Chapter 15 Ayano Aishi: Exploring Akademi and a weird song

The great day was finally there. It was at the beginning of march and the trees were still without any leaves. The air was crisp, the sky a pristine blue almost without clouds. All in all a cold Friday and there was an initiating ceremony. My parents walked me to the entrance and then said goodbye. Father told me to behave and mother told me that I should look out for "someone special", Father frowned at her but said nothing.

I was going along with the mass of students. There were some teachers too and some students with special uniforms, these were the student council members. We went to the lockers first to change our shoes and then we went through some hallways and interior gardens and then we got to an open area which then lead to the gym hall. Inside the hall, the teachers and Student council members held their initiating speech.

I had read about Akademi on the internet before, and it was interesting. Akademi was founded in the 1980s, because Saisho Saikou wanted his daughter Ichiko Saikou to get education. Akademi flourished at first, but in the late 1980s some girl vanished and then several deadly accidents happened. Creepy. There was even a trial afterwards, and the one accused… was Ryoba Aishi… my mother? No… that can't be, my mother is… strange, but she would never murder people…right? Right? … I did not research that topic further. Afterwards Akademi was called the "Murder school" by many people and enrolment rates dropped gradually. Therefore at some time they decided to lessen the strict rules and regulations and let the students customize their hairstyle and give them more personal freedom. I could customize my hairstyle and accessories. Sounds interesting, but I feel fine the way I am. Staying inconspicuous feels safer to me. I will let my hair hang loose, but won´t go any further.

Then the rambling was over and we went back. I did not talk with anyone, really.

Then came Monday and the school day started in earnest.

It was 7 am and everyone went to their lockers to change their shoes.

I did so too and then I wandered the hallways to see if there was anything interesting.

I know the time schedule. 7 am you get to school, 8.30 am class starts. Lunch Time is from 1 pm until 1.30 pm. Then lessons are from 1.20 to 3:30pm.

Cleaning time is from 3.30 to 4pm.

Club activities start 5 pm and after 5.30 you can´t join the activities anymore and 6 pm you go home.

I saw the posters of the various school clubs first. A cooking club. Nice.

A Drama club. Meh.

No occult club. Pity. I'd like it if there was one. Maybe there will be one in the future…

An art club. Nice, but not interesting.

Music club. Same as art.

Martial arts. That could be useful.

A photography club. Not interested.

There's a science club. Nice! I really want to join them.

Then there are some sports clubs. A baseball and a soccer club.

An a gardening club and a gaming club. Midori would like that one.

I looked further around. They have bathrooms, class rooms, and infirmary, a room where the guidance counsellor is sitting and club rooms.

It also strikes me as odd that the student council members appear to be bit suspicious of me. I think it is just their job to look out for suspicious activities. However that blueish white haired student council girl has given me quite the stink eye when I walked past her. I think she hates my guts. Sounds awful.

The cooking club room looks nice, it is pink and white, but it looks a bit silly to me.

Obviously they have a kitchen knife lying around, and I got dark thoughts of how it could be misused for sinister goals. Perish the thought!

The drama club is purple and full of decorations and props, how pompuous, hmpf, I think the people here will be make unnecessary drama. Call it prejudice or bias, but this is the way I think. I left that room soon.

Then there is a dark, mostly empty room which has a few books in it. Oh, there is a black haired girl with purple eyes in the room, she is placing goblets on a stone altar. She looks kind of cute. Wait… she has an occult book in her hands. Is she a fan of the occult? I should ask her maybe… maybe later, for now I got a school to explore.

Then we have a sewing club, they have textiles and stuffed figures lying around.

And there are sewing machines. I can sew some things too. The people here are boring however.

Anyways next room. A home economics room. Okay, they have washing machines and ovens and stuff here. Hmm they prepare meals here too… one could sneak poison- forget it.

Now let´s move on to the second floor. Obviously there are more classrooms and restrooms. Then we have a cafeteria with a vending machine to buy drinks and snacks.

Also, those student council member are weird.

Oooh cool they even have a science lab. Nice. Let's look at the chemicals they have got here. Hmm these Chemicals reminds me of mom´s lessons.

We got a sociology class room too, they say the gaming club has moved here not too long ago. They have games here and some Magical girl Miyuki figurines. There is also some guy standing here, he is hunched over his phone, has messy grey hair, weird glasses and a stubbly beard. Whatever.

Behind the sociology classroom there is a workshop and you can craft stink bombs here and… weapons - bah nonsense! Not as if anyone would need that.

Then I found a store room. There was a green haired guy with a blank expression searching for something in a box with chemicals. Hmm. I should ask him.

"Hello. What are you searching for?"

"I can´t find the Ammonium nitrate."

"Uhm, do you want to make explosives?"

"No! No it is not what you think…I need it for less …explosive purposes!"

"Really? I know that Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertilizer and for creating many explosives"

"I swear! I´m not making any explosives here. Just some harmless experiments!"

"Alright. I hope you are right. So where could the ammonium nitrate be? I´m new here."

"I´m new here too. I have checked all the shelves and this crate here, but found nothing. But they say it can be found here."

"Have you looked behind those chairs? Oh there is it!"

There was a bag full of ammonium nitrate! Okay.

"Thank you! …What´s your name? I am Yaku Zaishi."

"I´m Ayano Aishi. Please be careful and don´t blow up Akademi with your experiments. We all have worked so hard to get here."

"I …I won´t. I swear!"

"Good. See you later. I´ve got Akademi to explore."

I walked away and got to the martial arts room.

I looked around the room and looked at the people here with their white material uniforms and suddenly a girl with bright orange hair and pigtails approached me.

She asked me if I was interested in joining the martial arts club. I politely declined and told her that I wanted to join the science club already.

She told me that she could train me here anyways. That got my attention.

"Really? That´s great! I have some training, but I would like to know how I would fare against other people. Can I come here after cleaning time?"

"Sure. Feel free to do so."

"Thank you. See you later. I´ve got Akademi to explore."

The name of this girl, which is the leader of the martial arts club is Raibaru Fumtesu, which means indestructible Rival. Interesting, I wonder how strong she is. Mother has trained me for a several months, so I should be at least moderately strong , but if Raiubaru chan really is that strong she will likely be able to defeat me.

Next up is the room of the music club. Not interested.

The art club room is much more interesting. They got some easels, and tables with drawings on them. There is a read haired guy painting a volcano. He has blue glasses and green eyes. Somehow he looks interesting. However I have no desire to talk to many people, and would not want to disturb him, so I let him be.

Then there is a library. Ah… Kuu Dere would really like it here. Why I am I getting a vision of falling bookshelves all of a sudden. Paranoid Nonsense. Let's move on.

Then we have the student council room. It has books and red curtains in it. By the way the leader of the Student Council is currently Kuroko Kamenaga. She has grey hair and is calm and formal all the time, from what I have heard and seen. I did not stay there for long, having those Student council members "hmm" at me would be inconvenient.

Speaking of Kuroko Kamenaga, she was patrolling in the next room, the calligraphy room at this time.

Then I went to the third floor. After I went by some classrooms I came to the headmasters office.

Behind these grey doors sat the headmaster on his table, a weary looking, corpulent old man with brown hair. When he saw me he startled.

"Ah… It´s you!

No, that would be impossible...you must be...her daughter...

I'll tolerate you in my school, but not in my office. Leave at once."

He did not have to tell me twice, I was intimidated and leaving.

As I was leaving I heard "There is nothing for you to achieve here. Just. Get. Out."

What an old, grump geezer(Kusojiji)! Why does he hate me? He hates my mere presence. Did I hurt him or what? Like a mad cat that would even hiss at you if you only approached it from afar! I can't do anything expect respect his boundaries. Luckily I don't have to go his office ever again. At least I hope so…

Needless to say I wasn´t happy.

I saw some more classrooms, foreign students room and a biology lab. The foreign students room was scary, they have weapons lying there in showcases and an iron maiden. If anyone is mad enough to… perish the thought! It will not do any good!

Then another art room with a stature of that old geezer.

The finally I got to the best place so far. The science room. ….

I feel comfortable here, they have a table with chemicals, an empty space where I may be able to do my experiments, a strange semi-holographic display where the club leader is standing and more displays and tables and even a vehicle covered with a blanket.

The club leader of the science club is a guy with black spiky hair and blue eyes, which had a crazed look to them, as if he was thinking about weird stuff. The way he wrung his hands and shook indicated that he was excited about something. Like me that one time I made surprise dinner for my parents without them knowing it beforehand. I wrung my hands in anticipation in a similar way too. It was fun to see the surprise on father face and hear mother´s gushing of how good of a daughter I am. That memory lifted my mood again.

I approached him.

"Welcome...to my lair! I, I mean...the Science Club. What do you seek?"

Heh, his enthusiasm is amusing.

I asked him for more information on his club and he enthusiastically shared his thoughts with me about using science and technology for world domin-the betterment of mankind. If I join his club I will get access to his robot army, which for now consists only of a cleaning robot.

I asked to join his club and he was happy about getting a new test subje-clubmemember.

I joined his club and he laughed a mad scientist laugh.

Then I told him something important "However…if you ever do something strange to me, my mom will notice, and this would be bad… Otherwise, I will be glad to help you, for SCIENCE! Your plans are interesting! Hah hah haa! " His enthusiasm is just so infectious.

My voice seemed to have carried over the seriousness about the wrath of my mother but also my enthusiasm quite well, as he looked contemplative. Eventually he laughed too.

The members of the science club are Kaga Kusha (the aforementioned leader), Horo Guramu, Yaku Zaishi, now me too, and a plain third year guy with light yellow hair named Denkigi Justsusha (electrical engineer).

They have a high-tech motorcycle but it is unused and covered by a pane?.

Anyways, I think the science club leader is weird, but I hope I can work with him.

I asked him about what he planned, but all I found out it that he wants to build a robot army, a giant robot, spy on Megami and abdu-marry her and become the CEO of the Saikou company, and then build rockets and in the end a Dyson sphere, and dominate-guide mankind into a better future with much technology. If nothing is done, Humanity will inevitably head towards cultural, societal and environmental collapse, and he intends to guide humanity and help it recover. His first step for his ambitions was enrolling at Akademi. I did not get to know the details however. He also rambled about how the lack of money("financial restrictions", Kaga Kusha uses such eloquent words) and the lack resources for a Dyson sphere are his the true enemies. Anyway this all sounds fantastic, but it kind of goes over my head a bit. I mean, I can build a human-like robot body with some help, but Dyson spheres? That´s too big to pull off any time soon…

The thought of saving the world and humanity from future disasters sounds appealing though… I have read lots and lots of books and I know about the ongoing environmental and resource crisis…

Afterwards I looked at the newspaper room. The room is quite dark, the windows are covered with dark jalousies and there are tables with Typewriters and computers. There was only one red haired girl with red glasses here, she was tipping eagerly on her computer at a larger wooden table. She stood up from her seat and looked at me curiously. She had a smug, nasty and repulsive smirk on her face and looked interested in me. I felt some disgust, I should be wary of her, I think.

"Oh, Hello. Welcome to the Newspaper club. Technically the newspaper club was disbanded last year, because everyone left, but as you see, you can still buy newspapers here. Want to have one? You can get a newspaper here for free only for the first week! But afterwards they will still be quite cheap."

"Hello. I will take one. What´s your name?"

"Joho Teikyosha"

"Ayano Aishi"

"Well met. See you soon."

Interesting. That girl is really strange. Now I have a newspaper which I will read leader. Exploring Akademi is my priority at the moment.

Then I looked at the Photography club room.

It is grey, has photographs and cameras on stands. Then there is a table where the photography club member sit and converse.

Next room is the audio-visual room. It is another room with computers inside and it also has a radio. Hmm you could distract people with the radio and then…forget that.

As I excited that room I almost bumped into one of these student council members that was just walking pat the corner where I was, but I jumped back in time and gave her a wide berth. There was another of them walking past. Sigh, this is seriously inconvenient.

Then we have Computer lab, where the gaming club once operated…still does at times, but not very often anymore. Here there is a tape recorder.

Nest room I the Announcement room. It has computers and is used as a control room for security cameras and metal detectors. Hopefully we will never need those…

Then there is the Third store bathroom….I got a really bad feeling in my belly and walked past it very quickly.

Next up is the Rooftop. Here you have empty spaces and quite the view. Also some benches and ventilation shafts. You could push student over the railing or drop down weigh –

You could open the protective casing of the fan and drag a long haired-

Here there are a few people sitting on the benches or standing around talking.

By the way we have three Gyaru girls at Akademi too. They are bullies and bully people. I dislike them. They are vain and shallow, have never crafted or achieved anything and do nothing but gossip and harm people. If they aren´t studying, all they do is stare into their phones, blabber nonsense and sun themselves at the swimming pool.

Seriously they don´t even read books at all!

Their leader is Mususme Ronshaku, she is a year above me. The other two bullies are Kashiko Murasaki and Hana Daidaiyama.

Off to a better topic, I went down the stairs and got outside again. Around the paths are trees which will blossom soon, and there are shower rooms. Here you can change into your gym uniforms or swimsuits.

Then there is a swimming pool. Here you could drown-… Forget it. There is also a hidden room where you can find a "Pool is closed" sign.

Also there is a barrel here. Why am I thinking of people burning to death? …

Opposite to the swimming pool we have a Gymnasium. Here the initial announcement was held, and other announcements will be held here too. And the drama club likes to train stage its performances here.

There is a small room with a chest. Here you could tranquilize students with sedatives from the infirmary and kidn- What are you doing? Don´t come any closer. Please! Stay away! STOP! NOO! …And after horrific torture they would be mindslaves…

Ugh these visions are creepy like hell. Who in their right mind would even consider such an abominable act?

The other small room has weights, a baseball bat and a baseball and sport mats.

I went to the stage. You can go above the stage and drop down stuff from there-…

I went to the stage where two of those drama club members were training their poses and suddenly I thought of a song. I did not comprehend the lyric that well but it must somehow be important.

My voice wasn´t used to singing at all and I was slightly hoarse and sang quietly, but the song came to my mind on its own. Did I hear it somewhere in the radio before?

"Oh…

I light up… the daaark ski-iies
Make bright … what couldn't be seen
You've never had a friend like me

Ai's a bright beam

I'm like lightning

My love is electrifying from above

My love is electrifying from above"

I struggled to sing. The rhythm was fine, but I did not always hit the right note s, my voice wasn't working well and I did not really enjoy it as much as I had anticipated (never been a fan of music). It also sounded robotic and flat.

„Everyone wants Ai-"I hitched a bit but it got better. My voice became louder, steadier and more melodic. I felt myself relax a little but felt a little on edge nonetheless.

"Everyone admires Ai

Everybody dreams of Ai

Be careful, be wise

My love is electrifying from above

Look into my eyes

I see the sparks fly

Every day I rise

Shine like a butterfly

To the stars, I strive

I make love out of life

I turn that into light

Because my love is electrifying from above

My lightning comes

Ai electrifies your heart from above

My lov-"

Suddenly I squeaked like a frightened sissy and leapt from the stage to the ground, almost three meters, fearing that a water bucket would hit me from above and make a car battery lying beside me kill me with electricity. The vision was terrifying!

Electrifying love. That´s the name of that song. How ironic. Sigh…now everyone is looking at me! Stupid! I shouldn't have drawn their attention to me!

Those sport clubs members and drama club members, they saw me sing, jump and squeak! How embarrassing! I hope they don´t gossip about it…

I ran past them, out of the hall. Then I saw the running track and the legendary cherry tree where you confess to your love at Friday at 6 pm. The song was still looping inside my head. … My love is electrifying from above… huh.

I went back, past the shower room and saw the statue of the old geeze- the headmaster.

Hmph…

We have an outdoor cafeteria here too. Nice.

Then there is a Japanese garden, the martial arts club members are practicing their skills here. Then there are some benches, water ,trees and a tea house and bamboo.

Next there is a hedge maze and a fountain with a tree. Maybe here you could matchmake- ah silly idea, that probably won't work in real life..

Then there is the entrance gate to the school again and at the opposite side there is a fountain and a tree too.

The gardening club has its own garden, there are plant beds to burry corp- …and a shed. Have your fun shovelling dirt, gardening club members. If this makes you happy, so be it.(Still much better than murd-)

Not to forget to mention the greenhouse and the flower beds. Other people would call it "pretty" but to me it is boring, just like music. But just what is that mysterious song? Why did it make me so curious?

I walked further and saw a kitty! Cool. I petted it for a bit and it purred. Ah this feels nostalgic… I miss the Cat I always saw on my old school way. The one who taught me boundaries. It just wasn't there anymore some day before I got to Akademi…

The I got up again to explore some more.

Next up is another Japanese garden but this time without a tea house and there is an incinerator to burn coprse-… trash I mean! And some garbage and garbage containers.

Ososro Shidesu was standing there with crossed arms. She is intimidating, like those student council members, but somehow she is worse, she even said "Get lost" very rudely so I left quickly. (You fit with the trash, Osoro, you´re so violent and rude.)

Strange to think that my mother appears so calm and gentle, but the violence seems to lurk inside her, while Osoro Shidesu is upfront with her violent demeanour. Makes me think of a feral cat again.

Fuck, class is staring in a few minutes! I had no time to loose and got back to my classroom in time.

Interesting. I´m sitting beside Raibaru Fumetsu. Next to her is an orange haired girl with ridiculously long hair.

Unfortunately I am also sitting next to one of these Bullies. Hana Daiddaiyama. Ugh.

Next to her is a blue haired guy with red-brown eyes. Whatever.

In front of me sits Yaku Zaishi, and one of the other people in his row is a martial arts club member.

In the front row one of the cooking club members is sitting. Yeah, that´s my class now.

The lessons were uneventful, and then there was lunch break. I went to the outside and enjoyed my bento sitting on a bench. Somehow I am paranoid and won´t want anyone to poison my bento. Who knows, if other people had moms, who gave them certain lesson too, what would they do, who knows…

Then there were more lessons and then finally it was cleaning time. I cleaned very systematically, in a certain rhythmic pattern, which made it easy to reach a flow state. It was relaxing.

When cleaning time was over, I headed straight for the martial arts club.

Raibaru Fumetsu was already expecting me and we began training. As expected, mom´s lessons had helped me tremendously, and the first few people were easy to beat, but the last one of them was already much harder to beat and Budo masuta and Raibaru Fumetsu-the "Mysterious Obstacle" beat me easily. I need to improve still, how am I going to defend myself from murders? I will allocate more of my precious time for self-defence training, that for sure.

The it was almost 5 pm and time for the science club activity.

Let's begin!

As promised, Yaku Zaishi did not blow up Akademi, but he did make a lot of noise while trying to synthetizing his explosives, and he needed several attempts to succeed.

Kaga Kusha was at his desk doing his stuff (whatever he is doing there), Horo Guramu was working on his holographic display devices, and the electric guy was tinkering with little remote controlled mini cars. I got to work and started designing a man-sized mecha.

Then the school day was over and we all went home.

At home I told father about Yaku Zaishi, Raibaru Fumetsu, Joho Teikyosha and the other I had seen and about the clubs at Akademi, and how I joined the science club. He was happy that I had made new friends.

Then I asked him if he ever heard the song "electrifying love". His face fell. I think it is bad memories he has with this song?

He thought and answered me.

"Yes, I know this song. Thirty years ago, there was a girl named Ai Doruyashi who sang this song. At the end she got electrocuted and died. They said it was an accident. I think otherwise."

"So that´s why you dislike this song. Bad memories."

"…Yes.

Ayano have I ever told you about the girls I´ve met at Akademi?"

"No. Mother always said that she had to eliminate evil disgusting rivals, which wanted to steal you from her and endanger her future with you."

"Then I need to tell you the real story of what had happened. Obviously your mother can´t know about this."

And he told me of his Life while he was at Akademi.

He wanted to find a future wife. He had a friend at Akademi, Sumire Saitozaki. They liked to read books and talk to each other. He had a crush on her, but Sumire disappeared one day in a bathroom, and all they found was a single bloodstain. He missed her a lot and was sad.

He still has a book of her, which he treasures. When he moved in with Mother, he could take the things he had in his parents' house with him. Of course he will never tell Mother about his tragic keepsake.

The he met other girls, but they were sabotaged, framed and expelled, bullied or they died in accidents, either they were burned to death, crushed by bookshelves, poisoned, drowned in the swimming pool or electrocuted. He was very scared and shocked about it.

The last girl was a detective who wanted to solve the mystery, but she failed to do so and lost interest.

Then Mother kidnapped father and made him love her. She half-forced herself on father to have me.

I listened to it all very carefully, and felt sick to my stomach.

MOM THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU HAVE TOLD ME! YOU TOLD ME THE STORY LIKE YOU MET FATHER UNDER THE CHERRY TREE AND CONFESSED TO HIM! WHAT DID YOU REALLY DO?

"I'm sorry dad, I did not know that is was this bad. I- … when I was at school I thought of such accidents. It was scary."

Suddenly I twitched repeatedly and wetness came out of my eyes.

Father hugged me.

"You are alright, Ayano. You are the best thing that happened to me, since I met your mother. Never forget that. You are a good person, and you can be proud of it."

"Thanks dad."

Next I went to my room and got the strong desire to write down my likes and dislikes.

This here is the list I got.

I like: Cooking, Occult, Science, Justice, Reading, Friends

I hate: Drama, Memes, Gossip, Violence, Cosplay(Dressing up is ridiculous) and Perverts

I also like: Martial Arts, Sport, Cats, Anime

Indifferent: Art, Music(really though?), Gardening, Video games, Socializing, Solitude, School, Nature, Money

Conflicted: Family

Then I read the newspaper Joho Teikyosha had given me. It was really informative and told me who the student council president is (Kuroko Kamenaga), and what the clubs are, what they offer, and who the club leaders are. Some I already knew, others not.

That girl with the occult books is Oka Ruto and she is planning to make a new occult club. In the 1980s there was one such club for only one year, and now there would be one again soon. Hmm… I really want to talk to her, maybe she knows how to break curses and help me.

I also sent the Kurusu sisters some pictures of Akademi on my phone and wrote to them a bit about it. They were happy to hear that my first day went well. I miss them…

At dinner mother asked me if I found my senpai already. I winced but forced a blank expression on my face. No I did not find him yet. Oh, you will find him eventually, when I was one year older your age I found my senpai mom told me.

Ugh, I have one year till the curse will affect me and drive me murder-crazy? I really need to do something about it soon.

Sleep that night came not easy and I dreamed of girls that were vanishing in bathroom stalls and leaving only a few bloodstains, girls that were burning and screaming, or crushed by bookshelves, poisoned, electrocuted and drowned. It was painful.

Authors Notes:

Electrifying love is the song Ai Doruyashi, one of Ryoba´s rivals, sung prior to getting elctrocuted to death by her.

You can find that song on the internet.