No way... that's f**king impossible. (Ren)
My fingers reflexively delete that message.
Although it's just a coincidence, the address name that the spammer used has made me even more pissed off than usual.
I close my eyes.
I close my mind.
I do so in an attempt not to think about anything.
"What's f**king impossible?" (Rinko)
"Uwa! Rin...ko?" (Ren)
"Hey, you look really pale right now." (Rinko)
"..." (Ren)
I don't answer her. I can't answer her.
The confusion in my mind grows bigger and bigger, and the pain becomes unbearable.
"Want to go to the infirmary?" (Rinko)
"Yeah..." (Ren)
I don't really want to go.
But I don't want to attend my afternoon classes in my current condition, either.
"Got it. I'll just do that." (Ren)
"Can you get there on your own? Do you want me to take you there?" (Rinko)
"Ugh..." (Ren)
"My headache suddenly grows worse. (Rinko)
I almost say, "I'm not your son, and you're not my mother", but remembering what happened this morning, I barely manage to avoid saying it.
"You see...?" (Rinko)
"No, I'll be fine. See? I can walk just fine." (Ren)
"...Really?" (Rinko)
I keep a solid grip on my mind and begin to walk while treading with extremely careful, firm steps.
"Ren..." (Rinko)
Her voice sounds pleading. I mustn't turn around.
I'll let Rinko know that I can take care of my own body. That I don't need her to watch over me like an overprotective mother in the future...
"Excuse me... Huh?" (Ren)
The first thing that came to my mind as I entered the room, was the sharp scent of iodoform.
Then, the fact that it was empty.
When I survey the surroundings, the COM robot on top of the desk responds, turning its sensors to stare at me.
"Hello~ Sensei is currently out of office! So come back soon or leave a message with her trusty assistant, Sa-10~." (Bot)
"Wha-?!" (Ren)
"For people who have extremely urgent business, just make a call using the number below, okay~?" (Bot)
"What the hell's up with that voice...?" (Ren)
Even though this should have been an escape from Rinko, it feels like I've been caught in another trap. Rather than easing up my headache, this is just making it worse.
It's rude for her to just selfishly take a break during the recess time for students.
As I think this, I try to take one of the beds, but...
"Ugh!" (Ren)
The choking stench of medicine is overwhelming.
No good. I'm completely helpless in this place.
I decide to leave for somewhere else.
The gardens on the roof truly are the embodiment of the "path of wind".
The weather's good today.
Because it's the lunch break, students are sitting carefreely all around the roof, using whatever spot they please.
They are eating at the lawn, chatting on the benches, and playing soccer and volleyball at the plaza.
At the back is a clover garden, where you'll see girls searching for four-leaved clovers.
I look for the shade of a tree where I can be as far away from this noisy group as possible.
A place where I don't have to talk to anyone...
Where I can be all alone and bury myself in my own personal solitary world...
Is the sky alone as well?
Does the sun feel loneliness?
What about when the sun and the moon meet?
Questions with no answers just unconsciously flow into my brain.
Nevertheless, I feel much better out here than I did inside.
I feel a little wave of relief pass through me.
It is a beautiful night with a full moon.
Right in front of me is an elegant garden filled with beautiful flowers that stretch out as far as the eye can see.
I see the figure of a lone girl there.
The gentle moonlight rains from the sky, as if it's blessing the girl. No, that's exactly what it's doing.
The girl is being blessed by all sorts of things. Almost as if the world existed solely for her sake...
Completely different from me.
She creates what she wills, accepts everything as they are, and...
I'm holding a doll.
It's a doll modeled after a rabbit.
It's her doll.
I know that.
When I look up, I see the crescent moon that's crimson like blood.
Is it smiling at her?
Or, is it sneering at me?
I grasp the doll.
The doll's head falls off.
The surrounding scenery vanishes at the same time.
The garden, moon, and girl all begin to dissolve into the scarlet darkness.
Everything's vanishing, leaving only a deep crimson world behind.
A gloss like velvet dyes my field of vision burning red.
My heart is filled with relief.
I sigh and mutter something at the same time.
"This is all right..." (Ren)
"~~Kukukukuku~~"
Suddenly, I hear the sound of ear-grating laughter. I shift my focus to the rabbit head that had fallen to the ground, which is grinning at me.
...No, that's wrong.
The head that's laughing is not the rabbit's.
It's-
"...!" (Ren)
I try to scream.
But my voice won't come out.
That head is-
"~~Kwukukukwakkuku~~"
Emitting laughter. Endless laughter.
The rabbit's head has my face-
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" (Ren)
My consciousness is violently ripped from the dream.
I open my eyes.
Where am I?
I'm unable to focus my eyes, leaving everything in my field of vision blurry.
My whole body is covered in slick sweat.
My heart's pounding harder than a jackhammer.
Chaos reigns in my head.
It hurts to breathe.
Just what was I...
I'm still at the gardens on the roof, which are the same as always.
It seems I suddenly fell asleep while lying down.
And then I had a nightmare, same as always. That's all...
There's no one around. Have classes already started?
I may be skipping class, but I don't feel a shred of guilt.
There's no real difference whether I leave or not.
The once clear sky is now covered in clouds.
The moon and the sun cannot be seen from behind the silvery shroud.
What am I doing all alone in a place like this?
The girl who appeared in my dream suddenly appears in my mind.
...No, stop thinking. She's long gone.
She's dead. I have to forget her.
I still have a headache, though the pain died down a little.
There's something wrong with me today... what with what happened this morning and now.
If I'm late to class as it is, then it might be best to go home early.
"Whew..." (Ren)
I let out a lone sigh and stand up. And then, I decide to leave the paradise-turned- hell known as the roof.
TRING TRONG DINg DONG...
I hear the bell ring. It seems a period was over. And when I turn around, I see...
"Didn't you go to the infirmary?" (Rinko)
"I'm going now." (Ren)
"'Now'... So where were you until now?" (Rinko)
"The roof." (Ren)
"Oh, I see... Wait, why the roof?" (Rinko)
"It doesn't really matter, does it...?" (Ren)
"I really don't like that, That's why I told you we should have gone together." (Rinko)
"It would have been the same either way. There was no one in the infirmary when I got there." (Ren)
"Huh? I saw her not too long ago when I passed by the infirmary." (Rinko)
In the end, no matter how much I try to ignore her, she'll definitely keep meddling in my affairs. That's just the kind of person Shirai Rinko is.
That's why I have no choice but to go along with her.
"Then that's good timing. I'll go there straight away." (Ren)
"I can't trust you. We really should go together..." (Rinko)
"The next class is starting..." (Ren)
"Huh? Ah, yeah, that's true, but..." (Rinko)
"Tell me what we covered later." (Ren)
"Sure, I'm fine with that, but..." (Rinko)
Of course, there's no need for that.
But because I'm so desperate to escape from the fiendish clutches of Rinko by any means necessary, that's all I could think of saying.
"Then, I'll be going now." (Ren)
"If you insist. After all, I'm probably the only one whose notes you can borrow." (Rinko)
"Leave me alone." (Ren)
"Hey... you haven't made any new friends, right?" (Rinko)
"I haven't." (Ren)
"Why not?" (Rinko)
"I hate it when people accompany and flock around me." (Ren)
"But it's different when you're with people who are similar to you. That's right, you like plants, don't you? That's why you'd gone up to the roof just now, right? Why not join the horticulture clu-" (Rinko)
"Absolutely not." (Ren)
"Huh? But..." (Rinko)
"It's true that I calm down when I'm surrounded by plants. That's because they don't go inconsiderately talking to me. Unlike a certain someone..." (Ren)
"Ren..." (Rinko)
When she says that, I come to a realization.
I've hurt even Rinko.
At that moment...
"You didn't use to be like this." (Rinko)
"I've liked plants in the past." (Ren)
"No, that's not what I meant. Up until middle-school, you used to have plenty of friends." (Rinko)
"I've forgotten them." (Ren)
"So it really is because of what happened..." (Rinko)
My uncertain memories begin to dye the depths of my heart dark-the hue of tar.
My brain is stirred up, and my past swoops down on me in the form of a headache.
It flares up and tries to materialize like a monster.
"Ren?" (Rinko)
The one in front of me is my childhood friend... This is the hallway... the class bell has just rung...
"Well then, please answer for me during roll call." (Ren)
"Huh? H-Huh? I can't answer you there! Despite everything, I'm still a girl, y'know!" (Rinko)
I ignore her and quicken my pace.
Wicked, unseemingly emotions rage in my heart.
I'd wanted to forget it.
Why did she make me remember that which I should have forgotten?!
"Oh-ho. Kudos to you for actually making it here." (?)
The school doctor, Saten Ruiko, is here, saying ridiculous things as always.
"You say 'actually'... but where did you go?" (Ren)
"Huh? Ah, well, you know. Refueling myself. I was a bit low on nicotine." (Saten-sensei)
"Ah, I see. Your fuel efficiency could be better, though." (Ren)
"Piss off." (Saten-sensei)
Geez, she's nothing like a normal doctor.
What with her coquettish makeup, earrings, manicure, vulgar language, and excessive smoking that'd make a chain smoker blush...
Naturally, she doesn't smoke in the infirmary, but as a result of that, she frequently abandons her post. She's what you'd call 'extremely negligent'. She's the most unfitting person you could find for a school doctor.
But that's why I don't hate her.
Above all else, her relaxed attitude is one of her good points. She doesn't look down on us like we're some kind of lab rats, unlike the rest of the teachers or the society at large.
She accepts students for who they are.
These may just be my selfish thoughts, but I really feel like that's what she is.
"By the way, can't you do something about that answering machine of yours? It is way too different from your own personality." (Ren)
"If I'd spoken with my normal tone of voice, it might offend people, y'know? That's why I tried my best to act cute. I was quite confident in my performance." (Saten-sensei)
"Rather than offend me, now it just made me feel more sick..." (Ren)
"Hmm, is that right...?" (Saten-sensei)
"Ah, no..." (Ren)
I really am saying way too much today.
It feels like something uncontrollable is raging within me.
That's why I...
"By the way, what's your business here?" (Saten-sensei)
"Ah, right..." (Ren)
I don't dislike these random mood swings of Saten-sensei's either.
"I see... You don't have a fever." (Saten-sensei)
As the thermometer registers my temperature, the weather starts improving again.
"Yeah. So, I don't need medicine. I just need your permission to let me go home early." (Ren)
"Hmph, you're the 13th person today." (Saten-sensei)
"What do you mean?" (Ren)
"Requesting to go home early. Aside from you, there's a lot of students who aren't feeling well today." (Saten-sensei)
"..." (Ren)
It's not just me?
Come to think of it, I felt like there were a lot of kids absent today.
"I was really busy dealing with them all morning long, which is why I took such a long break this afternoon." (Saten-sensei)
"You don't have to make excuses, Sensei. You were out for so long for the same reason as always: because you just wanted to smoke." (Ren)
"Mmm, I wish this school would allow smoking in this room... Or at least put a cigarette vending machine at the school store..." (Saten-sensei)
Yea, right... unfortunately, this is a school, though.
"Even though today's a blue Monday, this is a bit too many people for that. I wonder if it's because of that crazy eclipse?" (Saten-sensei)
Saten-sensei's quick to change the topic as always.
It's probably so she can move the conversation away from topics that stir up negative emotions.
That's become one of the main reason why I feel so comfortable talking to her.
"We're not computers, though." (Ren)
"See that's what's so confusing here. It is no mystery that the moon can influence biological organisms to some extent. So why is it that it caused errors in the computer networks?" (Saten-sensei)
"By affecting the mind and body, are you talking about the whole, "In the full moon, you'll turn into a werewolf" thing? That's obviously just a superstition, right? This isn't like you at all, Sensei." (Ren)
"Oi~Oi~ Ren. You'll never be a good scientist if you get fooled by the word 'superstition' and throw away the truth. After all, isn't physics your specialty?" (Saten-sensei)
"Huh?" (Ren)
"Hee hee hee~, this isn't like you. What other phenomenon occurs all the time between Earth and the Moon aside from a lunar eclipse?" (Saten-sensei)
"Ah, you mean the tidal forces... right?" (Ren)
"Correct. You're starting to see the bigger picture. Yes, yes, you're a smart boy. Just as I expected." (Saten-sensei)
"'Expected'... You can't have favorites, Sensei." (Ren)
"It's much better than persecuting you, isn't it? It's not like I'm in charge of any classes, so it's only inevitable that I'd get along with a student who frequently came here." (Saten-sensei)
"You're the same as always... But tidal forces... in other words, the moon's gravitational attraction, is too weak to affect human bodies, right? Gravity is the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, after all." (Ren)
"But it's also the farthest reaching power. It seems like you don't know about Heaven Canceller-sensei's famous 'biotide theory'" (Saten-sensei)
The Heaven Canceller? The only person to win the Physiology Nobel Prize six times? ...He had published such a theory? I never knew...
"Biotides... so basically the same thing in biological organisms?" (Ren)
"Yes! That's a correct analysis, Ren." (Saten-sensei)
"Then you're saying that it wouldn't be strange if the same effects showed up for new and full moon?" (Ren)
"I think it's probably concerned regarding the psychological effects it exerts on your vision. When you see the moon beginning to wax, you feel your mental state pumping up, and when you see it begin to wane, you start to feel depressed." (Saten-sensei)
"If that's the case, then what about rainy and cloudy days?" (Ren)
"Just like I said earlier, human bodies are directly affected by tidal forces. even if, for argument's sake, you can't see the moon in the sky, the cells in the human body know if it's currently a new or full moon." (Saten-sensei)
"Then you're saying..." (Ren)
The moon's waxing and waning cycles are deeply engraved into humans' bodies, so our mind's 'eye' can still 'see' the moon, even if it is not physically visible to us." (Saten-sensei)
"But isn't the stuff you're talking about right now just related to normal full and new moons?" (Ren)
"Yeah, that's right. But even you know what can only happen during a lunar eclipse for a full moon, right?" (Saten-sensei)
"The Earth's shadow falls on the side of the moon facing the dark side of Earth, leaving it at an angle where you can see the entire moon being taken over... I believe this only happens during lunar eclipses with full moons and solar eclipses with new moons. If that's the case..." (Ren)
"You see the moon that should be round and shining suddenly wane all at once like a new moon, and then turn red, as if it were dyed with blood. Meaning you probably get the impact of both the full and new moon coming at the same time." (Saten-sensei)
"...And then that information is spread through the cells that comprise our body one after another..." (Ren)
"Yeah. The period of the new moon saps our vitality. In extreme cases, it can guide those depressed to suicide, as if it were attracting them... (Saten-sensei)
At that point, Saten-sensei averts her gaze.
She reaches her fingers into the pocket of her white coat and smoothly takes out a light green package with a broken seal- clearly full of cigarettes.
"S-Sensei?!" (Ren)
"A-Ah, this is strange. What's up with me? Ahahaha..." (Saten-sensei)
As she says this, she suddenly stops moving for cigarettes. Was she feeling so withdrawn that she subconsciously searched for nicotine?
"I understand how you feel, but you can't do that here." (Ren)
It happened two weeks ago.
On the night of the new moon, a group that met on the Cloud committed suicide.
One of their members was a student from this school. Saten-sensei thought "I should have tried to save them."...
"Yeah, you're right... So what were we talking about?" (Saten-sensei)
"Biotides. You were telling me about them. What does that theory have to do with the full moon?" (Ren)
"Right. On the other hand, if it's a full moon, your vitality increases." (Saten-sensei)
"I see. But that is a good thing, right?" (Ren)
"Normally... Yes. But the negative side is that hysterical and angry people tend to lose sight of themselves, and thus are prone to causing incidents and violent crimes." (Saten-sensei)
"Then I'd better watch out for you." (Ren)
"You can seriously piss off." (Saten-sensei)
I don't actually feel that way.
The Saten-sensei I know is always levelheaded.
No one could have stopped that group's suicide. It's not Sensei's fault.
"Right, and full moon has some physical side effects as well. Specifically, your nerves and muscles get tense, resulting in headaches and stiff shoulders." (Saten-sensei)
"...Headaches?" (Ren)
These headaches that have been tormenting me are the result of tidal forces?
"These frail shoulders of mine have also been feeling quite strained." (Saten-sensei)
"Frail... that's not the moon's fault. It's your age, right?" (Ren)
"Oh-ho, you've got quite the nerve, Mitsubachi Ren-kun?" (Saten-sensei)
"Y-Yes?" (Ren)
"I wonder... are you aware of the proverb, 'not to try the patience of Satan'?" (Saten-sensei)
"Ah, you really are turning brutal! Well then, I'm not feeling well, so off I go!" (Ren)
"H-Hey, Ren! Take some pity on me for a minute and give me some good shoulder massage!" (Saten-sensei)
I feel like I can hear Saten-sensei grumbling behind me, but I ignore her and continue running for dear life.
I feel like I've been doing the same thing the whole day...
The city is full of people chatting and having happy conversations amongst themselves.
I wonder what everyone else is thinking?
There's no way for people to know the worries of strangers.
Even with telepathy, knowledge is possible, but comprehending them is a different story.
Also regarding Telepathy, I had conflicting thoughts regarding that specific esper power.
After all, if I had an esper power- it'll probably be something related to the mind.
The reason is quite simple, esper powers are somehow hereditary.
And if my mom could once be a Level 1 Telepath, then I perhaps could only inherit her mind-manipulative powers.
Not that the thought fascinated me, like at all.
Still, it was an intriguing concept.
How would you look into someone's brain?
Is there more to it than a lump of pink and grey nerve cells? Or, are there really any souls embedded there?
In the first place, even I don't know what goes on inside my own mind, let alone others.
I don't know myself. What do I want to do?
I have no goals. I just aimlessly go to school.
Perhaps, even a cleaning robot has more ambition than me.
And, as if to wash that away, nightmares swoop down on me every night, leaving me living in fear.
Is that my way of living?
Is that the life I've chosen for myself?
It feels like it is, yet it also feels like it isn't at the same time.
That's why I don't know myself.
At that moment, I hear my cellphone ringing.
A message? I've got a bad feeling about this.
-You have 1 unread message-
Read Back
"..." (Ren)
The title is "Onii-chan?"
And just as expected, the sender's address is...
*Honk* *Honk*
"Huh?"
A jet black sports car suddenly appears before my eyes.
In a panic, I fall flat on the ground.
The rear wheels drift, screeching loudly, losing their traction on the ground, as the car's black frame approaches at a threatening velocity.
"Ahh!" (Ren)
I instinctively cover my face with my hands.
Nothing happened.
I timidly lower my hands to see...
A mere ten centimeters away from me is the streamlined body of a car I've only seen on TV. It's a Diablo... an absolute technological beast with over 2600 HP's of raw power whose very name means 'devil' in Latin. A car for the absolute-super-rich.
The door springs upwards.
I see a long-haired, unfamiliar, brown-haired beautiful woman.
Her lips are glossy, yet thin and simple.
She removes her sunglasses and looks towards me with a glare that feels like it could pierce through anything.
This is no ordinary person.
I have met some Level 4s, but this person...
I feel shivers shoot up my spine.
Cold sweat begins to run down my forehead.
I feel like a frog being glared by a snake. I can't move, to say nothing less of taking my eyes off her. Just then...
"What are you looking at?" (?)
"Ah, s-sorry..." (Ren)
The woman takes her hands off the steering wheel and says this, rubbing the area around her left wrist with her left hand that's wrapped in a white leather glove.
"Your survival is thanks only to my skills as a driver." (?)
"Ah, right..." (Ren)
The woman presses down all over her left tendons with her right thumb, every time she does, a slight spark of electricity is produced.
An Electromaster? And a high-leveled one, too? But why do I feel such an inhuman vibe from her, though?
"I hate imbeciles." (?)
"Huh?" (Ren)
She glares at me once again.
"If this happens again, I'm running you over." (?)
"Ah..." (Ren)
That's not a warning. It's a declaration.
Right now, every single cell in my body is absorbing the immense killing intent that she's giving off.
This person... she's very dangerous.
At that instant, all strength leaves my body.
"Ah...Ah..." (Ren)
I'm frozen like a deer in headlights.
Even so, my shoulders are trembling like crazy.
For a while, I can't even breathe.
["Right. On the other hand, if it's a full moon, your vitality increases." (Saten-sensei)]
The words Saten-sensei said replay in my mind.
["Normally... Yes. But the negative side is that hysterical and angry people tend to lose sight of themselves, and thus are prone to causing incidents and violent crimes." (Saten-sensei)]
Could this behavior of her's be influenced by yesterday's full moon, too? Or the eclipse?
Where humans become brutal and incidents happen?
"Huh?" (Ren)
My trembling fingertips had pressed a button on the cellphone that I'm firmly grasping. On the screen is...
"are you there? i am here!"
That's it for this week.
It was meant to be a single chapter, but then I decided to make it two ones... ^^ Makes chapter breaks more reasonable...
Thanks once again for reading it.
As always, R&R... Reviews motivate writers, as I m sure everyone's aware jaja... Also, I m looking for constructive criticism...
Btw I'm beta-ing this myself... I really don't know how to approach authors here lol. Kinda a klutz in social dept. So, if you find any grammar or spell errors, please lemme know...:)) I'm available for PM in such cases. Also, plot suggestions are welcome. Also, if you have any ships you wanna see... lemme know too. I'll try to incorporate them if it seems feasible to the fic I'm writing...
So, until next Sunday... tc...
Lex.