Chapter One: My

November 2009

Azusa's Classroom

1st Period: T-Minus 10 Minutes

The classroom is full of 16 and 17-year-old junior girls. Everyone relentlessly highlights their notes. Oftenly, in a useless attempt to absorb a semester's worth of material in under 10 minutes. Three of those girls were Azusa, Ui, and Jun. Azusa and Ui are the luckiest of the trio, as they studied over the weekend; they are merely glossing their notes. As for Jun, she's in full-on panic mode.

"I planned to study last night, but fell asleep at my desk!" Jun exclaims, rushing through her textbook. Her pace nearly rips out the pages.

Azusa and Ui contain their laughter and put away their notes, further terrifying Jun. Then, another surprise hits. The classroom door swings open; it's Sawa-chan. Azusa looks flushed…sweet mother of god.

"Sawa-chan?" The room collectively asks. Sawa-chan blushes from embarrassment; she despises how her nickname has taken the school by storm. 'For the love of god, My Name is Sawako,' she thinks after every occurrence.

Sawa-chan composes herself and writes her name (Sawako) on the chalkboard. As the 30-something faces the chalkboard, she announces, "I will be your substitute for 1st period today. You can call me Yamanaka-sensei."

Azusa avoids eye contact with Sawa-chan, the woman who often embarasses her alongside Yui-sempai. Unfortunately, it's a wasted effort. "Ahhhh, Azusa-chan" Sawa-chan chants her name, a smile engraving in her face. Azusa jerks in her seat and ducks her head further into the worn-out desk.

"The girls were looking for you all day," She asks, leaning against the teacher's desk: "Why didn't you tell them you were studying for a test?"

Azusa looks puzzled. She interlocks her hands, but refuses eye contact. "I told Ritsu-sempai," Azusa claims defensively, then mentally punches herself for conflating Ritsu with a good memory. Embarrassed, Azusa rests her head. A concerned Ui brushes her shoulder. As for Jun, she's cramming through her textbook.

Then, the armageddon of all surprises. Yui Hirasawa violently slides the door open. "Aaazuuuu-nyaaan!" She exclaims, rushing to her kouhai's desk with cake and tea in hand. The class chuckles; Azusa is mortified. Yui sets down her food on the table and hugs Azusa at lightning speed.

"You missed morning practice!" Yui explains: "But don't worry. I saved you cake and tea!"

Azusa limps into Yui's chest and stares at her attentive class (Not now, Yui-sempai). Ui notices her friend's discomfort and taps her sister's shoulder. "Onee-chan, Azusa doesn't want to be hugged." Yui's heart drops, but she doesn't make a fuss.

"Okay" She replies, her voice throbbing in pain.

Azusa's eyes widened. "It's fine, Yui-sempai!" Azusa claims, throwing her hands in front. "I'm stressed about this test; that's all!"

Yui twirls her fingers, her face is blank. Azusa panics on the inside. 'Please say something, Yui-sempai,' she begs inside her head. Fortunately, Yui feigns a smile and exclaims, "No worries, Azy-nyan. I'll leave and hand your food over to Sawa-chan"

Azusa feels struck by lightning, so does Sawa-chan. "Sugar worsens stress, after all" Yui explains, approaching her homeroom teacher with tea and cake in hand. Azusa thumps into her seat; the sugar withdrawal is already making its mark on her.

Sawa-chan ogles at her newly acquired food. Her mouth waters. "Arigatō gozaimashita, Yui-chan" she thanks her, immediately sitting to eat her food. "Band practice is over. Enjoy your senior skip day, and congrats on the photo-op with Azusa-chan"

Azusa slides under her seat; she just wants her exam and to be done. Jun tightly hugs Azusa from behind, burying elbows into the short girl's collarbone.

Yui nods, maintaining her smile. Then, she stares at her trio of kouhais. "Good luck, Ui. Good luck, Jun-chan." Then, with emphasis: "Good luck, Azu-nyan!"

Ui and Jun-chan nod to thank her. As for Azusa-chan, the other students stare at her, amused. Azusa jerks back and hastily removes her study materials, refusing eye-contact with Yui-sempai. Speaking of whom, she rushes towards the door, but forgets to open.

"Ouchie!"

"Onee-chan, are you alright?"

Yui makes a peace sign and smiles, hiding the pain behind her swollen forehead. Then, she fumbles her way out.

"Finally," Azusa mutters to herself.

Azusa's Classroom: A Monday

1st Period: 20/60 Minutes

The entire class stares at Azusa, sans Ui and Jun. They collectively hold in their chuckles at what transpired. Azusa keeps her head down and focuses on her test. Then, tragedy strikes: The 16-year-old elbows her eraser off the desk.

"I got it" The adjacent student comments.

"Thank you" Azusa replies as the student picks up her eraser

The student sets the eraser on Azusa's desk. She cracks a smile, "You're welcome, Azu-nyan"

Azusa immediately slaps her desk. The entire class stares at her. Ui and Jun look concerned from their desks behind. "Her name is Azusa," Sawa-chan reminds the student, then she motions Azusa to continue her test.

The 16-year-old guitarist scratches her head, furiously; the embarrassment is getting to her.

"Azusa-chan, splash some water on your face," Sawa-chan suggests.

Girls' Bathroom

1st Period: 30/60 Minutes

The sink is drenched. Azusa gently wipes her face and then reapplies her makeup. A girl exits her stall and eyes Azusa from behind.

"I don't see a cat tail," The girl chuckles.

Azusa immediately turns around, facing her back to the mirror. Her breathing burns from embarrassment. She hyperventilates and glares at the girl.

"Relax, Azusa-chan" she chuckles and approaches the door, "I'm just messing with you."

Azusa turns on the sink and splashes her face again. Her foundation dripped down her neckline, but the 16-year-old didn't care anymore. She felt humiliated, infringed, and defenseless. Azusa closes the sink, nearly breaking the handle, and leaves, her swallows becoming heavy.

Azusa's Kitchen

1st Period: 50/60 Minutes

"Okasan? Otosan?"

Azusa enters the house, fuming in tears. For now, she needs a safe haven to tremble into.

"Okasan? Otosan?"

Azusa enters the kitchen, only to find a sticky note on the fridge. It reads, "Band Performance. Brb tomorrow 3"

"RING RING RING"

Azusa checks her phone: Incoming Call from Yui-senpai. Enraged, she slaps her flip phone shut and remains still, paralyzed from the inner loneliness.

Azusa's Bedroom

3rd Period: 55/60 Minutes

"BEEP! BEEP!" The cell phone vibrates. Azusa lies in her bed, drenched under layers of sweat and blankets. Her eyes creak open. She extends her arm to its limit and grabs her phone.

"60 Messages from Ho-kago Group Chat

Email: 50 New Posts on Your Facebook Wall"

Internet on mobile was expensive back then. So, Azusa stretches and logs onto her computer. Her eyes burn, the skull pressurizes, and the soul withers. On her Facebook wall, 50 students have re-posted an edited picture of Azusa in the hallway. The edits include cat ears and a tail on her body.

Tears drip down her face. Someone please stop the pain.

To be continued