Hisao - The Next Day [Non-H]

Why did I have to sit next to the window?

I don't even remember most of what happened yesterday. I woke up around noon because of the festival outside and moped around looking for something to do. Then I ran into Kenji, he wanted someone to hang out with, so I decided to go with him, against my better judgment.

Then there was a bottle of Jack involved. Not sure how he got it, or where it came from, but I didn't say no when he offered to share. The rest of it is the hazy part. I remember something about a manly picnic, and then Kenji tried hugging me. There was a piece of broken fence behind me; that stands out in my memory for some reason, so I think I hobbled out of the way and fell over on my back.

Now, I'm sitting in science class, unable to pay attention as my brain revolts against its mortal coil, pulsating against my skull as if it were a cage. It doesn't help that my eyes feel like they're being squeezed by my own eyelids.

“Hisao, would you like to read the next paragraph?” Mutou calls out, having sensed my lack of focus on his lecture.

Crap, here we go.

My throbbing eyes scramble about the text in the book in front of me, looking for even a semblance of a clue as to where we could have been. All I can do is take a random guess, so...

“The second law of thermodynamics states that in general the total entropy of any system will not decrease other than by-”

“Where are you reading? We're on page 381, six chapters behind thermodynamics.”

Flip the page flip the page flip the page flip the page...

“A substance may dissociate without necessarily producing ions. As an example, the molecules of table sugar dissociate-”

“Keep trying, you're getting warmer.” Mutou interupts.

“In general, ionization can be broken down into two types: sequential ionization and-”

“Too far back.”

“I give up.”

“At least you tried. Try to pay attention in chemistry. It would be a shame if we got to the next unit and had a couple of students leftover who still didn't understand this stuff.”

The next victim is called, a girl named Miki Miura, who fumbles around just the same before correctly guessing the right spot and reading from there.

It's been a week since I got here. I barely know the name of anyone here, and I haven't really socialized with anyone other than Misha, and by extension, Shizune. I guess Kenji counts, although as much as it pains me to say this; I wish he didn't.

Maybe I should have joined a club? There was a literature club, an art club, even a light music club I'm sure I could have tire-ironed my way into. Student council at the very least would have given me something to do, and two girls to talk to.

I'm barely given enough time to fall deeper into depression before the bell rings. I gather my books and decide to head off to lunch on my own, having already been dismissed by Shizune and Misha as they set out on their council duties.

However, I'm only able to make it one step past the teacher's desk before I'm called back.

“Hisao, were there any problems today? You seemed pretty out of it.”

Well, besides being hungover on half a bottle of whiskey, everything seems to be okay.

“I'm just tired. I wasn't able to get a whole lot of sleep after the festival.”

“That's it? Really? I was worried for a second there.” Mutou responds, his demeanor changing from worried to relieved.

“Did you enjoy the festival?” he continues.

“It was...okay. I didn't really do much.” I respond.

“Well at least you got out of your room and had some fun. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm cracking open a can of worms here, but you've seemed pretty depressed ever since you got here. I'm glad to see you're trying to fit in.”

Yeah, trying to fit in. That's definitely what I'm doing. Running away from the girls who want me to be in their group, refusing to push myself to get healthy and at least get a foot up on this disease, and ignoring every chance I've gotten to be friends with someone.

“I don't think that's the case.” I reply, reeling back as I realize that my subconscious just vocalized.

“What do you mean?” Mutou asks.

Oh geez. Here we go.

“I haven't really gotten to know anyone past introductions. I feel like I'm not welcome here, somehow."

"I just don't know what I'm doing, what I should be doing, or anything like that.” I confess.

It hurts to say, but it's true, at any rate. I haven't been doing much of anything, besides keeping up with schoolwork. And that's all I'm good for at this point.

“That is a problem, hmm...” Mutou replies, scratching his chin in thought.

“I'm not sure if I can give you any advice that you haven't already heard or thought of yourself -- I'm a science teacher, not a counselor.”

Yeah, that's what I thought.

“If you want something to do though, you can fill in for a colleague of mine. Mr. Clarke, the head of the science department here, and I normally go to a small symposium in the city. He had some business to take care of back home, so his seat will be empty. And, well...it wouldn't cost you anything to go in his stead.”

“I suppose it's something to get my mind off everything. I'll think about it.” I answer, with a bit of reluctance.

“That's what I like to hear. I'll be leaving from here at seven A.M on Saturday. It shouldn't be very crowded, only a thousand or so people. Oh, and there's a dress code for the lecture I want to attend, so wear a suit at the very least.” Mutou lists off, excited at the fact that I even considered.

He waves goodbye, invigorated as he slides a stack of papers into his briefcase and I exit the room.

Well, I guess now I'm going to a science symposium with Mutou.

Science has always been my strong point, more on the chemistry side than anything, but all science is good to me. I've never really shown an interest in it though. At the very least; it gives me something to do. Maybe I'll find what I want to do with my life while I'm there.

My mind flutters back and forth between ideas as I try to decide what to do for lunch. Or what not to do for lunch, rather, since I still feel a little sick from last night. Some fresh air would be better at this point, so the roof seems like the best plan of action.

I round the corner and make my way to the end of the hall, into the stairwell, following the path I've already imprinted in my mind.

There's something wrong today, however. Instead of the usual “Do Not Enter” sign that isn't so intimidating that one wouldn't just hop over it; there's a thick roll of yellow “POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS” tape spanning the entire entry way.

What the hell happened up here?

Before my curiosity can get the best of me, I'm tapped on the shoulder.

“Hicchan, what are you doing up here?” a head of drilly pink hair asks.

“I was going to the roof to get some fresh air, but now I'm having second thoughts.”

“Ah, the roof is closed off, something happened up there last night and there's a bunch of investigators here now~.”

“Investigators? What happened?”

Misha and Shizune exchange worried glances.

“We don't know, student council isn't involved in things like this. There's rumors that someone fell off the roof last night, though.”