[h1][center][color=#c5f5ff]Ariyoshi Nagase[/color][/center][/h1][right][b]Mentions:[/b] Haru[/right][hr][hr]
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Throughout their morning classes, Ariyoshi diligently listened and took notes, absorbing information – paying attention now meant he’d need to learn way less later.

For being so sleep deprived, their history teacher was a rather passionate one. A bit biased, too, but then, who wouldn’t be? Their home, which generations of generations had built upon since the Shimabara Rebellion’s success, was how it was because of Shiro Amakusa. The man who was remembered as a hero, whose descendant was now their mayor.

[color=#c5f5ff][i]Thanks to him, we are free, huh?[/i][/color] Ariyoshi scribbled that quote down, because it’d be useful to frame his essay in an appealing manner. Still, it’s not as if he intended to gush about the historical figure either – he wanted to do well enough to earn a high mark, but not so spectacularly that he’d be roped into some annoying school speech or any similar nonsense. 

Morning transitioned to noon, and as soon as the bell for the lunch break rang, there was a veritable exodus as students left their classrooms. Most of those poured into the cafeteria like a great river joined into by several smaller streams. Several went outside, too; into the courtyard, the field, or to linger somewhere in the hallways. Then there were those like Ariyoshi, who remained in their homeroom and ate at their desk.

He took out his bento, a set of disposable chopsticks, and after paying respect to the food, started eating with one hand while his other flipped through his books and notebooks. In a thoroughly economic act, he was able to eat and study at once, reviewing what they’d been taught in the morning classes. He marked important dates, such as for Hagino’s flash card quiz, and the history essay they were supposed to hand in. In bullet mark format, he noted the key details he’d need for it.

Important for the rebellion's success:[list]
[*]Shiro Amakusa (aka Shiro Masuda) – MVP. Wandering ronin at 14, swordsman, charismatic leader
[*]Tokugawa Iemitsu – Tokugawa Shogun, negotiated with Shiro at the end despite former enmity
[*]Allies: Portuguese and Spanish Catholic Christians and traders[/list]
Antagonists:
[list]
[*]Matsukura Katsuiie (aka Matsukura Shigeharu) – tyrant, corrupt Daimyo, prosecuted Christians, taxed peasants. Boiled Catholics alive, burnt tax non-payers and their children
[*]Tokugawa Shogunate – gave Shimabara Peninsula to Shigeharu, was against Christians, initially aided Matsukura
[*]Dutch protestants – called in by the shogunate to aid Matsukura[/list]
Unknown:[list]
[*]Peasant loyal to the shogunate – who? Killed why?[/list]
That last question was one that intrigued him, but he doubted he’d have the time to research it. Ah, well, if even the teacher had called him a random peasant, then it’d be probably fine to write off to a struck of luck for their side. 

By the time he finished lunch, Ariyoshi had been able to do most of the homework they’d received – and he still had a bit of time left over.

He cleaned up his desk, being mindful to put everything into order, wiping the desk, and even sweeping the floor around it if needed. After depositing the empty bento box into his bag (he’d have to soak it through the night, but it’s not as if he only had the one), he left the classroom. The hallways were much more easily traversable now that the vast majority of pupils had settled wherever they meant to be for lunch. With a chunk of break remaining, not many were going back to class yet either. For Ariyoshi, this was the perfect opportunity to go catch a bit of fresh air. He’d need his brain functioning and awake for the other half of the day, but he wasn’t feeling like taking a nap this time. He bought a bottle of water at a vending machine – as usual, those were hotspots of activity – then ventured out.

Buds in his ears, phone in his pocket, he took a walk down the paved pathways surrounding the school, nodding to Haru as he passed her by where she sat on a bench. Bopping to the music, a small grin crossed his features as his thoughts wandered to [i]Cyrille Rimehart-sama[/i], his favourite from Thorned Hearts: After Dark. He had made a simple suit based on the early release version of the game in the past, but with the touched-up graphics, extra scenes, and new concept art, he had [i]so much more[/i] to work with for a new fit.

Ah, he couldn’t wait till he got home!

Unfortunately…his phone buzzing in his pocket brought him back to reality. Ariyoshi sighed as he turned off the alarm, and made his way back to class.[/color]