"I can't believe she called me annoying." Taking another sip of my beer I glare at my colleague sat across from me laughing.
"That's Atlas for you. However, I'm surprised she even spoke to you," his brow arches as he looks at me over the brim of his glass, "I must hand it to you, your persistence, though annoying, really is beneficial."
"What do you mean by beneficial?" Iask returning his stare.
"I mean maybe you'll be able to help her out of her shell. Help her have a more natural high school experience."
"Wilson. I'm simply a teacher..." I place my glass on the table sitting back in my chair, "By the way. Why did you give her the sheet for the essay assignment without informing me?"
"I see she told you," he sighs as he finishes his drink. "Atlas misses lessons quite often because of her family situation, although no one really knows what that is exactly. However, she never fails any of her exams and always scores in the top five. Her only comment on it is that she reads a lot, though I find that hard to believe since all the books I see her with are manga." My mind goes back to the first time I met her and the book that she had at that time. One Punch Man, I believe it was.
"Oh yeah, I've seen them."
"I have a suspicion that they aren't really manga."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well for one she never lets anyone see what's on the pages or touch them. Two, I've read more than enough of them to know her expressions don't really match up, especially to the titles. I mean even though you're completely antisocial and emotionally restrained there's no way you can read manga and not express some form of emotion." His statement plays around in my head,and he does have a point. I don't think I could read any manga without either laughing or smiling.
"She really is a weird specimen." Wilson stares at me again, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Yuzuki-San. Do you perhaps have an interest in your student?" At his question, I choke on my last sip of beer and it falls onto my shirt. Swearing, I jump up frantically trying to whip it off with a tissue. Thank god I'm wearing black.
"Please don't say such careless things. Especially in public you moron." He continues to smirk pissing me off beyond reason, "She's simply my student..." I sit back down as my voice trails off.
"But you can't help the fact that she's intriguing." he chuckles lightly shaking his head.
"Shut up."
"I guess a man can't help it. But I can't tell if you've got good taste as a man or scientist," he arches his brow slightly studying me, "or maybe it's, both?" I could tell it wasn’t a question, but it was one I had no intention of answering so I stayed quiet.
"I mean I can't blame you. She is pretty daring and not lacking in looks either."
"Are you sure you should be talking about a female student like that?"
"Sensei. The Academy is a school dedicated to the sciences, arts and everything business related. I am therefore unable to turn a blind eye to anything that interests me."
"And Atlas interests you?" I glare at him, my brows frowned.
"She most certainly does. See I pretty much know everything about our students except her. She doesn't talk about her family and nobody at The Academy seems to know anything either. Even the information given to the school after she joined was vague...” He takes a sip of his beer, his eyes trained on me,
“All the school knows about the Silent Student is that she comes from a rich family that possibly has connections to the chairman and that her name is Atlas Winters. She's practically a ghost at The Academy. Did you know that her age isn’t even in our system?"
Thoughts of our conversation from earlier fills my head and my hands seem to remember the feel of her hair still. I want to touch her again. After she left the office the softness of her hair still plagued me and for the rest of the day whenever I saw her my hands subconsciously went to my pockets as though my pockets were their haven. Is it because she's different from the other students that I feel like learning more about her? Growing up, the kids around me never really interested me. They were creatures who were simple and predictable, in other words, they bored me. They were either consumed by spending money or having money spent on them. The students at The Academy were all pretty much playing into that stereotype and all theories I had of them were fulfilled sooner or later. It's been just a week but I feel like I practically know all my students like the back of my hand, except... just thinking about her irritated me to the core, but for some reason, I felt a smile form. What the fuck Yuzuki?
"...uki... Yuzuki," Jons voice interrupts my chain of thought and I stare at him.
"What?" He seems to study me for a moment, and I glare him.
"I've never seen you this disturbed or interested by anything, Senpai." He said smirking again.
"What?" I fix my glare on him and he smiles slyly.
"You do know you were smiling just now, right?"
"I was not." I ignore him, moving to light a cigarette and instantly I thought of her again. Annoyed, I stabbed it into the astray, "I'm going to the bookstore..." he chuckles as I get up. So fucking annoying.
"At this hour," he checks his watch, "It's almost eight."
"There's a workshop so it's open till ten on Mondays. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Senpai." I swear if he wasn't a Kohai from university I'd punch that smile off his face. Putting on my jacket I leave the bar, looking up at the sky and sighing.
"Looks like rain." The library was between my route from my apartment to school, so it's kind of become my go-to hideout around here when I want to be alone. Although it's technically a bookstore you can borrow books and return them. Not a lot of people go there so it's highly unlikely that I'd see anyone I know from school. The open sign welcomes me and I step in, taking my helmet off. Looking up from the front desk a warm smile greets me.
"I wasn't expecting you tonight Yuzuki."
"I didn't have anything else to do so I dropped by on my way back home." I reply approaching the old man who stood behind the reception desk. Technically that's a lie. The bar is closer to my house, I just didn't want to go home.
"Well the library is entirely yours till ten as usual," he pauses and stares towards the back, "well not entirely yours."
"What? Is there someone else here?"
"Ah. Yes. A young lady. She’s been coming here for almost two years I believe, but she never really talks. We still don't even know her name." I sit at the stool behind the desk as he sorts through book tags, humming out of tune.
Since I started coming to the library Owen has sort of become my away from home dad. This makes him the forth one. His wife even cooks for me sometimes so I help out around the library when I can. It's quite an old building so it has faults everywhere.
"Two years and you don't know her name?" He looks up from the tags and shrugs.
"She looks young so I figured she was shy and wanted to be left to her lonesome, so I never really tried to pry. She does talk sometimes, and she comes on the days she doesn't have to go to her part timer. She doesn’t make any trouble and she also buys as many books as she borrows and you know I love book lovers."
"Hmmm. Maybe she's a shy high schooler?"
"I thought so too but I think she may be older than that. Some of the books she's bought or borrowed aren't your usual read for a high-school student. Also, she's got her motorcycle license so she's definitely not a high-school student," he looks up from the tags again and grins at me, "well look at us gossiping about my customers' Sensei."
"There's no rule against men gossiping, Mr. Owen." I said laughing, and he chuckles.
"Oh yeah, the book you asked about was returned this morning. It'll be back there." He points towards the back without looking up.
"This morning? Didn't you say it was borrowed on Friday?"
"I suppose she finished it."
"You mean," I point to the back, "her?" He smiles and nods. I couldn't help the curiosity brewing in me. Tucking my helmet under the counter I make my way through the maze. I really hate how curious I am about this woman. I hate how even though it can't possibly be her I'm wishing that it is. Was Jon right about me not only being interested in her as a scientist or a teacher, but a man? I run my hands through my hair in frustration. Maybe I'm just piled up. Sighing, I turn to the shelf on Sciences and stopped in my tracks. Her face was turned away from me, but I knew it was her.
There's no way I wouldn't know it was her.
My feet seem to move by themselves and before I knew it, I was standing behind her. Scanning over the contents on the pages I felt my body react. Clearing my throat, I look away and she jumps in response, a soft shriek escaping her lips."Atlas.""Sensei!" Her face goes blank and she snapped the book shut. The cover catches my eye and I smile as realization sets in."So that's what you read in school, Ms. Winters?" She glares at me before looking away."So what? These books are prohibited so I found a way to read them without disturbing anyone." her voice as she spoke seem to lose pitch and drift off at the end. Ah, so she can be cute too."I see. Is that what you're always reading?" I ask as I move to stand in front of her. As though on guard she moves her feet from the ledge turning to face me tucking the book in the satchel at her feet."No." She looks away again as a slight flus
The ride to her house was quiet as we maneuvered through the late-night traffic. Far too quiet. Her light tap on my shoulder stops me in front of the Havens apartments blocks and she gets off."Is this really where your parents live?" I ask, looking from her to the building."No," I look at her in confusion, "this is where I live.""What?!" The surprise in my tone was evident as she stares back at me weirdly."I don't live with my parents. I live alone." Her tone was flat as she said the word parents."But... You're still in high school!" she continues to stare at me in that weird way with her head tilted to the side like a confused puppy, "What parent allows their sixteen-year-old daughter to live by herself! I don't care how much money you have." She continues to stare at me in silence."You really can be funny sometimes Sensei.""I'm serious, Atlas." I could feel
I groaned, annoyed at the sound of my phone ringing. I knew who it was without even looking at the caller ID. He's been calling to wake me every weekday for the past two weeks, at the same time to ensure I don't sleep in, so I'm not... late. Sigh. Sensei, you need a better hobby."I do have an alarm you know." I answer with a sigh."Well, it doesn't seem to stop you from turning up to tutorial after the last bell, so, I'm your alarm." He sounds slightly sleepy still, a soft yawn escaping him causing me to smile broadly. I haven't been able to tell him that I do in fact arrive an hour early every day but just choose not to go to lessons till the last minute. To be honest, after what happened between us that night I still haven't told him much about me and he doesn't push me to answer the questions I know he wants to ask. I haven't told him exactly who and what I am and I don't think I have the guts to, well not now anyway. I mean how would anyone rea
Following our eventful morning, I leave her in the classroom to go collect the attendance form from the office. And as scripted, someone was due to disturb my peaceful journey."What do you want Jon?""You seemed in high spirits so I thought I'd annoy you just a bit." I roll my eyes, ignoring him and continued walking."I swear you are the definition of a pain in the ass." He chuckles, making me frown. This guy is too weird."So, was that the chairman’s car I saw leaving as I was coming through the gate?""I wouldn't doubt it. He came by to welcome me apparently.""Hmm... he came personally? What's the old man planning now?" His voice was low but I could still make out enough of what he said and I stopped in my tracks."What do you mean? You know something don't you?" He grins, putting his hands up in surrender."I know nothing, my friend."
Ah, there it is again. For the past couple weeks after the chairman’s visit that morning, she’s been called to the Head’s office every Wednesday during her lunch break and normally stays in there till the bell sounds again. She always looks more exhausted than she went in. I want to ask her to tell me more, but I know my poking and prodding isn't helping her. From the rumors, she's supposedly the student council president but that’s yet to be proven since no one's ever met the president - apparently. This school has a weird tradition where the presidents' identity is known only by the Head and the staff and then at the end of their three years, they reveal themselves and get rewarded based on their services and achievements rather than their families status. But for the past two years, no staff has known who it is, only the Head. Even the title of Council President was changed to Deputy Council Rep, meaning there’s definitely someone above. I can’t help but find it suspicious that t
After our ‘Get Help’ fiasco, the day seemed to have gone by slower than usual and by the time the final bell sounded everything hurt. Sighing, I make my way to the office swearing under my breath as I remember the staff meeting being held after clubs have ended. Great, another hour and a half of madness. Dropping my materials in the office, I take my cigarettes and the remaining bottle of juice, making my way to the parking lot. Searching for my lighter my hand brushes against the envelope I'd placed there earlier."Oh yeah, I haven't opened it yet." Downing the last mouthful of juice, I toss the bottle in the bin and open the letter, finding the small rectangular box that came out with the letter... keys..."Is this what I think it is?" Hurriedly I read the letter."Dear annoying Sensei, you asked that I tell you the next time I'd be absent, so I guess this is me telling you. I'll only be gone for two days, so I'll be back on Thurs
The warmth I could feel hugging my body was alien to me. The sound of the alarm that woke me was even more alien as my eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the lighting. This is my room. The events of last night came back in a steady flow and I remember falling asleep on the sofa so... an arm snakes itself around my waist bringing me flush against a body that was familiar to me and in surprise I jerked up turning to face... Yuzuki?! When? How? His eyes still closed, he mumbles still half asleep seeking out his phone on the nightstand behind him. God this man is beautiful. He looks years younger when he’s like this, the shadow of his constant frown gone but beautifully replaced with the face of sleep. Hmm, he’s got long eyelashes. My eyes explore his face as though it was newly discovered land, a warmth building slowly in my stomach. His hair was out of its usual bun with strands falling lifelessly across his forehead, framing his neck and shoulders. Without my approval my hand extended
Walking into the office, I adjust my tie as I make my way to my desk. Good mornings echoing from all the female teachers I pass by and some male ones. Dear lord. Sitting down I power up my computer, printing the materials for my lessons today. I can still smell her on me. No matter how much I showered, her scent seems to have been embedded onto me. I can still feel her enveloped warmth, ghost touches - everything...“Good morning honey.” Annoyance must’ve shown across my face because he laughs before planting his ass on my desk.“Morning Jon.” I know better than to look at him knowing he’d see right through me.“So, how’s my star pupil?” I could taste his smirk in the air without even looking up. I really hate this man.“She’s fine. Preparing for her meeting tomorrow. She’ll be back on Thursday.”“That’s good then.” I could tell he wanted more.“The quiz is part of a business deal.