The Life Of Normal-Taro

Samuel sighed. They lost considerably. Though one can argue that Taro's team only won because of Juan's last-minute antics, everyone knew that the strategy was pre-planned since Juan didn't play any role for the lion's share of the game.

Anyhow, a strange feeling crept up in Samuel and the lads' minds. It wasn't sadness or anything. It was respect more than anything. For them to actually win against a coordinated team and to play to their strengths—it really seemed like a situation that comes by in an anime or . It seems impossible, but they actually pulled off.

"Good game!" Samuel extended his hand towards Taro.

Taro smiled as he shook on it. "Well, it really was. All thanks to Juan and the rest." He spoke.

"I see. Undervaluing yourself before others, huh? But don't think I haven't noticed it." Samuel giggled.

"I have no idea about the stuff you're speaking about." Taro continued to act oblivious, even though he was aware that he was caught.

"Hmm, very well. I won't be pushing it any further. However, I'll just inform you of this. There's a inter school teachers sports tournament happening in a month or two. It'll be pretty fun to see you perform in that competition." Samuel spoke.

"... I'll think about it." Taro replied.

"Just the words that I wanted to hear! I feel like you're hesitating because you don't want to stand out for some odd reason. That's fine as well! You can play team sports." Samuel could deduce Taro's thoughts perfectly.

Taro stood silently for a while before answering. "As I said before, I'll think about it." Taro reiterated his words from seconds before.

"Yea, yea. See you later, Mr Sadanandan. I wish to play against you some other day as well." Samuel smiled.

"Some other day… Yea, see ya then." Taro waved his hand and left Samuel high and dry.

"Good game, teach!" Abhirami came by this time around.

"Yea, same to you." Taro spoke.

"Well, I never knew you were this good of an athlete! Your stock just rose considerably, you know that?" Abhirami asked.

"My stocks?" Taro tilted his head in confusion. 

Even with the universal translator, the translations of certain sentences were wonky as hell. "My stocks? I've never invested in stuff, though. So, in here, just being athletic is enough to get your stocks to rise? Dang, that's some way to make easy money!" Taro thought as he heard that.

"Ah, yes! The stocks of you being an ideal husband." Abhirami's eyes were gleaming as she spoke about that.

Taro sighed. Here he was thinking about flaunting his athleticism and buying stocks and increasing its monetary value. However, his dreams were short-lived. 

"And what would those stocks help me in any way?" Taro asked.

"I don't know? Girls will find you attractive, maybe?" She shrugged.

"Do you think I need something like that?" Taro sighed. "I'm having enough trouble without all that stuff. I don't want more anytime soon." He replied.

"Well, it's not like that's your choice, though! It occurs naturally." Abhirami shrugged again.

"Whatever! It doesn't matter. I'm not gonna give my time and effort to it." He replied.

"Great. So, what are you gonna do now?" She asked.

"Hmm... Go back to the staff room and cool down, I guess." He answered.

"I see. Good luck with that." Abhirami spoke as she was about to turn around, but she stopped in her tracks. "By the way, what are you gonna do tomorrow around in the sixth or seventh period?" She asked, while looking back at him.

"Tomorrow is Friday, right? I'm free around that time. Why did you ask?" He asked.

"Well, I wanted you to come with me to a place then." She spoke.

"Nah, bruv. I'm not falling for it." Taro stepped back as she said that.

"It's not some shady place." She assured him.

"Then where is it?" He asked.

"... That's a secret!" She smirked as she ran back to the glass.

"A secret, huh? What sorta trouble is she gonna put me in this time around?" Taro mumbled.

#

Next day, five minutes after the sixth period started. Even though Taro clearly expressed his worries the past day, he was quite curious to see where Abhirami planned to take her. However, five minutes passed, but he didn't see her in the corridor.

"Were you waiting for me?" A voice came from behind him and this clearly startled him.

"What the! Don't do that stuff again. Startling me like that! You know the consequences—wait, is that a-" Taro looked dumbstruck after viewing what she wore.

"A karate gi? Yes!" Abhirami smiled as she flaunted it before Taro.

"Why are you wearing a gi to school? Does the school allow something like this?" He asked.

Abhirami sighed. "I thought you'd be more excited about it. But, you're talking about school rules and stuff, huh?" She asked.

"Well, school rules are rules to follow, you know? If you're wearing a gi without the permission of the concerned authorities, you have to change it immediately." Taro spoke.

"Hmm, seems like you don't know the existence of the activity period." Abhirami mumbled.

"Activity period?" He looked confused since it was the first time he heard of it.

"Haven't you noticed that when Friday comes around, the students are nowhere near their classes? Why do you think that is?" She asked.

"Hmm, these activity classes are responsible for that?" He asked.

He did notice this, however, since it didn't concern him at no point in his teaching career in the school, he never meddled with it. So, this was the first time he heard of such a thing.

"How perceptive of you!" Abhirami looked proud as she said that.

"Well, you asked that question when I asked you about the activity period. So, yea. That was the only reason that came to my mind." He replied.

"Ah, is that so? Anyhow, activities… It's… activities… I don't know how else to describe them. Like, we do various stuff in this period. Although, a student can only choose one activity from a variety of them, like drawing, violin.." Before she could continue depicting all the activities, Taro interrupted her.

"And Karate, by the looks of it. So, the place you wanted to take me to is-" This time around, Taro was interrupted by Abhirami instead.

"Yup! We're going to the school's Karate dojo!" She said excitedly.

#