Echoes of Fractured Realities: The Convergence Beyond Worlds

Ep 4 : Lessons and Lamentations

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After we finished lunch, Shoma and I headed to our next class—History. A sigh escaped my lips; history had never been my favorite subject. As we stepped into the bustling hallway, reality sank in—Shoma and I were in different classes and had to part ways. I waved goodbye, attempting to mask my reluctance, and made my way toward my classroom.

Upon entering, I spotted Toru sitting alone by the window, surrounded by fewer students than usual. An idea sparked in my mind, and I decided to surprise him. I approached quietly and chimed, "Hai!"

He flinched at my sudden presence, turning his head in surprise. "Kira?! So your next class is History?" His expression shifted from shock to delight.

I nodded, and his grin widened. "We're in the same class then!" His enthusiasm was infectious, momentarily easing the tension swirling in my mind about the lesson ahead.

"Also, bad news," Toru continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "The history teacher is strict, so beware of her stares. If she catches you slacking or doing something else, expect to write an eleven-page essay—on the topic we studied during that hour—as homework due the next day."

A wave of regret washed over me at my earlier complaints about the subject.

"But if we're lucky, we might have a new teacher," Toru added, a glimmer of hope dancing in his eyes.

Just then, the classroom door swung open, and my heart lifted. The woman stepping through was the same one I had seen at the gate on my first day—the homeroom teacher who had introduced us to the school's basics. I thought she wouldn't be teaching my class, but I was wrong.

Relief flooded me as I exhaled, releasing the anxious energy coiled within. But then Toru patted my shoulder, his eyes suddenly serious. "What's wrong?" I asked, sensing the shift.

He opened his eyes wide and whispered, "Sorry to say this, but she's the teacher I was talking about."

My heart sank. "Then you shouldn't have given me hope in the first place..." My voice was tinged with disappointment. He whispered an apology, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of heartbreak at how quickly he had raised and then dashed my hopes.

I looked up at her, and she smiled at me with her usual warmth. "Good afternoon, children," she said, her tone carrying an authoritative yet friendly edge.

Students exchanged bewildered glances, whispering questions to one another. "Children? What?" Some rolled their eyes, muttering, "Yeah, that's what she said. Dumbass."

The teacher's expression shifted slightly as she continued, "The bell rang three minutes and twenty-seven seconds ago, yet you still haven't stopped talking. This is why I called you 'children.'"

A few chuckles rippled through the classroom, and I couldn't help but smile at her bluntness. It was clear she had a no-nonsense attitude, igniting a mix of amusement and apprehension within me. Would she be as tough as Toru warned? It seemed likely.