Chapter 2: Cherries

I couldn't help it.

What do you do when Jigoku Shoujo appears in your classroom, is accepted by your teacher as your classmate, and is sitting right in front of you, seemingly not noticing you at all?

What do you do, especially when you've always tried to stop the revenge, the vengeance, the ferrying of people to Hell?

I sighed, and tried to concentrate on my algebra. Looking down on the paper, I realized I had been doing the equation all wrong. Instinctively, I took my eraser, and rubbed it out. What was wrong?

I looked at the girl sitting so calmly in front of me.

The black hair, the emotionless eyes, and the melancholic attitude.

That's what's wrong.

***

I sit here in this chair, bored to tears. For over four centuries, I have studied, mastered, and honed every skill I knew and every lesson I learned. And now I sit here, attending ninth grade all over again.

I must have heard this lecture over a hundred times.

How frustrating it must be.

I was irritated, not because of the lecture, but because I felt someone staring. Intently. Scared, maybe.

Like I was some alien, demon, or whatnot.

I then realized.

Jigoku Shoujo. Whoever's staring thinks...

With that, I could have groaned out loud, breaking the same old silence that would have dragged on for the whole day.

Why me, I ask myself, as I look out the window. Why, oh why, couldn't Jigoku Shoujo have chosen to look like someone else?

I sighed deeply, and earned a look from my teacher. She raised her eyebrow at me, and I stared back.

'Yuri-chan, you seem to be done with your work. Have you done this unit before?'

I looked deep into her eyes, and said, 'No, I studied in advance for this.'

The teacher smiled, reluctantly, immediately looking away. 'Uh. I see. Well, then, I hope the class follows your good example... And not fail in the finals.' She gave a little glare at her students, and turned back to the board.

I leaned my chin against my open palm.

Really now. I wish whoever's staring at me would stop. It bothers me to hell.

At the corner of my eye, I caught her. Staring at me, and she was startled. Her eyes were pools of sapphires. Beautiful, deep, sapphires.

She looked down on her open book, and began to write. I narrowed my eyebrows in pure contempt, and looked away.

She can stare all she likes. She's not going to get anywhere.

Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

***

Recess.

I stood up from my seat, with my packed lunch in one hand.

It certainly would be nice to eat outdoors.

'Yuzuki-chan, are you going outside to eat?'

I turned and was greeted by Higeshizawa Airisu, Kinomoto Rin, and foreign exchange student Atanashia Kent.

'Yes, I am,' I said, smiling a little.

'Would you like to join us, then? We kinda want to eat outside too,' Airisu said, while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

'I'd be happy to.'

Higeshizawa Airisu is one of the richest kids in the class. She is constantly being spoiled by her multi-billionaire father, who heads many leading corporations in Japan. Airisu is a generous girl, occasionally spending her allowance for herself and using it more for charity work, which she usually does with Kinomoto Rin.

Rin is a soft, motherly girl. She is very caring, and tends to extend this care more to animals. She adores them, taking in a stray cat or dog every now and then. Her parents are Airisu's dad's business partners. They work quite well together, both families flourishing.

Atanashia Kent is the daughter of a very rich duke in England. Many girls were envious of her, as she was very attractive. She had lovely, blue-green eyes and long, wavy, nearly white-blond hair. She was the dream of every guy, even her seniors. She is very charming, very pleasant indeed, betimes even silent, and quite too formal at times, being raised to live at court.

The four of us sat under the shade, chatting. Airisu led most of the conversation, and Rin chimed in every now and then, while Atanashia ate her food in silence, occasionally adding a comment.

But somehow, the conversation turned its tables.

'Hey, Yuzuki-chan, did you notice that new girl?' Airisu said, leaning forward.

'Yeah, yeah. Isn't she Jigoku Shoujo?' Rin said.

'How would you know, Rin? Sent anyone to Hell recently?' Airisu chuckled.

'No way! I can't think of anyone to send to Hell. But there's a book that talks about Jigoku Shoujo--'

'The Truth About Hell Girl,' Atanashia said quietly, 'says that Jigoku Shoujo is a young girl, of long, straight black hair, piercing red eyes, and pale, white complexion.'

'So you noticed it too, Atanashia?'

'Yes.'

'But what's she doing here? Is she going to send all of us to Hell?' Rin asked, suddenly quaking in fear.

'You imagine too much, Rin. We can't be sure if it is Jigoku Shoujo,' Airisu said, patting her friend's shoulder.

'We have no such evidence that will prove that she is so,' Atanashia said.

'That's quite true, you know.'

'What do we do if it is Jigoku Shoujo?'

'Rin, snap out of it.'

Driiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

***

Hone Onna was pacing back and forth, her arms folded, her teeth biting into one of her thumbs. She seemed agitated.

'Oy. What's wrong with you?' I asked.

'I was wrong, Ren. Enzeru Yuri is not Ojou.'

I frowned. That was bad. Very.

'Not Ojou? How did you find out?'

'She did not recognize me. No recognition whatsoever. More than that, the attitude was a bit different.'

'That doesn't sound all too well. How does a girl who looks exactly like Ojou turn up in this school?'

'Damnit, Ichimoku Ren! How should I know? This isn't good. The students who've sent people to Hell believe that she is Ojou. Moreover, Shibata Hajime's book on Ojou describes her perfectly, and Enzeru Yuri fits the description.'

'We must alert Ojou,' I said.

'Ojou already knows,' Wanyuudon said, from behind them. He was trimming roses again.

Hone Onna stopped pacing. 'Ojou knows?'

Wanyuudon nodded. 'That's what I said, didn't I?' He carried on with trimming.

'Ojou says that Enzeru Yuri is the one who needs to know.'

***