“I...”
“Go home now!”
She was like a scared cat. Really. I could only see her skirt flash. What a little jerk. I closed the door and went upstairs to my room. I had to change and finally take a shower.
Shower, meditation, breakfast, and now I was on my way to school. Closing the door, I noticed the cat that sat on my fence every morning. He just froze there in the sphinx pose with his head tilted back. It created the impression that he was perplexed. As if one of the thousands of mice caught by him had suddenly spoken to him with a human voice. And the reason for this was a girl's face, peering into my yard through the fence. All I could see was the top of her head, her eyes and nose. The offended eyes and pretty little nose of one stubborn girl.
“Good morning, rascal,” I scratched the cat behind his ear.
He didn't let Shina do this, which fueled my ego.
“Are you shocked too?” I nodded to Mizuki and petted the cat’s back. “Yup, I know. Weird, isn't she?”
“I'm not weird!” Came from the other side of the fence. Inu didn't let Mizuki touch him at all. As Herr Schmidt says, “The bottom step of evolution. Below is just prey.”
“Shinji,” somebody said halfway to school. “Why are you so mean?”
“I'm not mean—it's you who's pushing it. You're used to getting away with everything you do and not being turned down, so now you're pestering good people.”
“You're wrong, Shinji. I'm a good girl, nya.”
“Go to the demons with your 'nya'. I'm not gonna fall for that.”
Having been twenty paces behind me before, Mizuki now was so brave that she came up to me and started to nag me again.
She left me alone only when there was about fifty feet left before we reached the school building. Looking at me with her sad eyes, this brat sped up her walk and skipped to the main building.
“Still sweating it?” Rydon asked, referring to Mizuki.
“The girl just doesn't understand that if I agree under this pressure, her life will turn into hell,” I replied.
“So maybe let her? That's what she's asking for anyway.”
“I do not have time for this, Rydon. I don't even have time to do my homework.”
“Wow, you are busy,” the guy said in surprise. “Well, sacrifice a couple of hours of sleep, then she certainly will get the point. Who wants to train at night?”
“Who said that I sleep at all?” I glanced at him gloomily.
“Eh...”
I thought about going home after the first class. I even started packing my things. But my plan didn’t work.
“If you think that your constant skipping will not be noticed, you are very wrong,” the leader of the class came up to me.
“Umm...” I stood there with a book in my hand. “What's gonna happen?”
“Your parents could be called to the school.”
“Ha, find them first,” I finally threw the book into my bag.
“You may be expelled for having too many absences,” the girl didn't give up.
“And who's going to tell on me?”
“Of course, they can't exclude you right away,” she retorted. “But do you need unnecessary problems? Conversations with the school counselor, assistant principal, and even the Principal himself.
“I don't believe it,” I said, zipping my bag.
“Why do you come to school? Don't you understand that knowledge is a vital necessity?”
Is she trying to hypnotize me?
“In the near future, my vital necessity is to squeeze more time out of the day,” I said, ready to take off.
“The nearest?” She thought for a moment, standing by the chair and not letting me get out from behind the desk. “And then what? Do these few hours a day justify the future reputation of a truant? A person who did not study, did not receive knowledge, which means that by default he's not intelligent?”
Weak basis, but it somehow makes sense. It was assumed by default that I would spend a lot of time studying at school. If I thought about it, my day was not that busy. Half the time, I sat in my chair, doing nothing. What I did have time to get done was already good enough. But I liked the class leader's responsibility. And if anything, I could always make an excuse that my stomach hurt and leave school. HERE, oddly enough, they let you go for such reasons.
Be honest with yourself, Max, you just don't feel like sitting in class, and everything else is just an excuse.
“Fine, that makes sense. I'll stay.”
“Really? I mean I'm so glad that you came to your senses.”
“My smarts can be seen in my grades, leader.”
“Yes,” she frowned slightly. “It's weird that you get good grades considering your passion for school.”
Having said this, she didn’t wait for my answer and went back to her desk.
Following her with my eyes, I thought that she was very good-looking. She was definitely aware of it, but still took this job, which made her less sweet. Goody-two-shoes, damn her.
My mood improved over the next recess as I got excited from thinking about my profits from the silver we had taken and how I could spend my newly acquired money. This nirvana was interrupted by a pat on the shoulder, making me look back. Before me, I saw Toyotomi Ken.
“Hello,” he said, smiling.
“What's up,” I replied. “Any problems?”
What would you think if you were me? Why would he come back? The club was the only thing that bound us, and outside of it, there was no sense in approaching me.
“I'm bored,” I heard the answer.
I felt what is usually called stupor. I had absolutely no idea how to react to his words. Should I laugh, complain, be surprised, angry? What did he want from me?
“So? Why is that my problem?”
“You're the head of the club. Come up with something.”
For a moment, I even thought it was a variation on the joke about education, but only for a moment. I just stared blankly at this nerd, not knowing what to answer.
“That's a good joke,” I finally answered. “But seriously?”
“I'm serious,” Ken sighed. “I'm bored. The thing that held the other guys and me from joining other clubs is on pause for a while. Now we have too much time on our hands. So why don't we do something for the club? We think our idea is really cool. Perhaps, you could tell us where to start. You seem to know a thing or two about it.”
“Why do you think so?” I expressed my surprise.
“The way you confused that girl.”
“Heh, apparently not just the girl,” I grinned. “Read Nitto Populus. He writes very well. He's a former spy.”
“Damn it, Sakurai-kun, we can find books to read on our own. Do you have any guides or reference materials in mind?”
“Populus writes very well. Give it a try. You'll like him. If you are seriously interested in this topic. After that, we can move on to reference guides. Don't you sigh at me. First, give the book a try.”
“So you do know something about this?” He smiled slyly.
“No,” I grinned once again. “But if anyone is approached with the question about what the club does, that would be me. So I had to do some research.”
“Oh, I see,” he drawled. “Okay, I'll check out the book. Perhaps you are right. We are quick readers though. Just saying.”
Is this blackmail?
“Is that right?”
“Eh, I mean... Don't get me wrong,” apparently, he heard some unfriendly notes in my voice. “Okay... well, maybe you can recommend something else?”
“Toyotomi-kun, I don't have to recommend you anything. Did you forget the reason for founding the club?”
“Never mind,” he raised his hands. “Don't think that I'm insisting on anything. It's just... ah, well. Populus then. I'm gonna go. Good luck.”
“Same to you.”
After I watched him leave, I turned to Rydon to share my indignation. Just as during the first recess, he was busy drawing som
ething enthusiastically in his thick notebook. My curiosity flared up, but faded really fast. I just didn't feel like asking.
During lunch, just as Rydon and I were going to eat, I was electrocuted. Just imagine: you and your friend are walking down the hallway, looking forward to a hearty meal, and, all of a sudden, some messed-up strange girl approaches you and shocks you with a Taser. I was so surprised, I forgot to fall down and pretend to have wild convulsions.
“What the hell are you doing?” looking at Rydon I realized I wasn’t the only one shocked.
In her amazement to my reaction, the girl poked me with her evil device twice more. I didn’t forget to jerk this time, thinking that it wouldn't look right if I fell down after withstanding the first electrocution.
“Hey!” Rydon interjected. “Hey!”
“Would you stop poking me with this stupid gadget?” I dodged another attempt of hers to get me.
“Kya!” The girl escaped from me with a howl.
She made it look like I was the one to blame for the confrontation.
“Can someone tell me what that was about?” I asked the question, but no one seemed to care, so I didn't hear an answer.
Sitting with our regular crew during lunch, I kept looking at Mineh, trying to figure out what it was all about. The only thing that came to mind was that the girl had tried to play a dirty trick on me once again. As usual, using someone else to do that for her. It made no sense to me. But this time, it seemed she had no idea about what had happened.
“Why are you staring at me, pervert?”
“Did you hear that, Rydon?” I got wound up. “Like it or not, but I was right about the ones who are real perverts.”
“Who?” Shina asked.
“Girls. Girls are the biggest perverts. Not a single person can understand what’s on their mind.”
Shina was digesting what I had just said. Mineh put on a grave look. Aniko just smiled enigmatically.
“We are perverted?!” This stinker wouldn't settle down.
“So we are not people in your opinion?” Exclaimed Shina.
“...” Aniko continued to smile.
“Next time you ask me for more tea, kid, you’re really gonna get it,” the brunette muttered.
“No offense, Koyama-san,” Rydon noted, “but what you have on your mind truly is difficult to understand.”
“But with you guys, it's all very clear,” she said in a mocking voice.
“Yep, it is,” I finished.
“Listen,” Teijo spoke up, “is it true that on your way here, you were electrocuted by some crazy girl?” With three questioning glances pinned on him, he continued with a degree of uncertainty, “Rydon told me when we were in line.” Then he added even quieter, “A Taser, heh?”
After his words, everyone locked onto me. It seemed like Mineh had had nothing to do with it. Shina and Aniko's faces expressed rigor and quests, while Mineh’s look was purely curious.
“That's why I say, only gods know what you, women, have on your mind,” I had to say something.
“Do you know this girl?” Asked Shina. “What grade is she in? Come on, kid, come clean. What did you do to her?” That was her way of joking. “Is it Ishikawa?”
Maybe she wasn’t joking.
“How many times did she shock you?” Mineh got involved.
Okay, it's clear enough.
“Leave me alone. I have no idea who she was,” I said, returning to the bento.
“Like five times,” I heard Rydon say.
Well, thank you, friend.
“I have no idea who she was either,” he continued. “I don't think it's anything serious. It's odd, but not dangerous.”
I hope so, Rydon. I'll trust your aristocratic opinion.
“Five times?” Mineh asked.
“Yes, I was amazed. She kept poking the Taser at him, and he just startled. You should have seen it!”
“You should probably go to the nurse, Shinji?” Aniko finally said.
“It's all good,” I smiled at her. “It must have been a prank. The Taser might have been broken, too. I wouldn't be able to stand on my feet after being electrocuted five times.”
“I believe in you, kid,” Shina snorted. “You'd have been fine.”
Oh, you've never been shocked with a Taser, home girl.
“This is flattering, of course, but ... okay, never mind. Let's not talk about it.”
“As you say, Shinji,” said Aniko.
I was grateful. She was the first to respond. After her words, the others would not say anything. If it were Mineh or even the guys, it'd be different.
The next ten minutes everything was nice and quiet. We had a delicious lunch and talked about nothing in particular. Just then Mizuki-monster found me again.
“Hello everyone,” Mizuki greeted us. “Shinji! Is it true that you are one of the best students in the class?”
Phew. Actually, what's this about? Why does she need to know?
“Well... yes,” I answered cautiously because it was stupid to deny. “Somewhat.”
“Shinji, maybe you can help me with physics, huh? Plea-ea-ase,” she stood in front of me with her hands clasped on her chest and puppy eyes shining.
God help me!
***
“What, five times?” Asked Akeno, picking out food from the table and snapping his chopsticks. “And he just startled?”
Having not yet decided what to try, he grabbed a deep-fried shrimp from under the nose of his youngest daughter.
“Da-a-ad!”
“Hehe.”
“Mo-o-om!”
“Dear!”
“Shh. There are plenty of them here.”
“Based on what Okhayashi has said,” Shina answered, “it was five times. Shinji didn't correct him, and you know how he doesn't like to lie.”
“I take it that the girl's identity is unknown.”
“That's right, grandpa. These two didn't even try to find out,” Shina said, nodding to her own words.
“Five times 'ho-ho'. Mizuki, be so kind, please hand me the shrimp.”
“Grandpa!”
“Well, you're not eating them anyway...”
“Mom!”
“Kenta-san.”
“Ho-ho, ho-oh-oh... Mmm, okay. What did the young Okhayashi say about all this?”
“She suggested he go to the nurse,” the girl shrugged in reply.
“That'd be a good idea. Who knows what could happen,” Kagami shook her head. “Mizuki, if you aren't eating your shrimp...”
“Mo-o-om!”
“...you don't have to hog the plate.”
“Dad! Grandpa! Traitors,” she muttered, reluctantly pushing the shrimp back to the center of the table. “Maybe I wanted to...” she was grimly watching the shrimp go first to her father, then to her grandfather. “Ah, never mind.”
“Ho-ho.”
***
“... and he just startled. Can you imagine?” Rydon made a helpless gesture to demonstrate his confusion.
“Rydon, watch your arms,” Aniko said.
That evening the Okhayashi family had dinner at the same table. It's not that Aniko didn't like such evenings, not at all, but watching over everyone at once was still somewhat tedious.
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“Are you sure no one knows that girl?” Asked the head of the family. “Try to remember, son, have you met her before?”
“Ami, stop biting your chopsticks.”
“Sorry, Aniko,” the blue-haired girl glanced at her sister.
“No, Dad, I've never seen her before. This was definitely the first time I saw her. Personally, I think that this is just someone's lame joke.”
“You never know,” Okhayashi Dai rubbed his chin, “but nevertheless, I agree with you.”
“Dad, you have not eaten a single bite yet,” the senior princess of the clan said with condemnation. “It's not worthy of the head of the clan to run all evening to the kitchen for leftovers.”
“Heh, when
did I... And what are the servants for? Okay, okay, I'm eating. See?”
“Hmm, tell me, brother,” Sean said.
“Hikaru, you inconvenience not only yourself but others too with your stick,” Aniko said when the second son of the head of the clan accidentally hit Rydon with his sword.
“What stick, woman, it's a sword!”
“During dinner, and not only then, every sword should be in its place. It should be standing on a specially-made stand. Otherwise, it’s just a stick behind your back.”
“If you'd understand...”
“Hikaru.”
“Well, I'm not going all the way back to...”
“Hi-ka-ru.”
“Ahhh, damn it. What kind of sister are you, huh?” Asked the guy, who then rose from behind the table and walked away to put the “stick” away.
“I'm sorry for interrupting, Sean,” the girl smiled apologetically. Shaking her head, she finished, “It's never-ending.”
“It's fine. It’s all right. Ahem. So, Ray, try to remember, did Shinji startle the very first time?”
“Um… I think so,” he thought for a while and then jumped up. “No! He didn't! But… So it turns out that...”
“Yeah,” this time the head of the clan shook his head. “After all, it’s the “armor of the spirit.”
“Oh, that's nonsense,” Rydon said hesitantly. “I would have noticed.”
“Are you constantly watching Bahir flow?” Sneered Sean.
“No, but... Yes, you're right. That's dumb. But why would he? Why would he hide his strength, I mean?”
“Who knows?” Said Dai. “He must have his reasons. But now we can be eighty percent sure that the guy has the rank of a Master.”
“Cool!” Ami exclaimed. “Let me marry him!”
“Ami!” Aniko said a little louder than she wanted. “Let the older family members discuss such questions.”
“What a mercantile girl,” the head of the clan laughed. “No, dear daughter, I'm afraid you won’t have enough time to marry him.”
“As always,” the girl began to grumble. “Everything bad happens to me because of my age.”
“Don't worry. We'll find a decent spouse for you,” the man said, smiling.
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