Short Stories

Not Normal But Better

It was the first day of a new school year at Tennoji High. Sawako Iwasaki was getting settled into another year of ridicule and dirty looks. Sawako was a small girl, she usually stayed towards the back of the class since the year prior she'd get things thrown at her. Her quiet nature made her seem intimidating to some and to others it was just another thing to judge her for. Being the mere age of 16 she was too young for the position she was in, though she couldn't have stopped it. She'd always bring in some type of caffeinated drink to class and a type of pastry which she either made or bought, though it never helped her stay awake. Insomnia was her oldest enemy and her best friend. Despite being the laughing stock she had become within the past two years she kept a seemingly normal reputation as the quiet girl to the new kids, yet they'd find out from the other girls what she was really called. Keeping the last bit of happiness she saved on a spindle called life, she kept going. Meanwhile another student was having similar issues. There was this one new kid, Kotoro. He was kinda cute though, the way he always blanked out in class. He tapped the table quite a bit, and there was always the sound of metal hitting wood when he did. Kotoro usually kept quiet to avoid violence, to which he was prone to. He was highly intelligent, since he lived the early stages of life surrounded by doctors who taught him a lot after a parent eliminating accident. When he was cleared after a year or two of hospitalization he went everywhere across Japan. Fights got him kicked out of a lot of schools, he wasn't a fan of being bullied. He's not one people normally mess with, given a short temper on a certain subject. All until he finally came to tennoji high.

Sawako was running late on her first day, with a small cup of coffee in hand and a pastry in her bag she made a dash for the closing gate. It was early April when classes started, flowers were in bloom and the cold morning air sent more shivers down the spines of the students than the school itself did. Arriving at class 2-b she sat in the back near the door. Taking out her notebook she began to drink her coffee when a piece of paper hit her forehead. Trying her best to ignore the girls in the front she placed the book down and went into the hall to finish her drink. The synthetic warmth made her feel better about today which was seemingly starting off as a bad day. She tossed the empty cup into the trash and sat back in her seat. Pinning her hair up into a messy bun and fixing her glasses she looked back down at her book waiting for the teacher to arrive. Another paper flew at her, though this one was caught. Kotoro threw the paper back at the initial thrower and walked past, not a single word. He sat in the seat next to her, the only back row seat left available. The thrower and friends glared at him, and he didn't even seem to care.

Sawako didn't mean to stare since it was considered rude, she wanted to thank him but her shyness kept her from doing so. Instead she played with the lace of her skirt and began to write things on her notebook. She thought about making friends since she didn't know if he was new or not, she rejected the idea. Either way he'd find out what they call her. Soon enough he'll start saying the same things everyone else says, even though she was the one who lived through it. She adjusted her glasses and held up her notebook which had the words "thank you" written in red ink.

He smiled and nodded at her, a silent "you're welcome." He looked at the teacher when they finally walked in, ready to be bored out of his mind. He looked like he couldn't stand the classes he was in. He took no pleasure in relearning these subjects, it's as if he was repeating a stage of his life. He tried to look out the window but only saw the trees off the schools' campus, again bored he began to tap away at his desk. The sound on metal on wood was faint but noticeable to the people closest to him. He showed no interest in the way they looked at him, he would rather sit in silence.

Sawako wondered why he wasn't taking any notes, she always saw school as important so this sort of set her off. Not having the courage to ask, she went back to solving the equation on the board. When lunch rolled around she placed the small bag of pastries she had in her bag on her desk, realizing she had nothing to drink she put her bag under her desk and went to the vending machines downstairs. One of the girls in the front of the class went to grab Sawako's bag. Kado blocked the girls, stopping her in her path. Clearing his throat as to say "I don't think so." His body was more built than many of the kids his age at the school, so it startled the girl. She stepped back and went to her seat, intimidated by his size and stature. Sawako meanwhile stood at the classroom entrance with a small packet of milk. She too was intimidated by him, this was the first time she had been afraid for no reason. She quickly sat down and faced the wall, making sure not to make eye contact.

He returned to his seat and continues eating. His intimidation factor ceased when he pulled out a well sorted and cooked lunch.

Even she wasn't that organized, and she was a girl, she thought to herself, even though she played with her older brothers cars for most of her life. She took out the muffin from her bag and began to eat it, checking her phone she had three missed calls and seven new messages. They were all from the same person, asking where she was, how she was, and when he'd see her again. Her kindness was one of her weaknesses, she wanted to reply so she wouldn't seem rude but also didn't want to due to the fact that he'd take it as an invitation to come see her. She placed her phone back in her bag and drank some of her milk, when she was done she threw away her trash and began to read her book. Though she wasn't really reading, she was listening to others conversations, wishing she had the same life, wishing she could be included. She let out a deep sigh and closed her book, setting her forehead down on the table, her long black hair covering her. She soon passed out.

She woke up to the sudden sound of metal against wood, a familiar yet distinct sound. Rubbing her tired eyes she went back to writing the notes the teacher had recently placed on the board. Throughout the day she was tired, nearly falling back asleep twice during the rest of class. She placed her books in her bag and quickly left the school once class was over.
Kotoro took off almost just as fast, stopping to adjust his shoulder a little. He held it the entire way to the foster home. He sped past Sawako but that only made it more noticeable that his shoulder wasn't moving in sync with the rest of his body.