Chapter 2: Fellow Educators
Chiba Prefecture, situated in the southeastern part of Japan's Kanto Plain, serves as a vital artery of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area—one of the three largest metropolitan hubs in the country.
Nestled on the eastern side of the capital, its geography is defined by the sweeping Kanto Plain to the north and the Boso Peninsula stretching across the center and south. It's a long, sprawling peninsula, extending roughly 96 kilometers from east to west and 129 kilometers from north to south.
The prefecture faces the vast Pacific Ocean to the southeast, borders Tokyo Bay to the west, and connects with Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture to the northwest, while Ibaraki Prefecture sits directly to its north.
In terms of landmass, it ranks 28th in Japan—larger than Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture combined. Population-wise, it stands proud at 6th place nationwide.
Chiba is home to Narita International Airport, the massive Makuhari Messe international convention center, Tokyo Disneyland, the sprawling "LaLaport" shopping malls, and Mitsui Outlet Park, among other landmarks. It's a region that boasts some of Japan's most significant developmental achievements, yet remains one of the few prefectures that balances industry with thriving agriculture and fishing sectors.
...
Shizuka Hiratsuka entertained the fleeting thought that she might have had one too many drinks. Then again, she hadn't actually downed that many glasses the night before; she'd cut the night short and left early because of the torrential downpour.
Regardless, her blind date had been another spectacular failure. Not that it mattered—she was getting used to it by now.
Between the alcohol and the heavy rain, she had opted not to drive and instead borrowed an umbrella. Her plan was to take a quiet shortcut to get home faster, but she hadn't expected to stumble upon a man sitting right in the middle of the deluge.
He was just sitting there in the rain, head tilted back toward the heavens, letting the water batter his face. It wasn't even clear if his eyes were open or shut.
'They have to be closed, right?' she thought. 'If not, rain this heavy would probably blind the guy.'
The moment she laid eyes on him, Shizuka felt a strange sensation. It was as if the man was completely out of sync with the world around him. Then came the loneliness—anyone seeing a grown man sitting in the pouring rain with his face turned skyward would naturally think of solitude and despair.
But the man a few meters ahead of her seemed to embody something even worse.
He looked as though he were waiting for death, accepting the raging storm as his final pleasure before the end.
For some reason, the word "pitiful" flashed through Shizuka's mind, a realization that left her feeling unsettled.
The curtain of rain was so thick that her vision was blurred, making the distance between them feel hazy and surreal.
In a situation like this, anyone with a shred of conscience would check on him. Shizuka walked until she was barely two meters away and shouted. She didn't bother hiding her annoyance—after all, she could have been home right now, comfortably reading manga.
At that moment, the man's head snapped toward her.
'He's alive. Thank god.'
The thought flickered through her mind. When he didn't answer, she asked again, pulling out her phone to call for an ambulance. However, the hospital informed her that they were short on units and requested she bring the patient in herself.
To be fair, rain this intense was a first in Shizuka's memory. Many areas were likely facing emergencies, and ambulances were being diverted there. Still, she couldn't help but feel irritated.
Tucking her phone away, she moved to ask about his condition once more, but the man simply slumped over into the water.
She rushed to his side and checked his breathing. He was alive, but his pulse was thready and weak. His forehead was burning—a clear sign of a high fever.
The roar of the downpour drowned out everything else.
Having no other choice, and muttering words like "troublesome" and "just my luck," Shizuka hoisted the man onto her back and began to run toward the hospital. It was only after she picked him up that she noticed three deep gashes on his body, still oozing blood. Washed clean by the rain, the wounds had turned a ghostly, pale white...
Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors performed emergency treatment. Afterward, the physician told Shizuka that the timing had been a miracle. If he had arrived thirty minutes later, he would have been a dead man. Furthermore, the wounds appeared to be caused by some kind of sharp weapon. The doctor suggested she get the story straight and notify the police...
The doctor gave Shizuka a subtle warning and noted that they hadn't found anything on the man to prove his identity. His pockets were cleaner than his face...
...
"...And that's how it happened. So, Mr. Sitting-in-the-Rain, care to explain your situation?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka stood with her back to the window, watching the man leaning against the hospital bed. Her current mood was anything but pleasant. Not only had she failed her blind date, missed out on a good drink, and failed to read her manga, but the most irritating part was that she had watched over this man for an entire night. A whole night!
She'd even footed the bill for the emergency and hospitalization costs.
Still, the guy's physical resilience was impressive. Given the state he was in yesterday, he was already awake today, even sitting up and talking to her.
He looked to be about twenty-four or twenty-five—not too old, but devoid of any teenage innocence. The most striking thing about him was his aura; it was incredibly unique, hard to describe... almost like a mist.
At first glance, his appearance seemed ordinary, but the more you looked, the more striking he became. He was the type of person who lingered in your memory.
After hearing Shizuka's explanation, Akishin nodded with sincere gratitude. "Miss Hiratsuka, I'm truly thankful to you for saving me. As for my situation..."
Noticing Shizuka's wary gaze, Akishin managed a smile. "My name is Akishin..." He paused for a beat before adding, "Akishin Chishima! I was passing through that area when I was mugged. They stabbed me a few times. I honestly thought I was a goner... Thank you again, Miss Hiratsuka, for saving my life."
Shizuka waved her hand dismissively, though her eyes remained fixed on him as if trying to see right through him. She knew this man was bad news—ordinary people didn't talk about being mugged and stabbed with such detachment, as if they were retelling someone else's story. Moreover, despite knowing he was a hair's breadth away from death, he remained unnervingly calm.
'If this guy doesn't have a screw loose, then he... has a screw loose!'
Shizuka reached her conclusion and then said to him, "Akishin Chishima, I'll just call you Mr. Chishima then! You don't mind if I make a quick call, do you?"
The room was a small private unit. When Shizuka had brought Akishin in, several other casualties from the storm had arrived simultaneously. The general wards were full, forcing her to book a private room.
It was ridiculously expensive. This guy Chishima better pay her back.
"Of course, please, do as you like."
While Shizuka observed Akishin, he was busy returning the favor.
Long, straight black hair, black irises, and an oval face. Just as he'd thought yesterday, she was a strikingly beautiful woman. She wore a long coat reminiscent of lab staff over a professional woman's suit. On her feet were a pair of brand-new pink bunny slippers—likely because her shoes had been soaked through yesterday, forcing a temporary purchase.
Her aura carried a certain fierceness—a "gallant" quality that set her apart from most women. Her tone with him wasn't exactly mean, but it was flat and businesslike.
Normally, if someone talks to you with a smile, you're supposed to smile back, but Shizuka Hiratsuka didn't seem to care at all about what Akishin thought.
Akishin didn't mind. In fact, he felt this was more grounded in reality. Shizuka might have some personality quirks, but she was undoubtedly a good person.
An ordinary person might have helped, but few would have gone to this much trouble. Shizuka hadn't just paid his medical bills; she had stayed by his side all night.
'She's quite a remarkable woman!'
Akishin made his mental assessment. He couldn't quite pinpoint what made her so remarkable yet, but the feeling was there.
It takes a certain kind of resolve to help someone that deeply.
Akishin realized he was paying an unusual amount of attention to her—something he had never done before. He understood that Shizuka Hiratsuka had left a profound impression on his heart, far more than any woman he had met before...
More importantly, she had saved his life. That was a debt that had to be repaid.
On the other side of the room, Shizuka finished her call and gave a little wave with her phone. "I've called the police station. They'll be coming by later to ask about your situation. Since you were robbed, make sure you explain everything clearly to them."
As she spoke, she watched his expression. If Akishin showed a hint of anger or panic, she was ready to take him down immediately.
She had the confidence to neutralize an opponent in two moves flat.
Akishin simply nodded. "Understood. I'll explain everything to the officers."
Obedient.jpg.
This actually left Shizuka a bit stumped. She opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, and waved him off. "Fine, that's that. Since you're awake, I'm leaving. I have work."
She had already used her connections with a close friend to pull a half-day's leave from school. She had to be back by the afternoon.
"Wait a moment, Miss Hiratsuka," Akishin called out.
"What now?"
"Miss Hiratsuka, could you leave your Line... I mean, your contact info? I'd like to pay you back for the medical expenses later."
"Fair point."
Shizuka thought for a moment, her hand sliding into her pocket and instinctively pulling out a pack of cigarettes. She paused, shoved them back in, and produced a pen instead. As a teacher, she always had one on hand.
After handing a slip of paper with her number on it to Akishin, she said, "I'm a teacher at Sobu High in Chiba. Just come find me at the school later."
"Miss Hiratsuka, you're a teacher too!"
Akishin was taken aback, then let out a small smile.
Shizuka stared at him, confused. "What do you mean by 'too'?"
Akishin pointed to himself. "Because I'm also a teacher. P.E. teacher."
"You're a teacher???"
Shizuka's expression shifted to one of mild surprise, followed by a sense of relief. Teachers held a fairly high social standing in Japan. Generally speaking, those who could become teachers were considered decent people.
"Which school are you from?"
Akishin smiled. "I was at Sanyo High."
"Sanyo High?" Shizuka pondered for a second. "Didn't that school just close down?"
"Yes." Akishin gave a faint smile. "So, I've been transferred to Sobu High. I just haven't reported for duty yet. So, it's a pleasure to meet you, Hiratsuka-sensei. It looks like we'll be colleagues in the near future."
Shizuka smiled back, extending her hand for a brief shake. "Pleasure to meet you too, Chishima-sensei."
Akishin's acting was solid. After all, an assassin needs a good cover in many situations...
After a few more words, Shizuka prepared to leave. Akishin asked one last question: "Hiratsuka-sensei, you're just leaving like that? Aren't you afraid I'll run away and stiff you on the medical bill?"
"Doesn't matter. I already spoke with the hospital staff; they'll keep an eye on you. Besides, I'll be back this afternoon. You're stuck here for at least a week. Now that I know you're a new hire at our school, I'm even less worried. Nobody is going to throw away a teaching career over a few hospital bills." Shizuka couldn't care less.
In Japan, the annual salary for a public school teacher is around 6 million Yen. In private schools, it can hit upwards of 9 million. That's a monthly income of 500,000 to 800,000 Yen. If you worked at an imperial university, that number could double.
Moreover, teachers were public servants—stable jobs with high social status.
Shizuka opened the door, gave Akishin one last look, and walked away slowly, thinking to herself: Akishin Chishima? A new teacher at Sobu High? I'll check on that once I get back.
She was still suspicious of him, mostly because he was just too calm.
She hoped her gut was wrong and he was just an ordinary guy. She hated trouble—especially the kind that didn't make sense.
Once Shizuka was gone, Akishin looked around the clean, tidy private room and murmured with a smile, "Shizuka... Hiratsuka, huh."
Shaking his head with a grin, Akishin lay back down and summoned the "Patch." The [Dying] status next to his name had officially changed to [Weakened].
"A new life... has truly begun."
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