Lesson Learned

I want to go back

She sat up straighter, watching him with interest. "So what are you going to do about it?"

He remained silent for a while, long enough to make her think he either couldn't answer or didn't know-how. "I'm getting sent back to E Class."

Her eyes widened. "That's easier said than done," she replied, frowning. "The Principal isn't just going to transfer you if you ask."

"I know." He gave a deep sigh, looking around where they were sat. "That's why I'll have to force him." He reached into his blazer and slowly half-pulled out a glass trophy—the Principal's trophy. That was meant to be in his office and...

Oh, shit.

"How did you get that?!" she hissed, rushing to shove it back in his jacket, looking around frightfully for any cameras she might have missed, but the place was a dead zone.  "What are you even do—wait..." She looked at him in astonishment. "No way...you can't be serious?"

"If I break it in front of the whole school he'll have to follow the rules and send me to E Class," Takebayashi told her.

"Or he'll murder you," she whispered harshly, but still felt impressed nevertheless. "And what if he just expels you?"

He looked away briefly, unsure. "Well, that's just a risk I'll have to take." His brow creased, staring back at her with a type of conviction she didn't see often. "You know, you don't have to stay here. You can go back as well."

Mitsuko cringed; she wasn't allowed to touch his trophies without getting reprimanded, actually breaking one would be suicide.

"No. I can't." She turned away, feeling her dread growing.

"If it's about Nakamura..."

Did everyone know?!

"It's not just about her," she snapped defensively and then sighed. "Okay, so a lot of it is about her but...I don't know. I sucked at being an assassin."

"So did I," Takebayashi replied, shrugging. "But I'm starting to think a part of that was because I didn't believe I could actually do it."

Mitsuko's brow furrowed, thinking it over. "You really think that?"

"I'm going to try to not compare myself to the others in class all the time." He scratched the back of his neck, smiling. "You should try to. You might enjoy it more this time around."

She grimaced, shifting uncomfortably. "It's different for me. I don't get to go back, I just get sent to a convent school in Switzerland or wherever the hell he feels like sending me."

"There could still be a way to go back," Takebayashi said, frowning. "You can't give up."

She folded her arms around herself. "Yeah, well, the Principal doesn't exactly make it easy."

Takebayashi grimaced. "I'm sorry."

She picked at the grass. "It's not your problem."

"Yeah, but we should be able to support each other." He shrugged awkwardly. "That's why I want to go back..." His brow furrowed, staring down at his feet. "I thought maybe if I got my family's approval I'd be happy, but the only time I ever was, was when I was with E Class. Even if it means my family will ignore me, I still want to go back."

Mitsuko swallowed a lump in her throat, feeling her eyes sting a little. Tearing up fistfuls of the grass. "Then break the trophy and go back while you can."

He was quiet for a moment. "...You know the others can help. You just have to let them."

She took a deep breath, keeping her gaze fixed on her polished black shoes which now had a speck of dirt on them. "This isn't something that can magically be solved by the power of friendship, Takebayashi..."