I’m My Own High School Rival: Nakamura’s Arc: Heritage
The bell rang, and the students exited the cssroom. I don’t know what I did to win Ms. Igarashi’s attention, but I’m used to this extra treatment. Kokiri has a way of reminding you that you are a foreigner. I packed my bag and headed to Ms. Igarashi’s desk, not knowing what to expect.
She stood in front of her desk, hands crossed, with a stern look.
“Mr. Carter, do you know why I asked you to stay after?”
Another question I didn’t want to answer. For once, I’d like for everyone in this country to forget I exist.
“No clue.”
“That’s strange, the entire css took note of your encounter with Ms. Tetsusen, but you have no clue?”
So, that’s her py.
“I asked her to work with us, but who wants to work with a scker?”
She chuckled, alluding to some degree of understanding.
“Well put, Mr. Carter. However, I’m curious. Why did you feel the need to learn Ms. Tetsusen’s aroma?”
I thought for a moment—The phrasing was odd.
“Oh! You're talking about the alleged sniff. I… don’t remember doing that.”
“Oh, but you did, putting on quite the dispy—cn boys don’t even perform as well. Nevertheless, you did a fantastic job of countering Ms. Tetsusen’s unnecessary aggression.”
Is this all she wanted—to sing praise about my emotional bout with that hot head?
She leaned forward.
“I received an important email, requesting me to inform you that you passed the Emotional Regution aptitude test, and won’t have to take csses until next year.”
Oh. That stupid test that asked me a bunch of dumb questions about how to treat a woman. I didn’t think it was important.
“Since you don’t have a third-period css, you’ve been asked to py the role of test subject for softness training. What do you think, Mr. Carter?”
I brought my hand up to my chin, contempting the meaning of a Softness training css.
I’ve never heard of such a css while I was in the States, nor have I taken one. What the hell do I have to lose?
“I would be honored, Ms. Igarashi.”
***
I was genuinely happy that Ms. Igarashi held Antwon after css, preventing Tetsusen from doing something devious to him. I sat in Softness training, having already mastered the subject once, next to my dearest friend, Abby Abutin.
The room had no windows, and the lighting could use improvement; the dim room felt more like a dissecting clinic than a study space. But it’s just as I remembered. The desks were arranged in a U shape.
Christine sat away from me, ensuring my physical safety.
“Alright, css, today I have a surprise for you!” Ms. Hoshikawa announced, overjoyed.
We didn’t have surprises in Softness training. Why is this day so botched?
“One of the boys in the Dangers of Emotional Manipution tested out of the course, making him the perfect candidate to test what we’ve practiced.”
It’s him; I just know it.
“Ms. Igarashi was emailed, asking her to ask him if he wanted to participate, and he said yes!”
Christina’s hand shot up like a missile. Of course it did. No one falls quietly after being dethroned.
“Can I be first for the interaction simution?”
Damn it. Who knows what she pns to do with him? Maybe she’ll squeeze him too tight, cutting off his circution—maybe she’ll learn his aroma, making it awkward.
“I-I don’t see any issues with that, Ms. Tetsusen.”
“Can I go next?” Abby asked.
Abby, he was your student, too. I don’t think she remembers the fmes and pain caused by the Veil, or she would be more hesitant.
“Yes, you can, Abutin.”
Knocking at the door.
“I think that’s him.”
Ms. Hoshikawa jaunted toward the door, and in came Antwon.
I hate being right.
“Okay, please stand here and introduce yourself, full name and all.”
He stood in the doorway of our cssroom, which was set up for a Socratic seminar, gleaning the room's full attention.
He navigated the U-shaped desk formation and centered himself amongst us. He’s walked into a den of lionesses, and he doesn’t even know it.
“Hi, my name is Antwon Carter. Please take care of me.”
He bowed and scanned the all-female audience.
If he didn’t know before, he knew now.
His eyes widened to the realization that he was the test subject for twenty-two girls, learning to control how they interacted with boys.
“So, we’ll first start with temperament training if that’s okay with you, Mr. Carter?”
“Sure,” he said with a twinge of uncertainty.
“Great! Now, some of the contact will be… somewhat intimate, but nothing that crosses lines. With that said, if you feel uncomfortable—”
“I’ll let you know.” He smiled.
“Great. Ms. Tetsusen.”
His smile faded slightly, revealing a hint of discomfort, which Ms. Hoshikawa noticed.
“Is everything okay, Mr. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“Great! Let’s start with hand-holding, and don’t worry, Carter, I’ll be here the whole time.”
“Great.”
The Softness instructor motioned to Christina, who jumped over the desk to reach Antwon.
“Small school, Antwon.”
“I… don’t know you well enough to use first names.”
“You will!”
Words that rang out more like a threat than a promise.
“Since you're brazenly using my first name, I should know yours.”
She grinned, closing the distance until they were sharing breaths.
“My name is Christina Tetsusen; remember it.”
“Wow,” Abby whispered, “it’s like they’re about to fight, or something.”
“No,” I whispered back. “She’s upset about being embarrassed in history.”
She wouldn’t dare hit a boy, not with so many witnesses.
“Okay, that was… an intense greeting. Let’s try some hand-holding,” Ms. Hoshikawa said.
Christina extended her hand with a smile.
Antwon hesitated, reluctantly giving his hand.
I watched his expression, anticipating the squeeze, but it never came.
“Well, this is nice,” Antwon said, moving to Christina’s side, brushing shoulders.
He wrapped his other hand around her arm, hugging her, causing the tint in her face to rise in front of the whole cssroom.
A boy asking for affection, no. He’s demanding it. No girl would know how to handle that.
Christina bit her bottom lip to stay composed, but her legs were shaking, and the cssroom wasn’t cold.
“Maybe… you should hug me back?”
“Wow, that’s bold.” Ms. Hoshikawa was right, and once again, Antwon distorted cultural expectations by, in a soft way, demanding a hug.
Christina’s bottom lip trembled as Antwon reached for her other arm.
If she wouldn’t hug him, he was going to force one.
She gently touched the bottom of his chin, lifting his head to meet her eyes, leaning in for what was undoubtedly a kiss.
I leaned in against my will, wanting to scream, wanting Ms. Hoshikawa to stop her, but she stood there, sck-jawed like the rest of us.
Christina stopped short of Antwon’s confused face.
“I’ve had enough,” Christina said, releasing Antwon, who was blushing.
“O-okay!” And just like that, he released her.
She did better than I expected, controlling her excitement.
Antwon’s fluster was gone, as quickly as she was.
Abby went next.
“Hey, Abby!”
“Antwon!” They greeted each other with a hug, showing an excessive amount of familiarity.
“Wow. Do you two know each other?” Ms. Hoshikawa asked.
An astute question—one I’d like to know.
“Abby and I are in first period together; she’s my science buddy,” he said while moving the hug to hand-holding.
But something happened. His smile gradually transitioned into a grimace of gritted teeth.
“Abutin, try easing up on your grip. There you go.
“Sorry, Antwon.”
“I-it’s okay,”
Thanks to Abby and Christina, everyone was using Carter's first name. The css itself was a series of hugs and hand-holding. I felt sorry for Antwon; most of his interactions read as painful until it was my turn.
I walked up and extended my hand.
“Thank you for working with me in history.”
He hugged me, but it wasn’t like the way he hugged Abby or Christina; it was a full embrace. His fragrance was alluring; His scent lingered—subtle, warm. Boys who dispy that kind of emotional control are rare and sought after in Kokiri. How had no one tried to cim him yet?
“Thank you for protecting me,” he whispered, causing my heart to sing. I squeezed slightly.
Wait… when did I protect him? He can’t mean my failed attempt in history… or maybe he remembers the horrific events of the future?
KnoxCross116