4/25 Mon
“Ah, we were able to grab a seat! Why don’t you read something until we get there?” Abigale asks. I decide to read ‘Struggles of a Pitcher’ today.
‘The young man stepped up to the pitching mound, his heart tied in knots as he knows he only has a few more chances before he’s off the team…’
“Suu~ifuto seems like he had his work cut out for him… Hayai might like this book.” Abigale states, having been reading also from my lap.
“Hm? Oh, I didn’t realize how long you’ve been reading. So, how far did you get?” She asks, after a while. I just shake my head. “Seems like you still have some pages left. You should continue some other time.”
“Oh, we’re almost at the station. I’d say that was an efficient use of your time.” She states, and we get off.
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“I skipped breakfast, so now I’m hungry…” A girl says outside the school, who is obviously hungry. “Have you ever tried the Nostalgic Steak at the diner in Shibuya?”
“Yeah, it’s good! It kinda makes me think of my childhood.” Her friend states. “I get this warm feeling inside whenever I eat it that reminds me of my mom…”
“Yeah, if comfort had a taste, that’d be it! Just thinking about it is making me hungrier…” The hungry girl continues.
“A comforting flavor, huh…” Abigale mumbles. “Hey, what does the chief’s cuffy taste like?”
“It’s great.” I reply.
“I’m jealous. I can always smell a faint hint of it on you.” She point out. “When I’m human again, I’m going to eat sooo much curry…”
“Then, I’ll decide which is better: the curry, or the Nostalgic Steak!” She declares, as I head to class.
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We have Miss Kenkyū this time, and it was going well, until the topic of essays came up.
“I was reading the essays you turned in the other day, and everyone’s writing is so sloppy!” She says. “‘I could care less’ indicates that you still have some cares left to give! It’s ‘I COULDN’T care less’!” She explains, a bit of anger breaking through her usually tired demeanor.
“I’ve seen this a lot these days, where people are using a phrase differently from it’s real meaning.” She begins to lecture. “One word I often hear misused is the Japanese ‘kakushinhan’ used now to mean a crime done in cold blood.”
“Like the word ‘literally’, the real meaning of kakushinhan is pretty much the opposite of how it’s used.” She continues explaining. “Do you know what it is, Tronic-kun?” She then asks, looking at me.
“The true meaning of kakushinhan, huh… This seems tough.” Abigale says. “I think I’ll help you out this time. So, let’s think this through.”
“What’s the common usage of kakushinhan again, regarding an action you take?” She asks.
“Knowing your actions are wrong.” I state quietly.
“Right. When people say something’s a kakushinhan, they usually mean the culprit did it knowing it’s wrong.” She continues. “But the real kakushinhan is the opposite, right? So the opposite means…”
“Conviction that your right?” I say, to Miss Kenkyū.
“That’s right.” She says with a smile. “A kakushinhan is when someone takes an action, believing that it’s right.”
“So if someone ‘raises their hand against another in kakushinhan’. They thought it was right to do so.” She explains, and the class are still a little surprised I have knowledge and thinking skills.
“You're on a roll today!” Abigale exclaimed/whispers.
“Kakushinhan was originally a term that referred to a crime driven by moral or political conviction.” Miss Kenkyū continues. “These days it seems like the wrong usage is becoming more commonly accepted thought.”
“Taking action with a conviction that what you’re doing is right, huh… Think that applies to us too?” Abigale asks, as class continues.
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With all the lockpicks I need, I decide that this is the day we’ll send the calling card. But before that, time to eavesdrop! First, the girls gossiping in the corner.
“I hear that Mr. Kikku has been really angry.” An energetic girl says. “It sounds like Tronic-kun and Puroguramu-kun, and that delinquent Tama are all getting expelled.”
“First that suicide attempt, and now expulsion trouble… What the heck’s going on?” Her calmer friend asks.
“Everything’s gone crazy since the transfer student got here. Why’d he go up against Mr. Kikku!?” The energetic girl asks.
“Perhaps because I had good reason?” I ask, drawing their attention to me, with a pair of yelps.
“W-What do you mean?” The girl continues. “Wait, were you eavesdropping?”
“Of course not, I could easily hear you across the room. You weren’t exactly being subtle or quiet.” I explain.
“What do you mean you had a good reason?” The calmer girl asks. “What could be considered good reason to threaten someone like Mr. Kikku?”
“Perhaps because I had just seen a girl I met recently, and who was nice to me, who looked like she had been beaten repeatably, try to kill herself, after being nice to me. And, while I was one of the few close enough, I heard, her only words afterwards, were a warning to her friend to stay away from him?” I shoot back, coming up with some stuff on the fly.
“What? Why hasn’t that been mentioned to the teachers then?” The girl continues. “Why has nothing been looked into?”
“My guess is because your Principal is either protecting him, or because Kikku himself shuts down any rumors quickly, before they spread. And now he’s getting rid of me, and anyone else who was in the room at the time, because we know too much. Anyway, I have better things to do with my time than lecture girls on why their teacher is a bad man.” With that, I walk out of the room, having noticed I was drawing attention.
As I’m walking up to the hideout, I get a message from Rirī in the group chat.
<What was that all about?> She asks.
<Just shutting up some gossipers, as well as spreading distrust of Kikku. With hope, it will spread, and become a wildfire by the time he sees the calling card tomorrow.> I reply.
<Wait, we’re sending it today?> She asks, just as Hayai pops in.
<We’re doing it tomorrow? And also, what’s this about rumors and gossip?> He asks.
<Some girls were talking shit about us and Purogu. I figured, since Kikku seems fine with spreading rumors and stuff about us, I might do some of that myself, before the big day.> I explain. <Now, let’s meet on the roof, we got work to do.>
<Alright, I’ll see you there. So hyped!> Hayai says, signing off.
<I’ll be there too.> Rirī says, signing off too, as I continue my way up.
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“All we gotta do now is send that callin’ card… right?” Hayai asks, when we’re all at the rooftop, and I nod. “I’ve been waitin’ to hear you say that!”
“Tomorrow’s finally the day.” Hayais says.
“So, we send the calling card in the morning… and carry out the plan by the end of the day, right?” Rirī asks.
“Correct. The effect isn’t going to last past tomorrow evening.” Abigale confirms. “...Are any of you worried?”
“Not at all. Waited too long for this, in fact.” Rirī states.
“Good.” Abigale nods.
“We’re gonna pull this off, no matter what!” Rirī says seriously.
“So, who’s going to write the card?” Abigale asks.
“You can leave it to me!” Hayai says, sounding confident.
“Why?” Rirī asks him.
“Why..? Why wouldn’t it be me!?” He questions.
“I’m just checking that you aren’t in over your head, this is pretty important.” She explains.
“I think he can do it!” Abigale says encouragingly.
“I really wanna get him good.” He explains. “Lemme write it… C’mon, please?” He asks, looking at me.
“Alright. I trust you to do us justice, Slugger.” I say with a nod.
“I got this, won’t let you down Joker.” He says, with a smirk.
“Hey, are you sure about this, if they find out our identities, all this work will be wasted.” Rirī points out.
“I know, I know.” He says.
“Alright, we’re going to finish this, tomorrow.” Abigale says. “None of you better stay up too late, we’re all going to need to be well rested for this.”
With that, we all head home. For the day.
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“Well, whether you like it or not, the real battle begins tomorrow. Better be sure your prepared, OK?” Abigale asks me as we walk in the cafe, and my phone goes off.
<Man, there’s so much I wanna write on the calling card. It’s kinda tough figuring out what to say.> Hayai says.
<And you're really sure you can do this?> Rirī asks back.
<Don’t worry, I got this. I even made a logo for us.> He sends back.
<...A logo?> She asks.
<Yup. You’ll see it tomorrow at school.> He answers.
<Well, I hope it’ll be good…> She replies.
<Anyways, you guys should rest up.> He sends. <If we screw up tomorrow, we’re totally done for.>
<Que sera, sera.> Is all I send.
<I’m sure it’ll all go well!> She adds.
<Just remember, we can’t trust any shitty adults.> He continues. <That’s why we gotta do this ourselves.>
<Anyways, let’s pull this off and surprise everyone!> He says, as we sign off.
“Hey… A package came in for you. Can’t imagine what you bought…” Roast-san says when I’m done. ‘Let’s see what it is…’ I think, opening the box, and finding the four Party in a Cans I bought.
“...What did you get?” Abigale asks. “Guess our order arrived.”
With that done, I check the TV.
“Up next is politics.” The Newscaster begins. “Criticism of the curling party has surged, following the resignation of the Minister of Transport.”
“A survey we conducted shows that approval ratings of the cabinet have dropped drastically.” He continues. “People’s overall disapproval is higher than expected, as well as the distrust towards the government.”
“It seems like everyone’s not happy with the government. Being in a position of power must be tough.” Abigale comments, as I check in with Roast-san.
“You seem different… Did you always have that scowl on your face?” He asks me. ‘Must have let some of my anger show, damn it.’ “Nothing goes your way in life. You’ll end up failing if you tense up like that.” With nothing else to do tonight, I make some more elemental bombs and another lockpick. During this time, I seem to have had enough practice that I think I can make more things at once after tonight.
“Welp, let’s go to bed. We got a big day tomorrow.” Abigale says, as we get ready for bed.