Kokuhaku: Part 1 of A Tanabata Story

Chapter 2

A couple of weeks later, at the end of the school day, the boys of the soccer club were changing into their PE uniforms in a classroom set aside for them . Though Atarachi High was a prestigious new school, the building itself was one of the older ones that lacked showers or even a locker room. The school's founders had purchased it cheaply after the former school had been forced to shut down due to Japan's collapsing birthrate the falling enrollment.

Gentaro—Jack thought that he was probably a third year—paused after undressing and screwed up his face as if smelling something rotten.. Bigger and stronger than most of the other boys, he was the kind of guy that would have played a lineman if any of the clubs played American style football. As it was, he did his best to bring that same brutal full-contact style into the soccer club.

"What stinks?" Gentaro scanned the room full of half-dressed boys. As Jack had expected, his scowl settled on him. "I think it's coming from over here."

Jack knew there was no smell and he knew what was going to happen next. He'd been on the receiving end of this sort of bullying before. He glanced at his classmates and saw nervous and uncertain expressions. At least the whole class hadn't ganged up on him... yet.

It is you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, sorry." With a little laugh, Jack apologized because that's what you do in Japan. Even if it's not your fault. It's nobler to take the blame than to make excuses.

"Why do you westerners always smell?" He looked back at his classmates, wordlessly challenging them to join in his game of bait–the-gaijin. A few chuckled compliantly along with him.

You try finding a stick of antiperspirant in this country, Jack thought wryly. He smiled with feigned embarrassment, scratching the back of his head in a common Japanese gesture of nervous embarrassment

"I'm sorry, Jack said again." I woke up late and had to run to catch the bus." He took a deep breath, expanding his chest, pulling back his shoulders and flexing his "lats," reminding his senpai that even though Jack was only a first year, he was still the senpai's equal in size and muscle mass.

Jack had enough training in martial arts that the threat of violence didn't worry him too much, though he hoped it wouldn't come to that. At least being ostracized from a reputation as a violent thug was slightly better than being regularly bullied for being a weak, stupid and smelly gaijin.

He tried to adopt a stance of casual non-threatening confidence, like an innocent giant who didn't know his own strength or a very large sleeping dog. The kind that one didn't want to wake. The senpai's mocking smile stiffened and he leaned back slightly.

Jack pretended not to notice. Who says a Westerner can't read the atmosphere?

The senpai recovered and swept narrowed eyes up and down Jack. Caught in mid uniform change, they both happened to be wearing underwear briefs. The senpai's inspection stopped at Jack's crotch and an eyebrow twitched. His dismayed gaze actually jerked down to is own underwear-clad groin then up again at Jack. Embarrassment, shame and something bordering on awe flickering across his face.

Jack choked back a laugh. I've got to switch to boxers, he reminded himself again.

The senpai straightened with a hissed intake of breath. "Then go take a bath." A faint quaver of uncertainty undermined his attitude.

Jack let the friendly smile slide from his face, holding up one wry corner. He pitched his voice down to the edge of threatening and used a familiar register. "I'll take care of it."

The senpai turned away and drew his pants up angrily. His voice snapped at the other upperclassmen. "Let's go."

Takashi and the other first years, who had frozen to gape at Jack as he stood up to the senpai, scrambled to finish dressing. "Oi! Wait for us," one of the first years called out.

"No need to hurry. We have no use for you." Gentaro sneered over his shoulder and left the room.