The right answer

"Milk. Milk. Where's the milk?"

Nagisa was searching for a vending machine during recess. Unfortunately, there were no vending machines for cheese. Milk was the closest she would get.

"Here it is!"

The problem is that the vending machines in school was that they not have a label for each product. The worst part about that was that they always changed the products' places. This rule was also valid for the machine that Nagisa was using, which was on the corner of one of the corridors.

Nagisa put the coin in to activate the respective shelf. Homura always guaranteed some money for her but she did not ask the source. The automated shelf dropped a milk carton, where she picked it up from the collection point.

Nagisa then pulled the straw that had come stuck with the box. Only when she tried to puncture the box with the straw, she found that the location to stab was defective. Ayako must be waiting, so she could not lose much time. But she also could not force it too much or...

"Hi!"

Scared, Nagisa pierced the box so hard that milk splashed in her face.

"Ah! Sorry! I shouldn't have come from behind."

Only it was not the direction where the voice came that did scare Nagisa, but because she knew who was the owner of that voice.

Turning around, her fears were confirmed, she was faced with sweet girl's eyes and pink hair.

"Here." Madoka took a handkerchief from her uniform pocket and began wiping down Nagisa's face. "I'll dry you off as well. It's the least I can do."

When she was about to end, Madoka's eyes widened and began to open her mouth as if about to say something.

Nagisa was even more fearful with that situation.

Why is she here? Neither study is on the same floor. Does she remember me now?

"Your eyes..." Madoka began to open a smile. "Wow! They're awesome! They're so different."

"Oh." Nagisa looked away, embarrassed. "There are people who have told me that." Then she saw that Madoka carried a folder with papers in the other hand.

Noting where Nagisa's attention was, Madoka said, "I won't take up any more of your break time. Hihi. Just wanted to know where the principal's office is." before she passed the handkerchief over the little girl's face one last time.

"Um..." Now Nagisa knew why Madoka was there, the principal's office was on that floor. However, she did not know exactly where it was, because from the first day in this new world she was already registered in the school and there was never a need to go there. "Well... it's..."

"Kaname-san."

Nagisa, in a reflex, pressed hard on the milk carton. Another jet of milk left out the straw and wet the floor.

"Hey!" Madoka jumped back. "Watch out. The box is well filled." Then she turned to the person who was coming to them. "Akemi-san?"

Homura stared at the two, especially focusing on Nagisa. Her expression was cold.

To disguise her tremors, Nagisa held the box as close as she could, shrugged and started drinking. She was seen close to Madoka, also talking with her, this was bad news.

"What are you doing here?" Madoka asked to Homura smiling.

"I ... was going to the principal's office to resolve some issues with my tuition. Something quick to resolve." Homura answered without taking her eyes off Nagisa.

"What a coincidence! Wehihi. I was also going there." Madoka put the handkerchief back in her pocket. "Did you notice her eyes?"

"What?" Homura said.

Madoka looked at Nagisa. "Look how amazing they are! And that hair too. As long as yours Akemi-san and seems to be made of milk."

Madoka turned to Homura. "She's not pretty?"

"Oh yeah. Of course." Homura said in a monotone tone. "So cute you could die for."

Nagisa shrank even more.

"So Akemi-san..." Madoka was stirring on the tip of one of her pigtails. "Could you show me where's the office? I wouldn't have ask to that girl then."

"Certainly." Homura walked.

Madoka, noting that Homura was already leaving, took one last look at Nagisa. Then approached and caressed her long hair. "Sorry again for having scared you. You seem to be very shy."

Madoka approached a little more, looked around and whispered. "You know. I also feel weird sometimes."

"Kaname-san." Homura noted that Madoka was not following.

"But never lose hope. Tomorrow can always be better than today. Hihi." Madoka winked and walked away from Nagisa.

Before the two girls turned the corridor, Homura turned her head and saw Nagisa from the corner of her eye, like they are daggers.

Only after they disappeared from view had Nagisa noticed that the box was withered. She was so nervous that she had drunk the entire contents without notice.

She breathed deeply a few times. Apparently it was just an unfortunate event... or was it a test? Nagisa sought to take these ideas from her head, deciding to buy a new box of milk. She would drink on the way to her encounter with Ayako.

"And then? Got it?"

While the box slid to the collection point, Nagisa heard the voice of Takuma. He was on the other corridor that ran through that corner.

Then came the sound of a bunch of keys dangling. "They almost found me inside the warehouse, but it's here." Now was the voice of Sanjuro.

"The ground floor keys. That's it. From what they told me, the ladies room ghost is there." Takuma said.

In response to that, the voice of Ogai was heard. "Do you really think the smelly cheese will go with us there after school?"

"Of course he'll." Takuma said. "If I promise I'll stop messing with him, I think he would even accept to licking my feet. Hahaha."

After the laughter of the three boys, Ogai asked. "But what if he doesn't give up? If he actually goes into the bathroom..."

"You're stupid huh?" Sanjuro interrupted. "Why do you think I brought the keys?"

Takuma added. "We'll teach that smelly cheese that he's a little girl once and for all, locking him there."

"All night?!" Ogai spoke in a tone of surprise.

Takuma said. "Of course. Then he'll have plenty of time to stick in his shit head about which bathroom should go to from now on."

"B-but when they find him, he'll tell about us!" Ogai exclaimed.

"Just deny it. Without any evidence, adults do nothing. This's how it works." Takuma said calmly.

"After locking it, we go to the warehouse to put the keys back. It will be a breeze." Sanjuro completed.

"You're looking like that sissy now. Want to join him?" Takuma threatened.

"N-no. Hehe. I just didn't know it was a well thought out plan." Ogai answered.

"Of course it is." Takuma said. "Let's go back to the classroom. I want to see if the smelly cheese gave up or not."

Nagisa fled as fast possible to avoid being seen by the three, to the point of leaving behind the milk carton.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"Ready to become a man?"

Four boys were in front of the ladies' room door. They hid in one of the bathrooms on the upper floors to avoid being caught by the monitors and waited for the nightfall.

In that corridor, lit by moonlight, Aki asked. "I could ask the same, Kuroki."

"How?" Takuma snapped.

"Are you a man who honors his word?" Aki looked Takuma with a serious expression.

"Deep. Saw it in a movie?" Takuma smiled and spread the hair of Aki. "Of course I'll stop calling you 'smelly cheese', smelly cheese."

Ogai and Sanjuro, who were also there, laughed with that statement.

"That was not the deal." Aki angered up. "You promised you'd stop everything."

"Yeah. Yeah." Takuma nodded. "I promised. How could call you sissy after you prove your courage? Huh?"

"Yes." Sanjuro began. "We'll call you dead man when the ghost catches you."

Takuma, Ogai and Sanjuro laughed.

Aki shrugged. "I don't believe in ghost stories."

"So it'll be easy." Takuma pointed to the door. "Go in."

With determination, Aki turned the knob of the door and went into the bathroom.

"HEY! SMELLY CHEESE!" Takuma shouted.

Aki turned to the door. "Hi. There's no need to shout."

Takuma then said. "Don't turn on the light or else you will drive away the ghost."

"Ok."

Aki Hidaka had already seen many horror movies. Enough to know that it was all tricks and imagination of their creators. Why be afraid of a monster when there's a Takuma sitting next to you? And even if they were real, the monsters kill only a few people in the movies. Some exceptions involve tens or at most hundreds of deaths. How could that to compare this with the thousands who die in the hands of humans?

"Smelly cheese. I want to hear you opening the door of each toilet stall. No bullshit." Takuma spoke through the door.

"Got it." Aki said. At that moment he realized that it was the first time he had entered the ladies' room. His eyes were already accustomed to the darkness and saw that there was not much difference from the male except that the counter sink and the mirror were extended, overlapping the space where the urinals would usually occupy.

As he had expected, the toilet stalls were exactly to the opposite the sinks. All doors were ajar.

Let's get over with this.

Aki went to the first door and shoved without hesitation. It opened completely, pounding in the wall, revealing a latrine as the only occupant.

"Did you hear?" Aki said out loud.

"Yeah. Continue." Takuma said.

And so it went on: Aki was opening each door. Gradually began to smile. He knew Takuma never fulfill the promise. However, he did not come to prove to them but to himself. A laughing stock is worthless if you fully believe it is a lie. He was not a sissy, no, he was a man without fear.

There were only two stalls left.

"You're still alive?"

Listening Takuma, Aki looked up to the row of tilting windows. They were closed, but that did not stop the moonlight entering the room. "I am."

More than ever.

Then a squeak alerted Aki senses. The sound came under the sink counter. A mouse? He squinted in the search for any movement in that direction.

His newly acquired pride would be tested.

First, a hand clamped over his mouth, then there was another arm that passed at his belly and wrapped completely. His arms were trapped.

"Hmmmpf?!"

Aki tried to fight, but in vain. Despite feeling that whoever had took hold was not much bigger than him, had great strength. He was seen being pulled into one of the stalls.

The first idea that went on Aki's head was a Takuma's scheme to give him a scare, though Sanjuro and Ogai were out there. Perhaps Takuma had arranged someone else?

But this idea faded because Aki was gagged. If it was to scare, they would want him to scream.

"Hmmmpf?"

It could be the ghost? Aki was more confused than frightened by this idea. The story said that he would see a little girl before suffering an attack and not simply be kidnapped into a stall.

Aki tried to see who was holding him through the corner of his eye without success. He could feel from the hand on his mouth that there's a glove that covered only the palm. His back was warmer where they were glued together. Ghosts do not emit heat, no?

Then, with the hand holding the mouth, the kidnapper tilted Aki's head to one side, exposing his neck.

"HMMMPF!"

The breath Aki released was puffy, he swallowed hard. The fear was beginning to emerge. It reminded him of some movies he watched.

White face. Confers. Inhuman eyes. A little vague, but gives the same idea. Sharp teeth. Also vague, it could refer only to canines. The ghost story is not specific about what time of day, but it did not matter much, because those bathrooms were not bathed by the sunlight much.

Everything was even clearer when he felt a breath on his neck. His heart fluttered and eyes widened.

Again seeking the visage of his abductor, Aki looked down and was able to see the top of the head. It had pointed ears, like a bat.

It was a vampire! It was a vampire! He would receive the deadly kiss. Those teeth would pierce his neck and suck all his blood.

His vision began to blur.

Then he felt something warm, soft, damp passing on the skin of the neck. That made Aki shiver.

"HHMMMPPPPFFF!"

It did not hurt, but Aki began to feel a strangeness. His feet and hands began to tingle. Then he was no longer able to feel or move them. What was happening?

That tingling started up to the legs and arms. When he felt the arm that involved his belly pressing harder, he realized he was no longer able to stand up by himself.

"Hmmmpppff! Hmmmmpffffff!"

He would die.

His eyes could no longer hide their distress and poured. Aki always thought that the victims died in the movies more because of their idiocy. Only now knew he was as dumb as them.

The tingling went up the torso and reached the neck. Aki looked at the bathroom ceiling. It revolved, more and more. Increasingly distant. It was like he was falling. Falling into a bottomless pit.

He could not see anything, nor could he feel his jaw, but his conscience screamed in agony. He thought of his family. He thought about how it would be his funeral. This in case they found a body.

"Shhhh..."

In that sea of darkness where he floated, Aki could hear someone. His last sensation was the slip of fingers on the apples of his face, collecting the tears.

"Shhhh..."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Sanjuro was impatient. "You gonna lock it or not?"

Takuma was standing with his ear against the door. "Hold on."

"I thought we were going to lock it as soon as he went in." Sanjuro crossed his arms.

Takuma turned to Sanjuro. "And miss the chance to hear the squeal of that sissy?"

Sanjuro closed his eyes. "Dude. He said he doesn't believe in ghost. Moreover, it's late."

"It is." Ogai said. "I told my parents that I was in a movie theater, but if I take too long they'll complain."

Takuma looked Ogai with spite. "I should have put you in there too, big baby."

Ogai flinched.

"Okay." Takuma said after sighing. "I'll do the following: I'll call him and then lock the door. Then we'll be enjoying his crying. Hahaha."

"Good." Sanjuro nodded.

"Okay." Takuma looked at the door and said out loud. "Speak smelly cheese!"

Silence.

"Deaf." Takuma told himself and then shouted. "HEY SMELLY CHEESE!"

No reply.

"What a little piece of shit, he doesn't answer." Takuma said.

"D-do you think the ghost got him?" Ogai looked worried.

Sanjuro looked at the Ogai. "Takuma was right. He should have put you inside." Then to Takuma. "Lock it and let him fuck himself. Let's get out of here."

But Takuma just kept looking at the door. "The window."

"The window?" Sanjuro was confused.

"He may have escaped, no? He's small, skinny, it would be easy."

"It's very high. No way." Sanjuro nodded negatively.

"He may have gone up on something. Like the sink counter for example." Takuma said.

Sanjuro was thoughtful. "Um... In the women's bathroom the counter goes to the wall with the windows." Then he shrugged. "So what if he escaped?"

Takuma gritted his teeth. "'So what'? 'SO WHAT'?! He'd be making a sucker out of me! I'll crush him." He put his hand on the doorknob.

"Takuma?!" Ogai's eyes widened.

"If we find out that he fled now, he must not be far away. We can reach him and give him a lesson." Takuma then spoke in a threatening tone. "And you'll go with me Ogai if you do not want your life to become hell, you cowardice trash."

"And you Sanjuro?" Takuma continued.

Sanjuro sighed. "Whatever, we already lost a lot of time."

"Then let's go." Takuma opened the door and the three entered.

The bathroom showed no signs of having someone there. However, the window was closed.

"It seems he didn't run away. SMELLY CHEESE!" Takuma called Aki again. No reply.

Takuma said to his two cronies. "He must be hiding somewhere. Close the door and keep an eye out. I'll search."

"Okay." Sanjuro obeyed. "Ogai?"

Ogai was shaking with his eyes wide open.

"Tch..." Sanjuro nodded in disapproval.

Takuma began to walk, looking at each stall. "It's no use to hide! Show yourself, sissy."

"HihihiHAHAHAHAHAHAHARAWWWR."

A sinister and monstrous laughter echoed through the bathroom.

Ogai grabbed Sanjuro's arm. "Ahhh! It's the ghost."

"Release me!" Sanjuro pushed Ogai yet he also had been scared. "Takuma?"

Takuma closed his eyes and laughed. "Hahahaha!"

"Takuma?!" Sanjuro was surprised by that reaction.

"Smelly cheese!" Takuma continued. "So that was your plan? To scare us with an imitation of those horror movies you watch? Is that all?"

Takuma then straightened his jacket and started to crack his knuckles. "We were going to take it easy, but now be prepared, as I'll show you the true horror."

A guttural voice cried.

"So be it! Then show to me."

Then, someone came from one the last stall. The silhouette, highlighted by moonlight, had pointed ears and long hair and appeared to be dragging a body on the floor.

"What is this?!" Sanjuro began to feel goose bumps.

"T-turn on the light! Now!" Takuma felt sweat run down his neck.

Sanjuro obeyed promptly.

The light revealed a white-haired girl wearing a brown cap with pointed ears, orange shawl and a curious skirt with suspenders. But that was not what drew the most attention, but the face painted in white with strange colored eyes. Nagisa was holding Aki, who was completely motionless on the ground, by the collar.

"The ghost got him! Aaahhhh!" Ogai began to bawl.

Nagisa flashed a smile, revealing her row of sharp teeth. "Awwrr... Now I can see that there are three bad, yummy boys... hmmmm!" She opened her mouth more, letting her big purple tongue pass on her lips.

"I'm out!" Sanjuro try to open the door to escape, but when he tried to pull, it resisted like someone was holding it on the outside. "W-what! Who's there? Open up!"

Not waiting for an answer, Sanjuro pulled as hard as he could. "HHHHGGGNNNN! OGAI! TAKUMA! HELP!"

But Ogai kept crying.

And Takuma was paralyzed, his body trembling all over. He struggled to contain his cries, fearing that it would make the 'ghost' to attack. "...AH...AH... AHHH..."

"What?" Nagisa said. "I have not eaten you yet. Why not show me the true HORRAWRR?"

"It's...um..." Takuma gathered every bit of confidence he had left. "S-sorry for invading, ghost. We were just looking for our friend, that's all. I warned him to not to enter. That's it, hehe... but he's all yours. Okay?"

"Damn Takuma! Come help!" Sanjuro pulled Ogai's arm, who was in tears with phlegm dripping onto his clothes. "Ogai! Pull the door with all your strength. Got it?"

Ogai could only nod to confirm.

"I... I won't die here." Sanjuro took a key from the pocket of his pants. "I'll try the hinge. Keep pulling."

Using the tip of the key like a screwdriver, Sanjuro tried to lift the hinge pin, but his hand was shaking too much. "Shit!"

Then he heard a dragging sound in the doorframe and came out several hairless tails like that of a mouse, which acted more like tentacles trying to reach him.

"AAAAHHHH!" Sanjuro fell on his ass.

Nagisa was thinking about what Takuma had spoken. "Hmm... You're right."

"Yeah?" That was not enough to relieve Takuma.

Nagisa crouched down and pulled the collar of Aki's shirt, revealing a mark similar to a tattoo.

Takuma was not close enough to discern the details, but he could say that off-white design was a circle with some kind of person inside.

"See?" The multicolored eyes of Nagisa remained focused on Takuma. "That means he's mine, only MINEEEEWWRR!"

The roar shook the window glass and mirror.

"I'll show you what happens to those who mess with my property." Nagisa opened her menacing smile.

"P-please..." Takuma joined hands.

To the astonishment of Takuma, Nagisa shut her big mouth. Then he saw that she started to contract her bare belly. Her cheeks got stuffed as if about to vomit. Then, from her mouth an inflatable toy serpent left, which was getting bigger and bigger...

Takuma's eyes widened: the serpent was already barely able to fit in the bathroom due to how big and long it had become. Then it moved suddenly, stopping in front of him, making him to fall to the ground.

The serpent had a body made of black fabric with red polka dots. The head had a face similar of its owner, but with a nose similar to a birthday party hat and two large plumes in the place of the ears, being red on the right and blue on the left.

When the serpent eyes moved and stared at him, Takuma realized that it was not inanimate. His pants started to get wet, but he did not even notice. The only thing he wanted was to get as far as possible from that giant smiling face.

The serpent then began to open its mouth. If its owner had a big enough mouth to bite the whole hand of a person, the snake could eat a whole body. The row of teeth accompanied by a purple tongue and the sweet smelling breath of candy was the harbinger of a brutal end.

Takuma was only able to imitate it, opening his mouth in horror.

" HGNNHHHHAAAAAAAAH!"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Aki began to feel cold, then opened the eyes to know where he was. He could see the ceiling with lighted lamps, but it seemed far away.

Then he realized that he was lying on the cold floor in the middle of a bathroom and so his memory began to work. He remembered that he was in the hands of a vampire, that memory brought goose bumps and a strange sense of something over his belly.

Aki could see that there was a rag doll on top of him. It had to be about 30 centimeters tall, maybe less. Half of this stature came from the head in the form of a packaged candy. The flaps of the 'candy' had a rose color, as well as the top head and a cloth wick over the face, representing the hair. Speaking on the face: it was white and not made of fabric, the texture was more like rubber. It had yellow circles painted on both the cheeks and purple lips. Its eyes' resin called a lot of attention because they were multicolored.

The doll dress was not so unusual. A black cap with red polka dots involved the head. It wore a brown coat with sleeves too long for such short limbs, at least that it could be concluded by observing the legs made of fabric, also of rose color. For completeness, it also wore a red cape.

When he saw the doll, Aki felt his heart stop. That face... That face matched the ghost's description! No! The vampire!

The doll tilted its head to the side and smiled, making a strange sound. "bbbrrriiiiHiii!"

"AAAAHHHH !" Aki struggled, making the doll fall. Then crawled until he hit his back against the wall. "Don't kill me, vampire! Don't kill me!"

The doll, awkwardly, was standing up. "bbbrrriiiiIiiwon'tiikillii. iiVampireii?"

"Y-you said something?" Aki was huddled on the wall.

The doll took its sleeves to the mouth, ashamed. "bbbrrriiiiIiiwon'tiikillii."

"'I won't kill'..." Aki mumbled, deciphering what the doll had said. "Then I'll turn in a vampire?" He said as he ran his hand on the neck.

The doll understood what Aki was referring to, but it was not a bite but a witch's kiss that had been placed on it and had already been removed. The doll shook its head. "bbbrrriiiiNoii. iiMyiimasteriiisiiaiighostii."

"Master? Ghost?" Aki's curiosity had overcome the shock.

The doll smiled again and excitedly threw its sleeves up. "BBBRRRIIIII! iiYesii! iiI'miiheriiassistantii. iiShe'siigoodii."

"'She's good'? Okay..."

Aki had seen stories involving ghosts of good, commonly found in the cartoon sessions. However, that doll, despite the disturbing appearance, seemed to be harmless.

"Oh yeah!" Aki slapped his forehead.

"bbbrrriiiiWhatii?"

"My colleagues." Aki said as he looked at the door. "They are out there."

"bbbrrriiiiTheyiiareiigoneii."

"Huh?" Aki turned to the doll.

She gave a smile so wide that the tips of the mouth reached the eyes. "bbbrrriiiiGoneii. iiLockediitheiidooriiandiileftii."

"They locked the door?!" Aki has already begun to imagine spending the night with this doll and its master, wherever she was hiding.

"bbbrrriiiiStayiicalmii! iiMyiimasteriialreadyiiunlockedii." The doll crossed its sleeves. "bbbrrriiiiSheiiwantsriiyouiitoiigoiiawayii."

Aki started to stand, adjusting his pants. "And nothing will happen to me?"

"bbbrrriiiiDidn'tiiIiisayiisheiiisiigoodii?" So the doll extended sleeves towards Aki. "bbbrrriiiiSheiieveniiaskediimeiitoiiaccompanyiiyouii."

"Accompany?!" Aki realized that the doll asked his lap.

"bbbrrriiiiToiiyouriihomeii. iiIt'siidangerousiitoiiwalkiialoneiiatiinightii."

Fearing, Aki took the doll and gathered it to his chest. By doing that he saw that there was a picture on the cap it wore: a cheerful face similar to the doll, except the nose was something like a birthday hat. The body was warm, as if the doll was a living animal.

"It's okay? I'm not pressing too much?" Aki asked.

The doll up straightened and relaxed in his lap. "bbbrrriiii..."

"Haha. That tickles." Aki went toward the door. "Hey. But I... don't think you can protect me."

The doll replied. "bbbrrriiiiNeveriiunderestimateiibyiitheiiappearanceii."

That statement put a doubt that would haunt Aki during their journey home. She is harmless, right?

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Aki always returned from school alone, but never so late at night. He used the subway, as the residential condominium where he lived was near the station.

Luckily the trip went by without a hitch, except for some people who made some curious looks to a boy that was carrying a doll. It was completely static, with a smiling expression similar to the design of its cape. Aki wondered the reaction of people if the doll began to move or speak.

When he arrived at the condominium, Aki decided to go into a side street that was darker. He stopped and checked if there was anyone nearby.

"We've arrived. I live right there." Aki pointed to the building.

The doll looked up and exchanged glances with Aki. "bbbrrriiiiOkii. iiPutiimeiidownii."

Aki obeyed the request. "How will you go back, doll? ...um... I didn't ask your name or your master's."

The doll shook a little her flaps. "bbbrrriiiiIiidon'tiihaveiitheiipermissioniitoiitelliitheiinameiiofiimyiimasterii,iibutiiyouiicaniicalliimeiiBebeii."

"Bebe? Uh-huh." Aki bowed to the doll. "My name is Aki Hidaka and thanks to you and your master."

"bbbrrriiiiThat'siinothingiiandiidon'tiiworryii, iiI'miiincredibleii!" The doll was spinning its sleeves.

"Haha. Yesss..." Aki was sadder.

"bbbrrriiii?"

Aki stood up and gave a waning smile. "I'll never see you again, right?"

The doll lowered its head and then shook negatively.

"I figured that. Haha. Of course. How could it be different?" Aki caressed his blond hair and turned around. "Farewell Bebe."

"Hidaka-kun!"

"Huh?" Aki turned back to the doll. "You spoke my name just right."

"bbbrrriiiiIiispeakiirightiieveryiinowiiandiitheniiheheii." The doll said as it gathered the sleeves. "bbbrrriiiiIiiwantiitoiitelliiyouiiaboutiiaiigirliiiniiyouriiclassroomiithatiicallediiyouiiofiiaiicheeseii..."

"How do you know that?" Aki was curious.

"bbbrrriiiiMyiimasteriiroamsiitheiischoolii. iiSheiisawiieverythingii."

"I see..." A ghost roaming the school was quite disturbing for Aki, even if was a good one.

So the doll continued. "bbbrrriiiiTheiigirliilikesiicheeseiialotiiandiineveriiwantediitoiioffendiiyouii."

"I didn't feel offended." Aki began to blush. "I didn't know she liked cheese... well, I'll try to talk to her tomorrow. If she feels guilty, I'll have to solve this misunderstanding."

He noted that the doll was grieving. "What?"

"bbbrrriiiiNothingii." She turned. "iiIiimustiigoii."

"Ok... wow!"

The doll flew off, leaving a black trail with colored dots in the air.

"Farewell Bebe and THANK YOU! I PROMISE THAT I'LL SPEAK WITH NAGISA!" Aki said out loud and then stammered. "If I survive the earful I'll take back home..."

Nagisa knew Aki promise would not be fulfilled, but not by his fault.

She would die.

Flying through the sky of Mitakihara in the form of a doll, which actually was the original form of her witch, Nagisa had no direction or hope.

She believed that boys would be going to the bathroom right after class. So she figured she would just come a little late to the rooftop, where Homura should be expecting her. Unfortunately, they waited until the night fell.

The moon and the stars were the only companions and witnesses of Nagisa's distress. Homura should be searching for her and sooner or later would find out. If she had a mental map of the city, maybe she could have visited Mami one last time...

Nagisa suddenly felt a very strong blow on her back, like she was attacked by a bird of prey. Completely messing up her flight control, she fell over a top of a building.

"bbbrrriiiinnng!"

Rolling over and over again, Nagisa would fall from the building if her body had not been stomped on.

"bbbrrriiiiaarrgg!"

Lying on the ground, she could contemplate the predator that was over her.

Homura Akemi was with her devilish costume and with open wings. Her expression had an air of satisfaction. "You broke our agreement... ghost."

Even if she was a doll, Nagisa needed to breathe and was difficult. "bbbrrriii... bbbrrriiiiYouiiknewii?"

"I saw everything. Bathroom ghost? Fufu." Homura smiled. "You were very lucky. If you didn't order your minions to open the door and let those boys escape, I would have destroyed you at that very moment."

"However..." She invoked her bow in her left hand. "You're not a ghost, but I can do something about it. Fufufufu..." With her right hand pulled the bow, creating a violet energy arrow and pointed against Nagisa.

Nagisa just closed her eyes. She could even leave her snakelike form out of her, but she knew that had no chance.

But never lose hope. Tomorrow can always be better than today.

There would be no tomorrow.

But Nagisa still clung to the hope of seeing her mother again.

Then she felt her body being further crushed.

"bbbrrriiIIAAAARRRGGGHHHH!" Nagisa's eyes widened and cried out in pain, leaving her tongue out.

"You're really wishing for death." Homura was still pointed bow against Nagisa. "But do you think that you'll die without any suffering? I'm not done with you yet."

Homura trampled repeatedly.

"bbbrriiiingn... bbbrrriiiinnggnniiiiaarg."

"Since you won't react..." Homura sighed. "Tell me one thing: why the boy? You know him?"

Homura had relieved some of the pressure, allowing Nagisa to pull some air. "bbbrrriiii... bbbrrriiiiHe'siiofiimyiiclassroomii."

"And...?" Homura trampled again.

"bbbrrriiiingrrr..." She could not stand it. "bbbrrrIIIIHEIIWASIISUFFERINGII!" Purple Tears began to stream down her cheeks. "bbbrrriiiTheyiiwereiiabusingiihimiiforiinothingii..."

Homura remained firm in her position.

"bbbrrriiiiIiididn'tiiwantiiitiianymoreii. iiJustiilookingiiandiidoingiinothingii. iiNotiiAGAINII!" Nagisa began to sob. "bbbrrriiiiNotiinowiiIiicanii. iiIiiwantediitoiisaveiisomeoneii,iieveniiifiiitiiwasiionlyiionceii..."

"Finished?" Homura said monotonically.

Nagisa stopped crying. "bbbrrriiiiYouiicaniistompiimeii, iiteariimeiiapartii! iiIiidon'tiiregretiiitii." Then she turned her face and closed her eyes again, determined to hold the cries before whatever pain she would receive.

And the first feeling that came was a hand grabbing the top of her head. "Let's go home."

Nagisa opened her eyes. "bbbrrriiii?"

Homura was holding her, the bow began to evaporate from the other hand. "You have the absolute certainty that I would kill you. Great."

Homura then smiled. "And still broke the rules and went after what you wanted. Even if I undo today's events, I would still remember of your rebellion. There's no turning back."

Then Homura's eyes flashed "Desire is the agent of change and you gave value to this power. Lived up to your answer, witch."

Nagisa remembered the conversation on the edge of that ravine. "bbbrrriiiiYouiitrustiimeiinowii?"

"Of course not." Homura frowned. "Let's go. I want to fix your little mess as soon as possible." Carrying the doll, she took off towards the starry night.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

End of another class.

Nagisa was sitting at her desk, thinking about the events of last night, when she felt a nudge on the shoulder.

Nagisa smiled. "Ayako-chan ~!"

But Ayako was not looking at Nagisa but to another point in the room. She had a serious expression. "Nagisa. Kuroki was looking at me the whole class."

"Huh?" That sounded very familiar to Nagisa.

Ayako made a suspicious face and spoke softly. "He'll try something. Be prepared, he's coming."

Takuma nodded. "Hi girls."

"What do you want, Kuroki." Ayako crossed her arms.

"Huh? Nothing special Kinomoto." Takuma put on a small smile, placing his hands in his jacket pockets. "I just wanted to know if you and Momoe are aware about the latest rumor."

"Rumor?" Nagisa was perplexed. Homura had not finished with fixing the story of the bathroom ghost? No one seemed to remember anything.

"So you don't know..."

Takuma stare Nagisa, wide-eyed.

"...about the scandal on the top of the school."

"Scandal?!" Nagisa was surprised.

"Yeah." Takuma closed his eyes and nodded. "That's why the access there is restricted now."

"Tell us more about this silly story." Ayako challenged Takuma.

"It's what everyone else is commenting on." Takuma shrugged. "They found a couple making out there."

Ayako raised her eyebrows. "So what? This happens all the time at the cherry trees..."

"Really?" Nagisa looked at Ayako.

Ayako returned that reaction with a smile. "You're very innocent Nagisa-chan ~."

"It's true." Takuma winked at Nagisa. "Or maybe she hides her game very well. Huh?"

Ayako's anger flared up. "That's all?"

"Oh no..." Takuma gestured. "I haven't finished. You said 'So what?'. So… the couple was a girl in our class with a boy in the ninth grade."

The two were open-mouthed. "Oh really?!"

"The best part of all is that I know who the girl is." Takuma looked at Ayako.

Ayako's eyes narrowed. "And you'll tell us?"

"I was told..." Takuma smirked. "...that the girl had a butterfly on her head."

Ayako was turning red. "I knew it was another of your jokes! If you spread this lie, I'm gonna kick your ass, you... you..."

Takuma did not try containing the laughter. "Hahahahaha ..."

"PISTACHIO!"

"...hahahahuh?"

"Ayako-chan!" Nagisa called.

Ayako spoke dismissively. "You're always pestering the others, thinking you're the ruler here, but you're no more than a pistachio ice cream ball."

"W-where did you get that? Are you crazy?" Takuma still confused.

"AYAKO-CHAAAANN! Don't tell him!" Nagisa held Ayako's arm.

"Ouch! Nagisa?" Ayako was surprised by the force exerted by that little girl.

"So it's your invention Momoe. Want to humiliate me, is it?" Takuma stared angrily at Nagisa.

"NO... um..." This could not be revealed.

"It's a custom that she has. It links people to a food." Ayako said.

"No!" Nagisa despaired.

But Ayako did not stop. "She does it with everyone. Please leave her alone." Then she looked at Nagisa. "Sorry."

"Yuck!" Takuma did a disgusted face. "Only girls would make drama for something so stupid." Then he stopped, completely mesmerized. "Hey, but wait a minute. So that was it!"

Nagisa looked at her desk, gritting her teeth.

"So this's what that sissy was talking about. Hey Sanjuro! Ogai!"

Everything was repeating itself!

"Bring the little sissy here."

"Now? The teacher should be coming soon."

"Bring him!"

But she could change it, no? She could lie and say he was another food. But...

Sooner or later, that Kuroki and his troupe would find something new to mess with Aki over.

No matter, the end result would always be the same.

Ogai and Sanjuro went to the Aki's desk. He was alert and rose with the arrival of the two. Then he looked to a malicious Takuma, a suspicious Ayako and an apprehensive Nagisa. He sighed and began to walk toward them with the henchmen of Takuma close behind.

"What do you want with Hidaka-kun?" Ayako started to get concerned.

Takuma said. "I just want to know something. Hehehe."

Takuma then nodded and put one foot forward.

At the same moment, Ogai and Sanjuro pushed Aki, who gave a stomp on Takuma's shin.

"AAAHHHHhhhgggg!"

"Oh! Many apologies!" Aki caressed his tangled hair. "You should be more careful about where you leave your leg, Kuroki."

Takuma, furious, held Aki by the collar. "You want to die, you little shit?" Then he took him by the neck and pushed him hard, making Aki's torso crash on the desk of Nagisa.

"Stop! You're hurting him." Ayako advanced towards Takuma.

But was quickly blocked by Sanjuro. "Heeey! Come at me first, baby."

Ogai was just laughing.

The whole classroom now was watching the scene.

Takuma bent down and spoke in Aki's ear. "Remember that time we got you wondering to yourself about what food would you be? Now I know it's further proof that you really are a little girl."

Nagisa was in that scene again. Is all in vain? How the desire can be the agent of change if the result does not change?

Takuma looked at Nagisa. "Say what food he is. Tell me Momoe."

Aki did make any sound, moreover, Nagisa saw a serene expression on his face.

"SPILL OUT!" Takuma tightened Aki's neck.

Aki's bright red eyes were fixed on her. His mouth quivered with pain, but tried to smile. He then made a nod to her.

Nagisa replied, also with a smile and a nod.

"Roquefort."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"Are you smiling?"

The vigilance of Homura during class was interrupted by a girl at a neighboring desk. She had hair that grew slightly long, ending just below the shoulder line. The color of both her hair as her eyes were green.

Homura replied in a tone of surprise. "Hitomi Shizuki, our class representative, talking during a class."

Acting as a refined lady, Hitomi put the fingertips on her lips and spoke softly. "True, but I could not help but notice your expression. You are always serious and speaks so little."

"I see no need ." Homura looked briefly at Madoka. "However, since we're both in an unusual day, I'll avail to make a small question. How is your relationship?"

Hitomi kept looking at the whiteboard and continued with her hand over her mouth. "Kyousuke? He is a very special person. He has a talent..."

Homura interrupted with a more serious tone. "I have no interest in the boy and that's not what I asked."

"Ah..." Hitomi considered that rude attitude of Homura a little excessive. "Our relationship is great. We love each other very much."

Homura gave a light touch on the gem of her earring, causing it to swing. "It's true?"

Hitomi turned to Homura. That question had not sounded like a genuine doubt.

"Shizuki-san?"

"Ah! Sensei!" Hitomi jumped from the chair. The classroom was looking at her.

The math teacher was surprised. "Who knew that I would see Shizuki-san distracted during class. So I will not miss the opportunity to ask you to demonstrate the solution of this equation for us. Am I correct?"

"O-of course sensei. I apologize for my attitude."

While Hitomi went to the whiteboard, Homura exchanged glances with a boy with gray hair and eyes.

Kyousuke Kamijou knew that Homura was the reason for the distraction of Hitomi, but had no idea what they had talked about.

In this dispute of staring, Kyousuke was the first to yield. If Hitomi had a problem with Homura, she would tell him.

Homura then directed her gaze to another student, a girl, who sat in the first row, with a bluish hair.

Next chapter: Justice's tears