"No! Don't leave me!! Please don't leave us!!!", a young woman cried.
"Don't cry. I'll always be with you... in here", the blond haired man smiled at her, his body impaled and bloodied as he touched her heart. With his remaining strength, he pushed her away from him.
"Nath**!!!"
"Aosaki Toshirou!!!". An eraser came flying with full force and hit the boy straight between the eyes.
"The hell?", the boy woke up with startled. He was very unamused at being woken up with an eraser to the forehead.
"Don't cuss in my class. Seriously, of all things to do", the teacher sighed.
"Gomen'nasai Takezawa-sensei", Toshirou said dryly, adjusting his chair and sitting properly.
Takezawa-sensei folded her arms. and smirked. "Why don't you answer this question on the board. Surely it's not a problem for you."
His fellow classmates didn't hold back in unleashing their thoughts.
"Oh crap!",
"there's no way he can do that if he wasn't listening",
"Sensei got him good this time",
"To-Toshirou-kun".
"Annoying", Toshirou sighed, with a stoic expression on his face. He stood up from his seat and looked at the board.
"So tell us the answer of question three", The teacher said.
With a bored look, his eyes trained on question three.
"4Q"
"Ehh!!!". "Nani!!!", all the students shouted.
"Hey Aosaki-san, what are you doing?", a boy beside him whispered.
"Would you like to repeat that, Toshirou-kun?", the sensei asked. Her eyes were dark and she was gripping her ruler really hard. An angry tick mark was clearly visible on her head.
How annoying. "And this is why I keep telling the principal not to hire old hags.", Toshiro put his hands in his pockets and stared directly into the eyes of his teacher.
"You damn kid", she raised her fist in anger.
"No cussing in the class, Sensei.", he replied.
"Aosaki-san, what are you doing?". "Toshirou-kun you're insulting Sensei.". "You really are vulgar Aosaki".
I was asked a question and I gave the answer. Just what exactly do they want from me?
It finally struck him.
"W-wait sensei, I meant the answer, the answer. The coefficient of Q is 4!", he said realizing the misinterpretation.
The teacher calmed down a bit. She looked at the board and he was right, the answer was indeed 4Q.
So that's what he meant, the class sweatdropped.
"You!", Takezawa-sensei said. Toshirou flinched at the tone of her voice. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"
"Of course not."
"Is that so?", she said. "4x+5=1?"
"3/2", he replied in an instant.
"If y is 8 and x is 5, what is xy-2y?"
"24".
"Author of Seven Japanese Tales?"
"Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, 1963"
"What is the period of the Japanese economic boom called?"
"It's literally the Japanese miracle"
The teacher turned to the side and clicked her finger, Tch. He's good
"You're not gonna catch me slipping sensei", Toshirou said.
"I think I'll have to do something about your behaviour. See me in the teacher's lounge after class", Takezawa-sensei said.
"Yeah yeah", he replied. He put his chin in his right hand as he rested on the table and looked out the window by his left.
That dream again, Toshirou thought.
...
Aosaki Toshirou, 16 years old. Standing at 177cm with sparkling azure eyes with a touch of dark blue to them and cobalt blue hair with dark highlights, his bangs coming down and framing his face perfectly. With his cool and laidback personality, he was among the most desirable boys in Fujimoto High despite being unsociable, lazy in certain aspects and stoic at most times.
"And what did you want to tell me, Misaki?".
"It's Takezawa-sensei to you, Toshirou-kun". Misaki Takezawa, homeroom teacher of class 2-A in her late twenties. Beautiful, smart, lively and nice to everyone. With dark hair, light grey eyes and the body of a model at her prime, every male loved her and every female admired her.
"Sure.", Toshirou said dismissively.
"You really are a handful", she sighed exhaustedly. "Sit".
"I'm not a dog you know"
"Aosaki!", she warned.
"Yeah I'll sit", and he did so.
"I should reprimand you, for making fun of me and for your attitude in front of my class. I've received a lot of complaints from other teachers about you. Luckily, you have good grades so they tend to go easy on you", Takezawa said.
"And what's it to you?", he closed his eyes and leaned back on the chair.
"It's nothing of course, but I think we should let Ruri-chan know, shouldn't we?"
He opened one eye a bit hearing his mother's name.
"You wouldn't", he said, as if daring her.
"Wanna bet?".
The two had a staring contest for a few seconds before Takezawa reached for her phone.
"I give, I give. Please don't call her. She'll never let me hear the end of it.", Toshirou pleaded.
"I know, It was a bluff", the sensei replied feeling smug at her accomplishment.
"You little bi-"
"Ah ah ah", she waved her finger in his face, "no cussing".
This woman, Toshirou thought.
"But on a serious note, is everything all right, Toshirou-kun?"
Gone was the playful demeanour of his sensei and a serious one replaced it. The other teachers were finished for the day and most of them have already begun to leave. Soon, only a few remained, including Toshirou and Takezawa-sensei.
Noticing the serious atmosphere, he relaxed and let out a deep sigh. "I think I'm fine. At least for the most part.", he said.
"Is it still bothering you?", she asked.
"Yeah.", he replied. "Those dreams, I've been having them more frequently lately." He focused his stare at the window, seemingly deep in thought. "But I can't seem to recall anything in particular."
"Have you talked to Ruri-chan about it?"
He took a minute to respond. "I can't bother Kaa-chan with trivial matters such as this.", he said, still staring out the window. And she probably knows as well. He mentally said to himself.
The sensei tapped her fingers on her desk before snapping it in his face.
"That's part of the problem. You refuse to open up to us so we can't do anything to help you.", she placed her hand back on the desk. "We keep telling you, we're here for you. You don't have to bottle it all inside. You might think you're doing us a favour but you're only hurting yourself, and that's the last thing any of us wants.", she placed her hand on top of his.
He quickly retracted his hand from hers, making her look at him with compassion and understanding. He quickly realised what he had done. "Gomen", he muttered, looking away with a straight face.
"You don't have to apologise, Toshirou", she said.
She let him be and continued organising the files on her desk, she knew at times like these, she shouldn't bother him. The two sat in silence, the only sounds heard were the goodbyes of the other teachers and the clicking of the keyboard.
"Ne Sensei,"
"Hm?", she hummed in response.
"Have you ever felt pathetic or useless?"
She stopped what she was doing, clearly not expecting that kind of question from Toshirou.
"You seem to be almost perfect so I was just wondering, if someone like you has ever felt that way before", he said.
"We all have that one moment when we feel that way. Sometimes we feel helpless, sad, pathetic, but it's all part of the human nature, so it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's in times like those that we truly shine. Besides, I'm in my twenties and I'm not married, and I've done some things which I regret in the past, so I'm not perfect, no one is.", she focused her attention on him and closed her laptop.
"I know you're not perfect, that's why I said 'you seem to be'", Toshirou said, laying back on the chair.
This kid, a tick mark showed on the side of her head.
Still looking out the window, he said, "Arigatou, Sensei".
She looked pleased to hear this and simply smiled at the boy. "You're free to go ,Toshirou, but wait for me at the entrance. I'll give you and Arisugawa-san a lift home".
The teen hummed in response, stood up from his seat and left the teachers' lounge.
...
"What did Sensei want to speak to you about?", a girl asked him, as he walked out of the lounge.
"Nandemonai Chiyo", Toshirou replied, with his hands in his pockets.
Arisugawa Chiyo, 16 years old, a very cute, petite and average teenage girl of short stature- around 5 feet 5, with shoulder-length light auburn hair that has two locks branching out from each side where each side is held in place by simple bows made from ribbons, big, adorable hazel eyes and she sports a curvaceous figure, most noticeably, her chest, which was noted by several of her schoolmates and coupled with the fact that she was the only childhood friend and best friend of Aosaki Toshirou, made her the envy of other girls in her school.
"Come on, tell me, tell me", she probed.
"There's nothing to tell. She's giving us a lift, so might as well wait for her to do her remaining business", Toshirou replied, seemingly bored of talking to much.
"You're no fun.", Chiyo pouted. To get a reaction out of him, she poked his side. When she saw she was being ignored, she poked him faster and harder on the same spot.
"Quit being a pest, would you?", he said, getting annoyed.
"Nope", she replied.
He looked down at her and gave a calm but cold stare. Used to his behaviors, she simply ignored him and continued to poke his side. He caught her hand and bent her index finger with just the right amount of force to cause just the right amount of pain.
"S-stop, it hurts", she whimpered. He simply ignored her and continued to bend her finger. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Gomen'nasai!"
Toshirou let go of her hand and she quickly pulled it back, massaging her tortured finger. Chiyo pouted at him, he responded by sticking out his tongue at her.
"Hmph!", she looked away from him with folded arms.
"Much better", he comments. He looked at the clock on the opposite side of the hallway and back at Chiyo, who was massaging her poor finger.
With an exhale. "I'm going to get us something to drink. Call me if Sensei is done." He simply said and walked away.
"Sure...", Chiyo replies, "but wai-". There was no one there. He was already gone.
...
He inserted the coin into the vending machine. A few seconds later, two canned sodas dropped from the glass. He squatted to take them from it.
"Aosaki-kun", a feminine voice called to him.
Rotten luck. He groaned, recognizing the voice and visibly not in the mood to deal with any of her headaches.
"Yes, Taichou".
The class president of class 2-A, pretty, smart, intelligent and strict. Many of the boys in class 2-A admire her but can't approach her because of her serious and no-nonsense nature.
"I-I want to speak with you", she said, folding her arms under her chest, trying to make it seem bigger than its actual size.
"We're talking right now, ain't we?", he stood up with the drinks in hand.
The president turned a bit red, seeing him loom over her 5 foot 5 with those sparkling blue eyes and expressionless face. She took a nervous breath and said plainly, "I want to go out with you".
"We are outside right now", he said.
She realized she would have to be more specific.
"I mean I like you, like a lot and I humbly request that you go out on a date with me", she said.
That's not humble at all, he sweatdropped.
"I'm really flattered and all but, I can't go out with you.", he said.
Straight to the point.
The class president sighed, "I figured as much. Though it really hurts being told upfront". She clutched the hem of her blazer with her hands and Toshirou could only look at her with expressionless eyes.
"Is it because of Arisugawa-san?". She asked with her head bent low. A cool summer breeze blew past them, in total agreement with the evening sky.
"No, it's not.", he said. He walked a few steps and leaned his back on the wall. His stared at the drinks in his hands and sighed, before looking upwards at the evening sunset.
"I don't have feelings for Chiyo. She's just... a childhood friend and my best and only one, I guess. I... I'm not good enough for her, or any girl in particular."
"That's not true. You're-"
"Just stop. I'm not what you think I am. What exactly do any of you know about me."
The president was quiet.
"I'm not some stupid shoujo protagonist, I know I've got the looks, the brains but that's not just good enough. Going out with any girl will only make her miserable and hurt. I, I can't put any girl through that, and especially not Chiyo. And that's why,", he shifted his gaze to her. His blue orbs boring into her brown ones. "I have no intention of being a boyfriend anytime soon."
Silence etched into the air. A gentle wind passed again making the class president tighten her blazer on her body.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't know you felt that way." She said, with a small frown on her face, guilt creeping into her heart.
Toshirou tore his gaze from her and stood up straight. His features softened at her actions. He took a firm hold of the drinks in his hands and walked over to her.
"You're a great person Shiori. Any guy would be honored to go out with you. Give Okinawa a chance, he's certainly someone that'll make you happy. That, I'm certain of." He whispered in her ear before walking past her, leaving her in a surprised state. She snapped out of it and shouted after him as he walked away, "You'll find someone too, Aosaki-kun! I know it!!".
He stopped for a brief second and continued on his way.
...
"Oh good, he's here. I was just about to call you." Chiyo said.
"I should've expected you won't wait here." Takezawa-sensei sighed, putting her resting her hand on her forehead.
"I ran into someone. Sorry about that." Toshirou said, walking over to them. He gave both Chiyo and Takezawa-sensei a drink and took one himself.
"Arigotou.", they said to him.
"Nandemonai", he replied.
"Now that we're all here, let's get moving."
...
"Arigatou, Sensei!!", both teens bowed slightly.
"You're welcome, and say hello to your parents for me, alright?"
"Will do", Chiyo replied.
"I'll see the both of you tomorrow. And Aosaki," the boy looked at her, "don't be too hard on yourself."Misaki said from the car.
"Hai", he replied.
The teacher smiled at them both and drove off from the neighborhood. "I'll walk you to your house." Toshirou said, taking her school bag from her and slung it over his shoulder.
"To-Toshirou-kun", she stuttered. "It's okay, you don't have to hold it for me."
"It's fine. Just enjoy the stroll", he replied. She thought on it for a couple of seconds. Knowing Toshirou, he certainly won't give her her bag till they arrive home. In the end, she agreed and both walked to her house in a comfortable silence.
"Takezawa-sensei is a really good person, isn't she?", Chiyo asked, swinging her arms back and forth in a carefree manner. "She's alright, I guess." Toshirou replied nonchalantly.
Chiyo sighs. "Sensei deserves more than 'She's alright'. She's done so much for you and I and you know it."
Toshirou shifted his gaze to her before shifting it back to the road ahead of him. "Well I can't say you're wrong." He said.
"I just wish you'd show more gratitude to Sensei." Chiyo looks up at him.
"Sorry", he replies, still staring straight ahead.
The neighborhood was peaceful and quiet. With the evening sun and cool breeze, the scenery was beautiful and offered a sense of peace to oneself. Occasionally, little kids would run past them with friends or siblings, each going to their various homes. The two teens kept a steady pace as they approached nearer and nearer to Chiyo's house.
He looks down at her, as if expecting her to say something. He turns out to be correct, as he sees her biting her lower lip and struggling with herself on whether to speak or not.
"Ne Toshirou-kun." She said.
"Hm?"
"Is it true?" She shook her head like it was the wrong question. "I mean to ask, what do think of me?"
Hearing this question, he stopped walking. There was no doubt about it, she heard.
"Isn't it obvious?", Toshirou asked. "You're my best friend."
Chiyo stops as well and gazes at the ground. Her hair covers her eyes as a moment of silence passes between the two.
"Can I... No. Is it still possible for you to see me as something more?", she asks.
"Chiyo," He says softly, "I can't, I'm sorry."
"Naze?! Aren't I good enough?! Is it something I did! Is it that I'm not great enough for you?!", She sniffed trying to control herself, small tears pricking out of her eyes.
"She's not just a lowly human."
Toshirou's eyes widened and he quickly enveloped her in a warm hug. He held her tightly to himself and refused to let her go.
"Don't say that. Don't you ever say that." He whispers to her. "I'm the one that's not good enough for you. You've always cared for me, helped me, cherished me, and I don't think I could ever repay you for the things you've done for me. You're special to me, Chiyo, and the thought of hurting you, I just can't bear it." Toshirou says to her.
In the middle of the road, only the two teens stood there, holding onto each other, with one sobbing and the other stroking her back, trying to comfort her.
"I really love you, Toshirou-kun." Chiyo sobbed.
"I love ***** and I want to live the remaining of my days with her"
"I know, and I'm sorry I can't do the same. I really am." He spoke softly. "I hope you'll find someone else, someone who'll love you and everything about you."
"I am willing to do anything to be together with her including becoming human!"
She sniffed and wiped her tears. She looks up to him and gives him a watery smile. I hope you do too, she says mentally to him.
"Let's go home, Chiyo." She nods and pulls herself away from him. She slipped her hand in his and walked along with him. Even if he doesn't feel the same way, he'll still always be my best friend. She says to herself and squeezes his hand softly.
...
"Thanks for walking me home." Chiyo says, letting go of his hand and taking her bag from him.
"It's nothing really.", Toshirou replied.
The two said nothing for a couple of minutes.
"Nothing will change between us right?" Toshirou surprisingly asks first. She gives him a bright smile.
"Of course." She replied. "Now get out of here before Tou-san comes to the door."
"Tch! That old man has got nothin on me." Toshirou replied.
"Ho?! Which old man?" A deep voice came from inside. A large man, with black hair and brown eyes opened the door and stood in front of the house. He had a thin black beard and a thin moustache to match.
"Taidaima Tou-san." Chiyo said to him.
"And how is my little princess", her father replied and drew her in a hug. Chiyo giggled but received the hug nonetheless.
"And I'll be taking my leave, thank you.", Toshirou turned around and began to walk away. A strong arm grabs his shoulder.
"So who's an old man, huh Toshirou?" Chiyo's father asked, tightening his hold on him.
"You've got some nerve holding me like that old man.", Toshirou replied, looking at him from the corner of his eyes.
"Is that so?" The pressure of the hold increased again.
"Stop fighting the both of you.", Chiyo said, making both men to calm down at hearing her voice.
"You kids really are a handful", the man said, rubbing the back of his head.
Like I haven't heard that today. "But seriously, I'll be taking my leave. Kaa-chan would be getting worried since it's late.", Toshirou said.
"Okay. See you tomorrow Toshirou-kun." Chiyo waves after him to which he responded by waving back.
"And tell Kurenai-chan hello for me!" Chiyo's dad shouted.
"Forget it Oyaji!" Toshirou shouts back.
Father and daughter watched him leave till he faded away from their sight.