http://harmonizemods.insanejournal.com/ ([identity profile] harmonizemods.insanejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] harmonize_rpg2013-08-10 11:03 am

(no subject)

Who: Students, teachers, officials, various members of the press.
Where: Chitoku campus, meeting hall, then classrooms.
When: Tuesday, April 5, the first day of spring term.
What: Introduction and classes.


Like so many other things on the campus, Chitoku's main meeting hall was impressively huge, clearly able to hold more than the nearly thousand students, faculty, and press assembled within.

Perhaps even stranger than this was the fact that it was two stories underground.

Of course, there was an explanation ready: it doubled as an emergency evacuation site in case of an earthquake--or worse. While it satisfied the inevitable questions from the press, it likely didn't make the situation feel any less strange to the students who had--by and large--neatly filed in and taken their seats. Homeroom assignments had already been given, so with the students, teachers, press, and attending officials in their respective places, it was just a matter of waiting for the man of the hour--or at least the next fifteen minutes.

Principal Yosehira Norihiko was a distinguished gentleman, tall and trim and already going grey at the temples in his late forties. He took the podium once the initial murmuring had faded, and regarded the assembled crowd with a sort of general benevolence, in sharp contrast to the stern-looking Ministry of Education officials with whom he shared the stage.

"I would like to welcome you all to Chitoku Academy for the Gifted," he began. "This day is the culmination of years of tireless effort by the best our nation has to offer. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this project--it will surely be an essential cornerstone of the new Japan we are all striving to build."

He turned his eyes on the sea of uniformed students, seated in careful rows on benches behind the VIPs. "It is my hope that you, our pupils, will learn from their example, and teach those who will come after you in turn, to create a chain of loyalty and harmony between the greatest minds of each generation.

"In the wise words of Emperor Meiji: 'bear yourselves in modesty and moderation; extend your benevolence to all; pursue learning and cultivate arts, and thereby develop intellectual faculties and perfect moral powers'." The quote from the Imperial Rescript on Education had certainly not been used in such a high-profile setting since its abolition after the war, and hearing it resound through the hall now set many astir.

"That was his wish to his subjects, and that is ours to you now: to live up to the name of your school by cultivating both learning and virtue, and to become credits to your nation." And with a long bow, he ended his remarks and left the stage, allowing those better trained than he to deal with the press to take their questions.
allisnothing: (....I have no words)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-16 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
Haruka turned her head in Kasubata's direction and tilted her head curiously before the introductions continued.

Sniff.

Huh. That sound was becoming a bit more common from Haruka-

Oh dear. Her throat had been starting to feel more dry this morning.

She dug through her bag, looking for a tissue and gently blew her nose, ignoring how her neighbors leaned away.
Edited 2013-08-16 07:58 (UTC)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] harmonizenpc 2013-08-17 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
The sound, soft though Haruka had tried to make it, drew Sawatari's attention away from the student currently doing her self-introduction, and drew a few glares from others around her as well at the discourtesy. Hoping to defuse the tension, the teacher cleared her throat lightly, looking entirely too nervous for someone who was theoretically in charge of the classroom.

"Ah, Shikata-san, are you feeling all right? Perhaps you should visit the nurse... Oh, I suppose you might need someone to guide you, since this is the first day." Her eyes cast about the room and settled on Shizuru, who had settled back into a gentle doze near the back of the room.

"Kasubata-san." Her voice was surprisingly sharp, and successfully jerked Shizuru out of her slumber. "Could you take Shikata-san to the nurse's office? The signs should be enough to get you there."
heirofkobe: (blahblahnorthkorea)

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[personal profile] heirofkobe 2013-08-17 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Taue offered his new instructor a simple roll of the eyes. From his seat in the back of the class, this already appeared to be a...spectacular new semester. What was it about always having a terrible homeroom professor, no matter where he went? He momentarily felt like a character in some third-rate manga, before realizing that no, this was reality. Boring, mundane reality.

Unlike Mirai, he had no desire to argue with the enthusiastic teacher on day one. Instead, he simply looked at the board every few moments (and at a few attractive co-eds, which provided far more entertainment than the lecture on the Rescript ever could.)

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[personal profile] harmonizenpc 2013-08-18 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Katsura seemed appeased by this explanation. "Then I'll look forward to some lively debates this year." Perhaps 'energized' was a better word. "Ethics require constant testing and questioning to be in any way meaningful. Blind loyalty is worthless, and I won't tolerate it from any of you. Your minds will be on in my class at all times."

This was, it seemed, going to be a long semester for a large chunk of the class.
waterholdmedown: (Low attention span.)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-18 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh. Sure."

Shizuru was back out of her chair, sleepily scratching the back of her head. She wasn't ungrateful for the chance to get out of the classroom, but it had taken her a bit by surprise.
allisnothing: (half-lidded)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-18 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
"It's just a cold," Haruka said in response to Sawatari's question, but stood anyway. It seemed like things had already been decided anyway. She picked up her bag and pulled out her folded up cane before turning her head in the direction she'd heard Kasubata. She nodded her head, politely.

"Please take care of me I guess?"
waterholdmedown: (Default)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-18 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, she was blind, all right. That explained a few things--not everything, but at least a bit.

Shizuru opened the door for Haruka, keeping it open just long enough for her to get through. "It's downstairs. First floor. Elevator or stairs?"
phantomcloud: (tenderness; warmth)

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[personal profile] phantomcloud 2013-08-18 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
The silent exchange between Kiwanami and Chloe didn't go unnoticed by Miyume. The look on the teacher's face made her remember with shame her own initial reaction to her new neighbor. She had stared, too, after all. She hoped she hadn't come across quite so disdainfully.

Miyume tried to catch Chloe's gaze and gave the other girl a sympathetic and encouraging smile while she waited for her turn.
harmonizefaculty: (Kiwanami-sensei: year 1 literature)

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[personal profile] harmonizefaculty 2013-08-18 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Your Japanese is very impressive, Misu Abendorosu. I barely noticed your accent!"

Some snickered at the comment, some showed no reaction, and a few were quietly awkward--but it was clear that no one in the room would be coming to Chloe's defense. "Now, shall we move on? Hazama-san, I believe you're next."
phantomcloud: (closeness; hug)

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[personal profile] phantomcloud 2013-08-19 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Miyume flinched a little at the teacher's comment as if she'd been the one it had been directed to instead of Chloe. Her expression darkened at the snickers and all traces of the kindness and warmth began to fade rapidly. For a second, she seemed almost like she might cry.

When Kiwanami called on her, she stood up slowly and calmly, hands clasped demurely in front of her.

"My name is Hazama Miyume," she began in a sweet, cloying tone that seemed to coil slowly through the classroom like an invisible serpent. "I come from Tokyo. I specialize in creative writing and I like to write stories a lot! It's nice to meet you all."

She glanced shyly at Chloe, smiled, and gave a cute little bow to the class that would put an idol to shame. Then she sat back down.
allisnothing: (patient)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-19 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Haruka waited a moment longer at the door, listening to hear if the door swung back or was being held open, before she went through. She took leading steps in the direction of the stairs before replying, matter-of-fact,

"Stairs. It takes longer to get to the nurse's that way."
waterholdmedown: (impressed)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-19 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
This got an appreciative look from Shizuru, accompanied only by a soft sound that was difficult to read. "A'right."

Her long lope brought her up next to Haruka, at which point she slowed up to a more leisurely pace. "Do a loop around the floor?"
allisnothing: (turn/shrug)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-19 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Haruka seemed to think on it, her head turned upwards before she nodded with a shrug.

"Sure, why not? I'm not in a hurry to head back to class. You?"

She sniffled again and took a few more breathes to try clearing her nose. The air was less stuffy than in the classroom at least.
waterholdmedown: (Y'know?)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-19 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Nah. Bet we're not missing much." Shizuru shrugged as well. "Got plenty of excuses if we're caught. Plus they'll prob'ly let you get away with more."

She dropped the line as if it were nothing. To her, it likely was.
allisnothing: (face shot? what face shot?)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-19 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Haruka's stride nearly stopped for a moment.

However, she kept going. Another shrug. "Yeah. Poor, innocent moe blind girl, doesn't know any better. How was she supposed to know she was in the wrong direction? 'Save me, from my evil classmate please'?"

Haruka felt the general spot she remembered the stair railing being and found it on the third try. "But if I was really moe I'd be big wide eyes I think? And a higher pitched voice. And I'd be clutzy enough for the bland, nice guy male to come save me when I fall."
Edited 2013-08-19 02:15 (UTC)
waterholdmedown: (Y'know?)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-19 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Little different from normal moe."

Shizuru headed down on the opposite site of the stairs, stepping aside at one point to let a worried-looking junior-high kid zoom by. "Works on more people. Normal moe's more an otaku thing."
Edited 2013-08-19 18:22 (UTC)
allisnothing: (I don't see black)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-19 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Huh. Really?" Haruka tilted her head. "Interesting." She suddenly smiled, looking entirely wicked and the envy of super villains everywhere as she continued, "If I really wanted to then, I could master the art of otaku moe and the art of regular moe, combine them, and create.....SUPER MOE. Ahahahhaha-"
allisnothing: (chill/no karr)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-19 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"-Is what I would say if I wasn't lazy and if I was much more cliche." She looked entirely normal now. Instead, she turned her attention back to Kasubata,

"Are you into that stuff?"
waterholdmedown: (Hm.)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-20 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Me? Nah."

Shizuru shrugged and clasped her hands behind her head as the stairs did a 180 for the second and final flight to the ground floor. "Catch a couple episodes of things here and there. 'S about it. You?"
allisnothing: (turn/shrug)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-20 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I catch a few every season," Haruka replied. She kept a hand on the railing the entire time, read the bumps when she found them. There wasn't much braile around but there was enough for the basics.

"A few radio dramas and drama CDs here or there. Did a trip to a butler and maid cafe once too. Was interesting but a bit creepy."
waterholdmedown: (Lemme think...)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-20 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, those. Been a couple times. Kinda fun if you're in the right mood." She tilted her head back, recalling the experiences.

"Kinda like Akiba. Fun to visit sometimes, kinda sketchy."
allisnothing: (half-lidded)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-21 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh. Haven't really been anywhere cool like that," Haruka replied. "Fukui and Kyoto aren't as exciting as Tokyo, I guess. "

Looking genuinely interested, "What's it like?"
waterholdmedown: (Hm.)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] waterholdmedown 2013-08-22 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Overrated."

To be expected, given her journal posts. "Loud, crowded, expensive. But it's kinda got some kind of..." A vague wave would have covered the pause with a sighted person. "Charm."
allisnothing: (turn/shrug)

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[personal profile] allisnothing 2013-08-22 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Interesting," Haruka said, and she actually sounded like she meant it. "Might be worth being deaf, smushed, and ripped off just to experience the charm once I guess.

"Kyoto's got...lots of old stuff? Lots of other cities' field trips get to go traveling there while we just kind of stuff in and appreciate the local culture, supposedly. Smell nice during blossoming seasons though."
fassade: (Default)

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[personal profile] fassade 2013-08-29 10:25 am (UTC)(link)
Chloe didn't expect anyone to come to her rescue. She wasn't even really aware that she needed rescuing, considering this was a pretty common occurrence. What did surprise her was that someone actually DID come to her rescue, so to speak. It was Miyume, her neighbour that had come to introduce herself the other day. The shy but kind look the demure girl gave her threw her for a loop. If ever she had felt out of her element, it was now. When Miyume looked at her, Chloe's expression was one of slight confusion and... was that a hint of vulnerability?

As fast as it had come, her expression quickly faded back into the stoic mask she wore on a daily basis. The German gave a polite and, dare she say, a somewhat grateful inclination of her head to Miyume as she sat down.

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