Several years ago....

“Good morning Yamada Sensei! Good morning Akiko Sensei!” The eight year old Sora greeted his teachers with a beautiful bow before rushing off to his trainer.

Akiko’s mouth was dangling open.

Did the annoying rascal just greet him???? That too respectfully??? Was the world coming to an end??? Have the forces of evil finally been vanquished from the face of the earth??

‘No that child cannot possibly be Sora…’ Akiko concluded. ‘I must still be sleeping….’

“Who was that child?” Akiko asked his fellow colleague, Yamada.

Yamada too was standing in shock. “I believe it was Sora….” Yamada finally spoke after gathering himself.

The two stood in shock.

There was no way Sora would greet them and treat them so nicely; he was clearly up to something. This was most likely the start some elaborate prank by Sora.

Akiko shuddered in fear.

Sora was the Japanese version of Dennis the Menace possibly even more terrifying. However, Yamada dismissed such thoughts.

“Maybe he has finally calmed down?” Yamada Sensei suggested.

Akiko looked at Yamada doubtfully. This poor man will be plagued by many scams - to be fooled by that terrible acting – Akiko thought.

Akiko’s suspicions only grew and grew that day. The whole day he kept watching Sora like a stalker. His eyes were fixed on Sora.

Sora attended all the classes that day. He even spoke to everyone nicely. He was even being nice to everyone….worse still he was practicing diligently and listening to the teachers…all of the above were so *not* Sora like!

At this point even Yamada who had been accompanying Akiko was also disturbed. 'Even the Buddha meditated under the tree for six years before attaining enlightenment.' It cannot be possible for Ahn Hyundo to transform Sora in one week….that too so drastically to this degree.

Akiko dragged Yamada to Hiromasa, the Headmaster; prevention is better than cure!

Akiko admitted defeat to Sora’s wits. Hence, rather than catching Sora red handed, he would report matters before they got out of control.

*Knock*

*Knock*

“Come in…”

“Sensei, Akiko here!”

“Yes…yes… I know…only you have such heavy foot steps.” Said a voice from the other side of the paper door. Hiromasa sounded tried.

Akiko and Yamada entered and bowed to Hiromasa who was drinking tea with Ahn Hyundo.

“Well, tell me, what is it?” Hiromasa asked in a commanding voice.

Akiko hesitated since Ahn Hyundo was in the room and he was technically complaining about Ahn Hyundo’s student.

“Well?”

Hiromasa’s impatient tone removed all hesitancy from Akiko.

“Ahn Hyundo Sensei!” He began, “I do not mean to disrespect you but I believe your student is up to no good!”

Ahn Hyundo’s eye brows were raised. ‘Sora is up to something?’

Akiko quickly narrated sudden Sora’s transformation to Hiromasa. Akiko was sure to mention each and every change. “He must be up to something…I am sure of it!”

While Akiko narrated the story, Hiromasa drank tea with an expressionless face. His gaze was only at his tea. Ahn Hyundo lost interest midway during Akiko’s narration and also drank tea in manner expressing his disinterest in Akiko.

After Akiko finished, Hiromasa took a sip of his green and then began with a stern and grave look on his face, “So….Akiko…let me understand this. You are telling me Sora is behaving properly?”

“Yes Sensei!” Akiko replied earnestly.

“He attends all lessons and classes?” Hiromasa was confirming.

“Yes Sensei!”

“He wears his uniform properly?”

“Yes Sensei!”

“He is being nice to others and practicing diligently?”

“Yes Sensei!”

“I see…this could really be a problem…”

“Yes Sensei!”

“BAKA! I AM SPEAKING ABOUT YOU! WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?”

Akiko recoiled in shock seeing Headmaster react so violently. “Sen…Sensei?”

“If he is doing everything properly, should you not be praising him? And thanking Ahn Hyundo Sensei for taking care of a child which you failed to do so?” Hiromasa glared at Akiko. “Instead here you are complaining to me about everything good! That too in front of Ahn Hyundo! You have shamed me in front of my guest!”

Akiko hung his head in shame. So did Yamada for allowing himself to believe Akiko.

“Thank Ahn Hyundo Sensei now!”

Akiko turned tomato red in embarrassment as he apologized to Ahn Hyundo.

The two quickly ran out of the room to avoid further scolding.

Once out of the room, Hiromasa let out a deep breath and turned to Ahn Hyundo. “After hearing them, even I am very curious….what did you do to that child?”

“Meditation.” Ahn Hyundo replied.

Hiromasa continued to stare at Ahn Hyundo with disbelief. “Do not joke Ahn! What strict training did you use?”

Ahn Hyundo put down his green tea and sincerely replied, “Just meditation.”

“That boy cannot sit still for even a second!” Hiromasa exclaimed.

“Student like teacher…the apple never falls far from the tree.” Ahn Hyundo muttered to himself while looking skyward. It was truly sad that both Hiromasa and Akiko doubted Sora – in turn doubted him.

“Hiromasa should believe in his students more.” Ahn Hyundo lighted scolded Hiromasa.

Hiromasa in fact looked more troubled; maybe he should believe Akiko and watch out for his pots!

“You are not joking?” Hiromasa confirmed.

“No I am not.” Ahn Hyundo replied. “In fact, the child has amazing concentration.…he may be a prodigy…”

*Cough*

“Amazing Concenta???? Prodigy?” Hiromasa sputtered as he choked on his tea. Children can change, but calling Sora a prodigy was going too far! Ahn Hyundo was not that old! How could he possibly go senile?

“Oh yes!” Ahn Hyundo answered. “Even I with all my experience I am unable to fathom this one’s potential….I am truly grateful that you let me teach this one.”

Hiromasa looked at Ahn Hyundo as Akiko had looked at Yamada – this poor one has been tricked by the devil! Hiromasa however tried to smile for Ahn Hyundo’s sake. ‘He will come to regret his words soon enough.’ Hiromasa thought.

Meanwhile, Akiko and Yamada crossed Sora in the corridor. Sora was wearing a big smile on his face as he winked at Akiko.

In that instant, Akiko realized he had been had; but Akiko did not dare to say or do anything. He was now completely terrified of Sora.

From that day on Akiko truly became a believer of the saying speech is silver but silence is gold. To live prosperously, was to live quietly and to never interfere with Sora. For Sora was like the Devil incarnate!