Linked Paths

Arc I - Closer to You [Chapter 1: If I were You, or am I?]

I try to grin, but my facial muscles don’t really want to.

Laha: “Look, who knows, maybe tomorrow this nightmare is already over.”

A small nod, “Yes, you’re right.”

As we continue eating breakfast and further thematize the precarious situation, we are shocked to realize that we have worryingly little time left before the first lesson begins. After we finish, we rush to the classroom and arrive at the door in a hurry at the same time as Aizawa-sensei, well, and that’s saying something. In the contrary to us, he looks as if he has all time of the world. He doesn’t speak, just gives us an all-telling look, opens the door and motions for us to enter. Luckily, he’s got rid of his habit with the yellow sleeping bag by now, that was scary.

Most of my classmates immediately look at our small group entering the room, apparently already smelling the cheese. On Mondays, first lesson, we have our regular economics class with Tendo-sensei. So, it’s no wonder that Aizawa-sensei’s presence is suspicious. My heart slips somewhere else and my temples suddenly throb like hell. Additionally, my stomach feels like it’s punching itself. This is going to be fun...I wonder what the people would think if I suddenly fled, screaming like a lunatic?

My dignity trumps my panic, and I manage to move to my seat, albeit robot-like. Tendo-sensei seems to have already been informed, because she is standing some distance away from the podium, arms folded and waiting, unimpressed.

W-wait a minute! MY seat?! Damn! Should I have gone to Kacchan’s? I glance furtively around; my classmates almost universally visibly confused at my behavior. As I blush hard and my insides get more and more knotted up, Kacchan strolls over to his seat. My eyes follow him. I can imagine, some other mates doing the same now. His posture, his movements, even his aura, everything literally speaks of Kacchan. I realize once again at this moment how unnatural and unsettling this is in connection with my body. Anyway, why does he seem so relaxed? How does he do that? Can I please have some of his relaxation, at least a little bit?

These thoughts are interrupted by Aizawa-sensei clearing his throat loudly. As soon as he has the most attention on him, he begins his ‘speech’. His words fill me with relief. On the one hand, the fact that he describes the situation to everyone in full means that I’M spared to explain everything to everyone at length by myself. On the other hand, he takes the situation seriously, announcing severe penalties if anyone leaks information to people outside the class without authorization.

The reactions to the reveal of the body swap differ, as it would naturally. In most cases I can see it in their faces: surprise, sympathy, pity. I would have expected at least one or two specific people to make a sarcastic comment to lighten the situation, but even they behave seriously.

What I want to know most is how things are going with my small but very close circle of friends. My gaze first wanders to Reki, who is sitting closest to me. When we make eye contact, he forms silent words with his mouth, and I can clearly make out an emotional “What!?”. He’s visibly shocked. I just look very depressed and move on to Shin. He’s sitting at the far end of the room. His eyes have probably been on me for a while to analyze whether this isn’t a bad joke. His examination just comes to a conclusion. And his huge grin, revealing a shark-like dentition, appears. If I wouldn’t know him and his mannerisms so well, I’d think he was making fun of me, would jump up angrily and confront him. But the massage behind is completely different. I know he’s very nervous and most likely wondering how he should handle this. Finally, Laha, who already knows. Just a few heartbeats later, he turns his gaze to me too. That’s bestie’s presentiment for you, I guess. Laha first gives me a confident nod, then gifts me with a caring smile. I would love to bearhug him right now.