278 Chapter one, 2017, a new year: 1 (2/2)
Noriko went a bit away from the students looking at the billboards. A lot of them were talking in loud, disappointed voices. 'So they broke up other groups of friends as well?'
”Did you know about the class assignments for us juniors?”
”Yes, most certainly. I wrote them together with your home room teachers.”
”Why, you fuck!” Noriko was so angry she didn't care she had just called her old principal something that could have her expelled.
”Young lady that's no...”
”Why the hell...”
”Shut up!”
That voice was enough to make Noriko obey.
”Before you continue your cursing, please tell me what's wrong, Wakayama-san.”
The sudden politeness, with just a pitch of anger had Noriko calm herself down. She did as Nakagawa-sensei had asked.
”But for all demon spawned fucking piss rats in hell! The arsehole can just go die in a cesspool!”
'OK, that was more than I expected,' Noriko thought as she held her phone away from her ear. She had no doubts at all the cussing was directed at someone else.
”Nakagawa-sensei?”
By now some of the shouts from under the billboards were outright angry. Some of the sterner parts of the teaching staff came walking from the school entrance, and Noriko chose to back away to the gates. Whatever had happened was deliberate, and she didn't plan to be caught up any more than needed in the repercussions.
”Wakayama-san, do you have time after school?”
'OK, he's not involved.' ”Inner room?”
”Ah, yes, that will be fine. At six?”
Noriko confirmed the time and closed the call. 'Has to be Kareyoshi's dirty work.'
She walked directly to the entrance to avoid the confusion when the teachers broke up the angry mob under the billboards. On her way there she saw scared freshmen looking at the spectacle.
'Your first day as high schoolers. I hope you enjoy it.' Because Noriko wasn't going to.
With her fear somewhat calmed, doused in anger as it was, she quickly dropped her indoor shoes in her new locker and returned outdoors.
On her way to the gym she passed four lines ending in a member of the student council welcoming the freshmen and giving each one a pamphlet with the basic Himekaizen information. Nothing that couldn't be found on the school website. Noriko had received hers a year ago.
She rounded the left wing, followed the wall and came up to the pool area. From there she walked to the gym and lined up to get inside. This year she planned to listen to the canned clichés. Maybe there was a threat or two hidden in the principal's speech.
Given what Urufu said about their new principal, he couldn't find his own arse in the dark, and if he really was a king among morons, then he was all too likely to spew out one idiocy after another.