It’s club day but I don’t want to go.
Teacher said since I didn’t start at the beginning of the year that I had to join a club with “openings”- and no, she said girls don’t do kendo – and I don’t like it. I like learning it because I could help Okaasan but the assistant instructor of this club… doesn’t like me? I feel weird in there.
I didn’t do anything. And I’m trying really hard to learn!
So I decide to go over and watch Tsutomu-kun practice! It won’t hurt to go watch!
I hide right inside the door and right away I can see him! He’s fighting a big boy and he’s doing good! I clap my hand over my mouth so I don’t cheer. My brother is so cool.
(OOC: Tsutomu can see and/or interact with Makoto or not.)
I push with all my might and my sparring partner goes off balance. Good! My eyes narrow and I bring the shinai down to his shoulder.
“Kyaa!!!” I shout and bring it down with some force.
“Ouch Fujita!!! What are you doing?”
What? I step back and look at my opponent on the floor. “I’m sorry. I must’ve gotten carried away.”
“Geez. I don’t want to spar with you anymore if you can’t control your swings.” He stands up and squeezes his shoulder. That must’ve really hurt. I bow down.
“Sorry.” What else could I do? I walk away. I suppose I really should practice by myself. Then I see Makoto. Do I really want to speak to her? But Yagi-san isn’t here yet, she shouldn’t be left alone.
“Hello Makoto-chan.” I try to be cheerful but fall flat.
Hello Makoto-chan.”
I grin as I see him. He doesn’t seem happy, but he was working really hard. “I came to watch you. I don’t like my club.”
Then I remember something Okaasan told me, and run over to the pail of water along the side, and bring him the dipper. She said she used to do that for Chichi, and his friends, a very long time ago. He’s all sweaty! “That other guy was a lot bigger. You must be very strong.”
She brings me a pail of water. “Thank you Makoto-chan”. I just wash my face at least.
You must be very strong.
“I guess. My mother told me I was.” I hand her some yams. I look Makoto-chan over. Don’t forget Tsutomu. You are strong..
“So what’s so bad at your club? ” I make small talk until her mother can go pick her up.
“I guess. My mother told me I was.
I nod. I’m sure everyone knows it. Oh, yeah, he has an okaasan too! I’m about to ask but then he gives me yams. “Oh, thank you, Tsutomo-kun!”
So what’s so bad at your club
“I don’t think I’m doing a good job there.” I sigh, “but I’m trying. Sewing must be harder than math, even.”
“Sewing?” I make a face. “That’s a girl’s job.”
Oh wait. Makoto -is- a girl.
“My mother was a lady in waiting to the Princess Teru. That was part of her duties.” I’ve heard many stories from my mother during the time she would wait for the nobility and that -he- was always following mother insisting to provide mother with his bodyguard services. An old story.
“I guess you should try harder but you don’t have to. There’s others clubs. “
(Makoto)
Sewing? That’s a girl’s job.
I nod. “I -want- to take Kendo but they said it’s for boys only.” I sigh, it’s not fair, I bet I would be good at it. “I’m not strong yet but I’m fast.”
My mother was a lady in waiting to the Princess Teru. That was part of her duties.
A real princess? That might make sewing fun, maybe, instead of the washclothes we’ve been making?
I get up to put the dipper back and the dojo door opens, and then I wonder if I can -run-.
(Sakaya)
I’ve looked everywhere for her and finally find her in the dojo. I storm in. I have enough to do as a senior who has to help in the after-school clubs for pocket money than do deal with the antics of any of these brats, but most especially -this- one.
She looks like she’s going to run and I walk up grab her collar and pull her to me. Then I spot Tsutomu-kun and pull her over. “I’m sorry, Makoto-chan bothering you? She’s a disobident girl who ran off from club. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“Kendo?” I tilt my head, “I don’t know about that. Girls should be girls you know? There’s enough young boys making fools of themselves with a shinai and bokken.” I gently tap my shinai over her head. “Besides, all you get from fighting is more fighting.”
Suddenly Makoto stands up and the next thing I know an upper classmen has a hold on her by the collar.
“I’m sorry, Makoto-chan bothering you? She’s a disobident girl who ran off from club. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
I stand up. “Hey don’t you think that’s a little rough?” My eyes narrow, “Now why don’t you put her down? I don’t think she’ll run.”
I have no idea if she’ll run. Maybe she would or would not. If she does -run- I suppose I’d have no choice.
(Makoto)
Besides, all you get from fighting is more fighting.
That sound like something chichiue would say. I nod, but I still want to -know-.
Then Sakaya-san is there and she’s -mad-. She’s pulling me around and thinks that I’m a pest to Tsutomu-kun! I did skip club but I’m not -bothering-!
Now why don’t you put her down? I don’t think she’ll run
She lets me to and I fall on the floor, I roll over a bit before getting my balance. I stand up I’m a little dizzy and I bow. First I say sorry to Sakaya-san, and then to Tsutomu-kun. “I wanted to watch my brother practice.”
(Sakaya)
“I’m sorry, Tsutomu-kun, but, as I said, she’s very disobedient.” Well I’ve seen her marks. It’s said that she behaves well, is good at English but very behind in math. So why is she so disrespectful to me?
Brother? I look down at the girl. So the rumors are true? “I’m going to arrange for a note to be sent home. And don’t think this incident will get you out of sewing.” I turn on my heel and leave.
(Sakaya exits)
“I’m sorry, Tsutomu-kun, but, as I said, she’s very disobedient.”I’m going to arrange for a note to be sent home.
I shrug at the girl and help Makoto stabilize. I look back at the girl that only meant get out.
“Who was that?” I ask Makoto. “You should try to not skip out and persevere if you can.”
For a moment I consider telling her not to call me brother in front of others. I was told to be strong, to not be -deceived- into thinking that this was OK. That – our- family can still be together, i just need to remind -him-.
“Hey Makoto. You call -him- Uncle right?”, I swallow, “just call me Tsutomu from now on.”
Who was that? You should try to not skip out and persevere if you can.
“She’s the assistant to the teacher in sewing club.” I frown, “she’s really hard on me and I’m trying.” I try to make a scowly face because I’m not going to cry. He tells me to persevere.
“Hai!” I will -try-.
Hey Makoto. You call -him- Uncle right? just call me Tsutomu from now on.
Him? Oh, chichiue. “Only at school. Oh, and when he first came to meet me,” I smile. “But I can call him chichiue at home, all I want.” I think for a minute. Grown-ups make weird rules. Tsutomu-kun is a big boy, though, so I’ll listen to him.
I miss chichiue and I’m sad again. “But can I call you brother at home?”
She’s the assistant to the teacher in sewing club.” I frown, “she’s really hard on me and I’m trying.”
“Give it your best shot but if she makes trouble let your Okaasan know. ” maybe Makoto can be moved elsewhere.
Only at school. Oh, and when he first came to meet me,” hmm? I smile. “But I can call him chichiue at home, all I want.”
“Yes -him-.” I don’t know why she’d put up with that but she’s a kid. She wouldn’t know any better.
But can I call you brother at home
“If you want. I’m not really sure if you should though. ” after all I’m only a half brother and I don’t even like her mother. I hate both her and -him-… and yet you want him back, just like your mother wants him back. .
“Hey Makoto-chan.” I hold her hand, “let’s go find your mother.”
(OOC: you can close. Tsutomu is probably unwilling to speak to Hide)
(Makoto)
Give it your best shot but if she makes trouble let your Okaasan know.
I nod but she has a baby in her tummy and some of my friends say you can never, ever worry your okaasan when there’s a baby in there or they’ll both be sick.
If you want. I’m not really sure if you should though
But we walk out together! I’ll tell him about how I think we should make a secret fort sometime later. I think he’d be good at keeping secrets.
(Hide)
I’m waiting at the gates… where are they today? The initial press of children and parents has already cleared and then I see them – are they holding hands?
I blink, trying not to grin -or- cry. I think he’d -hate- that. But he doesn’t hate her, and for that, I’m glad. When I look back again it’s ended and he has his usual look.
I’ll take it.
(OOC: They walk home, and thread)