"And that how the Russo-Japanese war impacted our life today," the teacher droned on.
I kept my head on my desk. The teacher had been droning for hours it seemed. I couldn't figure how history was anything but boring. I was nearly asleep. Just a little further and dream-land would open it's gates.
"Remamaru? Remamaru Sakamoto are you sleeping in class?" a voice asked.
My eyes snapped open and the eyes of a very angry teacher were staring at me. I sat up straight and my green hair moved out of my face. Mizawa looked over at me from across the room.
"Sorry Sensei," I said quickly. "I...I...."
"Can you tell me the significance of the Russo-Japanese War?" he asked smirking to himself.
"No but I can tell you the roots of the function ...." I started.
"That is enough Remamaru," the teacher said now looking more hurt than happy. I had used that example for more than half the year. Then his composure changed. He seemed to get mad.
"Remu, you are one of the brightest people in the school and yet you're grades are terrible! You don't apply yourself at all except in math and science! You need to understand history to understand the world. And what about that green hair of yours. It is illegal on school grounds," the teacher started.
I knew this...It was another lecture. I had heard one from nearly every teacher. I was apparently a bright student in any class of education, but I only applied myself to two main subjects. And my hair was nothing new. I had had it since freshman year, but the principals had stopped caring once they saw my standardized test scores.
"Look," I started glaring at him. I had had enough. “I get that history is great to you, but I just don’t see the point sensei. I don’t see the reason for studying impacts of the past when we are living in the present. Also my green hair is nothing new. I have had it for a while, so please don’t criticize me on matters that have long been dead.
The teacher sighed at me. He wasn’t going to win and knew it. There were no parents to call back home, and Sis was too busy to deal with me anyways. Finally the teacher went back to droning about the war, and I went back to sleep.
Once the bell rang, Mizawa woke me up. I looked up somewhat dazed, but got up and got my things together.
“So anyways Remu,” Mizawa started laughing. “You managed to beat back Nasawa-sensei….how do you feel?”
“I feel tired,” I answered.
Mizawa just laughed.
“Anyways so are you going straight home today?” Mizawa asked. “Because if so, before that you need to grab your stuff from my house from the night before.”
“Oh…ya I forgot, I’ll come by later Mi-chan,” I answered. “I want to get home and work on my calculus home work first and get dinner started.”
“Ok jeeze Rem you fight the system about history and then jump the boat on math….well at least you’re not like me who fights all the systems heh. Oh and what are you having for dinner?,” Mizawa laughed.
“Mi-chan, don’t talk like that,” I laughed. “I’m thinking about Ohagi maybe. I haven’t made it on a while. Anyways I’m going home, so see ya later!”
“Bye!” Mizawa laughed and we parted.
I rode the train back home. It was around three, and I wanted to get my homework done and then go hunt down Mizawa and go to the mall. As I started to unlock the door, I found it was already open.
Oh man! That serial killer from the news is in my house! I panicked but continued to push the door open. If it was the killer I could just out run him….. As I pushed open the door, Kaori looked up from her seat at the dining table.
“Oh it’s just you Sis,” I smiled walking in. “I didn’t think you’d be home so early. Don’t tell me you started dinner!”
Kaori rolled her eyes, and I just laughed.
“Must you bring that up every day?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered, “Because if I didn’t cook there would be no reason to keep me around.”
Kaori smacked her forehead fast. I walked farther into the main room and set my things on the couch. Arthur spazzed and hissed at me. I had dropped the bag straight on him.
“Oh sorry Arthur,” I said moving my things away from him. “Anyways what are you doing home Sis? Don’t you have work?”
“I wasn’t feeling well,” Kaori answered.
“Are you ok?” I asked bending over and putting my hand on her forehead. “You do seem a little warm. Have you made an appointment with the doctor?”
“Remu, I’m fine,” Kaori said moving her head away.
“Ya that is what you said last time and last time you had the flue for three weeks straight! No I’m calling the doc now,” I answered walking over to the phone.
“No, I’m fine really!” Kaori said quickly. “I’ve just had somewhat of an off day….”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “Because if you get sick, I am not skipping school to take care of you.”
“I’m fine….really,” Kaori answered.
I sighed and finally gave up. As I walked into my domain, the kitchen, I started up the rice cooker and put some of the ingredients on the table.
“Well I was going to make ohagi, but I think some chicken and rice would be better for you,” I said looking into the fridge. There wasn’t much to work with, but then again I rarely had much to work with. After about five minutes of work, I walked over and gave Kaori some soup.
“So how was school?” Kaori asked as she took a sip of the soup.
“Meh…… Nasawa-sensei was trying to teach me the importance of history again. I still don’t care,” I answered. “But in calculus I was having a lot of fun. We were working with easy stuff. And Chemistry II and Biology II were a lot of fun too.”
“As always,” Kaori answered rolling her eyes.
“Oh come on,” I protested. “When will I need English or Japanese or History in the real word?”
Kaori put her hand to her head and sighed.
“You use English every day, Japanese is our language, and you have to learn from the past!” she shot back.
“Ick you sound like Mom, quit it,” I said sharply.
Kaori looked at me and then back at her soup.
“Sorry….I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “Anyways I was going to call Mizawa and go to the mall, but I think I’ll just finish my calculus and study history and English. If you need me I’ll be in my room.”
“Remu have you seen the news……” Kaori asked.
“Wha- I just got home how do you expect me to have watched the news?” I asked. "I know I can cook but that doesn't mean I'm magic."
“A man died,” she answered not even atempting to laugh at my joke.
“People die everywhere every day,” I answered. “We can't stop it, so why does it matter….was he your secret boyfriend or something?”
Kaori gave me a sour look, and I laughed.
“Sorry….I guess the world’s made me pretty harsh,” I said. I grabbed my back from the couch and headed off to my room.
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