Normal-day Learning

"As it was. Napoleon stood up and said to his fellow congress," Toshi Mizuki's eyes screened through the pages of the bookon top of her desk, moving the pages slightly she added:

"All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others." Finally concluding Napoleon's speech to his congress. Toshi took a slight bow as a token of appreciation, and while taking her formal seat, a crowd of applause followed.

The teacher, Sakaji Kuruizawa, also applauded, showing his gratitude on Mizuki's reading. Moving away from the applauds of the class's president, he looked to the side of the class's vice president - Junko Hayata. Next it was the dinner table scene in the widely-acclaimed novel.

Junko rose from her seat. Her elegant poised composure already sweeping away the rows of applauds. All remaining silent, staring at the tall girl in front of them. They couldn't explain it, but from the occasional gasps of some of the seated students; mostly the girls, it seemed obvious to them that Junko had grown a tad bit taller. Unlike her usual height, she seemed as tall as Mr Kuruizawa.

As the book pages flew over each other, Hayata's hands fell on the corresponding chapter that today's essay's quiz was on, and started reading. Her voice carried a certain rhythmic undertone that made some of the students feel a certain imbalance to their own poise, and some shifted a bit in their seatings. Apart from Seiichin Minari who was fully asleep, every other person in the room was ears deep in everything that came out of Junko Hayata's mouth.

Apart from the height difference that seemed to change overnight, everything else seemed okay and balanced to her character as usual. The only thing that was different was the enigmatic feeling that radiated her presence now. It felt more alive than it usually was. In the past, it was still present. But it seemed to be kept in bay. It's only now, that it seems that way.

Junko's grey eyes cruised over the contents of the pages, ever so freely that it seemed like she had memorized it in her mind. As she continuously read, the atmosphere begun to slightly shift from the quiet of normal monday morning to something akin to a mental institution. Everything felt dark, gloomy, or just a bit cold around the edges. It had a more surreal feeling to it.

But all came to an end as she also stopped reading. Her mouth seemed to move by its own. Without words flowing out of those ashy lips, it seemed as if she was lip sinking. The whole crowd was still silently staring at her. And as she came to her final reading, her lips finally stopped, and her eyes closed for a bit. Then she said:

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." 

With that she closed the book, bowed slightly, and took her seat ever so elegant.

Still in shock, no one seemed to notice her seating. They were all still caught up in a moment long gone. Not knowing whether to applaud or to just stay silent, the eeriness and the uncomfortability of everything sent them all in a quiet frenzy. Just a bit before Mr Kuruizawa saw the crowd, he moved back to his desk. Seiichin Minari; the student at the back who was already fast asleep, was the one to break the silence. Applauding with heavy claps that echoed through the silent classroom.

... And as in unison, everyone else followed.

As the crowd of applause flowed through the entire classroom, Mr Kuruizawa called out to Toshi Mizuki, and handed her a large bin full of papers. She was to distribute them all out to the students, as they shall be note-taking on the already read essays.

They were three forms each student could partake in. It mostly depended on what the student in question had in mind. They could choose either in all sense. 

The Corruption of Power, would eventually lead them to analyze how Napoleon transitions from a revolutionary leader to a dictator, using fear nd violence to maintain control.

Propaganda and Language explored how Squealers and the pigs used language to distort reality, such as changing the commandments to fit their needs.

And the Betrayal of Ideals discusses hoe the original vision of "Animalism" or equality, is destroyed, concluding with the motto: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."

This was the class's assignment for the day. Whichever they choose, they would still come to a resounding conclusion. Or so Mr Kuruizawa hoped for his students.

As time fell like petals of a blossoming cherry flower on a Summer Fall afternoon, same did the passing of the Mr Kuruizawa's class. Before long, midmorning was at a close, and every student was off for their break. Many rushing to the lavatories to firmly fix themselves up. While others, mostly the boys, went out for a school stroll and a little bit of group talk.

The only people left in the classes were Junko, Yuzuha and Toshi Mizuki. Even Seiichin was out, having wandered off with Ryuunosuke for a public stroll. Having slept through the entire class, had he no shame?

"Still arranging the papers Toshi?" Yuzuha asked in a polite, yet playful way. Toshi had been assigned the work of collecting all of the essay papers and delivering them to Mr Kuruizawa's office after class.

"What can I say? The benefits of being the teacher's pet." Toshi adds in a low sigh. The blue box already showing its weight through Toshi's constant grinning.

Without any more talk, Junko stood up, causing Yuzuha; who was busy combing her long dark hair, to fall over her chair. Slowly raising Yuzuha's body to her feet, Junko moved forward towards Toshi's location, and slowly lifted the slightly heavy blue bin. Toshi seeing this moved to the side, allowing the strong girl to be freed onto the wide hallway.

Not even phased by the insanity of what just happened; since they've seen it all, the two girls followed behind their friend Hayata. Leaving the classroom behind, and off to the teachers' staffrooms.