Going on vacation, 2 weeks. Hopefully this is enough.

No internet for 2 weeks...I don't know how I'll make it :D

Does rating T cover coarse language? I hope so. Getting this taken down would be a bother...

Enjoy!


It's early October, shouldn't the songbirds be long gone?

I drag myself up towards the desk, eyes still refusing to open properly. I hate mornings like these.

Not bothering to get clothes, I tumble out of my room, towards the showers. I almost bump into some dude; fortunately, unlike me, he has the presence of mind to dodge the incoming person.

I do some kind of half-step, keeping my forward momentum, but then I lose balance again.

A short roll later, I'm stretched out on the floor in front of the shower room, staring at the ceiling. Well, at least I'm here.

With a pained creak, the door opens, and I make my way to the first sink.

Turns out a splash of cold water is just what I need to break out of this sleepy daze. With a much clearer head, I go back through the hallway, towards my room. The guy I nearly tackled is nowhere to be found.

I open the window not only to get some fresh air in, but to check the temperature outside. Seems a bit chilly.

After picking out appropriate clothes, I step back into the hallway, this time much more elegantly.

There's still no one here. I ponder the option of waking my hall-mates up, but odds are they won't know how to appreciate the extra hours in the day.

Dumping my clothes to the side, I step into the far left shower. That one I particularly like for some reason, so it's fair to say it's going to be 'mine' sooner or later.

Still warm from the bed, I decide to stay away from cold water, going for near-boiling again.

My mind wanders while my body is cleansed, focusing on my blurry reflection on the support rails inside the stall.

Figures they'd have to have these. Some students would have trouble getting around without them.

It's kind of depressing though, having to rely on things like support rails. In comparison, I got off easy.

I'm just a medically approved klutz...Well, I do faint a lot, but that's just the way my heart works.

Didn't happen in a while now, though.

Must be taking care of myself better than I used to; Then again, maybe it's the lifestyle. Three days, and the most I did was climb stairs.

I turn the valve down, stepping out.

Much like last time, the mirror is clouded and foggy. Maybe I could leave a message for someone?

I don't know many people though...not good enough for this, at least.

Oh, wait. There's an idea...

"Guten Morgen, Mein Furher."

It's bordering on bad taste, but it's worth the risk.

Besides, he'll forget about it by the time Monday comes around. Hopefully.

I get dressed and head back to the room once again. Turns out I lack the foresight to bring my wallet immediately.

The idea of closing the window appears in my head, but I figure it's better to leave it open. I'm not taking too long anyway.

Stepping out into the cold air outside, I put on my swag-jacket. I call it that because it looks motherfucking awesome, and it makes me feel like a boss for wearing it.

Now then, to the mural.


I expected the cold. Didn't expect the wind again.

However, I made a promise to meet, and such promises should be kept...

So I arrive to the mural, finding nothing but a stronger gust of wind. She's not here yet.

I sigh, checking my watch. It says it's 8 AM. Sure, I didn't specify exactly how early in the morning we were supposed to meet, but she should be able to guess.

I'll give her 15 minutes, then send a text...

Damn, I don't even have her number. I should've taken care of that before she went out yesterday.

Still, 15 minutes I can spare.

However, just as I lean against the cold concrete wall, a girl comes down the stairs. It's not Suzu, but any company is good company, I guess.

"Good morning Shiina."

Just like last time, she pauses mid-step and starts blushing.

"M-Morning Micchan..." Even more surprisingly, her voice is subdued.

Could it be that she's actually just as shy as that other one? The one with the burns? That all her yelling and laughing is just a defensive mechanism?

"Where you off to?" I try and make the question sound as casual as possible.

She crosses her arms, giving a mischievous smile. Perhaps the blush was just from the chilly wind...

"Well, wouldn't you like to know? You're acting awfully suspicious Micchan, asking for my number and appearing out here this early!"

A part of me wants to smile, and the other wants to leave. She's so much like Kanon. Cute, cheery, confrontational. Even their eyes look the same.

My mind wanders, going back to a few months ago, to one particularly hot summer night.

We were at her place, but her folks were on vacation. We both knew what was going to happen.

Still, it went easier with some drinks, they helped us loosen up.

The image of Misha standing in front of me blurs and changes, at times looking like Kanon's dull, gray bedroom back in Shiogama.

Something doesn't fit though. It's cold. I don't remember it being cold back then.

There was the heat in the air, the warmth of her body... Her even, rhythmic gasps...

As if pulled by something, my mind comes back to the present moment, shattering the images of the past.

Almost automatically, my mind comes up with something.

"Yes, I'm actually a stalker. You got me." I deadpan.

This appears to catch her off guard, as she just stares at me wordlessly.

"Uh...Micchan?"

It's then that I notice that she looks concerned.

"What is it?"

"You're crying..."

I bring up my hand to my face, feeling a cold, wet drop on my cheek. I didn't even feel it.

Is it because of her? I can't still... no, that's impossible. But why the tears then?

"Don't worry about it, it's just the wind making my eyes water. Guess I shouldn't be facing it this much."

To accent, I turn a bit to the side. It's actually worse now, but I can't keep readjusting.

"Ok...If you say so~!" She grins, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

"I think I've held you up long enough Shiina, you go on wherever you're heading."

She lowers her head for a bit, turning to the gate.

"I'm just going for a walk."

I nod my head, giving her a half-hearted smile.

"See you around."

She doesn't say anything, just heading off toward the gate.

As soon as she's out of sight, I lower my head and sigh. Even here, she's not letting go of me.

You were the one who left, Kanon, not me.

And now Shiina...you're like twins. Is this one more of the universe's sick jokes?

Don't I have enough to deal with already?


I don't bother checking my watch. Eventually, Suzu does arrive.

She seems to have taken my words to heart. Boots, high socks, a black skirt and this cute little jacket with fur details. The whole outfit seems so...Suzu.

With her hands in her pockets, she approaches. When our eyes meet, she gives me a smile.

I can't resist sneaking a glance at my watch after all, noticing that she's only 5 minutes past my deadline.

"You're late. But you did dress cute, so I'll let it slide."

She gives me a smirk, coming closer. Before I realize what's going on, she has her arm hooked around mine.

"Uh..."

Beaming a smile at me, she pulls in closer. "In case I suddenly fall asleep."

Well, she has it covered... I don't really mind walking hand in hand with any girl. It's the potential rumors I'm worried about.

We leave the yard, starting down the long road down into the town.

The sky is a pure white, and the winds don't seem to want to die down. At least the cold is less of a bother when she's huddled this close to me.

"Thanks for bringing me with you."

I turn my head, noticing that she's closed her eyes, completely trusting me to lead her down safely.

Why put so much faith in me? She barely knows me...

"No problem. I'll bring you along next time, too."

She smiles, suddenly opening her eyes.

"That reminds me."

After fishing around through her pockets, she takes something and places it in my own pocket.

"My number. Miki wrote hers down as well."

I smile, noticing that she slowly closes her eyes again. A soft scowl makes its way to her expression, refusing to fade away.

After a few moments of silence, she speaks up again.

"It's just...my condition makes me feel like such a burden at times."

Her voice is a bit quieter, somehow sounding sad.

I guess she's right though. Narcolepsy is a real pain to live with. You miss important events in both your life, and the lives of those around you, simply because you fall asleep.

Not to mention the obvious problem when it comes to school.

But I don't think Suzu has it as bad as some.

She has true friends, the kind you rely on. Even if I don't know them that long, I can say with certainty that Miki will always have her back. It's just the kind of friend she is.

"You shouldn't worry so much. You have friends to rely on. Trust me when I tell you that they don't mind."

She yawns, burying her head deeper into my shoulder.

"Trust you... I guess I can do that."

"Hey, don't go dozing off on me. We're barely halfway there."

She pulls her head back, her hair slightly ruffled.

"I'll try." Then she winks at me. "No promises."

We walk a bit more. She seems to be willing to keep her non-promise, staying awake and talking about the small town that is Yamaku.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask about something regarding this school."

"I can try and answer you."

"Let me guess. No promises?"

She smiles, leaning her head against me again. "See, you get it."

"Well, I was wondering exactly how the medical staff works. I didn't see them around the school."

She gives up her smile, replacing it with a serious expression.

"Almost every area in the school is equipped with panic buttons. You hold one for a few seconds, and a team will be rushing towards you. Helped me when I busted my knee."

That's right, she wears that strange knee-brace. Guess she dozed off at the wrong place.

"Alright then. I was just curious."

"So now it's my turn to be curious, right?"

"Huh?"

Seeing the sly smile on her lips, I can guess the kind of question she has ready.

"You, Mikhail. You're a mystery." She backs up again, looking up at me.

"I mean, you're nice and all, but no one knows anything about you except that you're half-Russian."

I ponder the idea of telling her that that bit of information is wrong as well, but decide against it.

"Tell me about yourself a bit."

Damn. I don't like questions like these.

What can I say? That I got left by the girl I love, and that I'm haunted by her image when I meet any cheerful girl?

That the boy I saw as my best friend kept a secret from me and chose to end his own life?

Or maybe that I couldn't talk to my parents like a normal kid ever since we moved away from St. Petersburg?

"Sure, but after we're done shopping, alright? You need to lead me to a place called Aura-Mart."


Suzu ended up buying quite a lot of microwave food, as well as an unusual amount of batteries.

When I asked about it, she just winked at me.

I, on the other hand, not only filled my entire cart with various food, but also packed as many bottles of vodka as I could afford, within the boundaries of the budget I set myself.

When she asked about it, I just winked at her.

The shopkeeper gave us a funny look when Suzu decided to add condoms to our cart.

She gave him this look, like nothing was out of the ordinary. I barely kept myself from laughing.

Once we were outside, a bag full of things in each hand, I had to ask.

"Condoms? Are you trying to tell me something?"

Before answering, though, she sticks her tongue out at me.

"Nurse is running low, so he asked Miki to go buy some while he takes his free day."

Nurse is involved? I should have expected that.

"He keeps a stash of condoms? And he has students refill it?"

Honestly, I was under the impression that he lives on the school grounds.

"He does. Since he can't stop students from getting together, at least he can keep them safe. As for Miki, she was the last one to take from the stash, said she might need it."

My respect for Miki goes up a few notches. Takes some nerve to admit you have plans like that, especially to a person of authority.

Then again, Nurse is pretty chill.

"Fair enough, I guess."

I already know that there's something going on between Miki and Adolf. However, I didn't expect that it was that serious.

Well, best of luck to them, I guess.

"Mikhail, here's our stop."

I turn to see an old-fashioned teahouse. Through the window, though, one can see that the inside looks a bit more modern, with wooden tables and a proper bar.

"The Shanghai? You want some tea?"

"Coffee, I'll need it for the way back."

"Oh, alright."

I hold the door open for her, and then make my way inside as well.

Fortunately, it's quite a bit warmer inside. We find an empty table, drop the bags under it, and sit across from each other.

Suzu loses the jacket, revealing a v-cut shirt the same color as her hair. I find it adorable.

"Hey Yuuko! Over here!"

Suzu seems to know the waitress, as the latter appears next to our table almost immediately.

"Welcome to the Shanghai, what can I get you?"

The greeting is almost too quick to understand, and the bow that followed it threatens to smash the table if she dipped a bit lower.

"Relax Yuuko, it's just us."

The waitress looks over at me, expression a mix of surprise and embarrasment.

"He's one of the students as well? I don't think I've seen him..."

She starts staring at me, looking awfully nervous. I don't know what has her so worked up, but I guess she expects me to say something.

"It's alright miss. I'm a new student anyway."

Suzu smiles, looking at me.

"Yuuko is Yamaku High's librarian. She's also the cutest waitress at the Shanghai."

I nod my head, glancing at the waitress/librarian, then back at her. Suzu turns to her, still keeping her smile.

"I'll have my coffee, and Mikhail..."

She looks over at me, and I shrug.

"Got Russian caravan?"

She nods her head, suddenly looking happy.

"Yes we do! It's not commonly requested though."

And that happy look is gone. This lady needs to relax a bit.

She disappears somewhere, leaving the two of us alone.

I'm afraid she'll ask about my past again, so I go for the question first.

"Mind if I ask you something?"

She leans forward a bit, crossing her arms and resting her head on top of them. She's still smiling, though.

"Go ahead."

"We hardly know each other, and you still decided to go shopping with me. Hell, you practically let me carry you the way down. I guess my question is why."

She blinks a few times, trying to stay awake. I've noticed that I can tell when she's about to doze off by the way her eyes look. Right now, she's teetering on the edge.

"I don't know, it just felt like the right choice."

"You decided that you trust me...on a whim?"

"Well, yeah."

Yuuko drops by, bringing us our drinks.

Suzu immediately grabs her mug and starts sipping coffee. Judging by the scent, it's strong stuff.

I do the same with my tea. It's a strong flavor, so I sweeten it with both sugar and honey.

"You don't want to talk about your past, don't you?"

Of course she didn't forget.

"I'd rather not. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just..."

She nods her head, closing her eyes for a moment.

"It's alright. I understand." She opens her eyes again, smiling brightly.

Her smile reminds me of Molly for some reason. Maybe she picked it up from her?

"If you change your mind, I'll be there to hear you out, ok?"

"Thanks..."

She's being so nice. I can't help but feel grateful for that.


Suzuki Suzu.

If it weren't for this little shopping trip, I'd see her as nothing more than a classmate.

But she's more than that. I don't think I've ever met someone this nice, this sweet.

Sure, she can be sharp-tongued, but that just adds to her charm. Yet when the thought of pursuing her came to my mind, which it did, I felt...strange.

Like I'd be betraying her somehow.

She's my friend. I don't want to ruin it.

"Here you go, your bill."

I check the number, matching it with the same amount from my wallet.

"Hey, we're splitting the bill." Suzu seems a bit livelier, but she's still drowsy.

Guess I'll have to abuse it. "I'm not hearing another word. It's my treat."

She opens her mouth to protest, but then gives up.

"You're a handful sometimes, you know that?"

"Yeah? Say that with a straight face after I carry you up to the school."

"Dammit, now you're gonna jinx me." She says, winking at me again.

It seems she likes the gesture.

We grab our things and head out. Fortunately, the winds have died down somewhat.

I check the watch, realizing that we spent the entire morning in the Shanghai, simply talking and enjoying drinks.

Barely fifteen minutes go by until Suzu asks for us to take a break.

"It was too little, too late...sorry about this..."

She loses her strength, and I'm forced to carry both her and the bags to a nearby bench.

"We'll go shopping again...and then..." Her voice trails off, and her eyes finally close.

I sigh, letting her head rest atop my lap.

"It's ok, Suzu. I had a great time today."

Realizing that neither she, nor anyone else can hear me, I go on.

"My past...It's haunting me, you know. I catch myself thinking about it during class, or before I fall asleep..."

"What if I did something different, if I stayed back..Those kinds of things. Maybe I'm just having trouble letting go."

"But hanging out with you, I seemed to forget about it."

Suddenly, and idea comes into my head. I flip my phone open, dialing a picks up after the third beep.

"Matsumoto, it's Mikhail. Does your offer still stand?"


That's it.

Thanks to BloodAvenger42 for the review. I'll be watching you closely!

Apologies if the end of the chapter feels a bit rushed, because it is.

To everyone who finds my work entertaining, I'd like to hear your opinions, maybe even wishes. What'd you like to see? What'd you have me try and write?

Feels really cheap saying it, but each review fuels the fire, helping me get these chapters out this quick.

Anyways, that's it. Hopefully, you've enjoyed the chapter!