Gorō’s Feelings

“Uh,” Gorō muttered, his cheeks still hot. He cleared his throat and stood up. “Ichinose, I… I wanted to apologise.” He bowed. “I mean, what I did in the courtyard… It must’ve looked bad. And I shouldn’t have involved you, or caused a scene. I…”

“No, please, i-it’s alright!” Megumi started, expecting anything but this. She shook her hands, getting more flustered. “I mean… I should be thanking you!” She bowed to him, too. “You protected me! And…” She straightened and smiled. “Since we’re alone, I’ll be honest – it was about time someone kicked some sense into Shin Kawamura!”

Gorō blinked in surprise. He straightened and eyed Megumi curiously. Her smile was kind, a little playful, and timid. It reminded him why he had forgotten all about his gangmates back in the courtyard and hurried to her side when she was threatened. Now, her hair was tied up again, and she no longer brandished her sharp hairpins like back with those boys, but she looked the same. A corner of his lip curved up in an amused smile. He went closer and stopped in front of Megumi, looking down at her with admiration.

“I’m sorry once again,” he said, his husky voice gaining a soft edge. “I don’t usually lose my cool. It was just… my first time seeing a cornered tigress.” His smile deepened, giving her a clear message. “My feet brought me there before I realised.”

Megumi stared at him, her cheeks red like a tomato. He stood with his hands in his pockets and his jacket hanging on his shoulders, reminding her of Captain Rufy’s habits from her stories. But she knew she wouldn’t have been attracted to Captain Rufy if he were real – he had too much pride and fiery energy to her liking. Shimura, on the other hand, seemed reserved and soft-spoken, almost gentle. He even spoke in clever metaphors so as not to press her! It was captivating.

“A cornered tigress”? She thought, clasping her hands in front. She imagined a wrathful tigress baring her fangs at a group of mounted samurai, flinging her paws at their sharp spears. Her face glowed. Is that how he saw me back then, confronting Kawamura and the others?

“That was a beautiful metaphor, I’ll give you that!” She chuckled, flattered by his covert compliment. “So, Math wasn’t enough for you, then?” She pouted playfully. “You must rival me in languages, too! Well, I’m not losing to you there.” She locked her eyes with his, a challenging smile on her face. “Languages are my domain!”

“Huh?” Gorō was taken aback for a second, but then he understood. “Oh, you mean the calculus back on Ol’ Man Morikawa’s lesson?” He blushed and scratched the back of his head again. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout that! I didn’t mean to steal your crown.” He chuckled. “That’s the only subject I’m good at. Dad’s been cramming it into me since I was little. I suck at languages, so no worries!”

“Come on, that’s no fun!” Megumi crossed her arms. “I’ve wanted a worthy rival for so long!”

They stared at each other for a second, then laughed. Megumi averted her eyes from him again, too shy to look at him for long.

He’s so easy to talk to… She thought, feeling butterflies in her stomach. The corners of her lips lowered as she recalled her brother’s words. She glanced at the smiling Shimura with sorrow. Why did he have to be a criminal? He seems such a good man…

The bell rang, startling them. They exchanged glances, neither moving for a moment, until Megumi smiled awkwardly and turned away first. She returned to her desk to prepare for the lesson. Gorō quietly strolled up to his seat beside her, realising that she should no longer be disturbed.

Their classmates barged in, talking and laughing. Megumi noticed Chiyo and Natsume among them, going to their seats. Everyone seemed at ease. Megumi knew it was because no one feared Shinagawa Sensei but respected or even adored her. The only rowdy ones in her class were Shin and his two cronies, Tōma and Fūta, who often got detention.

Gorō ignored Shin completely, although he was quite aware of his presence. It made Shin even angrier. He clenched his fists under his desk, seething. Megumi, on the other hand, was pleased to see Shin’s bandages and barely held back her smile.

Serves him right… She thought. So many boys got sent to the infirmary because of him! Now he has had a taste of his own medicine.

She scoffed and averted her eyes from Shin, focusing on the door instead. Ms Shinagawa entered, holding the papers of their previous assignment. She walked to the teacher’s table gracefully, her heels clicking on the floor. She passed her hand on her ponytail, adjusting it, and sat down on the rolling chair. She placed her papers neatly on the table and looked at the class.

I was right! Megumi brightened up, eyeing the papers. She’s already marked the essays! Ohh, I wonder what she thought about mine?

Gorō had resumed his sleeping pose, but he was awake. He watched Megumi squirm with excitement and couldn’t help smiling behind his folded arm.

She’s enthusiastic about the lesson, alright. He thought. I wonder what her favourite books are? Then, the corners of his lips lowered. I bet I haven’t heard about half of them, even if she told me. He sighed. She must be way out of my league.

“Good afternoon, Class!” Ms Shinagawa smiled at the students. “I’m Yoriko Shinagawa. I’m repeating this because I see a new student among you.” She looked at Gorō. “You must be Gorō Shimura, the transfer student! It is nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Sensei.” Gorō stood up, bowed to her formally, and sat down again.

Megumi blushed, proud to see Gorō’s refined manners. She didn’t know where this strange pride came from. Was it perhaps because she’d acknowledged him as her crush and now wished to catch on to every positive trait he had to counter the facts about his criminal past? The remembrance of her earlier conversation with her brother still nagged at her mind.

Ms Shinagawa’s smile deepened. She was happy that the new student turned out to be polite, despite his dishevelled uniform and delinquent vibe. She resumed her lesson in peace, addressing the whole class.

“As you can see, I’ve already graded your essays,” she said. “You can pick them up to check your mistakes and your marks!”

She gave the papers to the Class Representative, Ryōsuke Itō, who began distributing them to the students. Then, she turned to Megumi.

“Your essay was especially profound, Ichinose,” she said. “I loved your take on Akutagawa’s Yam Gruel.”

“Thank you, Sensei!” Megumi brightened up.

Ryōsuke brought her paper to her, and Megumi ran over it, excited. She had gotten a 100% mark for it, and Ms Shinagawa’s compliments were marked in red in certain places. There were some minor phrasing suggestions too, but nothing serious to reduce a mark. Megumi squeaked with joy.

Gorō kept watching her with a smile. He felt butterflies in his stomach when he saw her so happy.

“May I read your essay later?” he whispered without thinking, and blushed when he realised what he’d just done. “I… I mean… I love Akutagawa’s stories, too! And I’d like to know what Shinagawa Sensei values in essays.” His thoughts, however, were slightly different: I wonder what Ichinose values in books.

“Oh, s-sure!” Megumi smiled, turning redder. “I’ll lend it to you during the break!”

That was their last interaction for that lesson since Megumi had to focus on the subject. Gorō kept leaning on the desk in his sleeping pose, but he couldn’t sleep. He listened to Ms Shinagawa’s and Megumi’s lengthy discussions on Akutagawa, since Megumi was the most active student. He couldn’t take his eyes off her for the whole lesson, and finally realised – it was something more than curiosity or even interest in her.

It was a crush.