203 Chapter six, 2016, three schools: 9 (1/2)
Christina walked down the stairs to the vending machines on the entrance floor. Throughout her body she felt waves of pleasure reminding her that while all her plans to take Ulf to her bed had failed thus far, just being close to him when he thought of nothing but her was more than enough.
'This is what I really want. Sex is fine, but I can wait. This, however, this I can't wait for. I need it. I need you!'
She giggled at the memory of Noriko's expression when the girl finally understood what Christina had experienced during those moments when the tension in their clubroom grew unbearable.
'You're too cute. I hope you'll share some of this with Nao-sempai, but you're really too young.'
Having arrived by the machines Christina dug up a few coins and fed them into the slot. For once she picked a bottle of tea rather than the coke she usually chose.
'I remember being in love with being in love. First love is like that, but it's a wonderful experience in itself. Enjoy it while it lasts Noriko. You've become an important friend.'
Christina smiled and changed into loafers. She put her indoor shoes in her locker and left the school.
As she passed the gravel on the school-yard her thoughts darkened and coming up to the line of naked sakura all thoughts of love left her. It was as if those thoughts belonged to the innocence of school and had no place in the real world outside.
After she put the school gates behind her Christina pulled her phone from her bag and sent a select few photos to Kinoshita-sensei, her main photographer. After that she dialled him.
”Ageruman here,” she said, using the Japanese version of her name. Despite having been assigned to Europe during his previous life Kinoshita-sensei's spoken English was sub-par, and Christina found no reason to impair his understanding.
”Hello Kuritina,” he replied.
At least he's used to Europe enough to dispense with the honorifics. ”I've sent the shots I think would be easiest to use.”
”Are you sure about this?” her photographer said. ”This is the kind of photos that could destroy your career.”
She had thought of that, but that was also precisely the reason they were perfect. ”Yes. We'll spin this a bit differently though. Can you accentuate the wet T-shirt aspect of those shots?”
”Yeah, but why? That's even worse.”
”Make sure to include one or two shots that clearly display me being assaulted.”
A few seconds of silence followed. ”You calculating little bastard,” came the admiring reaction a bit later. ”Who are you sending to the gallows?”