Mission: Contact

The evening dusk had already begun to filter through the leaves of the trees. The classic scent of spring and flowers hung in the air. Despite the still-cool air, the sun provided a comforting warmth on the skin as Takeshi made his way to pick up a few small items. He loosened his tie slightly and strolled through the narrow streets.

A single car was passing him and his shadow circled around him.

I'm used to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but I have to admit, the calm and drowsiness of this town are actually... pleasant. I like the silence. It's... calming. It makes it easier to perceive one's surroundings, to detect danger. And it's exactly this kind of calm that makes opponents careless.

He was used to analyzing others passing by. Steps, their behavior and body language. Every variable can define if someone is a threat. In this town, there were less people, less variables and less noise he had to listen to. People vanishing on the street was highly unlikely.

As Takeshi turned onto the main street, he could already see his destination. The store was the only one of its kind but fortunately close to the school. Takeshi bought a few everyday items and left the store after a few minutes. The classic chime rang as he stepped through the exit door.

He had intended to head straight home, but then someone caught his eye on the other side of the street. Someone peering into the window of a laundromat.
The laundromat was quite old and in poor condition, yet it gave off a certain charm. In front of it were parking spots where the painted lines had long faded.

School uniform, blond hair, piercings, flashy nail polish... there's only one person I know who stands out like that. But what are you doing here?

Naomi wasn’t that kind of person who could sit still. She was loud, mocking and restless. A person who seems to always look for something. Something that she misses. But now, time seemed like frozen around her.

Her gaze doesn’t shift. It’s fixed, expectant. Like someone watching a wild animal, hoping something will happen soon. At least she doesn’t appear to have any thieving intentions. Probably... But if she does, it's my duty to neutralize the potential danger. Though... would I even report her to the police?

There was someone during my basic military training who regularly stole small items. He was dishonorably discharged when he was caught. I wonder what happened to him?
It would be my duty to report it. Not as a teacher but as a citizen of this country. That would be the right thing to do, wouldn’t it?
The problem is... justice is subjective. Every person has their own definition of it and believes it’s the correct one. Mine is: not to ruin a young person’s future over a simple mistake. A single entry on paper, written in less than a second… and suddenly it defines your entire life. But sometimes that's exactly what steers them back on track. But what is the right track?

I... I should assess the situation. Maybe I'll find out what’s the reason... or rather, I want to find out. It's also my duty to protect these kids, even if it’s from themselves.

Takeshi stood a few meters behind her and observed.

Tense shoulders. Clutching her school bag. White spots on her hands. Lack of circulation from blood pressure. A reaction born of emotion. She stands like stone. Motionless, and yet everything inside her is moving. She’s revealing more than she realizes. Is it…

“Asa-san,” he said calmly before the thought could finish.

“UUUAAAH!!!”

Naomi stiffened. Like she’d been struck by lightning, a shiver ran down her spine. Shocked, she spun around.

“K-Katou-sensei! W-What are you doing here?! Are you following me?”

Seems pretty self-confident, thinking even a teacher would follow her. There she stands, hands on her hips, puffed up and glaring. But in the end, I know what you are. The only question is why.

He stared at her in silence for a few seconds, said nothing, didn’t blink. Naomi grew uneasy in the silence.

What was she looking at? All I see is a typical laundromat setup. Some machines still steaming, a ceiling already yellowed, an old counter with peeling surface. A woman at the register helping a customer. Maybe early 40s. Completely ordinary. So... what’s special about it?

“Well, say something already! Or should I call the police?” Her provocation had a hint of uncertainty.

Bold for a high school student... and she’s got quite a loud voice...

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just shopping at the store across the street. I saw you and thought I’d say hello.”

I sound like someone desperate for small talk. Unnecessary.

“Ugh, you’re weird. If you just wanted to say hi, you could’ve done it from across the street. Instead, you crept up and gave me a heart attack.”

“That wasn’t my intention. Old habits die hard...”

Back in the old days, being able to surprise someone was tactically highly valuable. If the awareness is down, enemies get sluggish and need more time to react. Time that can decide the outcoming of missions.

I really should work on being more noticeable. I remember someone in my unit constantly complaining that he never saw me coming. I’d just be behind him. Very useful in the field, kind of strange in civilian life.

“Old habits? What kind of world do you live in where that becomes a habit?”

A world you couldn’t even imagine.

“Well, I tried to learn how to hunt a long time ago. Not that easy. I guess I never shook off the silence.”

Okay, not entirely true, but not a lie either... I shouldn’t say more than necessary.

A car passed, casting warped shadows as its headlights swept over Naomi’s face.

“Aha... You’re a real oddball... All dressed in black, creeping up on people, know how to hunt... Tell me, do you hang from the ceiling at night?”

Do I look like a bat or something? I don’t recall my bed being a coffin...

Her reaction, a little over the top. Humans tend to overreact, hoping to hide something through distraction. Maybe out of fear, mistrust or self-protection. She wasn’t an exception to human patterns. She couldn’t be.

“No worries, I’m not interested in your blood,” he said with a wave of his hand.

“Y-You didn’t deny that you hang from the ceiling at night!” she huffed.

He knew reactions like this.

A defense mechanism. She meant it as a joke, yet there was a sliver of truth behind it. Was she afraid of the dark? Or of Dracula? Maybe just of being alone... Some people hide their true intentions behind exaggerations and jokes and yet still hope to be taken seriously. Paradoxical, isn’t it?

“If I did, would that scare you?” Takeshi asked, trying to soften his voice. Unsuccessfully.

“Oooh, I’m sooo scared!” Despite Naomi’s mock-bravery, Takeshi caught the glance. Quick, subtle, her eyes flicked toward the streetlamp.

Just like I said, an exaggeration to hide vulnerability. A classic tactic. Some laugh, others panic...

“Anyway, I’m heading home now.” Naomi let out a quiet sigh, her shoulders slumping. Then she slung her bag over her shoulder as the wind played with her hair like a wind chime.

Takeshi cast a brief glance through the same window Naomi had been staring into. Inside the laundromat, a woman stood behind the counter serving a customer. The interior had clearly aged, and the register system looked like it had been in use for at least twenty years. A nearby window let out the pungent smell of detergent and disinfectant. The whole setup gave the impression of stepping into the past. A time long gone, out of reach.

Hmm… Around forty years old, brown hair, slender, dark circles under her eyes… Sleep-deprived? Most likely. Her movements were practiced. She’s been working there a long time. The smile on her lips was one of professionalism, not joy. Why would a high school girl be interested in a laundromat?

I should accompany her. Maybe I’ll find something that can help me understand. I need to gather more intel.

Naomi hadn’t gotten far when Takeshi appeared beside her.

“I’ll walk you home. It’s already getting dark, and you shouldn’t be out alone at night.”

“Uwah! Seriously! Stop doing that! Are you sneaking up on me on purpose?! I didn’t even notice you again!”

Faint lines creased Naomi’s forehead as she furrowed her brow.

Takeshi looked at her calmly and chose not to respond.

After a few seconds, they walked silently side by side.

Not talking won’t help. I guess I’ll have to take the initiative.

Just as he was about to say something, Naomi glanced at him.

“So, what’s it like being the new teacher at school?”

Heh, thanks for the prompt...

“Well, it’s a bit of an adjustment. Most teachers are stuck in old ways, teaching new teachers outdated methods. But I do like the cafeteria food. Sufficient fuel.”

“Sufficient fuel. Which normal person would call it like that?”

“Someone who focuses on efficiency.”

“That’s ab strange thing to do… but I guess we all have our quirks. Anyway, it is true that your classes are kind of weird, Katou-sensei. It’s different from the others. You don’t assign homework and mostly just talk to us. Sometimes it feels like you’re just a moderator,” Naomi shrugged lightly.

“Is that a bad thing?” Takeshi leaned slightly forward to gauge her reaction.

The Japanese school system loves measurable results. Attendance rates, test scores and so on. It didn’t care much about thinking, but more about memorize, repeat, forget. And when they finally left school, they were praised for how well they’d followed instructions. Takeshi had no interest in creating obedient citizens. The world had enough of those.

He had seen enough recruits who stuffed their brain with everything for the exam. But when things get serious, they fail. Experience, reflect, adapt is the more valuable skill than theoretics. That’s the main reason why his lessons are different.

“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… different. Definitely more pleasant. But with you, we have to pay more attention.”

“Do all the students in class feel that way?” he asked.

“Most of them… As far as I know, no one’s said anything bad about your lessons. Quite the opposite, actually. A lot of people are thankful. It feels like a productive break.”

She’s quite talkative. Seems like she has a need to express herself...

“Uh… there’s just one problem…” she continued.

What now? Am I being too direct? I never learned how to be a teacher, let alone how to teach. Makes sense if the students don’t connect with me.

Takeshi was lost in thought, until a loud voice drew him back to reality.

“Sensei?”

“Yes?”

“Are you even listening? None of us knows what we’re supposed to study for the tests!” Naomi turned her head and looked at him accusingly.

Oh, I guess she’s right. I never clearly stated what exactly to study. My goal is for them not to need to study for the tests. If they pay attention and think, they can figure out everything themselves.

“Understood. But don’t expect me to give you the answers…”

“Hehe, too bad! I had a little hope… But honestly, it doesn’t bother me that much. School’s just… totally dumb!” Naomi turned toward him and stuck out her tongue playfully.

“Why?”

Takeshi raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. He had expected something like this, but hearing it so bluntly still surprised him a bit.

“You sit there all-day learning stuff you’ll never need, and everyone’s fighting for a spot at some fancy university. I saw this movie recently with gladiator fights. School kind of feels like that.”

“I don’t think you’re entirely wrong,” he agreed.

“Eh…? Didn’t expect you to agree. But then you get what I mean. I’d rather spend my time doing something else… or being with other people.”

The last part sounded like it carried a trace of sadness or longing.

I don’t think you’re alone in that. A lot of people feel the same...

“Whatever. School’s a joke. I know everything about Oda Nobunaga, but when I try to rent an apartment, I end up crying.”

She laughed a little too loud and sharp. He was trained to get micro reactions. A short hesitation, a flick of the eyes, an answer that took a second longer than usual. Nothing was coincidence. And now, his radar went off.

“But hey, at least I can recite all the rivers in Japan in my sleep. That’ll surely take me far. I mean, as long as you score 100 points in math, nothing else matters.”

Her voice carried sarcasm and mockery, but also a trace of bitterness.

“There’s truth to that. I wish the education system focused more on actual thinking instead of just memorizing.”

“Huh? If you’ve got so many complaints, why did you become a teacher?”

Good question. I’m not really sure myself.

“Someone’s got to start doing things differently, right?”

Naomi stared at him for a few seconds, unsure of what to say. It was clear she was thinking about his words. After a moment, she broke the silence.

“Huh… you’re a strange one…” Naomi folded her arms behind her head, looking somewhat pensive.

“You’re pretty cheeky, talking to your teacher that directly.” Takeshi tried to make a joke but, as always, sounded too serious, and Naomi flinched slightly as if remembering something.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re right.” Naomi gave a small bow, her voice carrying a hint of embarrassment.

Still not great with jokes… I wonder if I’ll ever get the hang of it.

“Relax. We’re not at school. Outside of school I am just a normal person.”

“Yeah, easy for you to say. You’ve got to follow the rules, and the rules say I have to be respectful.” Naomi shrugged. Her voice had an almost accusatory tone, not toward Takeshi, but toward everything.

She’s right. Everyone is given a role. Usually from birth. But no one tells you where these rules are written, who made them, or what they even are. But somehow, you’re expected to follow them.

Be a good son. Work hard. Don’t step out of line. Sometimes it’s just a look, a missed invitation, avoidance. Life is trial and error, but society rarely forgives the trial-and-error part.

And it’s not even about right or wrong, it’s about fitting in. Even if “normal” is completely off, people still expect you to go along. So, you do just enough to avoid attention.

Keep moving. Keep quiet.
And when everyone tries to stay invisible, no one has the freedom to grow.

Naomi noticed Takeshi had gone quiet. She leaned forward slightly to get a better look at his face.

“You okay, Sensei? You got really quiet…” she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

“Mhm. I was just thinking about what you said, and I think… it’s okay to stand out sometimes. Everyone has to live their own life. No one’s going to live it for you. So you’ve got to decide for yourself how to live it.”

Takeshi’s voice was calm, his gaze distant, as if remembering something.

Faint creases formed on Naomi’s brow. A flicker of something crossed her face, maybe doubt or confusion. Her posture stiffed for a second, then relaxed again. She opened her mouth slightly, as if to say something. In the end, no words left her lips.

He noticed the shift and steered the conversation elsewhere.

“By the way, you know dyed hair is against school rules, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I hear it all the time from the other teachers. But they’ve all given up. So don’t you start telling me to stop. I like my hair the way it is!” A swift hand gesture, a look that said she’d heard this line too many times before.

“I wasn’t planning to. Just curious. Like is said, I don’t mind standing out from time to time.”

Her hair color matters more to her than school? She gets in trouble for it regularly and still… I get the makeup… plenty of students wear makeup, subtle enough to go unnoticed. But the hair? That’s rare…

The school was fairly strict with regulations, at least officially. Minor infractions were usually ignored. Sometimes skirts weren’t just above the knees, shirts hung out…
After that, the conversation turned lighter and more casual. They talked about all kinds of things, especially the upcoming school events. Naomi wasn’t particularly excited. She found those events exhausting and annoying.

The wind was crisp, not cold, but a reminder that summer hadn’t quite arrived. Some leaves drifted to Takeshi’s feet, and in the background, the Hida River murmured softly. After a few minutes, they reached a street corner.

“You know, it’s kind of weird walking and talking with you like this. Doesn’t happen often, y’know?” Naomi said out of the blue and picked up her pace slightly. Her gaze lowered, not to the ground, but somehow deeper, as if she were seeing something only she understood. The wind swept through the alley, and for a moment, it seemed like she was about to say more. But just as quickly as the expression appeared, it vanished.

“But it wasn’t so bad.” She turned and gave him a wide grin.

Takeshi wasn’t sure how to respond, and before he could say anything, Naomi spoke again.

“Ah! I’ve got to turn here,” she suddenly said.
Takeshi nodded.

“Well then, take care.”

A brief pause. She wanted to say something, but no words came out. Then she smiled again, just like before.

She’s hiding something. Something big enough to affect her mood. But what could it be? What would a high school girl be staring at in front of a laundromat window? Normally, you just go in, drop off your laundry, and leave. But standing there, staring through the glass… that’s unusual…

“See you tomorrow, Sensei!”

She turned, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets.

Even though her steps sounded light, they carried more weight than usual.

(Hi, Noriku here! If you’ve read this far, thank you so much for your support. I’m always trying to improve, so it would make me really happy if you left a short comment!)