Chapter Two: Slow Afternoon
"That will be all for today. Please file your reports in the proper fashion and if you haven't already done so, clean up your lab tables. Do NOT," the professor raised his voice as the students began to shuffle forwards, "forget to put the plants back in the greenhouse. You are now dismissed." The mass began to hurry out of the door. The professor left through another door towards his office.
Kurama rose and gathered his papers before placing them into his green folder. “Minamono! Shuichi, wait!" He sighed, turning to a sandy blonde with freckles, his fellow classmate and lab partner, Saitou Togami.
"Shuichi, please!" Saitou exclaimed, clasping his hands in moment of nerves. The rest of the biology team gathered behind him, eyes wide with hope that his lab partner could be the key to persuading the red-haired genius.
"I already gave you my answer. I do not-"
"Please, for one year, join the team! We only need one more push to make the national level. With you on our side, we can surely-"
Saitou fell silent as Shuichi raised his hand with a simple smile. "I am sorry, but I have no interest in competition." He let his hand fall. "Thank you for the offer, but I must refuse." He gathered his supplies and returned them to his bag. "Now if you will excuse me." Shuichi pushed his chair in and picked up the daisy, walking away.
"But, Shuichi, you are the best." Kaoru added. A few nodded.
"No," Shuichi paused and closed his eyes, "I am not." He placed the plant in its place and turned back to them. "Have more faith in your own abilities. Do not look for it in others if you are the ones who want to succeed. I wish you luck." He left the classroom without looking back.
It was a pleasant late afternoon outside. Shade stretched across the healthy lawn, draping the open area in a patchwork of light and darkness. The leaves danced in the slight breeze and tangled in his red mane. A starling flashed past him. Kurama didn't look up. A red ball bounced over into the sidewalk. He stepped around it. Then, two kids rushed towards him and his steps paused. The girl with pigtails ran forwards with her head over her shoulders as a boy in a polo shirt reached for her. She giggled and rammed into the redhead. Shuichi caught her arm, stopping her fall into the pavement.
"Running that fast can be dangerous." The girl looked up at him with wide brown eyes. He chuckled and smiled. "Are you alright?"
She stumbled out of his grasp, bowing low. "Yes, than- thank you, pretty mister." She grabbed her friend's arm, pulling him into another run.
"Be more careful or you-" The boy bonked a couple. “-will run into someone again,” he murmured. The two kids bowed and apologized. Then, the boy grabbed the girl's hand and zigzagged even faster. The couple waved. Kurama watched the children until they vanished behind trees. He chuckled. "Humans never change. They always want to charge ahead." A small genuine smile graced his face.
Kurama stayed on the outskirts of the crowd at the traffic light. Nearby, a man in a business suit flipped the daily newspaper open. Cars buzzed along the road, screeching across the crossing and rumbled into the distance. The light shifted to yellow. A youth leaned in to kiss his girlfriend. Green. Shuichi Minamino moved with the mass. The man continued to read the immediate article until he reached the office building on the other side. Then, he folded it over his arm. Shuichi chuckled and turned down the road.
After an hour walking, the noise of downtown faded as he entered the residential side. A bag of groceries bounced in his hand. Tall saplings blanketed the sidewalk, and the birds' chorus rang out. A few dogs barked, growling in their throats, as he passed then shuffled back into their places. A white cat cleaned itself on a nearby windowsill. In another house, a grey one slid back underneath the curtain into the darkened house. Shuichi reached into his bag for his keys and let himself into the gate of a blue two-story house.
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