Your Jacket

Affect and Effect

Hey guys! A 6.0 earthquake has just hit Mansfield in Victoria. Really unusual actually, earthquakes this strong don't usually hit here. But once again if anyone needs any help from the SES then call 132 500 for assistance. Please be patient as they're probably being flooded with calls right about now. 

But it really feels like Victoria is falling apart; COVID-19, construction worker riots, riot squads in the streets even armoured cars on Elizabeth street. And now with an earthquake hitting. Of course, there are many countries who have it worse and I acknowledge that.

Time skip to a few days later brought to you by Bokuto's morning routine.

Bokuto stretched his legs and sighed, laying his head down on his desk. The sun was still weak in the grey sky and clouds hurried to and fro, never leaving an open space. These were the days of winter Bokuto hated most. It would be bitingly cold, yet no snow would fall. 

No sunshine and the wind would buffet them around, bustling them to their classes. He couldn't play volleyball at lunchtimes because the wind would snatch it up and stick it in a tree that even Komi wouldn't be able to reach.

Bokuto leaned back in his chairs and brushed his floppy hair out of his eyes. He usually took the time to do his hair every morning; it was iconic! But this morning, just like the last few, he had noticed Akaashi leave for school without waiting for him. 

In fact, the first day this had happened, Bokuto had opened his window and called out to Akaashi. "Akaashi! Wait for me! I'll be down in a second!" he'd yelled. Akaashi'd caught his eye and turned away quickly, speeding down the road until he'd rounded a corner and disappeared from Bokuto's view.

Bokuto had stared after him, confused again. What did you do, Kōtarō?, he'd thought. Afterward, Bokuto would just watch as Akaashi hesitantly opened his front door and looked around before hurrying down the street. Now, Bokuto looked up at his English teacher, who was pointing to the board. Bokuto turned to Konoha, who had his feet up on the table, a pencil between his teeth.

"Hey Akinori, have you talked to Akaashi lately?" Bokuto asked, shifting in his seat. Konoha looked at Bokuto through the corner of his eye. "Don't think I haven't noticed, Kōtarō," Konoha whispered. 

He kicked his feet off the table and scooted closer to Bokuto, who squirmed in his seat, wishing he had his usual spiky hair. It seemed to give him more confidence or make him seem more intimidating. Now he just felt like he was being inspected.

"What did Akaashi do to you?"

Bokuto blinked. And chuckled unconvincingly. "W-What makes you think w-Akaashi did anything?" he said, averting his gaze to his teacher who was eyeing the two boys in the back row. "You know what? How about we save this for later, yeah, Akinori?" mumbled Bokuto. 

"Konoha-san! Bokuto-san!" called the teacher. "Yes, Takahashi-sensei?" Bokuto said hurriedly, avoiding Konoha's critical gaze. "Can you tell me what the difference is between the words affect and effect, please?"

Bokuto froze. "U-Uh, well, effect is when you do something and s-something else happens so the effect it would have would be because someone-" Takahashi-sensei sighed and rubbed her eyes, slipping her hands behind her large, round glasses. She brushed her brown bangs out of her eyes. 

She looked up sharply and walked over to Bokuto's desk briskly. She kneeled at his desk and looked at him disapprovingly. "Kotaro-kun," she said quietly, so as no-one else would hear. "You did do the extra homework I assigned you, right?"

Bokuto sighed and put his head in his hands. Why was Akaashi affecting him so much? WAIT A SECOND- "AN EFFECT IS A CHANGE WHICH IS A RESULT OR CONSEQUENCE OF AN ACTION OR OTHER CAUSE. THEREFORE, THE WORD AFFECT IS A VERB MEANING TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON A SITUATION, PERSON OR OBJECT," yelled Bokuto, standing up in his chair. 

Konoha fell off his chair with a yelp and Takahashi-sensei stood, arms held up. Several of the girls screamed in the highest pitch possible and so did a few of the guys.

Bokuto sat down sheepishly. "S-Sorry," he mumbled. Takahashi-sensei brushed off her tan pencil skirt and adjusted her blouse. She tapped Bokuto's arm softly and whispered, "Come see me after class, Kotaro-kun." She cleared her throat. "You too, Konoha." 

Konoha picked himself up and asked, "What do you mean?" Takahashi-sensei strode gracefully over to another student and said, "My desk. After class." She suddenly straightened and looked Konoha in the eye, smirking as he flinched. "Unless you can tell me the applications of the verb in comparison to the noun?"

Konoha wearily shot her finger guns. "Right. Your desk." Bokuto sank further into his seat. This was going to be a long day.

Timeskip to the end of Bokuto's English class brought to you by Konoha's finger guns

Bokuto and Konoha watched as the class filed out of the classroom, heading out to their first break. Bokuto watched Takahashi-sensei as she wiped off the board and set her papers and textbooks aside for her next lesson. Beside him, Konoha had packed his bag, and was now watching the clock tick further and further into their break time.

Finally, Takahashi-sensei called out, "Konoha-san." "Just a second, sensei," said Konoha, patting Bokuto on the back and heading towards the front of the classroom. Takahashi-sensei and Konoha spoke in hushed voices, stealing quick glances at Bokuto. 

After sending Konoha away, Takahashi-sensei pulled her long hair into a low ponytail and she slipped off her cardigan, exposing her bare arms to the drafts floating around the classroom.

Her bracelet jingled around her wrist as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Takahashi licked her lips and rubbed her arm awkwardly. The silence in the room was deafening and Bokuto's dreary mood wasn't helping it.

She watched as Bokuto stared at his desk, face devoid of any emotion. Takahashi-sensei walked up to Bokuto's desk and sat down beside him silently. "Kotaro-kun, you will tell me if there's anything wrong, right?" Bokuto grunted softly in response, not moving an inch. 

They sat there in awkward silence until Takahashi-sensei burst into tears. Bokuto jumped in surprise. "H-Hey, don't cry! It's okay, I'm oka-" She pushed him away. "Stop lying to me, Kotaro-kun! You think I won't notice when my little brother is upset?!"

Bokuto hung his head. He hadn't meant to upset his sister. "I'm sorry, Hikari-chan." Hikari wiped her eyes and pulled out her phone. "I'm calling Aoi. Go home, Kotaro. You need a break," she mumbled. Bokuto knew it was no use arguing with her. "Okay," he said glumly. "Tell Aoi and Takahashi-san I said hello." And with that he left his older sister alone in the classroom. 

Anyway, Bokuto has two older sisters, Aoi, the eldest and Hikari is the middle child. Bokuto is the youngest but Aoi has taken care of them both since they were young. Bokuto Aoi is an unmarried professor and Takahashi Hikari is married and is a teacher at Fukurōdani Academy.

Next Chapter:
- the Cherry Blossom Path
- Bokuto's bush
-"... Bokuto squatted in the dirt, fuming with something he didn't want to acknowledge. Jealousy."