Too Young . . . ?

Risa rested her chin on her palm as she kept her vision straight forward. Despite being only slightly above the height of five feet, being known for her 2.0 eyesight, the homeroom teacher of her class, Fujimoto Miki, had decided to place her the last row, famously known as the 1.5 seat. But not that Risa had minded the fact that she was placed right at the end of the classroom. In fact, she loved the idea. It would be able to keep herself as ambiguous as possible when her mind had decided to blank out and be lost in the world of her most respected teacher.

Takahashi-sensei . . . she . . .so cool . . .She's such an elegant and unconventional teacher I had ever seen in the whole of my life. . . .

Risa felt her heart skipped a beat. Every English lesson felt like it would take her life away from her. Each time when Ai turned away from the backboard and faced the class cohort, Risa could felt her cheeks heating up, with her heart beating an extra beat. She could not help but to look away from the view of the teacher and kept her eyes on the book on the desk each time Ai looked back.

When Takahashi-sensei came in spring this year, she was like the new eye candy for all students. She came walking through the gates of the school with her blond coloured hair made her absolutely like an English teacher from a native speaking county. Apparently it seemed like her hair colour was NGed by the principle since she had changed the colour of her hair to a darker shade of blond within 2 weeks of school. though that, it seemed like the principal was still unsatisfied with it, resulting in her current milky brown hair colour. Takahashi-sensei . . . doesn't like to have black hair, doesn't she? Her short cut made her so much like a primary school boy, catching the heart of all young girls in the school, including mine . . . Takahashi-sensei . . . that's so close to dream, isn't that so?

"Niigaki-kun."

Risa snapped out of her world when she heard her name being called out. "Hai!"She stood up speedily, causing her chair to fall backwards and landed on the wooded flooring with a loud bang. And that resulted in a loud ruckus of the class. The whole class had burst into loud range of giggling and laughter at the overreacted reaction of Risa. The shades of red on Risa's cheek had deepened, from the feeling of admiration into a deep embarrassment.

This is so embarrassing!! To think it had happened in the presence of Takahashi-sensei . . . What am I supposed to do?  Risa hung her head low as she continued to stand awkwardly in the sea of laughter.

"Alright class, that's enough." Ai cleared her throat and vocalised out, resulting the class to come into silence.

Sensei is so gentle . . . saving me from these embarrassment. . .

"Niigaki-kun, are you alright?" Ai asked as she walked down the aisle between the two rows tables and stopped beside where Risa were.

"Hai." Risa nodded her weakly and kept her head low. The proximity  between Risa and Ai was causing Risa to tremble in her spot.

Ai bent down and began to pull the fallen chair back to its original position. "Take a seat, you don't have to stand up." Ai informed. Risa bit her upper lips nervously as she settled down slowly back on the chair.

Why is sensei still standing over here? Why isn't she going back to the podium to teach? Running thoughts began to fill Risa's mind, causing a rising heat to brush up her cheeks.

"Niigaki-kun, are you alright?" Ai asked again.

Risa was so nervous that words were stuck at her throat. She could not come up with any words to answer Ai. Gulping down a mouthful of saliva, Risa nodded her head lightly.

"Are you sure? You looked like you were out of it during the mist of the lessons. That was why I'd called you just now. Are you not feeling well?" Ai asked in concerned as she ran the back of her hand on Risa's forehead. "You are a bit warm. Are you having fever? Do you want to retire back home and take a rest?" Ai continued asking as she removed her hand away from Risa's forehead.

Risa shook her head frivolously. No . . . I don't want to . . . the back view when Takahashi-sensei was writing on the board . . . it's so mesmerizing. . . I . . . I don't want to miss it . . . "I'm . . .I'm alright, Takahashi-sensei. I . . . I don't want to miss any lessons . . . " Risa stuttered through her lies.

"Really? You don't want to get more proper rest at home?" Ai asked again.

"Hai!" Risa nodded her head.

"If that's the case, I guessed there's nothing much I could do." Ai gave in. "You are really a hardworking student, aren't you, Niigaki-kun." Ai praised lightly as she patted the top of Risa's head. With that, Ai returned back to the front of the classroom where she left her textbook and started to continue her teaching.

Takahashi-sensei praised me. . . A wide smile creped across Risa's face, with satisfaction brimming within her. 

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"Takahashi-sensei!" Risa shouted down the hallway.

The bell had rang and it was the time for the change of lesson. English lesson had just ended and it was music lesson by their homeroom teacher coming up next. Knowing the fact that Miki was always late for their lessons, Risa made use of this chance and chased Ai down the hallway.

"Yes, Niigaki-kun?" Ai turned over gracefully and smiled lightly at Risa.

Risa felt herself melting at the smile. When will I be able to express this little growing spout of fondness to Takahashi-sensei? Risa shook her head lightly at the thought. "Ano . . .There's something that I don't understand from today's lesson. . . Is . . . Is it possible for Takahashi-sensei to . . . to go through it with me after school today ?" Risa mustered all of the courage she needed and asked almost inaudibly.

"Of course! Why not, Niigaki-kun. I'm glad that my students are holding interest in learning the language." Ai returned with a wide smile. "I will see you in the library at 3 pm then. See you then, Niigaki-kun." Ai finished.

Yes! I will be able to spend some time alone with Takahashi-sensei . . . Risa celebrated within herself. the mini Risa in her mind was jumping up and down, celebrating the fact that she was able to spend ample time alone with her respected teacher, the teacher where the feeling of respect for the teacher had gone all along more than a teacher. But . . . what am I suppose to say to her when I am alone with Takahashi-sensei?

"Niigaki! What are you doing? Dazing in the middle of the hallway during my lesson? Get back in immediately!" Came another new voice.

Risa looked up from her daze and saw Miki stomping down of the hallway, brushing pass Ai, who had already made her way back to the staff office. "Hai!" Risa whimpered as she scattered her feet back into the classroom through the back door.

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"When you start with a sentence,  never start it with the word 'and' . . .  . . . the placement of the vowels.  . . .  . . .  "

Ai was seated less than an arm length distance away from Risa at one of the study tables placed all around the library, with the longer stands of her short cut tucked behind her ears, exposing the side of her cheeks, teaching attentively to the intended student. Risa, the intended student, however, was not listening to what Ai was saying. Her eyes were so caught up by the closeness between the teacher and flawless side of Ai.

This is the first time . .. I am at such a proximity with Sensei. . . Her lips . . . it's so captivating . . . Her eyes . . .

"Niigaki-kun." Ai called out, causing Risa to snap out from her staring. "Where are you looking at?" Ai asked as she looked queerly at Risa.

"I - I was thinking about what Takahashi-sensei had said just now." Risa fumbled.

"Ah . . . " Ai nodded her head in agreement as she worked her fingers in the paper between them and turned to the next page.

"This question . . .haven't I gone through this during the lesson yesterday?" Ai questioned gently.

"Really?"  Risa sat up in attention and took the paper from Ai's hand. "It seems like so . . " Risa commented.

"Ah . . . Niigaki-kun is not paying attention during lesson." Ai started. "Busy dating?" Ai continued teasing.

"NO!" Risa blurted loudly, successfully attracting the attention of the other students in the library. "I mean , no . . . I'm not dating anyone . . . " Risa continued with a softer voice, almost muttering through her words as she tried to hide her blushing face. There's only one person I would like to date right now . . . and it's you, Sensei . . . Will you ever be able to know how I am feeling?

"Calm down, Niigaki-kun. I was just teasing you. " Ai giggled, causing Risa to blushed deeper into deep red.

Calm down, Risa. Sensei is just right in front of you. You won't want to turn as red as a ripe tomato before her, don't you?

"Young people . . . they are such a fun to tease. Look at you, your face is so cute." Ai teased again. "That's so nice . . . to be young . . . "

That did not help Risa from her blushing. Risa kept her face near the table, wanting to hide her painted red face from Ai.

"Anyway, Niigaki-kun, I don't think there's anything wrong for students to be in a relationship. If they are mature enough to differentiate between what is right and what is wrong, and that they know when to prioritise their work, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. So you don't have to hide if you are." Ai continued, patting on Risa's shoulder lightly.

"But I am not . . . " Risa whined softly.

"Okay you are not." Ai echoed.

The two stayed in the silence for a long while, before AI decided to break the silence. "Niigaki-kun, do you have any more questions you would like to ask? If not, I shall retire back to the staff office." Ai spoke.

"Yes . . . But . . . it's not regarding school work. . . Is that okay with Takahashi-sensei?"Risa raised quivery.

"It's alright with me. I'm always open to listen to students worry." Ai assured with a comforting smile.

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Yosha! Risa, you can do this! Risa urged herself as she stood before the staff room door and glanced nervously at the pink envelope that she was griping tightly in her hands. You got to tell Takahashi-sensei how you felt. You can't be always be in your own world. Takahashi-sensei do agree that student is allowed to date when they are mature enough. It shouldn't be a problem with that. Risa! You can do this!

Risa shifted the envelope into her left hand and brought it to her back as she raised her right to knock on the door.

"Come in."

Risa slide the door gently and saw Ai sitting alone in the staff room at her desk. "Sorry for interrupting." Risa greeted as she stepped cautiously into the staff room, with her hands hiding the intended letter for the teacher.  Great, there's no other teachers in here. A great chance for me.

  "Niigaki-kun, who are you looking for?" Ai asked.

"Ah . . . Takahashi-sensei . . . " Risa whispered.

"Me? What are you looking me for?" Ai asked curiously as Risa advanced nearer to Ai's desk.

Come on Risa. You just have to raise your hands to pass out the letter. That's not that difficult. Risa urged herself. Risa licked her dry lips nervously as Ai stared into her eyes, waiting patiently for Risa's answer. Say something Risa!

"Is there anything in particular that you are looking for me, Niigaki-kun?" Ai asked again when the nervous girl before her made no response to her posted question.

The guitar lying at the corner of the room caught Risa's attention. That could work! Risa thought silently in herself. "I . . . " Risa parted her lips slightly as the first vowel voiced out. She clenched her left hand lightly, causing slight cease to be form on the pink envelope she had spent the night before making it."I was thinking about my music lessons, Takahashi-sensei. Fujimoto-sensei had given us an assignment on learning a new instrument. . . and it's due next week. I had. . .yet to find an interested instrument yet. . . And I thought . . . Takahashi-sensei could have been some hep with it." Risa blabbered almost incoherently under her breath

"About that. . . " Ai trailed off.

"Is there any instrument that Takahashi-sensei had knew of?" Risa asked suddenly.

"Well. . . I do know how to play a guitar. . .-"

"Is it possible for .  . . Takahashi-sensei to teach me on how to play the guitar then?" Risa blurted out, interrupting Ai's continuing sentence. This could be a good way to build up the way I'm going to present the letter to Takahashi-sensei . . .say yes please, Sensei. . .

"But since it's a music lesson assignment, isn't it more understandable for you to ask that request from Fujimoto-sensei, Niigaki-kun. I am merely a simple English teacher. I don’t think I am able to help you much in aspects on your music assignment, Niigaki-kun." Ai continued calmly as she reasoned the situation carefully to Risa.

That sounds true . . .How Risa? Risa panicked in her mind. "It's alright with me. I'm always open to listen to students worry." The promise given by the teacher a couple of days ago rang in Risa's mind. "But . . .Didn't Sensei said that you are always open to listen to the worries of your student? And that you would do your best to help them with it?" Risa spoke cleverly, with the nervousness in her previously all gone as she scooted closer into the centre of the staff office.

"Well . . . I did say about that. . . But "

"This is my upmost worry right now . . . and I wish that Takahashi-sensei would help me to sail through it." Risa added on quickly, giving Ai no space to go against her own words. Risa! Since when had you had such courage to speak out so loudly before Takahashi-sensei? Risa thought in revelation.

Ai saw herself no way out in the deal proposed by her weird-action student. "If that's the case, come over here." Ai signalled Risa to settle down on the staff couch located right in the middle of the room. Risa did so. As she settled herself comfortably on the couch, she slit the pink envelope by the back of the couch and used her back to cover the existence of the letter.

While Risa settled herself down on the said couch, Ai headed towards the corner of the room, where picked up the old dusty guitar in her hand and returned back to Risa. She sat herself at comfortable distance away from Risa at the couch and settled the rounded edge of the guitar on her thigh. "This is how you hold the guitar. Niigaki-kun is right handed, if I recalled correctly, isn't that so?" Ai continued.

Risa nodded her head earnestly. Her eyes had never left Ai's face, just as Ai's eyes had never left the guitar. As Ai had not heard any response from Risa, she looked up and caught Risa staring at her. "Is there anything on my face?" Ai asked curiously, causing Risa to blush in deep shades of red at the sudden eye contact. Risa shook her head immediately. "There's nothing on sensei's face. I'm just. . . too engrossed in watching Sensei's teaching. . . " Risa added on.

"Ah.  . . I see. Niigaki-kun is a right handed, am I right to say that?"

Risa nodded her head as she turned her head back.  "So, this is the way you hold the guitar, your left fingers will be in charge of the chords, while your right is here."

"Hai."

"Next, let me teach you some simple chords. This is C chords, that's G7. Hmmm. Maybe you shall hold the guitar, while I will continue to teach the other way." Ai said suddenly as she handed the guitar onto Risa's hand. Before Risa could realise what Ai was doing, she had found Ai wide and firm hand on hers, guiding her up the way the chords were pressed. Risa gulped nervously at the dangerously close distance between her teacher and her.

"Niigaki-kun?" Ai called out curiously when she realised Risa's fingers weren't gripping on the guitar strings. Instead, there were all flexed and relaxed. If it was not Ai's hand that was supporting Risa's arm, Risa's hand would have dropped like a heavy sack onto her knee length skirt. "Are you alright?"

Risa snapped out of her stillness and regained her grip on the guitar as she nodded her head frivolously. Ai, on the other hand, removed her hand from Risa's and moved it towards Risa's running red cheeks. "You are burning a temperature. Are you sure you are alright?"

Risa nodded her head shyly as she squirmed her face away from Ai's reach. Risa you gotta do this. This is the best chance you have! Risa edged her mind. She, too, pulled her hand away from the guitar and reached for her back, where she had carefully laid the letter for the woman beside her.

"Ano, sensei. . . " Risa whispered out softly as she felt the ticklish edge of the letter on her fingertip.  Before she could finish with her sentence, the staff office door slit open suddenly, causing Risa to shoot up onto her feet before she could grab the pink envelope back into her possession. Ai had made her reach for the guitar before it had made its way onto the floor.

"Niigaki, what are you doing here?" Came the voice of the new intruder. 

"Fujimoto-sensei" Risa greeted anxiously.

"Ah, Fujimoto-san, it's you." Ai noted Miki presence in the room. "Niigaki-kun is asking me to teach her some skills of the guitar. That's why she's in here." Ai explained.

"Ah. . . " Was what Miki had gave. Risa stood still had her place, and sensed Miki's stare on her. It felt like Miki was telling her that it was time for her to leave the room. Taking the signal in her mind, Risa bowed lightly. "I will leave the room for now." Risa spoke softly as she glided her way through Miki and to the door.

"I will see you tomorrow during your music class, Niigaki. Then you can show me what have you learnt from Takahashi-sensei."

"Hai." Came the quiet response from Risa. Though deep within herself, Risa knew that she had nothing to show Miki. Not that Ai had thought her nothing. It was just that Risa was spacing out at the closeness between AI and her during the whole session. With that, Risa slit the door back to its original position.

"That's mean." Miki whined the moment the door was closed.

"Why?" Came the reply in the same tone. Ai settled the guitar to lean against the couch as she crossed her legs.

"I had been asking you to play the guitar for ages. But you had refused my request for all times. But just because Niigaki had asked you to teach her, you did it without thinking." Miki continued as she settled herself close to Ai on the couch. "So I was right about that, you had something for that little girl, don't you?"

"No. Where did you get that idea from?" Ai denied. "You just wanted me to sing for you, don't you?" Ai hoaxed.  With that, she took the guitar back up to her lap again, while Miki laid comfortable on Ai's thigh. Ai strummed lightly on the string, where soft melody sounded through the room.

The shine in your eyes

Is like a gem in the twinkling stars

Staring into those eyes

The whole world is enchanted

As the music continues, the singing ceased. "It's your turn, Miki." Came Ai's soft voice.

"Hmmm." Miki shook her head. "I just want to hear your singing. I like your voice."

"But it’s a duet." Ai argued cutely.

Before Miki could make any response to that statement. A loud tumble from the hallway caught the attention of both, causing both to stop in their actions. "What was that?" Miki asked as she lifted her head up slightly from Ai's thigh.

"It sounds like someone had fell down at the hallway. I'll check it out." Ai said as she signalled Miki to get up. As Ai made her way to the door and slit it open, all she saw was the disappearing figure of Risa down the stairway at the end of the hallway. "Niigaki-kun. . ." Ai whispered out softly.

"I think she's here for this." Miki came up to Ai as passed her the familiar pink envelope to Ai.  "I was right all the while. "Niigaki likes you."

And I knew it . . . Yet I still allow her to. . .  Clenching the letter tightly in her hands, Ai began to chase after the empty hallway. There must be some ways where I could have stopped this. . . this is so . . . so . . . so wrong. . . I shouldn't have allowed her to follow me through my old ways. . .

Back in the wide open field, Risa found her way behind the fitness corner where she slumped herself onto the floor, with her back leaning against the wooden pole of the fitness bar.. After so much . . . the song she sings, does not belongs to me. . . Sensei had already had someone else by her side. . . Fujimoto-sensei . . .

"Niigaki-kun!" Came the voice Risa admired echoing over the wide field. It was just in moments of time for Ai to find where Risa was hiding. "Niigaki-kun." Ai called out again as she lowered herself beside Risa.  "You had forgotten something in the staff office." Ai whispered softly as she returned the pink envelope before Risa.

Risa looked up from her knees and looked at Ai with her teary eyes. "I didn't forget about this. . . This is for Takahashi-sensei. . .  " Risa stuttered through her sobbings.

"I know . . . But. . . I can't accept this, Niigaki-kun." Ai bit her lower lips as she replied.

"Why?" Came the innocent question. "I know. . . Sensei has sensei already. . . but. . . why? Why is it sensei? Why not me? Sensei, you had told me the previous time that, as long as you put in the effort , persevering till the end, you will definitely get the outcomes you want. Isn't that so? I had put in all my effort already. But why? Why am I not getting the outcome I want? Why? I like you, sensei, I like you!"

"This . . . " Ai were tongue tied with her own words. After keeping silence for a long moment, Ai licked her lips nervously before opening her mouth, allowing the words the young girl would never want to hear about to slip through her lips. "You are too young, Niigaki-kun. Too young to understand how complicated love can be. There are some things, where you only grow to understand when you grow up. . . Love. . . is not something that can happens when only one party is contributing to it. . . It. . . requires two party to play the game, Niigaki-kun. . . You are. . . just too young for it. . . just too young . . . .