Chapter 3
Shiori and Kozue had moved to the control room. Kozue was impressed by what she saw.
''I didn't know this place existed.''
''It has a lot of things most students don't know about,'' Shiori smiled.
Shiori sat on a chair and looked at the different television screens, each one showing a different part of Ohtori. Kozue, who was behind Shiori, put her hand on the other girl's shoulder.
''Someone who can see everything has a lot of power,'' whispered Shiori.
''Can you see the boy's shower room?'' Kozue teased.
Shiori's face turned red. ''I... I'm not that kind of girl!''
''Oh, I see! You prefer looking at the girl's shower room,'' smiled Kozue.
''Stop teasing me,'' frowned Shiori.
Kozue laughed a bit. Shiori was acting rather like a child, and Kozue found that cute.
''Anyway, what do we do?'' asked Kozue. ''I want to have fun.''
''Fun?'' Shiori didn't understand.
''Yes. I was thinking about it, and the best way to get revenge on those who made us miserable is to have fun here. We don't need the 'real world' or bullshit like that to be happy!''
''Oh, that sounds good!'' Shiori said happily. ''But I'm afraid I don't have any ideas.''
''Hmmm... We can watch the television screens and punish the students we fid guilty of crime!''
''Good idea!''
xx
Nanami had her head on the teenage Tsuwabuki's chest. Both were sleeping on the bed, naked after an intimate moment.
''Tsuwa... no... Mitsuru...I need water...''
''I understand.''
Tsuwabuki rose up, dressed, and left the room. Nanami was now alone. She looked at the blood stain that was on the sheet.
''Did I do the right thing?'' she thought.
xx
Again, Tsuwabuki was a child the minute Nanami wasn't around. After a few seconds, Mari suddenly appeared in front of him. Tsuwabuki frowned when he saw her.
''Mari, I don't have time to talk with you. I want to find some food for Nanami.''
''You're still her slave even after your death. You are really pathetic!''
''It's not pathetic to get water for my girlfriend.''
''Nanami is not your girlfriend.''
''Are you sure?'' Tsuwabuki said with a smile.
Mari didn't know what to say. Something in Tsuwabuki's face was different from all the other times he claimed he was closer to Nanami. It was a change Mari didn't understand... no, a change she didn't want to understand.
Since she said nothing, Tsuwabuki left her. Mari started to cry.
''Tsuwabuki... You broke your promise...'' she thought.
xx
Tsuwabuki went to see Tokiko, who gave him a glass of water. After thanking her, Tsuwabuki had to return to Nanami's apartment now. On his way back, he had to pass in front of Nemuro's office, the last room of this floor before the stairs. The door was open, and Nemuro caught sight of Tsuwabuki when he passed in the corridor.
'''What are you doing with this cup of water?'' asked Nemuro.
''This is for Nanami. Why?''
''I just asked why you're doing something so pathetic.''
''Why is it pathetic?''
''We are dead. Me, you, Nanami... we don't need water at all. This is ridiculous. We are dead and it seems I'm the only one who understands that. I mean, do you even understand what it means to be dead? For example, you will never grow up.''
''That isn't true. I can be older if I want!''
Tsuwabuki became a teen in front Nemuro, then immediately returned to his child form.
''But I just want Nanami to see it,'' said Tsuwabuki with a grin.
Nemuro was surprised by what he saw, but he still had the same emotionless face and his voice was neutral.
''How can you do this?''
''It's easy. I just have to want to be older. Now, excuse me, but I have to see my girlfriend.''
xx
Nemuro pondered about what he had seen, and he suddenly got an idea. He left his room and walked to Mamiya's room. As usual, the ill boy was on his bed. He seemed weaker. Tokiko wasn't present, which was what Nemuro wanted.
''Mamiya.''
The young boy was surprised by the way Nemuro had said his name. He always knew the man as emotionless, yet now he sensed emotion in his voice. He seemed... happy.
''Mamiya, do you want to be an adult? I think you will be very strong and handsome.'' Nemuro smiled. ''You can do it!''
Nemuro had placed his hand on Mamiya's shoulder and the boy was uncomfortable.
''It's easy, Mamiya. You just have to want to be an adult,'' said Nemuro, whose behavior seemed uncomfortably strange to Mamiya.
''Please leave me alone!'' Mamiya panicked, tears starting to form in his eyes. ''Sister!''
Tokiko came in the room. What she saw disgusted her.
''Nemuro... What are you doing that close to Mamiya?'' Tokiko's voice was cold.
Nemuro could see hatred in her eyes. He only realized now what kind of person he looked for in the brother and the sister. He stopped touching Mamiya and stepped back to put some distance between himself and the boy.
''It's a mistake. I discovered that a ghost can become older if he wants to. I just want Mamiya to become a strong adult.''
Before he had a chance to explain any more, Tokiko slapped him.
''If you ever approach my brother again, I would do more,'' cried Tokiko, feeling betrayed. ''I respected you. I didn't know you were like that. Now get out of there.''
''No. You don't unde...''
''GET OUT!''
xx
Fifteen minutes later, Nemuro had moved to the academy. He stayed in a corridor and watched the students going by. In particular, he noticed a couple.
''Math is so complicated!'' the boy complained.
''We can study together,'' smiled the girl.
The boy and the girl walked in the direction of the library. Both had smiles on their faces, but the girl's expression quickly changed when the boy touched her butt. And what was strange is that the boy didn't even seem noticed it, but the girl was obviously furious.
''PERVERT!'' the girl yelled. ''PIG!''
The girl slapped the boy across his face and walked away, furious. He was confused and looked miserable. Nemuro was just behind him, amused by the sight of the boy's misery.
''Being a ghost has its advantages,'' said Nemuro to himself.
xx
In class, Kaido wasn't listening to his teacher and simply looked out of the window.
He was at Ohtori for one particular reason: he wanted to know what happened to his friend, Tenjou Utena. He always had feelings for her, even if he knew she was always thinking about her dead lover Touga. Kaido had always hoped he could be the new prince for her, but she clearly only saw him as a friend.
When she had run away from home, he tried to find out what happened to her. After some research around Japan, he knew she had gone to Ohtori. He had asked some students if they knew Utena, but the answers were always contradictory. Apparently, she was never here. But another rumor said she just vanished, and a third said she was still somewhere in the academy. All the answers were different, and Kaido had the feeling they were all lying.
''Utena, wherever you are, I swear I'll find you,'' thought Kaido.
xx
Nemuro had his back against a wall, feeling better after tormenting a few students; he liked the power of being unseen. Then he heard someone... talking to him.
''Excuse me, you seem alone.'' Ruka said. ''Do you have a problem?''
Nemuro couldn't believe it. This man he had never seen before could see him. Was he a ghost, too?
''I don't have a problem. I just like being alone when I think.''
''Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to bother you,'' said the blue haired man.
Ruka continued walking and he saluted some students, who saluted him in return, which indicated he was still alive.
''I wonder why only Shiori and that man can see ghosts,'' thought Nemuro. ''And when he talked to me... something wasn't natural in his kindness.''
xx
One hour later, Ruka had finished his fencing class. He planned to go to Kanae's apartment, but when he arrived at the hall, he saw a fight. Shiori held a boy by his arms and Kozue gave him a kick in the groin. A group of students did nothing but watch.
''What is happening here?!'' Yelled Ruka. ''You two let that boy go!''
''He deserves it!'' Kozue said. ''He pulled the skirts of loads of girls!''
''Here's the proof.'' Shiori said. She stopped holding the boy, who felt too much pain to move anyway, and held out a videocassette.
''Is that true?'' Ruka asked the boy.
''Y...Yes... But it was harmless...''
''No it's not!'' Ruka said. ''What you did was terrible, and you're lucky I wasn't the one who punished you.''
''Thank you for understanding.'' Kozue said.
Ruka looked at Kozue with suspicion.
''Strange, your voice reminds me something.''
''That's impossible,'' Kozue lied. ''We've never met before.''
xx
Kanae waited for her charming prince. She hoped he would want to have a romantic dinner with candles and all. When Ruka finally arrived, he stooped and kissed Kanae's hand. She blushed.
''My princess, what do you think if we had a romantic dinner? I even have candles. What do you think?''
Kanae couldn't believe it. Ruka was doing exactly what she wanted to do.
''I think that's a good idea,'' Kanae said.
xx
It was seven o'clock in the evening, and Shiori thought it was time to return to her apartment. This time, Kozue followed her,and she was shocked to learn that Shiori now lived in this abandoned building. Unlike Shiori, Kozue wasn't comfortable with the atmosphere of the room.
''How can you live here?'' asked Kozue. ''Everything's burnt.''
''Don't worry,'' smiled Shiori. ''You'll be used to it soon.''
Kozue noticed that there was a bathroom in another piece.
''Shiori, do you want take a bath with me?''
''No problem.''
xx
The girls had undressed and were in the bath.
''Shiori, can I wash your back?'' asked Kozue.
''Yes.''
While Kozue washed her back, Shiori realized something. Ever since Touga died, she hadn't had fun with anyone who was alive. But now she has a new friend who wasn't a ghost, and for the first times in year, she felt good.
