Quantum Leap - Vol. 2 Exile Island (formerly Till Death Do Us Part)

C004 Recess

It was about the Emperor of Japan before World War 2 and I was reading where the majestic power rose and the need to 'influence' the neighbouring countries of its culture and teachings. As I read on, I find it hard to digest what I was reading them. I knew a little bit of history and I knew that Japan had a very rich historical background and it would take me years to even digest one. 

It was as though the history books and the contents were altered in such a way to state that World War 2 was not started by the Japanese power but however was instigated by other nations to start the war against Japan instead. What twisted world are we living in, eh? Why must the history books hide the truth? As I read the book, my voice faltered and even drifted inaudibly as I cannot comprehend why the history was altered in this manner. 

Suddenly I realised that the universe that I am in might be a parallel one to the one that I have originated from.

I couldn't care less since I am now in Japan and have no right to provoke its contents and censorship, and as I read on, I found myself suddenly reading it with fervour and full of anticipation that immediately mesmerized the whole class unlike a few minutes ago.

When I ended the narration of the chapters of the history that was instructed by the teacher, the whole classroom suddenly erupted with cheers of "BANZAI...! BANZAI...!! BANZAI...!!!" and I felt like a k******e pilot that had professed what I'm gonna do if I fall behind enemy lines during one of the Pearl Harbor bombing runs. "FUCK...! HOW COME IT ENDED UP BEING 'BANZAI' INSTEAD?!?!" 

I pondered this to myself as the class was somehow awestruck on how I deliver the story to them. Unlike the history teacher, the students would normally slump over their desk as they listened to the monotonous tone which I had mimicked earlier. Until I found that it would be better if I reenact some of the parts, the students might feel that they are part of the history itself.

I closed the history book, bowed to the teacher and returned to my seat. I grabbed the packet of tissue that Kagome was holding underhand and as I touched her hands, she sheepishly withdrew it and held it close to her chest. I wondered if she would be washing her hand thereafter since she was touched by an Angel. Hahaha...!

Throughout the remaining period of the History lesson, I could not affix my attention to what the teacher was saying or even digest what I had read earlier. However to avoid another flight of the intruder... I mean the flight of the chalkboard duster, I remained with my eyes on the teacher up front and stared at him like a zombie with blank thoughts.

The class ended in this way it started 45mins ago as the class stood up and greeted once again, "Thank you, Sensei!" to the teacher as he bowed and then left the classroom. The class turned rowdy once again. I understood that it is important to grab the attention span of the students for not more than 45mins per session and a break of 10 to 15 mins would ensue for the students to freshen up et cetera.

Not bad... I thought to myself and went out of the classroom and made a beeline to the toilet to clean up the rest of my face and also to answer a nature's call.

Upon reaching the toilet, I cannot help myself but look at the mirror that spanned across the whole sink area. I was not too bad looking at all except for the "make up" the history teacher had given me minutes after he stepped into the class.

I pulled off some tissue paper from the pack that was given to me by Kagome and cleaned up my face at the faucet before leaving to relieve myself. Once I had done so, I washed my hands at the faucet and started walking out but was stopped by a burly student that happened to block the toilet entrance as he stormed in.

OH NO..! Is trouble brewing this fast?!?!

"MOVE ASIDE NOW!!!" bellowed the burly student as he stormed inside and his body left no space for me to avoid ramming his head on as he rushed forward. When he raised his arm, in a motion as if he was trying to throw a punch, fear gripped me and I felt that my heart was suddenly at my throat. I was readying my stance and had held one hand before me in a blocking motion while the other was placed above my chest. 

"GODDAMMIT...! THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR TROUBLE...!" I jumped aside and into the nearest cubicle, slammed the door shut and locked myself in, waiting in anticipation of what to come next after I had averted from starting an affray the moment I finished the first lesson in class...!

*BOOM*

Suddenly, I heard the door of the cubicle next to mine slammed shut with such a mighty force. Afterwards, I heard zipping sounds and a heavy thud afterwards. "AARRGGHH...!!!" I heard the voice of the burly student in the next cubicle as if it was some sort of relief. Suddenly the unearthly sounds started to erupt!

"PPRREETT"

"PLOOP"

"PLOOP"

"PLOOP"

"PPRREEEETT...!!!"

The unearthly familiar fart sounds and the smell of some roadkill slowly emanate from the side cubicle as if the owner was holding on to his poop and fart for 45mins during the first lesson.

WHAT THE f**k IS THIS s**t!!! 

I immediately unlocked my cubicle door and stumble out. OH MY GOD...! I was enveloped by darkness as if I am going through another Leap as I staggered out of the bathroom on wobbly legs. If you are there with me, I am sure you gonna end up like me or even throw up your earlier breakfast or yesterday's dinner as well...!

THE f*****g SMELL... OH MY GOD...! Only the Almighty can explain what that fellow had eaten the night before and now was being expelled from his rear end and I was half hoping that there was no toilet paper in that cubicle that he occupies. SERVES HIM RIGHT!!! HAHAHA...!!!

I quickly dashed out of the bathroom and stumbled with the rest of my classmates and they were asking me what was wrong as I was looking rather pale. I can only manage to point at the toilet entrance as I staggered back to class. The rest of the classmates only placed their ears outside the entrance of the toilet and then burst out laughing when they heard someone was actually farting and shitting at the same time. HOW f*****g DISGUSTING!!! 

Can we stop discussing shitting and farting already? Pretty please...

While everyone had returned back to class after freshening up, one of our classmates walked in as if he was the big and burly guy and every step that he made, he muttered the farting sounds using his mouth while looking comical at the same time.

"HOY...! Don't spoil my appetite ok, you BAKA!" I shouted at the boy and everyone looked at me after I had cussed at him. (Baka means stupid). Our classmate just grinned at me and took his seat. His name was Genji who had green hair and green eyes to match. I wondered whether the hair was dyed or he was wearing contacts unlike me which were au naturale.

The first part of the day ended and its now recess time. Those who had placed their bento boxes under their desks began to retrieve them as most of their bento boxes were already opened. It seemed that during some parts of the lesson, the students had retrieved some food stealthily and stuffed themselves. Hahaha...!

It reminded me of the time when I used to sneak a big packet of candies and share them with my peers when I was in elementary school.

The bell rang and everyone picked their bento set from underneath their desk or in their backpack. I picked mine from underneath my desk and headed to where Kagome was sitting. She was reaching for her own bento and judging from the size, she may be a small eater. When she reached for her bento and stood straight up, she saw me in front of her and then a slight blush came over her cheeks again. "Jeez... This girl could blush very easily." I thought to myself as I stood in front of her and am not sure of what I am supposed to do.

"Come on Kagome, let's go and have lunch together as to where you had mentioned earlier. I jingled a coin pouch in front of her and suggested, "The drinks would be on me, alright?" she blushed once again and nodded while replying with a meek "Yes".

We walked together out in the sunshine towards the basketball court. It seems that this was a daily routine for both of us to sit and lunch with her as the bento was usually being prepared by Kagome's mother for the two of us. Or maybe she was the one who prepared it for me out of courtesy. 

I wondered what's the occasion of her being too over-friendly with me and very casual about it too at the same time as well. I have to get to the bottom of this since I need to find out more about this character whom I had exchanged body with and I had not much of an idea of what I should be doing right after school.

"Kenzo-sama, here you go. These chopsticks are for you..." She handed me a pair of disposable chopsticks. I reached for it and brushed my hands on hers once again and she immediately retracted her hands and looked down on it. "Eh, sorry. Not purposely." I nonchalantly told her as I noticed her embarrassment. "It's alright, things happen not purposely at times" she replied in a shyful manner.

I took the disposable chopsticks from her and spilt it apart. I avoided being rude in the Japanese culture when one rubs the chopstick together to get rid of its splinters and burrs, so I just let it be in my hands. I then placed the bento that she had given me earlier in front of me and waited for her to open her bento first.

I took a chance in playing my part as the Kenzo that she had known before so I took the opportunity to take a piece of sushi with my chopsticks and handed it to her near her mouth. She looked up at me sheepishly, locking my eyes in her gaze as she finally opened her dainty lips apart and took the whole piece of sushi in her mouth like a gobbling goldfish. She covered part of her face with her hands as she chews the food that I had fed her.

"Chew your food slowly, Kagome. Would you like me to get you any specific drinks?" I asked and since her mouth was full of food, she managed to answer my question by using her eyes as she blinked them as if to say 'anything would do'. Before I left the table, I stuffed a few pieces from the bento box down in my mouth as I took my coin purse and headed to the vending machine.

Alright, let me get some things straight first. Japanese schools do not have a canteen like their western counterparts. Japanese students normally brought their own lunch boxes for their meals prepared by themselves or their parents. Although it's a majority practice, however, canteens now do have some vendors selling light food such as takoyaki, mini burgers or even sushi sets. 

Previously they do not such amenities but due to the demands and requests of most of the working parents who were unable to prepare such bento sets for their children to school, these practices were being carried forward instead and were implemented in most schools around Japan to assist those working parents. 

I dropped a few coins inside the drinks vending machine and chose chilled green tea for myself and honeydew milk for Kagome. Well, I guess these Japanese girls would surely love those weird tasting milk with added fruits inside them. There was an assortment of them including watermelon with milk, peach with milk and also papaya with milk.

As for me, I know that I am very much lactose intolerant and even in the body of Kenzo, it would not be advisable to take the risk at all or I would end up like the burly kid next to my cubicle earlier. 

Upon reaching back at the table, I inserted the straw of the packet drink and handed it to Kagome who was eyeing me since I had left the table to fetch her some drinks. I wondered what was in her mind during that time and asking some weird and questions at the wrong time might expose that the current Kenzo she was acquainted with might have gone bonkers and had gone around to ask those everyday questions that Kenzo had already been familiar with.

So it would be best to shut the hell up for the moment and see what Kagome had to ask since I would try to initiate her to ask first.