Chapter five, 2017, defeat, segment eight

Rumours about the latest madness reached Ryu as he fought with his gakuran just outside Himekaizen Academy.

While the old style boys’ school uniform was still commonly seen in middle schools, Red Rose Hell had chosen the blazer long before he even reached the age for elementary school. A surprisingly modern approach for a school with such horrid ideals, he thought, but both his parents promised him Red Rose hadn’t always been that way.

He believed them. Himekaizen Academy turned into a hell hole with the mere change of headship.

Ryu put two fingers inside the high neck, but it didn’t give at all. He probably looked like an idiot, but the expulsions went into effect late enough for Irishima High to switch into their summer uniforms, so this was the first time he wore the full gakuran.

A belated photo session for the new students was the main reason, but most of the former Himekaizen students made an issue of being seen close to their old school in their new uniforms while on their way to the club. Said club by now officially recognised by Irishima High, including its old name.

So Ryu swore once more. Over the uniform or the latest news he wasn’t certain.

Wearing the heavy jacket was of course absurd now when June turned towards July, but the procession got the attention they wanted when they slowly walked s close to Himekaizen all that prevented them from trespassing onto their old school grounds was a thin debarkation of tarmac and gravel.

Ryu knew, but the others didn’t, that the scandalous police intervention, where they brought the principal of Himekaizen to a police station by force, that investigation had been killed as soon as it started.

Behind them, just moments earlier, police picked up the last of the foreign journalists who doggedly had stalked Himekaizen since spring. Spreading misleading news and damaging the Japanese government, was the reason.

Ryu could understand why they were removed. They put Japan to shame, even if in this case he had seen first hand what Kareyoshi was capable of.

Then he heard Urufu blow up in a fit of rage almost a block away, but even through the incoherent shouting he recognised Urufu’s signal when Kuri’s phone came alive a few metres across the street.

Stay away, she’s not your girlfriend any longer! Keep your hand off what’s mine!

And then, just as sudden, Kuri was a flurry of long legs rushing in Urufu’s direction. Her hair bloomed behind her and Ryu caught his breath watching her receding back vanishing up the street.

He noticed how a few Irishima High freshmen girls threw him glances he knew all too well and then gave Kuri jealous stares.

Once again Ryu put two fingers inside his collar, and once again it refused to give. He finally gave up and unbuttoned the jacket before folding it and putting it in his backpack. Whatever it was that felt like it lodged in his throat was still there, and because he knew it was all emotions he couldn’t even muster up the courage to pretend to spit it out.

The sound of the commotion came closer, and Ryu guessed it had taken a little longer than he expected to get his jacket out of the way.

“Passport, I just need my damned passport and I’m out of this shit hole!”

“You promised!”

“I promised nothing! Fine I did, but I don’t have a reason to keep that promise any longer, do I!”

Ryu heard months of pent up frustration and pain in Urufu’s voice.

“Ulf, you promised!”

“So what? I promised I’d stay with you and change this place, and so did you, but you broke that promise. Why should I keep mine?”

“Ulf, you promised!” Kuri’s voice was pleading now.

“Urufu, what did you promise?”

Ryu flinched when he heard his sister’s voice filled with so much love and concern it almost overflowed. I’ll never let him have you! You’re my sister!

Maybe Noriko could read his thoughts, maybe not, but no matter what she didn’t give them even a moments notice. “Urufu, tell us! What did she make you promise?”

Kuri gasped, and Ryu understood her. The question was a loaded gun.

Then he saw Tomasu-kun’s face, twisted into rage just like Urufu’s, and Ryu stopped to wonder what could possibly bring out so much hatred in the two men turned boys.

“What’s going on?” Ryu asked.

A Irishima High junior Ryu didn’t know by name answered. “Dad told me the diet made what’s happening at Himekaizen a government secret. It’s illegal to report about it.”

Ryu shrugged. Putting the lid on disturbing news before it hurt society only made sense. That was the reason responsible newspapers had a vetting process before allowing any articles that could potentially hurt the government. At least that was what they were taught in school.

“Did they fucking move the Soviet Union from Moscow to Tokyo?” Tomasu-kun raged.

“I’m out of here as soon as I get my passport. Only a swine would resort to censorship, and I don’t live with pigs!”

“Ulf, please, you promised! They do things differently here.”

“No, Christina, no! I’ll never consent to this!”

“I never asked you to consent to it. Just don’t leave Japan, please!”

Some of the air went out of Urufu. He deflated. “You’re unfair, Christina. You’re unfair.”

To Ryu’s consternation Noriko walked directly to Urufu and embraced him. While he hardly seemed to notice it, the rest of them certainly did.

She let go briefly and turned her face up to face Urufu. “If not for her, then stay for me,” Noriko said.

“Unfair, you’re both unfair,” Urufu said, and for a moment he stroked Noriko’s head.

A chill that had nothing to do with the early evening ran down Ryu’s spine.