Special Property (BxB)

Chapter 41. Caring, Yet Uncomfortable

Each summer, the school hosts classes on driver's education. Considering the size of the property, there are plenty of paved road to practice. The last week of the class, the instructor will accompany the students onto city streets for advanced lessons. It's the goal of St. Catherine's that all students become safe, and licensed, drivers.

—The "St. Catherine Cares" Program

"You're in a good mood," Tachibana observed as Kato entered the room.

"Are you implying that I'm normally in a bad mood?" Kato asked with a grin.

Tachibana chuckled. "You're silly."

"What about you? I've noticed you seem like you're in a better mood lately too."

"Yup. Happy to be single again."

"Oh?"

Tachibana smiled. "All the stress is gone. I don't have to plan my day around anyone else anymore."

"Must be nice."

"Yeah, movie night was kind of lame though. I ended up sitting with a couple other single semes." Tachibana chuckled to himself.

"Think you'll find another uke?"

"No, not for a while. I just want to relax a bit and not have to worry about another person."

"I see," Kato replied.

"Anyway, I'm off to class. Later." Tachibana waved as he went out the door.

Kato thought for a few minutes about singleness. He'd been single all his life. He'd never had someone to worry about. And the only person to ever worry about him was now gone. It hurt. It ached. He had friends, but they were all gone too. His new friend, Murata, was a likeable guy, which helped a tiny bit, but the ache was still there; a consistent, dull pain.

He thought about Takahashi. He couldn't seem to put it all together, but he knew that Takahashi was as soothing to that ache of loneliness as the cream he applied to Kato's back. Nothing else even came close.

Enough of that, he told himself. He was in a good mood and he needed to gather his stuff and head to afternoon class.

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Kato enjoyed history to a certain extent. It was interesting learning how and why things became the way they were. This class for this quarter was focusing on the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, which was as part of the Third Indochina War. The instructor, Father John, gave a long lecture on Democratic Kampuchea (1976-1979) and Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge (KR). He was saddened to learn of the death of millions of Cambodian people through forced labor and genocide caused by the very hand of the leader of the people.

-----

Kato walked out of the door, headed to the Sports Complex when Takahashi came from behind. He was carrying a large bag and a smile.

"What's that?" he pointed at the bag.

"Stuff," Takahashi sang.

"For?"

"You."

"Eh?"

Takahashi smiled. "They post the schedule at the Sport's Complex every Sunday afternoon and I got word that you're in my Monday weight-training class."

"Oh, I was wondering about when I would get a schedule."

"Yup."

"Still, the stuff?" Kato pointed at the bag.

"Well," Takahashi continued, "when you show up, they will give you clothing that you will change into."

"Yeah?"