed that he himself had just been in a scuffle.

"I got it fighting fair and square! And if you guys don't leave me alone, I'll give you one!" Jin-e yelled back. Chisa overheard the conversation and immediately ran to get the teacher.

The teacher grabbed Jin-e by the back of the neck and yelled at the three older students to go back to their respective classes. Naturally, it was Jin-e who was in trouble.

"Fighting is a daily occupation for you, isn't it?" The teacher scolded. "I'm going to have to speak to your mother again."

"I wasn't fighting! They were after me as soon as I got out here!" Jin-e tried to defend himself. The teacher paid no attention.

"Miss Kitagawa, thank you for getting me. I'm glad I put you two beside one another."

Chisa looked at Jin-e apologetically, but he was red in the face and angry. She had tattled on him and gotten him into trouble with the teacher and his mother, and now things will be even worse with the three other boys. He turned and went back into the classroom alone.

After recess was over and all the students returned to their seats, Chisa no longer felt Jin-e's gaze on her. He was staring straight ahead, scowling. She thought she saw a tear in his eye that he quickly wiped away.

"Now you stop staring at me. I don't want to be your friend, I don't want to talk to you, I just want you to leave me alone."

So Chisa did as he asked and kept to herself. She kept to herself for two more years.