I Just Don’t Get School Politics

Tatsuya poked at Yusuke. He looked very uncomfortable. I find solace that it’s him who is facing the brunt of Tatsuya’s attacks. Not me. In home economics, they sat next to each other on the side of the classroom with the door. However, I think this is the new seating arrangement for all lessons now. Saeka is now my seatmate. I still sat next to the window.

I think I overheard Tatsuya calling Yusuke “Young, dumb, and full of cum.” I just… I don’t even know anymore. Hell, that’s making me blush. My current seatmate, Saeka, I don’t know how she goes along with her unofficial boyfriend. To be fair, it’s not like Saeka isn't as unorthodox as Tatsuya.

Our homeroom teacher told us that home economics would be postponed until next week. Instead, we’re now learning about the reasons why we do home economics as a subject. Minetaka-sensei, how meta. Something about how many students leave school on their own and have a lack of cooking or just looking after themselves. I say oops to that.

I gave a quick glimpse to Minoru-san. What a contrast from just like… an hour ago. Crazy confidence. He must’ve noticed me because his face went quickly to a guarded stance. I didn’t even know the facial muscles could contract to form that. It’s hard to reconcile my mental image of him throughout the years with… what happened over lunch.

The clock struck fourteen. No. This is not 1984, and even if it was, the reference would be correct if it was thirteen. It was 14:00 on my phone. Going onto the last hour of school. Not a lot of work to be expected. The teacher just sat there as we went our time supposedly doing our work. Minetaka was typing away on his laptop. As I looked to my right shoulder, I peeped Saeka looking at me. She’s going to ask me for help. Then her mouth opened. “Hey, Honzo-kun! What’s your answer to Q7b?” Nevermind. She was a pretty diligent student. I don’t have the heart to tell her I’m nowhere near, so instead I told her “Actually, I’m on Q6, I’ll let you know when I’m there.” Yeah. I’m on Q3. Why are we doing worksheets for cooking?

Then my answer came in the form of Tateishi-sensei. She was a new home economics teacher, and she was quite good at her job. A pleasant lady, and competent at many odd jobs throughout the school. I assume she was meant to teach us, but she couldn’t. She ordered the class to listen to her as she gave an announcement. Tateishi’s style was elegant. She had a bob cut, a nice purple blouse, and a nice figure. This has got to be like the 900th time I give an eye-candy description. Minetaka just sat on his laptop. I don’t think he cares.

“Good afternoon Class 2-B. I’m sure you all know me by now, but I’m Tateishi Reiko, and I’ll be your homeroom teacher for Tuesdays only! Minetaka has himself cut with coaching the school football team so I’ll be here throughout the year. Please cooperate with me, I’ll be under your care likewise with you guys.”

What a smooth transition.

Tateishi-sensei then told us not to mind her too much in our lesson. She gave a signal to Minetaka for him to stop watching over us. I’m sure he was relieved that he could go. She then sat down and told us that there was really no need to reintroduce ourselves as she knows all of us anyways. Tateishi, if you’re wondering, is in my top 10 teachers overall in every attribute. Like Iniesta. I don’t know many footballers to be honest. She’s warm, welcoming, and wonderful. I wonder how the school year is going to be. This was rumoured for about since yesterday now so I can’t particularly say I was shocked.

Minoru-san stared at me. I could feel it. Creepy. I’ve been wondering to myself, does Minoru-san actually not like me? I don’t think I’ve done anything to him that would make him admit that. I mean, you can’t make everyone happy, but that usually means that no one cares about you, not admitting they don’t like you. Then I heard Mai laugh. I forgot she made a terrible sound that, in no way shape or form, did not resemble a laugh. Rather a hiccup. Shibuya must’ve made a snarky comment or something. I wish I could talk to her, to be honest. She’s pretty socially awkward or just refuses to play the game. I admire her either way. Real to herself.

As for me? I complain but actively engage in the game. I do like my class. Even if it has a clear social hierarchy or different social groups. As for me? I think I’m an outlier, but I am mostly with Tatsuya and Yusuke, who are affiliated with Saeka and Sayako thus forming our small group. There’s obviously Minoru-san and his people. Plus, the ‘miscellaneous’ group like Shibuya and Mai are on decent terms with everybody. I hung around the ‘misc’ group from time to time. Although, with Shibuya on her own? Maybe a few words were exchanged and muttered in a year and a half.

But anyways, ignoring that little tangent of social hierarchy, I can’t seem but to think why does Minoru not like me? It’s hard to comprehend why he said that. I mean, I know one cannot be the best and unbiased judge of their own behaviour, but what have I done? Is it because he’s a mind reader and can touch my internal thoughts and feel it as the toxic sludge it is?

Whatever it is, there’s no use overthinking it. I left Minoru in the cafeteria before I could get to the bottom of why he held said dislike. Best to just continue doing the work.

“So Honzo, you finished yet?”

“Nah, sorry Saeka, I’m not.”

Saeka looked down at my paper. I think she could tell I was on Q4. Awkward.

“I swear you said you were on Q6.”

I took a big gulp.

“Well, I mean… I said that to like, you know, save face.”

Saeka gave a slight smile. It reminded me of those psychopath grins that a killer gives to the soon-to-be victim. The only difference is Saeka is going to murder me over a two-question discrepancy.

“Are you stupid or something Honzo? I know people, like you, get by looks but come on just be honest to me.”

She gave a small laugh at the end, and then playfully punched me in the arm. This one didn’t hurt. Why am I assaulted by girls? Also, I have no self-confidence to say I’m good-looking. I attribute the reason why people think I’m handsome because I’m taller than average. That’s really it. Other than that, I feel like I’m average like everyone else.

“What looks? Why would I care about this worksheet about the flipping history of why schools teach home economics?”

“Well, ‘cause it’s obvious that this part of school is teaching us the skills of study rather than the subject matter. I’m not being earnest for no reason.”

She gave another laugh. I think she was enjoying this conversation. I am not Captain Obvious.

“Why don’t you tell Tatsuya that? I guarantee he’s literally just having an insult battle with Yusuke.”

“Unlike you, Honzo, Tatsuya is pretty and good at his work.”

“I thought you were going to use pretty as like an adjective to a verb but no, you just called him pretty.”

“Yeah, I did, problem?”

Saeka, you’re one to get under my skin, aren’t you? I had to tell her I had no problem, so I could end the convo. Dead it immediately!

“Nah, I don’t Saeka and you’re right. I should do the work.”

Her eyes widened like a puppy, she tapped me on the back and congratulated me sarcastically. What a great friend!

As the lesson approached 15:00, I decided to just stop. I did most of my work. I noticed Saeka was just chatting away with her other seatmates. As for me? Behind me was a guy I didn’t really know and in front of me was another girl who I didn’t know. To my left was my reflection. I’m already talking to myself. I started to pack my things in a lowkey manner, so I didn’t get Tateishi-sensei telling me why am I going, do I not like her? When a situation like that arises, I honestly say the first thing to mind. Which is probably why I like her. She’s a good teacher.

The bell rang.

Saved by the bell! I think I already said that. Either way, it’s time to go home. Yesterday, I walked with my favourite senpai and Nishi-chan. That’s pretty rare, to be honest. For these first few weeks, I’ve been walking with Tatsuya and Yusuke. Their homes were in the same direction as mine, but a bit further away. Kenji used to live near, but he takes the subway to another part of the city. Nagoya’s huge by the way. You wouldn’t think that as it’s Japan’s third largest city - but it really is. No joke. Kenji claims it’s like a 15-minute walk from the station and 25 mins on the subway. Talk about a commute, he thinks he’s a Tokyo finance worker!

Anyways, school politics are insane. A few people in our class don’t actually like each other. I know Tatsuya has issues with Mai, I think they’re on sight arguing when they get close to each other. Personally, why even bother? It’s all absurd to me. Nothing literally has any inherent value. Or does it? I don’t know. I like to say statements as if they aren’t really either questionable at best or just subjective. I just have the feeling that it doesn’t matter that it quite literally conflicts with the actual fact that communicating with others makes me feel better. Anyways. Via Mai gossiping to me, Shibuya doesn’t actually really like either Saeka or Minoru. Well, I actually like Saeka’s company as a seatmate, but Minoru - I guess me and you share that in common. What things do we not share similar likes and values? Except for, you know, the fact I’m a boy, Shibuya’s a girl, I'm tall, she’s like small. Yeah, we don’t share a few things I suppose.

Wait. I don’t even know what that comparison was even about.

Anywho, it was blatant to me that you either play the game or you don’t. Sadly, for me - I’m a fencesitter. I like being neutral on many things. Beef or pork? Both. Do you think Japan’s issues could be solved by either immigration or robots - my response? Let’s try both. Yes. I am naive. I do recognize that it is foolish about neutrality. You’re going to just get rolled over by both sides of the argument. My standing in school hasn’t been rolled over but internally I have. What am I even looking for in school - a career? Someone to meet? Careers are dictated in university nowadays or some apprenticeship with a company. A romantic relationship? We have dating apps, of which I’m not allowed to use since I’m underage.

Maybe they should just give me the title ‘Father of Philosophy and Science’.

Whatever. A few random thoughts and off I went towards the school door. I was walking alongside Yusuke. I saw Kazumi-senpai stare at me with her bloodshot eyes, like a rabid dog. Okay, I’m exaggerating. They were probably red as there was a major pollen warning for our area in Nagoya. Sadly, I don’t think she got the message. My favourite senpai. Yusuke told me that Tatsuya was going to walk home with Saeka. I wish nothing but the best for the upcoming marriage. Then next I noticed Kazumi sneak up on me like she was going to assassinate me in front of Yusuke.

She gave a light tap on my shoulder.

“Hey. Wanna walk home together? You too Yusuke.”

She’s acting as if Yusuke’s the one who is intruding. Take a note from the ever-so-graceful Yusuke.

“Yeah sure, it’s a pretty nice sky, isn’t it? It would be nice to walk with more people.” Yusuke pleasantly responded.

That was a delightful surprise. It seems everyone around me is trying to better themselves. Come to think of it - where was Sayako? She said she was going to look over me.

Sayako greeted us all. “Hey, guys!”

What next? Anyone I mention will start to appear randomly out of thin air? I say that but Sayako was probably following me. Still, I’m going to try it. Is Nishi-chan here?

No?

I gave it a few seconds. She did not appear.

Next, I asked the whole group if they wanted to walk home together? They all gave the agreement.

Kazumi-senpai then said “Could my friend Aya-chan join? She’s walking to my house for a bit of a study session.” I looked at Yusuke. It appears as if he doesn’t not mind? I mean, he gave not much emotion, but I just hope my D-tier ‘room reading’ ability is enough for him. Probably not. I assume he was okay, but any more additions would be pushing it. With a stern voice, I said “Yeah sure, but maybe this is a good enough group size, don’t you think?”

“Don’t worry Honzo. It’s just me and Aya. I just wanted to walk with my favourite kouhai in the whole world.”

You know, that did make me blush. But not more than Sayako or Yusuke. Yusuke looks like a raspberry now.

“Aya-chan’s at the school gates. We should probably head off.”

I looked around the corridors. They suddenly became a ghost town. I’m wondering when that happened.