Learning To Fly: A Saki Enomoto Pseudo-Route

Countdown :: Kittyhawk

"Where are we going?" I ask.

"Down by the art room," Saki answers. "The teacher's office is across the hall from there."

After the swim this morning, classes seemed to fly by. I'm not sure if it was because we didn't do much today, or if I wasn't fully paying attention, but either way the result is the same. Having Misha trying to make small talk with me when the teachers weren't paying attention a few times today also seemed to help.

As soon as the final bell let out, I gathered my things and made a beeline for Saki's classroom. I waited for the other students to pass, and caught Saki right as she was wheeling herself out the door, easily stepping up behind her to grab the handles of the wheelchair, asking her how her day was. We talked for a few minutes, passing the time while we waited for the halls to clear of students being let out for the day.

And so we find ourselves outside an office with a single, small placard on the door.

Shinichi Nomiya. Arts Department.

It seems like any other ordinary door, but given Saki's demeanor and our earlier conversation, there's an ominous feeling behind it. Saki visibly steels herself while looking at it, and struggles to rise to her feet. I hold the chair steady until she does, and hand her the crutches.

"Do you think he's back by now?" I ask. "I mean, classes just let out for the day a few minutes ago."

"I hope so," Saki says, her voice deflated. "I just want to get this over and done with. I'm not looking forward to this." She raises her hand and knocks three times on the door.

There's no answer.

"Great," she says under her breath, just loud enough for me to catch it. She checks her watch. "Band starts in a few minutes and I-"

"Well, it seems I have visitors. Hello there," I hear a haughty voice say behind us. I turn and see someone heading towards us, or more specifically, the office we're standing next to. I can't explain exactly how I know this is the art teacher, but looking at him, it's something you just know from first looking at him.

The art teacher is an older man, his gray hair flowing in a disheveled mess around his head despite its short length. His face is lined deeply both with age and what I would guess is years of smiling, though the silver goatee he wears seems to contrast with this jovial image. He's soft around the middle, a paunch protruding over simple blue slacks. Most flamboyant of all, however, are the red-and-yellow tie and salmon colored jacket he wears, topped off with a small pair of pink spectacles that I can tell have absolutely nothing to do with vision and everything to do with appearances.

When I think about it, I probably did see him at the festival from a distance. He definitely is the type of person to leave an impression the first time you see or meet him, the way he carries himself implies that he knows it.

The manner he puts off isn't dissimilar to the one Nurse does...but it's different, somehow.

We don't have a chance to answer before he focuses on Saki.

"Miss Enomoto," he says, a bit surprised. "I missed seeing you at the club last week. I heard you had a mishap, but it looks like you're recovering well enough," he finishes with a smile. "And who is your friend, here?"

I bow slightly. "Hisao Nakai. Pleased to meet you."

"Shinichi Nomiya. I'm the art teacher here at Yamaku, although you've probably guessed that by now," he laughs, breaking into a grin. "So what brings you two here today? Looking to join the art club?" he asks, directing his attention at me.

"Ah, no," I answer, trying to be diplomatic. "I'm just here giving Saki a hand today."

Nomiya turns towards Saki, arching an eyebrow in an unspoken question.

"Actually, Mr. Nomiya," I hear her say, "could I have a few moments of your time? It won't take long."

Nomiya frowns a bit at this, but quickly recovers. "Certainly," he says, stepping forward to open the door. "Will your friend be joining us, or...?"

I take the hint. "Go ahead. I'll just be waiting when you two are done."

Saki casts one last glance at me over her shoulder as she disappears into the room. My heart goes out to her. I can already tell from this short dialogue with the teacher that this probably isn't going to go over well.

After holding the door open, Nomiya lets it close behind him, leaving me alone in the hallway. After a few seconds, I can make out their voices through the door.

"What's on your mind, Miss Enomoto?"

"Well," Saki says, her voice apprehensive. "I wanted to thank you for the last few years and for teaching me in the art club."

"Well, thank you!" he replies enthusiastically. "I appreciate it...but I don't think you came here today just to tell me that, did you?"

"No, it's not," Saki sighs, then pauses a few seconds before continuing. "I came to tell you that I'm going to be leaving the art club for the rest of the year."

"Leave?" Nomiya asks, his voice going up with surprise. "What for?"

"I've enjoyed it, but...it's just not a good fit for me anymore, Mr. Nomiya."

"Is that so?" he answers, his tone shifting. "Is there a reason you feel that way?"

"I don't really have much talent for this. I never have," I hear Saki explain.

"Maybe if you applied yourself more like the other students, like Tezuka or Maeda, you would find that you do, my girl," the older man replies, with more than a bit of cynicism.

"Ouch," I mutter under my breath to myself, wincing. Even though there's a wall between us and I can't see what's going on, I can imagine the anger that Saki must be feeling at that statement, and the self control she must be exerting. Even if what he said might technically be true, at least, according to what Saki's admitted, the way it was said comes across incredibly condescending.

I wait a few more seconds to listen for Saki's reply, but Nomiya doesn't stop, having built up a head of steam that could easily power a locomotive. Saki told me he had a short fuse when it came to things he was passionate about, and whatever doubts I had that she was exaggerating vanish.

"Miss Enomoto, I lose plenty of students who decide that the art club isn't for them. They come to a meeting or two and then they're never to be seen again. I would expect this of someone at the beginning of the year or someone who just transferred in. But you're neither. You've been in the art club since you started coming to Yamaku two years ago. So, why now?"

Saki takes a second before speaking again. "This is my last year here, Mr. Nomiya. There are things I want to do while I'm still here at Yamaku and I'm running out of time to do them."

I can hear the exasperation in her voice. I can tell she's trying to explain this in a way that the teacher can understand but finding it very exhausting to do so.

"You seem to be able to find plenty of time for that violin of yours."

"You're right, Mr. Nomiya," Saki instantly snaps back, with a furious intensity that makes me jump. "You and I both know the only reason why I'm in the art club in the first place. I'm not good at painting or drawing. I don't like painting or drawing. I'm good at playing the violin. I like playing the violin, so that's what I've decided to do."

That escalated quickly.

Hearing what she said - and how she said it - causes both shock and confusion. I'm shocked because of the equal parts fire and acid I hear in her voice when addressing Nomiya, a tone I never imagined Saki possessed, much less would use against a teacher. Maybe the harshness is genuine, spiraling off of the last few days and a history here between these two I'm not privy to...or maybe they're the words and tone of someone doesn't care how many bridges they burn as long as it brings an end to the conversation as swiftly as possible.

Regardless of the reason behind the outburst, all I can do is stare at the door, my jaw slack and my mouth open.

I hope for both their sakes it ends soon. Both of them wound up really quickly. The feedback loop these two are capable of locking themselves into isn't going to end well if it doesn't.

It takes a few tense seconds before Nomiya replies.

"The school had an arrangement with your parents. They are not going to be happy about this. Have you told them?"