Waking Up in Wonderland

Hisayo

Halo Fifteen: Hisayo:

June 24th, 1987.

School had ended hours ago. Darkness had already set over Ikebukuro. The fifteen-year-old set out for home this late at night. She never attained any after school programs or had many friends outside of school. Most of the students and even some of the teachers avoided her because they found her a bit scary with her long black hair always over her face. Her eyes stayed on the ground as she kept walking. Her younger sister walked home from school without her earlier today. Her father had to work late with the campaign yet again. It's starting to go back to the way it was at home before her sister was born. Both girls wished that things would go back to peace as her mother had described it during her and her husband's college years together.

Bright headlines on her back made her pause and turn. An '84 deep navy Honda pulled to a stop beside her. Her heart leapt as she recognized the car. The window of the driver's side rolled down.

"Abe-sensei?" she asked.

"Isobe-chan?" he asked. "What are you doing out here this late at night?" The young girl swallowed a bit as her eyes shifted a bit.

"I'm just going home, sir," she mumbled.

"All alone at this time of night?" her teacher asked.

"Yes," she said with a nod. Her teacher shook his head at her.

"Hop in," he said. "I'll take you home." Hisayo looked at him with big eyes as she shook her head.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. "My mother would..."

"But I just can't leave you out here alone, can I?" he asked. She drew her mouth closed. Her eyes trailed down to her feet.

"Are you sure it's okay?" she asked. "I don't want to give my mother another reason to get angry at you again."

"It'll be okay," Abe-sensei insisted. "Just get in." Hisayo bit on her lower lip. Her mother already caused problems for her teacher and the school. She didn't want to give her an excuse to cause more hell again. But, his care looked so cool right about now. He probably had the A/C running too.

She finally dropped her shoulders.

"Alright," she said. Abe-sensei gave her a kind smile.

"I just want you safe," he said. Hisayo nodded as she came around to the passenger side. Her teacher unlocked the door and let her in.

"You live in that apartment building just outside of the city, right?" he asked. She nodded at him.

"Yes," she said with a nod. She kept her eyes out the window the whole time.

"Thank you," she mumbled to herself. Abe-sensei glanced out of the corner of his eye at her.

"I'm sorry?" he asked. Hisayo shook her head. Her teacher put the car in drive and drove off.

She felt her heart racing the whole time. So many times, she had encountered this particular teacher, but only in passing. She never had the chance to talk to him outside of class. The girl wanted so desperately do so at least once. The fact that he was giving her a ride in his car like this told her that he acknowledged her. In truth, Hisayo felt little butterflies in her stomach as her cheeks felt rosy and pink.

"So how are you doing in your classes?" Abe-sensei asked. She glanced at him through the window.

"Good," she said. "They're good."

"How are things at home?"

"Fine."

"How is your mother?"

Hisayo frowned to herself. "Fine." Just hearing her tone in the way she answered him made him stop his questing altogether.

"I don't ever want to see you or any other students wandering around the city this late on a school night," he said. "Girls your age could be abducted and raped. Or even worse for that matter. So, I don't want you going home this later ever again, okay?" His nurturing tone and voice for concern made her turn her head to look at him. Somebody actually cared about her well-being for a change? Not only that, but her crush no less. She eagerly nodded her head.

"Yes," she said. "I'll be more careful next time, I promise!" She paused when she noticed the look on Abe-sensei's face. His cheeks burned over a bright fiery crimson. Hisayo blinked at him.

''Abe-sensei?" she asked. "What's the matter? Why do you look so red?" He didn't answer her in words. She followed his eyes down to his knee. Her right hand was neatly placed upon his knee. She hadn't noticed it until now. She must have unconsciously placed her hand on his knee in her excitement when she was talking to him. The girl quietly drew it back and turned back to the window.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. Abe-sensei cleared his throat.

"It's okay," he mumbled himself. Neither spoke on the rest of the way there.

"Thank you again," she said after she got out of the car at her apartment just outside of the city.

"Don't go home later ever again, okay?" Abe-sensei said.

"Okay," she replied. "Excuse me."

"Have a good night," her teacher told her.

"You too!" Hisayo called back. She bowed and raced back to her apartment. Above from the front windows however, a woman watched the whole with a beating rage in her eyes before she drew the curtains closed once more.