Chapter 1 - Vermins

Beep beep! A faint alarm sounds through her ears. Beep beep! The alarm wakes her up abruptly. She turns off the alarm and lays numbingly in bed.

Kasumi Yamazaki, age 17.

There are visible bruises and marks on her body as she weakly tries to sit up. Her body trembles. Kasumi forces herself to stand on her own two feet even though it’s a heavy struggle for her.

Kasumi feels pain in her thighs as she stumbles to the bathroom. She passes her threshold and finally makes it to her destination. She closes the bathroom door behind her and sighs, releasing all the emotional baggage that she carries from the night before. Kasumi grips the sink and grits her teeth. A figure is behind Kasumi, looking down.

“Another sleepless night?” A small voice asks Kasumi.

“Mmm.”

Kasumi blinks slowly, trying to forget.

“What happened that day-”

Flashbacks flood Kasumi’s mind, causing her anxiety.

***

Kasumi and her are both on the ground, severely injured and immobilized.

“Take the blonde one!” One of the men shouts.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Kasumi spits out her bad-tasting blood from her mouth. “Leave us alone!”

Kasumi tries with all her strength to stand, but is immediately kicked back down by one of the men.

“Why just the blonde?” Another man responds.

“Boss said we’ll come back for the other one later.”

“How later?! She’s a witness!” The other man responds, obviously panicked.

“She’s not going to say anything. Besides, who would ever believe her?”

Kasumi narrows her eyes as two men pick her up and carry her away.

“Wait! No-!” Kasumi tries to get up but can’t.

***

“It wasn’t your fault.” Their voice rings in Kasumi’s head. “Stop blaming yourself for it.”

“It is my fault what happened that day.” Kasumi feels tears brim her eyes and her nose stinging.

“No-”

“Yes it is.” Kasumi grips the ledge of the sink and let’s her body sink a little. “I should’ve fought back.”

“But you didn’t.” Kasumi feels a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. “You can’t undo the past, so why dwell on it?”

“I’m not dwelling on it.” Kasumi shoves off the idea. “It’s called guilt.”

“Yeah.” They respond. “Guilt that you’re dwelling on.”

“Please just leave me alone.” Kasumi pleads. The pair of arms hug her tighter.

“I can’t do that until you forgive yourself.” They say warmly.

“I don’t see that happening any time soon.” Kasumi states tiredly.

“Then it looks like you’re stuck with me for awhile.”

Kasumi smiles warmly to herself, slightly chuckling alongside the smile.

“Sounds like something you’d say.”

Kasumi splashes cold, rushing water in her face. Now she suddenly feels alone. Kasumi glances in the mirror at herself, viewing all her bruises and burns. Kasumi sighs before leaving the bathroom. Kasumi goes back to her bedroom and gathers her school uniform (one of the very few outfits in her closet) and gets dressed. After she’s ready, she grabs her backpack and heads downstairs.

The pungent smell of plain, white rice floods Kasumi’s nose. Her father is sitting at the table holding the weekly magazine. Her father barely glances at Kasumi before going back to reading. Kasumi reluctantly takes the seat across from her father. Her body begins to tremble with fear.

Kasumi’s mother puts a bowl of plain white rice in front of her. Kasumi stares at it, unable to move.

“How did you sleep last night?” The sound of her father’s uninterested voice strikes fear in Kasumi.

“Uhm...fine…” Kasumi says, shaking clear in her voice.

“You should eat your breakfast.” Her father’s still uninterested voice says. “Your mother made it for you.”

“I’m not that hungry.” Kasumi nervously states.

Why is he pretending like nothing happened last night? Kasumi thinks angrily to herself. Why does he always pretend like nothing happened?

“I’m just going to go to school.” Kasumi stands and grabs her bag. “Love you guys.”

“Have a good day, dear.” Her mother says, monotonous.

“I love you, too.” Her father, still uninterested, continues reading.

Yeah right. Kasumi responds to her father in her head.

When Kasumi exits the house, she sees her brother standing outside, waiting patiently for her.

“How was breakfast with your friends?” Kasumi mimics her father’s uninterested voice.

“Oh it was great!” Her brother, Sato, starts off eagerly. “Masumi and Keiko are totally together!” He rambles. “I saw the way they were looking at each other the whole time. They would glance at each other and then look away when they made eye contact. They could not be more obvious!”

Sato catches himself and looks over at Kasumi to see that she’s zoning out.

“Did you get any sleep last night?” Her brother asks, concerned.

“Yeah.” Kasumi says, going through the motions.

“What’d he do?” Kasumi is struck by the sudden question.

“Nothing.” Kasumi responds

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” Her brother states thoughtfully.

“Yeah I know.” Kasumi sighs and brushes over the topic. “What’d you dream about last night?”

Kasumi begins playing with her fingers as her brother speaks.

“It was another weird dream.” Sato sighs. “But I don’t have to ramble about it if you don’t want to hear it.”

“It’s ok! I want to!” Kasumi scratches at her collar bone as she smiles at Sato.

Sato smiles back and begins reluctantly talking about his dream, but Kasumi tunes him out. As they approach school grounds, Kasumi darts her eyes to the ground and follows the concrete sidewalk to avoid eye contact with anyone.

“Hey,” Sato intervenes in his own speech. “I have to go this way. What do you say we meet up after school and go to that one place? God knows you can use a break.”

“That sounds fine.” Kasumi states. “But what about your work?”

“I’m sure I can take one night off.” Sato replies.

“You sure you won’t get in trouble?”

“Don’t worry about me, little sis. I’ll manage.” Sato playfully ruffs up Kasumi’s hair.

“Have a good day!” Sato calls out before leaving.

“You too.” Kasumi says quietly.

Kasumi hesitantly presses forward. Before she actually reaches the school, she hears violent commotion coming from beside her.

“Kick him! He’s too weak to fight back!” One child states, repeatedly kicking another small child curled up on the ground.

“I love fucking with this kid!” Another child calls out.

Kasumi side-glances to the scene that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. The smaller child is seen to have shattered glasses on his face. Kasumi flinches with every cracking bone made as a result of their kicks. Kasumi stands there in fear, unable to know what to do. A hand clasps on Kasumi’s shoulder.

“What are you going to do?” A familiar voice asks Kasumi.

The small child is now bleeding from his nose and mouth. The other two kids are too preoccupied to notice Kasumi staring.

“Surely you’re not just going to watch?” The voice states. “If you save him, you risk yourself being a target. But if you don’t do something, this poor kid is going to continue suffering through this hell.”

“I...I...c-can’t…” Kasumi whispers quietly to herself.

“You were taught just enough skills to take on both of them. So it’s not that you don’t have the strength to do it. You’re just scared.” The voice presses. “Scared that they’ll come after you next. I mean, you already face enough physical damage, why face more, right? All you have to do is walk away and pretend this never happened. Or you can interfere and risk getting your ass handed to you.”

Tears begin brimming her eyes.

“P...please...st...stop.” The victim of the bullying begs. “Please...someone help-”

“Shut up!” One of the bullies kicks him again.

With every kick Kasumi hears is another urge to cry. Kasumi covers her mouth with a quivering hand and presses on toward the school.

“I’m so sorry.” Kasumi whimpers into her hand.

Kasumi sprints toward a bathroom and locks herself in a stall. She presses her back against the door and takes a deep breath. She wipes her tears from her eyes and tries to calm herself down before class starts.

“This world is so fucking violent.” Kasumi states. “Why?”

***

Kasumi grabs her lunch (which is nothing more than a side dish and some water) and goes to sit where she usually sits in the far corner by herself. They sit next to her.

“Sitting by yourself again?” They state.

“Mhm.” Kasumi answers apathetically.

“Why don’t you make any friends?” They ask.

“Eat it!” A student calls from the opposite corner of the cafeteria.

The same bullies from this morning burst out in laughter over the poor same victim whose face is buried in his food. One of the bullies presses the victim’s face farther in the food, causing his glasses and face to get dirty. No one wants to notice. And those that do, just start laughing.

“There they are again.” They say. “The same people doing the same things.” They pause. “The right thing to do would be to help him. Why aren’t you doing the right thing?”

“How do I know if it’s the right thing?” Kasumi mumbles under her breath. “I was trained to defend myself, not start a fight.”

“They won’t stop putting that poor kid through hell.” They respond. “You’re the only one that knows the true evils of this world. You’re the only one that can put a stop to this. So why don’t you?”

“Don’t.” Kasumi tries to stop them.

“Do it.” They press on. “On one hand, you save him and you’ll be the new target. At least it’s pain that someone else doesn’t have to endure. You can save someone. You’re just choosing not to.”

“Even if I were to help him right now, it’d be a stupid decision.” Kasumi says quietly. “Everyone’s watching and I’d just get in trouble. Please go away.”

Kasumi glances at her meal then back up to the bullies. They kick him harshly before leaving him to clean up the mess they made. Kasumi looks down at her food. Her stomach grumbles.

“You should eat.” They add. “It's the most flavorful thing you’ll get for awhile.”

Kasumi closes her eyes and begins to eat her lunch.

Why? Why do I have to stop that? Kasumi questions herself. There are plenty of people here. Can’t they see what’s going on, too?

Kasumi takes her tray to the front of the cafeteria and then leaves.

I hope I don’t have to face that again.

***

Kasumi walks through the halls after school, looking down at the floor like always. Someone shoulders Kasumi, throwing her off-balance, but she keeps her eyes trained on the floor.

“Watch it, freak!” The girl that shouldered Kasumi yelled angrily.

Kasumi ignores the girl’s rude remark and presses forward, still staring at the ground. Then, she hears some familiar voices.

“Come on!” One of the bullies calls. “Shove him in here! No one goes into the bathrooms after school hours. It’s the perfect time.”

“Get in there!” The other bully shoves the poor same victim into the bathroom stall.

Kasumi stops in her tracks, frozen in fear just like she was before. Just then, someone shoves against her back and out of the way of their path.

“Don’t block the path!” A boy calls.

Kasumi presses her back against the lockers and looks down at the ground. A million thoughts flood her mind at the same time.

What should I do? I’ve been witnessing their abuse to that poor kid all day. If I don’t do something, they’ll never stop. Is everyone really this stupid? What should I do? How can I help him? How do I walk away knowing that they’re doing this? In the off-chance that I do help and I get caught, the principal will call my parents and it’ll be utter hell for me when I get home. Oh god...oh god. Kasumi thinks.

Kasumi slides down the wall and hugs her knees.

“What should I do?” Kasumi whimpers to herself.

“Help him.” They intervene. “The only way you’ll be able to help him is if you let go. Stop thinking about it so much. Suck it up and help him!”

“But I can’t.” Kasumi cries. “I’m too weak.”

“No you’re not.”

After all the students clear out, Kasumi can hear the poor screams of the victim much clearer. Kasumi stands up carefully and stabilizes herself using the wall.

I’m done hearing his cries.

Kasumi suddenly straightens her posture. Her personality takes a sudden shift.

She enters the boys’ bathroom. One bully is restraining the poor victim while the other bully has a wooden staff broken off from one of the mops and is using it to beat the child over and over again. Blood pours from the young victim’s mouth. The crunching sounds of bones breaking no longer bother Kasumi.

“Can you feel it?” One of the bullies shouts. “Can you feel the pain?!”

I’m done.

“Hey!” Kasumi shouts. “Get away from him!”

The bully shoves the small victim to the ground, shifting his focus on Kasumi alongside the other bully.

“Hey look, it’s a small girl!” One of the bullies says with an evil smile etched across his face.

“She looks like fun to play with.” The other adds, making squeezing motions with his hands.

“You don’t want to mess with me. Just let the kid go and we won’t have a problem.” Kasumi says with a suddenly dark undertone. “Consider this a warning.”

“We’ll take care of her first.” The ‘lead bully’ says. “It won’t take long and besides, the kid can barely move.”

“You won’t be able to stand when we’re through with you.” The other says.

“You made a mistake walking in here.”

“I’ve warned you.” Kasumi says.

The ‘lead bully’ charges straight for Kasumi first. Kasumi grins before quickly ducking to the left and kicking his shin, making him fall on all fours. Kasumi twists and kicks his back to make him fall flat. She then snaps her head back to look at the other bully behind her. The other bully grits his teeth at Kasumi.

“You little slut!” He yells at her. “You’re going to pay for that!”

“Sorry but-” Kasumi grabs his shoulder and knees him in the diaphragm, blood spurting from his mouth. “I don’t have money to pay for you two shitheads.

He clutches his stomach and sinks to the floor. Just then, a pair of arms wraps around her neck to try and choke her. Kasumi flings the kid over her shoulders and immobilized him. Kasumi’s smile suddenly fades into an empty expressession. Kasumi gasps and falls back onto the ground in horror and surprise.

“What the hell? What happened?” Kasumi whimpers to herself. “Did I…? Did I do this?”

Kasumi looks over at the victim who holds a look of terror on his face. He shuffles to his feet and then scampers out of the bathroom. Kasumi presses her right palm to her forehead.

“What the hell happened?” Kasumi whimpers to herself.

One of the bullies wakes up and begins to move, easily standing up. Kasumi is too stunned to even move.

“I hurt someone else. I fought them?” Kasumi continues to cry to herself. “But why? I don’t even know what happened?”

Both of the bullies are now standing with their eyes angrily trained on Kasumi.

“She seems to be weak now.” One of them states. “We can get her.”

“Alright.”

One of them grabs Kasumi by the ankles and pulls her away from the wall.

“Let go of me you dickhead!” Kasumi screams.

She struggles but she’s too weak. The bully climbs on top of her and restrains her wrists above her head.

“Looks like we have a live one here!” He shouts playfully.

“You’re not just going to hog her like the last one, right?” The other one whines.

“Relax.” The other responds. “You’ll get your turn.”

Kasumi spits in the bully’s eye, pissing him off. The bully retaliates by punching Kasumi in the nose.

“What’s going on here?!” A booming voice interferes. “Get off her!”

“Shit!” Both the bullies get away from Kasumi. “Let’s go!”

Both of the bullies bolt out the door past the principal. Kasumi coughs a little as she stands up. The principal goes to help her but she refuses the help.

“I’m fine.” Kasumi states.

“At least let me call your parents-”

“No! Just…” Kasumi takes a deep breath. “Please don’t call my parents. I can tell them when I get home.”

“Please, let me-”

“I can handle telling my parents.” Kasumi interrupts again.

“Very well.” The principal gives up. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No. I’ll just be leaving now.” Kasumi walks out of the bathroom and the principal follows just to make sure she gets out ok.

“Please be more careful, Yamazaki.”

“Note taken.”

Kasumi slings her bag over her shoulder as she exits the school to see Sato waiting anxiously outside for her.

“What the hell happened to you?” Sato asks, concerned.

“Nothing.” Kasumi brushes it off. “It was nothing.”

“Bullshit it was nothing!” Sato yells angrily.

Sato directs Kasumi’s head to face him. He sees the blood trickling from her nose.

“Dammit. At least tell me what happened.” Sato pulls out a handkerchief from his back pocket and uses it to clean the blood from under her nose.

“A couple of pricks were bullying this poor kid so I stood up for him.” Kasumi says, defending herself. “Was that the wrong thing to do?”

“No, but you need to be more careful.” Sato sighs an irritated sigh. “How many were there?”

“There were two.” Kasumi responds.

“They could’ve done a lot more damage. You’re lucky they didn’t.” Sato puts the handkerchief back in his pocket. “What happened anyway?”

“The principal walked in and they ran away.” Kasumi clicks her tongue. “Pansies.”

Sato ruffs up Kasumi’s hair gently.

“I worry about you, ya know?” Sato says warmly.

“You shouldn’t worry too much about me. I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, clearly.” Sato snickers.

“Psh. Shut up.”

“Anyway, I was able to get tonight off.” Sato says cheerfully. “Let’s go to the river. It’s a nice, peaceful place to take a much needed break.”

“Yeah.”

***

Kasumi and Sato sit by the river calmly. The moonlight reflects off of the water into Kasumi’s view. Sato is staring up at the night sky while Kasumi stares off into the glistening water.

“Why are you staring at the sky?” Kasumi asks quietly. “What’s so intriguing about it?

“It’s beautiful. You should really give it a try.” Sato replies.

“Ok fine.” Kasumi sighs. “I’ll never get your weird obsession with the sky.”

Kasumi positions herself where her head is next to Sato’s but her body is positioned opposite of Sato’s.

“That’s really weird to me.” Sato says.

“What is?”

“That the sun’s light reflected off the moon is able to provide light for us.”

“It’s science.” Kasumi shrugs.

“You’re right.” Sato sighs. “You don’t have imagination, do you?”

“Guess not.”

Sato leans up and turns around, staring at the water.

“It’s my fault.” Sato says sadly.

“What’s your fault?” Kasumi asks, concerned.

“The fact that you’ve never been a kid.” Sato continues staring at the water wistfully. “I know what our father does to you when I’m not there. I wish more than anything that I could stand up to him.” Sato’s eyes begin filling up with tears. “That I could protect you. But the truth is…” Sato’s voice trails off into a quieter tone. “I’m a coward. And because I’m a coward, you’re paying for it.”

“Sato, I-”

“I’m a terrible brother, Kasumi. I’m so sorry.” Sato wipes his tears as quickly as they are falling.

“Sato, just listen for a second.” Kasumi sits up and sits next to Sato. Kasumi pulls her knees up to her chest as Sato sits criss-cross. “You’re not a terrible brother. You work every single night to make sure that we have enough money to reach our goal.” Kasumi smiles and looks over to Sato. “Once we reach it, we’ll be able to leave this shithole, right?”

“Yeah, but our father-”

“What our father does to me, it’s what I deserve.” Kasumi looks forward to the water. “He only ever gets mad at me when I screw up.”

“That’s no excuse for how he acts!” Sato yells, looking over at Kasumi. You should never hurt the people you love on purpose! He even gets mad at you for saying something slightly wrong!”

“It just teaches me to watch my mouth next ti-”

“Don’t justify him!” Sato yells angrily. “He’s nothing but an insecure dickhead that takes it out on you!”

“Sato-”

“No.” Sato takes a deep breath, wiping the rest of his tears away. “I swear to you,” Sato looks over at the water. “I swear that he won’t hurt you again. Not on my watch.” Sato looks back over to Kasumi. “You’re the most important person in the world to me, Kasumi. You’re my little sister. I need to protect you. That’s what big brothers do.”

“You don’t have to-”

“I love you, sis.” Sato looks back to the water. “I mean it.”

“Love you, too.” Kasumi takes a rock and skips it across the water. “It’s getting late. We should probably get home.”

“Right.” Sato smiles. “You know what, you’re such a pain in the ass, little sis.”

Sato playfully punches Kasumi’s shoulder. Kasumi punches Sato back in the shoulder. He recoils in pain and rubs the spot where she hit him.

“Ouch!” He says. “You’re getting stronger! Training is really paying off, huh.”

“That’s what training is supposed to do, idiot.”

“Uh huh. Let’s get going.”

They both get up. Sato abruptly hugs Kasumi, surprising her. She warms up and hugs him back.

“I hope this was able to help you out.” Sato says gently.

“It did. Thank you.”

“Alright.” Sato lets go of Kasumi and smiles. “Let’s go home.”

Sato ruffs up Kasumi’s hair again, irritating her.

“Ugh! Why do you do that?” She responds.

“Because you’re fun to mess with.”

“Whatever!” Kasumi shouts jokingly.

***

Kasumi and Sato both walk through the front door of the house. Kasumi’s heart sinks to her stomach. Their parents sit at the table. Sato subtly steps in front of Kasumi to protect her. Her father stares at her dead in the eyes with nothing but hatred while her mother stares blankly at the table.

“You’re late, Kasumi.” Her father says with a mean tone.

“I’m sorry, sir. I-”

“No.” Sato intervenes. “It’s my fault. I made her go to the river to relax a bit.”

“The damn brat knows her place.” Hirata - Kasumi and Sato’s father - doesn’t take his eyes off her. “Come here, Kasumi.”

Kasumi begins walking towards Hirata, but Sato puts his arm out, blocking her path. Kasumi stops in her tracks and looks up at Sato with a tint of hope in her eyes.

“She’s not dealing with any of your shit tonight.” Sato states. “Not while I’m here.”

“You’re name’s not Kasumi. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Hirata states.

“I got the night off.”

Hirata wants to argue but he’s too preoccupied to do so.

“You’re both lucky I have something I need to take care of.” Hirata’s eyes peel off Kasumi and stick to Sato. “Sato, I know you’re an adult, but I don’t ever want to hear you talk back to me. Understand?”

Sato ignores Hirata, pissing him off. Hirata slams his fist on the table, making everyone jump.

“I said do you understand?”

“Whatever you say.” Sato responds reluctantly.

“As for you, Kasumi, you’re a very lucky girl tonight. Go to bed.” Hirata demands. “I’ll deal with you tomorrow.”

“But I-” Kasumi starts.

“You’re not going to do shit.” Sato intervenes again.

“Don’t tempt me, boy.”

“Psh.”

Sato keeps Kasumi behind him as they move towards the living room. Hirata shoulders Sato on the way out the door. Hirata grabs the keys and leaves the house. Sato walks over to where Sando - Kasumi and Sato’s mother - is sitting.

“What they hell is wrong with you?” Sato yells bitterly. “Letting your daughter get hurt like that! He doesn’t control himself! One day, he’ll go too far!” Sato slams his hands on the table, scaring Sando. “Do you understand? Do you want your daughter to die in the hands of her own father because he took it too far?”

Kasumi heads up stairs to get ready for bed. She puts on some shirts and an oversized t-shirt. Once she’s ready, she fixes her alarm clock and waits for herself to get tired.

“You could’ve killed them.” A voice claims.

“Whuh-what?”

“You had the materials to do so.” They add on. “It would’ve saved you from having to get punched in the face.”

“That was a small price to pay.” Kasumi replies quietly. “They’re just kids.”

“Kids that have been putting others through hell.” They respond.

“They’ll learn to stop one day.”

“And if they don’t?”

“Then it’s something that I don’t have to deal with in the future.”

“Under any circumstances, you should get some sleep.”

“I know.”

The voice fades away as Kasumi drifts off to sleep.

***

“Kasumi? Kasumi are you there?” A deeper voice states worriedly. “If you are, please don’t leave me. You’re all I have left.”

“Who are you?” Kasumi tries to ask.

“Remember who taught you how to fight.”

“What the-”

“Tch. Whatever brat.”

“Who…?

“Please just wake up! Wake UP!

***

Kasumi snaps her eyes open to the sound of her door hitting her wall. Her father’s slouched figure stands in the doorway, obviously drunk. He stares at her with beady eyes. He stumbles forward and locks the door behind him.

“Dad? What are you-”

“I told you to address me by sir.” He says drunkenly.. “Your mother told me what you did at school today.”

Kasumi sits up on her bed then makes the stupid decision to stand up. Her father shoots her a glare so deadly it would’ve killed a hundred beasts.

“You’ve been a bad, bad girl, Kasumi.” Her father smiles. “Now you have to pay.”

“No, please...I didn’t even do any-” Hirata strikes her across the face hard. Kasumi feels a stinging sensation in her right cheek as the force of the hit makes her fall to the ground.

“Remember your place in this world, Kasumi.” Hirata looks down on her. “You did this to yourself.”

Hirata unloops his belt, making Kasumi flinch and then widen her eyes.

“No, no, no, wait-!”

Hirata charges at his daughter.

***

Beep beep! The alarm clock sounds, but Kasumi is already awake and quivering. She is barely able to move her arm to turn off the alarm clock. Kasumi grunts as she sits up and clutches her stomach in pain. She stays on her bed for a moment before getting up with quivering legs. She grunts in pain as she stands hunched-over. After a second of trying to stand, she collapses to the ground, holding her forehead with her right palm. Her entire body aches and has obtained new bruises from last night.

“We’re nothing but a bunch of goddamn vermins.” Kasumi cries out to herself furiously. “We each deserve to die. Every single one of us.” Kasumi’s bitter tone continues. “Why is it that I’m only scared of one man? One man is enough to scare me even though I know I could easily fight back. I just choose not to. Why? Why..?” Kasumi’s voice trails off as she sobs.

Kasumi clenches her fists and stands up. The pain from last night comes back almost immediately and she flinches. Her body aches ten times more than when she first stood. Her legs shake beneath her and she tries so hard to keep herself on her own two feet. She wipes her tears and barely stumbles to the bathroom, her whole body shaking. Once she gets there, she closes and locks the door. Kasumi gets in the shower and feels the hot water trickle and wet down her body. After she’s done showering, she gets dressed. She looks in the fogged mirror and wipes a clear patch to see her reflection in.

“Why do you let him do that, huh?” The voice asks.

Kasumi turns on the cold water in the sink.

“Because-” Kasumi starts.

“It’s because you’re afraid of him, aren’t you.” They say. “Just say it! You’re a coward, too! Sato said he was a coward, but the real coward here is you. Just admit it.”

“You’re not her.” Kasumi grits her teeth. “You haven’t been.”

“If I wasn’t her, then why do I sound and look like her?” The voice responds.

Kasumi stays silent, unable to respond.

“That’s what I thought.” The voice continues. “Everything that I’m saying now is what I’ve always wanted to say to you, but I was too nice to do it. Now, I can say whatever I want. I’m only trying to help you, you know?”

“If you were trying to help me you would just go away.”

“You know exactly why I can’t.”

“Whatever.”

Kasumi leaves the bathroom, grabs her backpack from her bedroom and heads downstairs.

“I can’t eat breakfast this morning.” Kasumi says quickly. “I’m already late for school.”

“Alright have a good day, dear.” Sando replies.

“Have a good day at school.” Hirata says, eyes not leaving the magazine he’s reading.

Kasumi ignores Hirata out of fear that she’ll say anything to upset him any more. She briskly walks out the door to find Sato waiting for her like every morning.

“How long were you waiting out here?” Kasumi asks.

“Don’t worry about it.” Sato smiles. “Let’s walk to school.”

Kasumi stares at the ground, unable to look up. She’s way more zoned-out than usual. Sato looks over at her in concern.

“Kasumi, are you ok?” Sato asks caringly.

“Oh yeah...I’m fine.” Kasumi’s voice trails off, her eyes not leaving the ground. Kasumi scratches at her collar bone and then drops her hand back by her side.

“Kasumi, I know when you’re lying.” Sato replies, worriedly.

“Please...I don’t have the energy for this right now.” Kasumi says tiredly.

“Ok….” Sato looks down at her with a look of heavy concern and sadness for her.

***

Kasumi is seen sitting alone at lunch again. That is, until a boy comes and sits with her, surprising her.

“Hey.” The boy greets.

“What are you doing here.” Kasumi asks, ignoring the greeting.

“Well, I saw you sitting here alone and I thought that I might join you.” The boy says gently. “Is that ok?”

“It’s fine.” Kasumi mumbles under her breath.

“My name is Aiko. What’s your name?” He asks.

“Kasumi.”

“That’s a pretty name.” He smiles.

“I guess so.” Kasumi looks at the boy for the first time. He wears glasses and looks much older than he’s leading on. He wears the normal school uniform and a smile on his face. “Who are you?”

“I’m a new student here and haven’t made any friends yet. I decided I would start with you.”

Kasumi looks at him while he’s focused on eating his food. She realizes something strange about him.

His voice sounds familiar. Kasumi thinks to herself. And the way that he sits and does things, it’s not something that a teenager would necessarily do. He’s not who he says he is. I know it. Who are you really, Aiko?