The group's new classmates started to arrive one after another each checking up on Mai first after they arrived. When Kaoru arrived he asked Mai a question she didn't expect. "Are you having health issues?" He asked. Mai was surprised at the question. "Why do you think so?" She decided to be careful. "Well, yesterday when you fell to the floor John said something about 'the usual' ". Kaoru answered. "Ahh, yes I do faint quite often because of that. John must have thought it was this again." Mai stated smiling awkwardly.
"I guess they need to watch out for you then. But still, the thing from yesterday was surprising. Why aren't you wearing a head bandage or something." The boy asked. "I'm used to getting hurt a lot. As long as it doesn't bleed everything is alright." Mai answered. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it. At that point Naru cursed himself. How come he didn't notice she wasn't wearing one. She got hurt just yesterday. What if something happened. "Mai." He started getting the girls attention. "During the lunch break, we are going to get you a bandage." Mai sighed. Why did Kaoru have to point it out? "We can't leave the classroom remember?"
"I don't care." Naru responded firmly. "We left yesterday we will leave today." Mai really didn't want to make a scene. "Come on, maybe Tae-chan will go easy on me today." Naru leaned forward in his seat. "It's not about what will happen it's about the injury you already have."
Suddenly a voice interrupted their conversation. "You know her name?" It was Kaoru who again joined the conversation. "Tae-chan? Miho and Reiko told us earlier." Mai answered. "Then, did you know Tae is supposed to be the girl who died on the school grounds years ago?" Kaoru said just the same moment the bell rang. "Died? What happened?" Masako asked expecting more details. "Sorry, I don't know more myself." The boy then turned in his seat as the teacher walked in and was about to start the lessons.
Naru silently and with just his gaze signaled for Yasu. The boy immediately understood what he had to do. Research.
The first period came and went and the second was about to end soon too but Mai didn't get to see any other of her friends acting like teachers. She was thinking how each of them would teach the class and how funny it will be to finally see Lin teaching. As she was being lost in her thoughts a sharp movement from in front of her brought her back to earth. Mai jumped back in her seat a bit before she realized it was just Masako who turned around. Still, this was a quite violent movement. Mai then realized the whole class was looking at the girl's sudden action. "What is it?" The teacher asked. Masako slowly turned back and answered. "Nothing, I thought someone was standing behind me." John noticed how pale Masako's face was.
The teacher ignored what Masako just said and kept talking. "Well, I was just about to end the lesson anyway." He then closed his book and started to head out. Once he was out the door Mai jumped out of her seat and ran up to the girl. "What happened?" She asked. Masako looked up at her, her face still white. "I think I saw Tae… She appeared in front of me and then dashed in your direction. I thought she would hurt you again." The medium explained still in shock. Mai leaned forward and hugged the girl. "Thank you for worrying about me."
John got up from his seat and approached the two girls. He couldn't comfort Masako the way Mai did so he simply placed his hand over Masako's and smiled at the girl. Even if she was used to feeling and seeing ghosts the girl was allowed to get scared as everyone else does. He imagined how helpless and terrified she must have felt when she thought the ghost was about to attack Mai. He knew because he would be equally scared if something were to happen to her. John suddenly felt Masako's hand move. She turned her hand over and grabbed John's. The boy looked up to see the medium smile at him.
"Jeez, you guys are getting affected pretty quickly." Kaoru commented. As he joined the conversation both Mai and John retreated taking a step away from Masako. The boy seemed surprisingly interested in the group but Masako couldn't tell if it was just his personality or something else. She actually didn't care as long as he would provide them with information. Mai chuckled. "I guess Tae likes her new toys."
"Some toys don't like being toyed with." Naru said as he approached the group. "Naru!" Mai said surprised that the boy actually left his seat. "It's an honor to be able to have you join our conversation." Kaoru joked. Mai tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, your friend doesn't talk to us often." He cleaned.
"Well, that's Naru for you." The girl commented. Suddenly the bell rang signaling that the next period was about to start. "If you see something write me a note or scream if it's serious. We are all here." Mai whispered to Masako before making her way to her seat. Naru and John did the same.
Excitement got to Mai as she saw who was the teacher entering the classroom. It was Lin. And he sure looked annoyed. Mai thought how funny it would be if they had a camera in the classroom to get the event on tape. Lin was barely speaking to the class. He simply wrote the book pages on the board and the tasks that were to be done. Well, it wasn't as interesting or awkward as Mai thought it would be. She looked at the book on her desk. 'No way, I'm doing this. I have enough of my real school work.' She thought. But then again, nothing paranormal was happening to keep her busy. 'It's sleep then.' Because why not.
She laid her head on the desk and sure enough was gone. Naru noticed that the girl doze off and so did Lin. He decided to simply ignore it until one of the students had to point it out. Lin looked at the sleeping girl but instead of commenting he sighed and shook his head.
Naru couldn't help but hope she wouldn't wake up by letting out a bloody scream after dying in one of her dreams.
He had however no idea that this was exactly what the girl wanted to do. Scream. Scream for help. As in her dream, she was standing face to face with the one and only infamous Tae.
The girl had pitch-black hair and eyes. She had a very painful and at the same time revengeful expression on her face. She had a school uniform on that seemed to be quite too big for her. It was only after the girl rose her hand up that Mai noticed that it was not the uniform that was the problem. Tae was simply so skinny one could see her bones sticking out.
After Mai was done examining the girl she looked into the direction Tae was pointing to. In her dream, they were still in the classroom that was however now empty. So what Tae was pointing to was the classroom door. Mai scratched her head. She sighed and made herself on her way. "I can't believe I am actually going to follow you." She murmured. So they kept going Tea simply showing the way by pointing where to go. In the end, they ended up in the gym storage. "Why doesn't it surprise me." Mai turned to Tae. However, it seemed that the journey was still not over. The girl kept pointing at a wall. Mai looked at her confused. She tried to decide whether she wanted to keep following her or not but the creepy smile Tae suddenly gave her made her sure that she doesn't. It was truly an evil smile.
Mai backed away from the girl. "Ok, what do I do now?" Mai said out loud. She could try to go back to the classroom but Tae was standing right by the room's door. Mai kept thinking of a solution when Tae suddenly grabbed her by the hand. She gave Mai that smile again. "I'll show you…" she whispered. Her voice was dry. "No, thank you. Maybe next time." Mai answered as if the ghost was to listen. She tried to release her hand but with no luck. "LET GO!" Mai shouted. Her eyes then widened. She no longer was in the storage but in the classroom. With everyone around. Eyes all over her.
Lin was standing at the door. About to leave the room. As he heard the younger girl he let out a sigh and walked out. What was even the point of this? Thanks to Mai they were going to be found out anyway. Couldn't they just work normally?