‘You’ve really started something.’

Hotaka is walking to school with Sakura. To his relief he received a text message overnight, saying she’d wait for him outside her house in the morning.

‘There was a crowd at the marina when I came past, easily double that of yesterday. People were taking snaps of your graffiti, even selfies. My uncle says you’ve lit a fuse. He’s right.’

‘Sshhh.’ Sakura nods over her shoulder at some students behind them.

Hotaka lowers his voice. ‘It’s really got people talking. And thinking, which is what you wanted.’

‘Yes, but they need to act as well, and I’m not sure how to make that next big step happen.’

‘If the reaction so far is any indication, Omori-wan could really run with this.’

‘I hope so.’ Sakura sighs. ‘And yet I’m frightened that I’ve started something that will get too big for me. Whatever happens, I want you to realise that I had to do this. I had no choice.’

‘I know. But you didn’t do it alone, surely.’

‘No way. It was a big job. Took most of the night.’

‘I figured as much. So who helped?’

Sakura grins. ‘Guess.’ When Hotaka shrugs, she mimes a kendo move.

‘What?’ He looks around, then mouths the name: ‘Tarou?’

Sakura nods.

‘How come?’

‘After I left you the other day, I was so fired up. I knew I had to do something, but couldn’t work out what. I walked around racking my brain until it was dark. I gave up and was on my way home when I came upon Tarou and a few of his friends spraying graffiti down some back street. It hit me in a flash. The concrete panels were perfect canvas, Tarou the perfect artist.’

‘Amazing.’

‘Exactly. Tarou jumped at the idea, and late that night we did it. He got so fired up too, like he’d found a mission.’

Hotaka can’t help noticing how tired Sakura looks. There are shadows under her eyes, and her face is pale. He realises how much she must have put into this thing, and how important it is to her.

‘You got me thinking, too.’ He reaches out with his eyes. ‘You were right the other day and I was wrong. If that’s worth anything.’

Sakura smiles. ‘Nah. Sorry, kiddo. Ain’t worth nothin’,’ she says with a laugh, and then punches him on the arm.

Hotaka grabs her wrist. ‘I’m serious, Sakura. What you’ve done is brave and strong and inspiring.’ He steps closer. ‘I think you’re amazing.’ He holds her gaze for a moment, but then a head pokes between them.

‘Sorry to break up the love birds.’ It’s Osamu. He smooches Hotaka. ‘Am I amazing too?’

They shove him away. ‘What a goon!’ Sakura growls.

‘Aha! Sweet Juliet has recovered from her illness, I see.’ Osamu turns to Hotaka. ‘And what of Romeo? How dost thou fare, pray tell?’

Hotaka rolls his eyes. ‘Oh, shut up!’

‘Have it your way. As it happens, there’s much more afoot in our fair town of Omori-wan than mere romance.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Oh, come on. You must have heard. Everyone is talking about it.’

Hotaka and Sakura stare blankly at Osamu.

‘The seawall?’ he prompts. ‘The graffiti? Fall the Wall, Seawall Bad Call. It’s great stuff.’

They shake their heads and shrug.

‘Oh, forget it,’ Osamu says and strides off.

Hotaka and Sakura cross the quadrangle in fits of laughter.

But in the car park they see two utility vehicles from the construction company responsible for the seawall, and stop at once. Both vehicles are plastered with graffiti.

‘Whoa, Sakura!’ he mutters. ‘You really gave it to them.’

‘No way!’ Sakura snaps. ‘We only did the concrete panels. Nothing else, I swear.’ The colour drains from her face. ‘I wonder—’ she mutters, but suddenly turns and marches off. ‘See you in class.’

The school bell rings as Hotaka secures his bike. On his way to the lockers he hears an announcement over the PA system.

‘There will be a special assembly first thing this morning. All students and teachers please proceed straight to the main assembly hall and fall into your class groups.’

Hotaka is not sure he likes the sound of that.

‘Shamed.’

Principal Hashimoto lets the word hang in the air like a noose. He stands centre stage, dark-suited, grim-faced, a tremble in his voice as he repeats the word.

‘Shamed.’

Behind him sit two equally grim-faced men in dark suits. One is Mayor Nakano. The other is Mr Oshita, regional manager of the company building the seawall, Capitol Constructions. Their arms are folded. Behind them are the teachers. They sit very still.

‘Our school has been shamed.’

Osamu nudges Hotaka. ‘Told you it was big. Hashimoto looks like death warmed up.’

‘Yeah,’ Hotaka replies, glancing around. ‘Have you seen Sakura?’

‘Can’t you stop thinking about her for one second? This is huge, man! We have been shamed!’

‘Your school has been shamed,’ the principal bellows. ‘The night before last, at the harbourfront, public property was defaced with graffiti, machinery vandalised. Closed-circuit television reveals this to be the work of four young people, school age, faces masked by balaclavas. We already know the identity of one. A security guard followed that person home, and to our great shame I must report that they attend this school. We have the student in question and they have admitted their guilt. They will be dealt with appropriately.’

Osamu chuckles. ‘Maybe it’s your girlfriend.’

‘Shut it!’ Hotaka snaps. ‘She’s not my girlfriend! Get that into your stupid head, will you?’

Osamu holds up his hands, don’t-shoot mode. ‘Sorreeee. Joking.’

‘I’m just worried about her,’ Hotaka mutters. ‘She should be here.’ Sakura has to be the one Principal Hashimoto is talking about. Is she up in his office?

‘Don’t worry,’ Osamu says. ‘She doesn’t want to hear Hashimoto reading the riot act, that’s all. Probably off tweeting somewhere.’

Hotaka hardly hears him. Or the principal, who is still talking as well.

‘And what of the other three? We’ll find you, rest assured. After all, the student we’ve already caught knows who you are.’

Hotaka cranes his neck, peering all around the hall, searching. Principal Hashimoto’s voice grows louder, but all Hotaka catches are snippets. Honour. Your school. Do the right thing. Give yourself up. End the shame. Disgrace. He wishes the words would stop.

When the assembly eventually finishes Hotaka he races to the principal’s office, reaching it just as Mr Hashimoto and the other men are closing the door. Shoving it wide open, Hotaka barges into the room.