The Fifth Season
Title: The Fifth Season
Genre: Comedy/drama
Chapter: 1/? (intro/try-out)
Summary: The four brothers, Shinji, Yuuji, Koji and Toshi all deal with their own and each others problems. Shinji, as the oldest sees it as his task to take care of the three younger ones, against any price.
While the three older brothers (have) become adults, the youngest one stays in his imaginary world.
( Chapter One (intro/try-out) )
( Chapter Two )
3
”ONE, TWO, AND ONE TWO THREE FOUR!” Yuuji shouts as he jams along on one of his favourite songs by one of his favourite bands. He knows this song out of his head, every chord and note of the lead-guitarist he can play along perfectly. Going up in his guitar-playing, Yuuji didn’t notice Shinji knocking on his door.
”THERE’S TOO MANY QUESTIONS AND TOO MANY STRINGS AND IT WON’T KEEP THIS THING TIED, ON A ROLLERCOASTER-RIDE, IT FEELS LIKE I’M LYING NEXT TO A GHOST AT NIGHT! I DON’T KNOW WHY I GAVE YOU MY HEART CAUSE SOMETIMES IT FEELS SO WRO- SHINJI! BUGGER OFF!” Yuuji suddenly stopped playing and singing (well.. rather shouting) along as he notices his older brother standing in the doorstep.
Shinji couldn’t help but grinning. “Sorry Yuuji.”
”You know I want you to knock first!” Yuuji is blushing while putting away his “baby” , a rather expensive black electric guitar. It took Yuuji all his savings and several side-jobs after school to gain the money for it, Shinji knows how proud Yuuji is of the guitar. It’s like Koji and his skateboards.
”Yuuji-kun, I just got a call from a teacher.” Shinji continues, more serious now.
”Oh god, what did Koji do?” Yuuji grins.
”It was not about Koji.”
”Not? But…What would a teacher want from me now? I graduated already months ago!” Yuuji says indignant.
”Yuuji, it was about Toshi.”
Yuuji doesn’t really like the tone his brother uses now, and a slight presumption is coming up. Shinji is going to ask him stuff about Toshi which Yuuji really didn’t want to tell him.
”Toshi?” Yuuji acts as if he is surprised. “Since when does Toshi cause trouble?”
”The teacher said he didn’t. Though I wondered, maybe you know anything about this? Maybe Toshi told you something or anything…You see, I am afraid this will be about Kun-Kun and, well, maybe about our parents or home-situation. I know the director and Yamamoto-san solved it, but still. Maybe they want him to see a psychologist or anything?”
”Possible.” Yuuji avoids eye-contact with his older brother. “But how am I supposed to know that stuff? Toshi never really talks to me, rather to you and you know that.”
”Well I don’t know, he likes you as well, you used to always read him bedtime stories and stuff, I thought that he maybe-“
”Bedtime stories? Shinji that’s ages ago!” Yuuji laughs. “I know he is mentally quite young, but I don’t want to support him in staying a child forever.”
Shinji silently nods and bites his lip. “Anyway, that teacher is going to pay a house-visit in an hour-“
”What? Wow, that’s fast.”
”I guess she wants to talk about something serious. Anyway she’s coming within an hour, so better prepare yourself for a visitor Yuuji.”
”Well, I have to do grocery-shopping anyway, I’ll go within 50 minutes and with a bit of luck I’ll miss her then. I don’t like teachers.” He grins.
”And you just don’t want to get involved in that conversation.” Shinji grins.
”That too.” Yuuji laughs. “And now get out of my room!”
“I told you it wouldn’t work.” Akira says disappointed as their English teacher, a horrible and mean old man with actual British parents, steps on the almost invisible little wire in the corridor, but nothing happens.
”Just wait a little while my friend.” Koji grins. “ It will work!”
They’re hidden around the corner and watch every step their most hated teacher makes,
”No Koji, it’s not wor-“
”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!” A male voice shouts.
”What did you say Aki?” Koji laughs, as their English teacher is suddenly soaked with water and ink, fired by a bucket above his head, placed on the lockers, and two water-guns, of which one filled with ink.
”OH WOW COOL!” Akira shouts.
”Quiet you idiot!” Koji shouts, and he places a hand in front of his friends mouth. Though the teacher heard him, cause he turns around and marches into their direction, he never looked as furious as now.
”Shit, Aki, RUN!” And the two run as fast as they can, away from the place of the crime. The teacher shouts, but they don’t hear their names, a good sign.
Koji and Akira run into their classroom, and sit down next to their other friends.
”Ookaaay, where do you two come from?” Shun asks.
”Nowhere.” Koji grins innocently. “Right Akira?”
”Y-yeah, just…Getting some fresh air.” Akira gasps.
”-And exercise!” Koji adds quickly, to explain the gasping.
”…Right.” Shun says suspicious. “And what have you really-“
”EVERYONE HERE, DON’T MAKE ANY MOVEMENTS!” A furious male voice shouts from the doorstep, and suddenly the entire class falls quiet, but then the students start to laugh. The soaked and partial dark-blue coloured teacher is gasping and his face is red from anger, but he makes a ridiculous sight in the doorstep.
Koji can’t help but grinning proudly as he sees the great result of his joke, it took him days of planning and preparing.
Shun now looks at Koji with great admiration. “You,” he whispers. “are my hero.”
And Koji grins even wider. A step closer to his goal; being famous, for being Koji.
Sakura walks through the small front-yard and takes a deep breath before she rings the doorbell.A short silence, but then she hears movement from behind the door, and then it opens.
He is young, very young. Or at least he looks like that. His blonde hair is fashionable though naturally cut, as if it always falls in front of his eyes, whatever he does. His friendly blue eyes meet hers, and his smile is as friendly and comforting as his laugh she heard on the phone. He looks exactly like she imagined, though younger. And the hair-colour is a surprise.
”Hattori-san?” She asks hesitating, maybe this was an older brother or anything.
”Yes, are you Nozomi-sensei?” No, it’s not a brother. His voice is the voice she heard on the phone. This man, is actually the father of that poor child.
”I am.” She smiles.
”Please, do come in!” He answers and lets her through.
She is younger than he expected, that makes him even more nervous. He can definitely handle talking to older women, but women of his own age, or slightly older, that’s a different problem. Aw, why is he so bad with women? Could it be that Koji inherited also his skills in flirting? Cause he appears to have an overdose of talent when it comes down to that.
Shinji wonders what it will be this woman wants to talk about, probably that what he feared and explained towards Yuuji. Even if he had the feeling his brother knew more than he wanted to tell…
”Please, sit down.” Shinji asks friendly, while offering her a seat in the small living room, where, thank God, not a single underpants is hanging over the telly this time. “Can I offer you some tea, Nozomi-sensei?
”Oh, yes please Hattori-san.” She smiles.
Shinji grins, being called Hattori-san makes him feel old, definitely by a girl of his own age,. “Please, do call me Shinji.” He says without thinking.
”Shinji-san.” She repeats softly. Blushing a bit.
”Ah, eh well, I’ll get your tea.” Shinji mumbles realising her colour and feeling how nerves return. Oh shit, there it goes again. Well, as long as the rest of the conversation will be about serious things nothing will go wrong. Probably.
While serving the tea, Shinji at least notices his hands aren’t shaking, which is good. He is calm, and not interested in her which would make everything way more easy. As long as she won’t blush anymore…
”So,” he starts, as he takes place in a chair in front of her. “you wanted to talk about Toshi?”
”Eh, yes Hat- eh Shinji-san. You see, I wondered, why Toshi always carries that little teddy-bear with him?” It seemed like the best question to begin with.
Shinji looks a bit uncomfortable, this is indeed going the way he feared. “Ehm, well that bear is very special to him and carries a certain memory for Toshi, I guess the bear helps him bare a certain lose better.” Shinji tries to hint her about the situation, she must know about it. Most teachers on that school know, cause it happened when Koji was still in there, and Toshi was probably already in the first grade or something.
”A certain lose?” Sakura asks a bit surprised. She doesn’t seem to have any clue about the issue, which makes Shinji more uncomfortable.
”Ehm, yes. That bear was the last gift he got from his mother.” Shinji mumbles, staring at the ground.
’His mother? …So, that must mean-‘ Sakura feels how she gets shocked. That poor child doesn’t have a mother anymore, and this young man must have lost his beloved wife on a very young age!
”I am so sorry to hear.” She says softly.
Shinji looks up again and smiles a bit. “It is ok. It happened years ago, but Toshi was too young to realise, I guess he is traumatised and uses the bear as a way to feel connected with her again. The bear turned into his best friend, almost straight after it happened. He calls him Kun-Kun, cause he couldn’t find a regular name and used to call him Bear-kun.” Shinji smiles again, though a bit sad. “After that, he started to close up more and more. He lives in a little fantasy world, in which he probably escapes the rough reality, where he doesn’t feel that lonely, where he is still at the age when you don’t have to think about problems, and where you can play all day long. I partially see it as my fault and responsibility, after it happened I should have spent more attention to him. Maybe then he would have realised he is not alone.”
Sakura stares at him, this story almost worked on her tears, it’s so sad. Such a young family, torn apart by death. A father who can’t reach his child anymore and the child escapes reality. It does make a lot clear.
“Though this makes me understand a lot more, Shinji-san, I am afraid Toshi’s classmates don’t. You see sir, they pick on Toshi and bully him. Tease him with his bear…” She brings it carefully and hesitating, but as soon as she said it Shinji looks up and his eyes are suddenly bright, with a spark in it of anger, but also are they worried and shocked. He has very impressive and open eyes. She realises, the little boy almost has the same eyes, though even larger than this man. It is clear they have Western roots, everything reminds you of it, the hair-colour, the eyes, and in Shinji’s case; his body. He is really tall, even for a man, Sakura noticed this from the first second she saw Toshi, but Shinji has the same look; with a slight amount of Asian genetics. The looks of the man intrigue her.
”Bullied?” Shinji repeats. “…Really?”
”I am afraid so sir. That is why I am here actually.”
Shinji swallows, why didn’t he tell him about that? Why not?
”How- How does Toshi react on that?” He asks.
”Differs from day to day, but most of the time he seeks a place where the others can’t find him and talks to his bear. I always see him underneath a tree, I don’t work at the school for that long, but as far as I know it already goes on for a long while. I called you because I see Toshi…Well I find him crying more often recently.”
”And, doesn’t any teacher interfere? Do something about it?”
”Not really, I see Toshi sometimes when I am inside the building, but I am never the one watching over the children during the breaks. Though I believe it mostly happens when Toshi comes to school in the morning, perhaps… well perhaps it is an idea not to let him walk to school alone anymore?” She suggests hesitating. “I also, of course, informed other teachers, but since Toshi never complained about anything, we can’t really do something.”
Shinji stares blindly at the ground again for a while. ‘Not to let him walk to school alone anymore…Not to let him-‘ “Damn Koji!” he mumbles angrily.
”S-sorry?”
”Nothing, Nozomi-sensei.” Shinji says quickly and he smiles again. “I thank you deeply for telling me this and for your concern.” And he bows his head.
Sakura blushes a bit again, she was so nervous about doing this, it is against the school rules, and if Aoi-san would find out she is in deep trouble. But it felt like the right thing to do, she HAD to go to see Toshi’s family, and now she knows why. She won’t see this man and this house for the last time. She will do her best to help Toshi, and Shinji.
Suddenly, the phone rings and breaks through the silence.
”Excuse me Nozomi-sensei.” Shinji says, as he stands up to answer it.
”Hallo?
Yes, this is the house of the Hattori-family.
Yes, you’re speaking with.
Sorry, I am afraid I don’t understand- ah. I see.
Of course sir. I am on my way.” And then he hung up.
”I am very sorry Nozomi-sensei, but I have to ask you to leave. I have to go to- eh, a meeting.” Shinji apologises. “I , again, thank you for your help and concern. I will speak with Toshi about this issue, and I’ll try to find a solution. Perhaps I’ll see you again, let’s hope to share better news.” And he bows his head again, and lets her out.
”YOU, YOU-“ Brandon-sensei shouts to him. “YOU ARE THE SCUM OF SOCIETY! A THREAT FOR THIS SCHOOL AND ALL IT’S STUDENTS! I AM SURE THAT ONE DAY, YOU WILL END UP IN JAIL! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS YOUNG MAN?”
Koji moans and shoves a bit on his chair. “This chair is rather uncomfortable, Brandon-sensei.”
The English teacher even gets more furious, while he restarts his shouting some saliva spats out of his mouth and lands on Koji’s face.
”Eww, gross.” Koji mumbles as he wipes it away, completely ignoring all the insults his teacher shouts at him. It appeared he did recognize him and Akira while running through the corridor, and now Koji sits in his office, waiting for the principal and probably his mentor. Then he gets a lecture and some lame punishment, like cleaning the classrooms on a Friday-afternoon or something, and then he can go home again.
”You brat! I know what you’re thinking, that you’re getting away with this again by just doing a small task such as cleaning eh? Well not this time, Hattori. Not this time.”
”Eh?!” Koji now suddenly does listen to his teacher. No cleaning? No relaxing swabbing-fight with his fellow punished-ones?
”Yes, Hattori. Because today you went too far. WAY TOO FAR. I called to your home, and the one responsible for you is on his way. Plus you will receive detention for a month. AND you are suspended from any school-activities. Which includes our annual school-trip, this year to a snowboard hall Hattori. And this will cause you a remark on your school reports, this will be filed!”
“…Ooh, okay, I was already afraid something horrible was going to happen. But if you only called home then it’s fine.”
”DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME?! YOU ARE SUSPENDED FROM ALL SCHOOL-ACTIVITIES!”
”Yeah, so? I don’t like school, I dislike activities. So together they aren’t much fun either Brandon-sensei.” Koji says nagging. “Plus; I already had a problem with the fall-prom anyway. I promised four girls to go with them, now I am released from that as well!”
Ken Brandon wants to open his mouth, in his twenty years as an educator he never saw such a horrible student as this one, there is nothing to begin with him, he never listens, he doesn’t do his homework though he still passes his class, how hard Brandon makes it for him, he always finds his ways. Koji made him life sour ever since they met, and so does Brandon hate him ever since they met. But whatever punishment he gives, Koji turns it into a party for him.
But though the teacher wanted to open his mouth to shout further, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
”YES?!” He shouts interrupted and angry.
Carefully, Shinji opens the door. “You asked for me, Brandon-sensei?”
”Hattori-san.” Ken Brandon never had Shinji as his student, but he knows this is the oldest brother out of four. Every teacher here knows about the situation. Brandon would have preferred a severe father, but as long as this young man has any authority above his younger brat of a brother, he can be of use. “You know your brother, I assume.”
Shinji looks at Koji, while Koji looks back while grinning, and innocently blinking with his eyes.
”I am afraid so, sir.”
”Better be ashamed indeed, Hattori-san. This afternoon your younger brother did something unforgivable. Please sit down, and listen.”
”KOJI!”
Yuuji looks up from his guitar-playing in the living room as he hears the door opening and his brothers enter, but continues after realising it’s just Shinji shouting Koji’s name, and Koji heading for his bedroom with an annoyed and slightly angry expression on his face. That happens more often.
”KOJI, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!”
”I don’t know, It was just a joke! Just relax and don’t be such a party-pooper Shinji.” Koji shrugs and he wants to walk away from his brother.
”HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! YOU ARE STAYING HERE KOJI!” Shinji really does sound furious, that rarely happens, while playing, Yuuji now opens his ears to follow the fight behind him, without interfering. It’s none of his business.
“WE HAVE SOME STUFF TO DISCUSS!” Shinji continues.
”OH PLEASE,” Koji starts shouting now as well. “ “We have some stuff to discuss” “ He repeats with a childish nagging voice. “ Well for your information gramps; I HAVE NOTHING TO EXPLAIN TOWARDS YOU!”
“OH YES YOU HAVE! First of all; what you did today was a shameful and childish action! Don’t you EVER think about your future?! What will become of you if you keep on behaving as if you are thirteen?! And what will people think of our family when you will be expelled?!”
”OH PLEEEAAASE,” Koji shouts again. “ First of all: You and saint Yuuji already fixed our family name so the only one who’d get blamed would be me! AND THAT’S MY OWN CHOICE! BUT MOST OF ALL SHINJI: STOP BEHAVING LIKE MY FATHER, CAUSE YOU ARE NOT! YOU AREN’T DAD! AND YOU WILL NEVER BECOME LIKE HIM! I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU OR RESPECT YOU AS MY FATHER, CAUSE YOU ARE MY BROTHER! AND I AM NOT THE ONE BEHAVING YOUNGER THAN I AM, I AM BEHAVING PERFECTLY LIKE MY AGE! I AM ENJOYING MY YOUTH! SOMETHING YOU HAVE LOST COMPLETELY GRAMPS! AND THE ONE BEHAVING YOUNGER THAN HE IS, IS TOSHI SO RATHER GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!”
”AH GOOD YOU MENTION TOSHI! CAUSE SECONDLY, I ASKED YOU TO BRING HIM TO SCHOOL! THEN HOW COME A TEACHER JUST TOLD ME HE ARRIVES ALONE EVERY MORNING?!”
“Ah you’re CRAZY! I bring him to school every morning! I just don’t walk him through the gates but PLEASE, he would get picked at if I did! I mean, we can’t hold his hand forever you know! YOU may think we must protect him, but I think that giving him more freedom would be better for him! It’s not like you owe all wisdom you know!”
”Well you definitely don’t have any brains up there! Look at your last school reports!”
”Ah well for your information; I am not failing and just passing the year, thank you! AND NOW I AM SICK OF THIS DISCUSSION GRAMPS! I am off, skateboarding. Won’t be there for dinner and I HOPE YOU’LL CHOKE IN IT!” and with that Koji leaves the house by using the doors to the garden.
Yuuji still behaves like nothing is happening and didn’t stop playing, apart from when Koji mentioned “ saint Yuuji”.
Shinji groans, he seems frustrated and hurt, but mostly worried. “And Yuuji PLEASE QUIT PLAYING NOW. Okay?”
Without saying anything, Yuuji stands up and puts his guitar away.
Those two fight more often, but this was…serious. Even for their habit. They usually don’t shout that much, definitely Shinji not. And Yuuji knows Koji hit a very sensitive string saying Shinji is not his father and will never become like him…
In fact, Shinji looks more like dad every day…
Genre: Comedy/drama
Chapter: 1/? (intro/try-out)
Summary: The four brothers, Shinji, Yuuji, Koji and Toshi all deal with their own and each others problems. Shinji, as the oldest sees it as his task to take care of the three younger ones, against any price.
While the three older brothers (have) become adults, the youngest one stays in his imaginary world.
( Chapter One (intro/try-out) )
( Chapter Two )
3
”ONE, TWO, AND ONE TWO THREE FOUR!” Yuuji shouts as he jams along on one of his favourite songs by one of his favourite bands. He knows this song out of his head, every chord and note of the lead-guitarist he can play along perfectly. Going up in his guitar-playing, Yuuji didn’t notice Shinji knocking on his door.
”THERE’S TOO MANY QUESTIONS AND TOO MANY STRINGS AND IT WON’T KEEP THIS THING TIED, ON A ROLLERCOASTER-RIDE, IT FEELS LIKE I’M LYING NEXT TO A GHOST AT NIGHT! I DON’T KNOW WHY I GAVE YOU MY HEART CAUSE SOMETIMES IT FEELS SO WRO- SHINJI! BUGGER OFF!” Yuuji suddenly stopped playing and singing (well.. rather shouting) along as he notices his older brother standing in the doorstep.
Shinji couldn’t help but grinning. “Sorry Yuuji.”
”You know I want you to knock first!” Yuuji is blushing while putting away his “baby” , a rather expensive black electric guitar. It took Yuuji all his savings and several side-jobs after school to gain the money for it, Shinji knows how proud Yuuji is of the guitar. It’s like Koji and his skateboards.
”Yuuji-kun, I just got a call from a teacher.” Shinji continues, more serious now.
”Oh god, what did Koji do?” Yuuji grins.
”It was not about Koji.”
”Not? But…What would a teacher want from me now? I graduated already months ago!” Yuuji says indignant.
”Yuuji, it was about Toshi.”
Yuuji doesn’t really like the tone his brother uses now, and a slight presumption is coming up. Shinji is going to ask him stuff about Toshi which Yuuji really didn’t want to tell him.
”Toshi?” Yuuji acts as if he is surprised. “Since when does Toshi cause trouble?”
”The teacher said he didn’t. Though I wondered, maybe you know anything about this? Maybe Toshi told you something or anything…You see, I am afraid this will be about Kun-Kun and, well, maybe about our parents or home-situation. I know the director and Yamamoto-san solved it, but still. Maybe they want him to see a psychologist or anything?”
”Possible.” Yuuji avoids eye-contact with his older brother. “But how am I supposed to know that stuff? Toshi never really talks to me, rather to you and you know that.”
”Well I don’t know, he likes you as well, you used to always read him bedtime stories and stuff, I thought that he maybe-“
”Bedtime stories? Shinji that’s ages ago!” Yuuji laughs. “I know he is mentally quite young, but I don’t want to support him in staying a child forever.”
Shinji silently nods and bites his lip. “Anyway, that teacher is going to pay a house-visit in an hour-“
”What? Wow, that’s fast.”
”I guess she wants to talk about something serious. Anyway she’s coming within an hour, so better prepare yourself for a visitor Yuuji.”
”Well, I have to do grocery-shopping anyway, I’ll go within 50 minutes and with a bit of luck I’ll miss her then. I don’t like teachers.” He grins.
”And you just don’t want to get involved in that conversation.” Shinji grins.
”That too.” Yuuji laughs. “And now get out of my room!”
“I told you it wouldn’t work.” Akira says disappointed as their English teacher, a horrible and mean old man with actual British parents, steps on the almost invisible little wire in the corridor, but nothing happens.
”Just wait a little while my friend.” Koji grins. “ It will work!”
They’re hidden around the corner and watch every step their most hated teacher makes,
”No Koji, it’s not wor-“
”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!” A male voice shouts.
”What did you say Aki?” Koji laughs, as their English teacher is suddenly soaked with water and ink, fired by a bucket above his head, placed on the lockers, and two water-guns, of which one filled with ink.
”OH WOW COOL!” Akira shouts.
”Quiet you idiot!” Koji shouts, and he places a hand in front of his friends mouth. Though the teacher heard him, cause he turns around and marches into their direction, he never looked as furious as now.
”Shit, Aki, RUN!” And the two run as fast as they can, away from the place of the crime. The teacher shouts, but they don’t hear their names, a good sign.
Koji and Akira run into their classroom, and sit down next to their other friends.
”Ookaaay, where do you two come from?” Shun asks.
”Nowhere.” Koji grins innocently. “Right Akira?”
”Y-yeah, just…Getting some fresh air.” Akira gasps.
”-And exercise!” Koji adds quickly, to explain the gasping.
”…Right.” Shun says suspicious. “And what have you really-“
”EVERYONE HERE, DON’T MAKE ANY MOVEMENTS!” A furious male voice shouts from the doorstep, and suddenly the entire class falls quiet, but then the students start to laugh. The soaked and partial dark-blue coloured teacher is gasping and his face is red from anger, but he makes a ridiculous sight in the doorstep.
Koji can’t help but grinning proudly as he sees the great result of his joke, it took him days of planning and preparing.
Shun now looks at Koji with great admiration. “You,” he whispers. “are my hero.”
And Koji grins even wider. A step closer to his goal; being famous, for being Koji.
Sakura walks through the small front-yard and takes a deep breath before she rings the doorbell.A short silence, but then she hears movement from behind the door, and then it opens.
He is young, very young. Or at least he looks like that. His blonde hair is fashionable though naturally cut, as if it always falls in front of his eyes, whatever he does. His friendly blue eyes meet hers, and his smile is as friendly and comforting as his laugh she heard on the phone. He looks exactly like she imagined, though younger. And the hair-colour is a surprise.
”Hattori-san?” She asks hesitating, maybe this was an older brother or anything.
”Yes, are you Nozomi-sensei?” No, it’s not a brother. His voice is the voice she heard on the phone. This man, is actually the father of that poor child.
”I am.” She smiles.
”Please, do come in!” He answers and lets her through.
She is younger than he expected, that makes him even more nervous. He can definitely handle talking to older women, but women of his own age, or slightly older, that’s a different problem. Aw, why is he so bad with women? Could it be that Koji inherited also his skills in flirting? Cause he appears to have an overdose of talent when it comes down to that.
Shinji wonders what it will be this woman wants to talk about, probably that what he feared and explained towards Yuuji. Even if he had the feeling his brother knew more than he wanted to tell…
”Please, sit down.” Shinji asks friendly, while offering her a seat in the small living room, where, thank God, not a single underpants is hanging over the telly this time. “Can I offer you some tea, Nozomi-sensei?
”Oh, yes please Hattori-san.” She smiles.
Shinji grins, being called Hattori-san makes him feel old, definitely by a girl of his own age,. “Please, do call me Shinji.” He says without thinking.
”Shinji-san.” She repeats softly. Blushing a bit.
”Ah, eh well, I’ll get your tea.” Shinji mumbles realising her colour and feeling how nerves return. Oh shit, there it goes again. Well, as long as the rest of the conversation will be about serious things nothing will go wrong. Probably.
While serving the tea, Shinji at least notices his hands aren’t shaking, which is good. He is calm, and not interested in her which would make everything way more easy. As long as she won’t blush anymore…
”So,” he starts, as he takes place in a chair in front of her. “you wanted to talk about Toshi?”
”Eh, yes Hat- eh Shinji-san. You see, I wondered, why Toshi always carries that little teddy-bear with him?” It seemed like the best question to begin with.
Shinji looks a bit uncomfortable, this is indeed going the way he feared. “Ehm, well that bear is very special to him and carries a certain memory for Toshi, I guess the bear helps him bare a certain lose better.” Shinji tries to hint her about the situation, she must know about it. Most teachers on that school know, cause it happened when Koji was still in there, and Toshi was probably already in the first grade or something.
”A certain lose?” Sakura asks a bit surprised. She doesn’t seem to have any clue about the issue, which makes Shinji more uncomfortable.
”Ehm, yes. That bear was the last gift he got from his mother.” Shinji mumbles, staring at the ground.
’His mother? …So, that must mean-‘ Sakura feels how she gets shocked. That poor child doesn’t have a mother anymore, and this young man must have lost his beloved wife on a very young age!
”I am so sorry to hear.” She says softly.
Shinji looks up again and smiles a bit. “It is ok. It happened years ago, but Toshi was too young to realise, I guess he is traumatised and uses the bear as a way to feel connected with her again. The bear turned into his best friend, almost straight after it happened. He calls him Kun-Kun, cause he couldn’t find a regular name and used to call him Bear-kun.” Shinji smiles again, though a bit sad. “After that, he started to close up more and more. He lives in a little fantasy world, in which he probably escapes the rough reality, where he doesn’t feel that lonely, where he is still at the age when you don’t have to think about problems, and where you can play all day long. I partially see it as my fault and responsibility, after it happened I should have spent more attention to him. Maybe then he would have realised he is not alone.”
Sakura stares at him, this story almost worked on her tears, it’s so sad. Such a young family, torn apart by death. A father who can’t reach his child anymore and the child escapes reality. It does make a lot clear.
“Though this makes me understand a lot more, Shinji-san, I am afraid Toshi’s classmates don’t. You see sir, they pick on Toshi and bully him. Tease him with his bear…” She brings it carefully and hesitating, but as soon as she said it Shinji looks up and his eyes are suddenly bright, with a spark in it of anger, but also are they worried and shocked. He has very impressive and open eyes. She realises, the little boy almost has the same eyes, though even larger than this man. It is clear they have Western roots, everything reminds you of it, the hair-colour, the eyes, and in Shinji’s case; his body. He is really tall, even for a man, Sakura noticed this from the first second she saw Toshi, but Shinji has the same look; with a slight amount of Asian genetics. The looks of the man intrigue her.
”Bullied?” Shinji repeats. “…Really?”
”I am afraid so sir. That is why I am here actually.”
Shinji swallows, why didn’t he tell him about that? Why not?
”How- How does Toshi react on that?” He asks.
”Differs from day to day, but most of the time he seeks a place where the others can’t find him and talks to his bear. I always see him underneath a tree, I don’t work at the school for that long, but as far as I know it already goes on for a long while. I called you because I see Toshi…Well I find him crying more often recently.”
”And, doesn’t any teacher interfere? Do something about it?”
”Not really, I see Toshi sometimes when I am inside the building, but I am never the one watching over the children during the breaks. Though I believe it mostly happens when Toshi comes to school in the morning, perhaps… well perhaps it is an idea not to let him walk to school alone anymore?” She suggests hesitating. “I also, of course, informed other teachers, but since Toshi never complained about anything, we can’t really do something.”
Shinji stares blindly at the ground again for a while. ‘Not to let him walk to school alone anymore…Not to let him-‘ “Damn Koji!” he mumbles angrily.
”S-sorry?”
”Nothing, Nozomi-sensei.” Shinji says quickly and he smiles again. “I thank you deeply for telling me this and for your concern.” And he bows his head.
Sakura blushes a bit again, she was so nervous about doing this, it is against the school rules, and if Aoi-san would find out she is in deep trouble. But it felt like the right thing to do, she HAD to go to see Toshi’s family, and now she knows why. She won’t see this man and this house for the last time. She will do her best to help Toshi, and Shinji.
Suddenly, the phone rings and breaks through the silence.
”Excuse me Nozomi-sensei.” Shinji says, as he stands up to answer it.
”Hallo?
Yes, this is the house of the Hattori-family.
Yes, you’re speaking with.
Sorry, I am afraid I don’t understand- ah. I see.
Of course sir. I am on my way.” And then he hung up.
”I am very sorry Nozomi-sensei, but I have to ask you to leave. I have to go to- eh, a meeting.” Shinji apologises. “I , again, thank you for your help and concern. I will speak with Toshi about this issue, and I’ll try to find a solution. Perhaps I’ll see you again, let’s hope to share better news.” And he bows his head again, and lets her out.
”YOU, YOU-“ Brandon-sensei shouts to him. “YOU ARE THE SCUM OF SOCIETY! A THREAT FOR THIS SCHOOL AND ALL IT’S STUDENTS! I AM SURE THAT ONE DAY, YOU WILL END UP IN JAIL! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ON THIS YOUNG MAN?”
Koji moans and shoves a bit on his chair. “This chair is rather uncomfortable, Brandon-sensei.”
The English teacher even gets more furious, while he restarts his shouting some saliva spats out of his mouth and lands on Koji’s face.
”Eww, gross.” Koji mumbles as he wipes it away, completely ignoring all the insults his teacher shouts at him. It appeared he did recognize him and Akira while running through the corridor, and now Koji sits in his office, waiting for the principal and probably his mentor. Then he gets a lecture and some lame punishment, like cleaning the classrooms on a Friday-afternoon or something, and then he can go home again.
”You brat! I know what you’re thinking, that you’re getting away with this again by just doing a small task such as cleaning eh? Well not this time, Hattori. Not this time.”
”Eh?!” Koji now suddenly does listen to his teacher. No cleaning? No relaxing swabbing-fight with his fellow punished-ones?
”Yes, Hattori. Because today you went too far. WAY TOO FAR. I called to your home, and the one responsible for you is on his way. Plus you will receive detention for a month. AND you are suspended from any school-activities. Which includes our annual school-trip, this year to a snowboard hall Hattori. And this will cause you a remark on your school reports, this will be filed!”
“…Ooh, okay, I was already afraid something horrible was going to happen. But if you only called home then it’s fine.”
”DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME?! YOU ARE SUSPENDED FROM ALL SCHOOL-ACTIVITIES!”
”Yeah, so? I don’t like school, I dislike activities. So together they aren’t much fun either Brandon-sensei.” Koji says nagging. “Plus; I already had a problem with the fall-prom anyway. I promised four girls to go with them, now I am released from that as well!”
Ken Brandon wants to open his mouth, in his twenty years as an educator he never saw such a horrible student as this one, there is nothing to begin with him, he never listens, he doesn’t do his homework though he still passes his class, how hard Brandon makes it for him, he always finds his ways. Koji made him life sour ever since they met, and so does Brandon hate him ever since they met. But whatever punishment he gives, Koji turns it into a party for him.
But though the teacher wanted to open his mouth to shout further, he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
”YES?!” He shouts interrupted and angry.
Carefully, Shinji opens the door. “You asked for me, Brandon-sensei?”
”Hattori-san.” Ken Brandon never had Shinji as his student, but he knows this is the oldest brother out of four. Every teacher here knows about the situation. Brandon would have preferred a severe father, but as long as this young man has any authority above his younger brat of a brother, he can be of use. “You know your brother, I assume.”
Shinji looks at Koji, while Koji looks back while grinning, and innocently blinking with his eyes.
”I am afraid so, sir.”
”Better be ashamed indeed, Hattori-san. This afternoon your younger brother did something unforgivable. Please sit down, and listen.”
”KOJI!”
Yuuji looks up from his guitar-playing in the living room as he hears the door opening and his brothers enter, but continues after realising it’s just Shinji shouting Koji’s name, and Koji heading for his bedroom with an annoyed and slightly angry expression on his face. That happens more often.
”KOJI, HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?!”
”I don’t know, It was just a joke! Just relax and don’t be such a party-pooper Shinji.” Koji shrugs and he wants to walk away from his brother.
”HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! YOU ARE STAYING HERE KOJI!” Shinji really does sound furious, that rarely happens, while playing, Yuuji now opens his ears to follow the fight behind him, without interfering. It’s none of his business.
“WE HAVE SOME STUFF TO DISCUSS!” Shinji continues.
”OH PLEASE,” Koji starts shouting now as well. “ “We have some stuff to discuss” “ He repeats with a childish nagging voice. “ Well for your information gramps; I HAVE NOTHING TO EXPLAIN TOWARDS YOU!”
“OH YES YOU HAVE! First of all; what you did today was a shameful and childish action! Don’t you EVER think about your future?! What will become of you if you keep on behaving as if you are thirteen?! And what will people think of our family when you will be expelled?!”
”OH PLEEEAAASE,” Koji shouts again. “ First of all: You and saint Yuuji already fixed our family name so the only one who’d get blamed would be me! AND THAT’S MY OWN CHOICE! BUT MOST OF ALL SHINJI: STOP BEHAVING LIKE MY FATHER, CAUSE YOU ARE NOT! YOU AREN’T DAD! AND YOU WILL NEVER BECOME LIKE HIM! I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU OR RESPECT YOU AS MY FATHER, CAUSE YOU ARE MY BROTHER! AND I AM NOT THE ONE BEHAVING YOUNGER THAN I AM, I AM BEHAVING PERFECTLY LIKE MY AGE! I AM ENJOYING MY YOUTH! SOMETHING YOU HAVE LOST COMPLETELY GRAMPS! AND THE ONE BEHAVING YOUNGER THAN HE IS, IS TOSHI SO RATHER GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!”
”AH GOOD YOU MENTION TOSHI! CAUSE SECONDLY, I ASKED YOU TO BRING HIM TO SCHOOL! THEN HOW COME A TEACHER JUST TOLD ME HE ARRIVES ALONE EVERY MORNING?!”
“Ah you’re CRAZY! I bring him to school every morning! I just don’t walk him through the gates but PLEASE, he would get picked at if I did! I mean, we can’t hold his hand forever you know! YOU may think we must protect him, but I think that giving him more freedom would be better for him! It’s not like you owe all wisdom you know!”
”Well you definitely don’t have any brains up there! Look at your last school reports!”
”Ah well for your information; I am not failing and just passing the year, thank you! AND NOW I AM SICK OF THIS DISCUSSION GRAMPS! I am off, skateboarding. Won’t be there for dinner and I HOPE YOU’LL CHOKE IN IT!” and with that Koji leaves the house by using the doors to the garden.
Yuuji still behaves like nothing is happening and didn’t stop playing, apart from when Koji mentioned “ saint Yuuji”.
Shinji groans, he seems frustrated and hurt, but mostly worried. “And Yuuji PLEASE QUIT PLAYING NOW. Okay?”
Without saying anything, Yuuji stands up and puts his guitar away.
Those two fight more often, but this was…serious. Even for their habit. They usually don’t shout that much, definitely Shinji not. And Yuuji knows Koji hit a very sensitive string saying Shinji is not his father and will never become like him…
In fact, Shinji looks more like dad every day…