Please! Enjoy Chapter 2! Any fav/follows or reviews or shares are completely optional, but welcome. Plus, no loot boxes or microtransactions!


Scene Seven: A New Dawn

I guess I'm the only one up this early, seeing as I'm the only who appears to be alive and awake in the building. I enter the shower and set it to cold. I need it, considering the crazy first night I had.

As I dry off, I get a look at myself in the mirror.

This… face doesn't feel like its mine. This body doesn't feel like its mine. I sometimes question who I am, but I guess that it's futile to ponder such pessimistic thoughts. I muster the strength to banish them from my being. These self-made demons will not rule me. Maybe.

I know who I am. I am Tamaki Zakuri. Not a fountain of despair and pity. I am me, and no one can take that away. Even if my appearance may change.

I walk out of the bathroom and into my room. I don't have to be at school just yet, so I decide to pack my things and just meander through the grounds. To my surprise, I find a few security and emergency staff still patrolling the grounds. They spot me, but instead of chasing me down, they just acknowledge me and move on. Some of them even wave and strike up a good morning,

The serenity of the layout clams my anxiety. My guess was correct then. Looking at the barely risen sun fills my heart with a comfort I haven't felt in years. Finding such beauty in a dark place only increases my resolve and gives me the reason to try again. I feel alive once more. Breaking away from this uplifting light, I look at my watch a see that class begins in forty-five minutes, and, with a new leap in my step, I make haste to Room 3-3.

The place is all but deserted. Only a few students are here. A girl missing one of her hands steps in my direction and introduces herself. She's wearing a boy's uniform shirt and tie instead of the normal blouse. And, despite how much I try to be a gentleman, I continuously notice how tight it looks on her figure. She's probably a sports nerd. She's exceptionally cute. Man, I gotta get my new priorities straight!

"Yo! I'm Miura Miki. You're Zakuri, right?"

"Yeah. Pleasure to meet you, Miura. So, what's up?"

"Just wanted to meet the new guy in person. You can call me Miki, by the way. I heard your introduction yesterday. So, you're into free-run? That's cool, bro. I prefer normal running though."

"Well, I think it's really fun, and jumping over shit usually is. If it wasn't risky, it wouldn't be, right?"

"Ha! Damn right! So, you also play instruments, right? What kinds?"

"Yeah, so, my first real love was guitar. My dad plays as a hobby, but I hope to play professionally. It's our thing, ya know. I can also play piano, sax, flute, and drums."

"You should totally gig in this school from time to time. You said the members go here, right? So!" She claps my arm, giving me a jolt, "You guys should totally do a show for the festival."

"Ah! Festival?"

"Yeah, it's in two weeks. It's this thing the school puts on for the community around it. Everyone gets together and plays games, eats good food, and has a totally awesome time with everyone else. It's like a come together for this town and our school. We're on a mountain so that makes it even cooler."

"Heh, I see what you did there. I'll think about it, sure. It was cool meeting you, Miki."

"Even better for me, cutie." She pulls a wink, looking coy.

Yeesh, it's like she wants me to fail miserably in front of everyone. She's cute, but so incredibly blunt and teasing. What an interesting girl. She has a smile of the Cheshire. Creepy and cunning.

I take a seat as more and more students pour in from wherever they arrived from. Including the dynamic duo.

[You are early, Zakuri.]

"Wow, Zacchan! You're here earlier than we usually are~! You make us look kind of bad~!"

"Kind of?"

"Only slightly~!"

"Perish the thought. Eh, I had a rough morning. So, I decided to walk around the grounds as the sun was rising, and that put me in a better mood."

They both look at me with worry, and I can't help but feel slightly guilty for putting them on edge this early.

"But, look. I'm fine really. Thanks for your concern. Truly, I'll be okay."

Shizune, ever ready with a reversal of topics, took the opportunity to ask a question that has been, obviously, bothering her.

[Have you thought about joining Student Council?]

"No, sorry, but since it is only the second day, I haven't really thought about joining a club. I don't even have my room in the way I'd like to yet."

She and Misha both accept this honest apology with smiling faces. Really caking on the cuteness today. GAH! There I go again. What's wrong with me?

They take their seats beside me, and, before I know it, my attention's thrown at the door. I see a timid, rabbit-like figure walk through the door. I can't help but feel like I'm staring, but Hanako is very enrapturing right now.

She maneuvers to her seat in the back, and, with that, she's the last to appear for class.

Except of course, Mutou isn't present yet.

"Hey, girls. Do you know where Mutou is?"

They both shake their heads in odd, synchronized fashion.

[He's like this from time to time.]

"He sometimes walks in in the middle of a lecture that he starts when he enters the third floor stairwell. Weird~!"

"… so, if you were to stand on an event horizon of a black hole, it would be a real life third-person perspective, because…"

Movement of light be damned! Astronomical and quantum physics? As if normal sciences weren't fickle enough. This is going to be an interesting class.

And so, it really wasn't. Mutou's wind was kicked out of his sails pretty early on, so he just switched to the "Big Book of Science Worksheets, Volume VI, Extended Copy; 5th Edition" and pulled from a section that dealt with our current material. He sometimes seems so miserable to me.

As the school day began its close, I ask the Dynamic Ultimate Tag-Team Ultra Duo if there might be library on campus. They say yes, but, not long after, they're after me about a position on student council. Again. I have to let them down easy, and say that it's still too early to make such an important decision. I had to practically bat them away!

Descending to the second floor, I make an earth-shattering revelation. This school's floors are an exact carbon copy of each other. Obviously to make navigation much easier, but this is almost my biggest fear; that everything is a replaced copy of the original item. Oh! That wasn't the revelation. I actually realized that I don't know the way to the library. Oh well. Looks like I'll have to play 'Eannie-Meannie-Miney-Moe' with the doors. This one doesn't look so bad.

I swing open the door slowly to a beautiful figure calmly sitting with incredible posture and wavy, long, blonde hair.

"Hello, there. Would you care for a cup tea?"

She asks this simple question with such politeness and innocence.

"I would certainly love a cup, Blondie."

"My, my! Zakuri! It's so wonderful to hear your voice again!"

Scene Eight: An Old Friend, Blistered Heart

Lilly Satou.

That's the name of the beautiful figure before me. I haven't seen her in three years. I'm really glad to finally meet her again. She's the paragon of beauty, intelligence, politeness, and playfulness. To those who've probably met her, she's the most reserved, professional, and adult-like girl they know. But I know, at her core, she's a little girl, with a delicate heart. She came with her sister, Akira, to live with us for about two years. She and I were best friends. She once told me I was like a true brother to her, though one look at Akira and you would've never guessed that she didn't have one.

I grab the empty seat as Lilly delicately prepares a cup of tea by measuring with her index finger. She maybe blind, but I've always been impressed by the way she conquers her disability. She lives as normally as she can.

It was about the sixteenth month after Lilly and Akira moved in. I found Lilly outside my room. Heh, her hearing was fine-tuned even back then.

"Oh! Hello. Who's there?"

"Hey, Lilly. What's up?"

"Ah, Zakuri! I… I wanted to… ask you something... maybe weird."

"And that might be?"

"Can… C-can I, uh, feel your face?"

I was struck by such a question. My wounds were still four years fresh, and I still felt uncomfortable with anyone touching me. I must have been quiet, because she started fidgeting and looking uncomfortable.

"Its…okay if you don't… want me to."

"No, I-I was just startled is all! Of course you can, Blondie!"

She lifted her hands hesitantly yet excitedly. I took her hands in mine and guided them to my face. She didn't gasp in horror. Not once did she call me a freak and run frightened. She was so nice to me when she felt my disfigured face. My heart sank in the realization that she might be faking it, but it rose through my throat when she said a few words after drawing back from my head.

"Your… really, kind of c-cute, Zakuri," she said giggling with the laugh that only makes itself known when she's truly happy.

She etched my entire head into her mind with a few strokes of her palm. She thanked me for my time. I couldn't help but grin stupidly. I had been avoided because of the way I looked for so long, that, when I heard those words, I couldn't help but be happy for the first time in a long while.

"I didn't know you attend here, Zakuri."

Her speech broke me out of my reverie, causing me to be a bit surprised.

"I decided to attend after a little trouble I got into last year. Just transferred in yesterday."

A mixed look of worry and panic took her over.

"Did it have anything to do with your heart?"

"Yeah, I did something stupid and had a bad episode. I'm fine now, and enough about me. It's been way too long since we last met, and I am really happy to see you again, Lilly."

"Zakuri… Well, I've been well. Usually there is someone else in here with me. Often we eat lunch in this very room. How has your first days been at our fair Yamaku Academy? You are… well, yes?"

"Yeah. It's good to be in a place where my scars are just that. Nobody treats me any different just because I have them. It's really nice. Shizune's been trying to rope me into the Student Council, though. That's kind of interesting. Seeing Misha and her try to get me to join, that is."

"She can be a handful sometimes, yes? Well, it's good to hear you have started to feel accepted by our students and faculty. So, how did you find your way here, Zakuri?"

"I was actually looking for the library!"

She giggled teasingly at the thought of me running from door to door, looking for a place filled with books.

"I can show you the way, if you are really interested."

"It'd be much appreciated, after I finish my tea."

Scene Nine: A Reflection

"...that late already?"

Lilly perked he head in my direction to show that she was listening.

"My, I hope it's not yet six o'clock. That is when the library closes."

I rotated my wrist towards my face to check the time. Thankfully, we had an hour and a half to make it to the library.

"We should probably start heading out. The library closes in ninety minutes, so we should book it if we want an adequate amount of time to do what we need to do."

"Hemph. 'Book it'? I could have come up with a better pun than that. But still, your argument is irrefutable."

I offered to clean up the tea we had in the tranquil room. I finish, and Lilly and I start towards the Halls of Knowledge. It's not really called that, but whatever. I liked it.

It doesn't take long for us to reach the entrance to the Home of the Books. I'm just full of terrible names. As we walk in, I hear a loud thump coming from underneath the desk next to the entrance. Lilly perks her head toward the disturbance.

"Ow…"

A voice of annoyed agony groans from its spot within the desk.

"Would that happen to be Yuuko," Lilly questioned the air.

A figure jumped from the counter with a face of apology and surprise. She had long, red hair, specs, and a neurotic sense of duty to sincerely apologize for simply breathing. She was covered in sweat and freckles, and she was rubbing the back of her head in pain.

"Ah! Lilly! I'm sorry. I shouldn't yell. I was just reaching for a pencil I dropped when I heard you enter. Oh. Hello. Who's this?"

"Yuuko, this is Zakuri. He is a treasured friend. Zakuri, this is Yuuko. Our resident librarian…," she paused," and one of the most sincere people I have ever met."

"Pleased to meet you, Yuuko."

"A pleasure! Lilly, I have to talk with you about your order of English, braille books."

"Have they come in yet?"

"No…"

I decided it was better for their conversation to be just between them, and excused myself to go look for a book or two. I past rows and rows of bound paper in between everything from leather covers to plastic sleeves. I picked out a few books from familiar authors. A collection of poetry here, and a cosmic horror novel there are just two of the books I plucked out. I was roaming around when I spied her again. Hanako.

She was sitting on one of the bean bags in the secluded area of the library where no one but a true adventurer could find. I read that in a manga once. Well, here goes nothing!

I stepped into her territory and found another beanbag to sit down on. She looked frightened by my sudden intrusion.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Hey, my name's Tamaki Zakuri. Do you mind if I sit here?"

"I-It's o-o-okay. S-sure. I already k-knew your name though."

"I like personal introductions much better than formalities."

"T-Then m-my name is H-Hanako."

"That's a cool name."

She blushed hard crimson in her cheeks and ears. Conversation dropped off after that small introduction. Every now and then, she would glance in my direction, like a hare would at a predator. I know this, because I occasionally did the same. This went back and forth until a final moment when our eyes, well, her eyes, my eye, met each other. She went into complete panic mode.

"I…I…"

"Hmm?"

"Igottagodosomething!"

She stormed off with such a fright that I let her get about fifteen feet before I had processed what exactly was going on.

"Hey! Hanako!"

She must have been worried that I was staring at her scars. Which is a silly notion, considering that I have the exact same problem. If she was constantly glancing at me, then she should've at least notice my blemished face.

I jog out to where Yuuko and Lilly are still conversing.

"Did you guys happen to notice a girl storm out of here? She had long, violet hair."

"Oh, dear. You must mean Hanako, right?"

"Yeah."

"Huh, I will go and collect her. I'll talk to you later, Yuuko. Farewell, Zakuri."

And with that, she left at an increased pace, no doubt to go calm Hanako down.

"I messed that up, big time."

"Well, what did you do?"

"Glance in her direction after trying to strike up a conversation. Good thing I didn't bust out any cheesy one liners, who knows what would've happened."

"She is a special case. She's quite anti-social, even to me. You may have set her off and she got scared. She is kind of anxious towards those she knows and even more apprehensive around complete strangers. You probably should have been more tactful."

"Should've left her alone. Huh, I have books over by where we were. I'll go get them."

I slump back with my books in tow.

"Poetry and Horror. That's an interesting combo. Quite intriguing. I hope you enjoy them."

Maybe that was the tact Yuuko was talking about. After that I wind up back in my dorm room, thumbing through the pages of poetic sensibilities.

Scene Ten: Night Terror

Every journey begins with the catalyst, that which sets off the beginning of a reaction.

"Are mommy and Karin coming back, daddy?"

"No, Zakuri…I-I'm sorry. Mommy and sissy aren't coming back. Not this time."

"Was it my fault? Why aren't they coming back?"

"No, Zak. They are…"

"Gone? Is that why I'm attached to these cables? Is that why I don't have my leg anymore?"

"I'm sorry, Zak. You may be able to walk again with a prosthetic, but you'll have to go through extensive physical therapy."

"Is that like PE? I had fun in PE. What about the cuts on my skin?"

"They're not cuts, Zak. Th-they're… burns. The damage is severe. That means they can't operate until you're body recovers strength. It's almost time for another cleaning. I know they hurt, son, but it'll be over before you know it. And when they are, I'll be there, okay?"

A silence passed.

"Karin missed her birthday, didn't she?"

"Yeah."

"Is my heart really broken? Mommy said that hers was broken after she lost her necklace. Can my heart be fixed?"

"Not literally, just know… know that you have to take medication from now on. You'll have Daddy help you from now on. It'll be okay, Sport. It'll be…be…"

I was too young to understand anything back then. Dad tried so hard to keep from falling apart. I was all he had left to live for, and he gave his damnedest for me, for everything.

Its four a.m. Yeesh, how my mind annoys me. I've been laying here for over an hour pondering why that memory was chosen from storage. Oh look. 5:30 a.m. Time for class at Yamaku. I wonder what awaits me today.

Scene Eleven: Something in Common

The entire first half of class passes uneventfully. Lunch makes itself know with its bell. I get up from desk only to be cornered by the tag team duo of Shizune and Misha.

"Hello~ Zacchan! We were wondering if~ you'd like to~"

Great! What're they going for now?

"~have lunch with us!"

"Yeah, why not? What do you think they have in the cafeteria?"

"Silly~! We're planning on going into town for lunch!"

"Then, we'd better get going if we all want an adequate meal."

[Don't worry about digging in your wallet. I've decided to treat us all to this meal. We plan on going to this little café in town. It's in the style of an old Chinese tea shop. It's called the Shanghai.]

[Thanks, Shizune. That's really kind of you.]

We walked into the hallway, all ready to travel to the Shanghai. That's when…

She happened.

I felt a sharp knock in my chest as my assailant and I fell to the floor. What I saw was not what I was expecting. She had on two running prosthesis and a girl's track uniform. She had pink hair pulled up into twin-tails, and was overly precious with her slightly wrinkled nose.

"Aw, man. Ow! Hey, are you okay?"

She was as cute as a puppy when she got up. My one weakness. I moved to answer when it hit. My heart rate increase without rhythm causing a sharp pain to shoot through my left arm. I rubbed my chest while taking slow deep breaths in order to keep from hyperventilating. Turns out she just knocked the wind out of me, but damn. She's powerful for her size.

"Hey, do I need to get the nurse?!"

Suddenly, I remember why I'm on the floor.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You just knocked the breath outta me."

Not long after I get up, Shizune's already on this girl's case.

[Miss Ibarazaki, are you not aware of the rules of the halls. There is to be no running. Zakuri has an important heart condition and you could've hurt him big time.]

This was all coming out of Misha's mouth, so it lessened in severity. But, that was private information Shizune. You could've just told her to be more careful.

"Omygosh! I am SO sorry. Are you hurt? Please don't be hurt or mad!"

I find myself smiling in spite of the severity of nature this could have had.

"I'm alright, Ibarazaki. Just watch out next time for a fellow prosthetic."

I lift my right pant leg, exposing my false limb. She gasped, looking at me with horror at the realization. She whimpers, but then pulls a complete 180 when she thinks about the time.

"Oh, crap. Look I have to get these papers to a teacher quick. See you around, Zakuri!"

"Interesting…"

I feel a tugging on my collar. Misha and Shizune were about to begin dragging me to the Shanghai. We promptly exited school grounds, heading down the hills, and entering the small town that's located next to Yamaku.

The Shanghai looked like an old time shop from an older Chinese dynasty era. I looked like it would appeal to anyone. Except there was no one in there. All of a sudden, there was a loud knock against what sounded like a table. To my surprise, it was Yuuko.

"Hello, and welcome to the Shanghai. I'll have you seated once I get your order."

She performed a hundred mile bow with her greeting.

"Yuuko? I didn't know you worked here."

"Zakuri? Ah, and Misha and Shizune! What'll you have?"

"Hello~ Yuuchan! I'll have a parfait and green tea with milk, Shicchan will have her usual tea. What'll you have Zacchan?"

"Coffee with milk and… I'll take the Miso soup and ramen. That looks good. Hmm, and a strawberry cake. Don't worry, Shizune. I'll pay for half my meal if you're treating Misha, yourself and me."

She wrinkled her girly nose, and her scowl faded into an attractive smile. Misha was as bubbly as ever.

[Thanks, Zakuri.]

"Maybe you should be treating your two cute~ class representatives instead, Zacchan!"

"Heh, heh. Maybe I should. Next time, I promise."

They both lit up in a crimson hue, trying to hide the fact that just embarrassed them. That made them even more enchanting. They both laughed it off, but I reassured them that I will keep the promise. Our food got to us without further delay, and we all dug in to our respective meals. That's when another unforgivable question graced Misha's lips as she was inhaling her parfait.

"Have you thought about joining Student Council, Zacchan?"

"No, Micchan~, Zakuri-kun has yet to ponder his position on joining the royal and prestigious Student Council."

"You don't have to be so patronizing, Zacchan."

She looked down, frowning hard.

"Sorry, Misha. I didn't mean to come off as condescending or rude. Please accept my apology." Bowing intensifies.

Her mood improves and she gave me a teeth-full grin.

I look down and see that we're now ten minutes late to class. Great.

"Hey, guys. We're late for class."

"We know, Zacchan!"

"I see that we're all working hard to rectify our current predicament. Well, whenever you're ready to mobilize, I'll be right behind you."

[You seem awfully moved to get back class, Zakuri.]

That's when she went into blunt mode.

[Are you sleeping alright? I remember you saying you had trouble getting to sleep. I've started noticing bags underneath your eyes, and you nodding off isn't very subtle. If you need help, ask for help.]

"Is that true, Zacchan? If you need help, you should ask for it. You're not alone here. You have friends like us to keep you on the straight and narrow~! Believe it~!"

Their sudden cheerfulness filled me with a sense of belonging. I'm really not alone here.

"Hey, guys?"

"Yes, Zacchan~~!"

"Thanks. Let's get back to class, alright?"

They both nodded with pleasure.

We returned in time for the last period of classes. As I was packing my belongings, the two cute class representatives of class 3-3 tugged on the back of my collar. They really like doing that.

"Zacchan~! We need you to get some art materials from the art room!"

"What? You can't do it?"

[The art teacher creeps me out.]

"Ignore him."

[Hasn't worked the past few times.]

"What about you, Misha?"

"Stairs make me dizzy, Zacchan. Pretty please, Zacchan? Can you get these materials for us? We need to start working on festival preparations before we fall behind."

"Alright, girls. I'll do it. Just don't spring stuff like this on me, okay?"

[We promise!]

"We~ solemnly swear that we~ will consult with you on when we need your help~! Will that be alright, Zacchan?"

I nod my head, taking the slip of paper for Misha. My hand brushes against hers for a second. Her palms are cold and a bit sweaty. Must be from the constant signing. And with that, they started towards the end of the hallway to the stairs.

I clutched the door knob to the art room.

"Must be it."

Knocking, I entered. The room looked deserted, so I jokingly called out:

"Hello? Might wanna put your clothes back…"

I'm stopped when a tomboyish girl appears in my view. I'm caught off guard so badly that, when she acknowledges my existence, I blankly stare at her for more than a moment.

"Hello. My clothes are on."

"Oh. Hey there, uh, I'm Tamaki Zakuri. Pleased to meet you."

"Tezuka Rin. It is well that I have met you."

"I didn't mean to interrupt your meal, but there are some supplies that I was ask to grab in here."

"It is alright. I do not mind. The supplies would be in the back."

"Thanks, Tezuka."

"Rin."

"Sorry?"

"You can call me Rin. I believe that this relationship has reached that level at least."

"Uh, thanks. Zakuri then."

"No problem. I think. Unless you are serial assaulter. But, you don't look like one. So, what's wrong with you?"

The rate at which this girl switches subjects is too damn high! Dead memes.

"What? I-I mean, what do you mean, 'what's wrong' with me?"

"I collect people, and their disabilities. Some people hurt though. They can't take it, so they end up in an even more melancholy situation than any artist in the past has. It is sad really I hope you're not one of them."

"If I was, I would have probably killed myself along time ago. For the most part, I'm fine with myself. Any whom, the real reason I'm at this school is not because of the scars or a lost limb. I have a bad heart condition, and, a while ago, I had a terrible relapse in status. I'm attending here while under rehabilitation."

"What limb did you lose?"

"Right leg."

"I know someone who lost both her legs. She likes sports and horses around a lot."

"Would that happen to be Miss Ibarazaki?"

"Yes. I wonder what it would be like if you had a problem with your member. I could've used someone in my collection with that disability."

"Eh, Right."

I thanked her for her insight into the world at large. I gathered the rest of the materials from the supply list, and exited the art room.

"What an interesting girl."

"I heard~ that!"

Suddenly I'm smacked in the face with gigantic pink drills. Misha's hair style is distinct, even when it's in my eyes.

"What did she hear, Zacchan~? Come to think of it, who's in there?"

Shizune opened the door. Her face set ablaze like fire on nitrate film. The door came slamming back as she huffed in a rage. Rin deftly open the door with her foot.

"Hello."

[Miss Tezuka, you know it is against school policy to sleep on the desks!]

Through Misha, the statement didn't sound so threatening, but Shizune's jabs clearly defined that there was an imminent threat around the bend.

"I am sorry. I'll try to sleep somewhere less distressing. Maybe the floor?"

"Have you been hard~ at work on your mural?"

"No inspiration has come forth for putting brush to wall, paint to brick."

That was deep. She probably has no idea what she just said.

[Well, start working harder! Everyone is pitching in for the festival in less than two weeks.]

With that, they took the materials from me and proceeded back to, presumably, the Student Council room. I turned back to Rin. She was contorting between faces, trying to decide what face best fit the situation.

"You need any help, Rin?"

"I'll need you to grab some paints and help me mix them."

"No problem."

I picked up her colors, and we proceeded down the stairwells towards the entrance. The nurse was waiting by the door. He spotted us, and proceeded towards us.

"Ah, Tamaki. And Miss Tezuka, as well. How are you?"

Before either of us could answer, the nurse asked Rin if he could see me alone for a minute. It was not a conversation I was expecting to have right now.

"My spy has reported to me that you haven't been to any of the school's facilities. Zakuri, you have to start exercising a tad bit more to help your heart recuperate. All I ask is that you head to the track within the coming mornings and see what you can do."

"Ah, yes sir. In fact, I was wondering if this school had a sort of weight lifting room, like a gym. So, I could work out you understand."

"We do. You can check it out after school tomorrow. Just go to the track in the morning. See you later, Zakuri. Miss Tezuka."

Rin didn't either notice or didn't acknowledge the Nurse's wave to her.

"Was he discussing something about your heart thingy?"

"Yeah."

Rin broke off conversation after that. Not as anything rude, just that she preferred the silence that passes between us over the words. I lifted her things over to her mural, and what I saw… intrigued me. Contortions of every part of the human body, bodies connected to faces connected to eyes, feet, and even a nose or two. This girl had some sense of direction. Or maybe she didn't have one at all, I couldn't tell.

"This mural is certainly interesting."

"Seven years bad luck."

"I know that. That's why I said 'interesting'."

"I appreciate it all the same."

We got started with the mixing process, which included mostly me on the ground swirling colors together to meet Rin's ever changing requirements.

"More green."

"This?"

"Hmm, a smidge of yellow?"

"Um…"

"Maybe white? I'm looking for the color that you see when you have just realize you are not alone within the universe, you know what I mean?"

"Maybe red?"

"I like that!"

This continued until it was too dark for me to mix and Rin to paint. We parted ways at the dorm rooms. I waved goodbye as Rin entered the girls' dorm. She is quite dexterous, and even though I just met her today, I want to get to know her better. I want peer into that shell she has encased herself in.

The bed feels as soft as ever.

Scene Twelve: Panic Attacks, Breathe

"AUGH!"

"Zakuri!"

"D-dad, I-I can't… feel…"

"Shit! Zakuri!"

My heart is on fire, almost not beating. Why is it so hot? I can't speak or move my body!

God! Help me, please! I don't understand what's going on!

"Doctor! He's waking up! Zakuri, you're okay!"

Dad looks crazy with worry. Have I done something wrong? Am I in a hospital again? Oh yeah, that's what a heart attack is like. They said to be careful with my heart and I was. And now I'm back here. Why is my life so screwed up? Does God hate me? Maybe I'm just not good enough for anyone.

No. I am good enough for someone, anyone. That was a memory of my first true heart attack. After that I started working out in the gym, increasing my cardio work outs every day to build my heart's strength. My life was only screwed up because it looked that way then, but I realize now that life is indifferent; it doesn't care because it'll go on and on, without any concern for those it leaves behind. I've grown stronger since then, but I snafued bad one day, and it landed me here. I won't live as long as everyone else, I won't be the average, but I know I can find something in this live, no matter how small it may be.

Well, I got at least seven hours of sleep tonight, because its 5:30 a.m. I'm already up, so I decide to get up and head for breakfast in the cafeteria. It's too early to walk into town, and I might not make back before classes starts.

The cafeteria was buzzing with students in the school. There were a couple of first and second years causing trouble with their friends. Odd to think that they'll be here after I'm gone. I spied a familiar blonde head, grabbed breakfast, and strode over to her table.

"Hey, Lilly. Mind if I sit here?"

She looked surprised at my arrival.

"Oh, of course not, Zakuri."

"Thanks. So, how did things go over with our avid reader?"

"Huff, Hanako got frightened because she looked you in the eye, and was afraid that you would get angry."

Her cheeks puffed out a little, making her cuter than normally. It's like I'm thinking with a different head than the one on my shoulders.

"Well, if she's here today, I can make amends. I was just trying to make a conversation with her, but I guess she isn't ready for that yet. So, Lilly. How have you been over the past few years?"

She was slightly stunned by my reversal of topic.

"Well, after Akira got her job, I had to be home to keep everything in order. It was more than lonely sometimes, and others were quite difficult. I sometimes wonder if we should have never moved out of your father's residence. I only moved into the dorms during this year as a way to lessen the strain on Akira. She's given so much to me."

"Hey, don't look so glum, Blondie. She loves as an older sister should. Never doubt that you always give back to Akira. Just having you around is sometimes what she needs to make it through the difficulty of her job. Akira cares for you, and, though she may not always be around, you have her in your heart. Even if that begins to wane, you have people around you who still care for you as much as Akira does."

With every word she brightens up greatly. My heart is relieved to see her this happy.

"I hope to count you among them. Zakuri."

I don't care if she can't see it, because I can't seem to wipe the smile off my face.

"Of course."

"Zakuri?"

Her face is suddenly saddened, but it's gone by the time I notice.

"Thank you. Excuse me. Have good day at school."

She gets up from the table with the sweetest smile I've seen all week. When she leaves, I finish off my less than average meal, but I don't care. I'm still smiling. I'm still surviving.

Ah, crap. I'll go to the track tomorrow.


Noot de Autoir: Hello! Oh, sorry that was too exciting of a greeting; lemme try again. *Ahem* Hello! Welcome to the second chapter in the ongoing (I hope) saga of Tamaki Zakuri and his romantic antics. Little bit about me? I'm a closeted hetero sexual with little to no friends trying to escape his father's absence. Anyway, S: Deja Vu, Japanesey Anime wid th tddies an thighs, and Nice Boat.