Chapter 09 Operation: High-Class Lady

That day, all the teachers were in a meeting, so classes were empty. Many students poured out of their classrooms. Some headed to the swimming pool for a swim, some to the cafeteria to chat, some to the gym to play basketball, or used other facilities. I, myself, chose to go to the fifth floor, intending to lie down and enjoy the warm sunlight and gentle breeze. As I was relaxing, I heard footsteps also heading upstairs.

"So you're here, Hayabusa-kun," Setsuko said.

"Setsuko? What's wrong?" I immediately got up from my reclining position.

"Can you accompany me after school today?" Setsuko asked.

"Hmm, where to?" I asked back.

"I want to buy more painting supplies. My canvas is starting to get damaged," Setsuko replied.

"Sure, I can."

"I'll wait in the principal's office, okay? Bye." Setsuko turned and left me.

Before I knew it, the clock showed 2:45 PM, time for school to end. I made sure the school was safe before telling Ken to inform the guidance counselor that everything was in order. Meanwhile, I went straight to the principal's office. Inside, Setsuko was already waiting for me.

"Setsuko!" I called.

"Ah, come in, Hayabusa-kun," Setsuko replied.

"Huh, I thought we were going to leave?" I became confused.

"I have a shortcut, though. Come on!" Setsuko pointed towards a sliding door next to us.

Behind the sliding door, there was another door leading to an underground staircase. I followed Setsuko down the stairs until we arrived at a secret door. The door, from the outside, was perfectly disguised to look like a wall, but once opened, we immediately arrived at the school's front yard.

"Wow, this is quite deceptive, huh," I murmured.

"This is actually a building my Papa built," Setsuko replied.

Setsuko and I walked out of the school area towards the shopping center. We stopped at a brush shop located near a flower shop, with a distinct old Western-style interior.

"Ah, Setsuko-san, welcome!" the shop owner greeted.

"Auntie, I want to buy new brushes and ink," Setsuko said.

"Please, we have new arrivals," the auntie said, showing some products.

"Hayabusa-kun, just look around for now, okay?" Setsuko said, her eyes already fixed on the rows of new brushes.

While Setsuko was busy looking for painting supplies, I glanced at the paintings displayed near the canvas cabinet. The paintings were truly beautiful and full of meaning, as indicated by their titles. My eyes then fell on a drawing by Setsuko from when she was in second grade of junior high—meaning, when I was still in Kyoto. Not long after, Setsuko finished buying new brushes and paints. The principal's car suddenly appeared in front of the shop, and the driver got out.

"Sorry for the wait, young lady," one of the drivers said.

"It's alright. I'm going home now, Hayabusa," Setsuko said.

"Ah." Finally, Setsuko left me. "Alright, time to go to the dojo." I then rushed to the training place.

At the Kendo dojo, I had been appointed as a master by Sensei and became his deputy. However, his teaching style was just as terrifying and sadistic. Yet, Sensei, the owner of this dojo, used to be a sports teacher in Kyoto, where I used to go to school.

In every sparring practice, most of them lost quickly because my footwork and hand movements were too fast, hitting them before they could react. Some were caught off guard, their kendo sticks flew off, or they even got hit on the head with the hilt of the sword.

"Goodness, it's hard when I go first. How's your training, anyway?" I got a headache seeing the students taught by Sensei, who always struggled and lost against me.

"It's just that Senpai is too strong, Hayabusa-senpai..." complained one of the defeated members.

"Can't be helped. In that case, swing your swords 20 times!" I swung my kendo stick towards them.

"EEEH!? Are you serious, Senpai!?" They all protested.

"Alright then, 50 times, how about that?" I threatened.

"20 is fine! 20!" Everyone immediately obeyed and started swinging their swords 20 times.

Finally, training finished at five in the afternoon. All members had gone home, and I also arrived home safely from the dojo. Haah, this kind of hard work is pretty deadly. My body was aching, feeling crushed from all the walking and no rest at all. Ugh, I was so tired.

I then started showering and soaking in hot water. It was truly blissful after a day of working without rest, then coming home to a warm bath. All the aches disappeared. After showering and soaking, I went to the fridge and drank cold milk. Gulp! It tasted truly delicious! (Ah, I'm like an old man, aren't I?)

After I finished bathing and eating, my phone rang. It seemed to be a private number, I wondered who was calling at this hour.

"Hello?" I answered the phone.

"Ah, Hayabusa-kun?" Setsuko's voice on my phone.

"Setsuko? What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Um... thank you for accompanying me shopping earlier."

"It's nothing, besides, it's one of my duties too."

"I see... A duty, huh..." Setsuko murmured.

"Why?" I asked Setsuko.

"Ung, it's nothing. See you tomorrow, okay?" Setsuko hung up.

A Busy Morning

The next morning, I woke up earlier because my stomach was upset from eating too much. Luckily, I quickly rushed to the toilet to empty everything until nothing was left. After that, I showered, had breakfast, and went to school. On the way, I met my group of friends.

"Hayabusa-kun!" Nanaka ran behind me and jumped onto my back.

"THUD!" I almost fell. "Nanaka, that's dangerous, you know!"

"Heee~, already mad first thing in the morning?" Nanaka teased.

"Hayabusa-kun is really popular, huh," Otome said.

"Yeah-yeah, he's the star of our school," Kotori added.

"Oh~ Nanaka~" Joe suddenly appeared in front of me, looking creepy.

"Noooo~~" Nanaka was scared and hid behind me.

"GET OUT, YOU WEIRD CREATURE!" I threw Joe into the air. "He annoys me."

"What a troublesome man," Ken was also overwhelmed dealing with Joe.

"Just leave him. The bell will ring soon, you know." I went to school alone.

"Ah, wait, Hayabusa-kun!" Nanaka chased after me.

Before I knew it, it was lunch break. I left the classroom after being bored inside. As I passed the music room, I saw Ken and his bandmates. He immediately called me from the microphone as I passed by, so I had no choice but to enter the music room.

"What now?" I entered the music room.

"Hayabusa, can you sing?" the guitarist asked.

"Yeah, depends on the song, though."

"Then you can sing this?" Ken gave me the song lyrics.

"Oh, I've heard this song before," I said, patting the lyric sheet.

"In that case, you take the second part and Ken takes the first part, how about that?" the guitarist asked.

"Sounds good to me."

"All right, everyone! Let's play!" Ken was excited.

If you go…/say goodbye…./There'll be something missing in my life/'cause you know/ That all I really want is you…/Sorry if you felt misled…./But I know what I feel, I know what I said, baby/God I hope you believe, believe in all that we can be/The future in us together in love/You are the reason I'm strong/Don't you think I don't know/This is where I belong/Give me the time/To say that you're mine, to say that you're mine (Jon Secada - If You Go)

With the band's fairly loud sound, the students outside even watched Ken's band enthusiastically sing. Nanaka, Otome, and all my gang members watched Ken and me sing. After the song finished, the students outside applauded loudly.

School was over. I checked the school again, and as I passed the student council room, I saw Setsuko reading a student data book. I walked slowly and approached Setsuko, who seemed serious.

"What are you reading?" I asked Setsuko.

"HA-Hayabusa-kun!?" Setsuko was startled.

"School's over, and I've finished checking around the school too. Aren't you going home?"

"A-ah, I completely forgot." Setsuko put the book into her bag. "Oh, by the way, this is for you, Hayabusa-kun." Setsuko gave me two invitations.

"Party? What kind of party is this?" I asked Setsuko.

"Birthday party," Setsuko replied.

"Birthday party?" I was confused.

"Um, don't forget to come in classy clothes, okay? Bye." Setsuko left the room.

After informing the guidance counselor, I gave the invitation to Ken. I looked at the invitation again: the party was tonight at 7 PM at Setsuko's house, for Setsuko's birthday.

Hmm... Setsuko's house is known to be big, luxurious, and rich. I need to prepare a tuxedo and dress shoes for dancing. I also need to get ready before the party starts at 7 PM tonight. Since it's still afternoon, there's time to buy a tuxedo. But before buying clothes, I'll buy a recipe book first. Since I'm broke, I'll have to learn to cook instead of buying food.

Party Night

The clock showed 7, and I had arrived at Setsuko's house. All that was left was to go in and join the party.

"AH, HAYABUSA-KUN!" Someone called me.

"Oh, you guys." I turned towards the voice that called me.

Akane, Otome, Kotori, Ken, and even Ken's dog, Hunter, all wore classy and neat clothes. Everyone wore party clothes, and Ken's dog also wore party clothes.

"Wow, you look very neat," Otome said.

"Well, they said it had to be classy clothes," I said, adjusting my collar.

"Hey, you not carry your sword?" Ken asked.

"Oh, I keep it by my side, though." I showed the sword on my left hip.

"Alright, now let's go inside," Kotori added.

Inside the building, many of my schoolmates had come, and the teachers were also invited to Setsuko's birthday party. Everyone seemed to be enjoying Setsuko's party.

"Ah, you've arrived!" Setsuko looked towards Otome.

"Happy birthday, Setsuko Senpai!" Akane said.

"Congratulations, Setsuko," Otome and Kotori said.

"You're welcome," Setsuko said.

"Happy birthday, Setsuko," Ken greeted. "Oh right, here's your present." Ken gave Setsuko a gift.

"Thank you, Ken-kun," Setsuko accepted the gift.

"Happy birthday, Setsuko," I congratulated Setsuko.

"Ah, you came too, Hayabusa-kun," Setsuko said. "Please help yourselves to the food here."

And immediately Ken and Hunter ran towards the buffet area with turbo speed. So greedy, neither the owner nor the dog, both were greedy. I only took a drink. Accidentally, I met Erika and Shizuka-san.

"Ara, Hasukawa-kun is here too," Shizuka said.

"Shizuka-san, Erika-san. Good evening," I greeted them.

"Hu, Humph!" Erika turned her face away.

"Ara-ara, could it be that Erika-chan is enchanted by Hasukawa-kun, huh?" Shizuka teased.

"Se-sensei!! He's a pervert and very perverted!!" Erika snapped, her face flushed.

"But, isn't your face always red when you're with Hasukawa-kun?" Shizuka teased.

"Ah~~ Stop it, Sensei." Erika turned even redder.

I finally left the two of them and looked for a seat. When I passed Ken and Hunter, I had to pretend I didn't know them because they took so much food, it piled up. Embarrassing.

This time, the dance began, accompanied by classical music. The partners were male and female. I, myself, watched the dance from near the window because it was clearer. Then Ken approached me with Hunter.

"Hayabusa, can you take care of Hunter?" Ken asked.

"Hm? Why?" I asked back.

"Setsuko wants to dance with me, so take care of it, ok?"

"Ah, I understand. Go on then, Setsuko is waiting, you know." I told Ken to go to Setsuko.

Finally, Ken danced with Setsuko in the center with the other dancers. Hunter silently watched Ken without moving. Then I held Hunter's head and stroked him.

"Ken is quite good at dancing, huh," I said to Hunter.

"Woof," Hunter barked once.

After Ken and Setsuko's turn was over, Ken came up to me and took my hand.

"Hayabusa, come on, dance now," Ken said.

"Huh? But I don't have a dance partner?" I was confused because I was suddenly told to dance.

"You just spin slowly just like I do. Don't worry." Ken gave advice and Hunter pushed me.

I was told to partner with Setsuko. Not only Ken and Setsuko, everyone told me to dance with Setsuko. They said it wasn't satisfying if only Mr. Gunslinger danced with Setsuko.

"They want me to dance, huh?" I said to Setsuko.

"Never mind, they want you to dance too. Come on." Setsuko extended her hand.

"A... ah." I took Setsuko's hand.

Going Home and Reflection

Finally, the party ended at 10 PM. Everyone went home, and some were still chatting with Setsuko. Finally, I could take off my black blazer, unbutton my collar, and loosen two buttons on my shirt.

"Haaah~~, finally done." I folded my black blazer.

"Hayabusa-kun, this," Otome gave me a small box.

"What's inside?" I asked Otome.

"Birthday cake. Setsuko gave it as a souvenir," Otome said.

"Let me guess, Ken must have taken more than one, right?" I guessed.

"No, he only took one. And the other one was eaten by Ken's dog," Otome said.

"Oh...." My guess was wrong.

Finally, everyone went home. Shizuka left in a car that was already waiting inside the house. Erika was still staying at Setsuko's house. Only I, Ken, Kotori, and Otome were going in the same direction. At the fork in the road, Ken went home with Kotori, and I with Otome because we were going the same way.

"OK, we split up from here. Hayabusa, you escort Otome, 'cause me and Kotori are on the same way," Ken said.

"Ah, I understand. Good night, Ken, Kotori, and Hunter too..." I greeted Ken and Kotori.

"Woof!" Hunter said.

"Bye-bye," Otome said and left Ken and Kotori.

I finally escorted Otome to her house. Then Otome started talking instead of just being silent.

"Hayabusa-kun," Otome called.

"Yes?" I answered Otome.

"Your dance moves just now, the kids said they were pretty good, you know," Otome said.

"Oh, my stiff movements were called good," I scratched my cheek.

"Also when I was chatting with Setsuko. She said that when she held your hand, she remembered someone," Otome added.

"Ho...." I just mumbled.

Finally, I arrived at Otome's place and escorted her home. Then I headed to my house, my body aching as if it would break and I couldn't take it, wanting to sleep immediately. But I kept recalling what Setsuko said about when she held my hand, which made her remember someone. Who was that person? I, myself, didn't understand.