Chapter 4:
For Haruka the school day seemed to drag on. She had managed to get herself in trouble with her teachers on more than one occasion, for spacing out. Something that was very unlike her. The class she was currently sitting in was no different. Haruka sat at her desk, doodling in her notebook and thinking about what was coming next. That particular thing happened to be lunch.
"Can I even eat lunch today? I ate breakfast, so I should probably skip lunch."
As Haruka sat there lost in her own little world, she was unaware that her teacher had been calling on her to answer a question, and was now standing in front of her desk.
Haruka was then yanked from her thoughts by her teacher smacking the top of her desk.
"Now that I've got your attention, Haruka what is the answer to the question I just asked you?"
Haruka looked at her teacher, then around the classroom. Feeling embarrassed as all eyes were on her.
"Uh...um...Christopher Columbus?"
The teacher shook her head, and Haruka could hear snickers coming from the back of the classroom.
"Haruka this is math class, not history."
The teacher then returned to the front of the classroom, and Haruka just hung her head in shame. Wishing more than anything that she could just disappear.
About ten minutes later the bell rang letting students know that class was over. Haruka grabbed her backpack, and was ready to head out the door when her teacher called out to her.
"Haruka, can you come here please. I'd like to speak to you a moment."
"Sure Mrs. Yoshiko."
Haruka said, walking over to her teacher's desk.
"Haruka, you are one of my best students. It's not like you to space out in class."
"I know. Sorry."
"Is everything alright? I mean you seemed really distracted."
"Yeah, everything is fine."
"Are things okay at home?"
Mrs. Yoshiko had a feeling they most likely were, but she still felt inclined to ask.
"Things are fine at home."
"Okay, well you know where my room is if you ever need anything."
"I know. Thank you."
Haruka then grabbed her backpack, and headed off to lunch.
"I do hope everything's alright with her."
Mrs. Yoshiko thought.
Meanwhile, Haruka was sitting on a bench outside, waiting for Michiru to join her. As she sat there waiting, her good friend, Elza Gray, sat down next to her.
"Hey, Haruka."
"Oh, hey Elza."
Haruka greeted, looking at her pink haired friend.
"So, I heard you zoned out in math class today."
"You heard about that?"
Haruka could feel the embarrassment rising within her.
"Yeah, I heard some of the other students from your class talking about it. To be honest, I really don't believe it. You're the last person to lose focus."
"Well get ready for the shock of your life, because it's true."
Elza stared dumbfounded at her friend.
"Woah, wait. You zoned out in class?"
Haruka gave a nod.
"Are you okay? That's so unlike you."
"I swear you're the third person to ask me that today. Yes, I'm okay."
Elza eyed her friend for a moment. She knew Haruka didn't like opening up to people, and hated it when anyone fussed over her.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it."
Elza then looked and noticed that Haruka didn't have a lunch with her.
"Where's your lunch?"
"Oh, I wasn't hungry."
"Are you sure? I got an extra sandwich if you want it."
"No, I'm fine."
No sooner had those words been spoken, Haruka's stomach decided to play them the song of their people.
"Sounds to me like your stomach says otherwise. Here, take it."
Elza said, reaching into her lunchbox and pulled out a sandwich. She then handed it to Haruka, who reached out to take it. However, just as Haruka was about to take the sandwich out of Elza's hand she heard it. That voice in her head telling her that if she ate the sandwich she would get fat.
Haruka quickly jerked her hand away, as if she had been burned.
"What's wrong?"
Elza asked, confused as to why her friend had reacted the way she did.
"Nothing, it's just...it's nothing. I gotta go."
Before Elza could say anything, Haruka had grabbed her backpack and sprinted away. Just then, Michiru appeared, watching Haruka's retreating form.
"Where's she off to in such a hurry?"
Michiru asked, taking a seat next to Elza.
"I'm not sure. I offered her one of my sandwiches, since she didn't have a lunch with her, and she was about to take it out of my hand when she suddenly pulled away really quick."
"Huh, that's strange. Did she say where she was going?"
Elza shook her head.
"She just said she had to go, then took off. If you ask me I'd say she's been acting strange today. I'm sure you heard about how she zoned out in math class today."
Michiru nodded her head.
"I almost couldn't believe it at first, but then I remembered how she zoned out in the car on the way here."
"Woah, really?"
"Yeah. I know she's hiding something, I just don't know what it is."
"You should probably go find her then, and talk to her. There's obviously something up, and the sooner you find out what it is the better."
"You're right."
Michiru then said a quick goodbye to Elza, before heading off to search for Haruka.
"She's probably at the track, she always goes there during lunch."
End of chapter 4: