Chapter 8: Short Legs, Slow Walk
“Go, Kyoko!”
“Don’t let the girls win!”
“Shoot! Goal!”
“Yay!”
“Go, go, go!” Bubbles cheered from the sidelines.
On the makeshift soccer field, a group of children were engaged in a spirited, if somewhat chaotic, match.
It wasn’t a proper game, not with their limited numbers and varying ages. Some of the younger children were relegated to cheering from the sidelines.
They had agreed on a few basic rules: one point for each goal. As for the rest…
“Kosan, you’re the goalie! What are you doing all the way over there?”
“Never mind that! I won’t let you hog all the glory, Kyoko!”
Kosan sprinted across the field, shouting at the top of her lungs. Distracted, she tripped over her own feet and landed face-first on the ground.
“Now’s my chance!”
A boy with tanned skin and a bright smile seized the opportunity, dribbling the ball with impressive speed.
This point is mine! He thought, his competitive spirit burning. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him as he pushed himself harder.
Faster! Faster! Faster!
He had never run this fast before. The unguarded goal was within reach!
“Not so fast!”
The sound of a certain girl’s voice made him falter.
“He’s open!”
Kyoko didn’t hesitate. Taking advantage of the boy’s momentary lapse in concentration, she slid tackled the ball, sending it flying in the opposite direction.
“Hee hee, it’s mine now!”
Cheers erupted from the sidelines as Kyoko regained control of the ball.
She glanced down at her opponent, surprised to see that he wasn’t upset. Instead, he flashed her a good-natured grin.
“Nice one, Kyoko. You’re too good.”
“Well, of course I am.”
“You’ll have to try harder than that to beat me, Yo.” Despite her confident words, Kyoko’s heart skipped a beat.
‘Was that too mean?’ she wondered. ‘Should I be nicer next time? But I’ve always been like this with Yo. What if he thinks I’m weird for acting differently all of a sudden?’
Her thoughts in turmoil, Kyoko glared at the boy’s cheerful face, a strange mix of annoyance and something else bubbling within her.
“Come on, team! Let’s score another goal!”
“Yeah!”
Fueled by a strange cocktail of emotions, Kyoko charged back into the game.
…………………………………………………………
“One more, please!”
Kyoko held out her empty bowl at the cafeteria window.
“…” The burly man behind the counter silently refilled it.
“Kyo- Kyoko…”
“What is it, Bubbles?” Kyoko mumbled through a mouthful of rice.
“Isn’t that a bit too much? You just finished a whole bowl!” Bubbles stared at her in awe. She had struggled to finish even half of her own portion.
“I’m a growing girl! I need my energy.”
Kyoko picked up a piece of pickled radish and popped it into her mouth, chasing it down with a spoonful of rice. “Man, I wish we had some meat.”
She eyed the meager offerings on the table: pickled radish, boiled cabbage… “It’s almost the end of the month,” she said wistfully. “We’ll have something good to eat then.”
“Something good?” Bubbles looked at her curiously.
“Yeah, something good.”
Kyoko didn’t elaborate, focusing on finishing her lunch.
A few minutes later, she was back at the window. “Excuse me, sir, one more!”
Meanwhile, at the school gates, Eve greeted the burly man with a smile. “Heading out, Captain Araki?”
“Yes, Ms. Eve. A bit earlier than usual today.” Araki smiled back, a rare sight. “I hear the new student arrived. Planning a little welcome party?”
“Indeed.” Araki pulled out a logbook. “If you’ll just sign the entry and exit log, Ms. Eve. You understand, it’s protocol.”
“Of course, Captain. You’re too kind.”
Watching the woman before him, Araki couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect.
Ms. Eve was a remarkable woman. It took a special kind of person to persevere in this line of work.
No fancy clothes, no close friends, no loving partner.
Bland food, meager rations.
Basic accommodation, devoid of any luxury.
The pay wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t exactly enticing either.
And most importantly, their freedom was severely restricted. One outing per month, five hours maximum.
Teachers came and went, many leaving within a month, unable to handle the isolation and pressure.
But Ms. Eve? She had been here for five years. Five long years.
‘How many five years does a person have?’
That was why he and his men often turned a blind eye to her little transgressions.
Like her monthly grocery runs to supplement the children’s diet.
Like the extra snacks she always seemed to have tucked away in her pockets.
Araki felt himself becoming softer, more lenient, ever since Ms. Eve had arrived.
By the book, he should have confiscated the bag of snacks Bubbles had brought with her.
‘I’m getting old,’ he thought wryly, his expression returning to its usual stoicism.
He scrutinized the logbook, ensuring everything was in order before looking up at Eve. “Remember, Ms. Eve, you have five hours. Please return to the premises on time.”
“Of course, Captain. See you later.”
Eve waved goodbye and hurried off, her mind already buzzing with dinner plans.
She didn’t see the salute.
“Salute!”
The moment she was out of sight, Captain Araki and the other guards snapped to attention, their hands raised in a silent gesture of respect.
………………………………………………………………………..
“Dinner time! Food waits for no one!”
The moment the bell rang, a certain ravenous girl bolted towards the cafeteria.
“One serving of rice, please. And make it a big one!”
A heaping bowl of steaming rice appeared before her. As Kyoko reached for it, a small plate of braised pork materialized beside it.
“Huh?”
She blinked, then noticed Ms. Eve peering at her from behind the counter, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“M-Ms. Eve?”
“Don’t block the other students, Kyoko.”
“Oh, right! Sorry!”
Kyoko scurried back to her table, her face beaming. “Bubbles, come on! We’ve got something good tonight!”
“Coming!”
Short legs, slow walk. Bubbles, as always, was the last to arrive.
She finally reached the front of the line, collected her food, and turned to leave.
“Bubbles!” Ms. Eve called out.
“Yes, Ms. Eve?”
“This is a special reward for being such a good girl.” Eve handed her a piece of milk candy, winking conspiratorially.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Bubbles stared at her, then broke into a wide grin.
“Okay!”
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