Here's another chapter filled with utter despair.

Haga: The author is depressed because school started…

No. I'm depressed because of the controversy summer brings in comparison to school!

You start out thinking that summer is going to a blast. And it usually is! But that's only when you're DOING SOMETHING. At any of the times you aren't doing something exciting, like going to amusement parks, or going camping, you're bored!

Already, you've played so many video games that you've gotten bored. The worse thing is, most of the new, good games come out during the school year!

Watching TV all the time seems like a solution, until you watch so many re-runs that you're too bored to watch new episodes!

Reading means learning something new, whether it be morals or fractions. We have summer to take a break from that! Not to mention too much reading will leave you locked in your room, not wanting to be torn a way from a particularly good book.

Yes, all excitement must be metered out by the boredom of school, schoolwork, or a boring dead-end job, or else exciting activities will get old, and boring! But even then, people always complain that school is boring, or that their jobs are boring, or that homework cuts off, "Me time"!

Zetsuboushitta! The endless cycle of psychological boredom has left me in despair! No matter what, every day is filled with boredom at some point!

Haga: But that doesn't count for anything involving women.

Ah, yes. I've noticed that people who have been married for twenty odd years have only a 20% chance of getting over each other.

Haga: Plus, groping Kaere never gets old…

Haga!

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Chapter 12: Run Away… Who Cares? That's all you can do.

The rain ended. Kafuka took Nozomu to her house.

Kafuka sat Nozomu down at her living room.

"Would you like some tea, Sensei?"

"No thank you."

They sat there for a long time, not saying anything once. This is where Nozomu made his first mistake.

"So, when are your parents coming home?"

Kafuka, still smiling, looked down.

'Crap, now I remember…' Thought Nozomu.

"Actually Sensei… my parents died."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it isn't your fault. You didn't know."

"Yeah, but…"

The situation was awkward. Neither said anything more after that for quite a bit.

"Sensei…." Kafuka finally spoke. "What is it that you wanted to see me for? You came to hand out the newsletter, right? That's so nice!"

"No, that isn't it."

Kafuka sat there, with her finger at her chin.

"Well, today is the day our report cards come out. Did you come to give me my Non-report card?"

"That isn't it either."

They just sat there. Nozomu's mind was going in twenty directions at once, trying to find out what to do or say.

'I can't really ask her… I fear she may kill me here and now… but chances are she's going to anyway…'

"Fuura-san…. I have something to ask you…"

Kafuka looked up. Her smile started to fade a bit. It was still there, just… very subtle.

"Fuura-san…. It… I want to know…" This was it. Do or die. He needed to know the truth. He already knew more than he wanted to. He had nothing to lose by this.

"It's already known that I'm in more danger with a couple of my students than I am trying to commit suicide alone…"

"Sensei…"

"Chiri tries to kill me, Mitama tries to kill me, Kaere sues for more money than I have which might take away my food money which will starve me to death…"

Kafuka nodded, telling him she got the point.

"Well anyway…. They always keep me alive. I'm still alive now. I don't want to be, but I am. I asked around a bit… and…."

Kafuka bit her lip.

"Fuura-san…. Are you… a murderer?"

Although it was probably the best question he could ask, asking a question at all was his next mistake.

"Sensei… I…" Kafuka stopped. She stood up, walked over to the door, and opened it. After putting on her shoes, she ran away.

"Fuura-san! Wait!"

Kafuka was running in the rain. 'I'm too late. I couldn't tell him…. He found out on his own.' Kafuka felt an overwhelming feeling of regret in her heart. 'I should have told him… If I had, he could have run from me….' Kafuka stopped. 'He'll never like me. I'm positive.' She reached into her sleeve… and pulled out a knife. 'If he doesn't like me…'

Meanwhile, Nozomu was running in the rain, looking for Kafuka.

"Fuura-san! Fuura-san, where are you?"

Kafuka hid behind a tree. She held the knife in her hand. 'Sensei…'

"I needed to tell you…"

'Do you hate me? Think I'm insane?'

"Quit doing this to yourself!"

'!'

"You aren't doing anything to help! You're just like one of those people who thinks that people will understand immediately, and if they don't, you do something drastic!"

'Sensei…'

"I don't know whether or not to believe you killed. Hell, I'm not exactly sure what your problem is anyways! But still…"

'Don't…'

"You aren't helping by running away from your problem. Sure, there are many things better left unknown, and tons of problems that can be avoided by running…"

Nozomu slammed his hand onto a tree. "But seriously! If running away never worked before, what makes you think it would now!?"

'I…..'

"Well, whatever. If that's all you can do, run away, If you think that's 'All you can do'."

Nozomu walked away. "This whole experience just proves that I would have just lived better off if I didn't know."

Kafuka dropped her knife. "This is good, right? He doesn't despise me… I think… I knew things would work out in the end…."

Still smiling, as always. But….

'If that's how it is, why…' Tears started to run down from her eyes. '… do I still….' Her smile disappeared. '… Feel like I want to…. To…' Her eyes turned to her knife….

For the first time, Kafuka cried. Her sobs were stifled due to the rain…

Life is never easy. The hardest part, even more than deciphering others… is deciphering yourself.

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In the loud hallways after school, there stood one solitary student, just reading. Jun Kudou. He had been reading Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.

"Nami-chan understands… But what she doesn't realize is that I'm not even sure of what I'm feeling. She said she'd help me with that but… the problem is, the past always comes back to bite me. Regret might take over and things between us might end sooner than I thought…."

Jun shook his head. "I gotta stop thinking like that, or else I'll turn into Aoyama. Every part of this isn't a bad thing." Jun thought. "Nami understands, we're together more often, and best of all…" He looked at his book. "….. I forget what's best of all." He forgot because of his book. Yes, books have a tendency to draw your mind away from things, if it's a good book.

Although, one thing did tear him away from his book. He passed by a girl… and immediately after, his eyes widened, and he dropped his book.

Later, outside…

Nami was waiting patiently at the school gates.

"Well, it's only two minutes to five. Then Jun-kun and I will be on our way to help prepare for the carnival that's coming to town tomorrow! I can't wait!"

If the reader is unaware, I like using festive situations for drama.

"Hmm…. But when meeting with a girl, guys usually use at least a 10-minute filter. Where is he?"

Back at the hallway situation…

Everyone had left. Jun had been left standing there. A girl stood directly behind him. She had long black hair that went down to her knees. It was wild, and went every which way. Nobody noticed because, well….

Jun just stood. "Excuse me…. Do I know you?"

The girl turned around and giggled. Her hair obscured her face. "Of course you do, silly!" Her voice was quite high, but she spoke softly.

"… How do I know you?"

"If you have to ask…. You already know…" She held something up. A single photo… of Jun Kudou, age seven.

Jun's Eyes widened. He picked up his book and ran. He ran outside.

As he ran past the gates, he passed by the object of his affections.

"Huh?"

Jun grabbed on to Nami's hand, and ran with her. "What? Where are we going?"

"No explaining now, just run!"

So they did. They ran, and ran, all the way to Okinawa.

This was a very clever plan. Jun Kudou was well known for looking hot in a swimsuit, but not for actually going to the beach.

"Okay, this should be a good place to hide…"

"Jun-kun, what's going on?"

Jun looked at her in despair. "My past just came back to bite me in the butt."

"Your past? Don't tell me your grandpa's ghost inhabits the books that you-"

"No! It's a lot more serious than that! It's…. look. Retsu Taibun is back."

"Oh really? Why are we running from her?" Nami had yet to grasp the danger they were in.

"I forgot to tell you, but… after I broke up with her, she sorta… became a Yandere."

"Y-yandere?"

"Her policy became, 'If I can't have him, nobody can'. She seriously despises any girl who even bothers to talk to me."

"She can't be that bad, Jun-kun…"

"Two girls who just met me the day after I broke up with Retsu were found dead in a broom closet, tangled in string. She had erased all the evidence and people involved with the victims."

Nami's face went white as the blood drained from her head.

"I thought I had her running in circles in Osaka for a while, but it looks like she tracked me back here…"

"Had her running?"

"I had set up a scavenger hunt game that should have kept her busy for a couple of years at least… and before she was chasing me all over the country…"

"Oh."

"The only reason I'm still alive is because she wants to eliminate her competition rather than take away the object of completion itself."

"……. Eh?"

"I meant she wants to kill the other girls rather than kill me."

"Oh."

Jun knew how much danger he was in…. It was only the next day after being dumped that Retsu Taibun went DILLUSIONAL and COMPLETELY INSANE. Jun's been on the run for ten years.

But he knew that Nami was in an insane amount more danger than he was. He had to keep her hidden, or Retsu would kill her!

"Damn…"

In a situation like this, running is the only thing he can think to do.

But in the first place, any normal person would think….

"Jun-kun, why don't you just call the police?"

"Eh?"

Yeah, that. Hey, technically, I didn't call her normal. She just finished my sentence.

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The Midpoint.

Well, it's midpoint, and I'm still in despair.

Haga: School has been tough.

Not that! The solitary fact remains that absolutely nobody will like me.

Haga: You've got to give that time…

No, I just know it! You know how egotists think that the universe revolves around them? I'm the exact opposite. I think the universe is repelled by me!

Haga: You're taking things too far…

I'm sure of it! Leaves fall on other people, but not me. My dogs hardly pay any attention to me, they pay attention to my siblings! Same with my cats! And wherever I sit, nobody sits there! Even though the table is long! I'm constantly told that my apologies annoy people because I make too many of them! Even when I'm apologizing, I cause trouble!

Haga: You just have an inferiority complex!

No!

Haga: Your best friend here thinks it's her fault that you feel bad.

Ai: Sumimasen! The cookies I made you earlier…they must have been terrible!

Sumimasen! Complaining about how I annoy others made you think you did something wrong!

Ai: No! I'm sure that it was my cookies that did this!

I'm such a burden I make people feel sorry for me anyways! It's my fault!

Ai: I'm sorry I'm trying to argue with you!

No, I'm sorry for dragging the argument on!

Haga:…. Well, while the lovebirds try to sort things out, try to figure out the dilemma with Majiru, and decipher the meaning of this chapter!

Both: I'm sorry we look like a couple!

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Majiru was baffled. He just needed to know….

"I really need to know…." He held up a picture book. "WHERE THE HELL IS WALDO?!"

You remember that book from a couple of chapters ago? It's back.

"He could be anywhere! He's taunting me by being extremely difficult to find! I hope he's found off a cliff, dead!" Or better yet, he could fall off a cliff and still not be found. That guy is harder to find than Carmen Sandiego.

"But putting this aside…." Yes, putting this aside…

"I've been putting something else aside for too long…" A bit too long perhaps.

'I think I still have feelings for Komori-neechan!' And he comes out with it.

"Why? Why has it come to this?" Hmm…. Maybe because you never really resolved anything?

'In any case…. I was only distracting myself… I mean, I have fallen in love with Meru, I'll admit that. But, I still have feelings for Komori-neechan… so…'

He couldn't figure out what to do. He had been distracting himself with Where's Waldo for a while.

"I'll have to go back to that school… see Komori-neechan, and settle my feelings towards her." That's the brightest plan you've come up with so far.

The next day at school….

'Okay, I know that Komori-neechan never goes to class. So I'll have a 100% chance of finding her in her room. No surprises there.'

He snuck past the classrooms and made it to Komori's room. When he opened the door…

"Good morning Majiru-kun." She was hanging from the ceiling!

"Auugh!" 'What a surprise!'

But then Majiru realized that Komori's hair was still covering her eyes.

'Huh? How can that be when she's on the ceiling?'

Well actually, from everyone else's perspective….

"Majiru-kun, why are you on the ceiling?"

Majiru looked up. "The floor?!" Majiru fell. I'll leave it to your imagination how he got up there.

Is he Spiderman?

No, he's a vampire!

Well actually, he was so hungover that he couldn't tell where he was going….. Yes, he drinks. Blame Nozomu for hiding his happy drinks behind a label that says, "Apple Cider".

"Well anyways, I need your help!"

Majiru was confused. "With what?"

"I need you to take these binoculars and spy on Aoyama for me."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it."

So Majiru set off on his quest for Komori.

"Hmm…." said Majiru in a tree. "He's not doing much of anything besides crying."

Aoyama's side.

"Ugh… I failed Geometry this semester…" He's very depressed about it.

"I can't do anything…"

"Hey, what's up Aoyama-kun?"

"Kino…." It was Kuniya Kino. "I failed Geometry Kino…"

"C'mon, it can't be that bad…" reassured Kino.

"It is! What if I want to be a scientist or a detective? I won't be able to find the correct size or density of an object, and I won't be able to identify the dimensions of the wound on the victim's head, and that means we won't know what the murder weapon is!"

"Don't worry Aoyama… it isn't the end of the world…"

"It is for me!"

Aoyama dug his face into Kino's chest. "What do I do?!"

Majiru's side.

"Oh my God…. He's embracing with Kino-san! Does this mean that…. Aoyama-san and Kino-san… both…"

"Nope." Majiru turned around and found Harumi Fujiyoshi.

"Hey! Get off this branch! It's too thin! And what are you doing here?"

"I'm always looking for prime yaoi doujinshi material like this." She was scribbling down some notes. "But even now, I can tell there isn't really any relationship like that between them."

"Oh."

Majiru climbed down the branch. "So all I learned is that Aoyama is a crybaby…"

Aoyama's side.

"Okay, I'll try harder…."

"You do that. See you later Aoyama!" And Kino ran off.

Aoyama spoke to himself. "I've always been depressed. But it seems as though I've been even more depressed ever since I confessed…" He pulled out a picture…. Of Komori Kiri. "I just know she's watching me somehow! I know it! And she's seeing how miserable I am…. That just depresses me…"

Majiru's side.

"Well , all I learned is that Aoyama is quick to cry when he's depressed."

"Oh really…" was Komori's reply.

Majiru was still confused. "Why again did I just spy on Aoyama-san?"

"Well…" Komori blushed. "He actually confessed to me a couple of days ago."

"Eh?!"

"I was extremely surprised as well. At first he was really bold… I couldn't give him an answer."

"Why not?"

"Because he said he didn't need one. He wanted me to think about it."

"And so you want to spy on him?"

"To see him for who he is, without him knowing. So far, I see he is very expressive."

"And that is?"

"Good. I know he won't hide bad secrets from me. It just isn't in him."

Majiru was satisfied. He left.

'Well this is good. Aoyama likes Komori-neechan. I should be happy! Happy…'

Majiru stopped walking. 'But still… I feel…' He looked at his hand.

"I shouldn't see Meru anymore…" His mind was a flurry of emotions. He still had not settled anything.

Mail, Mail.

How are you doing, you fat sack of crap?

It was Meru. She approached him.

"Eh? N-no! Stop!" Majiru ran. He ran away from the school, from Meru.

'I can't sort anything out! If I still do feel that way, I'll hurt Meru…'

Majiru?

He kept running.

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Endpoint.

Search for groups under the keyword, Zetsubou. We really need more members for more activity…

Haga: It's kinda cheap that you're doing this right now.

I don't care! If people like this series as much as I do, they must want to talk about it too!

Haga: Oh well… they can talk about how cool I am then.

Um… you're actually still so small a character that you only get one sentence in all descriptions of you.

Haga:……. Zetsuboushitta.

Hey. I'm supposed to say that!

Haga: Because he stuffed all three stories in the same chapter, this chapter turned out really long.

I'm glad. I'm finally pulling my own weight as an author.

Haga: I betcha that won't last long.

I'll show you!

Zan: Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is still relatively new, so I'm waiting for a couple of weeks after it ends to introduce Oora-chan, Maruuchi-chan and Nezu-chan.

Haga: And now for a final word from Ai Kaga!

Ai: I'm sorry I ever fell in love with you!……..

……… Eh?

Life of Despair: Suicide Theater

I can't find any reason to go on. I'm so stupid. I'm always criticized for being stupid… and I'm not the kind of person that is well liked. The universe doesn't revolve around me… it's repelled by me, shuns my existence, and tries to kill me!

An empty pill bottle is found as the only evidence, along with an empty cup implied to have been filled with water. The skin is pale and pupils dilated. The body is cold to the touch. I have died.

Sleeping Pill Overdose.