The Final Mark

Chapter 2

     Mai kept looking at the girl. The girl looked back.  “My name is Aiko,” she said. Her voice was soft, calm, and inviting. Mai was lost for a second, but for that brief second all she cared about was this girl’s voice. It was such a beautiful sound and it was like none of which she had heard before.

     And then Mai was back. Her mind was restored once more. She looked up at this Aiko girl. “H-hi,” stuttered Mai. “M-my n-name is Mai, M-mai Misaki.”

     “Nice to meet you, Mai,” said Aiko. There it was again. This feeling kept ringing throughout her body. What was it with her voice?

     “Nice to meet you too, Aiko,” said Mai.

     “I see you are new here,” said Aiko.

     “Ya,” said Mai quietly.

    “Lucky for you this is the first day,” said Aiko. “All the classes are shortened to give kids time to wander and get a feel for the school.” Mai looked around. Only one thought went through her head: this school is huge. “Let me show you around.” Mai looked back towards Aiko.

     Aiko and Mai made their way through the school. Mai followed nervously behind. Aiko explained everything she needed to know: where the bathrooms were, where all the classes, where the cafeteria is, and where the exits are. Mai now had a basic understanding of he layout of the school.

     It was almost time for block one of her day. Luckily all the classes are shortened. There were eight blocks a day, plus lunch. Her classes were not too hard, but not easy at the same time; she could manage. First off: calculus.

     Mai made her way to the math wing and found the room which was hers. She walked in, only half the students were there. All the kids that were there turned and looked at her. Mai froze. Eyes upon eyes were now upon her and she didn’t know what to do. Why were they staring at her? It must be the eye patch. Mai quickly scurried to her seat and sat down. All the later happened in class was an explanation of the course, but, through it all, everyone kept looking at her.

     Next was physics. Mai thought she could get a different reaction, maybe she would be better off, but as she entered the room the eyes shifted.

    Then Choir, eyes upon her.

     Chemistry? More stares.

     Finally lunch had arrived. She made her way to the cafeteria and looked around; there were a lot of people. A familiar voice and a tap came from behind her: it was Aiko. Aiko smiled at Mai. There was that feeling again.

     “See you made it this far okay,” said Aiko.

     “Ya,” lied Mai, “I did.” They both got their food and moved to an empty table to eat. A few minutes in Aiko started up another conversation.

     “You find all your classes,” asked Aiko.

     “Yup,” said Mai.

     “Nice classes,” asked Aiko.

     “Ya.”

     “People treating you okay?”

     Mai hesitated before she said, “yup.”

     “Hey,” called out a first voice. Aiko and Mai both looked up to a few people walking towards them.

     “Fuck,” whispered Aiko under her voice.

     “If it isn’t lil’ Aiko,” said one of the boys from the group.

     “Just leave now,” said Aiko.

     “Isn’t she cute,” said the boy. The group laughed.

     “Leave now.”

     “You think you can tell me what to do you little emo girl. Did you become too westernized? Get out of Japan before you dishonour us all.” Mai sat there quietly as the argument continued. Emo?  She did wear a bit of black, but are they really going to stereotype?

     “So, is this your new girlfriend,” said a girl from the group. Mai snapped back into the conversation. Girlfriend?

     “She is just a friend, Kait” said Aiko. She was trying to keep herself calm.

     “Oh really now,” said Kait. Mai looked at Kait. An American? Here? She had never seen one at a Japanese school. Kait turned to Mai. “What are you looking at… oh wait… my bad,” said Kait. “You probably can’t see with that eye gone.”

     Now she had done it. Aiko and Mai both stood up. An unspoken communication was flowing between them, yet they both calmed down. Had either of the two been alone, a blow would have happened, but the presence of the other stopped the fight. And so they just picked up their trays and left.

     Mai continued through her day like the morning; just stares upon stares were thrown her way. It was like this for all of the four classes that remained.

     Finally school was over and Mai made a break for the doors. She felt a thud on her side by her pocket, but she ignored it. Once she got out side she looked around. Only a few moments later had she spotted Ayaka’s car. Quickly she scurried for the car and hopped in.

     “That was fast,” said Ayaka.

     Mai was panting, “Just excited to get home.” Ayaka looked at Mai for a bit before she started the drive. Mai didn’t like it here. She didn’t want to be here at all.

    When Mai finally got home she ran to her bed and cried. She just sat there for an hour crying. When the tears stopped she sat up. She was at least glad she had made a friend so fast. This Aiko girl. Mai felt something in her pocket. It was a piece of paper. Mai doesn’t remember this. Did someone put this here? Was that the thud she felt? She slowly opened the paper to see what rested upon it.

     There were 7 numbers on it.