This isn't normal... This isn't okay at all. Yuki thought.
Her legs felt shaky, like they might give out, her hands numb and unfamiliar. And when she finally looked down, she realized she was still holding the crumpled piece of paper.
Your bill is Two thousand dollars
You can pay cash or credit.
My receptionist will be waiting for you at my clinic.
Sincerely, your therapist—
Sasaki Shin.
The note slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor. She pressed her hands to her face, jaw tight as the sting of tears pushed against her eyes.
"No. I shouldn't cry. Not now. Just breathe."
Yuki's knees gave out, legs folding under her like they'd forgotten their purpose. That was when her hands bumped into something solid on the floor. A box of chocolates. The same one Igarashi had gifted her.
Her hands moved before she could stop them, as she hugged the box against her chest, like holding it tighter might bring him back.
" Igarashi...,"
Her voice cracked.
She whispered it again. And again.
"Please... come back."
Her whole body was shaking. Then, something warm hit her skin. She flinched and looked up at the ceiling. A single drop of blood had fallen.
Then another. And another.
She stopped breathing.
The blood was moving. Spreading sideways like someone unseen was dragging it with a finger. Rising to her feet, her gaze lifted to the ceiling where letters began to carve themselves into existence.
AYANO
HELP ME
PLEASE HELP!
Her heart hit her ribs. She covered her mouth with both hands.
No...
She knew that handwriting. It was unmistakable, for it was none other than Igarashi Kenji's handwriting.
"This... this is actually him!"
She stepped forward, voice cracking.
"Igarashi!! Can you hear me!? Say something!!"
However, all she heard was silence. Just the echo of her own voice bouncing off the walls. But Yuki knew one thing for certain.
He's alive. I'm sure of it.
There was only one person she could ask for help. The only one who hadn't treated her like she was crazy. The only one who looked at monsters like they were paperwork.
That man with the scythe. Her therapist.
Sasaki Shin.
Kenji's chocolate box lay in her hands as she stared at the wall, hoping it might write something more. However, as time passed her eyes grew heavy, and before she knew it, sleep carried her through the night.
***
The sun spilled through the living room window and pulled her awake. She blinked, realizing she had slept on the living room floor that night. Her back felt stiff from the hard floor.
Her palms stuck with sweat, her mouth dry as dust. The room gave nothing back while her thoughts circled, until the clock on the living room wall came into focus. The sight of it sent her body jolting upright.
"...What? 7:50 AM!? No—no no no, I missed it!"
She shot up and rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face before grabbing a clean set of clothes. She was supposed to see Sasaki Shin first thing in the morning, but she had slept past the clinic's 5 am opening.
Now that it was 7:50 AM, her only concern was arriving to class on time, and since it started at 8 AM sharp she bolted out of her house, tying her blonde hair in a ponytail as she ran like she was competing in the Olympics toward her school.
***
Yuki ran through the corridor, her shoes slapping hard against the floor. She turned the corner and yanked the classroom door open.
"I'm here!" Yuki blurted out.
Miss Nishimura looked up from her papers. Her expression didn't change.
"You just barely made it. Sit down, I'm taking attendance in a minute,"
Yuki gave a quick nod and made her way to her seat. Sweat clung to her forehead, but she wiped it away with her sleeve.
Once the classroom finally settled, Miss Nishimura began taking attendance.
"Tanaka Haruto."
"Here."
"Murakami Daiki."
"Here."
Names rolled on, one after another, while Yuki sat still with her hands in her lap. She tried to follow the list, yet her eyes drifted again and again to Kenji's empty seat.
Only three names remained.
"Fuyumi Riko."
"Here,"
"Ayano Yuki."
"Present,"
But, she didn't hear Kenji's name. Instead, Miss Nishimura looked down at her clipboard note one last time.
"Okay, everyone's here. We'll start the lesson," she said, setting the clipboard aside.
Miss Nishimura walked to the whiteboard and picked up a marker.
"For today, we'll be covering advanced math, something that'll help you prepare for the university entrance exams. And since tomorrow's the weekend, you'll have some time to review everything before we move on."
Everyone was ready to take notes. Their chairs shifted. Books opened. Pencils tapped on desks.
But Yuki didn't move.
Why hasn't she said Igarashi's name? She should've said it by now. Yuki thought while looking around the class.
Her stomach dropped. Something was wrong. She quickly stood up and raised her hand to get her teacher's attention.
"What about Igarashi Kenji?"
The class went quiet. Miss Nishimura looked up, puzzled.
"Who?"
Yuki stared at her.
"Igarashi. He sits right there."
Yuki pointed at his desk.
Miss Nishimura followed her hand, then looked back at her clipboard.
"I'm sorry, Ayano. There's no one by that name on my list."
Yuki's breath caught. She looked around the classroom.
But No one spoke up. No one nodded.
They just stared, like the name had never existed.
"Does no one remember him?! He was here yesterday."
A few students glanced at each other.
"What is she talking about? Has she officially lost it?"
"Who? Never heard of him,"
"I think you're confused," another added.
Yuki's chest tightened. She looked around the classroom, trying to find one person who remembered him.
Then she saw two boys near the back who caught her attention. She'd seen them sitting with Igarashi before. They always laughed during lunch. One of them used to borrow his eraser.
She pointed at them.
"You two. Weren't you his friends? You sat with him every day."
They looked at each other. Then back at Yuki.
"Sorry, Ayano. We really don't know who that is,"
Yuki stared at them, frozen. Her ears rang.
From the front of the room, Miss Nishimura's voice cut through.
"Ayano, what are you doing interrupting the class? This is not the kind of behavior I expect from you," she said.
No words left her mouth. Classmates stared, eyes pressing in from every side until it felt hard to breathe.
They... they think I lost my mind... Yuki thought.
She turned suddenly and grabbed Riko by her arm, who had been resting her face on the desk.
Riko flinched.
"Hey, that hurts, slow down!"
She pulled Riko toward the door.
"Ayano! Class is not over! Come back here!" Miss Nishimura shouted.
But Yuki was already gone. And Riko had no choice but to follow.