Chapter 8: One of us

The bell officially rings for lunchtime and the warm breezy afternoon along with a sea blue sky clear of clouds awaited us as we make our way to a hill within the university where you could see an astounding view of the place as I tucked into a fat bacon butty I pre made whilst taking in the lovely day as I properly read a note that was left on my desk by a certain someone saying ‘you’re doing a great job, I’m very proud of you, love S’ as my big smile suddenly turns into a straight face as I look up from the note to one of my students who wished to talk.

“Did you need something, Nahoya?” I ask him in a manner that means I wished to finish my lunch. Nahoya was Sara’s partner in class as I wanted each person to have a partner each term to grow stronger bonds and help each other pronounce their English easier and clearer, making it better to work out problems especially in English.                                                            “Actually sir, I did, I’ve been feeling a little uneven recently, my mother’s feeling unwell and I’m worried something might happen, I was wondering if I could leave earlier today to see her?” Nahoya asks me in a saddened but polite manner.                                                                                                        

“Has your assignment been complete?” I ask him.                                                “All done” he replies.                                                                                              “Then of course, just do me one thing though, send her my best wishes and a speedy recovery, here’s some yen for some flowers” I say throwing him some coins.                                                                                                                        “You truly are the best Sensei, I give you my thanks” he replies in a good mood now running to the door.                                                                            “Hey you students make it much easier for me now run along” I tell him as Sara stands at the door with her lunch.                                                            “Why don’t you ever give me time off?!” she says in a jokingly manner as she grabs my blazer for me.                                                                                “Because he actually completes his tasks and doesn’t gawk at their boyfriend all lesson” I say laughing.                                                                                      “You love it though, shall we head to the field, Kyle and Nathan have a space” she says back smiling leaning onto my shoulder. As we exit the building, loud yells erupted that can be heard for miles as Nathan tells Kyle to get up off the floor as he is huffing and puffing heavily.

“I know you said you wished to improve your upper strength, now is not the time for your usual stupidity, can you at least let me eat my lunch first” Nathan exclaims as he gives Kyle his lunchbox that was kept in Nathan’s bag along with a roller for himself.                                                                          “What did I tell you when we were kids Nath, that I would become the ultimate fighter once my upper strength is improved and I know that day is just round the corner and I’m going to savour your tears when you are beaten, and you can stop parading like the invincible man” Kyle proudly says with his hands on his hips like he has just given a huge speech to war troops. “Well, it’s nice to know you have a goal even if it is a silly one”.                                                                                                                                                               “Say what you want, you best be ready because I’m going to surpass you even through sweat blood and tears!” Kyle proudly says as I can’t help but laugh at the statement.

“Anyway, back to you Isaac, are you sure you’re doing the right thing becoming Sara’s boyfriend, don’t get me wrong you both look good together and you have mine and Kyle’s support through it all but surely you’ve dove into this too quickly, from the other night I can tell just how powerful the Okamato family are and in my opinion I don’t think we’re ready to associate ourselves with them, they’re lovely people don’t get me wrong but we haven’t been here for a month, hell Kyle can’t go a single day without being tormented by Ena and I’m going to lose my sense of hearing by standing next to Yukia too often, she sounds like an airhorn for fuck sake” Nathan exclaims. “And Ena can be so cruel when she senses weakness, I wanna be adored” Kyle genuinely scared says. This conversation was said in front of Sara showing they couldn’t give a rats arse.                                                                      “Anyway, don’t let this conversation put any pressure onto you and Sara, we love you both and after all we’ll be seeing them a lot more and it’ll become more familiar overtime”.                                                                                              “Thanks Nathan, I really appreciate the concern” I say as I decide to stand up whilst slapping my hand on my knees.                                                            “Right, where did you leave the footy, I think we’ve enough time for a kick about” I ask as I look at my watch.                                                                        “It’s in the storage cupboard just underneath Kyle’s porn magazine stash” Nathan says as I look at Kyle in disgust.                                        

“Let me guess is it underneath the Briana Banks special mag?”                            “Nah I’m sure it’s beside the 2005 Annual” Kyle responds.                                   “Hahaha, you dirty dog” as I start to pick up the pace to the classroom.

“So have you enjoyed your time in Japan thus far?” Sara says to Kyle as he digs his nose for a bogey.                                                                                     “Fuck me that was a fat one, sorry, yeah, it’s been entertaining to say the least, I’m more bothered about Isaac’s time, now he’s in line with one of the most powerful families in Tokyo, I hope he can make that woman happy without any more hardships like he had back home because he deserves to be happy, now can we get back to our training Nathan?” Kyle proposes.                                                                                                                                                    “If it’ll get you to shut up and you better last more than 2 minutes to make this worth my while” Nathan responds to his constant offer to spar.                  “At your ready” are the words Nathan says to Kyle standing opposite him with his fists up for Kyle to charge and strike. The loud and quick strikes to each of the boys’ bodies sounds like something out of street fighter as it catches the attention of their students walking past which included the girls as Yukia seems to drop her food but catch it immediately in astonishment of Nathan able to take Kyle’s blows with ease and read Kyle’s moves as Ena becomes very impressed from a distance with Kyle’s willpower to see through his claim and dodge many strikes, Nathan’s reactions were as quick as a cheetah when facing Kyle’s fury of kicks with both not looking to break a sweat as they exchange fists and kicks at a high intensity for about 5 to 10 minutes as I struggle to find the football with books landing on my head along with Kyle’s mag I was told to look under. One peek never hurt anyone as I admire the jugs with a smile as I come charging down with the football in hand for the remainder. Running at full pace into the fray to call it a day on the sparring as Nathan nudges Kyle back a few steps allowing him to charge, luckily, I saw his massive fist flying into me as I pull the biggest ‘oh shit’ face and dodge for Nathan to connect with Kyle who flies to the ground.

“Had enough?” Nathan victoriously says.                                                        “Yeah, I’m calling it quits today but my word Nath I nearly gave in early to your blows” Kyle says whilst catching his breath.                                            “Well, I wasn’t going to let those months in the cadets go to waste, was I?” Nathan follows as I boot the football down the hill for Kyle to chase.          “Did you see that?” Ena says to her sister lost for words at the session that took place before her eyes.                                                                                        “I haven’t seen sheer strength like that in a long time, they are levels above our foundation members, Lord Hozumi would be blessed to see these two spar with his own eyes”.

The day was coming close to an end and I receive a message from Kosuke which came unexpected as I was chatting to Sara and my message tone was a loud car alarm of the car my father drove scaring the rest of the class, the message would read:                                                                                                ‘Good afternoon Isaac, apologies for messaging on such short notice but my father has requested your time for a meeting at our place, he requests this due to the other night when we had you round for dinner, he feels he was out of line and wishes to make amends, please can you confirm if you will be present tonight along with Nathan and Kyle? Kind regards, Kosuke’.

Having the thought of Sara’s father wish to see me again gave me a glimmer of calmness knowing I have a second chance to make a good impression as the other night didn’t really count due to the circumstances that unfolded so I make sure to keep it a secret from Sara, give her a hug and kiss goodbye, wait behind with the guys then make way to the mansion after Kosuke’s request. For some reason I was still feeling the same as I was when I first met Hozumi despite having been at the same table as him, that’s just how scary his presence is to many, so I had to make sure I was composed and ready to come face to face once again. As many places were closing for the day, the three of us make haste towards the Okamoto mansion and as we enter a shortcut to the mansion in the form of a black alleyway which wouldn’t be lit in the dusk of night covered in graffiti, Kyle grabs onto Nathan jokingly acts scared from the atmosphere this alleyway brings as not all parts of Tokyo are gorgeous and full of life, this area merely reeked of piss and booze but it was the quickest route. However, our conversation about if we would rather sit on a cake and eat dick or sit on a dick and eat cake was interrupted at the end of the alleyway by 2 men in black suits blocking our path until another man emerges from in between wearing a grey suit and black boots to compliment his look.

‘Good evening gentlemen, may I have a moment of your time?” the man in question says to us.                                                                                                 “Oh yeah, who’s asking? I know you’re asking but I mean I want to know who you are, you get me” Kyle responds.                                                                     “My name is Navarro Fujioka and that is all you need to know so far, are you perhaps familiar with the Okamato family by any chance, young man?”. Judging by this man who had a tall approach and combed over grey hair matching his vicious eyes and rings all over his fingers and the fact that we’ve never met before is asking us about my girlfriend’s family knocks me the wrong way for some reason as he directs his attention towards me, something wasn’t right.                                                                                       “Yeah, and what if I am?” I tell the man who was being far too nosey for my liking. 

 “Ok we’re making quicker progress than I imagined, do you happen to have any relations to the only daughter of that family?” Navarro says as the questions keep on coming.                                                                                         “I am her English teacher” I respond to his question giving him an honest answer as a small chuckle can be heard.                                                                  “Is that so, well I get the impression that a lie has been told to my face, you see I already know a fair bit about you, and you should know that she has already agreed to marry another man and requires no further relationships so I would request that you do not see this woman in your spare time” Navarro says stamping on his statement.                                                            “And we’re supposed to believe you have the right to decide that, I get it now, you’re with that Ito family aren’t you?” Nathan says out of the blue.                  

“I guess it’s all out in the open now, regardless I do believe you are good people and I’ve tried to be reasonable but it seems you have no desire to cooperate, but you are fitting in with the wrong crowd, let me make myself clear though, we have a deal with the Okamato family and will do all is necessary to see it fulfilled and if you boys even try to ruin this reputation, I, along with many others will personally make you regret it!” Navarro angrily says.                                                                                                                                  “Like I said, I’m afraid I can’t let you decide that, if I am told by the Okamato family to not see her then I will obey but I will not take it from you, now if you excuse us, we’ll be on our way” I say as we make way towards the end of the path where the two guards block the way with stern looks and gripping fists as Navarro pulls out a gun and directs it towards us.