Takashi sighed, putting his arms against the railing. He knew there would not be much to see in the city, even from this roof. Just the same dull gray buildings and dull gray roads and dull people in the same suits and dresses and whatever else they were wearing these days. Still, it was better than having to be in class.

He was still not quite over himself about Rei Miyamoto. He mirthlessly chuckled to himself, remembering how they had met each other in kindergarten and pinky-swore to marry one day. But every relationship was bound to have a third wheel some time or another, and in his case, that third wheel was the one and only Hisashi Igou.

Takashi had met Hisashi when they had started high school. They had both been regular hellions then, and it had been fun. They did everything together, whether it was graffiti, fighting, or riding motorcycles through busy roads. But Hisashi's mother had finally put her foot down and made him clean up his act, which meant good grades and a good public image and a good plan for a good college.

And as it were, Hisashi decided that it was finally time to be a good boyfriend, too. And he had just the girl in mind. Before Takashi knew it, he had started seeing Rei, and they were happy together.

There was nothing Takashi could do now but smile through it all. He, in fact, had given the sendoff himself. He had congratulated both Hisashi and Rei when they met for sodas the month before, and his blessing was theirs.

He leaned a little farther. He knew he had to be happy for the two of them, but the question had not left his mind…..if he had known things would come to this all the way when high school started...would he have still made friends with Hisashi?

Now that was a question he was afraid to start asking himself….

"Hey, there, Komuro!"

Startled, the boy spun around, and managed a smile. It was Miku Yuuki, second-year student and two-time winner of Fujimi's Best Beauty competition. She smiled back, showing off her white teeth, and brushing strands of her short orange hair out of her eyes. She stood straight, and Takashi managed to keep his eyes locked with hers. It did not escape his notice that her uniform was clinging tightly to her, as always.

Does she do something with the wash?

"Still moping about Miyamoto, I see."

"Hey!" Takashi wagged his finger as Miku began to laugh, "don't bring that up already! I just needed some space, is all."

"Whatever. It's good to know I'm not alone in skipping class."

"Well…" Takashi paused. He did not want to say it, but he knew Miku only had one class in particular to skip. Koichi Shido's.

"Was there something you were gonna say?"

"I-it's alright." Takashi looked at his shoes. "It's alright…"

Three months earlier….

"Hey….hey! Are you okay!?"

Takashi had been prepared for the street punks and the petty thieves and the paper flower vendors that littered the alleys that were always between him and home after school. He had not been prepared for this.

Right outside a small bar, someone was lying face down on the street. Impulsively, Takashi turned the prone figure over. The uniform had been stretched and ripped and cut apart, but the colors, white and green, were definitely Fujimi. Then he took a look at the face. It was covered in welts and had a huge cut across the forehead, but the person's identity was unmistakable.

"Yuuki-san!?"

The girl choked, closed her eyes, and moaned something under her breath while her head flopped to her left. Takashi had no idea how to administer first aid, but he did have a cellphone.

"I'm going to call the hospital, okay? Everything's going to be fine….everything's going to be okay…"

The present

Miku opened her own mouth, then closed it. Takashi closed his eyes and sighed. He knew that she wanted to speak, but her tremor and body language fought back as hard as they could.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't feel comfortable."

"Oh-okay, Komuro."

Awkwardly, Takashi turned around to look back down at the city, not knowing what else to say. Then his eyes drifted down to the front gate of the school. Miku went to his side and looked down, too.

"It looks like Teshima-san and a few other teachers are down there….who is that outside the gate, Yuuki-san?"

"Dunno. Can't get a good look. Probably some drunk or homeless man...they're everywhere in Tokyo now. Wait, what-huh!?"

A spot of red flashed before both Miku's eyes and those of Takashi. The man outside the gate had just taken a chunk of Teshima's arm out...with his teeth.

"W-what? A bite did that?!"

The two watched, equal parts horrified and mystified, as Teshima fell to his knees, then on his face. Another teacher, perhaps the ping pong advisor Kyoko Hayashi, lowered herself over Teshima to try to help. The remaining teachers were frozen in place.

For as long as three minutes, nothing happened. Then, quick as an adder, Teshima sprang up.

Takashi's jaw dropped.

Miku put both hands to her mouth, muffling her scream.

And Teshima sank his teeth into Hayashi's neck, holding her, before ripping his head back with a fountain of blood drenching them both.

For a moment, Miku was too stunned to move. Then she registered Takashi shaking her by the shoulders.

"Let's go! We have to do something!"

"Hey!" Miku flung his arms back. "Let's think about this! We have to think this through! We can't just run through school! We need a plan!"

Standing there, straight as an arrow, Miku shoved her hand in and out of her pocket. Takashi watched as she held the wood-handled knife in one hand and pulled out the blade with the other. It clicked into place. He had known that she had carried it ever since...that day. He knew she would not put it away now.

With a tremendous effort, Takashi swallowed and stopped the shivering of his own body.

"What should we do?"

Story idea by CRed1988 and writing by Jerviss.