Boom!
The door burst open. I flinched and instinctively raised my arms. Reflex. Who storms into a room like that?
"There you are!"
Yuna stood in the doorway. In one hand, a paper bag with steaming pastries, in the other, a cup from which violet steam rose. Her eyes were fixed on me.
Oh no, here it comes.
"G-good morning?" I mumbled.
She stomped toward me, set the bag directly on my lap – I flinched – and shoved the cup into my hand.
"You need to eat. And drink. And stop making that weird face."
I looked at the bag, then at her. What's going on now? Am I in the wrong movie? Someone pinch me. Am I in some kind of prank show, or why is Yuna acting like she's in a dating sim? Whatever – better respond. I'm probably just overreacting.
Kaede hasn't spoken to a girl without being grumpy since he was seven.
"Um… thanks… really very kind… and forceful."
Mr. Watsukawa, still in the room, cast one last glance at me, smiled crookedly, and headed for the door.
Hey, why's he smiling like that?
"I'll leave you with Yuna."
"What?!"
"Take care of him – but observe how he behaves. It's a… interesting opportunity."
And what does he mean by 'interesting opportunity'? Am I some zoo animal to him?
Yuna raised an eyebrow questioningly, but the teacher was already gone.
I tried to handle the situation normally and discreetly grab a roll from the bag – but my fingers slipped, and it smacked onto the floor.
"Oh… sorry… I'll pick it up…" I leaned forward – and slammed my forehead against the edge of the table.
"Ouch."
Yuna stared at me. "Uh… Kaede? Are you drunk?"
"No? I mean… I don't think so," I stammered nervously and looked away in embarrassment.
Ugh, I can't do this. Where is my magic when I need it?
I looked at my hands. They trembled slightly. Everything felt… dull. My coordination was a mess.
Could it be that my shadow magic hasn't come back yet? It usually handled fine control… My fingers are basically useless without it. Like a damn golem with butterfingers.
I grabbed the cup, spilling half of it on my pants.
"Hot!" I half-jumped up, stumbled, and sat back down awkwardly.
Yuna giggled. "You're… you're actually really cute right now."
I stared at her nervously. My pulse shot up. Then I took a deep breath. You got this, Kaede. Stay strong. Riku will thank you.
"What?! I… I'm not cute. I'm dangerous and… grumpy."
"Not today." She sat down next to me. "Today you're more like… a fallen bun with a sad face."
Too close. My face turned red, and I quietly slid a bit away from her without her noticing.
Then I mumbled something unintelligible and carefully tried to grab a second bun – this time more carefully. I did hit the bag, but the bun half-squished in my hand.
"I don't want to talk about buns anymore," I muttered and took a bite anyway.
Then Yuna suddenly moved closer to me again.
My pulse shot up again. Too close. Way too close.
Mr. Watsukawa, why are you doing this to me? I can't take this much longer.
"Something wrong, Kaede?" Yuna asked with a puzzled look, moving her face closer to mine.
I can't handle this.
"Oof."
I fell back onto the bed.
"Kaede?"
I didn't answer and closed my eyes.
But not even ten seconds passed.
"No way, Kaede. You're not falling asleep on me now."
Yuna pinched my cheeks. Am I her pet or her slave?
"Alright, alright! You don't have to pinch me right away!"
She just put her hand in front of her mouth and giggled.
She's not taking me seriously at all.
"Say, Yuna…" I stopped mid-sentence. This can't be real. I saw Riku through the door crack – he was watching me like a ghost. Now he's even making gestures.
I quickly looked away.
"What's wrong, Kaede? You suddenly look like you've stared death in the face."
Much worse, Yuna. Much worse. I pointed at the door – but Riku was gone.
"Oh dear, you're really not doing well. Poor Kaede, poor Kaede. Ghosts aren't real."
She patted my head.
Seriously, she really thinks I'm her pet. What is wrong with her?
Then I looked at the door again, just to be sure.
Once again, I met Riku's eyes, which told me two things: First, I'll never forgive you. And second, I'm going to kill you.
I swallowed hard. Yep, folks, that's probably the end of my story. I have a bad feeling I'll be decapitated in my sleep tonight.
The next hour and a half passed in a mix of laughter, spills, and Yuna's comments about my so-called new personality.
I knew it wouldn't last. I started feeling that tingling again, slowly growing stronger inside me.
I cleared my throat and smiled. About five seconds left.
"Hey Yuna… thanks. That was actually fun."
"Huh? What did you just say, Kaede?"
There it was again. That dark mana. I hated it. A familiar pressure in my head. My thoughts grew clearer—but heavier. The world lost its warmth and turned gray again.
My eyes wandered to Yuna, who was grinning while splitting a honey bun.
"I didn't really get what you said earlier, but do you want the sticky half or the sticky half?" she asked with a laugh.
I looked at her. "Keep it. And leave me alone."
She blinked. "And he's back…"
"What?"
"The grumpy Kaede." She chuckled. "Welcome back."
"Now I get what you meant, Kaede."
I rolled my eyes and leaned back. "I hate honey."
… and annoying girls like you.
I only thought the last part. Still, my gut told me maybe I shouldn't brush her off so harshly anymore. I'm learning.
It wasn't long before the door opened again. And to my surprise, it was the one person who got me into this embarrassing mess in the first place.
She looked like she'd just beaten a final boss—and I could already guess what she wanted.
First the brat, now the witch... great.
"So Kaede, first off: Good morning! And second: I am NOT a WIIIITCH! Got it, you damn brat?!"
Did I… say that out loud again?
"I apologize. I'm deeply sorry," I mumbled, sounding like I'd just woken up from a coma.
"You're not taking this seriously! How can someone as lazy and unmotivated as you even breathe?!"
Blah blah blah. She sounds like a bad audiobook again. And Yuna… she's actually enjoying this. Great friend I've got.
"Now then, Kaede. As you know, you still have special training today—and you haven't done your presentation yet. I'm going to—"
Kaede stopped listening.
Yeah, not happening. I'm out. Window. Over there. First floor. Perfect angle. She's not looking. Jackpot.
"So then, Kaede. Now you know what your day looks like. Coming with me?"
Silence.
"...Kaede?"
Yuna wasn't even looking at me—she was staring past me.
What's she staring at... oh. The window.
Crap. I think she figured it out.
"THE WINDOW?! KAEDE!!! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!"
"Nope. Later."
"Did… did he really… did he just… jump?! From the first floor?!" Susuna dropped to her knees. "Why… why do I have to be the one stuck with this student?! What did I do to deserve this?! I… I can't anymore…"
Kaede:
Like I'm gonna listen to that old hag. She can scream all she wants—I'm not showing up again until next week at the earliest. Once she's either forgotten who I am… or dropped dead. Either works.
Back home, I laid down in bed, pulled the covers up and—
Crash.
"Watch it."
I looked up—and froze.
Gulp. Not him. Please not him.
"Ah, Kaede. You here? Don't you have school?"
"Uhh… yeah, Mr. Watsukawa. But I wasn't feeling well today. On the way home. Because… fever. Scratchy fever. Really dangerous."
He smiled. That smile. That teacher smile. That "I know you're lying" smile.
I put on my sickest face ever and started coughing like a dying swan. I knew I had to give it my all.
"Kaede." His gaze narrowed.
"Electro magic."
Of course he doesn't believe me.
"Whaa! No, please! I just wanna die in peace!"
"I promised the principal I'd look after you."
Great. Another one with a savior complex.
"YOU KNOW WHAT?!" I yelled, turning around and running. "WHAT?!" he shouted back.
"I HATE YOU! YOU'RE EVEN WORSE THAN THE WITCH!!!"
Watsukawa suddenly stopped.
Why'd he stop? Why's he grinning like that? And those raised eyebrows… oh no. I know that look.
"Electro magic."
Oh come on. Not another maniac. I'm seriously done with this crap.
A massive ball of electricity began floating over his palm—crackling fiercely, bigger than my head.
Okay. Time to run.
"I take it back! I take everything back!!" I yelled, sprinting like a wild boar on steroids.
"Electroball."
Boom.
The shockwave hit me like a storm. My legs gave out, and suddenly my whole body felt like mush.
I… can't move…
Then I felt someone lifting me up.
I was being kidnapped. This is it. End of the story. Kaede was abducted. By his own teacher. No one will ever know what happened.
A single tear of despair rolled down my cheek.
6th Period:
Shiro:
Yeah, I kinda figured we wouldn't be seeing each other again so soon. Sure, I overdid it—but wasn't his reaction way too extreme too? And what's going on with Riku? Kaede must've knocked the lights out of him too.
Hey Riku, you know where Kaede is? Riku…?
He's really gone, huh.
Yuna took her sweet time too. Feels like I'm the one who slept all day.
Hey, Yuna…? ... ... ... No response.
Yuna?, I whispered again. ... Still nothing.
Is she ignoring me…?
Yuna, please… don't ignore me.
Finally—she turned around. She had something in her hand. What's she doing? And why is she looking at me so coldly?
Plop. A note. She can't even talk to me now…?
Note:
"Go hang yourself. Or jump off something really high."
Oof. I can't even fight back. Her accusation… is valid.
Hey Shiro…
Ichigo spoke to me.
Ichigo. My heart skipped a beat. She's like a dream. That long, shining green hair, her gentle smile, her perfect reputation. Alongside Riku, the best in class, and also our class president. And she's always kind. Sweet. Pure. Perfect. She's the one for me. Just hearing her voice makes me nervous.
But… why's she talking to me?
Hey Shiro…
I turned around. My pulse was racing. Was she really talking to me? I'd never spoken to her directly before…
I tried to answer, but my throat was dry.
"Yeah, what's up, Ichigo…?" I looked at her—tense, nervous, maybe even a little desperate. I probably looked like a madman.
But she stayed totally calm. No twitch in her face. Just that smile—like an angel's. Then she spoke. Very softly. Dull. Cold.
"Shiro, I have a question."
This is it. My moment. She's talking to me. I… I might finally—
"Could you please jump out the window?"
Sure… if you want— ... Wait… what?!
She's still smiling at me. But it's not the same smile. It's different. Something about it freezes my blood.
"Could you please jump out the window?" she says—like she's telling me my chair's squeaky. No hate. No anger. Just… emptiness. Cold. Dull. Like my life was nothing more than a footnote.
Then she repeats it, as softly as before:
"You heard me. You're a disgrace—for attacking a classmate like that. If I were you… I'd jump."
Every word burned into me. I stared at the note in my hand. My body collapsed into itself. I sat there like a pile of misery. My dreams—gone. Maybe I should jump.
I wanna go home. Everyone hates me.
No… not everyone…
Hey, Riku…
"Shut up, Shiro."
Riku turned his head slightly back—like a mummy. His gaze was blank, angry, exhausted. Almost like… he'd given up.
He looked like a vengeful ghost without emotions. Just an empty shell.
"Now then, class – who can answer the question?"
What question? No idea. Who cares? I just lost the reason I live. Ichigo hates me.
Shiro cries internally.
"Ah, Shiro – you know the answer, right?"
I didn't even raise my hand. Why's she picking on me…?
"Alright, Shiro gets a 6 for participation."
I jumped up, ready to protest—but Ms. Susuna cut me off:
"Something wrong, student – the one who almost destroyed the entrance and attacked a classmate for no reason?"
"No, all good..." I lowered my head. Slumped back into my chair.
I guess… I deserve it.
But whatever, Kaede. Keep a clear head. Eyes shut and push through. Once I'm past this, I can still explain everything to Riku – hopefully. And if not… I hope you all enjoyed the story.