File #24The sharp rap of metal on wood jolted her out of a perfectly good daydream, and Tanaka Reina could only glare at the malicious offender that had so rudely intruded on her personal time.
"Tanaka, since you have decided to show up for my class today, you'd better stay awake and pay attention!" That drill sergeant of a teacher barked out, cuffing Reina lightly across the side of her head. Reina glared balefully back at him, rubbing at her head and muttering under her breath.
"What was that?" His tone was threatening, and he did not seem at all intimidated by the death glare aimed his way, nor frightened of Reina's formidable reputation in the school. He was one of the very few who treated Reina like the student she was, and not the daughter of an influential (and illegally so) family.
That, if nothing else, earned the grudging respect of the young girl. Reina was not so petty a person as to call in the big guns (aka her brothers and their assorted cronies) on every little violation, and she
could live with the occasional scolding. It was rather refreshing, actually.
"Nothing, sensei." Her tone was suitably grumpy, but she
did sit up straighter and attempt to pay attention. Not that it particularly mattered, since she could just buy notes off someone else later. Reina would rather cram at her own pace than be forced to sit through a boring class.
Absently twirling her pen around, Reina looked out of the window. She could feel a few eyes on her, no doubt those of her classmates. People tended to pay attention to her, for one reason or another. Not that she minded, she rather enjoyed it, as a matter of fact.
Of late though, the attention was just a little on the annoying side, since she could easily hear the assorted rumors about her floating around the school ever since they returned from the trip to Hawaii. Reina was usually quite well tuned in to the gossip grapevine, but when it came to unpleasant things, she had quite a knack at ignoring them entirely.
Still, it was impossible to be completely blind to the fact, but Reina knew better than to try and stop it herself. A rumor, once it has taken hold, would not be so easily squelched. She knew that from personal experience. Best to let it die down on its own, which was why Reina was lying low for the time being and not making any excessive moves that would spawn even more ridiculous rumors.
Oh, she knew what had started those rumors, of course. If she ever saw that aggravating woman again, she would personally wring her neck. Slowly. Painfully. With nails extended and sharpened.
Reina could be
very vindictive when the occasion called for it.
The bell rang, and after the overbearing teacher finished up whatever he had to say, they were free to go. Break would last a while, and Reina quietly made her way past the torrent of girly chatter and slipped up to the roof of the gym building. She had long since picked the lock of that access door, and it had become her personal hideout on school grounds.
Only those who were in her inner circle at school knew about it, and that inner circle was few and far between. Reina did not trust people easily, and those who won her confidence were remarkable people in themselves. Even then, each of them probably had their own secrets to keep, and no one in that circle begrudged them for it. Such was only normal for them.
Reina had been looking forward to spending the whole of break time in blissful silence and tranquility, but unfortunately, fate and sheer bad luck conspired to ruin her contemplation.
"Tanaka-senpai! I knew I'd find you here..." A voice huffed as Reina looked up irritably at the new arrival. As she had half expected, it was one of her friends.
Younger than her, but already very much taller, Umeda Erika was her junior, but also her friend. If nothing else, both of them were into the same sort of things and could click well. That was reason enough to be close to her, and Erika was tight-lipped enough not to leak any secrets they might possibly share. That and, she was fun to be around. Reina liked that in a person.
"So what's going on out there?" Reina asked grouchily, putting her lunchbox aside. Erika plopped down on the floor next to her, her appearance more or less immaculate. If nothing else, this was one girl who was almost just as fashionable and trendy as Reina herself was. That was one of the reasons why they got along so well.
"Oh, the usual. Gossip, backbiting, more gossip, pointless chatter, and did I mention a lot of gossip?" Erika also produced her own lunchbox, starting to unwrap the package. Reina eyed her critically for a moment.
"So you just randomly decided to come eat with me? How gracious of you." Her voice was sarcastic, but lacked true venom. Erika grinned, stealing an egg roll from Reina's lunchbox.
"Don't be such a grumpy bear. You haven't even heard what they're talking about you out there yet." Reina retaliated for the theft of her egg roll by pinching a slice of salmon, rolling her eyes at the same time.
"Do I want to know?" Erika grinned at Reina's exasperated expression.
"Probably not, but I'm going to tell you anyway." The younger girl seemed to be on the verge of exploding in laughter, if the mad grin on her face meant anything.
"Go ahead, enjoy yourself." Reina muttered, munching on a sushi roll sulkily.
"Well, Nishida from my class was saying that she heard from her senpai--unnamed, unfortunately; that you were sleeping around with strangers for money, which is why you always have branded stuff with you."
Reina didn't even bat an eye at that. "Old rumor. That's been going around for ages."
"
And that you've had three abortions since middle school and was arrested for teenage prostitution."
Reina paused. "I
was arrested, but for a totally different reason. The rest are all made up."
Erika nodded. "I'm just getting started. Wait till you hear the next one."
"I can hardly wait." Reina shot back, rolling her eyes skyward as she deftly stole a piece of tuna from Erika's lunchbox.
"Sugawara from class A said that you were having an affair with Nogami-sensei because he's always softer on you..."
Reina choked on her tuna. "What?" She swallowed, clearing her throat as she pondered aloud. "Now that's a new one...how did
that happen?"
Erika shrugged. "Those girls have a fertile imagination. You would think that they have nothing better to do, the way they invent these stories."
"Still, old man Nogami? Please. I have better taste than that." Reina rolled her eyes again. Erika laughed. "I know you do. But what can I do? They just love speculating about you."
"Eh, I can't stop them. Let them have their fun." Reina said dismissively, waving her chopsticks around. "I won't have to deal with them for much longer at any rate."
"True. Just a few more months before you graduate." Erika nodded, starting to eat again. Reina raised an eyebrow. "Is that it?"
"Well, there
is something else..." Erika said evasively, fiddling around with her food for a bit. Reina's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What is it?"
"Promise that you won't hurt me first." Erika said quickly. Reina grumbled a bit, but agreed.
"Fine, I won't hurt you, but I won't guarantee the safety of any others." Erika looked mildly relieved at that.
"Good, I don't care about the others." Reina snorted. Erika let out a breath, gathering her thoughts.
"Iwashima from your class said that you took advantage of a girl that you met in Hawaii and that you were also vulgar and abusive and..."
"
WHAT?!" Reina quite literally exploded, nearly jabbing Erika in the eye with her chopsticks. Erika ducked, scrambling away to a semi-safe distance.
"That is totally untrue!!!" Reina ranted, waving her arms around, her eyelid twitching furiously. "I am most definitely NOT in any way related to that, that...rude, perverted spawn of hell! And I am NOT GAY!"
Erika stared at her. "So there is such a person and you do know her? Iwashima wasn't making it up?"
Reina gagged on her own spit. "NO! I mean, that bitch Iwashima is just lying! I definitely do not know such a person! Lies, I say! LIES!"
"You know, you're hardly making a case for yourself here..." Erika muttered half to herself, even as Reina ranted on about how she would
never be involved with a girl, that she most definitely did
not know that sadistic creep who was out to ruin her life, and that she would kill her if she ever saw her again... Erika raised an eyebrow at the last declaration.
"If you say meet her 'again', doesn't that imply that you've met her 'before'?" Erika pointed out, taking care to retreat a few more steps away from an irate Reina. Reina twitched violently at the remark, snapping her chopsticks in half in her fist. Erika moved back some more.
"It was a mistake! Nothing happened! I don't even know her! It's just...it's just..."
Erika blinked when Reina suddenly choked, tears brimming in the older girl's eyes. In between one angry sob and the next, Reina continued.
"I-I haven't even gotten to date a boy seriously for long, not without my family finding out and getting rid of him, and then
she comes along and...and..."
Erika's jaw dropped as Reina crumpled into a bawling heap. Quickly, she hurried over and awkwardly patted her senior on the shoulder. Reina sniffed pitifully, curling into herself.
"So she...uh, did something to you?" Erika ventured cautiously, not wanting to set Reina off on more crying or ranting, or both. Reina bit her lip, her eyes red and swollen, and nodded slightly.
"So, um...how far?" It was a fairly important question. Reina winced, shaking a bit.
"I wasn't wearing anything when I woke up, and then she..." Her voice was very small, and seemed choked towards the end. Erika winced sympathetically, tentatively reaching out to hug the smaller Reina comfortingly.
"It's over now, it's ok..." The younger girl coaxed gently, seeming far more mature than her age would imply. "At least you won't get pregnant since it's a girl." She joked half-heartedly.
"Piss off." Reina muttered back, though it sounded weaker than usual. She sniffed again, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"If you tell anyone about this, I will hunt you down and make you wish that you've never been born." There was a definite hint of steel in Reina's tone, and her eyes glimmered dangerously. Erika nodded, mimicking a zipper sealing up her lips with her hand.
"Your secret's safe with me." Erika patted her own chest confidently, then paused, cocking her head to one side as she eyed Reina speculatively. Reina glared back.
"What?"
Erika hummed thoughtfully, prudently backing away as she said.
"So, how did it feel with a girl? Good, I hope?" Her grin was decidedly evil. Reina's eyes bugged out, then narrowed to mere slits as she growled.
"Umeda, you're dead."
~*~*~
"Ah, I feel better~"
"How is it that violence improves your mood?" A red-faced Takeda huffed from the floor from where Ai had put him only seconds ago. The girl in question dusted her hands off professionally, turning wide, innocent eyes at her brother.
"Isn't that how you raised me,
onii-chan?" Takeda sighed. He couldn't exactly refute that. He
had, in fact, raised her to kill. What better defense could she have employed?
"So, how was your vacation?" He inquired curiously, standing up with a wince. Ai had not pulled any punches, and he was sure that his neck would be in desperate need of an ice pack later.
"Fun." Ai replied succinctly, picking up her towel and wiping her face with it. Takeda handed her a bottle of water, which she took, but did not drink from immediately.
"Anything worth mentioning?" The older man gingerly touched the sore area on his neck and shoulders, wincing at the touch. Ai set down the bottle and calmly reached for an ice pack, handing it to him.
"I met a girl." Takeda rolled the ice pack on his neck, while raising an eyebrow.
"Why am I not surprised?" Ai grinned, winking roguishly.
"And I didn't do anything to her."
Takeda paused, then turned to look at her fully. Ai continued smirking as she unscrewed the bottle. Her erstwhile brother seemed to be honestly surprised by that.
"You...didn't?" Ai glanced at him.
"What, you think I can't keep my hands to myself?" Takeda laughed heartily.
"Of course you can, but for what reason would you do that now?"
Ai shrugged, staring into the bottle. "She was unconscious. It's no fun doing something to someone who isn't even aware of it." Then she smirked again. "Although I bet
she thinks I did something. It was fun watching her explode."
Takeda snorted, taking another bottle for himself and drinking. Ai watched him idly, taking little sips from her own bottle. She seemed somewhat distracted.
"So how's the cleanup effort?" She asked, settling on the floor of the practice room. Takeda shrugged.
"Not too messy, but you might still want to lie low for a bit. Word's out that your last fling is still keeping an eye out for you. You sure left an impression on her." He eyed her critically. "Try to keep it professional next time. You tend to mix fun into work a bit too much."
Ai mock saluted him, sticking her tongue out at the same time. "I got the job done. That's what counts." She stretched lazily. "Though I kinda miss the old days where it was just kill and move on." She paused. "Is Yuuka doing that now?"
Takeda nodded. "We letting her handle simple cases for now. Fairly standard gangland assassinations, not too many complications. She's doing pretty well."
Ai bobbed her head in agreement. "Probably helps that she looks like such a cute little kid that no one expects her to be up to anything."
"Kind of reminds me of you, once upon a time..." Takeda sighed dramatically. "All wide eyed and adorable, like a cute puppy. And then you grew up..."
Ai rolled her eyes. "Don't do that, you sound like an old man." She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder carelessly, staring around the room as her mind wandered again. Takeda laughed.
"At least you're still adaptable. I think you can still pass off as a high schooler if you really wanted to..." He teased her gently, and Ai frowned.
"Ugh, please, now you sound like a pervert." She paused. "Wait, you
are a pervert."
"Be nice." The older man said mildly. He walked over to a table by the side of the room, picking up his folder and flipping through it.
"Which reminds me, you're going to have to show up for a party tonight."
Ai groaned out loud. "Can't I get out of it? I do have to lie low like you said..."
Takeda ignored the puppy eyed look by the simple expedience of facing his back against it. Out of sight, out of mind. "No can do, kid. Father said that you have to show up."
"Urk..." Ai stood up sulkily. "There goes my evening of peace and quiet..."
"You have to wear a dress." Takeda added with an innocent little smile. "
And I get to pick it."
"...
What?"
~*~*~
"
What?"
"I said, Tanaka-san, that due to poor attendance records, I'm afraid that the school has decided that you need to repeat a year to make up for it."
Reina gripped the edges of the table tightly, her nails digging into the wood. She couldn't believe her ears. Stuck in school for another year? The nightmare.
"But my exam results...!"
"...are of a passing grade, but if you think that's the only thing that allows you to graduate, you are sadly mistaken." The principal, a stern-looking woman in her early 40s, seemed like the very incarnate of hell to the shellshocked Reina at the moment.
"But...but...!" Reina tried to find some plausible defense for herself, but came up empty. She
had in fact skipped classes with impunity throughout the school year, and without good reason. She had simply done as she liked, and now she was paying the price for it.
"If you have nothing else to add, you may leave now." The bespectacled woman paused. "And please try to keep a decent attendance record this time around, Tanaka."
"..." Struck speechless, Reina could only walk blankly out of the principal's office. In a daze, she somehow managed to navigate the hallways without running into anyone. Not even the murmurs of her watching schoolmates managed to jolt her out of her stunned state.
In the end, it was her cellphone that brought her out of it.
Home, it read. That usually mean "dad". Her father, despite being feared by many, was at the core an overprotective father who doted on his only daughter. Sons were nice, but Reina was the only daughter he had. That meant that he paid very close attention to her most of the time, and Reina couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not at times.
"Yes daddy, I'm coming home. No, I don't need an escort. Yes daddy. No daddy. I'm fine. Yes. I know. I know. Alright. I'll be there. See you later." Reina simply went through the usual ritual of answering the call in her usual way, her mouth producing responses without filtering them through her mind.
She would learn to regret that habit soon enough.
============================================
This takes place a little while after the Hawaii trip. I skipped over the not so important parts. Heh. Rumors are fun~
We'll see what happens next. >3
EDIT: You did it again. Congratulations? Lol. Make it a triple decker and dibs!
Topic: Nocturne [13/02 - Epilogue (END)] (Read 112495 times)