บท 16: Heading to the afternoon school

The next week, on Monday, Kei went home after school as usual, then, differently from what he usually does, he took an old bag, which was a gift of a Christmas years ago, from the wardrobe, changed into the uniform and made sure to look presentable. The uniform had been delivered a few days before in a very suspicious way. Kei was quietly doing his homework in his room when he saw the curtains slowly opening, a pair of hands with black gloves bringing in a small pack. Kei went near the window to take the pack, tried to see who was there and saw a figure similar to a ninja running on the roofs. "Okeey?" he said with a face that said 'What the heck?!'. Maybe you would be more scared, but don't forget in which house he lived his childhood. Weird things were the norm there. Anyway, back to the present. He left the house after having told his mother that from now on he would see his friends more frequently during the evenings (a small half truth that he would have used to keep her morale up and to avoid to worry her, although I doubt she'll believe it for long. I mean, going out with a bag, a big coat, used to cover the uniform, the same five days every week at the same hour is supposed not to be suspicious? I'd rather ask myself, in which world would nobody feel suspicious towards that). When he found himself in front of a huge old century building, he knew he had arrived. In fact he thought 'Shouldn't this be a museum? Why does nobody say that this should be a national property?' although he knew that surely somebody was pulling the strings, even though he couldn't help but wonder who. A crowd of students in dark blue uniforms was heading there. It seemed they came from the whole Asia, there was somebody European too. Then he noticed a boy with beige hair styled in the back with gel. It was strange, he seemed familiar. Kei decided to come closer to him. Meanwhile he noticed people were strangely avoiding him and whispering, but at the moment he couldn't care less. In fact, the boy just turned a bit to the side and ... it was Alex. With a serious face! Kei was dumbfounded. He approached him and called for him. Alex turned his face towards him, he seemed to open his eyes in surprise but Kei ignored that. "Hi Alex". Alex blinked, then with a formal tone said "Sorry, I fear you've got the wrong person". Kei was so surprised, that he wanted both to laugh and show fear, resulting in a weird expression. "What's the matter?" asked Alex confused, but still with a dignified attitude. "Alex, it's me! Kei!""WhaaAAAT?" said Alex, and a bit of his usual self transpired. Even more gazes reached them, but this time comments could be heard like "That strict guy screamed? Is it gonna snow?" or from people from their school "It's the lunatic! Who is he talking to? A new student?". Kei then said "Lower your voice! What did you do here? What's with this creepy behaviour?". Alex was still speechless. Kei usually had his bangs down, covering both eyes and nose, but now a small, delicate nose was visible, but the most striking thing were his eyes, with golden eyelashes and emerald irises more brilliant than gems. All that with his milky skin, red, now smooth hair and a bit aloof attitude, made him kinda unapproachable. Alex then came back to his senses, still thinking 'Maybe he really is a Kishimoto, his looks probably beat his sister's', and slowly said "This is just how I behave here. If the chairman of this school tells my parents I behave badly, it'll bring grandpa more trouble". Then Kei said "No, I think that the chairman won't exactly say you behave in a good way. You have zero friends from what I can see""My parents said that school is a place to learn, so I have to talk only if called out, I have to keep my back straight, gaze high and I have to be expressionless and I have to take care of all the possible disturbances to the lessons within a two meter radius, like flies, without making noise and""Ok, Alex, slow down. First, your parents look like maniacs, second, you have to make a good impression in front of the chairman, not directly to your parents, so those teachings are too extreme. Rather, did anybody accuse your parents of child abuse? I think, if it hasn't happened, it won't take too much time". "Aren't you being a bit harsh?""No, trust me""Are you going to report them?!""What, no! You're here now, and besides you didn't even say you wanted to report them. If there's anybody who should do it, it is not a person who has nothing to do with the problem, but the victim itself! They should let everyone hear what's being hidden! The dark side of this world!"."Thanks" said Alex with a lifeless tone, having understood that the friend was just covering up the fact he was too lazy to do it. "Anyway, your attitude is creepy, Alex, so, please, I don't mean to behave like at school, because your reputation would definitely go down the cliff, but at least chat during breaks, show a bit more your emotions and don't do weird things like hunting flies. That should improve how others see you a bit, and the chairman will probably say that you are behaving well""Oh, OK, I'll try". And so the bell rang and they directed to their classroom.