Reencounter / まだの出会い

Making my way through the student crowd, I entered those turbulent academic corridors for the first time in weeks.

Unbeknownst to me, on my right, a girl came dashing through the entrance, abruptly stopping next to me.

“K-Kimura??? You scared me!”

“If it isn't Ishida!!! Glad to know you're safe and sound. Holidays can make you lose touch with the speed of learning! That's why you got to keep running! At the speed of lightning!”

“Umm Kimura?”

“Yes?”

“Do you know where the first class of the day is?”

“Ah, I see, I see. You're still the same slow and lazy high schooler. Rest assured; your friend Sakurai here will help you catch up back to pace! Whenever you need help, we can study together!”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

The memories of last year's studying sessions at her house made a short trip to the forefront of my brain. In the midst of so much messing around, she actually helped me pass one or two classes. Though I hate to admit it, Sakurai Kimura was a better student than me. In essentially everything. Even more when it concerns athletics. One of our school’s top athletes.

“Ishida, you're a lost cause, but don’t worry, I'll help you. Useen Bolt wasn't born the fastest in the world, he achieved it through hard work!”

“So, you're going to make me the next 100 meters Olympic champion? Also, you misspelled his name.”

“No, no, nothing of the sort. I'm going to turn you into that speedster, The Dash.”

“For that, you'll need to strike me with lightning, something I'm not very fond of, as you're probably aware. Also, have we been reading the same comics?”

“Is that so? Well… you do have a point. We are lacking the key factor. The catalyst.”

“Don’t compare the situation to a chemical reaction.”

“Feeling radioactive today, are you?”

“Kimura.”

“Yes?”

“We’re supposed to be studying, and you should be teaching me how to integrate functions, integrating functions!”

“Ah, right, sorry!”

She opened her notebook, avidly searching for the notes she took during Math class.

“Ah, found it! Alright, let’s start with exponential functions! They remind me of how our friendship has grown so much recently. I’m lucky to have such a good friend.”

“I don’t know if I reciprocate those feelings,” I said, murmuring to myself.

“Hmm, did you say anything?”

“No, nothing.”

“Back to studying!”

Returning to present day—I was still left in the dark concerning the location of my first class.

“So… where is the first class today?”

“Do you really not know?” she asked, thoroughly disappointed.

“Do I have the face of someone who does?”

“No, you have the face of an idiot.”

“…”

I sighed.

Have some consideration for my neurons, will you? I was doing just fine, lying in my bed. Don't go around making such daunting demands out of the blue!

“Ah well, still the same old. I'm glad. Just follow me.”

As we were both walking down the corridors, one could now more than ever feel the environment of a senior high school. The background noise of classmates catching up with each other’s holiday endeavors. The first-year attendants probing their new home. Those half-empty classrooms.

Aaaaahhh. How I didn’t miss them.

“So, how were your holidays?”

It was inherently a normal question, however, her attitude was doing everything but comforting me.

“Let me see… I visited Kurume and went to Kitakyushu to see a classical music concert to welcome Spring. It was really fun!”

“You didn’t even leave the prefecture, and you call that holidays well spent? Where’s the old Ishida, I want him back already…”

Disappointment was all that leaked out of her face at that very moment.

“What do you mean? You just said minutes ago that I hadn’t changed one bit during these holidays! Also, what’s wrong with not travelling outside the prefecture?”

“You lack ambition, that’s all I’m saying!”

“Whatever. Now I’m extremely curious, where did you go?”

“Itoshima.”

“Huuhhh? You’ve got to be kidding me. Just now, you were ridiculing me for not travelling farther away from here and you didn’t even leave the prefecture yourself either. Now that I think of it, there’s a word for that, Miss Ambition… and it’s called hypocrisy!”

“Me, a hypocrite? If I could, I would have even travelled abroad! I just didn’t have enough money to afford it.”

“Okay, you’re forgiven.”

“Uh, just like that? How kind of you, Ishida-sama!”

“Shut up.”

“Okay, okay!”

“Sadly, you missed out on some tasty heavenly gyoza from Kurume! From the oldest specialty store in all of Japan!”

“That was a low blow. You know I love gyoza!”

“It’s such a shame though. They’re already long gone now, otherwise, I would have saved you one.”

“Shut up.”

A few steps later, after letting things cool down for a bit, I questioned her about the status of our own trip to the classroom.

“How close are we?”

“We’re almost there.”

This was it, the final corridor. We were close to our classroom. However, before we reached the door, someone was peeking at us, with their face sideways, almost forming a right angle with the wall. Having noticed it, Kimura suddenly dashed towards the student.

Enter Hatsui Yokoyama. Seventeen years old girl with the attitude of a young adult woman already (not always though), shoujo and romance manga addict, and an old acquaintance of Sakurai Kimura. Stares at people sideways. Which side is it each time? Kimura once told me she can't predict the side she'll lean to, however, she did state it's possible to calculate the angle her neck makes with the vertical plane—

“Sharpened HB pencil, mechanical pencil, compass, tricolor ballpoint pen, super glue, rubber band, paper clip, bulldog clip, power clipper, permanent marker, safety pin, fountain pen, correction fluid, scissors, cellophane tape, sewing kit, plastic isosceles triangle, fifty-centimeter ruler, rubber cement, letter opener, an assortment of chisels, paint, paperweight, ink.”

“If neither of the above stationery tools brings you any closer to your desired outcome, just use a protractor,” she said. “It's easy,” she said. I've still yet to find a big enough protractor to this day.

“HAATSSUIIII!!!”

I felt bad for her. She was merely peeking and, as a result, nearly got assaulted by Kimura.

“K-K-Kimura???”

Yokoyama was being pseudo-crushed by her. Again, I felt bad for her.

She rapidly continued.

“How have you been? We're in the same class again, isn't it amazing?”

“Y-Yes.”

It was all she could expel from her mouth after that unforeseen encounter.

“Umm Kimura, shouldn't we head inside? I really don't want to be late for the first class.”

All three of us entered the room. In total, there were twenty-four students sitting at their desks. In front of all of us, stood a tall man with a particularly light brown shade of hair, dressed in the stereotypical white shirt and blue tie, with black pants completing his formal look. He closed the door and emitted a clean “Good morning, everyone”, signaling the start of the first class. The new school year had begun for Class 3-1.

However.

“You’re all very quiet. Let’s loosen up a bit. How were your holidays like?”

No. Everything but that. The athletic girl and I were probably thinking the same thing, “Oh god, not again”. Just go straight to what you’re here to teach us. I’m sure we all had wonderful and memorable holidays.

With this, our new year officially began.

3:30 PM. Our cleaning time was finally over. Most students had left already, but a few stayed inside for a couple more minutes. This included, but not limited to, my two female classmates I encountered earlier that morning. Near the open door, waiting for me was one of my only friends. To be exact, my best friend. Yes, a guy. Sorry to disappoint those who expected an ever-expanding female cast. This isn’t a harem novel.

Anyhow, back on topic. Naoto Ueno. A stellar student with matching stellar grades. My studying partner before my friendship—if I can even call it that—with Kimura began. We've known each other since junior high school, back when he was my only friend.

Right at the bottom of the room, watching us like a surveillance camera was none other than last year's representative of class 2-1, the same one me, Naoto, and Kimura were in. A respectful guy with good leadership skills. A calm person with a strong moral compass. Featuring all the specs required for a position such as class rep. Top of the range. My vote was extremely likely to land on him once more this year—no, it was guaranteed.

Kimura waved at me, “Ishida, I'm off to volleyball club, see ya!”

“Yuki Ishida, wasn't it? Nice to meet you. We can talk more another time if you wish to do so. I’ll add you to our chat group later, show me your Line ID. You’re not in it yet, right?”

“Yes, I’m not. Here you go.”

I accessed my profile and showed her my ID.

“Thanks. I sent you a friend request just now. I’ll go now.”

“Alright, see you both tomorrow.”

Yokoyama was about to leave, but, being the one furthest ahead and noticing her fellow extracurricular club member behind, Kimura grabbed her hand.

“Huh? Don't say that! We could still meet before the day ends, after club activities, you know?”, she asserted, adamant about the idea of meeting me again.

“Yes, yes, whatever floats your boat.”

“Let’s go, Yokoyama!”

She left, dragging her classmate along.

“Kimura, calm down! We still have time! The gym is close!”

Now free from that walking energy drink, I walked up to the door, where Naoto was standing. He packed a frugal smile, ready to greet me.

“Hey, Yuki! Long time no see! How have you been?”

“I'm fine, didn't notice you earlier in the morning today.”

“I see my invisibility cloak still works.”

“And I see your sense of humor is still intact. How were your holidays?”

“I travelled to Kyoto for a week, it was really amazing.”

“Seriously? That’s awesome, I’m kind of jealous now. I’ve never been there myself. What did you visit?”

I looked like a curious child wanting to learn more about the outside world, but this time it wasn’t the world, it was my best friend’s March holidays trip.

He swiftly listed some of the places he visited.

“Umm… Fushimi Inari Shrine, Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and… I forgot the rest, sorry.”

“Wow, only those two are enough to make me visit Kyoto.”

“Right? They’re so beautiful! I loved the traditional atmosphere of it all.”

“Maaaan, I wish I could go there.”

“Never know when you may get an opportunity, don’t lose hope!”

“If you say so.”

“What about you?”

“Eh, nothing special. Visited two cities in our prefecture.”

“If you had fun, it doesn’t matter where you went. People love to travel abroad nowadays, but I think appreciating your own country and even prefecture is equally as important.”

“I know, right?”

Aaahhh, thank you for understanding me, Naoto. Finally, someone who values the simplicity and beauty of Japan as much as I do.

“That’s why I chose Kyoto as my trip destination after all.”

“Checks out. Anyway, an underclassman told me you’re still in the Math club.”

“Yeah! The other members kept telling me to stay, insisting that my presence revitalized the club. Guess I really had no choice,” he laughed, with his typical innocent sweaty smile. “You did have a choice though,” I thought to myself, almost spitting it out loud, although, in the end, I decided to keep it to myself.

I waved at him.

“Well, I'll get going, Naoto.”

“Goodbye!”

Each of us headed towards our respective club spaces.