CHAPTER II

-something is moving-

"Hurry or you're going to be late again!" Chihiro's mother shouted for the fourth time.

"Yeah…coming" she muttered but instead remained leaning on one elbow, gazing out of the window. The city had just started to wake up, like a huge brain of some unknown creature. She noticed a small bird landing on a branch nearby, it looked as if it was trying to find leftover seeds or fruit.

"You are so lucky…" said Chihiro "Us, humans, we often think too much…it kinda messes up our minds, you know."

Surprised, she blinked upon seeing the bird looking at her direction. It moved its head into something that looked like a nod.

"Chihiro! Come down this instant! I can't go and make up excuses for your being late again!"

She unwillingly walked away from the window, still keeping her eyes on the bird until she got out of the room. When she entered the kitchen, a delicious smell made her come back to reality.

"Oh, pancakes? That's a rare one!" she exclaimed.

"I made them just for you…but it seems that you don't have time to eat properly again" her mom smiled behind her shoulder.

"I'm sorry…I'll just grab a couple for the way, okay?"

"Do as you wish…Ah, busy kids these days…"

Hanging her bag on one shoulder, she quickly got outside on the busy streets. She paced hastily, only stopping at the streetlights. She hated being late, and her mother couldn't always pay for her absentmindedness. She pulled a string off her wrist and tied her hair back into a ponytail, leaving the bangs fall casually on her forehead. After 10 minutes of turning and crossing roads, she finally slowed down when she reached the park near her school.

As she was passing by, she glanced at the spot where she had seen the strange boy. Three days had passed since then, and Chihiro couldn't get it out of her mind. She couldn't describe the feeling when her eyes met him, let alone the desire to talk to him. One thought triggered another. Once again, she wondered why she felt so weird. Her family were all healthy, as well as her friends. She didn't have any economical problems and no one to pressure her. Maybe it was just the level of the studies and the unknown of the future.

"What are you staring at?"

"Huh? Yuuki! Good morning."

"Come on…the bell's already rung."

They both rushed through the gates, and almost running they got up the stairs to the third floor. Luckily, the teacher hadn't arrived before them. Yuuki suited herself at her usual spot with the others, while Chihiro threw her bag under the seat, after taking out the biology book. One last glance at the important stuff before the test.

Five minutes passed and Ms Mochizuki still wasn't there. The whole class started making a fuss and some of the boys offered to go to the office and check things out. Just as they were about to get out, the door slid open and the teacher barged inside in a hurry, carrying a pile of books and documents.

"I'm sorry everyone…" she panted.

Some of the loud students went back to their seats, apparently disappointed.

"Well…I'm always so punctual so you must all be wondering why I was late" she said and placed the thick-framed glasses on her nose.

"I had to settle some things with your new classmate. Oh there he is!" she nodded to the door. It was the first time Chihiro lifted her eyes from the book. Indeed, she could hear steps. Their new classmate walked in and stood at the door.

"I'm sorry for being late. I just somehow…lost my way here" his voice was steady, beautiful. Chihiro nailed her eyes on him, doubting her own sense of vision.

"It's okay my child! There are others who still lose their way around…even if they've been here for a year…" her eyes wandered enigmatically on some of her students "Aren't you going to introduce yourself?"

He turned to the rest of the class, his hair was shimmering from the morning rays.

"My name's Kohaku. Nice to meet you all."

The newcomer went towards the only unoccupied seat near the end of the second row. Chihiro continued staring at him, despite being on the opposite end of the room. Whispers started growing around the class. She closed her eyes firmly, confused. What…is going on…?

"Okay now! I know a test is a horrible welcome…so maybe we'll leave it for the next time. Everyone open your books on page 32…"

Chihiro could only hear fragments of the teacher's lecture…multicellular…eukaryotes…organism…

Suddenly, everything seemed so far away. Trees and vegetation were all around. But…wait. How is this possible? The classroom didn't even have a single pot with flowers. She was looking at her parents, they were about to go into an old, strange tunnel. Her father was slimmer and her mom's hair was short.

"Let's go back, dad!" Chihiro heard her own voice for the first time, it was sweeter, thinner, younger.

"Come on, it's alright!" her dad assured her.

"I'm not going!"

Then she glanced at the strange statue on her right. It looked as if it was smiling…such a weird smile. Chihiro thought there was something evil about it. And her parents had already started walking inside.

"Chihiro, wait in the car" said her mom before turning away.

"Mom…wait!" she yelled running to her parents. She didn't want to be left alone.

Soon, the light disappeared.

"Miss Ogino! I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep. Maybe you'd like to continue in the headmaster's office?"

At lunch break, the group of girls chose a large table in the middle of the cafeteria and started vividly chatting about Kohaku. Chihiro was partly distracted, because she knew that he was sitting a couple of tables behind.

"But…Kohaku?" Yuuki rolled her eyes "That's kind of a…weird name."

"Looks like he uses hair dye…" Aiko laughed.

"No, he doesn't." The words rushed out without her realizing…

"And how do you know that, Chi?"

Really…how did she know? She didn't even know his name, up to that day.

"Uh…I mean, it looks natural, right?" she said trying to keep her voice normal.

"What do you think of him, really?"

Sometimes, Chihiro hated her friend just because of all those questions. She stole a glance at him again. He didn't look sad, nor happy. Maybe disciplined, gracious, like those rich noble kids. But even at a first glance, no one could call him spoiled.

"He looks like a nice guy."

"And cute too…"

"Duh, Aiko…"

Through the rest of the day, she observed him as he spent the recesses sitting under the trees, alone most of the time. He seemed lost in thought. Whenever someone talked to him, he responded politely. Some of the students seemed interested in him, but most of them just continued their daily habits without paying attention. Chihiro couldn't exactly tell what…but something was definitely odd. Something only she could feel. No, he was a normal person, just like all the others.