Sakura Nanamine would always stay after-hours in the school library. She loved to read, everyone in her class knew that. She was a second year in high school, going to Kamone Gakkuen. The library was always quiet, with a serene atmosphere. Unlike the school hallways, the library was calm and peaceful. Sakura never liked being around too many people. Her life at home was a living nightmare. Her father died when Sakura was still young, and her mother was always gone on trips. She knew that her mother didn't really love her. She never did in the first place. Sakura was seen as a mere nuisance to her mother, and she would often be left alone to fend for herself. Although it was against school laws, Sakura worked part-time at a coffee shop. She needed to make a living somehow.
Her shifts usually began around four, and ended at nine. Classes at Kamone Gakkuen ended at three, giving her one hour to have her moment of solitude. The clock's bell rang, and Sakura left the school. She walked down the bustling streets to her place of work. She signed in, got dressed into her work attire, and went to the working station. Sakura worked as a cashier for the coffee shop. The door's bell softly rang as the door swung open. It was a pair of twins, also known as the Yugi's. The older twin was named Amane, and the younger Tsukasa. They were approximately two years younger than Sakura. They often came to the coffee shop, to purchase tea and sweet deserts that the shop offered. Both of the Yugi twins knew about her family situation, and were actually pretty close friends with Sakura. She enjoyed their company, as they were both very lively and intriguing. Tsukasa looked around the shop for a moment, before turning to look at her. "Ah, Sakura-chan~! You're on shift today!" Tsukasa smiled his usual smile, as he walked closer to her, dragging his older brother with him. "Yes, I am. Hello, Tsukasa. Amane." She replied when they got closer. "Huh. The coffee shop's pretty busy today, huh?" Amane looked at her and asked. It was indeed, pretty busy. Most of the tables were filled, and many more people were entering the shop. Amane continued, "I'm glad that this coffee shop is getting good business. I wouldn't want it to close." Sakura looked at him, and smiled ever so slightly. Amane continued speaking while Sakura packaged some cookies in a a box for Tsukasa. "I wish I was able to help you. Although, I'm not even in high-school yet, so I can't get a job…" He trailed off, as someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Amane turned around to see Natsuhiko-san, a second year in the high school division. The Yugi twins had seen him plenty of times before. Natsuhiko-san had a very long lasting crush on Sakura. However, Sakura didn't really seem to like him all that much. Natsuhiko smiled at Amane. "Ah, Amane-san. Hello! I never expected to run into you here." Amane blinked. "Is that so? I thought you knew that I came here quite often." Natushiko replied, "Ah yes. I had forgotten about that. I don't really come here that often, however I heard that my lovely Sakura-chan worked here." Sakura lifted her head up from the counter where she was gathering Tsukasa's cookies and sweets. "Please refrain from calling me that. We're not on a first-name basis, Natsuhiko-san." She turned back to Tsukasa. "Would you like anything else, Tsukasa-san?" Tsukasa paused for a moment to think. He scanned the available goods before speaking, "Nope~ I think that'll be all for today! Thank you, Sakura-chan~!" Amane spoke up again. "Ah, I believe that our mother will be expecting us to be back soon. We should probably get going now, thank you." Amane handed Sakura some yen, before grabbing his younger brother's hand. "Come on, Tsukasa. We don't want to be late." Sakura waved to them lightly as they exited the coffee-shop. Sakura turned back to Natsuhiko. "So, did you need something?" Natsuhiko sighed, "I only wanted to see your stunning beauty once more." Sakura stared at him blankly. "We're closing now, so if you would like to buy something, do it now. If not, please leave so we can close the shop." Natsuhiko laughed. "Alright, my princess. I'll leave." He turned around to leave the shop. Sakura sighed in relief, as she proceeded to prepare the closing of the shop. She walked over to the staff's only room, collected her belongings, and closed the shop. She walked down the bustling streets as she went back to her apartment. As much as her mother might hate her, she was bound by the law, just like everyone else. If she was going to be gone most of the time, she was at least required to provide a place for her child to stay. Luckily, because of the law, Sakura didn't have to worry about monthly rental payment. She unlocked her apartment and stepped in. Sakura's apartment was more on the smaller side, however it was still comfortable. Sakura, being the person she is, had a very neat and organized apartment. She never really liked messy or un-orderly things.
A few weeks passed, her daily routine the same each day and passing week. However, approximately five weeks after her encounter with the Yugi twins and Natsuhiko, when she ended her classroom, every single person was talking about something. To say that she wasn't intrigued by their topic of choice would have been a lie. Instead, the mustered up some of her courage and walked over to the group of high-schoolers. "Excuse me, may I please ask what you guys are talking about?" A short haired girl with black hair turned to her. "You haven't heard yet? Apparently two twin brothers in the elementary division died two days ago." Sakura froze, before asking again. "Do you happen to know their names, by any chance?" The girl spoke again. "Yeah, they were known as the Yugi twins. The older was named Amane, and the younger Tsukasa." Sakura stepped back in horror, before softly whispering. "… How..how did they die..?" The girl responded yet again. 'Apparently Amane killed Tsukasa, and then Amane committed suicide. No one knows why he killed Tsukasa and then himself. The police and government industry are trying o figure out the case as we speak. "I.. I see. Thank you." Sakura slowly walked to a desk in the back row of the classroom, her mind whirling. Her mind was swarming with questions, all which had no answer. The twins usually seemed to get along with each other most of the time. Why did Amane kill Tsukasa? They were brothers, and pretty close. They were both so innocent and sweet. She couldn't possibly imagine Amane of all people killing his own younger twin brother. It just didn't seem right.
"What had she missed this whole time? What went wrong? What had happened between the twins to cause such an outcome? Every question her mind asked provided no answer. Before she knew it, school had ended again. She went to work again, and continued her routines as usual. Perhaps this was all a dream. Perhaps this wasn't a reality. Maybe she would wake up and come back to the real world. As each day passed, she had hoped that one day Amane and Tsukasa would appear once more. Coming to the coffee-shop as usual, purchasing sugary sweets, talking with Sakura, and hanging out with her sometimes in the library during the after-hours of school. They never appeared. Every headline she saw on the news was about the twins. Eventually, she had come to accept the fact that they were both dead. The fact that they would never return. And the fact, that she had lost two of her closest friends. The Yugi twins were definitely younger than her, yes, however they were both so kind, funny, and bright. They were always upbeat, contradicting her serene and calm personality.
They never ended up returning. Until, seven months later, rumors were spreading again. Thee hallways of the school were filled with chatter and gossip. As Sakura passed someone, she head him say, "Hey, have you heard? Those two twins that died about seven months ago are apparitions now. One of them has become one of the seven school mysteries, and one of them grants wishes after you die." Sakura stopped walking. The Yugi twins were reborn as school apparitions? Perhaps she could still talk to them. A soft melody echoed from her iPhone. Sakura picked up her phone and checked who was calling. Shit. It was her mother. That's never a good sign. The call went to voicemail before she could pick up. She later received a message from her mother. It read, "Come home. now." Sakura tensed, before heading back to her apartment. Hesitantly, she unlocked and opened the door. Her mother stood at the doorway, arms crossed. Her tone was harsh as she asked, "Why haven't you been responding to my messages? And what is this I hear about your current grades?" Her mother held a knife in her hand, spinning it around. Sakura froze. If she managed to survive today, tomorrow she would have to visit one of the twins. The one who granted wishes after-death, for she feared that she might not live much longer.