Here is the first chapter. I spend a week working on it. Tomorrow I have work so I want to polish and finish it before then. Enjoy reading.
Spoiler
Looking up at the blue cloudless sky in the outdoors area of UniCenter High during lunchtime, a sense of peace he felt in spite of being in a country which is going back to it’s own ‘dark divided age’, Karasenta Satsuya thoughts about his life up to this point.
“Ever since I started my first year in Sebunhoshi High in my homeland, Hokkaido, Japan, I had felt conflicted between enjoying high school life and eventually have to face the reality of being an adult after graduating.”
He cleans the windshield of his motorcycle with a small towel, wiping his forehead in sweat with his other hand. He isn’t bothered by the spring heat regardless of wearing his former school uniform that is meant to be worn in fall and winter season due to his pride.
“At my old school where I started, countless days passing by with my long-time childhood friends, both boys and girls, I made back then which I had enjoy my time with them during our first and second years; watching and playing baseball, eating at a ramen shop, going on trips to Tokyo and Osaka, some of my male friends teasing me which girl I like in the group.”
He took a bite of a rice ball from his container sitting on top of a nearby wall. He licked some of the rice off his upper lip. The delicious taste ringed on his tongue.
“But when the third year started, one by one, my friends had gone on their own paths; compounded with studying and exams to go to a good university. Some had to find part-time jobs to help their families and most of the girls going on dates. I was then left alone after second year of high school, leaving me to do barely anything besides studying and go out on the roads on my motorcycle. Taking myself everywhere I go in my hometown, seeing many places I go to regularly, now alone.”
He plants his hand on one of his vehicle’s hand bars. He thought of his homeland’s small roads, comparing them to the vast roads of the great city of New York. He felt a sense of adventure and freedom but also a sense of loneliness.
He sighed.
“During my days alone, I have been focusing on finding a career after high school and see what opportunities that can offer me. But, I yet to decide on one. None of them interested me so far. Seeing many businessmen who have tired eyes and sleeping on the bullet trains during my trip to Tokyo made me think of the boredom of spending my life working in an office doing the same thing every day.”
His mind goes through the memories of his youth, comparing his youth to the adult life. He felt a sense of losing his place as that time comes.
“I even bothered with the thought of who I’m going to marry. Not that I wanted to, I don’t feel ready for it yet. My parents kept encouraging me to seek out a girl. I did date some of the girls who were crushing me. Though later on I broke it off after some days with each of them one by one since they were demanding my attention too much when I had to study and finding a career. I wouldn’t want to take responsibility as a future husband and father. I wish to do as I please on my own.”
He stretched his arms up, letting out a big yawn. He looks around the area, feeling yet to be used to the new school he now attends.
“The times of exploring Japan in my free time gives me a sort of inspiration to see what’s beyond my homeland I had been for all my life.”
He went deep in thought of his youth, reminiscing the days of innocence and the simple joys of life that he experienced.
“Expanding my search for a dream which led me to learn what’s America like through my father who used to attend this school in NYC in his high school years. I want to see myself in the city of that’ll give me the inspiration for a dream that I can be content with.”
He took out his smartphone from his pants pocket. Looking at the many messages he got from his old friends who wished him a safe year at America. He smiled as he scrolled down to see dozens.
“Now here I am; as a transfer student of UniCenter High School in New York CIty, USA. My first day in America and already something major is going on. From the life of a youthful kid in Japan, now in the life of a maturing young teenager close to being on the path of adulthood in America. My life for eighteen years, I remain the same, I’m a wanderer with no set path to walk on.”
He crouched to see the workings of his vehicle, he noticed something missing from it.
“Lookin’ for something?”
He turned to see a group of white boys of his age in high school jock clothes, their eyes with hostility.
“Just halfway through my first day in America, this happens.” He thought to himself in frustration.
Chapter 1: Union of New Friendship
“What do you want?”
Satsuya spoke to them, unnerved.
“Letting ya know that you losers here in ‘Murica ain’t worth *censored* compared to us now, president said so, chink.”
One of them grinned.
“So what? That doesn’t bother me. I just have to be a good kid and listen to the authorities.”
He pull out a zippo lighter from his jacket, opening and closing the lid with his thumb.
“But I ain’t changing my culture with yours’. A foreigner has to have some pride in his country.”
“You listen here; you’re in our country now. If you wanna not have bad blood with us, you gotta follow our standards, the American way.”
One of the other boys pointing at him, having a muscular and large stature. He walks up to him, makes a fist to his face.
“Or you’re asking for it.”
“You think you’re all tough and all but you’re just being pathetic, you don’t represent America right. If you want to bother someone, bother your girlfriends, if you even have any or if they’re too ugly to deal with. I know you took something from me, hand it back or I’m calling the authorities. Even white folks like you have to follow the rules.”
Satsuya talks back at him, staring him with a fierce look,
“Oh hell no, now you’re asking for it, farm boy!”
The white boy took off his own jacket, throws it behind, cracking his knuckles, one of the others caught it.
“Guess what time it is? Time for an beatdown! Asian boy gonna get his ass wooped!”
The rowdy group start chanting.
“You gonna see red for talking *censored* about my sexy girl! Bring it on!”
The muscular boy throws a punch at his head.
Satsuya dodged it, moving his head out of the way.
“Seriously. If anyone sees this, you are so going to be expelled. I’m warning you.”
“You shut your face, nerd! My dad has a good lawyer. I’ll be back in school and come back to kick your ass twice over!”
He rushed at him.
Satsuya jumped over him. He opened and closed his lighter.
“Nerd huh, how original. I guess your dad and grandpa are bullies and idiots too. I played sports too, fairly to say. By the looks of your muscles, I'm guessing you took steroids.”
“You are so dead! Big Matt’s gonna make you puke your blood and virginity out!”
One of the group shouted, saying his name.
Matt turn his head around, his face red in anger.
“My old man can't play in the big leagues because a chink broke his arms in high school! Sucks to be him when he ran away from here, I heard he got his ass whooped badly, damn right he deserved it.”
Satsuya felt angered.
“Take your best hit then, I won’t dodge this time, I’m taking it like a man, unlike you!”
He stood still, waiting to get hit.
“ENOUGH!”
A familiar voice is heard.
Everyone turned around.
Reinhart is standing a few feet away, her hands on her hips.
“Again with this crap... Do I have to make some calls to your parents...?”
She has her cell phone on her left hand, staring at them with a look that makes them, even Satsuya, nervous.
“Oh *censored*… her again...”
One of the group said quietly.
“We should bail, now, dude. She got our parents’ numbers.”
“Grr…”
Matt walks back to his group.
“You got lucky you have that hot white teach here. Don’t show your face around our school, we know what you look like.”
“I SAID OUT!!!”
Reinhart stomped on the ground, makes a loud noise..
“Run!”
They ran away in fear, except for one.
“Here, take it back, I don’t want to get kicked out of the football team if my coach see this.”
The white boy handed a motorcycle part to Satsuya, he ran away with the others.
“Are you alright?”
Reinhart pat his shoulder.
“Yeah. I didn’t fight him. Not worth the trouble to. Thanks for the save, sensei.”
Satsuya still felt nervous of her. Her shouting still ringing in his head.
“I see you know them.”
“Right. Those jocks again. They been harassing the students here since last year. Some of them in UniCenter got hurt badly by their dirty hands. Damn them and their lawyers.”
Reinhart sighed.
“That Matt guy wasn’t kidding about the lawyer thing. What school do they go to?”
Satsuya sighed.
“Harry S. T. High School. I had taught there back then. I call it Gay-ry Suck-Tardman High. Made up of dumb jocks, arrogant preppies and girls being all slutty and stuff. Those kids made me so angry, they never listened to me, always on their phones and taking selfies in class. I caught some of them smoking and some guy and one of his “sweethearts” ‘did it’ behind the bleachers during football season two years ago… ugh.”
Reinhart facepalmed herself, remembering the awful times she was there.
“That’s too bad.”
“If they say bad things about Japan or about your mother, please don’t chase them there.”
“I get it. It’s not worth getting kicked out of here. I’m better than that.”
Satsuya opened and closed his lighter.
“Hey, no smoking allowed on school grounds.”
Reinhart took it from his hand.
“Hey. I don’t ever smoke. It’s a gift from my father.”
Satsuya looked at her.
“Oh. So he used to smoke before…”
Reinhart sounding worried, she took a good look at it.
“Yeah. He gets stressed a lot from work when he comes back home when I was young, he smoked a pack every day. My mother was worried about his health, he didn’t listen. Guess what, he ends up having lung cancer after a month.”
Satsuya sounding disappointed, being reminded of him. Reinhart felt surprised of his father’s dark habit.
“The doctors cured him after three months. The first thing he did after leaving the hospital is to smoke. Us fed up with his habit, me and my mother had a serious talk with him. I threaten to smoke behind his back if he doesn’t quit and was about to take and lit a cigarette. Being the caring father he is, he gave his lighter to me as a promise to not smoke again and as a test for me to show that I’m better than that by not lighting it even once. Up to this point, not a single one and he never smoked again.”
Reinhart shows relief of the revelation.
“I see. I guess his adult life is too much to handle, like mines. Though I never drink or smoke, I guess I took it easy than him.”
She felt a sense of sorrow and familiarity.
“I would been on his case non-stop if we were still together.”
“Still thinking about the past? So-rry that my mother gets to marry him and gave birth to me.”
Satsuya looked at her in annoyance.
“Ah… sorry...”
Reinhart opens the lid. Satsuya held her arm tight.
“If you light it, I’ll chase those jocks down. I’m warning you. I don’t want to see him disappointed in me.”
Satsuya in a harsh tone.
“Geez. I wasn't about to. Feisty you are. I thought you would be like those main quiet protags from anime.”
She put her arm around him. She puts her head next to his’.
“Listen here, Satsuya. I don't want you to do anything stupid that get you deported. Ignore those jocks. They aren't worth dealing with. To admit, your father was a little too protective of his friends and me when we hung out in our youth.”
She narrowed her eyes, her expression being nerved.
”Though I took bullying easy, he went to kick those punks’ butts anyways. His hits were brutal, made one guy’s nose broken and another who got too injured to play football to this day.”
“Damn it, old man. You made his kid want to beat our people up.”
Satsuya frowned in displeasure.
“Not much of a good example he is for his son. Oh well, it's in the past.”
Reinhart sighed, saying about his father's position.
“Don't you worry. I got your back. No punk will dare to hurt my dear students of UniCenter High as long I'm here.”
She raised her arm up. Her stomach grumbled.
“Shoot. I haven't ate breakfast this morning, I have to pay rent yesterday so I can't buy groceries for two days. Hope there's bunch of pizza left in the cafeteria. Take care, you have a good time in your classes. I'll give this back to you after school, follow the rules here, K’?”
Satsuya nodded.
“See ya, sensei.”
She smiled to him, turned and walked to the building.
“Oh and one thing.”
She turned her head to him.
“Don't tell anyone about my financial situation. I don't want to worry anyone here. Don't worry about it. I can handle it.”
Reinhart gives a thumbs-up. She continued walking.
“If she asked for more than $50 then we should have a serious talk. I can tell she's desperate.”
Satsuya crossed his arms and sighed.
“If you do tell anyone, I'll pawn off your liiiiiiighter~.”
She said out loud teasingly, waving his lighter around.
Satsuya clenched his fist.
“I promise that I'll keep my mouth zipped (damn it, she heard me).”
“Oh boy, oh boy. We got ourselves a ‘rucky’ dragon here.”
Someone said.
Satsuya turned around, he sees a white boy in his late teens in a blue suit similar to his’ but disorganized, laying on the high ledge.
“Who are you? Are you with those white jocks from Harry S. T. High?”
Satsuya stared at him with annoyance.
“Ding-eh, you got two things right-o and two things wrong-o. I attend there and I’m white but I never hang out with those arrogant d-bags and I prefer to call it Gay-ry Suck-Tardman High.”
He grinned.
“Rion’s teh name. I’m just a nice guy who wants to live life, don’tcha agree?”
He who called himself Rion took out a can of soda from his jacket. He opens it with just his index finger, poured the soda into his mouth a feet away above, some spilling on his suit.
“Tell me, young dragon, what brings you here in this fine Land of the Chains?”
Satsuya is dumbfounded by his figure-of-speech, doubting if he is really saying any sense.
“To expand my horizons and look for a dream. Why would you say bad things about your own country and race?”
Rion sticked his tongue out.
“Duh, do I look like I do not care? For the former, I kid you not. I say what I want, freedom of speech, too bad you don’t have that anymore. Burned!.”
He laughed loud, grinning at Satsuya.
Satsuya crossed his arms in annoyance.
“No worries, my friend. For I am simply enjoying the life of the upper class. I'm not here just to spite you. You seem pretty interesting for standing up to those upper class dorks, which I'm the cooler one.”
Rion raised his fist to the sky.
“Now with the new president’s proposal, things has got more interesting. Will the foreigners and minorities protest?”
He held his palms up.
“Always. Will they make a change?”
He grinned menacingly.
“In their dreams! As it always has been! Rawrharharhar!”
Rion laughed at the top of his lungs. He then pointed at Satsuya, holding his can, some of the soda came out, hitting the windsheld of Satsuya's vehicle.
“Let's see how YOU can make a difference! I can see the determination in your somehow-not-squinty-eyes as I am describing what are they. We got lots to cover so enjoy the reading, folks! Uh oh, lasagnati-o’s, I said too much.”
He took the last rice ball from the container, took a bite of it, he stood up.
“Catch you later, spanky drag!”
Rion back flipped from the ledge, hidden from view. A loud thud is heard.
“Agh! Son of a horse! I meant to do that...”
A light breeze came in.
Satsuya thought about his words about change and ignorance.
“He is strange but somehow… right about the situation here. What does he really want in life?”
After thinking all what he could, he simply decide to forget it and move on with his own efforts.
He pulled out his...
“Oh that's right… I been doing that thousands of times over the years, it's practically a part of me. I really hope I get it back after school.”
He sighed.
In History class.
Satsuya writing down notes as the history teacher explains the timeline of the Revolutionary War, started in April 15th, 1775 in America.
“... And wanting independence from the British Colonies, the first Americans moved here to establish a new country to call home and a reliable government that will answer to the people. Make sure to write this down, there will be a test coming up next week covering the first stages of the pre-war.”
As Satsuya wrote down what the teacher explained, he sees his classmates’ expressions; fear, anger, and discouragement on each of them. One of the boys didn't attempt to write his notes down as his head is covered with sweat, his eyes looking forward as if he's lost.
Satsuya goes deep in thought.
“They had been quiet since the president’s signing the new amendment. Worried about the threat of deportation and being labelled as second-class citizens. Political issues had always frustrated me but this is going too far.”
Satsuya thought about the new president’s new amendment.
“I'll have to look it up more to see if there's any loopholes and contradicted with the other amendments. I'm not an expert on politics but I won't allow that man to be a bad example for this country and the people. I will make a change here.”
He clenched his pencil.
After class.
In one of the hallways.
Satsuya opens his locker he was assigned with that is lined up with the others. The students quietly talked around him.
“So this is where I put everything I needed for my classes for the school year. How convenient. I always have to carry my notes and books back in Sebunhoshi High every day besides Sunday. It stiffens my shoulders though so I can't entirely complain about it.”
Satsuya felt a little relieved at this opportunity. He looked at his school schedule.
“I have Art class next, last class for the day.”
Satsuya thought about something just now. An awkward feeling passed through his heart.
“I… haven't get to know anyone from my previous classes. I was too deep in thought about the news. It'll be difficult to make new friends in this situation.”
He lowered his head down in shame.
“Umm… aren't you the new transfer student?”
Satsuya heard and turned around. He sees a brunette-haired girl with a ponytail standing near him.
“Oh. Yes I am. I think we had Social Studies together in second period before, I had seen you when I walked in.”
The girl looked surprised.
“We do! Thanks for recognizing me. I wanted to talk to you before class had started but since the news, I have been feeling worried about being deported.”
She took a deep breath.
“I'm Relikova Lebedev. Sixteen years old, a junior like you. I moved here from my Mother Land two years ago.”
“Relikova is it?. It's a pleasure to meet a fellow foreigner. I'm Karasenta Satsuya, I moved here two weeks ago. Will be staying in America for the whole year. I can tell by your accent that you're Russian when you first talked to me.”
He bowed.
“I learn that your mother land is beautiful in terms of architecture. Thanks to a certain someone who used to attend here years ago.”
He thought about his father.
Relikova nodded happily.
“Thank you so much! That is nice to hear it from you. I feel happy you know about the good things of my motherland.”
Satsuya pat his fist on his chest.
“I like to get to know with everyone here and their cultures. I want to know the good parts of the world and learn what's interested me.”
“That is great to hear. I moved here because my father owns a café shop at Manhattan since 2014 and has earned enough for me and my family from my country to come live together with him again. We've been here three years ago since.”
“That's so nice to hear. I'm glad you get to be with your father.”
Satsuya smiled.
“I’m planning to attend here to the last day of senior year. I hope you come to attend next year.”
Relikova smiled at him.
“That goes for the both of us, dear Relikova.”
A brown-haired boy with glasses appeared.
“Ah, that's right, Farrell. I was concerned about him.”
“Concern with yourself the most. You shouldn't let yourself loose since you had just met him.”
The boy named Farrell voiced his reason.
“Pardon the interruption. My friend here is curious to meet you, Karasenta Satsuya. The surname is Boyce, Farrell is my given name. Hailing from Wales, England to attend this school of diverse connections. We had English class together in the fourth period, as I remembered.”
“Yeah. I had noticed you were the first one to finish the test while I was studying. I used to learned so much about Great Britain. I adore how the way your people talk, similar to mines in terms of politeness.”
Satsuya complimenting him.
“No need for appreciation. I consider it elementary-level compared to my vast knowledge and thanks for the comparison. Many in this dreadful city took it in a bad view.”
He pushed up his glasses.
“Neveroyatno*!” (Unbelievable in Russian)
Relikova clenched her fists near her chest.
“I barely answered all questions in time on yesterday’s test! I don’t think I got even half of them right… So much for getting an A+ grade for my final report card. English is my worst subject.”
She sighed.
“My apologizes. I would have helped you last week but I had to attend an important meeting at the White House in place for my parents as they were invited to a gala. It’s to promote my family’s company image from Wales.”
Farrell explained proudly.
“Well I can’t complain about that, Mr. Wealthy Boy-ce.”
Relikova pouts, crossing her arms.
“But you said you’re going to inherit your family’s fortune and companies once you graduate the next school year. Isn’t it going to be too much for you?”
She looks concerned.
“I was raised to be eligible to handle such matters since the day I was in elementary school. Don’t think poorly of the upper class. We take our responsibilities in order and diligent. My parents have their full trust on me. I will not let that be shattered no matter the cost.”
Farrell tightens his sleeves.
“I am a foreigner also but I won’t let such measly politics from a man unfit to be the leader of this country to make me bow down to the uneducated adults.”
Satsuya is surprised.
“You mentioned you were at the White House.”
“Yes. What is in your mind to speak of, young one?”
“Have you get to meet the president, Kethen Tace, yourself?”
Farrell looked uneased.
“Strange question from you, but I have. When we first introduced each other, I had already took a dislike of him. Kethen openly states that he’ll solve America’s issues through putting his own way of ‘discipline’ on us foreigners and minorities in favor of advancing and protecting America’s interests and culture. I am not surprised when he made his announcement. The threat of deportation was one of my few guesses on the consequences.”
“I see. So he’s patriotic to the extreme. I feel like there must be something else behind it.”
Satsuya thinks about the many possible reasons.
“That is all I can allow myself to tell. I cannot spoke of such highly sensitive information in the White House lest I’ll soon be found out and be sent back to my homeland in disgrace. Kethen himself warned me.”
“Damn that president.”
Satsuya clenched his fist.
“Ease your mind. We’re all together here. We can express ourselves freely in this school. What we have to be concerned about are our encounters with the ‘majority’ in the city. It’s going to be a painful and long school year for you but I believe we all will get through all that.”
Farrell attempted to calm him down.
“You’re right. Three weeks of being here and this sort of thing happened. I worry about everyone in UniCenter now that the majority of society begins to despise us with the president’s “approval”.”
Satsuya pat his own chest.
“There isn’t more that I love than my culture and homeland. My family, traditions, manners, holidays and the food formed me the way I am in life. No law would make me act like those who don't understand the good things about our own cultures.”
“That’s the spirit, young chap.”
Farrell nodded, crossing his arms. He pushed his glasses up again.
“Khorosho!* It is very nice to meet someone like you that expressive for their own culture.” *Alright in Russian.
Relikova expressed her support for his pride.
Satsuya felt comfort with encouragement from his two new friends he had just met.
“No politics should make us do what we don’t want to. I promised my friends and family back home that I won’t have a mask to be easily accepted by those who are different from me. I’ll take my time in this year to able to learn their own language and culture to befriend them and understand the way they are. This is just the start of my difficult path towards a dream to find and fulfill my last year of youth with many happy moments.”
Satsuya reflects on his choices. His heart is at ease.
“Satsuya.... Behind you…”
Relikova tells him, shaking in fear.
“Huh?”
He turned around. He is in shock.
President Kethen Tace is standing right by him. Secret Service men are standing behind him.
“Fancy meeting you here, new transfer student.”
His hands in his black pants’ pockets. His expression is clearly seen to be calm and collected.
The students in the hallways walked back, Relikova and Farrell did as well, leaving Satsuya alone with him.
“W-why are you here?”
Satsuya stuttered, saying in a quiet tone.
“How rude. Not even an introduction. First, I should ask you.”
Kethen pointed at him.
“In your first day here in this low-performing school, you had already shown yourself to be disappointing of my expectations of your people.”
His expression turned darker, his eyes locked on Satsuya’s.
“I received a word that you had already cause some trouble since your first day as I had heard about from the authorities. You had dared talk back to other students who attended one of the best schools of this city and in result, the entire United States, with petty insults and about to engage in fighting instead of resolving it as an mature young man in our society.”
Satsuya is in disbelief of his words.
“You are the first to made a violation to the newly established 28th Amendment in just mere hours; never engage in conflict with a natural-born citizen of any matter. Do I have to remind you of what is your place here in the Land of the Free, foreigner?”
His voice grows deeper with every passing word he spoke.
“Consider this from me as your only warning. This country isn't for you to do whatever you want. I ran for and took office to keep simpletons from entering this country through illegal means and to follow what as we the government establish. You will follow as the law as I say so or you'll be out of American grounds for life. Final. Warning.”
Satsuya’s initial moment of fear changed into frustration, he does not take his discipline seriously. His emotions boiling into an uncontrollable rage.
“They are the ones who started it! They took something that belongs to me and said many hurtful insults regarding my background! They were harassing the students here for years! They are just a bunch of immature idiots! How can you NOT know of it?! They should be disciplined for it, not me! This school is for those who wanted a better future. Screw your damn amendment! I don't believe you will bring anything great back in this country filled with patriotic idiots listening to your lies, you corrupt racist a**hole!!!”
He yelled with all of his frustration, his face light red in anger.
The students in shock of witnessing the scene.
“Chap...”
Farrell expressed his concern.
“Don't…”
Relikova feeling extremely worried.
“You dare to talk back to me with such foul language…”
Kethen moved his head towards Satsuya, inches close to his face.
Satsuya’s eyes unwavering, in anger.
“You are quite the worst of what I expect from foreigners and the minorities. You had made this school the worse kind of example to this country. For your irresponsible behavior and talking back poorly to a leader figure, this place will be closed down indefinitely and you shall be immediately sent back to wherever you came from. You don't belong here anymore, get out of my country, Japanese.”
Kethen turned and walked away as his bodyguards forcibly grabbed Satsuya in the arms behind his back. Himself lost his composure. He had felt a great sense of shame unimaginable.
“I just said what was right for us… Why does this country had to be ruled by him? Is this what the rest of the world would be later on? I had let down my school, my would-be friends, my sensei. Their futures ruined, because of me…”
He teared up as his thoughts are mixed up, unable to contain the regret.
“I'm sorry, everyone…”
“Wait!”
Someone shouted.
The president and his bodyguards stopped.
Satsuya recognized the voice, he turned around.
Reinhart appeared, standing in front of the students.
“Mr. President. He is not entirely to blame. I was a bad example to him. I had said many awful things to Harry S. T. High and their students and he took it as my example. I witness the school’s students harassing him. What he said in that incident is true but he has never meant to say bad things to the country at all. I understand what he feels.”
Reinhart looked at him, her eyes remained focused on Kethen.
“I'll resign my position as a teacher for life in pardon of his actions and for this school to remain open. Give him and this school a second chance. I will take full responsibility.”
“Sensei…”
Satsuya is astonish of her words and sense of responsibility. His eyes are in the verge of tears.
A moment of silence passing by.
“You, one of the majority, are willing to give up your decades of effort for your career just for this inexperienced boy’s sake?”
Kethen said in a quiet tone.
Reinhart nodded.
“I will have no regrets. I want them to achieve their dreams in place of my own. Karasenta Satsuya himself has vowed that he'll make a great change to change the minds of the country's majority of those from around the world. I entirely believe that he will bring that change into reality. You have my word.”
Reinhart pat her chest.
Kethen smirked.
“Very well. I'll pardon his actions and self-decline my orders. You will keep your position as well. That is all.”
His bodyguards let Satsuya go.
Kethen, passing by, spoke to Satsuya
“I'll be looking forward to this ‘change’ of yours. But remember, I am watching. This is the choice you made for yourself to be in this country. Until then, you will follow as I established outside of this school. As her student, don't let her expectations for you go to waste as our family has had for her... Farewell, promising one.”
He said to him quietly before making his way out of the school, his bodyguards following him.
“Our family... Does he mean that he's related to her?”
Satsuya wonders in thought as he sees them gone from view. He reminisce his outburst and the consequences of doing so to a country’s leader that he had to go through.
He didn’t want to see Reinhart, knowing that he had almost made her lose her career. He stands as long as he could, wracked with guilt inside.
“Satsuya.”
Reinhart said, being behind him.
“I’m sorry. I said what I need to say. I just couldn’t stand with what he believed in. I’m tired of the things the majority said.”
He wiped his eyes with his sleeves, his eyes closed.
“My father told me so much of the suffering in his generation where foreigners and minorities were being mistreated and misunderstood. He wanted to change that but what happened between him and your father which I know from you, he gave up after going through a broken heart and left this country, his dream shattered into pieces.”
He placed his hand on where his heart is.
“I will be stronger than him. I won’t let him and myself down. I’ll rebuild his dream but it will not be mines to claim. It’s to give him the reason to fully move on with his life. Now that I have been acknowledged, it’s time to begin my efforts.”
His eyes slanted further, feeling a sense of renewed determination.
“I’m giving this back to you.”
Reinhart, by his side, held her hand out with his lighter on her palm.
Satsuya took it, opens and closed the lid.
She pat his shoulder.
“You’re not alone. Some things can’t be achieved through one person. As dumb as it sounds, no matter what you would do for UniCenter High, I’ll support it. It’s been long since I last had experience interesting moments.”
She crossed her arms, her expression brimming in interest.
“It’s going to be difficult. You got yourself quite a responsibility to fulfill.”
Satsuya smirked in realizing her words.
“Tch. I don’t like my final year of high school to be boring anyways. We’ll show that president how we ‘second-class’ citizens can really do.”
The students felt encouraged upon hearing his words.
“I had made the right choice to attend here after all. A foolish choice I made. My parents will be in for a shock when I tell them my final high school year experience.”
Farrell laughed quietly to himself.
“I want to help out as well. For my motherland to be accepted in good terms. My senior year will be enjoyable in addition, a good choice for myself.”
Relikova smiling, telling a new-found goal she has thought up.
Satsuya turned around, seeing the students he vowed to help. Their expressions once in fear and discouragement, now replaced with hope and determination through his words.
“I yet again to find my own dream. There are things I wanted to do first. But, no matter what life brings me to next, I will someday find a dream I can fulfill.”
End of Chapter.
Update: Mistake on what Satsuya's last class is, changed it to Art class. Sorry for the confusion.
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