Editor's comments and actions are denoted by [brackets]. Sound effects are written {like this}. (Parenthesis) indicate side notes in the dialogue bubble or the mangaka's note. And finally, italics are thoughts.

This story takes place shortly before the Houkago no Shokuinshitsu series begins. It opens up at Kazama Toshiaki's apartment.

{sound f/x kacha: door clicking open}

{sound f/x pii: high pitched beep}

Answering Machine: "You have one new message."

{sound f/x pii}

Answering Machine: "Toshiaki, it's your mother. How are you? You didn't come home for spring break, either. Your mother missed you. ...your father, too... Toshi... it'll be a year soon. That's enough, isn't it? It... it wasn't your fault. It was no one's fault. You don't have to come home, but... you have to start living for yourself. ......well... I guess that's it. I'll call again later."

{sound f/x pu: low beep}

{sound f/x tsu tsu: tape rewinding}

Kazama: [smiling at the machine] ............ Live for yourself...

{sound f/x shuu: sound of fabric sliding}

Kazama: Only mothers can be so direct. --A year ago. My little brother died in an accident. On the bike that I bought him. I spoiled my little brother, and I knew that I was doing it, but I didn't realize how much he meant to me until he was taken away. Maybe more than a little brother, I should say that I loved him like my own child. It's because from the time that he was born, our mom was too sick and so I always took care of him.

[I'm not quite sure, but there seems to have been about a 10 year age difference between Kazama and his little brother.]

Kazama: My happiness started coming from watching him grow up, and making sure he was happy. To lose that--- I lost my own will to live. Just like my mom said, now I'm living for my parents. I left my own home so that I wouldn't have to remember my little brother. I'm living alone for the first time. [It's pretty common for young Japanese men and women to live at home until they get married.]

{sound f/x pi: beep}

Kazama: But I still can't look at my little brother's picture.

A picture frame lies face down on a table in Kazama's apartment.

Kazama: I---

{sound f/x pi}

Kazama: Hey, Mom? It's me. Thanks for calling.

{sound f/x gishi: couch creaking as Kazama sits down}

Kazama: How you doing? You haven't caught a cold? Yeah, I'm fine. School? It's peaceful. School's great. I love working with the students. I don't have to think about all of the extra stuff. Hey, that reminds me. This cute new teacher came to work with us. Huh? Oh, no, it's not a girl. That's right... Maybe I shouldn't be saying this--- He gave me a little bit of fun into my mundane life.

Voice: Kawase-sensei---! ["Sensei" is an ending given to many professions, including teachers.]

Kazama: --Him.

{sound f/x kin kon: ding dong}

Kawase: Ye--s?

Kawase Mitsuro looks up from his papers in the teachers' lounge. Across the room, Kazama and two other female teachers call him over for a talk.

{sound f/x giku: Kawase gulping nervously}

Kawase: Kazama-sensei's there... I can't deal with him. He's always playing jokes on me...

Female Teacher 1: (Come over here.)

Kawase: Plus, I kinda feel like he's always watching me... What is it?

Kazama: This Kawase-sensei looks like he's thinking he can't deal with me. You like sweet things, don't you, Kawase-sensei.

Female Teacher 1: Would you like a Chou Cream? ["Chou a la creme" (shortened to just "chou cream" in Japanese) is a French pastry filled with a creamy filling. Yum!]

Kawase: Ah... thank you.

Female Teacher 2: This is a Double Chou Cream. It's really good.

Kawase: Huh......?

Kazama: A Double Chou Cream is when they take a Chou Cream and stuff it into a Chou Cream.

Kawase: [stare] (Huh~) Is that right?

{sound f/x jii: Kawase staring at the pastry in amazement}

Kawase: How do they make it?

Female Teachers: ............

The two female teachers shake with suppressed laughter at Kawase inspects the pastry.

Kazama: Kawase-sensei, you're thinking to yourself, "How do they make it," aren't you?

Kawase: [blushing] Huh...? Um, yeah......

{sound f/x pu: one of the teachers unsuccessfully holding back laughter}

The two female teachers burst into hysterical laughter.

Female Teacher 2: OH I CAN'T TAKE IT-- Kazama-sensei, don't say such weird things with such a straight face!

Female Teacher 1: Kawase-sensei, too! Kawase-sensei! [laughing hysterically]

Kawase: [wide eyed] (...Huh... Um...)

Kazama: You really just believe what people tell you at face value, don't you. Actually, this is a Chou Cream that has custard cream and whipped cream inside.

Kawase: (Ah...) That's right. There's no reason to stuff a Chou Cream into a Chou Cream...

Female Teacher 2: [giggling] MAN~~~ Kawase-sensei, you're so cute!

Female Teacher 1: (Huh, what's that?)

Kazama: Yeah, that right there, that was cute.

Kawase: WA---~ Please, stop that~!

Towards the end of school, Kazama calls out to Kawase in the hall.

Kazama: Kawase-sensei--- Homeroom?

Kawase: Yes.

Kazama: I'm making some materials for my class, and I wanted to use poster paints. Can I stop by the art classroom after school?

Kawase: ...If it's okay that the art club students are going to be there...

Kazama: Okay, thanks! Oh... right and then... Huh!?

Kazama turns around as Kawase slides open the door to his homeroom.

{sound f/x kata: the door sliding open}

{sound f/x gara: giant clattering}

{sound f/x pata: soft whacking sound}

As Kawase walks into the room, he's suddenly hit by flying erasers. Kawase ends up covered in a sheet of white chalk dust.

Kawase: .........[cough]

The class erupts in cheers.

{sound f/x do: explosion of cheers}

Student: WE DID IT----

{sound f/x keho: Kawase coughing}

Student: NO WAY----

Student: WE DID IT, we won, we won!

Kazama sticks his head into the room.

Kazama: KAWASE-SENSEI!?

Students: (YEA~Y)

Kawase: [cough] Hold on, guys [cough] O... of all things, for this to happen when Kazama-sensei's here...

Student: (YEA~Y) I can't believe it-- This for real?

Kawase: Hey--- He's going to... He's going to laugh at me again...

Kazama suddenly appears behind Kawase.

Kazama: WHAT'RE YOU KIDS DOING, TURNING ON YOUR TEACHER LIKE THAT!!

{sound f/x biku: major surprise}

Kawase and the students freeze, staring at Kazama in shock.

Kawase: Huh......?

Student: Huh~ but we just got caught up in things when you walked in right now--

Student: Right--

Kazama: MAYBE YOU WERE JUST ALL BETTING ON WHO DOES CLEANING DUTY!

(Exactly right.)

Student: (Um...)

Student: [clutching his head] (That's Kazama for you...)

Kazama: FOR A PUNISHMENT, EVERYONE INVOLVED CAN GO DOWN TO THE PARKING LOT AND---

Kawase: KAZAMA-SENSEI---~

Kawase smiles at Kazama nervously, attempting to calm him down.

Kawase: I'm fine, really... [cough]

Kazama: That's not the problem!

Kawase: Well... it's my class so...

Kazama: ......... Okay, this time I'll back off for Kawase-sensei's sake, but... THERE WAS NEVER A BET~!

Students: (Yes si~r)

Kazama: APOLOGIZE TO YOUR TEACHER!!

Kazama leaves the classroom, leaving a bewildered Kawase behind.

Student: I'm sorry~

Student: Sorry, Sensei~

{sound f/x gaya: excited crowd noise}

After school, kids mill around. In the teachers' lounge, Kawase looks over at Kazama, who's glaring into space.

Kawase: ......? Kazama-sensei?

{sound f/x biku: Kazama jumping in surprise}

Kawase: Are you feeling......?

Kazama: No, I just spaced out for a bit.

Kawase: Is that right... Well, I'm about to head over to the club.

{sound f/x gata: clatter of Kazama's chair}

Kazama: I thought that he couldn't deal with me since he always pretty much avoided me. But he worried about me and said something when he thought that I looked sick. Right, I'll go with you. He's really a nice person.

{sound f/x gara: clatter of sliding door}

Kazama: Pardon me.

Student: Huh, Kazama-sensei. What's going on?

Kazama: Making some class materials.

Kawase: Kazama-sensei, there's some tea in the other room, so feel free to have some when you take a break.

{sound f/x gasa: rustling of paper}

Kazama: Right, thanks.

Kazama pulls some large pieces of paper out of a folder. The papers turn out to be sketches of various landscapes.

Kazama: ...These are... yours?

Kawase: Yes... Those are some light sketches that I did when we went out during class.

Kazama: This is nice... It's kinda dream like. If I had a painting like this, maybe my place would be a little more cozy...... ...Ah... sorry, my place is just kinda dreary, y'know.

Kawase: .........

Student: Kazama-sensei, we prepared the poster paints.

Kazama: Right, thank you.

Kawase watches Kazama leave, thoughtfully.

{sound f/x kacha: click of a cap}

In his apartment, Kawase pulls out his paints and fills in a landscape. At Kazama's apartment, he broods while staring out his window. On the table, his little brother's picture remains face down. The next day at school, Kazama and Kawase meet in the coat room.

Kawase: Good morning.

Kazama: Hey, Kawase-sensei, did you see the graffiti on the front gate? Man, I don't know who did it, but if you have to do something, at least make it something artistic...... (Not again, we'll have to erase it...)

Kawase: Um...... I... finished this. Um... if you don't need it, please throw it away.

Kawase hands over a large envelope to Kazama.

{sound f/x gasa: rustle of paper}

Kazama stare in shock at the painting.

Kazama: Ah. It's that sketch. KAWASE-SENSEI!

{sound f/x doki: Kawase's heart skipping a beat}

Kazama: Thank you. I'll hang this up, but I want a frame for it. Do you want to come with me to pick one out? I don't really know anything about it.

Kawase: Um...... okay.

Later on, Kawase and Kazama hit the streets in search of a frame. A man with glasses stops Kawase on the way.

Man: Excuse me, do you have a minute?

Kawase: Yes?

Man: I'm training myself to read palms. Would you allow me to read your palm?

Kawase: Huh......?

Man: I'm training right now, so of course, it would be free.

Kawase: ...Okay.

{sound f/x kuru: spinning around}

Kazama: Kawase-sensei, for frames, that store up--

Kazama finally notices the man who stopped Kawase.

Kazama: [gasp] KAWASE-SENSEI!!

{sound f/x gui: Kazama grabbing Kawase}

Kazama snatches Kawase away and guides him away.

Kawase: Ah...

Kazama: What was that guy doing, holding you up like that, geez.

Kawase: No... he was just someone training in palmistry...

Kazama: (What the hecks that...) Look, he was just trying to sell something. He'd give any old reason to get closer.

Kawase: Is that right...

Kazama: You live alone, right? You have to watch out or else you'll get caught up with weird people selling door to door and stuff. (There's some really vicious guys out there.)

{sound f/x pokan: impact}

Kawase stares at Kazama in something akin to shock.

Kazama: What...?

Kawase: Nothing... It's just that my little brother said the exact same thing.

Kazama: Well... I look at you and I feel like I have to say it.

Kawase: ...thanks...

Kawase and Kazama pick out a frame together at the store, and then later get something to eat. That night, Kazama finally returns home.

{sound f/x kacha: the door clicking open}

{sound f/x kata: clunking sound}

{sound f/x gasa: rustling}

Kazama pulls the now framed picture out of a bag to hang it up.

Kazama: Now... let's see.

{sound f/x kata}

Kazama: I'll put you here. OK.

Kazama stares at the painting for a while.

Kazama: They say that someone's name reflects themselves. It's really that kind of feeling, huh.

Without looking down, Kazama reaches down and flips the photo of his little brother up.

{sound f/x kata}

Kazama: See, Satoshi? The painting, it looks almost like you can see the warm sunlight. And the person who drew this, he's a guy named "Mitsuro." [The name "Mitsuro" begins with the character for "hikari"... or light.]

Kazama: There's something about him that I can't just leave him alone... [gasp]

Kazama suddenly looks down to the photo which shows the brothers smiling and hugging.

Kazama: I...... ...satoshi... Satoshi!

Kazama hugs the photo to his chest as tears run down his face. The next day, at school...

{sound f/x kin kon: ding dong}

Kazama: [brightly] MORNING---~

Kawase: Good morning. (You look more energetic than usual today...)

([pointing to the wet cloth in Kawase's hands] Washcloth.)

Kazama: Thanks to the painting you gave me, my room has gotten really bright and cheerful.

Kawase: You're exaggerating.

Kazama: Sometime, I want you to show me your other works.

Kawase: A-ha-ha...

Kazama: .........

{sound f/x ji: Kazama staring}

Kawase: Wh... what is it?

{sound f/x uni: pinch}

Kazama suddenly reaches out and grabs a big hunk of Kawase's cheek. Kawase bolts backwards.

Kawase: !?

Kazama: You... can't you grow a beard? (Your cheek's really smooth...)

Kawase: I... I can grow one!

Kazama: Really?

Kawase: [blushing profusely] Really! I...it's thin, but...

Kazama: Thin?

Kawase: It's really thin, but I can grow one!

Teacher: Kawase-sensei--! A student's looking for you!

Kawase: OKAY~!

{sound f/x dasshu: Kawase dashing off}

Kawase: I knew it, I can't deal with him!

Kazama: [snicker] He's so cute-- A-ha-ha-ha He really is.

Kazama watches Kawase all day as he interacts with the students at school.

Kazama: He always gives 100%, he's honest, he's always kind. No matter what it is, no matter who it is. He's always the same. Out of everything, that's the one thing I hate. I want to see the side of him that he doesn't show anyone else. I want him to rely on me like he doesn't for anyone else. I want to protect him from the things that hurt him.

Kazama wanders down the hall, posters under one arm.

Kazama: ......... I say all that, but how do I do it...

{sound f/x tobo: Kazama trudging along}

{sound f/x peta: a poster getting flattened onto the wall}

Kazama: I've already gotten myself classified as someone he can't deal with well... (Even being friends is pretty far off...)

Woman: Hey--, I'm from "Rairaiken." I've come to pick up your dishes! [In Japan, lots of time when you order takeout, they give you your meals in actual dishes. They leave the bowls with you, and they come back later to pick it up again. It's odd, but no one ever seems concerned about losing dishes.]

Receptionist: Oka--y!

Woman: (Ah~) Hey, hey, is Kawase-sensei still here?

{sound f/x piku: Kazama perking up}

{sound f/x sasa: quick dash}

Kazama dashes around the corner and listens in to the conversation.

Receptionist: I think he's still here... Why, are you trying to pick him up, Maki-chan?

Maki: Well sure, isn't he cute? Hey, could you look up his birthday for me? I'm really getting into astrology.

Receptionist: Sure, hold on a sec.

{sound f/x para: paper flipping}

Receptionist: O......kay. It's July 1st.

Kazama: July 1st!

Maki: (So that's Cancer.) That's really soon, isn't it? Okay then, first, I'll get him some sort of present.

Receptionist: Maybe he's already got a lover---

Maki: That's fine, right? If he does, then I'll just have to steal him away.

Kazama: ......Lover... That's it! That's how I'll do it!

{sound f/x pon: Kazama pounding one hand into his fist}

Kazama: To get him to rely on me, to protect him, I'll have to be part of his private life!

{sound f/x zun: Kazama zipping down the halls}

Kazama: To get everything I want, to do that--- I'll make Kawase Mitsuro mine!

Back in the teachers' lounge, Kazama excitedly talks to himself.

Kazama: That's right. When it gets to be the right time, even if I have to threaten him... [chuckle]

Female Teacher: (Ka... Kazama-sensei?)

Kazama: [chuckle] No... with him, maybe it would be more effective to persuade him with tears... Mitsuro, I hope you're prepared to take responsibility. ---It's you.

Out in the hall, Kazama calls out to Kawase.

Kazama: Kawase-sensei! Because you pierced my heart with light. And so our story begins.

[Although Kazama's reasoning may seem rather... odd... everything works out fine in the end. To learn more about Houkago no Shokuinshitsu, don't forget to hit this page to learn more.]

Manga belongs to Koide Mieko and BExBOY Comics, taken from the Houkago no Shokuinshitsu manga, ISBN4-88271-478-7. Not like the story makes sense if you haven't read the manga anyway. Romanized and translated into English very badly by Mina-P, with desperately needed help, as always, by Mako-chan. Any comments or corrections can be mailed to Mina-P at Minako@senshigakuen.com.

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