Chapter 2

Escapism

Throughout class, Miyu felt as if someone was hitting her head with a hammer.

She sat holding her forehead with an expression which depicted the extreme pain she was going through.

But of course, Miyu was not going to accept she was sick.

She tried her best to look happy and healthy. Also, when Kanata glanced at Miyu in between class, she immediately straightened up and gave him a sweet smile.

He didn't fall for it.

In fact, he had been looking at her out of the corner of his eye throughout class, and he was sure he wasn't imagining her wincing in pain.

But the girl just wouldn't tell them- or him- what was wrong with her.

As soon as the bell rang, Kanata, Nanami, Aya, Nozomu, Christine and Santa sprang out of their seats like there was a spring attached to it and hurried to Miyu's seat. Apparently, Kanata wasn't the only one who had noticed Miyu's weird behaviour.

"Ok, spill it girl. What is wrong with you?" Nanami asked Miyu.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Miyu asked her, forcing a smile.

"Miyu, you have to tell us what's wrong so that we can help you." Christine said.

"Yes Miyu, unless you tell us what's wrong, we won't be able to help you." Nozomu said.

Miyu opened her mouth to defend herself, but fortunately for her, Miss Mizuno called her to discuss something important.

Next period was P.E.

The group decided on asking her later, and separated, since boys and girls had to go to their locker rooms.

During P.E, the boys were playing soccer, whereas the girls were playing badminton.

Again, by the middle of the period, Miyu was feeling dazed, but she ignored the tingly feeling. She thought it was because of the sun.

Miyu was just damaging her most prized possession by ignoring it; her health.

After P.E, it was lunchtime, much to Miyu and the gang's relief.

When all six teens confronted Miyu again, they had no such luck because Ms. Mizuno wanted to talk to Miyu regarding an assignment.

"Mizuno-sensei, did you call me?" Miyu asked her teacher, who was currently going through Miyu's assignments.

"Ah, yes Miyu! Come, sit here."

What did I do know? I remember giving all my assignments to her, and I also tried concentrating in class...

"Miyu! Don't worry, you're not in trouble!" Said Miss Mizuno, trying to control her giggles.

"Huh? I... How did you know I was thinking about that?" Miyu asked her teacher, shocked.

"Oh, I think I didn't tell you that I took professional face reading classes, which..." Miss Mizuno started.

Here we go again... Miyu sweat dropped.

"So you see, I immediately got to know what you were thinking because of the expression you were making." Miss Mizuno concluded.

"Ah... yes, yes. Now, Mizuno-sensei, what did you call me for?" Miyu asked, forcing a smile.

"Oh, I almost forgot about that."

Sure you did.

"So what I was saying was that I read your assignments submitted for my class, and I was very impressed."

"Really? I thought they were okay." Miyu said.

"They are very creative and imaginative. I really liked them. I called you to suggest you about joining the school newspaper. I also showed them you're assignments and they loved them! You just have to go to the editorial office and tell them you want to join the school newspaper." Said Miss Mizuno.

Miyu was shocked by now. Of course, when she had written the assignments, she has shown them to Kanata and he had said they were very good. But she thought it was just to encourage her.

"I will do that Mizuno-sensei. Thank you!" Miyu said.

"You're welcome. Now go along, you don't want to be late for lunch." Miss Mizuno said.

"Thank you Mizuno-sensei!" And with that, Miyu hurried out.

Miyu reached class, when the bell rang, indicating that lunchtime was over.

Much to Miyu's dismay, she couldn't have lunch.

That's okay. One day without lunch won't do anything to me.

On the other hand, the group was very worried about Miyu. They had seen her hurry out of class and skip lunch.

But the most worried person in this case was Kanata. Plus, he had this weird feeling in his gut that something very bad was going to happen.

Her pain, His sorrow

After lunchtime, they had an emergency assembly, arranged by the principal.

Of course, if it was arranged by the principal, it meant either a lecture on how to take care of monkeys, or either a lecture on how Monkichi, his pet monkey, changed his life.

In assembly, all students were supposed to stand height wise, and there were 2 lines for each class. One boy's line and one girl's line.

Due to Miyu and Kanata's height being almost the same, they were standing side-by-side. Nanami was standing Behind Miyu, but due to Aya's short height, Aya was standing somewhere in front. Christine was just behind Nanami.

Behind Kanata was Nozomu and in front of him was Santa. Originally, Kanata and Nozomu had the same height, but Nozomu had insisted on standing behind Kanata because he thought girl's liked tall boys. Kanata was definitely not interested in being admired but girls, so he had shoved Nozomu behind.

The students were standing in the hall for about 5 minutes, when the principal arrived and addressed the students. He started about a lecture on how to take care of monkey's, When a boy shouted 'I knew it!', only to get glares from the students and teachers. But of course, the principal remained clueless.

Hardly anyone was paying attention to what the principal was saying, and half of the student population was talking to either their friends, or dozing off.

The student council was called together, and was told to mind the students, and shut them up, whatever it took.

Naturally, As soon as Kanata reached the girl's to tell them to shut up, they started drolling over him.

He got very annoyed, but he kept chanting in his head, this is you're job and It's for the school's decorum.

In between assembly, Miyu started feeling dizzy. But she held herself for quite a lot of time.

Also, to her dismay, the students were not allowed to go to the washroom or to drink water.

Meanwhile, Nanami and Santa were arguing about Santa's Tofu man movies. According to Santa, Tofu man was the coolest superhero ever, whereas Nanami said Tofu man was just lame.

Christine and Nozomu were talking about random things, since they had nothing other to talk about.

By now, Miyu didn't want anything else but to sit down. Her legs had become wobbly, but she was not allowed to sit.

The principal was blabbering about how a monkey hates it when you give a banana to it the wrong way.

Now, Nanami was on the verge of hitting Santa, and Nozomu and Christine were trying to hold her back. Aya had also reached back and was trying to cool down Nanami and at the same time was scribbling down notes.

Kanata had also come to sort out the fight between his two friends, and was just getting shoved back by Nanami again and again.

Miyu could not hold it longer. Her vision had become blurred, and legs had become so weak.

Kanata turned around, only to find Miyu pale and weak.

"Miyu?" He called, and his eyes widened in horror when Miyu landed straight into Kanata's chest.

He grabbed her and picked her up bridal style and dashed out of the hall straight to the clinic. Their friend's were following closely, who had seen the whole scene and were horrified and shocked.

Her pain, His sorrow

"How come nobody out of all you five saw her in that state? Oh, how could I forget, you were too busy on fighting over the Tofu man!" Kanata shouted.

"Hey, calm down Kanata, You are just over reacting." Aya said.

"I'm overreacting? What if something happened to her? What if she died?" Kanata shouted.

"Don't be stupid Kanata. We understand that you are angry, but please stop shouting." Nozomu said.

All Nozomu got was a grumble and Nanami and Santa, who were petrified by Kanata, got glares which made them wish they were dead.

"Kanata Saionji?" The clinic Doctor asked

Kanata hurried over to the doctor. "Yes, that's me. What happened to her? Is she okay?" Kanata asked.

"First of all, I would like to ask you, did you know Miyu had fever today? She is burning up like anything! And how did you let her come to school today? Do you know the consequences due to that could be so bad?" The doctor fired questions at him.

"Whoa, wait! She had fever?"

'Why is your hand so warm? It's burning!" Kanata exclaimed, extending his free hand to touch her forehead.

"Oh, that... um.. I just washed my hands with hot water, so maybe that's why they are... hot."

"She lied to me! She said she was okay! No wonder she was avoiding us the whole day!"

"Well then, all I can tell you is that she has very- very high fever. You take her home. Once she is awake, ensure her everything will be okay, and don't let her panic. That will just make it worse." The doctor said.

"Thank you doctor." Kanata said, gloomily.

How did I not realise before? What kind of friend am I? What if something happened to her?

Kanata's worried thought's circled his head.

A/N: Hello!

Please review the second chapter of 'Her pain, His sorrow'!

Hope you like it! :D