Chapter LXII: The Polaroid Mind, Part 5
Friday on their first week at school, the squad goes out of the campus.
"Eyy, you guys up for Billiards tmr?" (Enmei)
"No thank u, maybe me and Kota have plans for tomorrow" (Akiko)
"How about u, Hanako?" (Enmei)
"Nah, pass bro. I have a dentist appointment for the weekends" (Hanako)
"Gin?" (Enmei)
"I have a bike race tomorrow in Narra" (Gin)
"Damn it! Oh well, I'll be going with Yui then. She'll play with my balls" (Enmei)
"Eyyyooww, what the fudge?" (The Squad)
"Nah, the billiard balls of course" (Enmei)
Kota suddenly notices something, he can't help it but to ask,
"Hey, where's Asahi?"
"I think he's with Natsuki" (Hanako)
The squad then dispatches afterwards as they go home.
On Saturday, the squad goes on a hangout. They go to the mall, but since there are so many people entering and queued up at the different stalls, they go out. They then go to the benches to sit down, waiting for the crowd to reduce. Asahi and Natsuki however go to buy milk tea. As they were away, a British tourist gets the squad's attention. She points at the giant billboard,
"Pardon, is that the school being ran by priests?"
They then call Kota about this.
"Excuse me young man, is that school being ran by priests and nuns?"
"Yes is it ma'am. That school is founded by the SVD"
"Oh, what is the meaning of SVD though?"
Before he could even answer, Natsuki interrupts him and gives the tourist the answer.
"Thank you young lady. I may do appreciate what a lovely town you have here, it's full of authentic and vintage buildings" (The Tourist)
"Yeah, this place dates back to the 1800s" (Natsuki)
"a-a-and—" (Kota)
"The most scenic view of the town is just west of this mall" (Asahi)
As he looks at them, something flashes into Kota's mind.
During one late school night, he and Tengen went out of the school to go explore the town at night. They went to the fountain, glowing and dancing with lasers and harmonic lights to the rhythm of the music.
"This is very interesting, it's beautiful. I haven't seen something like this in this place" (T)
"Is this your first time watching the dancing fountain?" (K)
"Of course, just up close. Even though we had a contest at Nagoya where we all met up here, I didn't watch it close" (T)
"Oh, that explains it" (K)
"Btw, what is that obelisk in the middle of it?" (T)
"Oh that monument is dedicated to the city's founder, Rei Yanagi. The former village was founded in the 16th century where most people migrated from the mountains to reside here. Before these inhabitants even came, trading with beeswax and other products from the uplands was blooming in this place. The port of this city, became an entrance from impending Galleons to promote the trading system. Many missionaries set foot on the place however they all fell to their executions." (K)
"Ah yes, I remember the time when we, and Hanako went to the Conservation Complex one day. You really know a lot of things about the history of our whole city. That's amazing!" (T)
"Not just the whole city but the whole prefecture" (K)
"That's excellent, it's very mind-blowing for a guy who is very silent the whole time. I think you have what it takes to be a tourist guide like what they said back then at the Conservation Complex. Just practice your people skills" (T)
"Yeah, however I'm already going out of my shell" (K)
"That's good to hear bro, keep up the good work" (T)
As they walk through the old streets of the city, Tengen points at some buildings.
"How about this building?" (T)
"Oh, that's the old city hall building. I think it was constructed in the 17th century as you can see from its architectural and structural design" (K)
"Amazing!" (T)
As he goes back to reality, Kota is still getting interrupted by the dynamic duo. Asahi sees a tourist guide flyer under his foot so he picks it up. He then says to Kota as he shows him,
"I'm going to get this since I may be a tourist guide"
"Yeah, but you need to know much of this city's history—" (Kota)
"Shush, I do have the requirements of being one", Asahi flamboyantly says while Kota gets down in the dumps.
The two gets chatty-patty with the tourist until she asks,
"Then why are you all outside your school? And what is the significance of this city to modern day Japan?"
Natsuki and Asahi go speechless on this one since they just got caught off-guard. Suddenly,
"We were outside school since we don't have classes anymore on this day and this city was one of the biggest trading centers in the entire region of Japan. This helped shaped our heritage throughout the whole prefecture and its identity, preserving the face of the Japanese community during the 17th century. Moreover, this affects the livelihood and culture of us from this city since this supports our own identity, making this city, still as ever the shaper and molder of Japanese culture since its dark ages through trade, culture, and heritage" (Kota)
Astonished, the squad is dead silent. The British tourist bows to him as a sign of respect and thanks him. The squad can't help it but to say,
"Sheesh!"
"Y'all can say that again" (The Tourist)
"I-I didn't know you're a historian, darling" (Akiko)
"Yeah, I didn'tsaid it because for what I know today, people are forgetting and losing interest when it comes to history" (Kota)
"What makes you say that?" (Hanako)
As she asked that to Kota, a parade float with an elephant passes by.
"Well, technically, if you see it this way, people today don't indulge in knowing how some concepts even began. The story of the important people who helped shape the very foundation of our rights, freedom, and government. Vintage photos are just hanged on some walls, decaying into non-existence, same with artifacts and memorabilia. Some practices are fading due to some culture clashes from different places such as the America, Britain, Spain, and other places. However, we still need to study history, for this is the story of our past, not just a simple past, but the past of mistakes, valor, freedom, and inventions, the present where we all indulge and live on, and our very future way ahead of us. Languages are also fading through colloquialism such as how shortcut texts, and slang language. Like what the Philippine National Hero once quote, 'He who does not love his own language is worse than animals and smelly fish'. That is why, we need to recognize our own history since this is the building blocks giving recognition to one's culture and identity" (Kota)
"Now that, that is very true my friend, an applause for history" (Gin)
"History shapes our story of the motherland, identity, and our ancestors" (Hanako)
"The very essence of the story, being passed down from generation to generation, don't worry, your statement is etched on the rock, like what the Ancient Babylonians did" (Akiko)
From afar, Asahi gives Kota a cold look after this however the latter just smiles.
"Yooo broo, uhm you alright?" (Natsuki)
"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just one of my ribs hurt" (Asahi)
"It's ok, just breathe smoothly" (Natsuki)
"Thanks" (Asahi)
In a distance, someone hides behind the bleachers and it's Eloise. He watches on the group, but focuses often at Kota. Akiko looks at the hiding place but Eloise evades the look. As the sky turns orange, the group goes home.