"Sorry to have to call you again, Otsuki-san, Atsumi-san, Riku-san."
"I already told you yesterday, there's no need for such formality, you can call me by my name, I don't mind," Haruka proclaimed.
"If I were you, I would call all the parents by name. The fact that they trust our school is a sign of trust, and enough to make me feel a certain closeness with the parents, but I need to be formal in these types of cases." In a sympathetic tone, the principal clarified his opinion on the use of names during the meeting. More than a meeting, it was going to be a discussion to see how much time I had left at home.
Contrary to what I expected, the principal was much calmer than I expected. He still maintained that serious tone, both in his voice and on his face, but more than a military man, he really looked like a high school principal.
" :2!";_¨`*-san, if you want, we can resume the conversation once the chat is over."
"Yes, so Otsuki-san and Aitsuki-san can leave earlier."
"The same goes for you, Kenzo. You can address me by name; no need to be so formal."
" It's the custom, but if it bothers you, I can call you something else."
"No, it's okay. I just said that because the atmosphere was very tense, that's all."
And what does that have to do with your name?
In front of the principal's desk were four chairs, ready to receive the four people who were to appear today.
They were overconfident in thinking I'd show up... but well, in the end I 'm here, which is even worse.
"So, are you feeling better, Otsuki?" Referring to the wound behind the patch, the director asked about Otsuki's condition and her wound.
"…I'm better. It's not that bad." Just like his mother did when my father and I showed up at their house, he treated his own injury as minor. The principal gave him a small smile.
"Take a seat," the director offered, extending his right arm and hand toward the chairs.
"Thank you very much," Haruka said. Seeing her mother thanking her for the seats, Otsuki did the same, in an overly serious tone. "Thank you very much."
I sat next to my father, with Haruka to my left. I didn't say anything when the seat was offered to me. I thought about leaving before I came in. How do you expect me to open my mouth, Dad?
The director thus began the meeting, "Now that we are all here, I would like to ask you something, Aitsuki-san."
Otsuki nodded, trembling slightly at the mention of her name, but determined to answer whatever the principal was going to ask. I could imagine the question, and it bothered me.
"You know who spread that video, right?" With a completely serious tone, he addressed Otsuki, who couldn't look him in the eyes—yet.
With a slight hint of self-confidence, gripping the end of her skirt tightly, she replied.
"Yeah."
"Could you tell me?" He continued to stare at Otsuki through his glasses, waiting for a completely honest answer.
"I… haven't…"
"While I'm asking you a question, look me in the eye." Imperative. It was practically an order. In a short time, he went from a calm, relaxed, and perhaps a little friendly director to a serious director who won't let the slightest offense or lie go unnoticed.
Otsuki raised her head, a little, but just enough to look him in the eye. Trying to calm herself, she took a moment to breathe. With a touch of guilt, she spoke.
"It was me." He said nothing more.
Neither how her friends were the ones who passed the video on to her, nor how her classmates were the ones who broke that "promise" not to share it with anyone else. After all, she broke that promise in the first place.
"I understand. There's no need for you to tense up any longer. I won't ask you any more questions." Returning to his calm and understanding self, the director somewhat reassured Otsuki, who stopped clutching her skirt but lowered her gaze slightly.
"We heard about the video yesterday. Some students mentioned it and showed it to us. Aitsuki-san, I see you understand the seriousness of what you've done."
"Yes." Until this moment, she had simply nodded, believing it was useless to make any excuses.
"I know you're a good student. It's normal for you to do the odd stupid thing. I'm the first person, after the teachers, to take advantage of your youth, responsibly, of course. But I can't just let you go with a warning."
"I understand. I expected it." Glancing slightly to the side, she tried not to appear monotonous, but at the same time, she said something she really wanted to communicate: how she knew what was coming.
"I'm glad to hear it. With your behavior now, I guess it goes without saying, but you've truly forgiven Riku, haven't you?"
"Yes. I've already apologized to him." When she confirmed it, the principal looked at me for a moment. Guessing what she meant by her look, I forced myself to open my mouth.
"We've both made up…" A weak, serious response. Still, the director heard me and nodded.
" And speaking of you, Riku-san. I'll tell you the same thing Aitsuki-san did, both the good and the bad. The only thing I'd tell you is to remember to leave your school shoes in your locker. You've cleaned them, right?" He didn't use that tone he used with Otsuki—one time I do it, I'll die sitting down.
Still, I continued to die anyway, since he mentioned the one thing I didn't want him to say. My face reddened slightly, and I practically looked down.
"Y-yes, I cleaned them, and they are not broken."
My father looked at me with a slightly odd expression, a mix of surprise and annoyance, both at not having told him about this. It's also his fault for not having noticed.
The atmosphere in the office calmed down quite a bit, although I think the only ones who were tense at first were Otsuki and me.
Having finished that brief conversation, the director stood up from his seat, grabbing both cups from the desk and heading to the coffee pot at one end of the room. My father reacted instantly.
"You don't need to give me another cup, I don't want to cause you too much trouble."
"Don't worry about that, since you got me up, I can give you another cup too, or don't you want?"
"If you don't mind, then go ahead."
"With two sugar cubes?"
"Yeah."
These guys have become friends or something in the ten minutes I've been out. I didn't know coffee brought people together so much, or that it was alcohol...
"Do you want some too, Otsuki-san?"
"No, I don't drink coffee, I'm more of a tea person."
"I understand."
As the coffee was being prepared, the director turned around, addressing me and Otsuki first.
"If all the kids in this school were like you guys, I'd save myself a lot of fights. That being said, do you know how &$%"! and =@º\' are, Riku-san?"
The question took me by surprise. I hadn't expected him to mention anything about them, but I understood why the director would be concerned.
"…I haven't spoken to them yet."
"Not even by text?"
" I'd rather do it in person."
I haven't used my phone for anything other than watching videos at night, trying to talk to Izumi every now and then, or jerking off whenever I feel like it.
"Whether in person or by text, you should talk to them. Take this as advice; in these kinds of complicated situations, it's better to be together. Not only to help each other, but to prevent that small distance you have now from intensifying over time."
My mind went into a trance for a moment, ignoring everything the director was saying. It would be weird to say anything over text, considering everything that's happened. At most, I'd text them to meet and talk, but I'd rather they come. I'd rather know if they care enough about me, especially that little guy.
"Is something wrong, Riku? Are you worried about something?" Haruka looked at me, worried about my expression. I was a little tense, yes, but I was also suddenly annoyed.
"Ah, no, it's nothing…" I came back to myself, and once again acquired a somewhat shy and passive composure.
"It's normal for you to feel this way; you don't have to cover it up or ignore it. Do you want to see them again? Is that it?" Like a psychologist, or a magician, the director understood what had me so tense. I wouldn't say that, but something more… selfish.
"… More or less."
The second cup of coffee finished brewing, and after a beep from the machine, the manager turned around to pick up the cup and pour two sugar cubes into it.
My father looked at me for a moment. I don't know what he was looking for, maybe he was just worried about me, like everyone else. His gaze was softer, like the one he normally has at home, along with a slight smile.
The principal returned to his seat, leaving both coffee cups on his desk, free of any sheets of paper, leaving one in front of my father's seat, and another next to his.
"I don't know if you were prepared for it, but I still have to congratulate you for coming to class, Riku-san."
"…?" I find that spontaneous compliment odd. If he was here because of something I did wrong, why is he congratulating me? He's only been saying nice things about me, right after I've done something wrong.
"Having the courage to come here so soon after an accident like that—depending on how you feel—may be something you regret or something you're grateful for. It may not have turned out well now, but I hope to see you at school after your punishment."
"And, son, I've told you this many times at home, but don't force yourself to do something you're not ready for. I don't see it as a bad thing if you want to come to class early, but if you think you need more time to prepare or calm down, don't hesitate to do it."
My father continued the director's compliment in a somewhat matter-of-fact manner. Hearing it from him gave me a strange feeling; I've never felt that way before when he's said it to me. It's as if it were something inappropriate.
"As your father says, you should always put yourself first. It's fine to miss two or three weeks of school if it means you'll improve with that time at home."
They were supporting me, helping to lift my spirits. They just said nice things to me.
The director said one last thing in this motivational talk, with a touch of respect, and in a slightly more personal way.
"You are strong, Riku."
My father continued, "If you need to ask me or anyone else for anything, don't hesitate. I told you you're not alone, didn't I?"
Haruka also offered some support, "You can count on us for any favors you need." She also added a humorous touch to her contribution, "If you ever run away from home, you can stay over at ours, right, Atsumi?"
"…" Even though she was forced into this meritless round of applause, Otsuki said nothing. Her mother, lowering her tone slightly, urged her a little, "Come on, say something."
"…Do whatever you want." Embarrassed at having been forced to speak again, Otsuki said the first thing that came to mind, trying not to look in my direction.
I was also ashamed of being told all those things, of being given that advice.
It's like they've forgotten why we're here.