Aisles passed by in my peripheries as I continued unimpeded through the large store. Countless commercial goods littering the shelves each with their own uses, though none of them were pertinent to the reason I had come here. What I desired was closer to the cashier's desk. Much like the rest of the world a simple shopping mall and individual shops themselves appeared to be sorted at random. Was there a reason this aisle had to have confectionary and that aisle had to be designated for cleaning supplies?
Unassuming people might believe it was coincidental. However, marketing, psychology and social studies revealed something contrary. Milk and common necessities were often found at the end of the store to make the customer walk past more produce with the possibility of adding originally unintended items to their cart. Toys and other items that children might be attracted to are often set on lower shelves to increase the chance it catches their eye. Confectionary, cold drinks and other small goods often littered the cashier's desk. Whilst waiting in queue or as the cashier was bagging your items one might feel the urge to splurge on something as they remain idle for a time.
What was once unassuming became a commercial trap.
All that to say; perception is reality to many people. If you can sell what people want to look at, then they'll be all too happy to buy it. The opposite occurs when you become aware of this fact. Humans were difficult creatures like that. Just the fact that a corporation wanted me to take the walk through the store to have the chance at gaining more profits made it feel like a challenge directed at me. And when people were challenged, they often wanted to win, even if the battle was on an imaginary field. People could be stubborn.
My great battle with the massive corporation of Don Quijote could resume another time... The real decision that had to be made involved another person. Often as I did, I looked to the outside world for some sort of corollary to my current plight.
How exactly should I bring it up to Ibuki? Rectifying her behaviour was one thing, but if I did it too recklessly that could make her retreat again... Growing as a person was a desirable outcome, however, we often misjudged any change as growth. Humans only had an internal compass to rely on, who's to say that growth was always in the correct direction?
As my internal thought ruminated, I came across two familiar faces. Though, I hadn't seen them in a while. Can't exactly avoid them... the item I had travelled all this way for was right ahead.
"Yo, Kouji-kun! Where've you been hiding?" Before I even had the opportunity to think of a plan of action the familiar face abruptly stopped her conversation and turned to me. Apparently, I also had a nickname now. I have conflicting feelings about it.
"Mori-san...? Wha? A-Ah, g-good to see you, Ayanokouji-kun..." Mii-chan looked slightly uncomfortable. Understandable.
"Relax. You didn't see me."
"No, no, it's not like that Ayanokouji-kun! I wasn't trying to avoid you..."
"It's fine. Most people don't like to be seen with me since then. I won't bother you guys, I just need to grab something quick." I reached past the two of them onto the middle shelf, grabbing a large bag of popcorn.
"That's a rather large bag for one person." Mori looked at it questioningly, her eyes lighting up with a spark of interest.
"...I'm not sharing." I clutched the container closer to myself, like a kangaroo protecting its cub.
"Not with me, dummy. Some home viewing perhaps?" She wasn't trying to steal my food? Mori might've developed more as a person in all that time I hadn't seen her.
"Ah, I was tasked with purchasing refreshments for a movie later." I had learned Ibuki was actually quite knowledgeable about film and media. Her specific proclivities resulted in this outing, the need for refreshments. Theatre was useful, but screenings of old films were few and far between. For someone so out of touch with the modern perception of media it was useful to know someone who was so enamoured with it. A noticeable blind spot formed, one I hoped to rectify over time.
Media had several influences. What was perceived as simple enjoyment and leisure was actually a breeding grounds for connection between others and often shaped culture over years. Sometimes even breaching the national level and taking the world by storm. The greatest example I could muster was Star Wars. A cultural icon known around the world. Even I knew about it.
People agreed and even argued over the intricacies of words on a page or the portrayal of an actor. These people weren't real, nor were the worlds they inhabited. Yet others would discuss them as if they were. The way that other normal people did that for their favourite fictional characters, I did the same for the real world. To me the author was just as fictional as the ideas spun about in his works.
Even if meaning and new understanding could be gleamed from these works, I never expected myself to come into contact with it firsthand. I was reminded of the opportunity given all those years ago.
The idea to leave. To experience something else. I was too wrapped up in my curiosity, to find the limits of my own potential. It would only become years later that I would realise the reasoning was hollow, it didn't matter.
At times I wondered what he was doing. And why it took me so long to make the same realisation.
"Could you say it any less robotically?" Exaggeratedly she placed her hand on her hip, regarding me with a level of condescension.
"Snack duty."
"Now that's just lazy robot... Try saying; I'm finna grab the grub for Netflix and chill with the huzz. Now you go."
"..." I don't even know where to begin.
"I think you short-circuited him, Mori-san..." Mii-chan said delicately.
"Was that French or some other dialect?" I asked knowing full well it wasn't any of those things. Unless she had started speaking Swahili or some other obscure language. There is the slight possibility I'm just having a stroke. Maybe I haven't drank enough water? My life was used to air conditioning and artificial lighting, even a year out of that environment wouldn't overrule the fourteen years prior.
"Slang man, slang! Make sure you say that exact phrase when you're about to watch the movie, I'm sure they'll be amazed!" I imagine I'll just be getting the same reaction as last time. Confused, bewildered and possibly even angry, knowing Ibuki. That might actually be a good way to break the tension...
"I have the faintest feeling I'm being lied to..."
"Haha, I've missed this a bit. Hey, why don't we make plans to hang out again some time?" Mii-chan was noticeably silent upon Mori's request.
"Are you sure that's okay? It probably wouldn't be a good idea for you guys..."
"Eh, who cares about the rumours, maybe I want you to hit on me? Wink wink, nudge nudge." She swayed from side to side, her hip hypnotically collided into the side of my own. Twice. Control yourself, woman.
"...So she says, but I can't imagine that's something you want Mii-chan."
"Why not? It was enjoyable last time. Ooh, we should invite those guys again as well." Mori continued, before finally looking towards her counterpart.
"..."
"Ah, got it. Hira-hira-kun." I can only assume that's in reference to the prince of Class D. So she knew. It wasn't really much of a secret all things considered.
"W-What does Hirata-kun have to do with it?!" Mii-chan lit up like a traffic light, unfortunately Mori wasn't the type to pay attention to traffic safety laws, I had no doubt she would floor the accelerator heedless to any warnings.
"Ohoh, pursuing both of them... greedy. I like your style." Mori pointed finger guns at the flushed girl, a sarcastic grin lighting up her features.
"I-IM NOT-!"
"Kouji-kun how does it feel to be pursued by a cute girl like Mii-chan?"
"Uhh..." I'm almost 100% sure that isn't what's happening here, but I didn't mind playing along. "Flattering, I guess."
"Mori-saaannn..."
"You didn't need to play along..." Mii-chan pouted.
"My bad. Seemed like fun."
"...You don't look particularly sorry." I wasn't.
"I guess it does look bad for a lady-killer to be surrounded by a bunch of girls. All sorts of rumours get passed around, like a game of Chinese whispers." A game? Based on the expression? I suppose the aim would be to decipher the original message after it reaches the last recipient? Or perhaps simply to make the funniest or most ridiculous message from the starting prompt... But a game assumes the onus of a winner and loser...
I'm thinking way too hard about this...
"You talk as if you don't believe it."
"Well, it isn't very believable in the first place. You think it's true, Mii-chan? Kouji-kun here is just a rampant sex-pest?"
"S-Sex-pest?!" Mii-chan blurted out immediately, blushing and frantically looking around to see if anyone heard her.
"I don't think even the rumours go that far..." Putting that in perspective, would also mean the rumours could be worse than they are.
"I mean he's got the looks for it but... absolutely no game. It's a travesty, but the truth."
"...I feel like I should disagree but also can't..." Mii-chan arrived at the same conclusion.
"That's what convinces you? Haah... I can't say I don't have an issue with the way you've been persuaded, but I suppose it helps at the very least." I don't know why but I was compelled to at least try and argue against the idea that I, ahem, to quote; 'have no game'. Though, I couldn't definitively say why that is.
"Besides, if we swapped places half of the things I say would have me convicted already." Mori murmured the passing thought, to which I couldn't exactly disagree.
"That's... Actually rather concerning."
"Can't disagree."
"Yeah... Anyway, is that all you're going to buy?" Shifting topic Mori looked once again at the large bag of popcorn I held abreast.
"Is there something else I should get?" As far as I'm aware popcorn was the staple, what else was necessary when viewing a film from home? Is the etiquette not the same or at least adjacent to viewing a film in a theatre?
"Well, what were you going to drink for starters?"
"Water or tea. Coffee is also a possibility." They looked at each other as if discovering a new language for the first time. "I'm wrong, aren't I?"
"Not wrong in the way that you can't... but yes, you're wrong. Absolutely." Mii-chan placed her small hand on my shoulder with a measure of pity expressed by a barely repressed sad smile. Why?
"You'll look like a bad host, we can't have that."
"You're taking a much more active interest in this than I would've thought."
"I need to groom you into the perfect host, that way the best snacks will be available when I'm invited in the future." Crafty. Mori was unique in that way. Even though she seemingly did everything for herself, it was hard to dislike her. Because she was authentic.
"It's hard to dislike how manipulative you are when you're so straight-forward about it..." It was almost worrying.
"Thanks!"
"He's not complimenting your incorrigible behaviour!" Mii-chan aired her frustration as well.
"Ooh, nice tsukkomi!" Mori just seemed to enjoy the rise she got out of her. "We'll take the elective task of bringing you up to speed, Kouji-kun!"
"...If we don't, he might be screwed." Mii-chan muttered to herself whilst grabbing a basket.
"..." Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, guys.
"First, this. Then this. Probably this as well. Oh, can't have a snack party without this. Oooh, I haven't had these in years! I'm just gonna throw them in as well. Let's see, let's see... That should do it!" Mori hit a peace pose and let her tongue hang out.
I only had one retort...
"I don't want to burst your bubble, but... You do realise only two people are eating, right?" I took another look at the comically large mound of sweets we had collected. Even if I wanted to eat all this it would be in no way a good idea. In fact it would be a very, very, very bad one.
"It's all good, I accounted for that." Is she trying to induce diabetes into the competition of other classes? A slow death, but it could definitely be used as an advantage in the class competition that will soon come to the front. Or so the judgemental section of my brain began to believe. I was beginning to think that Mori was intentionally sabotaging me... however, Mii-chan was slowly nodding her head after looking at each item almost as if crossing them off of an imaginary list. I guess, I should leave it to the professionals.
"Last stop! It's not a movie if you don't have one of them!" She pointed animatedly at a poster for some kind of drink composed of crushed ice with flavourings and no doubt littered with a ridiculous amount of sugar and artificial preservatives. So unhealthy, so gluttonous...
But it was calling to me...
"Can't really take one with us... but... Mwahaha, you can make it yourself!" She revealed a holy device, before mine eyes. I took a brief moment to take in the features and shape of its silhouette, not daring to look directly at it. For its shine may take my breath away.
It's glorious.
Mori continued to give details about usage and how compact they were, but I was already sold.
"And they're pretty cheap too, only-"
"I'll take it."
"You must get a commission or something..." Mii-chan muttered at Mori.
I was satisfied. The shopping trip was a success, I reconnected with old acquaintances, and I received my second souvenir from an outing...
Does it count if I can't display it? After all, I bought it to use...
Ah... It was only at this moment I realised...
Don Quijote won.
...Damnit.
Whilst we were exiting the store, Mori dredged the topic back up.
"Is it perhaps that Mio-chan I've heard about that you're watching it with?"
"Before you get any ideas, we're just friends." I have a feeling this is a preface I'll have to repeat much more often.
"I didn't even say anything yet!"
"I just don't want this to be a recurring theme. It'll make things awkward."
"I won't pester too much about it then." Too much, huh? I'd prefer not at all, or every blue moon.
"Make sure you invite her when we finally do get together. It'd be cool to meet her myself, right Mii-chan?"
"Yeah! Kushida-chan mentions Ibuki-san a lot, I'd like to meet her as well."
"Hm?" That sounded strange, I hope Kushida hasn't embellished what Ibuki's really like. She won't remain like this forever.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'll mention it to Ibuki. It's just a surprise you guys are going this far to interact with me. We aren't part of the same class, the rumours only serve to harm your reputations. I can't help but feel like you gain nothing from it." My presence wasn't a necessity to these people, that was why I found it so strange that they continued to hold onto the fragile bonds between us.
"You're still in your head too much. The answer's easy."
"..."
"You're a pretty funny guy. That's good enough in my book." Mori looked to Mii-chan clearly waiting for her input on the matter.
"...You're strange, Ayanokouji-kun." Mii-chan followed with not too long after. I could practically hear the cogs turning in her head. "But that's not a bad thing."
"You're usually supposed to compliment him in these moments, Mii-chan." It felt strange for Mori to be the one to reset the status quo, acting the straight man as it were.
"Ah, no that's not exactly what I mean!" She was easily flustered which was rather endearing to watch. "Your heart's in the right place... That's what I think." The young girl finished with a sunny smile, one that held no traces of ambiguity. I only hoped I could examine my own character with such certain terms in the future.
If what benefits other people is just a symptom of my own selfish actions, would that make me a good person? I don't believe so. But this was the result to some people. Intentions were misconstrued both to my benefit and detriment.
I wonder if these moments will ever return between us after this month ends. I might miss it a bit...
[Class C: Civil War]
"We could get Sakagami-sensei involved?" Gin asked after a moment. Jotting down the idea on a notepad.
"It would reduce our points assuming everything we know about the school is true. Which I find pretty compelling. There's no telling what the fallout would be, however." Worst case scenario; Ryuuen would continue disrupting the class all the way to graduation. Even a month or two extra could reduce our chances of achieving Class A and the guaranteed employment which was the school's main selling point.
"There's no evidence it would be enough to expel Ryuuen, if he even receives punishment."
"Longer running punishments will also have a greater detrimental effect on the class. The longer he's around the more this'll add up."
"He doesn't seem like the type to avoid that, even if it made life slightly more difficult for him." Ryuuen was the type that would stab himself to hurt the enemy, always focused on affecting the enemy before him, regardless of efficiency.
"Tch." We had holed up in a classroom after school trying to make sense of the situation. What was the best way to unite the class. How could we ensure success and cooperation? With certain figures coming to mind it looked like an impossible task. I mean, how do you get Ryuuen to listen to you?
It felt like he couldn't be reasoned with. If he at least explained himself and made working with him more viable, then I would have little issue with him taking over the class. But that wasn't how Ryuuen worked. I knew it, Takumi knew it as well. Isoyama had also caught on if her warning was anything to go off of...
Even if we agreed. This is unavoidable. Because he needs to set an example. Ryuuen's rule is a dictatorship not a democracy, it's the only way he functions. By striking fear in the heart of his people.
How the hell do you compete with that?
"You really stuck right now? What we need to do is obvious." Takumi said, rolling his eyes as he did.
I meant an actual solution that I could agree with.
"Shut up, you're hardly making this any easier." He spoke like a broken record. Repeating the same message time and time again only served to make me want to dispose of the record player altogether.
"Hey, not my job to. You decided to do this all yourself, don't go crying to me after it." Why am I still friends with this guy?
"I'm glad you stand by us, Tokitou." Gin butted in, whilst jotting down more notes.
"Oh, brother. At least make sure to zip him back up after you're done." Takumi made a gagging sound.
"Would it kill you to be serious for two seconds?!" The words burst from my mouth. I was having trouble controlling my reactions when Takumi was involved. The past few days only seemed to exacerbate that. First, Ryuuen's sudden admission. Ayanokouji and Ibuki working alongside him. The revelation of the school. There was the whole Ayanokouji and Manabe issue before that. And the most recent problem.
Harassment.
It was hard to even argue that this was the case, considering the sheer difference in stature between those two. I mean, imagine trying to convince someone that Yamada Albert was being bullied. Ostracising half-Japanese students wasn't unheard of. But if I tried to convince someone that it was physical violence or bullying occurring?
They would dismiss it immediately. David and Goliath was a story most had heard. But the Goliath was never the underdog. If bullying was brought up, most would reasonably guess that the perpetrator and victim were flipped instead.
Still, that didn't remove the reality of the situation.
Ryuuen was all too quick to resort to violent means, which didn't bode well for the future.
"You guys are going about this all wrong, he won't respond to any of that stupid shit. You just gotta hit him real hard in the face once or twice. Dipshits like that only learn one way. This isn't new information. Hiro's just being a bitch 'bout it. Hell, I don't even know why we have to get involved. I say; let the guy fight his own battles. There's no reason he should lose anyway." Takumi threw his hands behind his head, leaning against the wall with little issue.
"Maybe because unlike some of us, he wants to live peacefully without the need for infighting between classmates. You know, normal people aren't prepared to punch everyone they meet, I think it's better that way." Fighting fire with fire only serves to burn the rest of the world. I wouldn't rise to it.
"Then Ryuuen won't be stopped. Don't complain about it in the first place, if you aren't going to change anything!"
"There are other ways-"
"You've become so goddamn spineless, you know? What happened to your balls?! The Hiro I know wouldn't let him walk all over you like that! Seriously, what was that in the class?! You think you look all principled and shit because you let him get a cheap shot in and ate dirt?! Newsflash, you're the only one on the ground!" Yeah, it would be the hothead that thought all that was fine. I didn't come here to repeat the same mistakes.
"A classroom isn't for fighting, it sets the wrong precedent-"
"Look at the example you're setting instead; if you allow him to get off scot-free from attacking you, doesn't the possibility he repeats that behaviour increase? If anything didn't you just set a precedent to be bullied further in the future?" ...Is he saying this is only continuing because I remained idle? Typical. Always twisting things so it's someone else's fault.
"I stand by my principles. I won't be needlessly spreading violence. I won't be the same as him." How you achieve a victory and how you swallow defeat, they mattered. It was a judge of one's character. They aren't my principles if I don't live by them, I'd just be some kind of poser.
I won't rise to violence. I'll defeat it by standing steadfast and unaffected. Violence should always be the very last option. Only after exhausting every other method should that thought enter my mind. Yamada-kun did the same, why should I rise to violence if he didn't see fit to?
"You stand atop a pile of shit. What would he have to do to make you actually defend yourself?"
"It's the very last option as it should always be."
"And whilst you're standing around thinking about it, you're just allowing it to continue until you eventually have to use force anyway. Why not just get to it from the start? It'd take less time and actually result in something changing." Shoot first and ask questions later. Sounded like Takumi.
"Yeah, that change would just be another person taking the reins through violence. I'd be no different."
"Who cares?! Strength's respected, who the hell wants a weak leader?" Mistaking physical strength as true strength was a mistake. One I learned all too readily.
"No one decided for me to be leader, or Ryuuen for that matter." There were others that fit the role much more than I ever could.
"No one else is stepping up either, you think we should just keep going? The blind leading the blind? Delusional, man." Takumi tutted, shaking his head as if disparaging a child.
"And? What if I lose? Do we just allow him to take control of the class?" The argument was flawed.
"You bothered about a single loss? You've fallen so far, man..." Beating someone or getting beaten by them didn't matter to me anymore. I'd like to believe that I was past that juncture in my life. Lording your strength or numbers over somebody else didn't prove anything. In fact, by using the same methods I would only perpetuate the idea that violence worked. Not only did I not want that to be a universal truth, but I also just didn't believe it was.
"No. My point is that we should be able to overcome threats of violence without sinking to his level. What if he never gives in after we beat him? What if he decides to use other methods to attack the class? Fighting will only breed more tension and chaos between us." What we needed was to be united, a battle of conquest would only serve to tear us apart over time.
"Didn't realise I signed up for a sermon, seriously who even are you? Because you definitely aren't the same guy, I used to be friends with."
"I left that guy back in the past where he belonged. But I see you're still the same." I should've known that as soon as I met him again. He hasn't changed a bit. The annoying part is that a small part inside of me resonated with what he said. I couldn't deny that.
"Damn right, I haven't. I can protect myself just fine." However, I also see him for what he is now.
"To me it looks like you've only become easier to hurt."
"Yeah? Flawless logic, Mother Teresa."
"Your ego is so easily bruised. You're so easily agitated and over-compensating no matter what it comes to. It became even more apparent, especially when Ayanokouji-kun came into the picture..."
"...What can't hate someone now? The fucks your point?"
"You just want to be the centre of attention no matter what. But you can't just say it. There's always got to be some sort of song and dance about it. Because you're inadequate. So you bully people and get infuriated when they don't take it sitting down." The first time he and Ayanokouji hung out in the same group nearly ended with a fistfight, one that Takumi was itching to start.
"Wrong. It ain't bullying." He stepped forward before gripping my collar in his left hand, right hand balled up into a fist.
"I just refuse to be looked down on. By him. Or by you." That was something Takumi decided. No one told him they did. It was an assumption.
"Go ahead then, prove me right." I was done talking.
"What you gonna do? You aren't allowed to defend yourself, that would be breaking your vows." He sneered.
"Guys, c'mon now-"
"Shut up, Okabe. You're the same. Even though you're weaker, you look down on me all the same. Do you think I don't know how you think of me?"
"Yeah, I won't. Feel free to beat me black and blue. I won't be raising a single hand in protest."
"You're gonna feel a lot stupider after I knock your teeth out." Did he really think a beating would change anything? We weren't unaccustomed to it.
"Then do it." It would at least give me some evidence to prove it was effective.
He drew his fist closer, winding back before asking. "...You seriously think I won't?"
"You're doing a lot of talking instead of hitting... Get on with it."
"..."
"..."
"...I-I think we should all calm d-down-" Gin attempted to interrupt us.
CRASH!
Takumi kicked over a nearby chair crashing into multiple desks, before letting go of my collar.
"You think other people will care that you have this grand vision of what our class should look like? The only reason you aren't hurt is because I chose not to hit you! No other reason."
"..."
"Do you think Ryuuen will do the same?"
"..."
"Yeah, didn't think so. Whatever, if you can't do it, I'll do it myself."
"Wait, what are you about to-"
"Like I said. I'll do it. My way." Takumi shut the door behind him, the sliding door coming to a sharp stop.
Just great. This is what happens when I try to take the lead. What did I say, Ayanokouji-kun? I'm not cut out for this. Not at all.
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Word count: 4794
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