18 Chapter two, 2016, buddying emotions: 5 (2/2)

”Whatever.” She didn't have to accept any more insults.

Christina turned and walked back towards the school building.

She heard his parting words from behind: ”I won't forget this, you know.”

She threw her hands into the air in a gesture of raw irritation. Then she turned. ”Queen Victoria called and wanted her gender values back.” 'Idiot!'

On her way back across the school yard she met Ko-chan. A worried Ko-chan. Something was definitely amiss. Christina studied her friend's somewhat stocky frame before accepting her hands.

Ko-chan pulled her aside and pretended not to look at the windows. ”You're in trouble. We can handle the freshmen, but some second years are targeting you now.”

”Second years? Why?” Christina asked, pretending to have forgotten what had just happened.

”Are you an idiot?” Anger passed Ko-chan's face, but Christina could see something else as well.

'Fear? Is she afraid? Of what?' ”I don't understand.” 'I really don't understand, and I wish Ko-chan was better at English. Or that my Japanese had improved more.'

”Moron, did you have to replace all of your brains with that beautiful face!”

Christina thought frantically but nothing came to her mind. ”I don't understand.”

Ko-chan led them in the direction of the entrance. She was kicking up sand with every few steps. ”Look,” she said. ”You were confessed to the same week you came here. Several times.”

Confessions. It still felt like elementary school. They did everything backwards here in Japan. A hug and a kiss should come before anything as embarrassing as being dragged away and listening to someone expressing their feelings in words. But not here. Here you were supposed to play the confession game before finding out if you really shared any mutual feelings.

But targeted?

”Are you listening?”

Christina shrugged. She hadn't.

”If you're called out by upper-class men you become a direct rival to the older girls.”

”Not my fault,” Christina said. Yes, she was being stubborn now, and Ko-chan didn't deserve being treated that way. ”I'm sorry.”

”It doesn't work that way. I can't protect you if you're ganged up on.”

Ko-chan, in difference from that idiot second year, really was adorable. Protected by a child. With most of the teaching staff here being substantially younger than herself Christina found it more than a little amusing that Ko-chan felt a need to protect her.

And Ko-chan knew. Ko-chan alone knew that the reason Christina lived alone was that she had done so for over thirty years. In a world almost like this one. Not this world, where Christina Agerman had never been born fifty years earlier.