CHAPTER 4: The Girl Who's Non-Existent

I stared at the girl's empty seat. It's already a long time since classes are over, but I just stood there, looking at the empty seat, which I never knew it existed, standing right there without moving an inch.

"Yang," Flamewing asked me. "What's wrong."

"…it's just weird." I said after I managed to find some words. "There's a student right here the whole time, and no one knew it."

"Perhaps she's the silent type," Flamewing suggested. "But she's way too silent, causing her existence to fade too."

I couldn't do anything but nod. Indeed, for the last 6 months since I've stepped into this class I've been communicating with everyone in this class, keeping a good relationship with them…or so I thought that I communicated with EVERYONE.

A classmate which I never knew… I clenched my fist and slammed a table beside me.

"THERE'S SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS THAT NEVER INTERACTED WITH ANYONE FOR THE PAST 8 MONTHS!" I almost shouted. "WHY?!"

Flamewing was shocked by my outburst and jumped to the table. "Yang, I know you are frustrated." He said calmly. "But it's not your fault-"

"Flamewing," I said. "I can't imagine it, a world where no one cares about you. No one talks to you, laughs with you, plays Buddyfight with you."

Flamewing stayed silent too. His marine cap covered his eyes and he didn't say a word while I stared at the table.

"…Let's go, Flamewing." I swung my bag to my back and turned. "Let's go home."

"Eh?" Flamewing said. "Aren't y-"

"We'll talk to the girl tomorrow." I explained. "Standing here and pounding tables won't change her fate." Flamewing nodded and jumped off the table to follow my footsteps.

"Sensei!" I spoke the moment Mr. Jake's voice echoed at my phone. "I need to talk to you!"

"Woah woah!" Mr. Jake was clearly shocked at my sudden call. I never called him before. "What's with the cannoning for two times in a day?"

"Can I know Yin's biography?" I said. I know, it's weird to call a teacher to talk about a student. But surprisingly, Mr. Jake knew what I meant.

"Yin…" Mr. Jake spoke with a stern tone. "She's been quiet for the past 8 months, so quiet you didn't realise she's there, am I correct?"

I was surprised.

"…Yes." I could only say this word.

"I realised that too." Mr. Jake said. "To be honest, if I didn't mark all the students workbooks I'll also never knew she's there, sitting at the very corner of the classroom.

She's a weird girl, rarely talks and never volunteers in activities. I've tried telling her to volunteer in Buddyfight classes…but she never did."

I stayed silent the whole time. This girl named Yin was like Death, lurking beside everyone without letting them know its there.

"So?" Mr. Jake said. "How did you realise that she was there?"

I used a really embarrassed tone and said: "Her chair, I was sitting on it and she talked to me."

"I see." I could hear Mr. Jake trying to hide his giggling. "So, wanna help her out? Letting her come out from her quiet zone?"

"…Sure." I smiled. "I have a plan, though. And I need your help, sensei."

"Alright, students!" Mr. Jake told the class the moment he came in. "For today's Buddyfight class, we'll be using the stadium!"

The whole class cheered. Rai Academy's education is just like a normal school's education, for the exception that we have Buddyfight classes that takes up three periods a day.

During Buddyfight classes, we usually analyse a Buddyfight card and write a report about it (which is very, very boring). But we also do some fights in class without luminising the deck. And if we are lucky, the class can go to the stadium to fight.

And that's exactly my plan.

We lined up and walked to the stadium. And when we reached there, Mr. Jake said:

"Who wants to fight?"

Of course, the whole class raised the hand. But I've told Mr. Jake that he'll have to choose me.

"Why don't we have Yang as our first fighter?" Mr. Jake said. I walked to Mr. Jake and the rest of the class clapped.

"Yang, do you have anyone you wanted to fight?" Mr. Jake said to me.

"Hmmm." I said. "There's actually someone I liked to fight."

The whole class started to raised their hands, telling me to pick them. But of course, I'll pick her.

I sweeped my eyes across the sea of students, and I saw her standing at the very end of the class, without letting anyone noticing that she's there. I walked towards the students and paved the way.

I passed a student, one by one, until I reached her and grabbed her hand. Yin was shocked (along with the students, since they didn't knew she was there) and stared into my eyes, I replied with a smile:

"Can you be my opponent, Yin Kurosaki?'