08:12 a.m.
We walked into school hand in hand, toothpaste-commercial smiles. Spotless uniforms, backpacks heavy with death. The sun shone strong, as if the sky knew it was going to be a special day.
08:30 – Classroom 3-B.
Professor Yamada-sensei started roll call.
— Aoyama Yuki
— Present!
— Fujimoto Kenji
— Here…
— Himitsu Hanako
Hana raised her little hand, angel voice:
— Present, sensei~♡
— Kuroe Satori
I stood up, placed the theater mask on my face: half smiling, half crying.
Some students stared, thinking it was Monday cosplay.
Yamada-sensei sighed: "Take that off, Kuroe-kun…"
I turned the mask to the giant smile side.
— Not today, sensei. Today the show is special.
(continues…)
