(no subject)

[harmonizemods.insanejournal.com]

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.

Comments

Hall/reactions

[harmonizemods.insanejournal.com]

 

Re: Hall/reactions

[burningbow.insanejournal.com]

The doors opened and Mirai was spat out amongst the middle of the student crowd.

There, in that image, was the belief he held about the lecture. A belief that if he shared it would cause at least some annoyance to the principal, ministers and teachers, simply because they were hopeful for him [and others] to be the greatest example they had. So they spoke about unity and harmonisation, hoping one of them would take inspiration from the words and spread that amongst their peers.

"That's the way I like it", "It was a good speech", "Kocho-Sensei must read history or something," he said to the nearest people.

Re: Hall/reactions

[phantomcloud.insanejournal.com]

What Miyume thought or how felt about the lecture weren't clearly evident. Judging from her blank response, it seemed entirely possible that it hadn't affected her at all.

She listened politely to the older boy's compliments on the speech, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment to each statement.

Re: Hall/reactions

[burningbow.insanejournal.com]

As the girl nodded along, Mirai nearly threw in a contrary statement. A sharp shock would throw the lamb amongst the wolves quite nicely. He hoped to loosen ties a little and overindulge himself in the game. He hoped to steal himself an audience. He stared down at the younger student as the crowd pushed them along -

There, in the girl's secrecy, he saw the likely failure of his approach. Suppose he wriggled in a different way into her affections, would that give him the same satisfaction? He tipped his head back and his eyes stared down at her as a hand came to run through the hair dangling in front of him.

"And what do you think of his desire for you? Will you be a link in society's chain of loyalty and harmony?"

Re: Hall/reactions

[phantomcloud.insanejournal.com]

"We're already linked for better or worse," Miyume said without meeting his gaze. "There's nothing else to think about."

She bowed her head, giving a little mysterious smile. Whether it was for the older boy's benefit or for her own remained unknown.

Re: Hall/reactions

[burningbow.insanejournal.com]

"If you shake the chain it rattles, kouhai," Mirai said, countering a few seconds after. "I am sure some people will allow evil to rule them and take advantage of the situation. Really, everyone always has things they're thinking about."

Re: Hall/reactions

[phantomcloud.insanejournal.com]

"All the better to ensure it's forged strong." A soft, girlish giggle and a sweet smile.

"Are there things you're always thinking about, senpai?"

Miyume tilted her head to look at him curiously.

Homeroom: 1-ro

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

"Good morning! I'm Kiwanami, and I'll be your teacher for literature as well as homeroom. I hope we'll have a wonderful year together."

The woman was small and mousy, with a bland voice and an utterly forgettable face. But she skimmed down the list of students, and looked across the classroom, her eyes came to an abrupt halt on one name--and one person--in particular.

Granted, that was probably not unusual for Chloe. But the way the woman's eyes hardened, and the way she tried and utterly failed to cover it up with a smile, were utterly incongruent with her overall mildness.

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[fassade.insanejournal.com]

The look she received was not unexpected. The moment the teacher met her gaze and she saw those eyes betray her actual thoughts, Chloe almost wanted to smile. After all that talk during the opening ceremony of 'extending your benevolence to all', it was quite clear to her that she didn't fall into the 'all' category.

Instead of looking down or away like she usually would, Chloe instead steeled her gaze and looked her homeroom teacher in the eye. They said that your eyes were a window into one's soul, and if that were true, she hoped that this teacher saw even a glimpse of the fury that she kept hidden away. The German hoped that this Kiwanami saw just how unafraid of her she really was.

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

For a moment--just a moment--there was a flicker of fear.

But the look that followed was almost worse than the first. For she meant the smile now, the corners of her lips lifting that little bit more, and her eyes narrowed. Just try it, it seemed to say. Come at me.

And then it was gone, and Kiwanami clapped her hands together, the sound sharp in the silence that had momentarily settled. "Now, let's do some self-introductions so we can all get properly acquainted! You're first alphabetically, Miss Abendroth--" the name was mangled, Japanese-fied beyond all recognition "--so why don't you start?"

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[fassade.insanejournal.com]

That flicker was all Chloe needed. That millisecond of fear was enough to make the corner of her mouth twitch, almost as if she were trying to smile. If she was going to be stuck with this woman for the remainder of the year, she might as well make the most of it.

The German stood when called upon, standing at her full height and squaring her shoulders. She bowed as was the Japanese tradition, and when she spoke, her voice was in an even tone.

"I am Chloe Abendroth. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am from Germany, and I specialize in piano. I look forward to this year with all of you."

She then nodded, and silently sat back down in her seat. That was probably going to be the longest bit of dialogue she spoke all year. On top of that, she spoke in fluent Japanese with only a very slight hint of an accent. It was surprising how convincing she made that introduction sound even though most of it was a lie; it was not a pleasure to meet them, and she was not looking forward to this year at all. Yet none of that registered on her emotionless face. Instead, she looked calmly at the teacher, waiting for her to call on the next student.

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[phantomcloud]

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.

Re: Homeroom: 1-ro

[harmonizefaculty]

"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."

Homeroom: 2-ni

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

"Hello, everyone. Ah, my name is Sawatari."

It was clear that the woman had never stood at the front of a classroom before, but there she was, quickly jotting her name down on the markerboard. Amazingly, despite the simplicity of the characters, they were nearly illegible.

"I'll be teaching you biology this year as well. It's a pleasure to meet you all." She spoke softly and formally, ending the short self-introduction with a long bow.

"Now, why don't you all introduce yourselves?"

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[allisnothing.insanejournal.com]

Haruka sat near the front of the door, her cane folded neatly and in her bag and out of the way. She heard a few whispers and could almost feel the occasional looks in her direction but she knew the novelty would wear off eventually.

Just not now, when it was her turn to introduce herself.

She stood and turned slightly before she bowed a little.

"Hi. My name is Haruka Shikata. I specialize in drama. Nice to meet you all."

She promptly sat down and went back to noting where it sounded like people were situated when they introduced themselves.

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[waterholdmedown.insanejournal.com]

The blind girl was actually more on the ball than Shizuru, who took a couple of rather hard nudges to awaken. When awaken she finally did, she rose smoothly but drowsily from her chair, ignoring the strange looks and scowls that were directed her way.

"Kasubata Shizuru. From Tokyo. Nice to meet you."

That was it, and back down she went, with even Sawatari looking a little bewildered

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[allisnothing]

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.

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[harmonizenpc]

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."

Re: Homeroom: 2-ni

[waterholdmedown]

"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.

Homeroom: 3-ro

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

"Remarkable. Really remarkable."

Meanwhile, Katsura, the ethics teacher who was leading 3-ro, had already wrapped up his own introduction, perhaps a bit too hastily, and was already absorbed in discussing Yosehira's address.

"It's good to know we have someone in charge who sees where the power in our country should really lie, right? Quoting the Rescript and all--that was a bold move right there."

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[burningbow.insanejournal.com]

Mirai assumed Katsura-sensei was daydreaming about the position he would one day take over. He stared ruminatively back at his teacher. To his eyes the man seemed trapped in his position and unable to have options that would let him say something different.

He, however, was not afraid to hide his confidence and raised his arm.

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[heirofkobe.insanejournal.com]

Suddenly, Taue was glad he'd chosen a seat in the back of the room. It made it harder for anyone to see his linefacing, for there was extensive linefacing going on indeed.

"When'd this place become a military academy," he asked the person next to him, who simply shrugged -- not wanting to draw Katsura's ire, apparently.

Sighing, Taue slumped back in his seat. He'd come here for the opportunities it provided -- and to help his family get off the front pages for negative reasons. This was yet another reminder, though, that the government of Japan hadn't just benevolently decided to set Chitoku up. It had an agenda -- not that he could blame them for having one.

He just didn't expect to enjoy it much.

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

"I heard that, Taue. Your family won't be getting you anywhere here, so cut the backtalk," Katsura snapped, before turning his attention to the more polite of the two. "Imaizumi-kun."

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[burningbow.insanejournal.com]

"Everyone should take inspiration from the Rescript, of course," like Taue, "but the Fundamental Law on Education has no provision for moral education." Mirai looked down at his desk, a little confused. "Isn't the Rescript a moral statement lacking the power of law? The two are quite different."

He paused for some time, wondering how to make his next point - but seemed to be enjoying the debating when he gestured his hands a little. "And if we are to be an educated elite, surely a blind oath in loyalty is counter-intuitive to the Rescript's call to develop intellectual facility."

Mirai had referred to the unspoken portion of the Rescript that the principal had not dared to speak - the call to defend the state and the emperor with their lives.

Re: Homeroom: 3-ro

[harmonizenpc.insanejournal.com]

"It's a symbolic act, Imaizumi. The Rescript was banned out of submission to and fear of the West. To speak it here is to tell the world that our country is beginning to stand on its own. As for the lack of moral education, the Diet may be fixing that regrettable lapse soon. But, obviously, it doesn't need to be required to be offered. And that's why I'm here."

Katsura lifted his eyebrows slightly and leaned back in his chair, hands linked behind his head. "But I'm surprised at you, Imaizumi. Loyalty and intelligence aren't mutually exclusive. If it hasn't sunk in that the rights and privileges you enjoy come with responsibilities to your society and nation, then we've failed somewhere along the way."