Just prior to
lunch break two days later the planned event went into action. Noriko
wanted to make certain it went down to legend as well.
She slid open
one of the doors to 7:2 while the class was still in session. What
she was about to do should normally have guaranteed her a suspension,
but this time the entire teaching staff knew what was about to happen
beforehand, and with Principal Nakagawa's blessing things were about
to explode.
It came at a
personal price for her, but not one she found unacceptable.
“Sensei, I
have an errand here,” she said.
He nodded and
walked to the windows.
There were
surprised gasps from the class.
Noriko walked
up to the blackboard and faced the students. Nao-sempai rose from his
seat. This was the agreed upon compromise to make certain he got off
the hook as well.
“Noriko-chan,
what a pleasant surprise,” he said as planned.
Her heart beat
faster even though she knew what was coming. It wasn't just an act
from his side, because he was truly aghast that his open interest in
her had made her a target. She had to admire his bravery for coming
up with this part of the madness.
You've been
nothing but kind to me even though you know how I feel for Urufu,
she thought, but it was time to repay his kindness with nothing but
hard words once again. “Nao-sempai, you owe me for these,” Noriko
said and dug up her slashed shoes from her bag and placed them on the
teacher's desk. She waited for him to walk to her with a new pair and
publicly give her the apology he never really owed her in the first
place.
As he started
walking the other door slid open as well. Noriko saw Yukio enter
right on cue. Behind him students started filing inside, just as they
did through the door from which she had entered.
Sixty
students, including one of the third years who had assaulted Kuri.
Principal Nakagawa had been adamant that she would take part, and
both Kuri and Urufu agreed for some reason.
Noriko watched
the stunned students in 7:2 twist and turn as their classroom was
invaded. They stared at their teacher for help but none was coming.
He just stared out the windows as if nothing untoward had happened.
Nao-sempai
stood in front of her with her new shoes in his hands.
I don't
want to do this any more. I know it's your idea and all, but you'll
be the one hurt anyway. Noriko looked at him and forced down the
tears that threatened to well up in her eyes. I have the best
friends in the world. Do I really deserve you all? Suddenly her
plan didn't seem so smart any longer.
Down, she had
to look down on him when he suddenly prostrated himself on the floor
with her shoes in his outstretched hands. That hadn't been part of
the plan.
What are
you doing? Not like this!
There were
giggles, gasps and angry growls bouncing around in the classroom.
“My
princess,” Nao-sempai began, and Noriko choked down a sob. “I
humbly apologise for giving you grief. Please accept these as a small
recompense for what I have cost you!”
Noriko had to
get this over with as fast as possible. She had never wanted him to
go this far. She quickly went to her knees, and as she did she heard
Kuri draw for breath behind her.
“I accept
your apology,” Noriko said. She choked down her emotions and took
the shoes. Please stand up!
He rose to his
knees and looked at her. “I have caused you pain when I wanted you
to feel joy. I gave you grief when I wanted to give you my heart.”
He stood and faced his class. “I love this girl, but her heart lies
elsewhere. I want to go out with her but she already rejected me. If
any of you hurt her you'll answer to me.”
There was no
stopping the tears now. Noriko watched his back as he walked back to
his desk. He was all blurry through her tears. Why did you have to
go this far?
“Now if
there are still some morons in this class...” Yukio began from the
back of the classroom, just as they had planned it all along, but
Noriko felt Kuri's hands on her shoulders, and through them she could
feel how Kuri fervently shook her head.
Yukio fell
silent.
What's
going on? Noriko thought and wiped the tears from her eyes with
her sleeve.
“Noriko, you
have to answer him. Are you going to accept this?” Kuri said from
behind her.
“Am I going
to accept what?” Noriko looked at Nao-sempai. He sat by his desk
again and gave her a smile filled with sadness... and hope?
“Am I going to accept what Kuri?”
The hands on
her shoulder tightened. “Look inside your shoes stupid!”
What?
Noriko did as she had been told. “What!”
A pair of
earrings, one in each shoe glimmered and glittered in the light. Two
hearts with a white stone set in one and a red in the other. She took
them out. They felt heavy in her hand. “Nao-sempai,” she said and
looked across the classroom. “I can't… I couldn't possibly...”
I can't hurt him any more. I won't! “I won't accept these
without knowing why I would deserve such a gift.” What am I
saying?
He rose again.
“I think you know, but just leave them on my desk if you don't want
them,” he said and walked for the door. She just had time to see
his eyes shift with disappointment.
Is he
crying?
A low murmur
of surprise rose in the classroom. The earrings were large enough for
all students to see what she had been given.
Just as he
passed her Noriko's hands acted on their own. She reached out and
pulled at the back of his shirt. He must have felt the tug, because
he turned and looked at her. His eyes glimmered just like the
earrings.
He's
crying. I'll make it work. I have to. “Nao-sempai, I like you.
Please go out with me!”
“Oh dear!”
her brother said from where he stood by the blackboard.
Even the
teacher turned and stared at the unexpected turn of events. She could
see his reflection in the doors. Then she saw nothing at all, because
her face was buried in Nao-sempai's shirt. His hands were on her back
and she could feel his fingers, long and graceful like the rest of
him.
Whatever
comment her brother made was drowned in the shouts filling the room.
What am I
doing? Noriko smiled through her tears. I promised I'd move
on. I'll make this work. She moved her arms and held the small of
his back. Nao-sempai was just too tall for her to reach any higher.
From the back
of the classroom she heard Yukio shouting for silence. The second
part of their plan was about to unfold, but she could just as well
listen to it while embracing. It would be less embarrassing that way.
“Class 1:1,”
Yukio said, and his voice was a mix of amusement and anger. “State
your errand!”
“I'm Okamoto
Akira. Anyone bullying Noriko-chan will answer to me.”
“Class 2:1.
State your errand!”
“I'm
Kimoshita Midori. Anyone bullying Noriko-chan will answer to me.”
“Class 3:1.
State your errand!”
Over half her
class had joined and the names kept rolling. “Anyone bullying
Noriko-chan will answer to us,” thundered through the classroom.
The implicit threat hadn't been lost on anyone.
The class
rolls kept coming, and when Yukio began calling up the second years
the mood had turned grim.
Nao-sempai
never let go of her, not even when he answered for 7:2.
When the
Suzuki third year finally answered the roll the class was thoroughly
subdued.
The teacher
looked at his class with open disgust in his eyes. “I think that
concludes the lesson. Class dismissed!”
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