First period was math, second was social studies, and then in third period we had the lesson about happiness that Hitomi-sensei had mentioned to me. I wanted to proudly announce that I’d known about it since yesterday, but I had been sworn to secrecy. I mentioned neither the lesson nor the chocolate.
The fifty-minute class passed quickly, reading the story in our textbook and thinking about the main character’s feelings. There was no time to think about happiness. Then Hitomi-sensei announced that fourth period would be an extension of the third. I very much approved of this idea, and thought that fifty minutes was not nearly enough.
In fourth period, we had to come up with various notions of happiness. We were split into pairs, and had to exchange what we thought of as our own happiness.
I was paired with my neighbor, Kiriyuu-kun. Kiriyuu was rarely one to talk unprompted, so I had to lead the conversation.
“Yesterday, I was eating a cookie with ice cream on top. I felt happy then.”
“Huh.”
“Did you have anything like that?”
“Well, umm, the ohagi that my grandma made were really good.”
“Sweets that grandmas make are always super tasty!”
“Yeah. I like the ones my mom makes too, though. They’re different from Grandma’s.”
“Your mom makes sweets too? That’s nice. My mom doesn’t get home until nighttime.”
The two of us continued discussing like this, jotting things down in our notebooks. We were on task, and when Hitomi-sensei made the rounds to check in she gave us praise, but there was one thing that still bothered me. No matter how much we discussed the topic, even when I mentioned books, Kiriyuu-kun never said anything about drawing. I thought this was strange, so I asked.
“Aren’t you happy when you’re drawing?”
“Uh, m-maybe? I…do like it.”
“Then that’s one thing that makes you happy.”
“B-but whenever I d-draw…people make fun of me…”
“That doesn’t matter!”
My voice was louder than I intended. Kiriyuu-kun seemed shocked, but so did everyone else in the room. I was surprised at myself, too.
“Sorry, I just got excited!” I told Hitomi-sensei, who was looking my way.
“Try not to startle everyone,” she replied gently, and although everyone was muttering, calm returned.
I turned back to Kiriyuu. “Stuff like that doesn’t matter.”
I jotted down “drawing wonderful pictures” on my page. Kiriyuu-kun hung his head, silent.
As fourth period ended and lunch subsequently wrapped up, I spent the rest of my midday break in the library. It was noisier now than it was in the morning, but it was still quieter than the classroom, and I was able to bury myself in the adventures of Homeless Huck.
After break was clean-up time, so when the bell rang, I returned to the classroom and grabbed a broom. Kiriyuu-kun, being in the same group, had also returned ahead of time to start cleaning.
As we diligently cleaned the room, that idiot boy from before returned from the gymnasium, spouting some stupid nonsense.
“You two are super creepy, always drawin’ your pictures and readin’ all those books.”
“The only creepy thing here is your face,” I replied dutifully. “Did you know that?”
I flashed a look at Kiriyuu to see if he would reply as well, but naturally he did not.
Fifth and sixth period ended. As it came time for afternoon announcements, I let out a sigh of relief, releasing all the anticipation I had been holding in. We gave our farewells to Hitomi-sensei, and then it was over…or so I thought. But there was still one important announcement for us.
“The week after next we’ll be having a class visit. All of your mothers and fathers have already been informed about this, but this will be an important chance for them to see what you’re normally like at school, so make sure you give them handout I’m passing around, okay? Please promise me that, everyone.”
“Yes, ma’am,” we chorused, passing the handouts back from the front row.
I read the contents of the sheet, then happily slipped it into my bag. I loved these observation days. It was a chance for my mother and father to see just how clever I was.
Without being called to stay behind today, I went home alone as I usually did. I put my backpack in my room as always, and started to head back out when I remembered something important. I returned to my room and pulled out the handout, placing it on the living room table before I set out again.
Outside the building, as always, my bob-tailed friend was waiting for me.
“Meow!” she cried in greeting.
We both set out towards the great rolling river. As we climbed the bank, a breeze blew pleasantly through my hair and rippled across her short tail. Feeling wonderful, we both began to sing. Before long, our voices still ringing, we arrived at the cream-colored apartment building, where we stood at the usual door and rang the bell. The first time, we heard nothing. The door did not open the second time, either. Miss Bobtail mewled at my feet as I rang a third time, but no reply came.
“I guess she must be out today.”
“Meow.”
Skank-san was a busy woman, so she was frequently out of the house. Letting the wind wash away our disappointment, we gave up and decided to return by a different path. Obviously, we weren’t going home yet. We had a usual appointment after Skank-san’s place.
We walked along while singing, passing between houses both big and small. Soon we passed by the building where I lived, before heading along the usual path to the hills that rose behind it. I greeted the locals we passed along the way, but my standoffish friend merely waved her tail back and forth, coolly averting her gaze.