Walking Forwards (tentative title)
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 6:46 pm
This is a story I started on a while ago, but I put it on hold after an issue cropped up and then I decided to continue working on it after I thought that the issue wasn't that much of an issue.
I decided to go for a downtrodden personality (if I've gotten the wording correct) this time.
Some of this chapter might not have any basis in reality, but it should only be in this chapter.
Now all that is done with, it's time for the first chapter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Beginnings
I looked out of the window of the taxi watching the scenery pass me by.
After everything I've been through, this trip to my new school is the most painless part.
Along with the scenery, a slight reflection of me is also visible.
Shuji Shirakawa, old enough to be in college or university, but only starting my final year at high school.
The only reason for this is due to the accident that robbed me of my lower legs, and more besides.
I started with going to a getting through our second year of high school party, and ended up coming to in the hospital with my legs amputated below the knee along with the news that any child wouldn't want to hear.
I shouldn't dwell on the past since there's no way to bring those that have been lost back to life.
There wasn't any time to think about it that much since the taxi has pulled up at it's final destination.
Yamaku Academy, a school primarily for people just like me, people who are disabled.
I got out of the taxi with the only item I'd brought with me, but it took me a little while to find my feet only because of these stupid prosthetics.
They had enough time to sort out the prosthetic for my left leg, but they only started work on the replacements last week with a promise that they'd be ready before I set off.
If they'd done their job properly and not just used my right leg which they had managed to save more of, then they wouldn't be in this position right now.
Now that the taxi had departed, the only direction I could head in was through the gate that was in front of me.
I limped in the direction of what I thought was the main building, looking at everything on the way.
After about five minutes limping, I finally arrived at my intended destination.
When I enter, a man with seemingly bad posture notices me which is to be expected since we're the only people standing here.
I also shouldn't be thinking about his posture considering how bad mine is... stupid leg.
"You must be... Shirakawa", the man asks while looking at something he's holding, which he probably used to remember my name.
I only nod in response since I wasn't in a talkative mood at the moment.
"I'm your homeroom and science teacher", he said "my name is Mutou".
We exchange handshakes after that introduction, which was a bit weak on my side since I used my right hand.
He then said that the head nurse asked me to check in with him, but should leave it until this afternoon since there wasn't time to do it now.
"We should get going and introduce you to the rest of the class", Mutou said "they're waiting already".
"Lets just get this over and done with", I said rather coldly.
I wasn't that interested in doing a self introduction since I wanted to get this year over and done with as quickly as possible.
Before Mutou could say or do anything else, two girls walked through the door and headed towards what I thought would be the classrooms.
When they spotted us, one of the girls who had blue hair and wore glasses took something from the other girl who had bubblegum pink hair styled in what looked like drills and walked over to where we were and placed the item in my left hand.
After she walked away I looked at the item, to find a key with a label attached to it with a three digit number written on it which must indicate the room I'll now be residing in.
"I thought that everyone was in class", Mutou said "I'd have to wonder why those two are late".
Since I just received a key from one of them, it would be clear to me that they just came from sorting out my room.
Once Mutou had gone through every conceivable idea, he started heading towards the stairs and I followed.
It was a bit of a pain getting up the three flights of stairs that led to the classroom, but I made it without falling back down them.
He entered the classroom, apologising for being late again which made me wonder if this is a regular occurrence for him.
I followed him in after he said that and looked at who I'd be calling my classmates for the next year.
A majority didn't seem to have any visual signs of disability, but as I looked over to the far end of the classroom I found the two girls that walked past a little while ago.
It would explain why he knew that they should be here.
Mutou started rambling on about something, but I wasn't paying too much attention to it until he said something along the lines of welcoming me and a silence descended over the class.
I didn't want to introduce myself since I just wanted to finish up what I should have started two years ago, and Mutou decided to continue on with my introduction.
Eventually it ended and I was directed to my seat, which was situated next to the window in the second row.
Once I'd taken my seat and had brought the books I needed out of my bag, the first lesson of the day started.
Everything that the teacher is saying and writing on the blackboard is new to me, since I hadn't gotten that far into the first time in getting through my third year because I walked out of my last school after one week.
I wrote down everything that was in the books along with what wasn't in them, so I could go over everything in the privacy of my own bedroom.
The chiming bells signalling the start of lunch took me by surprise as I was concentrating too much on what I was writing.
When I'd finished what I was writing, I started packing my stuff away and wondered where I was going to go for lunch until I noticed what looked like a shadow of one, or maybe two people covering the desk.
I looked over to see the two girls that walked passed me on their way here, but it might have been expected since I'm sitting next to them.
"So you must be the guy that got us out of bed at the crack of dawn", the pink haired girl said "I didn't think one person would bring that much stuff".
"I didn't ask for everything to be unpacked", I said "I could've done that myself".
There was a sudden silence, followed by a wailing laugh from the pink haired girl.
"We couldn't let the new guy go through all that on the first day", the pink haired girl said "you'll have more important things to do then unpack your things since you'll most likely be tired by the time you get there".
She does have a valid point since I was told before I started my journey that I had to report to the schools head nurse when I arrived, but since lessons were already going on when I arrived, I decided to leave it until the end of classes.
Although I didn't think that I would be that tired once I'd gotten to my room.
"You seem to be at a loss as to where to go", the pink haired girl said "the best place to be headed at this time would be the cafeteria".
"And you would know where that is", I said.
"Of course", the pink haired girl said "we couldn't really be students here if we didn't know where it was".
"Then lead the way", I said as I staggered to get to my feet.
I didn't really want to do this, but it gave me an opportunity to find out where the schools cafeteria is.
The two girls took the lead as we left the classroom and headed to the cafeteria, which was one floor below the lobby where I entered the building.
Almost everyone who was in the cafeteria looked at us as the pink haired girl announced that we'd arrived at the cafeteria, and she didn't seem to take much notice as to what she'd done.
We quickly moved to the counter and picked what we was going to eat, and headed to a vacant area of seating.
I started on what I had chosen, and quickly felt at home with the clinically bland hospital style food.
"So~, is there anything you need to know about", the pink haired girl asked.
"Nothing I can think of", I said rather bluntly "if there's a place I need to go that I don't know about, I'm sure that I could ask at that time".
"Are you sure~", the pink girl asked in her annoying sing song voice.
"Absolutely certain", I said in the same blunt but slightly harsher tone "I doubt there'll be many places that I'll be going in this school apart from the classroom, the head nurses office and my room in the dormitory".
"Is there anything you're interested in", the pink haired girl asked "we might be able to help you find the right clubs".
"I'm certain I'll be able to find them myself if I wanted to", I said with my blunt voice back in full force.
I think that I'd finally managed to end that line of questioning as they started talking between themselves, at least I think they were as there wasn't any talking just hand gestures.
We finished of our lunch and headed back to the classroom, but my lousy footwork came back to haunt me as I fell to the floor with a horrific thud.
There was a lot of panic one I'd hit the floor, but it didn't bother me that much as I checked that my prosthetic limbs hadn't slipped out of place and got back on my unstable feet
"Are you all right", the pink haired girl asked.
"Perfectly", I said maintaining my usual blunt tone.
I put an end to that line of conversation by continuing on to the classroom.
There were a few things that I didn't want to start talking about to others, with my legs coming at the top of that list.
With the remaining lessons for the day continuing apace, it gave me enough to stop thinking about what had happened during lunch.
Once the final bell rang, I knew that there was one thing I needed to do before I headed to my room in the male dormitory.
I started packing my things away, but I was distracted by the wailing voice to my right.
"Where are you heading now", the pink haired girl asked.
"The head nurses office", I said "I've got to go for my first check up".
"We can take you part of the way", the pink haired girl said "since we're heading near the auxiliary building".
So the next few minutes of my life would be in the company of the quietest girl I've ever met, alongside her megaphone of a friend.
It was only a few minutes since we parted company only a few hundred meters after we left the school building.
They did give me some directions to get from we parted to where I wanted to go, so it didn't take me that long to get to the correct office.
The muffled voice I heard when I knocked at least told me that someone was in the office, and as I opened the door, the man seemed to be expecting me.
"I thought that I'd be seeing you a bit sooner", the man said "after I heard that you fell down during lunch".
"It happens every once in a while", I said "since I got these".
"Then lets get this examination done with", the man said "and I'll check you over to see if you've done yourself a mischief from that tumble".
The examination of my legs started, but it didn't take long for the incorrect length of one of my prosthetic legs to be noticed by the nurse.
"Haven't they sorted this out yet", the nurse said as he examined my records "they've had enough time to get a new set sorted out for you".
"They did start on a new set to be ready before I came here", I said "but they didn't turn up in time".
"At least they decided to make a new set", the nurse said "I'll have to chase them up if they don't turn up in the next week or so".
The examination shifted to checking the rest of my body for any injuries from that unstable moment I had during lunch.
No injuries were found, and I was allowed to straighten myself out and head for the dormitories.
The walk was rather calming, since there wasn't that many people walking in the same direction.
It didn't take me that long to reach the dormitories, and once I'd entered the boys' dormitory, I started by getting the key I'd been given out of the pocket I had put it in.
A check of the label attached to the key told me that I was in room 209, so I headed for the stairs and the comfort of what would be my room for the next year.
To keep any unstable moments at bay, I made full use of the handrail as I ascended the stairs and eventually reached the second floor and my room.
The room was larger then I expected, and everything that had been sent ahead of me had been packed away which gave me more time to look around the room.
If there was one way I could describe this room, it would be something akin to a one room apartment since it had every amenity, apart from major cooking and washing facilities which are probably provided in other areas of the building.
One thing that did jump out at my was a large box placed on the bed, and as I opened it, it was clear why my replacement prosthetics hadn't turned up before today since they'd been sent here instead of being delivered to me directly.
They'd decided to make a pair instead of just the one that needed to be replaced, most likely because I'd said that the useful of the two limbs was a bit uncomfortable at times.
I decided to try them on now in case there was something was wrong with this set as well.
It felt good not to be imbalanced whilst standing or walking, and it probably meant that the occasional discomfort I felt on one side was because both limbs were the same length.
This is something that I'd have to get used to after being on an uneven keel for so long, but as I walked around something else caught my eye, and it was something that I was happy to see.
After all the time that had passed, I still hadn't recovered from losing my parents and that picture was just a reminder of that loss.
That was something I didn't want to see, and I was certain that I'd made it clear that I didn't want it to be displayed in the room.
As I went to pick it up, the tears started flowing.
It was another thing that always happens when I see that image of what was taken away from me, and I had to fight through the tears to find somewhere to put the picture.
I decided to go for a downtrodden personality (if I've gotten the wording correct) this time.
Some of this chapter might not have any basis in reality, but it should only be in this chapter.
Now all that is done with, it's time for the first chapter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Beginnings
I looked out of the window of the taxi watching the scenery pass me by.
After everything I've been through, this trip to my new school is the most painless part.
Along with the scenery, a slight reflection of me is also visible.
Shuji Shirakawa, old enough to be in college or university, but only starting my final year at high school.
The only reason for this is due to the accident that robbed me of my lower legs, and more besides.
I started with going to a getting through our second year of high school party, and ended up coming to in the hospital with my legs amputated below the knee along with the news that any child wouldn't want to hear.
I shouldn't dwell on the past since there's no way to bring those that have been lost back to life.
There wasn't any time to think about it that much since the taxi has pulled up at it's final destination.
Yamaku Academy, a school primarily for people just like me, people who are disabled.
I got out of the taxi with the only item I'd brought with me, but it took me a little while to find my feet only because of these stupid prosthetics.
They had enough time to sort out the prosthetic for my left leg, but they only started work on the replacements last week with a promise that they'd be ready before I set off.
If they'd done their job properly and not just used my right leg which they had managed to save more of, then they wouldn't be in this position right now.
Now that the taxi had departed, the only direction I could head in was through the gate that was in front of me.
I limped in the direction of what I thought was the main building, looking at everything on the way.
After about five minutes limping, I finally arrived at my intended destination.
When I enter, a man with seemingly bad posture notices me which is to be expected since we're the only people standing here.
I also shouldn't be thinking about his posture considering how bad mine is... stupid leg.
"You must be... Shirakawa", the man asks while looking at something he's holding, which he probably used to remember my name.
I only nod in response since I wasn't in a talkative mood at the moment.
"I'm your homeroom and science teacher", he said "my name is Mutou".
We exchange handshakes after that introduction, which was a bit weak on my side since I used my right hand.
He then said that the head nurse asked me to check in with him, but should leave it until this afternoon since there wasn't time to do it now.
"We should get going and introduce you to the rest of the class", Mutou said "they're waiting already".
"Lets just get this over and done with", I said rather coldly.
I wasn't that interested in doing a self introduction since I wanted to get this year over and done with as quickly as possible.
Before Mutou could say or do anything else, two girls walked through the door and headed towards what I thought would be the classrooms.
When they spotted us, one of the girls who had blue hair and wore glasses took something from the other girl who had bubblegum pink hair styled in what looked like drills and walked over to where we were and placed the item in my left hand.
After she walked away I looked at the item, to find a key with a label attached to it with a three digit number written on it which must indicate the room I'll now be residing in.
"I thought that everyone was in class", Mutou said "I'd have to wonder why those two are late".
Since I just received a key from one of them, it would be clear to me that they just came from sorting out my room.
Once Mutou had gone through every conceivable idea, he started heading towards the stairs and I followed.
It was a bit of a pain getting up the three flights of stairs that led to the classroom, but I made it without falling back down them.
He entered the classroom, apologising for being late again which made me wonder if this is a regular occurrence for him.
I followed him in after he said that and looked at who I'd be calling my classmates for the next year.
A majority didn't seem to have any visual signs of disability, but as I looked over to the far end of the classroom I found the two girls that walked past a little while ago.
It would explain why he knew that they should be here.
Mutou started rambling on about something, but I wasn't paying too much attention to it until he said something along the lines of welcoming me and a silence descended over the class.
I didn't want to introduce myself since I just wanted to finish up what I should have started two years ago, and Mutou decided to continue on with my introduction.
Eventually it ended and I was directed to my seat, which was situated next to the window in the second row.
Once I'd taken my seat and had brought the books I needed out of my bag, the first lesson of the day started.
Everything that the teacher is saying and writing on the blackboard is new to me, since I hadn't gotten that far into the first time in getting through my third year because I walked out of my last school after one week.
I wrote down everything that was in the books along with what wasn't in them, so I could go over everything in the privacy of my own bedroom.
The chiming bells signalling the start of lunch took me by surprise as I was concentrating too much on what I was writing.
When I'd finished what I was writing, I started packing my stuff away and wondered where I was going to go for lunch until I noticed what looked like a shadow of one, or maybe two people covering the desk.
I looked over to see the two girls that walked passed me on their way here, but it might have been expected since I'm sitting next to them.
"So you must be the guy that got us out of bed at the crack of dawn", the pink haired girl said "I didn't think one person would bring that much stuff".
"I didn't ask for everything to be unpacked", I said "I could've done that myself".
There was a sudden silence, followed by a wailing laugh from the pink haired girl.
"We couldn't let the new guy go through all that on the first day", the pink haired girl said "you'll have more important things to do then unpack your things since you'll most likely be tired by the time you get there".
She does have a valid point since I was told before I started my journey that I had to report to the schools head nurse when I arrived, but since lessons were already going on when I arrived, I decided to leave it until the end of classes.
Although I didn't think that I would be that tired once I'd gotten to my room.
"You seem to be at a loss as to where to go", the pink haired girl said "the best place to be headed at this time would be the cafeteria".
"And you would know where that is", I said.
"Of course", the pink haired girl said "we couldn't really be students here if we didn't know where it was".
"Then lead the way", I said as I staggered to get to my feet.
I didn't really want to do this, but it gave me an opportunity to find out where the schools cafeteria is.
The two girls took the lead as we left the classroom and headed to the cafeteria, which was one floor below the lobby where I entered the building.
Almost everyone who was in the cafeteria looked at us as the pink haired girl announced that we'd arrived at the cafeteria, and she didn't seem to take much notice as to what she'd done.
We quickly moved to the counter and picked what we was going to eat, and headed to a vacant area of seating.
I started on what I had chosen, and quickly felt at home with the clinically bland hospital style food.
"So~, is there anything you need to know about", the pink haired girl asked.
"Nothing I can think of", I said rather bluntly "if there's a place I need to go that I don't know about, I'm sure that I could ask at that time".
"Are you sure~", the pink girl asked in her annoying sing song voice.
"Absolutely certain", I said in the same blunt but slightly harsher tone "I doubt there'll be many places that I'll be going in this school apart from the classroom, the head nurses office and my room in the dormitory".
"Is there anything you're interested in", the pink haired girl asked "we might be able to help you find the right clubs".
"I'm certain I'll be able to find them myself if I wanted to", I said with my blunt voice back in full force.
I think that I'd finally managed to end that line of questioning as they started talking between themselves, at least I think they were as there wasn't any talking just hand gestures.
We finished of our lunch and headed back to the classroom, but my lousy footwork came back to haunt me as I fell to the floor with a horrific thud.
There was a lot of panic one I'd hit the floor, but it didn't bother me that much as I checked that my prosthetic limbs hadn't slipped out of place and got back on my unstable feet
"Are you all right", the pink haired girl asked.
"Perfectly", I said maintaining my usual blunt tone.
I put an end to that line of conversation by continuing on to the classroom.
There were a few things that I didn't want to start talking about to others, with my legs coming at the top of that list.
With the remaining lessons for the day continuing apace, it gave me enough to stop thinking about what had happened during lunch.
Once the final bell rang, I knew that there was one thing I needed to do before I headed to my room in the male dormitory.
I started packing my things away, but I was distracted by the wailing voice to my right.
"Where are you heading now", the pink haired girl asked.
"The head nurses office", I said "I've got to go for my first check up".
"We can take you part of the way", the pink haired girl said "since we're heading near the auxiliary building".
So the next few minutes of my life would be in the company of the quietest girl I've ever met, alongside her megaphone of a friend.
It was only a few minutes since we parted company only a few hundred meters after we left the school building.
They did give me some directions to get from we parted to where I wanted to go, so it didn't take me that long to get to the correct office.
The muffled voice I heard when I knocked at least told me that someone was in the office, and as I opened the door, the man seemed to be expecting me.
"I thought that I'd be seeing you a bit sooner", the man said "after I heard that you fell down during lunch".
"It happens every once in a while", I said "since I got these".
"Then lets get this examination done with", the man said "and I'll check you over to see if you've done yourself a mischief from that tumble".
The examination of my legs started, but it didn't take long for the incorrect length of one of my prosthetic legs to be noticed by the nurse.
"Haven't they sorted this out yet", the nurse said as he examined my records "they've had enough time to get a new set sorted out for you".
"They did start on a new set to be ready before I came here", I said "but they didn't turn up in time".
"At least they decided to make a new set", the nurse said "I'll have to chase them up if they don't turn up in the next week or so".
The examination shifted to checking the rest of my body for any injuries from that unstable moment I had during lunch.
No injuries were found, and I was allowed to straighten myself out and head for the dormitories.
The walk was rather calming, since there wasn't that many people walking in the same direction.
It didn't take me that long to reach the dormitories, and once I'd entered the boys' dormitory, I started by getting the key I'd been given out of the pocket I had put it in.
A check of the label attached to the key told me that I was in room 209, so I headed for the stairs and the comfort of what would be my room for the next year.
To keep any unstable moments at bay, I made full use of the handrail as I ascended the stairs and eventually reached the second floor and my room.
The room was larger then I expected, and everything that had been sent ahead of me had been packed away which gave me more time to look around the room.
If there was one way I could describe this room, it would be something akin to a one room apartment since it had every amenity, apart from major cooking and washing facilities which are probably provided in other areas of the building.
One thing that did jump out at my was a large box placed on the bed, and as I opened it, it was clear why my replacement prosthetics hadn't turned up before today since they'd been sent here instead of being delivered to me directly.
They'd decided to make a pair instead of just the one that needed to be replaced, most likely because I'd said that the useful of the two limbs was a bit uncomfortable at times.
I decided to try them on now in case there was something was wrong with this set as well.
It felt good not to be imbalanced whilst standing or walking, and it probably meant that the occasional discomfort I felt on one side was because both limbs were the same length.
This is something that I'd have to get used to after being on an uneven keel for so long, but as I walked around something else caught my eye, and it was something that I was happy to see.
After all the time that had passed, I still hadn't recovered from losing my parents and that picture was just a reminder of that loss.
That was something I didn't want to see, and I was certain that I'd made it clear that I didn't want it to be displayed in the room.
As I went to pick it up, the tears started flowing.
It was another thing that always happens when I see that image of what was taken away from me, and I had to fight through the tears to find somewhere to put the picture.