Price of Life

Chapter 2

"So, nothing worrisome was found during the checkup?" Nagisa asked from Isogai as they arrived at the school with Maehara and Sugino the next morning.

"Yeah. Doctor Gakemi assured that I had nothing to worry about," Isogai told with smile.

"I knew it," Maehara commented in good spirits while patting Isogai's shoulder.

"Truth to be told I was a little worried when I heard that you had to meet the doctor again," Sugino admitted to the class' representative. "If they had found out that you have some kind of illness that required hospital care, then we would have a little bit harder time here."

"But we have Kataoka who can do the same as I do. And there's also Karma who has excellent skills in planning, execution and leading," Isogai stated. "But all's well that ends well."

Others nodded – although Sugino shuddered slightly as he thought Karma being the leader – as they headed for the gate that would take them to a forest path leading to their classroom.

"Well, well. There goes a skipper of Class E."

A familiar voice made Nagisa, Isogai, Maehara and Sugino stop.

The Big Five stood a short distance away from them, looking like they had caught the members of Class E doing something forbidden.

"And the morning is ruined," Maehara sighed.

"Excuse me but what are you talking about?" Isogai asked with serious expression from the students of Class A.

"A little bird told us that the male representative of Class E was skipping classes yesterday," Koyama cackled.

Isogai grimaced. He remembered too well the main campus students yelling after him yesterday when they had seen Isogai leaving the school but he had tried to ignore them.

"You better have a good reason, Isogai," Asano stated with smirk. "Otherwise you're in trouble."

"I was just meeting the doctor who was responsible for our checkup," Isogai told. "You know how the health care works in this school. The main campus students have their treatment here and the students of the E Class get theirs outside the school."

"Don't lie!" Seo snapped. "Checkup was last week."

"But they gave me an another time," Isogai explained. He took his school bag from his shoulder, opened it and took a folded paper from there. "If you don't believe me, I still have this note of absence from the school's office."

Isogai walked to the school's elite students and gave the paper to Asano. Chairman's son studied the paper in his hand critically while rest of students stood quietly still, waiting for his next words.

"Fine," Asano said finally as he shoved the paper back to Isogai. "You're in the clear this time." After saying this the student council president turned around and walked towards the main campus with the rest of scowling Big Five behind him.

Maehara snorted. "Don't those guys have enough to do with the students of other main campus classes?" he wondered as he placed his hands on his waist.

"Don't worry about them," Isogai said as he put the paper back into his bag. "Let's go, so we can make it to the first class."

The school day went normally. The students of Class E studied during the lessons but between them they tried to kill Korosensei. The most interesting assassination attempt of the day was then when Okajima organized a photo shoot for Korosensei, claiming that he wanted to immortalize their teacher's amazing skills in disguising. The photo shooting was meant to be a distraction while Hayami and Chiba would try to snipe the octopus-like super creature.

The attempt failed, of course. Korosensei either dodged or blocked the anti-sensei bullets Chiba and Hayami shot. The rest of students, Karasuma and Irina alongside with them, stared speechlessly at Korosensei who was wearing a pink rococo dress and a blond curly wig and bemoaning about his destroyed fan he had used to block the last bullet.

"That's all for today," Korosensei informed jovially after he had collected the worksheets at the end of the last class. "Unfortunately I can't give you remedial instruction tonight since I'm going to visit the Louvre to get inspiration for the next Art class. See you tomorrow."

"That somehow explained that earlier dress," Nakamura commented to Hayami after their homeroom teacher had left the classroom.

"I don't feel like going home yet," Maehara stated as he stretched. He then turned to face Isogai who was packing his bag. "You have work today, don't you? I think I'm coming there to kill some time."

"Fine with me," Isogai said with smile after he had thrown his bag over his shoulder.

"Hold on, Maehara!"

Okano's voice stopped both Maehara and Isogai who were just heading towards the door and they turned to face their classmate. Okano stood with her arms crossed and stared sternly at Maehara.

"Did you forget that you have cleaning duty with us today?" Okano asked as she motioned with her head in direction of Fuwa, Yoshida, Mimura, Itona and Kurahashi who had gathered together.

"Oh yeah!" Maehara groaned, slapping his forehead. He then turned back to Isogai. "I guess I see you later."

"Alright. See you soon," Isogai told kindly to his best friend. "And see you guys tomorrow unless you're visiting my workplace today."

"See you tomorrow, Isogai," Mimura answered with smile.

"See you," Fuwa and Kurahashi said.

Maehara and Okano joined their classmates while Isogai left the classroom.

A cool wind blew as the representative of Class E arrived on the street outside the school. Isogai glanced at the sky and smiled when he noticed that it was cloudless. If he was lucky, the weather would stay good after his shift. Isogai continued walking in good mood towards the cafe, without paying attention to the passing white van.

Couple of hours later Maehara arrived at Kunugi-Kaze. He had asked from Okano if she would like to join him after the cleaning duty and had even offered to pay. But Okano had refused sharply and told Maehara that he could ask that Rumiko-girl who he had talked to on the phone during cleaning.

Maehara opened the cafe's door and entered. Isogai's coworker Toru Fujiwara welcomed him as Maehara took a seat from an empty table. After ordering a cup of tea he began texting with a girl named Mai, occasionally glancing around the cafe to see his best firend.

Half an hour passed but Isogai was nowhere to see. This started to feel weird to Maehara, so he called Fujiwara over.

"Isogai told me that he's working today but I haven't seen him here at all. Has something happened?" Maehara asked after the blond young man with goatee had arrived at the table.

"He isn't here today," Fujiwara told. "Boss got a message from Isogai a couple of hours ago that he's feeling sick."

"What?" Maehara asked in surprise. "He seemed to be fine when he left the school today."

Fujiwara shrugged helplessly. "Sorry. I only know what boss told me."

"It's alright. Thanks anyway," Maehara said. After Fujiwara had returned to his work, Maehara sent a message to Isogai: "I heard that you didn't go to your workplace. Are you OK?"

Maehara put his mobile phone into his pocket and sipped his tea while he tried to remember if Isogai had seem to be sick during the schoolday. A sudden sound informed the boy about a message received on his phone. Maehara took his phone back to his hand in order to check what Isogai had answered.

But the message wasn't from Isogai. It was from Maehara's older sister who demanded to know where Maehara had put her phone's charger he had borrowed.

Later that evening Maehara was sitting in his room doing the homework. He wrote an answer to the Social Studies problem and stared at it in frustration, remembering the last time when Korosensei had made a comment about shortness and one-sidedness of Maehara's answers.

Maehara placed his pencil on the table and took his mobile phone in his hand. He chose Isogai's number and wrote a new message: "What kind of answer you wrote to the Social Studies problem? And how are you feeling? Coming school tomorrow?"

After sending the message Maehara felt a little surprised that Isogai hadn't read his previous message but he just shrugged it off. Isogai was propably sleeping and didn't notice the message because of that. Maehara knew it from all those years they have been friends that Isogai slept like a log when he was resting after falling ill.

Maehara was just going continue his homework when his phone began ringing. He glanced at the screen and after seeing Isogai's home number he placed the phone on his ear. "Hello. Hiroto Maehara speaking."

"Hi, Hiroto," a familiar woman's voice was heard from the phone.

"Good evening, Mrs. Isogai. How are you?" Maehara asked politely.

"I have been feeling better lately, thank you for asking," Isogai's mother answered. "I just called to ask if Yuma has everything he needs to stay with you? I tried to call him a short time ago but he didn't answer."

Maehara frowned. "Excuse me but Isogai isn't here."

"What?"

"We were supposed to meet at Kunugi-Kaze after school but when I arrived there I was told that Isogai wasn't at work because he was apparently feeling sick."

"But… But… Yuma sent me a message earlier today that he's going to have a sleepover with his friend after work and I thought he meant you. Although… It was little strange. Yuma doesn't normally go anywhere without telling me beforehand. Oh no! Don't tell me he has gotten himself in trouble!"

Maehara felt his heartbeat quickening but he forced his voice calm. "Don't worry, Mrs. Isogai. I'll try to call him and contact you immediately after I know his situation."

"But what if he's in danger?!" she cried on the verge of panic. "I have to call a police!"

"Please hold on. I'm as worried about my friend as you are but it isn't good idea to contact the police in vain if Isogai's situation is less dangerous than expected," Maehara said while ignoring the mental images of Isogai's possible situations. "At least let me check the situation first. If it looks bad or I don't find anything about him, I'll tell you."

There was a silence at the other end of the call until Isogai's mother sighed. "I don't like this idea but… Fine. But if you don't call me before midnight, I'll contact the police."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Isogai. I swear that Isogai will be back home tonight," Maehara promised. He then added: "And for your information, he's stronger than he looks."

"Just... don't do anything stupid that will endanger you two, please."

"I won't."

After the call was ended, Maehara chose Isogai's number and called. Holding the phone on his ear he waited for his friend to answer but nothing was heard. The longer Maehara waited, the more worried he became.

Then the call was cut off.

Maehara swore as he lowered the phone from his ear. Without wasting time he tapped an icon and his classmate appeared on the screen.

"Good evening, Maehara," Ritsu greeted with smile.

"Ritsu! You have to track Isogai's phone! And right after that contact our classmates!" Maehara ordered. "I'm afraid we have an emergency!"

To be continue...