Voice of the Sword: Sword, Mirror, Jewel - Book One by John Paul Catton

Author:John Paul Catton [Catton, John Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

RECESS

Chapter Twenty

It’s very rare to actually see the Principal of Chiyoda High. Usually, he only makes an appearance at the opening ceremony, and at the Kocho-kowa – the periods specially set aside for the principal’s speech to the assembled school. And it’s usually the same speech every time; how contemplating the cherry blossoms/hydrangeas/autumn leaves/snow reminds us how life is a precious thing, how many students from Chiyoda High entered famous universities the year before, and anything else clever he’s done recently. Like finishing a crossword puzzle or something just as thrilling.

There’s a Kocho-kowa period five times a year, which means when I graduate from Chiyoda High, I’ll have heard the same speech thirty times. And here’s more bad news; we can’t sleep through the speech. The teachers are on the alert and they prowl the auditorium ready to give you a not-so-subtle tap on the shoulder.

But there I was, actually in his office, having what he called ‘a little chat’ (not a disciplinary session) after playing truant the day before.

Eye contact is something very important to the Principal, as he often says, but I couldn’t stop my eyes flicking upwards and looking at his hair. The charcoal-and-ash locks of thinning hair brushed back from his tanned forehead, held in place by so much cream it was like looking at the head of a plastic action figure.

He kept talking, smiling with his thick moist lips, his big square glasses glinting as he nodded his head.

“The reason I’m not putting anything on your permanent record, Bergman,” he said, “is that you are one of our best students. Your grades are good, and your homeroom teacher tells me your conduct is excellent. This is why it’s so disappointing to see you behave in such an… unseemly manner.”

“I was trying to find my friend.” I repeated the story I’d told Mr. Akanuma. “Someone told me Hideaki was sick, so I went looking for him, but then I got lost and I missed the coach back.”

The door behind me opened, and I looked up.

Hideaki had entered, and was bowing to the Principal.

Whoa. I stared at him, from my seat, unable to speak. I mean, what could I say? Could I turn round to the Principal and say, “Sir, this is not Hideaki. Don’t listen to him. It’s some kind of alien who’s stolen his body and please, sir, find out what the alien did with Hideaki’s mind.”

Hideaki sat down next to me. He had this horrible expression on his face; it was no expression at all, like his face had been frozen.

“Ah, here’s the young man himself,” said the Principal. “You see, Hideaki says he was trying to find you. Well, anyway… I would like you both to know that if you ever have a problem, you’re welcome to come to my office and make an appointment with one of the school counselors. They’re highly qualified people from good universities, and you can bare your emotions to any of them.”

He smiled and gave a little apologetic nod.

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