This Night Has Opened My Eyes

Chapter Six, Whiplash

CHAPTER SIX, Whiplash

The teacher sighs as he grabs his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He closes his locker and gets out of the school building. It was peaceful, and the weather wasn't too bad. He walks a little towards the parking lot, in the chilly air, not really minding the cold. He'd probably just go home, make a snack or something. Like usual. He hums a little as he walks, going over what happened earlier that day. Everything was as it always was - nothing really unusual - not until Samansa came into the spotlight.

Mr Yashiro was genuinely perplexed by her behaviour. He knew she wasn't doing okay. Ever since the deaths of those two girls. In both instances, she was zoned out - before the teachers were even told about the killings by the principal. They'd have to warn their students the next day... which Mr Yashiro was dreading. Exposing those kids to the harsh truth that reality had to offer...

It didn't help that any time he tried to talk to her, she'd immediately shut down, ignore him, freeze up, or... just act strange. He knew he couldn't just be the sweet, understanding teacher for much longer. He knew something was going on with her, but what? He couldn't just barge into her life like that unless she was in genuine danger. Sure her parents didn't necessarily take any of the school's warnings seriously - but... they gave her shelter, clothing, etc. Samansa also wrote about her dad and how she looked up to him during Father's Day last year. The school had to dig it up when they were investigating her anger issues.

Mr Yashiro was stuck. On one hand, he was her teacher. He was technically supposed to be doing his job by reporting her behaviour - but on the other hand... he couldn't just watch her deteriorate like that. Sure, it wasn't unusual for a student to act weird for a few days before returning to normal - like in Samansa's case... but... he just couldn't sit with it.

He wasn't a bad person, he wanted to help her.

But again, this was a touchy subject. He knew he couldn't intervene unless he had solid evidence to back his claims. So far, the only thing he had, was her zoning out in class, going quiet at random intervals during the day... nothing major. He didn't have tangible proof - he was stuck.

He sighs as he reaches his car, throwing his bag onto the passenger seat before starting the engine and reversing out of the parking lot. He begins driving back home - questions still roaming his mind. If he wanted to know what was going on, he had 2 options.

One, he could ask Samansa herself. This could go one of two ways, one way was that she would just shut down again. The other way was that she would give him some half-assed answer like she did in class. He couldn't help but grimace at that irritating thought. She really was a pain in the ass to deal with...

The other option he had was to ask her friends - a lot easier than the first option... However, this was the option that would give him the least amount of results. He knew Samansa didn't exactly... have many friends - not to shame her or anything. If he recalls, she was friends with Kenya, Hiromi, Mirroa... and Chiaki, but, she was out on a studying course. Those 4 were probably not too involved with her home life. God damn it. 

Even if he did ask them - would they even answer? Sure, Kenya and Hiromi probably would... but Mirroa hates his guts, and Chiaki isn't very fond of him either. He sighs, and runs his free hand through his hair. He really had no idea what he was going to do. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he continued to drive home.

As he drove, the silence from the car was deafening. The only noise to distract him was the occasional car passing by - or the sound of the engine. To say he was frustrated was an understatement. He sighs for the umpteenth time, and turns on the radio to change the silence in the car. The voice of the news reporter immediately fills the car.