English with their home room teacher was a pleasant change of pace from mathematics the previous cla.s.s .

While Kondo-sensei hammered down grammatical rules and vocabulary, just like their middle school teacher had done, she still made attempts to make the language come to life . She even tried to have the occasional conversation with the students in 3:1, including Kuri-chan .

That was, as far as Kyoko was concerned, the sign of a great heart . Kondo-sensei might not care all that much for Kuri-chan . After all the teacher's fiancée had shown too open a fascination with the foreign beauty, but when it came to the subject she taught she was adamant . The best students were used mercilessly as examples to the rest of them, and Kuri-chan was arguably the best student when it came to English .

If it hadn't been for her grammar, or spelling .

In short Kuri-chan was outright awful until she actually spoke the language . Then she shone, sing song p.r.o.nunciation and all . And she made the rest of them s.h.i.+ne with her . Oblivious to the fact that the teacher should be the one who made corrections Kuri-chan switched to her poor j.a.panese and tried to explain where and how a mistake had occurred during the course of the conversation .

Kondo-sensei just followed along and only interrupted when Kuri-chan's j.a.panese was insufficient to the task .

So in short, Kyoko really liked their English lessons .

The English teacher in the left wing was, if what she heard from some of the hang-arounds was true, a different matter .

"Heard the geek from 6:1 got into a fight with his teacher?" That was Ryu-kun's voice from a few desks behind her .

Now, that registered . Geek, 6:1 and fight were all words that made her fl.u.s.tered . Especially geek and 6:1 . 'Kuri-chan, why did you interfere?' Kyoko made an effort not to turn and look for Noriko-chan's reaction .

'But fight?' Kyoko looked at the teacher and leaned her head . That way she would have an easier time hearing whatever was said in the middle of the cla.s.sroom .

Kondo-sensei pretended nothing had been said and continued scribbling synonyms on the blackboard .

"Heard he grew up an English sn.o.b . Got real angry Queens English wasn't good enough . "

Kondo-sensei turned . She was strange that way . The illicit conversation behind her back had accidentally turned on topic, and she wasn't about to miss that chance .

"RP, or BBC English . That's what we call neutral British p.r.o.nunciation . It differs from what we teach in j.a.pan, which is General American . "

"You do nothing of the sort," Kyoko heard from the desk in front of her, in English . 'Kuri-chan, please keep that mouth of yours shut!'

"Please Ageruman-san, enlighten us," Kondo-sensei said, also in English . The thrown gauntlet hadn't been allowed to stay on the ground for more than a moment .

Kuri-chan blushed .

'Now you've done it!'

Then she stood up and drew a breath . "With your permission, if I may, Miss Kondo . " Her voice was rounded, full of self-confidence and rich with experience . "While I would prefer not to sully the dear memory of my esteemed, albeit conservative, teacher . . . " It was an English Kyoko had never heard before . It carried a global empire on its shoulders as if that was the most natural thing in the world . "… in order to give an example I might lend myself to make an exception . " And it changed into a perfect rendering of what Kyoko had learned as the English of the well-educated . "The way fortunes of power may have s.h.i.+fted I also change my English from what was to what is . "

It was well educated, but it wasn't… Kyoko sought for a word . It wasn't elegant . It lacked… pedigree .

Kondo-sensei stood open mouthed . Then she smiled, and then she grinned and looked more like an unruly high school student than the teacher she was . "That was well played, Ageruman-san . Very well played . "

A few seconds later the rest of the cla.s.s joined the applause their teacher had started .

"Kuri-chan, why don't you speak like that, like always?"

"Bother!" And Kuri-chan sat down with a thump as ungraceful as she had been ladylike just a few moments earlier .

'You're crazy . ' Kyoko knew the episode would give birth to more rumours . 3:1, where things happened . A monopoly on rumours . But that was no longer true . A piece of hearsay had trickled all the way here from the other wing .

Still, Kuri-chan had just countered that one beautifully . And on that thought cla.s.s ended . Students and teacher streamed through the door . One of their cla.s.smates, Sakurai-san quickly returned with a knowing smile and looked for Kuri-chan .

English with their home room teacher was a pleasant change of pace from mathematics the previous cla.s.s . While Kondo-sensei hammered down grammatical rules and vocabulary, just like their middle school teacher had done, she still made attempts to make the language come to life . She even tried to have the occasional conversation with the students in 3:1, including Kuri-chan . That was, as far as Kyoko was concerned, the sign of a great heart . Kondo-sensei might not care all that much for Kuri-chan . After all the teachers fiancée had shown too open a fascination with the foreign beauty, but when it came to the subject she taught she was adamant . The best students were used mercilessly as examples to the rest of them, and Kuri-chan was arguably the best student when it came to English . If it hadnt been for her grammar, or spelling . In short Kuri-chan was outright awful until she actually spoke the language . Then she shone, sing song p.r.o.nunciation and all . And she made the rest of them s.h.i.+ne with her . Oblivious to the fact that the teacher should be the one who made corrections Kuri-chan switched to her poor j.a.panese and tried to explain where and how a mistake had occurred during the course of the conversation . Kondo-sensei just followed along and only interrupted when Kuri-chans j.a.panese was insufficient to the task . So in short, Kyoko really liked their English lessons . The English teacher in the left wing was, if what she heard from some of the hang-arounds was true, a different matter . Heard the geek from 6:1 got into a fight with his teacher? That was Ryu-kuns voice from a few desks behind her . Now, that registered . Geek, 6:1 and fight were all words that made her fl.u.s.tered . Especially geek and 6:1 . Kuri-chan, why did you interfere? Kyoko made an effort not to turn and look for Noriko-chans reaction . But fight? Kyoko looked at the teacher and leaned her head . That way she would have an easier time hearing whatever was said in the middle of the cla.s.sroom . Kondo-sensei pretended nothing had been said and continued scribbling synonyms on the blackboard . Heard he grew up an English sn.o.b . Got real angry Queens English wasnt good enough . Kondo-sensei turned . She was strange that way . The illicit conversation behind her back had accidentally turned on topic, and she wasnt about to miss that chance . RP, or BBC English . Thats what we call neutral British p.r.o.nunciation . It differs from what we teach in j.a.pan, which is General American . You do nothing of the sort, Kyoko heard from the desk in front of her, in English . Kuri-chan, please keep that mouth of yours shut! Please Ageruman-san, enlighten us, Kondo-sensei said, also in English . The thrown gauntlet hadnt been allowed to stay on the ground for more than a moment . Kuri-chan blushed . Now youve done it! Then she stood up and drew a breath . With your permission, if I may, Miss Kondo . Her voice was rounded, full of self-confidence and rich with experience . While I would prefer not to sully the dear memory of my esteemed, albeit conservative, teacher . It was an English Kyoko had never heard before . It carried a global empire on its shoulders as if that was the most natural thing in the world . … in order to give an example I might lend myself to make an exception . And it changed into a perfect rendering of what Kyoko had learned as the English of the well-educated . The way fortunes of power may have s.h.i.+fted I also change my English from what was to what is . It was well educated, but it wasnt… Kyoko sought for a word . It wasnt elegant . It lacked… pedigree . Kondo-sensei stood open mouthed . Then she smiled, and then she grinned and looked more like an unruly high school student than the teacher she was . That was well played, Ageruman-san . Very well played . A few seconds later the rest of the cla.s.s joined the applause their teacher had started . Kuri-chan, why dont you speak like that, like always? Bother! And Kuri-chan sat down with a thump as ungraceful as she had been ladylike just a few moments earlier . Youre crazy . Kyoko knew the episode would give birth to more rumours . 3:1, where things happened . A monopoly on rumours . But that was no longer true . A piece of hearsay had trickled all the way here from the other wing . Still, Kuri-chan had just countered that one beautifully . And on that thought cla.s.s ended . Students and teacher streamed through the door . One of their cla.s.smates, Sakurai-san quickly returned with a knowing smile and looked for Kuri-chan .