"Seiji? A moment?"
The voice was like a splash of cold water for Seiji.
He knew what was coming next.
Ms. Takumi stood by her desk, arms crossed over her blazer. Waiting. Menacing.
Seiji kept packing his backpack until the last few students filtered out of the classroom.
The last thing he wanted was for others to hear whatever his math teacher had to say to him. She had nothing good to tell him.
When everyone else left, Seiji came over.
"You know where your grades are, Seiji, I assume?" Ms. Takumi said, all curt and distant. "They're trending toward a failure. In your final year. Do you understand what that means?"
Seiji looked down. "Yes."
"Are you planning to do anything about it?"
Seiji looked at her. Suddenly he really wished he had an amulet on him. It could've made dealing with Ms. Takumi easier. She seemed so mean and immovable.
"Yes, I am," he said quietly.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Ms. Takumi snapped. She loomed over him, her eyes scanning his face. "Because this is your last warning. If there is no immediate improvement in your grades, you won't graduate. As simple as that."
She glared at him some more in silence, and finally added: "You're dismissed."
Seiji nodded and walked out of the classroom.
He didn't feel afraid of Ms. Takumi.
More annoyed than afraid.
But he began to worry about not being able to graduate.
What a nuisance! All you need to get in trouble is one evil teacher like her.
"Man, she really laid into you, didn't she?"
Masashi was waiting by the lockers. He adjusted his glasses, and started walking in his hopping way to keep up with Seiji.
"You gotta get serious, bro!" Masashi rattled, as he always did, quickly and nervously. "It's like... like in Death Note, y'know? One wrong move and your whole future is just—poof—gone! How could you let your grades slip like this?"
Seiji kept walking. The sun was hitting the pavement hard.
"I'll handle it, Masashi," he replied.
"I'm just saying! My parents would literally kill me if that was me. And think about it—if you fail, we won't be in university together. Who am I gonna talk to? You're like the Sasuke of our group, man. Cool and whatever, but Sasuke still had his jutsu down. You need to study!"
Masashi kept talking, going off on a tangent about another anime series and how the main character was a "total loser who worked hard." Seiji just switched to the white noise mode.
It's funny how Masashi thinks books and comics are fun. How they are "real life".
Seiji thought of the two women who were waiting for him at home.
He felt warmth in his stomach.
That's real life, man.
"You know?" Masashi touched his shoulder.
It was the corner where they'd normally go their separate ways.
"Yes, yes," Seiji said. "See you later".
The house was quiet when Seiji walked in. But something didn't feel right.
Seiji felt the way you feel just before a thunderstorm. When you know that the quiet is just about to end.
Haruko popped out of the kitchen to greet him.
She was wearing a simple house dress, her hair pulled back, but she looked more animated than usual.
She glanced around and then leaned in and kissed him on the lips.
A lover's kiss. Not a stepmother's.
Seiji could taste her lip balm. Cherry blossom.
Mmmmmm.
"Welcome home," she whispered.
"Thanks."
"How was your day?" Her hips shifted slightly. He noticed, and she smiled when she saw that.
"Alright," Seiji said. "A little tired. I'll go upstairs."
Haruko's expression changed. Her jaw tightened. Her smile faded.
"You want to see her more?" she asked.
Her.
She didn't use Yumi's name.
That's how women talk about a rival.
"I think she's been waiting for you all afternoon," Haruko added, her voice bitter. "Pacing around up there."
Seiji didn't answer.
He just started up the stairs. He could feel Haruko's eyes on his back.
The thunderstorm had arrived.
Seiji passed Yumi's room. Her door wasn't fully closed.
He saw her, and she saw him at the same time, and she instantly came out. She didn't look happy. She looked a bit pale.
Eyes focused.
As if from a lot of thinking.
Here we go… Thinking can never end well…
"Hey, Yumi," he said.
She nodded.
"Hey, Seiji... can we talk?"