04/14 Thur
I don’t waste much time this morning, and rush to school. While on the way to school, I overheard two girls talking.
“Did you see Mr. Kikku play yesterday? He was so awesome!” One of the two says, sounding excited. “I think I might ask for his autograph after school.”
“I dunno if that’s such a good idea… I hear that you shouldn’t go near the PE faculty office.” The other girl says, sounding nervous. “People have been saying that you can hear weird sounds, like screaming, even though no one’s there…”
“What? That’s probably just a rumor spread by fans to scare the competition.” The excited girl says. That seems to end their conversation, and I head off to class.
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While in a class with Mr. Ushimaru, I feel my phone go off, and pull it out.
<So about witnesses…> Hayai starts. <I was wondering if we could get something out of Bēru.>
<Why’s that? Is it because she is said to be with Kikku?> I ask, not liking this idea.
<No, that ain’t why.> He begins to explain. <Just hear me out.>
<You know how we didn’t get a thing outta the football team?> He says, making some sense. <I figured it’d be a good idea to talk to someone who knows them.>
<Bēru’s BFFs with a defender. A girl named Pitchi.> He explains. <I tried to talk some info out of that girl during break, but I didn’t get anywhere.>
<And that’s why I think we should have Bēru talk to her.> He finishes explaining. <Then again, I guess it’ll be hard getting her to help us…>
<Sorry. Lemme see what else I can come up with.> He finishes, going offline. Once that’s over with, I put my phone away and focus on class.
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“Shouldn’t you be heading to football practice?” I ask Hikui, while we are resting in the courtyard.
“Uh-huh…” She says, looking worse than yesterday. ‘Dammit Rirī, call her out on it!’ I think to myself, gathering resolve.
“That bruise above your eye… Is that from your practice, too?” I finally ask her.
“Y-Yeah…” She says. She hasn’t said much all day.
“Are you positive you’re not pushing yourself too hard Hikui?” I ask, beginning to get more worried about her.
“I’m OK… Really… Football’s the only thing I can do right…” She says, with little drive in her voice. Then I hear my phone go off. “Shouldn’t you take that?”
“It’s probably just my part-time job… I think.” I say, not really caring who it is.
“I… should get going.” She says.
“Hikui…” I begin to say, my phone still going off. “ ...Are you sure you’re OK?”
“Uh-huh…” She says. ‘C’mon! That’s not an answer Hikui!’ I think to myself. Then she walks off. Without anything else to distract myself with, I pull out my phone and answer.
“...Yes?” I ask. “Today won’t work… I’m… I’m not feeling so good…” I reply. “Sorry… Bye.” Once I hang up, I begin to walk away, but as I do I notice to students walk passed me. I decide to wait nearby and see what they have to say.
“Hey, wasn’t that Bēru?” One of them says, sounding bored. ‘He didn’t use an honorific. We don’t know each other.’ I think to myself, more focused on their talk.
“Rumor has it she’s dating Kikku.” The other guy says, and he looked disheveled.
“Seriously?” The bored one asks.
“I heard people saw them in his car together.” The disheveled one says. ‘It’s not like I wanted to! I just didn’t want to be late!’ I think, turning back to the conversation.
“You know… she seems pretty easy, huh? You think I’d have a chance, too?” The bored one ask. ‘Easy! Well… I guess that’s how it’d look from an outside perspective, but still…!’
“C’mon dude, you can’t go after Kikku’s bitch!” The disheveled one points out. ‘His bitch!! Oh if I didn’t want to be caught eavesdropping, I’d go out and hit them both about now…’After that, I take off, hoping I wasn’t noticed.
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I’m walking to the courtyard hallway, and I notice a girl standing in front of the doors outside. She’s looking on her phone. I remember Bēru-san talking to her yesterday, but she looks worse today. ‘I think her name was… Hikui?’ I think to myself, then get her attention so I can go outside.
“...What?” She says, looking to me and putting her phone away. “Oh… I’m in the way, aren’t I? Sorry…” She says, looking defeated. ‘I can’t let her think ill of herself.’
“Don’t worry about it, I’m in no rush. On the other hand, you look really hurt.” I say, hoping she goes along.
“Huh…?” She asks, looking confused. “Um, well…”
“Hm, you don’t look familiar.” She points out, dodging the question. ‘Dammit it, no answers again.’ I think, getting a little annoyed. “Could you be that transfer student from Class D?” She asks. I just nod.
“Um, this might not be any of my business, but don’t let the rumors get to you, OK…?” She asks. ‘Such a sweet girl, why would anyone want to hurt her?’ I ask myself.
“They don’t really bother me. But I thank you for your concern.” I reply.
“I’m glad to hear that you’re OK here.” She says, sounding relieved. “...My best friend is often misunderstood too, all because of her looks…”
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to drag on like that.” She says, sounding tired. “Anyway, I have to go to practice… I’ll see you around.” She finishes.
“Hey, you aren’t looking to good. Are you sure practice is a good idea?” I ask
“What do you mean? What else could I do?” She asks.
“Why not get a doctors certificate. That should clear you of any obligations, right?” I counter ask.
“Maybe. But then I wouldn’t get any practice in, and I won’t improve.” She explains.
“Ugh… Fine, but please. Be careful. I can’t stand to see a girl a nice as you this hurt…” I finish, walking outside.
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I meet Hayai in the courtyard.
“Dammit. What the hell…” He says, sounding frustrated.
“I’m going to guess you had no luck either?” I ask.
“Is that what it looks like?” He asks, sounding tired, before hitting the vending machine beside him. “All of ‘em kept sayin’ the same shit Puroguramu was talkin’ about…!”
“Kikku had to have told ‘em something!” He continues. “At this rate… it looks like we’ll have to go to him directly…”
“There isn’t really a point. He doesn’t like us, and confronting him would make it worse.” I point out.
“I know…” He says. “But seriously, isn’t there something we can do?” He asks.
“There’s now way I’m gonna give in like this!” He finishes. “Can you think of anything?”
“Well, we could call the cops?” I suggest.
“So you wanna tell ‘em about the castle? They’d never believe us… You said it yourself on our first day there, remember?” He points out. ‘Right, I did say that…’ “Anything else?
“How about some form of sneak attack?” I suggest.
“Well, that’d be fine if we could do it without gettin’ caught, but… if we did, we’d be seriously done for…” He explains. “Got any more bright ideas? What do we do…?”
“How about we go back and punish the king?” I suggest.
“The king…? You mean that other world’s Kikku?” He asks, sounding a bit surprised. “I didn’t think of that, but… Would there be any meaning to-” He begins, getting cut off.
“There you guys are!” I hear a familiar voice, causing me and Hayai to look around, confused, not noticing a puppy walk over.
“... You say something?” Hayai asks me, causing me to shake my head.
“Hey, did you guys forget about me already?” The voice asks again, as the puppy jumps up on the table, surprising the both of us. “I mean honestly, I help you out then you go and forget me?”
“That voice… Is that you, Abigale?” Hayai asks.
“Yes it’s me. What have you guys been doing that you have left me all alone in that place?” She asks.
“The pups talkin’!?” He asks.
“I am NOT a pup! This is just what happened when I came to this world!” She explains. “It was a fair bit of trouble finding you two in this big city!”
“Wait… You came to our world!?” Hayai asks, walking closer to her. “Does that mean you’ve got a phone!?”
“I… guess I don’t need one, for some reason, I left as easily as you guys, but I didn’t exit anywhere near you guys.” She says.
“That aside, why can you talk!? You’re a pup!” Hayai points out.
“How would I know? First time in your world, you know?” She asks back.
“You hearin’ this too…?” He asks me, causing me to chuckle inwardly.
“Arf?” I ask, trying to sound like a confused pup.
“This is no time to be jokin’ around!” He says, sounding stressed.
“You guys appear to be having a tough time here though. I think I heard you mention something about witnesses?” She asks.
“Do you have anything to contribute?” He asks.
“Well, I could probably think of something to do about Kikku.” She points out. “You were pretty close a moment ago.”
“Well, I guess she does sound about the same, guess this is Abigale…” Hayai says.
“You still had doubts!?” She asks.
“Ack…! Quiet down!” He says, sounding panicked. That’s when we hear a teacher nearby.
“We really have to be looking for a puppy in a busy time like this…?” He asks.
“I just heard a quiet bark somewhere near here. Didn’t you hear it?” What sounds like a student asks.
“Make sure you check every nook and cranny around.” The teacher says.
“Bark…?” Hayai asks. “Does that mean only us two can understand what you’re sayin’?”
“It certainly seems that way.” She replies.
“What the hell’s goin’ on…?” He asks. “Anyways, what were you talkin’ about earlier… Is it for real?”
“You know, you’re being quiet the skeptic, for someone who doesn’t seem that knowledgeable…” She says, but he takes it in stride.
“Hey, tell us more. Then again, this probably ain’t the best place…” He says, beginning to think. Then he grabs her. “Here, stick her in your bag for now! She should be just small enough to fit!”
“Hey! Don’t treat me like some-” She begins to say, before I follow through. Once she is in my bag, I follow Hayai up to the school roof.
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Once up on the roof, I place my bag down to let Abigale out.
“Don’t be so rough with me!” She says.
“Enough of that, we have more important things to discuss.” Hayai says. “You said you know how we can do something about Kikku, right?”
“It has to do with what our friend here was talking about earlier. You’ll need to attack his castle.” She explains.
“What do you mean…?” He asks.
“That castle is probably how Kikku views this school.” She says. “He probably doesn’t realize what happens in there, but it’s likely deeply connected to the depths of his heart.”
“Thus, if the castle disappears, it would naturally impact the real Kikku.” She finishes.
“What’d happen?” He asks.
“A Palace is a manifestation of a person’s distorted desires. So, if that castle were no more…” She begins.
“Then his distorted desires would disappear as well, leaving an honest man, with a ton of guilt.” I finish.
“Exactly, at least, that is probably how it works.” She says, smiling.
“Probably? Don’t you know already?” He asks.
“I barely know much more than you guys. This’ll be a learning experience for the both of us.” She says. “Either way, we should probably be careful. We need desires to live, to make us want to eat, or sleep. If they disappeared, it’d be like we weren’t there at all. They could even die without proper care.”
“They might die…!?” Hayai ask, shocked.
“Hey, I just said might, and I could even be wrong about that…” She says, going defensive.
“I mean, I hate the asshole, but I don’t want him to die…” He continues.
“Could we have some time to think Abigale?” I ask.
“Of course, but could I stay with you? I don’t think it’s safe for me to roam the streets.” She asks.
“Sure, but try to keep it down, alright?” I ask back.
“Alright, I’ll keep it down.” She says, getting back in my bag.
“I’ll try to find another option, I don’t really want to consider an option that could kill him...” Hayai says, heading off. I pick up my bag, and head off as well.
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Once I get outside the school, I take a moment to think. ‘There isn’t really anything else for me to do today, I should just head home.’ I’m about to head back to the station, before my phone goes off.
<Hey, I just heard something that got my attention.> Hayai says. <About that Pitchi girl… Looks like rumors are going around about her and Kikku.>
<If they’re true, it’s no wonder I couldn’t get her to talk.> He continues. <Still, something doesn’t seem right about that…>
<Yeah, I gotta agree, she just doesn’t seem like the type to like him. Bēru-san either.> I point out.
<Yeah, I mean I’ve known them since middle school.> He explains. <And there is just no way Kikku’s their type.>
<So… I gotta wonder where those rumors came from.> He continues. <Well, whatever. I’ll try asking around some more.> He finishes, before going offline, and I put my phone away, then head to the station, and ride to Shibuya.
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On my way out of the station, I noticed Bēru-san standing nearby, one the phone and decide to listen in.
“Will you please give up for today!? I told you, I’m not feeling up for it...” SHe says, sounding fairly annoyed. “Wait, what…!? That’s not what you promised! And you call yourself a teacher!?” Seems the other person didn’t take it well.
“This has nothing to do with Hikui!” She says, sounding pissed. Then I hear the tone that signifies a hang up. “Ah…” Then she crouches into a ball.
“Hikui’s… defensive position…” She says to herself. That is when I decide I need to talk to her. So I walk over, and hopes she notices me. Thankfully, she does, but she does step back in surprise.
“Wait… Were you listening?” She asked, looking concerned.
“Not at all. I just saw a girl from my class, curled up in a ball in the middle of Shibuya.” I explain.
“Ah… You’re right. Sorry for accusing you…” She says, wiping some tears from her eyes. “So, you really didn’t hear anything...?” She asks.
“From what little I heard coming out of the station, you were arguing about a friend.” I explain.
“Hikui…” She mumbles. “It’s nothing, really.”
“Nothing…” She says, more tears in her eyes, before she takes off. ‘She’s unstable right now, it isn’t safe for her to be alone around here.’ I think to myself, before taking off after her. I follow her down into the underground station.
When I get down there, I just manage to see her run to the right at the bottom of the escalator. I quickly head down after her. Looking around, I just see a part of her hair from behind a pillar. So I walk over, hoping I don’t startle her into running again.
“Could you stop following me… Just leave me alone!” She exclaims.
“I couldn’t do that, even if I wanted to. Are you OK?” I ask.
“Why…? Why do you keep worrying about me?” She asks, then starts sobbing.
“C’mon, let’s go somewhere a bit safer to talk.” I say, before leading her back up to central street.
“What the heck…? I really don’t get you…” She says as I lead her.
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We end up at a diner. Once we sit down, I order some drinks, and we begin to talk while we wait.
“I don’t have anything to talk about with you right now.” She says, looking defiant. “It was just an argument…”
“Do you normally have arguments with a teacher, or is this a special case?” I ask. ‘She seems really stressed out…’ Once our waters get here, we start talking, or rather, she talks, and I listen.
“I’m sure you’ve heard the rumors, by now…” She begins. “...About Mr. Kikku…”
“...Everyone says we’re ‘getting it on’.” She continues. “But… That’s so not true.”
“That was him on the other line.” She reveals. “I managed to avoid giving him my number, for as long as I could.”
“He told me to go to his place after this.” She says. “You can probably guess what that means.” ‘I bet I know exactly what he wants.’
“If I turn him down he said he’d take my friend off as a regular on the team.” She explains. “I’ve been telling myself this is all for Hikui’s sake… I can’t take it anymore.” ‘I want to comfort her, but I can’t find the words…’
“I’ve had enough of this. I hate him.” She continues. “But still, Hikui’s my best friend. She’s all I have left in that sorry excuse for a school.”
“Tell me, what should I do?” She asks me. And I don’t have an answer, all I can do is grip my legs in frustration at him ruining another student’s life.
“Sorry…” She says, wiping away tears. “I shouldn't have asked. It’s not your problem.” ‘Seems like she’s finished with the deep stuff. Now, I hope I can help her.’
“What… am I saying... ? I’ve barely even talked to you before…” She starts saying.
“Well, maybe that’s why? We don’t know much about each other, so we have no misgivings, or hatred. No reason to speak of this again.” I suggest.
“Maybe you’re right… Either way, I’m sorry for dropping that all on you…” She says. “...You’re so weird. Usually everyone just ignores me.”
“I guess you really aren’t as bad as the rumors say. I have a feeling they were false or exaggerated.” She admits.
“They’re just rumors. They bother me about as much as the wind in the middle of the city bothers hair.” I say.
“To be honest… You seemed lonely-almost like you didn’t belong anywhere…” She says, making sense to me. “We’re similar in that regard. Perhaps that’s why it was so easy for me to talk to you.”
“Is there really no way for me to help Hikui…?” She asks no-one. “I wish he’d just change his mind…”
“Like, forget about me, and everything…” She continues. “As if something like that could ever happen…” She finishes.
“It might be a bit convenient, but I think it could happen.” I say, speaking my mind. She gets a short chuckle out of it.
“I wasn’t asking for a serious response.” She explains, smiling softly. “But I am feeling better now.”
“.. I’m gonna head home.” She finishes. Then she finishes her water and grabs her bag. “Please don’t tell anyone what I told you, alright?”
“I’ll try and think of a way to persuade Kikku.” She says. “Well… Thanks.” She says, heading off. Once I finish my water, I too head home.
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I’m about to head home, when Puroguramu calls for me.
“Pitchi…” He says, walking over. “Are you leaving…?” ‘What could he want from me…?’
“What is it…?” I ask him. He has a sad look on his face.
“Mr. Kikku’s asking for you…” He says, shocking me. “He’s in the PE faculty office.”
“What did he say?” I ask, hoping it won’t be too bad today.
“... I don’t know.” He replies. “Well… I have to go.” He finishes, before jogging away and leaving me to my fate. Then I hear my phone go off.
“Rirī…” I say to myself, before I put the phone away and head to the office.
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When I get back, Roast-san is doing another crossword.
“...You’re late. Where have you been?” He asks, looking stern.
“I was helping one of my classmates, they looked like they were having a rough time, so I lent them an ear.” I explain.
“You really should be keeping out of other business. But if it was in the middle of the city, at least you got them to relax enough to go home, right?” He asks, to which I nod. “...By the way, you haven’t been hanging around any bad influences, have you?” He asks.
“Not at all. I did make a friend though.” I say.
“Huh, must be a troubled kid like you if he wants to hang around you.” He says, with a subtle dis. “Just be careful who your friends are, if you don’t want them ruining your life.” Then he yawns.
“Look at the time…” He continues. “Seriously, think about how I feel having to stay up here waiting for you.” Once it looks like he is done talking, I go to head up to my room.
“Hey, I’m leaving.” He says. “In the future, try not to come back so damn late. Understood?” I nod and head up to my room.
Up in my room, I get a ping from my phone and pull it out.
<So, whaddya think about what Abigale told us?> He begins. <I dunno if I get all that stuff about stealing desires…>
<And Kikku’s gonna turn like, brain dead if we mess up, right?> He asks. <I mean, sure I’m pissed at him. But I dunno if I really wanna kill the guy…>
<I don’t think I’d really wanna kill him either. He’d have to do something really bad for that.> I reply.
<I agree.> He says. <I mean, maybe I’m just freaking out, but I don’t wanna end up a murderer cause of this shit.>
<Oh well…> He says. <I’ll try and see if I can come up with some other way tonight.> He finishes, before going offline. With nothing else to do, I decide to go to bed. So I get changed and lay down. ‘Stealing Kikku’s distorted desires… Can we really do it?’ I ask myself, before falling asleep.