An illegal letter

After history class, I decided it was time to go to the principal and hand him the letter my parents had to sign. I leave the classroom and go straight to the principal, knocking on the door several times. No voice is heard inside. So I go to the counter and talk to the woman there, leaving her the letter with the written reprimand.

“Good morning! I also have this letter that I should have left to the director, but I don't think he is in his office. Can I leave it here and can you give it to the director?” I say, handing the letter.

The voluptuous woman nods, taking the sheet from my hand and putting it in a file that only she knows what it is for. I return to the classroom, realizing that I have Politics. I go to the locker in the hallway and leave the books I don't need, taking only the Politic textbook and a few course notebooks. Then I go straight to class, already occupying a bench. I don't want to be put in a position where Imada casts her eyes at me because I'm alone.

I open the textbook and start reading today's lesson because I have a feeling the teacher will listen to us. This is unusual because she rarely listens to us from the day's lesson. In fact, I think it only happened twice, but that's when we were in the lower classes and we were more agitated, making noise in the classroom.

Several students show up in class, talking loudly about all sorts of things. I don't notice them and keep reading.

“You realize that man killed himself... poor Keiichi family... and his soul mate...

I raise my head nervously, realizing who's talking and about what. I realize in the tone she uses is that she is doing it on purpose, and when I look up, I see Imada's hateful eyes. When she sees me, she lets out a sly grin, turning to Furukawa and continuing the conversation.

“Well, Iwamoto had a very big escape. Everyone believes that the two had a secret relationship, but no one has evidence against them and we cannot rat her on.

“Do you think she hears us?” Furukawa asks.

I lower my head back to the book when I feel the two look back at me. I put my hand in such a way as to cover my eyes so that I can peek between my fingers.

“I do not think so. She learns a lot, and when she studies she doesn't play around,” says Imada in a superior and funny tone, as if she were telling the best joke. “Maybe they were very good friends, but everyone thinks they were together. The whole school is talking about her.”

“Gossip isn't good, though, and it pays off.”

“But we're not gossiping, Furukawa. I just told you what happened... What are you doing?!”

I look up a little not knowing why Imada looks so anxious. I meet Furukawa, who sits down next to me, smiling.

“I don't like gossip.”

I look at her puzzled, not knowing how to react. I nod and turn back with my eyes in the book, although I can't concentrate at all. But in my defense, after I had dinner with my parents last night, I really studied.

“Good morning!” says the politics teacher, entering the classroom in a hurry with the catalog. “Let's make the presence.”

It starts calling us by name, in alphabetical order as we are written in the catalog. When someone hears his name, everyone is obliged to stand up and say his full name, the fact that he is present, and the wish that everyone is tired of.

“Iwamoto.”

I get to my feet, looking directly at Imada, who looks at me with the same hatred.

“Iwamoto Akemi, present!” I say, holding my back straight. “A day full of gold and diamonds.”

I sit back, ignoring Imada, who doesn't lose her stiff gaze. I just look at the letters without actually reading anything.

“Furukawa Atsuko, present. A day full of gold and diamonds. Long live Golden Power,” she says loud and clear, then she sits down on the chair, winking at me.

“Dear students, this is a real greeting, which you, lazy people are not able to do... You should take an example.”

Everyone rolls their eyes, sighing. The teacher knocks twice in the chair, trying to keep quiet, calling us naughty.

“Well, as you know, this habit is not practiced, however, I am very curious. So I will open the catalog at random and the person I will name will stand up, followed by the second person whose name I will say,” says the teacher, everyone groaning and gaping.

I let a small smile appear on my face, realizing that the instinct I had was not the wrong one. Which makes me think of the home inspection, the illegal concealer tube, and the diary. I let out a short, silent sigh to escape between my lips.

“Imada Katsumi, please get up. And... Iwamoto Akemi, too.”

We get up without paying an extra word, and when I look at Imada I can see the terrified look on her face. A grin comes to me, trying to stifle it with a grimace.

“Miss Katsumi, please tell me three laws from Art. 16.”

Imada begins to stutter and sneeze.

“In-In ... In Art. 16 of um ... The Constitution of the United Regions ... is proclaimed...

“Do you know what it means to proclaim?” The teacher asks, putting her hands on her chest and waiting for an answer from my poor friend. Imada says nothing as if trembling. “I want you to tell me in your own words, not definitions in the textbook. I don't want you to learn the laws this way. I want you to be aware of their power, of their importance, and to remember them as best as you can, keeping only the essentials. Iwamoto, a little help?”

I nod.

“Turn off at midnight in summer and winter, this is at 8 o'clock. The lights go out once the time of extinction is established. Thus, no one is allowed to leave their own house after the hour of extinction, not even in case of emergencies. For emergencies, the special button installed on the remote control that everyone has, that button is used,” I say without stuttering or getting confused.

“Very well, this is one of the laws in Art. 16. Can you tell me another law?” The teacher asks as if she already knows her answer. Imada shook her head. “Miss Katsumi, you can sit down, but for today you have a low point that will feel at the exam. Miss Akemi, you can continue with the other two.”

I nod.

“Alcohol consumption is made only with the special card that each citizen receives at the age of 18. Thus, the limit imposed on the card per day is two beers or two ciders, or a small bottle of wine. In fact, the purchase of alcohol is made separately from the other goods purchased. The third law of Art. 16 is that cigarettes and harmful substances, such as drugs are strictly prohibited, and their consumption is punishable by imprisonment.”

The teacher seems satisfied and as a reward for my effort to learn, at the final exam, I will have an extra point that can raise my grade if I miss an exercise. The class passes quite quickly so that the teacher explains Art. 16 much better, making a comparison between the new Constitution and the old one before the war. However, the information received from the school at that time, before the Great World War, seems to be incomplete and vague. I learn more from my guitar teacher.

At the end of the class, Imada is called by the teacher, and the rest of my friends and I go out in the yard, enjoying the ten-minute break we have. Mano is waiting for Imada in front of the class. With or without Mano, the atmosphere is the same.

“Iwamoto, you're very smart,” Furukawa tells me suddenly.

“That's because when I learn I don't play around,” I confirm to them, winking at them.

“Yeah... I thought you heard. She does it on purpose to annoy you. I don't know exactly why she wants this, but you can rat her anytime, you know?”

“That doesn't interest me. I'd just like it to stop and that's it.”

“But you and... the boy who killed himself…”

“No, I had nothing to do with him. I just didn't think anyone could actually take his own life. Especially a simple student.”

The rest of the day passes without me realizing it. Towards the end, I realize that I forgot to go to NPI to schedule a new To-Do List. I decide to go after school after I meet the requirements I received with the punishment. Thus, the classes end without any other incidents and when everyone is getting ready to leave, I sit on the edge of the stairs, waiting for the maid.

Imada has calmed her down from the incident in the Politics classroom. I watch her and Mano hold each other in their arms in the schoolyard before they each go home. Hokama says goodbye to both them and me, and Furukawa was taken a few minutes ago by her father, who I feel works in a very important position.

Mano raises his hand, holding Imada's tightly, and twists her into a pirouette. I'd love to see her fall. If anyone knew I thought that, I would probably be punished or sent straight to correctional school. I look at Imada's leg, at the same time visualizing in my mind how it falls. Her foot slips off the curb, and Imada falls to the ground, screaming. Panicked Mano got up and picked her up, leaving the school immediately. I remain motionless in total shock, not realizing what actually happened. I did this? I think it's just a coincidence.

I get up from the steps, wanting to sit on a bench, but when I look at one, I feel a familiar presence next to me. Nagamine. Am I going crazy? Nagamine looks at me for a long time, smiling and radiating happiness. I read in his eyes a small trace of panic, although he seems extremely happy. I keep my normal expression because I wouldn't want anyone to see me staring blankly, talking and smiling. But can the others see Nagamine? I have the vague impression that they don't and that only I see him because I'm carried away.

“Are you ready? You're the punished girl, aren't you?”

I turn my back on Nagamine, seeing a short woman and realizing she's the maid. It wasn't very hard, especially since she holds a broom in her hand. I get up from the stairs and comply. She takes it first and shakes her hand to follow her into the school. I give one last look at Nagamine, but he's already gone.

We walk down the hall, the school being so deserted. We stop in front of a door, which I always sensed was her closet. She opens the door with a key and hands me several products, showing me where to start and what my route would be for this day.

I nod and take things, putting them on a small cart to which is attached a trash can. The maid goes in another direction and I head to the place she showed me. I start cleaning the lockers on the outside, and then she comes to mop. Then we will clean the classrooms.

I go from locker to locker. I have already cleaned mine and have long since passed Nagamine's old locker, which now belongs to Furukawa. Of course, all things were released yesterday and handed over to his family and soul mate. It is rumored that she received a box full of letters for her that Nagamine wrote over time. Looks like something Nagamine would do.

I reach Imada's closet where I see a small note among the ventilation grilles. Without thinking twice, I take the note and allow myself to read it. It's probably something romantic, a syrupy gesture from Mano.

Meet me today, Wednesday, June 4, 2216, at the tree in the park.
-TK