I've always found the concept of time to be an enigmatic and frustrating piece of humanity to grasp. Before I suffered whatever it was that whisked my unsuspecting body away into this dramatic neverland of bloodshed, my days had been very brief experiences, and they grew briefer with every pass of the sun. With each morning the same monotonous routine: get up, refresh hygiene, eat, school, and then sleep the night away. Rinse and repeat. The element of adventure that once glazed my eyes with a sparkle had long died away with my childhood, the days that once dragged on without a hint of responsibility now flickered by, rich with stress and worry. School work, money, the future, it all piled on with no sign of letting up. Time eluded me.

Here, in this fictional mimicry of Japan, I relived that childish sense of adventure once again, coupled with a healthy dosage of fear and confusion. But perhaps that made it all the more exciting. It was a different kind of fear, a curious and stimulating fear, as opposed to crippling and depressing type. I imagine it's not too dissimilar to the thrill experienced by explorers of the old world, hiking through tangles of jungle or stretches of desert for the sake of sheer discovery. The fear that flipped Bilbo Baggins from his introverted lifestyle. Still, even now, I could feel time returning to its distanced relationship, offering only a fleeting nod before running along and leaving me behind. The days grew shorter, but I was happy.

My first exhilarating week at Sakakino Academy eagerly departed into memory. I managed to pull through without a drop of spilled blood, the only price being a sliver of my sanity. The dissolution of the weekend brought on a series of refreshing revelations. Makoto and Kotonoha's relationship seemed stable, though perhaps quieter, Yuuki was getting along with Kitsuregawa, and the upcoming festival looked to be a simple, culture educating treat the more I thought about it. The fact that it was tomorrow left me without a hint of grief.

Makoto never once approached me about the verbal lashing I had doled out, and as far as I could tell from the few times we talked, we were on friendly terms once again. Maybe he actually was capable of seeing beyond the shallow lust that bordered his feeble thoughts. The mood during my daily walks with Kotonoha never faltered. I swore she shone brighter with every passing day.

With everyone sorted and friendly, the thought of a simple life in this world appeared more than just enticing; it seemed possible. I've even been letting Sekai help me out with my neglected schoolwork. Just in case. I would have to learn to read someday, electronic translators would only get me so far.

"Follow."

"Huh?"

Classes had ended for the day and the halls were stretching at the seams with students as usual. The moment I had turned the corner for the library a pair of bright, crimson eyes flashed and blocked my way. The miniature form of Kiyoura Setsuna stood firm like a small, piercing statue, a startling determination in her stare. As soon as she gave her order she turned and marched down the hall without another word. It took my legs a moment's hesitation to awake and sputter after her. I had wanted to go over tomorrow's events with Yuuki, but we would probably be fine.

I fought off the urge to ask the girl where we were headed, I doubted I would get a straight answer from her anyway. Vague images of a subtle plan to finally do away with my meddling hands did come to mind, but such ideas seemed farfetch'd now, like they would be back home. The stuff of daydreams. My life had zenned out, meddling wasn't so necessary anymore.

Kiyoura was content with our distance only after rounding another few corners. She stopped so suddenly I wondered if the soles of her shoes left a skidmark. We had reached a dark, uninhabited corner of the school. Kiyoura's shadowed face sent my spine a few chilling racks, but she remained firm and collected. A lengthy pause ensued while she continued to remain stock still, staring at the corridor wall. Did it really pay to be so dramatic? I darted my gaze around in anticipation. No windows, just the dull gloss of the floor and a few silent rooms. Only the faint murmur of the departing students echoed through the building now. With a small flick of her foresty hair, the girl finally turned around.

"I'm going to be leaving soon," she said quietly. Her lips barely moved but her eyes quivered with a concealed emotion. I scrunched up my face at the strange statement.

"Well I mean, that is what most of us are doing right now," I said with a scratch at my temple. "You did hear the bell, right?"

"I'm leaving Japan," she stated, unphased by my attempt at humor. My mouth jerked ajar in surprise. "I'll be moving to France with my mother soon. Her career requires it."

"O-oh," I said in a deflated manner. My gaze strayed to the dull tile. "Look, I know we haven't really been the best of pals, but I'm sorry you have to go. How's Sekai feel about this?"

"I haven't told her yet," she said, her eyes turning away, downcast. "This is why I've come to you. I need to know that I'm leaving her with a clear conscience, that she's with someone who will watch out for her."

"Of course, yeah don't worry," I nodded. "She's among friends. And I mean she's pretty strong so-"

"No," she interrupted. "I need to know that you will stay with her, as the person she cares about most. You haven't seen. When her heart is tormented she will fall into the deepest depression, locking herself in her room for an entire day or more. It used to occur often, but then you came along… I was once the only one who could bring her out of it."

Her words drifted off. Clearly she had been just as perplexed as I over Sekai's attraction towards me. But must everything sound so theatrical? It kinda made it hard for me to realize just how serious this all was. I don't know when i

"Soon I'll be gone from her side and I need you to take my place. Will you dance with her at the festival's bonfire?"

"Da-dance?" The images popped open their dusty covers and flickered to life like an old projector. The giant fire, the dark silhouettes swaying in its glow, and the betrayal. Betrayal… Shame overcame me with a shadowy shock as I remembered the promise I had made to Otome about going to the festival with her, and my stomach battered itself up against my rib cage. It was just to hang out, right? Totally casual, no need to beat myself up over it. I mean I still have to work for my class's ridiculous cafe thingy, and I'm sure Sekai won't mind if a take off for a bit afterwards. Hell, Sekai wouldn't mind if we all walked around as a group. That's what these things are for, hanging out with friends.

Yuuki and I were also planning to watch over Kotonoha from the sidelines, but we've only vaguely talked about this stuff all week. Whenever I run into her she lights up like a firework, the happiest I've ever seen her. With Yuuki preoccupied over Kitsuregawa combined with Sekai leading me by the arm we've had our hands too full to really worry about other relationships, and Kotonoha's cheery face made it all the easier to dismiss. We decided that the festival would be our final act of surveillance before swearing our noses out for good and declaring Makoto 'clean'.

"Pff, I don't know how to dance." I said, brushing my worries back into the pit of my abdomen. Kiyoura's frigid stare told the humorless tale of a no-nonsense girl who knew only the harsh upbringing of a jokeless world.

"Outside of class one. I've heard you and Ashikaga talk," she said, her thin eyebrows creasing inward. "I know about how you both had plans to meddle with everyone, break up Makoto from Kotonoha and pair him with Sekai." Her voice had dropped but its poison continued to drip. I widened my eyes at her and my mouth flopped, opening and closing with no words to compensate, my throat caught. My imitation of a dying trout had reached perfection.

"But," she continued, her glare thawing. "Even I had considered interfering in order to get Sekai what she wanted. But now she has it. Things are good as they are. If I find out you've been anything but faithful to her, I will do everything in my power to seal your misery before I depart."

The concrete sincerity of Kiyoura's threat almost stirred a nervous laugh from my paralyzed vocal chords. Her words broke over my head and coated me in a cascade of ice. It had never occurred to me just how loyal Kiyoura was, or how vulnerable Sekai could be. She appeared so blissful and hardened, but when I thought back on it, to certain moments like the seconds before she kissed me on the roof or the night she confessed to me, the apprehension she hid should have been an obvious sign. I hadn't really planned on anything to the contrary, but now my loyalty found itself hardening into a steely alloy grip. It almost felt choking, like I was getting married. It's silly to even think of backing out now, I committed long ago.

My thoughts rewound a few moments back. Kiyoura had overheard us? Had she been stalking Yuuki and I? I never caught the slightest glimpse of her during any of our discussions, and I consider myself more situationally aware than most. That eavesdropping little...

While I squirmed internally under my skin, my brain beating itself, stuttering and spitting smoke, Kiyoura's footsteps had already faded into the distance, the teasing ends of her hair whipping around a corner and out of sight. The air felt colder. I'm beginning to forget how to properly end a conversation.

"How is it that I'm only now being told this festival is two days long?"

My arms, which were only moments ago a blur as they powered a whisk through a bowl of cake batter, had already begun to feel the numb unresponsiveness associated with neglected muscles. I was not aware how understaffed we were going to be in contrast to the ever-streaming orders of cake and tea. It didn't help that I was forced to wear a white bandanna over my head in conjunction with a salmon colored apron.

"It would've been obvious if you could read the flyers posted all over the hallways," Sekai laughed from her own bowl at my side. Her outfit shared a similar color scheme with my own, though more frilly and feminine. All the girls working the cafe dressed alike, snagging the gaze of the bulk of our patrons no doubt and reeling in the attention. Standing so close to Sekai and forcing my eyes on my work, I had difficulty blaming them.

"I wish the other cafes were putting up a better fight. It's ridiculous how many people are crammed in here."

"Well zombies and little sisters can only attract so many people."

"I don't know what they were thinking when they came up with those themes," I said. "A cafe run by girls dressed as 'little sisters'. Perhaps by far the strangest thing I witnessed yet."

"Oh, you sure?" Sekai nudged. "I could always play little sister for you if that's what you're into. I don't judge."

I shuddered. "Well now cake is forever ruined for me thanks to you."

She burst out laughing louder than I anticipated, but I laughed along anyways. It was a nice work environment, it just needed a few more hands.

"Where's Makoto gone anyway?" I said after a quick look-about. "He disappeared just as this tidal wave decided to swamp us."

"Maybe his shift ended," Sekai shrugged. "I'd be out of here in a heartbeat once I've done my time."

I peered at her.

"You'd leave me here to die under the sheer volume of all this sticky cake batter?"

"Hmm," she crooned. "Maybe I'll just sneak you out of here with me."

She leaned in close.

"We could run out of here arm in arm, find a dark corner of the school and-"

"Oi, Hudson," rang the less-than-dulcet tone of Hikari Kuroda. "Stop cuddling with your girlfriend and help me and Nanami carry out these pots of tea."

"Coming!" I said, eager to oblige as Sekai giggled after my retreating form.

An hour or so later and the cafe was still raking in the numbers, but to a much lesser extent, and some of the other students in our class were finally showing up to pull the weight they'd left behind. At some point I found myself hurried out the front door by Kuroda. She assured me that my shift was over and that it was her turn to hang out with Sekai.

"You can have her back when we close up," she said, her tongue jutting out a full foot.

I made a face at her in return, an expression I felt looked somewhere between a snarl and a sneeze. It was a few steps down the crowded hall before I realized I had no idea what to do with myself. Seeing anything through the shunting sea of students and family proved a near impossible task, so I submitted to finding a direction and sticking to it.

When I came to a clear I had high hopes that perhaps I could now feel my way to the exit and get something to eat. It was a little disorienting seeing the school so late in the day and flooded with people dressed in casual clothing. My high hopes crumbled away when I spied the meek figure of Kotonoha, sitting at a table for her class event, being talked down to by a couple students.

Of course I would come upon another scene like this. Was she really such an appealing target for these people? It was no wonder she recoiled from the world around her, which only magnified her problems. I strode towards the group, my confidence seeping away into each step.

Kotonoha sat slumped over, in all her humble, downcast glory while a group of girls heckled her like vultures. Nothing got my blood pumping quite like harassment towards the undeserving.

"Hey, let's take it easy alright?" I said steadily as I approached the group with my hands up. They each spun around and stared at me in unison. The combined force of their movements almost struck my gait to a standstill, like a child who's forgotten his lines in the face of the class play's audience. Each girl wore a face of mixed emotions, minus Kotonoha who just looked droopy and defeated. They must have figured me for a teacher at first, because as soon as they gave me a brief look over, their faces switched over to anger and annoyance.

"Gross," said the assault leader under her breath. "It's that foreign kid. What do you want? Can't you see we're having a conversation?"

My chin dove into my neck as I recoiled from the hostile teen, her biting words spat out like the hiss of a lioness. My heart had not been ready for such concentrated disgust, it took me a moment to swallow. I had been under the impression that those of the student body that knew of me found my presence only a curiosity or at the very least forgettable. It sure does give me a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that good old-fashioned xenophobia thrives here as strongly as anywhere else. I could feel the red seeping into my face as I addressed the two bullies.

"Leave Kotonoha alone," I said with an attempted grit in my voice, though the words may have come out as more of a whimper. "I'm not afraid to turn nark on you jerks. Bullying is eye-rolling enough, but in a gang? Is this an 80s flick?"

A sprig of fear fell upon the pack of hyenas after their comprehension made its way through my stranger words. They exchanged looks before glancing at the curtained wall to their rear. I could see from the gap under the curtain that a room had been hidden from view. My skin began to crawl as a memory clawed at its rotting coffin, buried in the pile of mucky thoughts my brain refused to acknowledge the existence of. Without another word, they grimaced their white teeth in my direction and slithered away down the hall, weaving into the crowds and fading from sight. The discovery of whatever lay behind that curtain was apparently enough of a threat to save me the trouble of further involvement. I really didn't feel like seeking out and ratting to a teacher. I took in a refreshing breath and looked over to Kotonoha.

"With all the practice you're giving me I should take up a job as a white knight," I chuckled. "You guys have renaissance fairs around here? Maybe I'll just train as a bodyguard. Low profiles only."

"I'm sorry," she breathed from her blushing face, her hands fumbling atop the table. I swept at a lock of hair tickling my brow.

"Come on, you know you don't have to apologize to me. I've always got your back," I said, walking up to the short clothed table. A few swamp-colored flyers coated its surface, all embroidered with cartoony monsters and ghostly faces. The text glowed in an eerie green Japanese font, but the message seemed clear enough; a thrilling haunted house and surefire invasion of your personal space by some stranger in a smelly rubber mask. It didn't seem very successful, what with the lack of a line or even any nearby solicitors. Everyone else gathered and crowded further down the hall.

"What's with those girls?" I asked after refocusing my priorities and leaning on the table. "What bone do they have to pick with you?"

"It's nothing," she said quietly. "I'm supposed to be relieved by another girl, but she hasn't shown up."

"Welp, that's her problem. She'll get chewed out. Let's go get something to eat that isn't cake. So sick of it."

"I can't…"

It took a good few minutes of prodding and blame-removal assurance to get Kotonoha to finally desert her post. If anything I'd vouch for her if the situation called for it. My word had to be worth something around here, right? Otome could join us if we ran into her... No that wouldn't do. There's a schism of a sort between her and Kotonoha. Whatever. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I needed to get away from that area hidden behind those curtains.

"All that smoke and smell coming from outside reminds of the fairs back home. I hope there's cotton candy."

"You're a very considerate person, Rupert."

I raised a brow at the little glimpse of glee she held on her averted face. It would be a lie to say my heart didn't feel a twinge of delight at her words. The day I become unaffected by compliments like these is the day my soul has officially withered away into worthlessness.

"And you're too sweet for this world. How's the latest issue of that 'Hatsukoi' series you're reading? That new love rival making a mess of things yet?"

With a little coaxing I managed to pull Kotonoha enough out of her shell and back to her usual cheery and surprisingly talkative self. If there was one topic that got her jaw jabbering it was that sappy series of romance novels. It was a rare sight to see her without one in her arms.

How we ever made out each other's words was beyond me. The moment we stepped through the school doors into the evening air our eardrums were assaulted by the yelling and raucous laughter of the crowds bunching up around the food stalls and their equally noisy vendors. Every time I had to ask Kotonoha to repeat herself for the third time she laughed and shook her head dismissively. We eventually stumbled into a somewhat quieter clearing that allowed for less vocally strained conversation, which would have surely started up if not for a new hiccup that strutted into our midst.

"Hudson?"

I turned to find the shocked face of Otome Katou. The girl's pupils darted between myself and Kotonoha, her expression leveling off somewhere between a subdued anger and sadness.

"Katou," I gasped. "I've been looking all over for you."

"What are you doing with..?"

I noticed Kotonoha sneaking her way into the protection of my shadow the moment Otome appeared. My patience wavered on the edge, held together by tape and chewing gum. Everyone was either going to get along or every artery in my body would rupture, but not before I finally explode in a torrent of screaming frustration and voice my distaste for this world with my dying breath.

"She's a friend, Katou. Come on, let's lighten up for the festival already. Let bygones be bygones etcetera, etcetera."

Her face remained stuck in a frown.

"Y-you were supposed to spend the festival with me…"

I won't lie, I knew I'd wronged her. Shame weighed heavily in my heart like a brick of ice. A promise was a promise, but it wasn't like the festival was moments away from ending forever. We still had hours left until closing, and there was still tomorrow's events.

"We can still do that, but I would love it if you joined us. I'm sure Kotonoha wouldn't mind quite as much as you."

It was a tense moment, waiting for her answer while she stared into my shoes. Both girls were almost perfect mirrors in their suppressed demeanors while all around us students and families alike raced around, talking loudly, eating greasy food while we sat here locked in a tense, gray atmosphere. I could feel the slight tension of Kotonoha's small grip on the back of my blazer.

Finally, Otome nodded. I sighed. Kotonoha made no visible response.

At first I was forced to play the leader of our small party, which was no good. I had no idea what the directional signs hanging everywhere said. Otome finally realized we were going nowhere and decided to take control. She lead the three of us to see a performance put on by the school's performing arts club. This left me with enough free brain space to manage the unenviable task of sparking conversation. It proved to be as awkward to start up as I'd imagined. It wasn't until my lungs ached from laughing after the play's sub-par acting that the tension began to lighten up.

"I dunno," I said after a last wheezy chuckle. "I mean, I know they're doing their best but man, the over-the-top acting struck my deepest funny bone."

"Geez," Otome said. "That's the way plays are. They have to exaggerate so that everyone in the theater can clearly understand the emotions being expressed."

"You're right. I'm being a bit harsh." I just needed to air out a bit of anxiety before I blew a gasket. Laughter fixes everything. "It just wasn't my type of story. Maybe I've had Romeo and Juliet shoved down my throat a few too many times over the years."

"I thought the modern quirks made it very romantic," Kotonoha said through a quiet blush.

Otome actually nodded. "Yeah! See? At least someone sees the hardwork they put into it."

The sun had ducked out some time ago by this point. The crowds had thinned to a scattering of friendly groups while the first night of the festival drew to its close. Our small group had taken to strolling the school's corridors. I caught a few snippets here and there of giddy students shooting whispers of the dance taking place on the eve of tomorrow. A very traditional and elegant event, one where couples take each other by the hand and skip about a large, blazing bonfire while the moon watched on with envy. It would be a romantic night dripping with high hopes, fluttering hearts, and gratuitous amounts of superstition. Suddenly my stomach was not agreeing with the vendor food.

I heard the dying click clack of soft footsteps retreating from somewhere around a corner as we came upon it, as if somebody had been spooked by our approach. Only I seemed to notice, and when we made I found only an empty hall. I looked back at Otome and Kotonoha.

I had drifted out of their stiff and begrudging conversation, something about Kotonoha needing to speak up more, and while they refused to even glance in each other's direction, Otome's words were not harsh and Kotonoha even nodded acknowledgment. They were actually sort of getting along. The idea of a friendship between a snake and a mongoose popped into my head.

"What's with that dopey look," Otome squinted.

"Just thought of something funny I dreamed once," I made up on the spot. Not the best Idea. Now I was thinking about those nightmares again.

"Oh my," Kotonoha said when we finally reached her post. It lay completely deserted.

I looked at her funny. "It's no biggie. We'll back you up if you're blamed for your classmate's laziness."

"I-it's not that," she sputtered. "I just remembered I left the keys to the storage closet in my locker.

"That's fine," said Otome with a spring in her spine. "We'll make sure the booth doesn't go anywhere until you get back."

Kotonoha made the smallest bow before hopping into a sprint back down the hall we'd come from. I looked at Otome's brighter-than-the-sun grin. My trust in its sincerity began to wan.

"Do you really need…" I trailed off when I realized Kotonoha was long gone. That girl could give Forrest Gump a run for his money. Heh.

"I swear you come up with the strangest expressions at the strangest times," Otome said.

"Sorry. Sometimes I can't help the clever thoughts that come to my mind."

"Careful, you could break your neck with a swelled head like that."

I rubbed the back of my neck in good humor.

"Y'know, I think I should go with her…"

"Wait."

Otome's face had shifted a shade darker, her expression twisting slightly in a strange array of emotions, like she was fighting to get something out.

"Do you know what that is?" her eyes led me to the curtained room over by Kotonoha's post. Oh no.

"The crochet club?"

She pouted.

"C'mere, let me show you."

"No tha-"

Her hand had lashed out to snatch mine from the air, landing with the slightest sting, and through the curtain we went since apparently everybody in this world has the strength of an ox once they have me by the arm.

My pulse pounded in my very red ears. Despite the cool halls outside, the air in this little room felt heavy and humid, and carried the scent of sweat, similar to a locker room, but mixed with something I could not quite put my finger on, a musk that set my teeth on edge. I tried to avert my eyes from everything, but that proved impossible. Morbid curiosity held the reins now. Between my fingers I could see a bed, a coat rack, and… a box of tissues. In the corner was a small bin filled to the brim with said tissues, riddled with unspeakables. Nausea overcame me. Was this what it felt like seeing a dead body for the first time?

"This rest area is one of Sakakino's festival traditions." Otome said in a subdued voice.

"Otome, this is starting to weird me out."

The petite girl bent over and held her clenched hand forward. I could see something poking out from inside her fist, something plastic, like the wrapper of a hard candy. Then I spotted a very similar wrapper at our feet, torn open and discarded without a second thought. Then I noticed another. And another. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I missed the free candy someone was clearly passing out.

"Hold out your hand," she said with slight irritation.

"That's okay. I've had enough sweets for today."

She grabbed my palm and crumpled the wrapper against it, her face having grown inches away from mine. Her warm breath was heavy, washing over my skin with the slightest hint of bubblegum. Her eyes shimmered and threatened to flood the room.

"I… want to be more than friends with you."

I swallowed the rocky bulge in my throat and looked down at the unopened, scandalous item in my quivering hand. The plastic gleamed with the subtle outline of the rubber tool within. Somewhere deep inside I may have actually believed if I wished hard enough it would have turned out to be candy after all. I'm only ever right when it's inconvenient.

I shook my head and I backed away, which was a big mistake on my part because it resulted in the back of my leg colliding with the bed and sending my unsuspecting rump down onto the mattress with as much grace as a dizzy toddler.

"Do you not like me?"

"Katou, you know I think you're a very nice girl, but-"

Her face dove in fast but slowed suddenly inches from my own. She hovered there as we locked pupils for a short, intimate moment before she melded into me with perfect precision. My brain froze and what little coherence I had been capable of prior flew out my ear and into the bin full of sin. It smelled as though someone had smacked me with a bouquet of warm roses, and my vision was once again obstructed by the eclipse of a girl's much-too-close face. Everything within me felt sick with conflict. This was wrong, more wrong than anything I've ever been apart of, but my body's hormones could not be bothered to care. The violence of Otome's passionate movements scattered my glasses around every corner of my face as they held on for dear life.

"Oto- Otom- St- stop!" I strangled. Strange enough, I thought to myself that it was like trying to get a tenacious dog to keep away from my peanut-butter coated face. Except in this instance I felt a lot more guilt over the fact that I kind of enjoyed it.

Something beyond the blur that was Otome's face caught my eye. Another eye. Two, in fact, ruby red, burning with anger. My heart dropped out from the bottom of my rib cage at the sight of little Setsuna, her teeth clenched in a grimace. The second our gazes locked she was gone, the curtain billowing after her. It happened so fast I briefly wondered if I'd imagined it.

With my hands on her shoulders I managed to wrench Otome back far enough for us to see eye to eye. Her eyelids fell half-closed and her cheeks resembled peaches, giving her a dazed look. I could still hear the footsteps of the spying Setsuna in the distance. My chest suddenly felt like a stake had been driven through it.

"O-Otome, I'm sorry," I said, still keeping her at arm's length as I rounded around toward the exit. I tripped over her feet and stumbled on my own. "We will discuss this properly later. I just- You're a nice girl and I value you- no I can't explain now. Please, forgive me."

I slapped the curtains away and took off in the direction of Setsuna's footsteps. They were faint, but just loud enough over the dull hum of the activities outside for me to follow. If I had my bearings down, she was running in the direction of our class's cafe. My skin prickled with a cold sweat.

I cried after her, but my efforts were vain. Reason was the last thing I imagine she would expect to spill out of my mouth any time soon. In fact I think my yelling has only sped her up.

A couple corner turns later and I managed to catch a glimpse of her feet fading into a doorway. I pumped everything I had into my legs, leaping down the hall like a panicking gazelle. I threw the door open and stepped inside, inwardly bracing for the yell of a frustrated teen.

All I found was an empty cafe. No more customers for the day. Everyone had packed up to stomp off home or hang around outside as the last embers of the festival petered off until tomorrow. It took me a moment to see Kiyoura's trademark bow hovering about the doorway to the kitchen in the back. She made no sound as she peeked in through the doorway, apparently spying just as she had moments ago.

Strange. I fully expected to find her and Sekai waiting, Kiyoura glaring and Sekai crestfallen but reserving judgment. I tip-toed up behind. Before I could reach the short girl, she backed up until her head bumped into the wall behind her, seemingly unaware of my presence. Her pupils remained frozen, stretched wide in apparent shock. I made to reach out to her but something caught me by the ear. At first it had seemed perfectly quiet, then the blood pounding in my ears finally died down, and I heard sounds that sent every hair on my body rigid.

The shuffle of feet, the clunking and banging of scattered kitchenware, muffled cries of protest. Someone was making a mess.

"No!" screamed a distinct voice. "Get off!"

I punched the door open, leaving my knuckle sore but irrelevant. Flour and metal bowls and utensils lay over every tile. Backed into a corner of the kitchen, Sekai fought as a male student forced himself upon her. It was Makoto.

Something flared inside my chest, perspiring through every capillary, blossoming out through my vibrating muscles. The fibers of my limbs strained, clenching and shaking, my nails digging trenches into my palms. My face curled and wrinkled into something resembling the rippling bark of an oak. Everything faded into an alarming shade of scarlet, like blood had splattered into my eyes, overshadowing in my peripheral. The kitchen and its mess pulled away into the ether, leaving only the sight of the struggling pair before me. The blood pounding in my ears returned with an intensity that multiplied gradually ad infinitum, deafening me to the rest of the world, pushing my hammering heart to its limit. It was suddenly very difficult to catch my breath.

I wanted to call his name, get him to turn around and face me like a proper gentleman, but my larynx refused, the last dregs of my humanity had long dripped off the back of my amygdalae.

I moved at them, at least I think it was me. Everything felt like a dream, like there was a delay in my inputs, everything was sluggish. There was a scream, maybe more than one, I wasn't sure, I found myself rolling around on the ground, locked with Makoto. I threw fists and he retaliated with kicks. Neither of us were well versed in combat, our attacks were clumsy and unfocused, sometimes missing completely, sometimes hitting the ground or a nearby cabinet.

With every quaking impact I could feel my nerves trying to alert my brain in the background to how painful it was, but my pain receptors had been coated in an insulating foam of adrenaline.

At some point a force began pulling me back away from the fray. I began to resist until I noticed the delicate hands on my arm. Sekai held on to me while Kiyoura did the same with Makoto by the kitchen entrance. His clothing was torn in multiple places, his lip was bleeding, and he was panting heavily, but it was all superficial. I felt about the same, some slight swelling on my face, ears ringing, and my right ankle refused any weight I tried to place on it.

"If I ever," I began, but I interrupted myself with more breathing. More threats were not in the cards as far as my lungs were concerned. Why have I still not taken the chance to exercise?

"Get out of here," I croaked.

He didn't. For the longest time it looked like he was as done with this as I was, but something in his eyes returned, a small ember reignited and his face fell into darkness once more. He broke from Kiyoura's frail grasp and swiped something from the nearby counter, something with a menacing glint. I held Sekai behind me and backed up with her. Both girls yelled at Makoto to calm down, but his gait would not falter. Clenched in his bruised hand was perhaps the largest cleaver I've ever seen. Why we ever needed a knife so big for our little cafe was beyond me. I could see my battered, panicked face staring back at me in its intimidating reflection.

Then he froze, a bewildered look clouding over his bruised face. A tiny, strangled sound squeaked from his mouth and the knife clattered to the floor. I watched him bring a hand to his side, and that was when I noticed the dark spot swelling along the folds of his coat like an uncontrollable forest fire. His hand was soon covered in a very deep but bright red liquid. Within seconds his strength failed and he crumpled to the floor, leaving me to stare into the malevolent eyes of my savior.

Kotonoha looked up from the shuddering form of her bloodied boyfriend, her face glowing with the sincerest smile. She held the knife between her hands like it was a precious child. Every gory image of her from every piece of 'School Days' media I'd ever observed compiled into my head. I looked down at Makoto's wide eyes. They were fading. I fell to my knees with a thud.

"Kotonoha," I said in disbelief. "Why?"

Her head tilted as if I had said the darnedest thing in the world.

"I'm just protecting my white knight."

More screaming.

My tunneled vision focused one last time on the haunting, empty eyes of Kotonoha before narrowing into complete blackness.

Note: I just want to put this out there, my tumblr is thefacademerchant. It's easier for me to reply and I check there more often.