Aishuu Shadowweaver
9th May 2003, 12:25 AM
Aishuu Offers:
Lessons in How to Make a Bishounen Snap
~ A Hikaru no Go fanfiction ~
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Hotta and Obata are the manga-ka behind
this wonderful series....
Notes: If this was shorter, I’d say this was a
spamfic. As if is, it’s humor. It’s me blowing off
stress from the angst and overwork... I really don’t
have any funny projects, so... here goes. In other
words, expect this when I need to kill off some of my
braincells.
// is emphasis
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
PART ONE: Classes, Obsessed Teachers, and the
Formation of the Touya Akira Fan Club
I missed the first day of school. It had fallen on the
day an important Go match and I had a choice: either
attend my first day of classes and try to reschedule a
game in my already too-tight plans, or play the game
and be disoriented after missing the introductory
classes.
My decision, of course, was obvious.
So I found myself in the principal's office, listening
to a belated orientation. The principal was not a Go
fan, and did not understand what my job was, but he
did understand that I was famous in some circles, and
allowances should be made. Toriyama High School was
not a Go school, but being able to claim me as a
student was a coup for them. Along from my high
grades, I was a valuable addition to their student
body.
Still, I wondered if I was doing the right thing,
attending high school. Shindou had chosen not to, and
part of me was tempted to do the same. Scholastics had
always come easily for me, but I wondered if I would
be pushing myself too much, going to one of the top
private schools in the city on top of my career. My
parents hadn't pushed me either way, but I wanted to
at least make the attempt. Go was my life, but it was
tied to Japanese literature and history, art and
culture. I wanted to know about these things and
others as well, and if I didn't take the time to learn
them now, I knew I never would.
The principal, a balding man named Reiji, shuffled the
papers on his desk. I had come in early to speak to
him and make the final arrangements. It probably
should have been done before I registered, but my
schedule had been too tight. "Touya-kun, I understand
you'll be missing quite a few days of classes due to
your work."
I nodded, feeling the silky strands of my hair brush
against my cheeks. "I know. Probably about half of the
schooldays during some months, less in others. I'll
try to make test days, but I'll need make-ups. I'll
make sure the school has an advanced schedule."
He considered me, tapping a finger against his chin
thoughtfully. I studied his hands - it was a habit of
mine. I always examined people's hands, because I knew
how to read them better than faces. A faint redness in
his joints told me he probably would suffer from
arthritis in a few years. His hands were clean and
soft, and the carefully clipped nails told of a
meticulous personality. "Are you sure high school is
right for you?" he asked.
I really felt awkward at that moment, since he was
asking exactly the question that was plaguing me. "I
need to do this," I said softly. "Education is a
precious thing."
The principal seemed to soften. "It is. I'm glad you
realize it. It will offer you many career
opportunities in the future."
I blinked a bit, but bit my tongue. When I was
younger, I had blown up at the ignorance of the way of
Go. I remember the second time I met Shindou with
biting clarity, which had taught me that not everyone
knew about my world. I was set for life in a vocation
I loved. This man was merely expressing one of the
common points of view that Go was merely a game.
"Maybe," I said neutrally. "I'm making a living wage
now." /And then some,/ I thought with amusement. With
my prizes from tournaments and tutoring, I was making
enough to support a family of four in comfortable
style. When I started to win title matches (as most
people believed would be inevitable), my wages would
skyrocket.
"Shall I take you through your classes?" he offered.
"Your first one just started, so they'll probably
treat you like a transfer."
I nodded, feeling my customary shyness threaten to
overwhelm me. It was my curse, the inability to speak.
I was introverted, like many serious Go players, and I
suffered from self-consciousness when I wasn't around
a goban. I rose to my feet, following the shorter man
as he led me down a series of snaking hallways to my
classroom.
I glanced up at the 1-C over the sliding doors as
Reiji-sensei went in to get the teacher. A nervous
hand reached up to tug at my collar, and I glanced
down at my new uniform. It was solid navy with a white
shirt underneath. I had bought one that fit right off,
rather than one that was too-large to be grown into,
the way many students did. I would be able to replace
them easily with my salary. I hardly ever touched the
money I earned, and I figured that I could at least
treat myself to properly tailored clothes.
The teacher came out moments later, and I smiled at
her. She was a woman barely into her thirties, wearing
her long black hair fastened to the nape of her neck.
She was pretty in a comfortable sort of way. "Hello,
Touya-kun," she said. "I'm Sakurada Sakuno and I'm
your literature teacher. If you come in, I can
introduce you to the class. Did you manage to get
books?"
I held up my book bag. I had replaced it after three
years in Kaio, even though my old one had hardly been
worn. I had indulged, figuring high school was a
major transition. I hadn’t needed to, because my
belongings rarely wore out. I was careful with my
things - Shindou would have said anal compulsively
meticulous."They're in here," I told her.
She gave me a smile. "Well, we did introductions
yesterday. You'll have to introduce yourself and I
guess others can introduce themselves to you later -
I'm in the middle of a lecture, and it'd be getting
off track if I fall behind in my lesson plan."
"I had a prior obligation. It will happen frequently.
I'll be doing lots of make-up work,"I explained, since
her quirked eyebrow told me she was wondering how a
student could miss orientation day.
"Really? Well, come to the teacher's room after school
and we'll discuss it. If it's okay with the
administration, I'm sure something can be arranged."
I nodded as she turned to the door. The principal
smiled at us and we left him. I swallowed hard, but
forced my face to remain smooth. /It's no worse than
dealing with the press, I told myself. I mean, it's
just a bunch of teenagers.../
/Right./
The class turned curious eyes on me as I lingered in
the front of the room. Sakurada-sensei didn't write my
name on the board, but merely turned to the students.
There were about forty, and I glanced around to see if
anyone had recognized me. The girls all seemed giggly
and the boys indifferent, which I figured was a good
thing. I didn't want this to go the way my life had at
Kaio. The last thing I needed was a repeat of my first
year of middle school.
"This is Touya Akira. He wasn't able to make it
yesterday. Touya-kun, how about you introduce
yourself?"
Public speaking, the thing I dreaded most. It had
taking years of coaching from my father to get used to
it, but there was something different about being
among my age group. I wasn't a professional, merely
fifteen years old and socially stagnated.
"Touya Akira. My favorite subject is Japanese
literature and I like to play Go," I said, knowing I
had to sound like a complete nerd. I didn't want to
make a big deal of my accomplishments, realizing that
would create alienation. I bowed briefly, looking at
the teacher, hoping she would let me sit down.
She saved me. "There's a seat in the back of the room.
Your classmates can introduce themselves later."
"Thank you," I murmured, then turned to walk towards
the indicated place. It took everything I had to force
myself not to run, because I could feel all the eyes
on me. I settled in quickly, opening my books and
listening as she began to lecture.
It was easy enough to follow. Father had always been
fond of classic Japanese, and so were many fans of Go.
/The Tale of Genji/ was a staple I had read three
times already, and even though she was just starting
into it, I felt as though I was revisiting an old
friend. The wonderful thing about literature is the
new discoveries and nuances you find each time.
She randomly called on students to read, and I winced
occasionally inside as they struggled over the
antiquated words. It was meant to be read at a rhythm,
not a stuttering halt. She didn't call on me, though,
and I wondered if I was relieved or not. It would have
been a pleasure to do it right. This was supposed to
be one of the top schools in the city, but apparently
I hadn't made it into the advanced class. I supposed
my attendance record had been against me.
The next classes went by quickly, and before I knew
it, it was lunch... and time for the inquisition. I
pulled the lunch my mother had made for me out of my
bag, but I knew I was about to get hit from ten
different sides with questions.
Sure enough, three girls pushed their desks over
immediately. I looked at them, wondering exactly what
they were going to ask of me and if there was any way
to get out of it. "Hello," I said cautiously.
"Hello!" chirped one with a butterfly hair tie in her
hair that fluttered when she turned her head. "I'm
Fuyata Chieko, and these are my friends, Tai Risa and
Wakahara Maaya. We thought you'd be lonely on your
first day, so we decided to keep you company."
/And interrogate me,/ I thought. "Um, that's nice of
you." I glanced around, noticing the guys watching me
and the girls watching the trio, and everyone seemed
to be envious. /Oh, Kami-sama.../. I prayed. I'd just
been declared as the most desirable guy in class. That
did not bode well for making friends.
Risa laughed. Her laugh was a bit high-pitched, and
grated unpleasantly. "Well, how about you tell us
about yourself?" she asked. "Why did you miss
yesterday? After entrance exams, I thought no one
would want to!"
“I had a prior commitment,” I said softly, hoping that
would draw her off.
“Oh?” Maaya leaned closer, and I caught a hint of
delicate lavender perfume, a lavender that went
perfectly with the pale violet nail polish she was
wearing. “That was poor scheduling.”
“Unavoidable,” I said. I poked at a bit of rice,
feeling my appetite leaving.
A match against Kurata-8-dan, certainly nothing I
wanted to miss. For the first time, I had defeated
him, overcoming his legendary intuition. I was now
going to advance into the finals of the Honinbou
match, playing Kuwabara. I fully intended to win my
first title. Shindou was going into the finals of the
Kiseki match, having edged me in our semi-final game,
and I refused to let him take all the glory. Shindou
was my rival, and if he got a step ahead of me, I knew
he wasn’t going to let me forget it.
Shindou was many things, but the one thing he wasn’t
was tactful.
Chieko was the one who took up the thread of
conversation. “If you need notes from yesterday, I can
make you photocopies of mine. We didn’t do too much,
but missing the first day puts anyone off-balance.”
I nodded. “That’s kind of you.” I studied her face,
wondering if she would be a good person to ask to get
the notes from regularly, since I anticipated missing
at least two days of classes a week, due to games.
Thursdays were definite, and Saturdays as well.
“It’s not a problem! Anything for a classmate! If you
need anything, feel free to ask any of us!” she said
so cheerfully that I could heard the exclamation
points after each phrase quite clearly.
“Um, thanks,” I replied, inclining my head. “I’ll do
that.”
Lunch dragged on, with the three girls flirting with
me quite obviously, the guys casting me dirty looks,
and my stomach twisting in knots. Thankfully, the
period ended and chemistry started.
It was my math class where the day went completely to
hell.
My math teacher, a man in his late forties starting to
go to fat who would have fit in perfectly at my
father’s Go salon, walked in. I pulled out my textbook
and opened it up to a fresh sheet of notebook paper.
Math wasn’t my favorite subject, but it was easy
because counting was such an important part of Go. I
tapped my pen against my chin, hoping the lecture
would be interesting but doubting it. There were few
teachers who were able to make math come alive.
“I understand we have a new student?” the teacher said
as he picked up a piece of chalk. “Can you please
stand so I can see you?” His voice was a melodic
baritone that I knew would lull me to sleep if I
didn’t make an effort to concentrate.
I rose, a bit tired of the routine. “Touya Akira,” I
said to introduce myself.
His eyes went wide and the chalk clattered to the
floor as it slipped from his fingers. “Touya-4-dan?”
he whispered in shock.
I resisted the urge to smack my forehead only through
sheer strength of will. It had all be going too well.
“Um... yes?” I said.
He grinned at me, and I saw the passion in his eyes
that only a true go afficionado could have. By now,
the other students were staring at me like I had come
from the moon and I knew all chances of anonymity were
blown. “This is such a pleasure, Touya-sensei!” he
said, and before I knew it he came bouncing down the
aisle like a ten year old. “I saw your name on the
roster, but I didn’t think it was THE Touya Akira!”
I wanted a giant hole to open up and swallow me whole.
Being addressed as “sensei” by your teacher wasn’t a
great way to win friends and influence people. I felt
the blood rushing to my cheeks. “Um...” I looked
around, trying to find some way out of it, but all I
saw were a bunch of wide eyes.
/Where were the alien abductions when you needed
them?/ I wondered.
“I think I have autograph paper back in the teacher’s
room... Can I get you to...” he continued to babble.
I felt like a mouse who had been cornered by a cat.
/Just my luck, my math teacher is one of those Go fans
who raises obsession to a new level./ “Um...” I felt
myself beginning to revert to the shy child I had been
at twelve, before I had become a pro.
“Kaidou-sensei?” A voice said, interrupting him. We
both turned to see Chieko rise to her feet. I wasn’t
sure what she was about to do, and I wondered if she
was going to make matters worse. “Um, how do you know
Touya-kun?”
He turned to stare at her. His jaw dropped as he
stared at the students, who were all looking at us.
“You don’t know? Touya-4-dan is one of the premier Go
players right now! There’s talk that he’s going to
unseat the Honinbou in the next...” he prattled on.
Blank looks met him as he extolled my virtues, and all
I wanted was an escape route...
Which didn’t come.
It took me ten minutes of embarrassed standing,
stammering and blushing before he finally remembered
he had a class to teach. Ten minutes of hell. And then
while he taught, my classmates kept casting me glances
that range from inquiry, to derision to sheer dislike.
/Oh, hell./ Class couldn’t end quickly enough for me.
The minutes ticked by, and finally we were released by
the final bell. I hurriedly stuffed my school bag,
trying to keep my notes neat, before rising to my
feet, intent on making a break for the door.
Chieko and Risa stopped me, forming a solid wall. No
one in class had left, and I was, once again, the
center of attention.
“Kaidou-sensei seemed awfully impressed by you,” Risa
said. She raised and eyebrow curiously. “None of us
have any clue what he was rambling on about. Care to
explain?”
“Not really,” I said, and I started for the door
again, thinking about the haven of the Go salon or
maybe going straight home and taking a nice, long nap.
Naps were good things for escaping stress headaches
and I felt a monstrous one coming on.
Chieko was agile enough to get to the door before I
did, though, and she stood in my way, bracing her
hands on the frame so that I would have to move her by
force if I wanted to get out. “Let’s rephrase,” Chieko
said. “An explanation is required.”
Glancing around, I realized that all eyes were on me.
My collar felt tight around my throat, and it was only
through practice at dealing with the reporters that I
retained my poise. I looked at her with the cool gaze
that made my opponents feel off-balance, and was
slightly satisfied as she tightened her grip,
obviously shaken. “I play Go professionally,” I told
her, deciding that admitting the truth was
required.”Apparently Kaidou-sensei is something of a
Go fan, and is a little bit enthusiastic.”
Dead silence, and I knew that I was in deep. I
mentally pinned a sign to my back that said “Go Geek”
and prepared myself to be ostracized for the rest of
my high school career. I had been prepared for it, but
I had been hoping to make a few friends before my
career became known. That had been part of my reason
for going to high school.
“You... play Go?”One of the boys asked.
I looked over at him and nodded. “I’ll be missing some
days of classes to attend games. That’s where I was
yesterday.”
There was dead silence, before Risa bounded up to me.
“That is SO COOL!”
I blinked, unable to believe my ears. /Say WHAT?/
END PART ONE....
Okay, how dead am I?
=====
"Why do people make mistakes at times...
Can't feel guilty enough...
Why do people always try to go beyond others?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Lessons in How to Make a Bishounen Snap
~ A Hikaru no Go fanfiction ~
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Hotta and Obata are the manga-ka behind
this wonderful series....
Notes: If this was shorter, I’d say this was a
spamfic. As if is, it’s humor. It’s me blowing off
stress from the angst and overwork... I really don’t
have any funny projects, so... here goes. In other
words, expect this when I need to kill off some of my
braincells.
// is emphasis
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
PART ONE: Classes, Obsessed Teachers, and the
Formation of the Touya Akira Fan Club
I missed the first day of school. It had fallen on the
day an important Go match and I had a choice: either
attend my first day of classes and try to reschedule a
game in my already too-tight plans, or play the game
and be disoriented after missing the introductory
classes.
My decision, of course, was obvious.
So I found myself in the principal's office, listening
to a belated orientation. The principal was not a Go
fan, and did not understand what my job was, but he
did understand that I was famous in some circles, and
allowances should be made. Toriyama High School was
not a Go school, but being able to claim me as a
student was a coup for them. Along from my high
grades, I was a valuable addition to their student
body.
Still, I wondered if I was doing the right thing,
attending high school. Shindou had chosen not to, and
part of me was tempted to do the same. Scholastics had
always come easily for me, but I wondered if I would
be pushing myself too much, going to one of the top
private schools in the city on top of my career. My
parents hadn't pushed me either way, but I wanted to
at least make the attempt. Go was my life, but it was
tied to Japanese literature and history, art and
culture. I wanted to know about these things and
others as well, and if I didn't take the time to learn
them now, I knew I never would.
The principal, a balding man named Reiji, shuffled the
papers on his desk. I had come in early to speak to
him and make the final arrangements. It probably
should have been done before I registered, but my
schedule had been too tight. "Touya-kun, I understand
you'll be missing quite a few days of classes due to
your work."
I nodded, feeling the silky strands of my hair brush
against my cheeks. "I know. Probably about half of the
schooldays during some months, less in others. I'll
try to make test days, but I'll need make-ups. I'll
make sure the school has an advanced schedule."
He considered me, tapping a finger against his chin
thoughtfully. I studied his hands - it was a habit of
mine. I always examined people's hands, because I knew
how to read them better than faces. A faint redness in
his joints told me he probably would suffer from
arthritis in a few years. His hands were clean and
soft, and the carefully clipped nails told of a
meticulous personality. "Are you sure high school is
right for you?" he asked.
I really felt awkward at that moment, since he was
asking exactly the question that was plaguing me. "I
need to do this," I said softly. "Education is a
precious thing."
The principal seemed to soften. "It is. I'm glad you
realize it. It will offer you many career
opportunities in the future."
I blinked a bit, but bit my tongue. When I was
younger, I had blown up at the ignorance of the way of
Go. I remember the second time I met Shindou with
biting clarity, which had taught me that not everyone
knew about my world. I was set for life in a vocation
I loved. This man was merely expressing one of the
common points of view that Go was merely a game.
"Maybe," I said neutrally. "I'm making a living wage
now." /And then some,/ I thought with amusement. With
my prizes from tournaments and tutoring, I was making
enough to support a family of four in comfortable
style. When I started to win title matches (as most
people believed would be inevitable), my wages would
skyrocket.
"Shall I take you through your classes?" he offered.
"Your first one just started, so they'll probably
treat you like a transfer."
I nodded, feeling my customary shyness threaten to
overwhelm me. It was my curse, the inability to speak.
I was introverted, like many serious Go players, and I
suffered from self-consciousness when I wasn't around
a goban. I rose to my feet, following the shorter man
as he led me down a series of snaking hallways to my
classroom.
I glanced up at the 1-C over the sliding doors as
Reiji-sensei went in to get the teacher. A nervous
hand reached up to tug at my collar, and I glanced
down at my new uniform. It was solid navy with a white
shirt underneath. I had bought one that fit right off,
rather than one that was too-large to be grown into,
the way many students did. I would be able to replace
them easily with my salary. I hardly ever touched the
money I earned, and I figured that I could at least
treat myself to properly tailored clothes.
The teacher came out moments later, and I smiled at
her. She was a woman barely into her thirties, wearing
her long black hair fastened to the nape of her neck.
She was pretty in a comfortable sort of way. "Hello,
Touya-kun," she said. "I'm Sakurada Sakuno and I'm
your literature teacher. If you come in, I can
introduce you to the class. Did you manage to get
books?"
I held up my book bag. I had replaced it after three
years in Kaio, even though my old one had hardly been
worn. I had indulged, figuring high school was a
major transition. I hadn’t needed to, because my
belongings rarely wore out. I was careful with my
things - Shindou would have said anal compulsively
meticulous."They're in here," I told her.
She gave me a smile. "Well, we did introductions
yesterday. You'll have to introduce yourself and I
guess others can introduce themselves to you later -
I'm in the middle of a lecture, and it'd be getting
off track if I fall behind in my lesson plan."
"I had a prior obligation. It will happen frequently.
I'll be doing lots of make-up work,"I explained, since
her quirked eyebrow told me she was wondering how a
student could miss orientation day.
"Really? Well, come to the teacher's room after school
and we'll discuss it. If it's okay with the
administration, I'm sure something can be arranged."
I nodded as she turned to the door. The principal
smiled at us and we left him. I swallowed hard, but
forced my face to remain smooth. /It's no worse than
dealing with the press, I told myself. I mean, it's
just a bunch of teenagers.../
/Right./
The class turned curious eyes on me as I lingered in
the front of the room. Sakurada-sensei didn't write my
name on the board, but merely turned to the students.
There were about forty, and I glanced around to see if
anyone had recognized me. The girls all seemed giggly
and the boys indifferent, which I figured was a good
thing. I didn't want this to go the way my life had at
Kaio. The last thing I needed was a repeat of my first
year of middle school.
"This is Touya Akira. He wasn't able to make it
yesterday. Touya-kun, how about you introduce
yourself?"
Public speaking, the thing I dreaded most. It had
taking years of coaching from my father to get used to
it, but there was something different about being
among my age group. I wasn't a professional, merely
fifteen years old and socially stagnated.
"Touya Akira. My favorite subject is Japanese
literature and I like to play Go," I said, knowing I
had to sound like a complete nerd. I didn't want to
make a big deal of my accomplishments, realizing that
would create alienation. I bowed briefly, looking at
the teacher, hoping she would let me sit down.
She saved me. "There's a seat in the back of the room.
Your classmates can introduce themselves later."
"Thank you," I murmured, then turned to walk towards
the indicated place. It took everything I had to force
myself not to run, because I could feel all the eyes
on me. I settled in quickly, opening my books and
listening as she began to lecture.
It was easy enough to follow. Father had always been
fond of classic Japanese, and so were many fans of Go.
/The Tale of Genji/ was a staple I had read three
times already, and even though she was just starting
into it, I felt as though I was revisiting an old
friend. The wonderful thing about literature is the
new discoveries and nuances you find each time.
She randomly called on students to read, and I winced
occasionally inside as they struggled over the
antiquated words. It was meant to be read at a rhythm,
not a stuttering halt. She didn't call on me, though,
and I wondered if I was relieved or not. It would have
been a pleasure to do it right. This was supposed to
be one of the top schools in the city, but apparently
I hadn't made it into the advanced class. I supposed
my attendance record had been against me.
The next classes went by quickly, and before I knew
it, it was lunch... and time for the inquisition. I
pulled the lunch my mother had made for me out of my
bag, but I knew I was about to get hit from ten
different sides with questions.
Sure enough, three girls pushed their desks over
immediately. I looked at them, wondering exactly what
they were going to ask of me and if there was any way
to get out of it. "Hello," I said cautiously.
"Hello!" chirped one with a butterfly hair tie in her
hair that fluttered when she turned her head. "I'm
Fuyata Chieko, and these are my friends, Tai Risa and
Wakahara Maaya. We thought you'd be lonely on your
first day, so we decided to keep you company."
/And interrogate me,/ I thought. "Um, that's nice of
you." I glanced around, noticing the guys watching me
and the girls watching the trio, and everyone seemed
to be envious. /Oh, Kami-sama.../. I prayed. I'd just
been declared as the most desirable guy in class. That
did not bode well for making friends.
Risa laughed. Her laugh was a bit high-pitched, and
grated unpleasantly. "Well, how about you tell us
about yourself?" she asked. "Why did you miss
yesterday? After entrance exams, I thought no one
would want to!"
“I had a prior commitment,” I said softly, hoping that
would draw her off.
“Oh?” Maaya leaned closer, and I caught a hint of
delicate lavender perfume, a lavender that went
perfectly with the pale violet nail polish she was
wearing. “That was poor scheduling.”
“Unavoidable,” I said. I poked at a bit of rice,
feeling my appetite leaving.
A match against Kurata-8-dan, certainly nothing I
wanted to miss. For the first time, I had defeated
him, overcoming his legendary intuition. I was now
going to advance into the finals of the Honinbou
match, playing Kuwabara. I fully intended to win my
first title. Shindou was going into the finals of the
Kiseki match, having edged me in our semi-final game,
and I refused to let him take all the glory. Shindou
was my rival, and if he got a step ahead of me, I knew
he wasn’t going to let me forget it.
Shindou was many things, but the one thing he wasn’t
was tactful.
Chieko was the one who took up the thread of
conversation. “If you need notes from yesterday, I can
make you photocopies of mine. We didn’t do too much,
but missing the first day puts anyone off-balance.”
I nodded. “That’s kind of you.” I studied her face,
wondering if she would be a good person to ask to get
the notes from regularly, since I anticipated missing
at least two days of classes a week, due to games.
Thursdays were definite, and Saturdays as well.
“It’s not a problem! Anything for a classmate! If you
need anything, feel free to ask any of us!” she said
so cheerfully that I could heard the exclamation
points after each phrase quite clearly.
“Um, thanks,” I replied, inclining my head. “I’ll do
that.”
Lunch dragged on, with the three girls flirting with
me quite obviously, the guys casting me dirty looks,
and my stomach twisting in knots. Thankfully, the
period ended and chemistry started.
It was my math class where the day went completely to
hell.
My math teacher, a man in his late forties starting to
go to fat who would have fit in perfectly at my
father’s Go salon, walked in. I pulled out my textbook
and opened it up to a fresh sheet of notebook paper.
Math wasn’t my favorite subject, but it was easy
because counting was such an important part of Go. I
tapped my pen against my chin, hoping the lecture
would be interesting but doubting it. There were few
teachers who were able to make math come alive.
“I understand we have a new student?” the teacher said
as he picked up a piece of chalk. “Can you please
stand so I can see you?” His voice was a melodic
baritone that I knew would lull me to sleep if I
didn’t make an effort to concentrate.
I rose, a bit tired of the routine. “Touya Akira,” I
said to introduce myself.
His eyes went wide and the chalk clattered to the
floor as it slipped from his fingers. “Touya-4-dan?”
he whispered in shock.
I resisted the urge to smack my forehead only through
sheer strength of will. It had all be going too well.
“Um... yes?” I said.
He grinned at me, and I saw the passion in his eyes
that only a true go afficionado could have. By now,
the other students were staring at me like I had come
from the moon and I knew all chances of anonymity were
blown. “This is such a pleasure, Touya-sensei!” he
said, and before I knew it he came bouncing down the
aisle like a ten year old. “I saw your name on the
roster, but I didn’t think it was THE Touya Akira!”
I wanted a giant hole to open up and swallow me whole.
Being addressed as “sensei” by your teacher wasn’t a
great way to win friends and influence people. I felt
the blood rushing to my cheeks. “Um...” I looked
around, trying to find some way out of it, but all I
saw were a bunch of wide eyes.
/Where were the alien abductions when you needed
them?/ I wondered.
“I think I have autograph paper back in the teacher’s
room... Can I get you to...” he continued to babble.
I felt like a mouse who had been cornered by a cat.
/Just my luck, my math teacher is one of those Go fans
who raises obsession to a new level./ “Um...” I felt
myself beginning to revert to the shy child I had been
at twelve, before I had become a pro.
“Kaidou-sensei?” A voice said, interrupting him. We
both turned to see Chieko rise to her feet. I wasn’t
sure what she was about to do, and I wondered if she
was going to make matters worse. “Um, how do you know
Touya-kun?”
He turned to stare at her. His jaw dropped as he
stared at the students, who were all looking at us.
“You don’t know? Touya-4-dan is one of the premier Go
players right now! There’s talk that he’s going to
unseat the Honinbou in the next...” he prattled on.
Blank looks met him as he extolled my virtues, and all
I wanted was an escape route...
Which didn’t come.
It took me ten minutes of embarrassed standing,
stammering and blushing before he finally remembered
he had a class to teach. Ten minutes of hell. And then
while he taught, my classmates kept casting me glances
that range from inquiry, to derision to sheer dislike.
/Oh, hell./ Class couldn’t end quickly enough for me.
The minutes ticked by, and finally we were released by
the final bell. I hurriedly stuffed my school bag,
trying to keep my notes neat, before rising to my
feet, intent on making a break for the door.
Chieko and Risa stopped me, forming a solid wall. No
one in class had left, and I was, once again, the
center of attention.
“Kaidou-sensei seemed awfully impressed by you,” Risa
said. She raised and eyebrow curiously. “None of us
have any clue what he was rambling on about. Care to
explain?”
“Not really,” I said, and I started for the door
again, thinking about the haven of the Go salon or
maybe going straight home and taking a nice, long nap.
Naps were good things for escaping stress headaches
and I felt a monstrous one coming on.
Chieko was agile enough to get to the door before I
did, though, and she stood in my way, bracing her
hands on the frame so that I would have to move her by
force if I wanted to get out. “Let’s rephrase,” Chieko
said. “An explanation is required.”
Glancing around, I realized that all eyes were on me.
My collar felt tight around my throat, and it was only
through practice at dealing with the reporters that I
retained my poise. I looked at her with the cool gaze
that made my opponents feel off-balance, and was
slightly satisfied as she tightened her grip,
obviously shaken. “I play Go professionally,” I told
her, deciding that admitting the truth was
required.”Apparently Kaidou-sensei is something of a
Go fan, and is a little bit enthusiastic.”
Dead silence, and I knew that I was in deep. I
mentally pinned a sign to my back that said “Go Geek”
and prepared myself to be ostracized for the rest of
my high school career. I had been prepared for it, but
I had been hoping to make a few friends before my
career became known. That had been part of my reason
for going to high school.
“You... play Go?”One of the boys asked.
I looked over at him and nodded. “I’ll be missing some
days of classes to attend games. That’s where I was
yesterday.”
There was dead silence, before Risa bounded up to me.
“That is SO COOL!”
I blinked, unable to believe my ears. /Say WHAT?/
END PART ONE....
Okay, how dead am I?
=====
"Why do people make mistakes at times...
Can't feel guilty enough...
Why do people always try to go beyond others?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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