Episode 12. Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover
Furukawa Airi was keeping the door open for Momoi Tomoki and Hanakawa Akira. The two of them had taken the afternoon off from work, bringing Airi with them, to watch Hanakawa Sakura and Yamada Kenta in their play.
Fujita Kouta, Ken's brother, hadn't been able to come because he had to manage the floor. The only full-time server, Fujiki Arata, had called in sick; something that rarely ever happened.
He had sent a camcorder with Tomo to film Ken's performance though.
"Momo-chan, welcome back! I'm so glad you're here on the last day. You'll get to see that scene you saw to death perfected."
Hayashi Niko had her short hair in a ponytail that stuck out awkwardly, while more than a few strands had found their way out of the hair tie.
"Are you really sure it's perfected?" Tomo asked jokingly and Hayashi laughed.
"I promise, the choreography is perfect. Hanakawa worked really hard after your brutal critique last time." Before Tomo had time to answer, she turned to Aki. "Akira-kun, it's been years since I last saw you!"
Aki smiled in return. "It certainly has been a while Hayashi-san. I've been busy. Like my younger sister, I need to study hard to do well. Guess the brains had to go to the oldest three."
Hayashi Niko laughed.
"Should I take that as a hint to kick her out to make sure she gets into a good school?"
"Just make her study during her breaks," Akira smiled. "Either way, it's been long since I saw any plays at a theatre so I'm excited."
"I'm glad to see Ken act again. It's been a while since the last time," Tomo said with poorly hidden excitement.
He couldn't hide that he was looking forward to seeing Ken on stage no matter how much he tried. He wasn't fond of coming, but he still came there. He loved seeing Ken on stage. He shined when he did. It was nothing like watching TV or films.
What he didn't like were the people gathering nor the memories it all brought back.
"Oh, and Saku-chan too."
Hayashi grinned. "So it's like that? That explains why he was so peculiar when he got here. Kenta was somewhat absent-minded, you see. Walked into a couple of chairs, stumbled over his feet... Things I'd expect from you if you still were with us on stage. Very unlike him."
"Is he alright? He didn't get hurt, did he?"
She grinned. "Aside from his hurt pride, there's not a single scratch on him. Well, he's just focused. He tends to perform the best when you watch him, so I guess he wants to look cool in front of you. Maybe you should watch him every time he's in a play. I'm sure you wouldn't mind, right?"
Tomo blushed. It did make him happy to know Ken tried his best, but it was also really embarrassing if he was doing it for him; even more so if Ken was nervous enough not to know where his own feet were.
He noticed Hayashi's gaze move from him. It landed on Airi.
"Eh... This is a classmate in my and Saku-chan's class, Furukawa Airi. Airi, this is the mentor for the high school troupe, Hayashi Niko. She remembers when Ken joined 12 years ago when she was in the middle school troupe."
"He wasn't very good back then; I can tell you that much. Bit his tongue when he said his line. Assuming he even remembered them. He caught on quickly, though. I don't know if he's talented or just hardworking."
"I think being hardworking is a talent, Hayashi-san," Akira pointed out.
"Maybe, maybe not. It's absolutely your sister's talent. Hard work got her where she is today, and few manage to match Kenta in presence on stage. I'd love to keep chatting, but I have work to do. After this, I need to perform too as part of the professional plays as well. So much work for just one lady." She grinned. "You know the way from here to the seats and where you're allowed to set up the recorder. And remember to make sure no one else does. You got special permission since you know the rules regarding cameras and whatnot. It did need convincing though, so don't make a scene, or else I'll get in trouble."
"Got it, senpai! And thanks! Have someone give one to Ken for me. One's for Saku-chan, and the last one's for you." Tomo gave Hayashi three flowers. "I can't stay for their after-party. Aki-chan and I need to get back to work after this."
"Thank you and you can consider it done!"
***
"I'm surprised you could just walk through the backdoor and only get greeted," Airi mumbled.
"I've only been here once since I started high school, but I used to come now and then in middle school. I've also been here on every single one of Ken's and Saku-chan's plays since I quit, so most staff that have volunteer troops know me." He fell quiet and despite the closed door he could hear the voices of people outside it. "I don't really like this festival though."
He got a look from Airi that told him she tried to understand why he didn't like it, but focused on the task at hand instead. Tomo and Aki were setting up the tripod while Airi looked around the place.
He couldn't help but make a mental note that the two who looked like boys, but weren't, ended up doing the work. Though he had been prepared for it, he couldn't help but find it... funny, perhaps.
Aki was, like her brothers, about average height for men and had black hair and very dark eyes. Much like Sakura, although Sakura was short.
Tomo would probably have described her looks as average. Or, rather, she was an 'anyone'. There wasn't anything special about her. She wasn't exactly slender, like Tomo was, but not bulky or chubby. She didn't leave much of an impression.
Maybe she just didn't want to stand out when she looked like any young man, hiding her gender.
Tomo couldn't ignore that possibility.
"This is going to be too low." Aki held the camcorder against the tripod, looking past it, over the seats and towards the stage.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Maybe check with someone among the staff if they can help out?"
"I'll do that. Wait here."
"Don't take too long."
He hadn't been backstage for a while and he looked around until he saw the door he vaguely remembered as a place for the staff to sit down in. He had gone there a few times, but he couldn't remember why.
He knocked before he slowly opened the door, careful just in case he was wrong.
"Excuse me..."
"Come in!"
He opened the door and to his relief, he had remembered correctly.
"If it isn't Tomo-kun! Is it already time for the play? Did that woman send you to tell us we're late?" asked a woman.
Tomo couldn't remember her name. He couldn't even remember when or how they met. Was she in costuming? No, that didn't feel right...
"No, not yet. Hayashi-sensei didn't send me. I need help. We got permission to film for Yamada Kenta's older brother since he can't come, but the tripod's too low."
"That's a problem, alright. I'll help you out. The rest of you better start preparing for opening up. Break time's over."
Tomo hurried back with the staff member.
Aki had been talked to Airi, but waved to them when noticing the staff member was coming.
The member looked at it for a while.
"Hmmm... This is definitely way too low. Let me get a few things backstage. We should have boxes we don't need, but I'll make sure we have a couple of people who direct people away from it."
"That would be wonderful! Thank you very much!"
"No need to thank me."
***
People were clapping, and the actors were on stage thanking for the applauds.
Tomo, on the other hand, was demounting the camcorder.
It had looked unquestionably amazing. It might have been Ken's best performance ever. Sakura had seemed alright, but even if she didn't usually get outshined by Ken, she was this time. Ken had been that good.
Theatre was indeed Ken's thing, and perhaps it was better if he did study drama. Ken didn't want to be in a film or TV, because a stage felt more alive to him, but it wouldn't surprise Tomo if he'd do well in both films and TV shows.
Or maybe he was biased. He knew that might be the case.
After throwing a glance in Airi's direction to see if she saw them leave or not, Tomo handed the camcorder to Akira who put it into its case and Tomo quickly packed up the tripod. Both of them were in a hurry and knew they only had until the applause ended before it would be very crowded by the exit and tough to get outside, and they couldn't leave the way they had come. Fortunately, they were used to working together, and the moment the actors left the stage, Tomo turned around, letting the door slam behind him.
He couldn't help but feel like the door behind him also closed the doors to any more summer activities, seeing as the second term would start in just a few days.
For some reason, it also felt like he had also left a chapter of his life he had been stuck in for far too long.
He threw a glance at the door before he left the building and hurried to the train station.
***
"You got to be kidding!" Kikuchi Nao exclaimed just as Tomo opened the sliding door to the classroom for 1-B.
He instinctively turned to the boy. He wanted to see what had happened. Kikuchi groaned.
"Why did we just end up switching seats, Kamihara?!"
Kamihara Okifumi, the boy who sat where Kikuchi had been seated the term before, shrugged. "You're not the one who needs to stare at your ugly head."
Tomo looked at the whiteboard and noticed that Handa had changed the seats up to be in alphabetical order based on first names.
Airi was seated at the very front to the left next to a window. Tomo, on the other hand, sat in the back row. He was lucky to be at the back again.
Last term he had sat with Kikuchi on his immediate left, on the fifth row out of six. Now he was on the sixth road and had Tatsumi to his left, who sat paired with Satou. To his very right, was Eguchi Yayoi — one of the class representatives.
He could have gotten someone worse to sit next to.
Yuu was seated alone behind her, with the door at the back of the classroom behind him.
"The hell? I stared into your stupid head all last term!"
Tomo sat down in his seat.
"Yo!" Yuu grinned and raised his hand. "We got great spots, right?"
Kikuchi finally sat down. "If we were going to have changed seats, why couldn't I sit next to a girl?"
"You at least got one in front of you. All I have guys all around me."
Nakata Minori sat down in her set, diagonally in front of Kikuchi. "Hana-chan's not a guy."
"Hasn't she gotten more like one though? So there's no difference."
"That's enough!" Itou Sakuya, the other class representative, shouted. "If you've got a problem with the seats, bring it up with Handa-sensei, don't make the rest of the class hear your silly complaints." His freckled face looked extremely irritated.
It was a bit of a shame since he looked kind of cute. Or maybe Tomo just thought the freckles were cute. He wasn't sure.
He turned to the girl beside him and gave her a light bow. "Let's get along this term."
The girl pushed her glasses up her nose and nodded. "Sure."
Yuu snickered. "You don't have to be so formal, Momocchi."
Tomo forced a smile. "I guess."
He wanted to go home. Being away from school for six weeks made him pretty insecure about his class. They had been alright by July, but he still didn't feel comfortable.
Fortunately, they were only having half a day with two classes. Tomo should be able to handle it for that long. However, perhaps the minor change of some girls wearing ties, and he opting out of one entirely, was making him more anxious.
He didn't know what the changes to the school's regulations for appearance would mean for him.
Sure, Tomo could grow his hair however long he wanted now, though he had gotten used to his current hairstyle, and he liked it.
"Where's your tie?" Eguchi suddenly asked.
"Ah... eh..."
"Momo doesn't need one," Tatsumi said from his seat. He tapped the knot of his tie. "Because of his condition."
That was what the teachers had been told. Tatsumi had talked to his father about it, and the director had pulled some strings. Boys could wear the bow that was part of the uniform, but it wasn't like anyone did. The idea also made him anxious as well, and the ties were just fine as part of any uniform. Boys weren't allowed to wear the girls' uniform anyway while the girls were allowed to be in the boys', so, in a sense, the regulations were stricter on the male students than the female ones.
Tomo wondered if they would relax the restrictions further if there were no problems. Or if they would if there was someone like Aki, but who was open about it.
They did, however, allow for a wider range of colour in one's clothing. The basics were the same: a white top, black bottom, and striped tie. But lighter colours were allowed on one's cardigan, west or hoodie. No one wore any of that as it was still hot outside, but the options were there for the winter.
"Ah. That makes sense."
It wasn't like his class didn't know about his anxiety by now. It was hard to hide after what happened in the schoolyard after all.
Tomo felt his stomach turn, and the lump in his throat grew. He just needed to get through two classes after homeroom. He could do that. Right?
The classroom had slowly filled up. Only Sakura, who was supposed to sit to the very left of the back row next to Itou, was missing. Handa stepped into the classroom, followed by an androgynous-looking person.
Tomo knew it was the new teacher, Wakabayashi Ryuu, and that Wakabayashi was nonbinary. However, his first reaction had still been trying to figure out if the teacher was a woman or a man. The person's long black hair was in a high ponytail, swinging back and forth, as the teacher walked through the classroom and then stood to Handa's right.
Tomo turned to Tatsumi who grinned.
Handa looked around the classroom and tapped his papers onto the desk in front of him, any mumbling turning quiet. He opened his mouth just as the sliding door was pushed open. It rattled from the strength used to open it.
In stepped a short-haired, rather short person in the short-sleeved shirt and black trousers of the uniform. They held their bag over their shoulder and threw a quick scan through the room.
Tomo was dumbfounded. He'd recognise Sakura anywhere; he had seen her with her hair up and in wigs before. Except it wasn't a wig this time.
Sakura had cut her hair for the first time since Tomo met her. First time in over nine years. And it could only have been after he had seen her the previous evening.
Her almost-black eyes turned to the teacher and the whiteboard.
"'Scuse me."
It wasn't just her appearance. She didn't even try to keep the image of a proper girl up.
She waited for a moment, seeing if she was going to get scolded for being late on the first day before she closed the door, without the force used to open it.
"This isn't your classr—" Handa started, but Sakura walked through the classroom, pulled out the chair and slumped down into it, hanging her bag beside her desk.
The class was completely silent, and she just sat there, as if nothing was odd.
Tomo looked toward the new teacher who looked confused and then turned to the whiteboard, seeming to understand what was going on seeing as the seat was assigned to
"Sensei?"
Handa looked at his coworker who pointed at the seat on the whiteboard. It perhaps made him process what was going on.
"Ha-Hanakawa...?"
"Yes."
In a sense, it made sense.
Sakura had constantly been described as 'boyish'. She used a rough, masculine first-person pronoun. Wouldn't wear a skirt willingly even if it killed her. She had always had an easier time being friends with boys because she found it difficult to relate to girls. Was glad she had brothers who treated her as one of them, rather than their baby sister.
However, unlike Tomo and his discomfort with either gender, Sakura was perfectly comfortable in identifying as a girl. She had a very strong sense of being one and would make sure no one mistook her for what she wasn't.
What Sakura had gotten wasn't a way to express her gender, or even herself.
It was freedom.
The pressure of being a proper woman had always been there for her because of her parents. Her parents were why Aki was hiding her gender as well. But now the school allowed her to dress however she wanted, and she must have taken that small chance to shake off some of that pressure to just become someone's housewife in the future.
The turning of his stomach was getting worse, and the nausea was getting overwhelming. He needed to run away. Was about to cry. Wanted to scream.
And the anxiety was filling his mind with questions.
What would people say and do to her? What had her parents said? Would they kick her out? Was she going to be punished? How many would make assumptions...?
"Sakuraba?" Tomo heard Handa say.
"Momoi needs to go to the infirmary."
"Suzuki, Sakuraba, could you take him there?"
Tatsumi and Yuu stood up, and Tomo got up slowly, feeling weak. He wasn't entirely sure what to do or what was going on anymore. But he took the chance of running away since he got it. He threw a glance at Sakura, who stared straight ahead of her. Meanwhile, others were looking to see what was going on.
As soon as Tomo was out of the classroom, he darted toward the toilets.
He didn't make it through the two classes he had...
***
Tomo was exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to crawl up on the sofa at home and watch some magical girl show while Ken held him and Ichirou gave him something tasty to eat.
As strange as it was, food was one of the first things on his mind.
"Alright, let's go back," he said in the most nonchalant tone he could muster.
"You look pretty pale...You sure we shouldn't go to the infirmary, Momocchi?"
"You look pale too," Tomo said. "Maybe you need to see the nurse? I'm fine now, though. There's nothing left."
Tatsumi patted his back. "Well, good job. You're through that now. I'll treat you to something when club activities are over."
"How did you know I was thinking about food? I bet I'll be starving before long."
"I can't believe you can think of food now."
Tomo shrugged and walked back towards the classroom with Tatsumi's arm over his shoulders. "I'm just glad I have no tie to mess up. Imagine that."
Yuu sighed as he followed them.
Tatsumi laughed silently. "See?" he said quietly, so that Yuu wouldn't hear. "Your anxiety is the perfect excuse. Told you so."
"I don't really like the excuse though."
***
"Are you feeling better now?" Handa asked as the three of them returned, not too long after they had left.
"Yes. I just, eh, needed to get rid of the shock."
A chuckle was heard from the bottom left corner.
"Was that funny, Hanakawa?"
"No, sensei."
"You can sit down," Handa said to the returning students.
"I rather stand in the back, if you don't mind," Tomo tried.
"I do mind, so sit down."
Sakura snickered as Tomo sat down.
"Yes, Hanakawa?"
"It's nothing, sensei."
"Really now? I'll move him to sit next to you if you interrupt us again." He sighed. "I was just about to say that I know you all are burning with curiosity about who this is, so I'll have you introduce yourself, sensei."
He stepped aside, and Wakabayashi cleaned the whiteboard before writing a name on it and turning back to the class.
"My name is Wakabayashi Ryuu, and I am the new teacher in Japanese literature. As I am quite new as a teacher and it's in the middle of the school year, it was decided that I will be assisting Handa-sensei for the rest of the year as your homeroom teacher. If any of you are in the literature club, I will be your advisor from now on. Any questions?"
Tomo blinked. Wakabayashi's voice was... neutral. He tried to hear if it sounded more feminine or masculine, but he couldn't place it, which was even more confusing than how androgynous the teacher looked. Sure, Tomo was very androgynous himself, though he had noticed he might be starting to look more masculine. Or maybe he wasn't. He wasn't sure. However, perhaps that neutral tone was something one could learn.
A hand was raised.
"Yes?"
"This is rather rude to ask, but are you a man or a woman, sensei?"
Tomo had expected that question once he saw Wakabayashi. The teacher didn't bat an eyelash at it either.
"No," Wakabayashi answered.
"No?"
The entire class seemed confused.
"I suppose I will have to explain." The teacher gave them a polite smile. "If the question is 'Are you a woman?' the answer is no. Yet, if you ask 'Are you a man?' instead, the answer is remains no. Thus, the answer to your question is 'No'. Do I need to explain it in simpler terms?"
The class remained silent, and Tomo glanced at Tatsumi. He noticed and raised the hand.
"Yes?"
"What is your gender identity, sensei?"
"That's an excellent question..."
"Suzuki Tatsumi," Handa said, with a smirk. He must have known Tatsumi already knew, and potentially had something to do with it.
"Again, that's an excellent question. I'm what they call 'nonbinary'. I neither identify as a man, not a woman. Any other questions?"
Sakura raised her hand.
"Yes?"
"Hanakawa Sakura, and I'm a girl. Were you hired because Yamamoto-sensei harassed our class's Momoi Tomoki-san?"
Tomo noticed Sakura neither said Seki nor used -kun. That was a little jarring. Not the former but the latter. Did she know about his gender identity? Did she have to make him more anxious?
"I was hired because you needed a teacher, Hanakawa-san. But if my presence means Momoi—" Tomoki shrank by his desk. "—doesn't have to be harassed, that would mean the school has become a better environment, don't you think?" She turned to Handa. "The one who had to leave before was Momoi, am I right?"
"Yes."
"Are there any more questions?"
No one moved. Handa took over again after saying Wakabayashi would stay for a while after homeroom if someone wanted to talk to the new teacher before going to their club, reminding that club activities were mandatory for all first and second years the first two days of the term. Then he wrapped up homeroom so they could have their first lesson of the term.
***
Tomo was glad he sat in the back, and he sighed heavily once only Tatsumi was by his seat.
"I hate myself," Tomo said after a while.
"Oh, come on. It's not that bad, Momo."
"Yes. I could just as well break my own leg, and it's still not enough to make up for anything."
"That's rather harsh treatment, is it not, Momoi Tomoki-san?"
Tomo looked up. Without noticing everyone but them and Wakabayashi had left the classroom.
"Momo, we'll meet up at the gate after the club. As promised, I'll treat you. Take your time speaking with sensei."
Tatsumi closed the door at the back, then went out through the front of the classroom and closed the door as well.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to ask anything, but I suppose I just got my answer from Suzuki-kun. The director's child?"
"From what I've heard, yes."
"Which explains why he thought of the idea of asking for my gender identity." Wakabayashi sat down on the chair in front of Tomo's desk. "I heard you suffer from panic attacks and anxiety. I suppose that was what happened this morning?"
"Yes. I knew Saku-cha— Hanakawa-san wanted to cut her hair and hated wearing a skirt, but I never expected her to turn up in a bo— that uniform."
"I have to admit I was surprised as well. I did expect some who would want the look of a tie when I heard the regulations changed from the previous term, but if she chose that because she disliked the skirt, she must have hated it very much. Since you just called her Saku-chan, I assume you're rather close, and if she did so for you, I wouldn't be surprised."
"If she did it for me, she wouldn't have cut the hair this morning or shocked me so much I'd throw up," Tomo muttered to himself.
Wakabayashi either pretended they didn't hear it, or they truly didn't. Tomo couldn't tell.
"Any questions?"
He tilted his head while thinking.
"Two, I suppose. I know very well gender identity can be very complicated in one's teens. I'm sure the same applies to children and adults. It can be obvious, as it is for Hanakawa Sakura — the girl in the boy's uniform — who has a very strong sense of being a girl, and has always had that. I know her since elementary school and she was just as opposed to being called a boy as she is today. Other times... it can be ambiguous, I suppose. So my first question, if it's not too rude to ask, is when did you know?"
"That's a very good question. I don't mind sharing that, as it may help someone else."
Tomo thought he saw something in the teacher's eyes that told him that they meant him specifically. He felt his face turn hot in embarrassment, while he also felt cold as if they had found something extremely bad in his desk or bag.
"You're quite right. It's not easy regardless of age. Gender identity is something very complex and how strongly one identify as a gender is as much a spectrum as gender identity is. I didn't have a feeling of being different around my peers until my second or third year of middle school. That was when I realised that I didn't relate to my peers. I didn't understand why, but I felt uncomfortable. It took me until I joined the LGBT circle to support a couple of friends for me to realise I was nonbinary. And here we are. Your other question?"
Tomo took a bit of time to gather his thoughts.
Wakabayashi hadn't known at his age. Maybe he was making a mistake? He could perhaps just think he didn't fit into the binary genders because he liked different things. That must be a possibility.
However, Ken was the one who had suggested nonbinary. Ken knew him better than anyone else. Even if he tried, he could probably not hide anything from him. So if Ken had taken the time to look into it and suggested nonbinary — and from everything Tomo had found while looking into it himself after that — he might be...
On the other hand,it would be better if he wasn't nonbinary. It would be better if he became a boy, a man, a brother, a son...
Would Ken hate him then?
"If you need time, you can ask tomorrow, Momoi-san."
"Ah, no. It's fine. I just needed to... eh... process what you told me. My other question is: What is it like to be a nonbinary adult? Is it easier or more challenging? Although you found out in university, there's likely some difference between being a teacher and a student."
"You're right. There is a difference. The support I had in my circle isn't really there anymore. I still have friends from there, but it's not quite the same thing." The teacher fell silent. "I thought you might be—"
"Tomo, are you in here?"
The door opened and Tomo could see Ken stick his head in to look around. He looked surprised when he saw them.
"Oh. If I'm disturbing you, I'll wait outside."
"No, it's fine. Unless Momoi-san prefers that you wait."
Tomo wave to Ken to come over to them. The third-year stepped inside and closed the door, before he approached them, placing himself next to Tomo.
"This is...?"
"Yamada Kenta, 3-A," Ken said before he bowed. "It's very nice to meet you. I'll be in your care."
"He..." Tomo hesitated. "He's very close to me. Someone I care for very much."
"Oh?"
Tomo glanced at Ken who had an amused glint in his eye.
"Beloved sapphire," he said and leaned closer. "Are you quite certain you wish to say you care for me? I am very glad you think of me as special, as you have since long stolen my heart. It will remain in your care for eternity, as my love for you is undying."
"...and he's in the drama club," Tomo added. "He was scouted to H University last year to study drama."
Wakabayashi chuckled. "Nonetheless you seem very close." They turned to Ken. "My name is Wakabayashi Ryuu and I will be your new Japanese Literature teacher until you graduate. I hope you won't bring your interest into the classroom too often."
"If there is a stage I don't hesitate to get in the role I've given, but I wouldn't consider in the middle of a class a stage. Unless, of course, you wish for me to read immersed in what we're reading."
"We'll see about that," the teacher said with a smile. "As for your second question, Momoi. For me, personally, it became easier. But that's not the case for everyone. I, fortunately, look androgynous, but there are many who don't and get more questions or... are harassed."
Tomo already knew what it was like. He looked into his desk. If harassment what was in his future he didn't want it.
"However," they continued and Tomo looked back at his teacher. "Having people who support you can allow you to stand above harassment. I know you've already been through some. Handa-sensei told me, since it was brought up. It's certainly unfortunate. But from the looks of it, you have people who will be there for you." They smiled at Ken. "And I saw more of them this morning. Keep your friends close, and let them support you."
Wakabayashi fell quiet, and Tomo realised their conversation was over.
"I will keep that in mind."
The teacher stood up. "You'll have to excuse me. You two should hurry to your clubs, and I need to get to the literary club." The teacher silently looked from one door to another before muttering: "Somehow."
"I'm in the English club, so I can show you, as it's on the way."
"That would be appreciated."
"I'm coming with you, Tomo."
"But you're in the drama club?"
"And I'm a third year, so I don't have to attend. Let's show Wakabayashi-sensei the way!"
***
Handa stared. Blinked. And stared.
"Yamada-kun?"
"Good day, Handa-sensei."
"You are aware this isn't the drama club, right?"
"Of course I do. Third years don't have to attend today's activities, so I'm just waiting here."
Tomo looked at Ken, who was sitting at the back of the classroom, reading a book. He wasn't the only one who peered at him.
It seemed very strange Yamada Kenta would sit around in a small and somewhat random club like the English club, even if he came with Tomo.
He was known among boys and girls for several reasons.
He had impressed during the drama club's plays — one of them being a collaboration with the university that had scouted him. Students from B High, and friends and family, had been allowed to get free tickets.
It was the only play Ken was in that Tomo had never seen.
He was one of the students scoring high every exam, never dropping below the top ten. He didn't brag about it nor was overly humble about it, though, making no enemies for either. Nomura Sayoko — Chika's best friend — and Aoki Tatsuhisa were together with Ken in the top three students, although only Sayoko had never ranked below third.
He was sociable and had friends from all classes in all years, treated everyone one equal terms and was always helpful.
However, more than anything he was an infamous player. No one could have missed there were a high number of female students that were 'Yamada Kenta's girls'. Tomo couldn't believe that the teachers were unaware. Even if they were, Ken had spent a lot of time sleeping instead of going to class.
Perhaps some of the time he skipped class he had been with a girl. Who knew?
The club had no rules against outsiders, so Handa couldn't ask him to leave as long as he didn't disturb anyone.
"As long as you use English, I suppose it's fine..." Handa glanced at Tomo before he looked back at the drama club member.
Ken looked thoughtfully at the teacher. "
Some of the students chuckled.
Tomo noticed the English club president Okita Otoya from Ken's class pinched the bridge of his nose. He could understand the older boy's frustration. Ken seemed to do about as well on the English exams as Okita, but Ken's talent was in memorizing only the material he needed to pass the exams. So in terms of practical skill, Ken didn't have any.
"
Though most of the club members did use Handa Daikichi's first name; Handa had grown up with calling teachers by their given name while living abroad, so he said that during the club he preferred it that way.
"
It should have ended there, but Ken still looked thoughtful.
"
"What would Wakabayashi-sensei be?" Ken asked in Japanese, obviously giving up trying to speak the assigned language.
Handa looked surprised.
"
"
Okita looked at Sayoko, who shook her head.
" That's all."
Handa raised an eyebrow but said nothing more of it, and Ken went back to reading, not saying anything else.
***
"Tomo," Ken whispered as he walked next to him.
"Hm?"
"Did you two say something?" Tatsumi asked.
"Ah, no. Nothing," Ken laughed. "How was I?" he then whispered.
"You were really embarrassing while you waited for me at the English club."
Tatsumi laughed. "If you're trying to hide it, you should try harder. That's so obvious."
Ken looked a little annoyed but then grinned.
"My last girl was Sayocchi. And I'm infamous for going on dates with girls. I think it'll take more for people to catch on than me going to wait at the club my supposed girlfriend and her friend's baby brother is in. That aside, I was wondering about Sunday, Tomo. You left before I even got off stage, so you never told me."
"Aaaah..."
Ken was right. He had never told him, since Aki and himself were in a hurry, while Ken had that entire week off due to the theatre.
"I guess it was alright," he said with a shrug, trying to hold back a smile. "You messed up a line, so what's-her-name had to improvise to get you back on track, you didn't sound devastated enough when Saku-chan almost killed you, and you just weren't into that line you had at the end."
Ken laughed. "Tell the truth if you're going to criticise my acting."
Tomo chuckled. "You did well. I think it was your best performance to date.
"You were in a play, senpai? Hana-chan too?" Tatsumi asked. "Now I wish I had seen it."
"Too bad I came straight from work for it, or else I might have asked you to come along. I was really impressed. You'll do great when you study drama, Ken."
"Oh. Mm. I guess..."