『Vol. 1 Extra: Kaede Hasegawa』

"I've had enough!" Someone exclaimed, it seems they were arguing with someone.

The cicadas screeched as the hot blazing sun rippled through the trees, indicating that summer was at its peak. It was an ordinary day, like any other. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for someone in particular.

"Eh..?"

"Please drop the phone."

The person did as told, albeit reluctantly. After being ordered, she had an annoyed look on their face.

"What's your problem? Didn't I already agree to this date already?"

"What's the point if you don't even care!?"

That's right, the person who was at their wit's end was no other than Naoki.

"I care! Why do you think I spent time with you in the first place?" She argued.

"You're not even speaking unless I talked about something! And our dates have all been filled with you just texting your friends!"

Naoki was having their 7th argument with her now ex-girlfriend, Kaede Hasegawa. Although, even after every fight, Naoki has always forgiven her.

"Today, I was supposed to visit my mother's grave but you said you wanted to see a movie together! Not only did you not even properly watch it, but you also didn't even look at me properly this entire time! If I had known, I would have already canceled this." Naoki continued, not mentioning that he paid for all of their expenses.

"Isn't your mother already dead? Stop being petty about i-"

*Smack*

A slap echoed.

"...earlier I can forgive, but I can't tolerate it if you insult my mother." Naoki's eyes glared.

"You-!"

"We're breaking up."

"..."

"...what?" Kaede shocked.

While Naoki had made that decision in the heat of the moment, it was not without its basis. In short, for reasons unknown to Naoki, he was neglected. Every time it would be him who would ask to hang out and it would be up to him as well to keep a conversation going. He didn't mind, he loved her after all, though this had slowly made him question their relationship. Kaede would often talk with her friends attentively while in contrast, only giving short replies to Naoki.

"...why?"

"...I'm leaving." Naoki walked away, ignoring her question.

"Wai..."

"Take care on your way home, I guess." Naoki said dismissively

Naoki could hear her crying. Despite that, he did not look back. He was tired of putting up with it, after all. His heart was crushed, though he still kept going.

<<----------->>

Time passed, and it was a week since then. Of course, everyone had already known what had happened. Kaede was the type to tell her friends about this after all.

"...Nao-kun is gone?"

"Yeah... and a few other people, including the student council president." Kaede's friend said.

"But-... How?" Kaede stuttered, in disbelief.

"Everyone doesn't know either, the school is in hot water because of it though." Another friend said, mockingly laughing the situation off.

Apparently, it was more than 48 hours already since they had been missing. The parents of the missing had already confronted the school about it, with police involved.

"That's... but Nao-Kun- didn't he promise? I-" Kaede teared up.

A tear dropped from her face.

"Oi oi, Kaede-chan. I thought you didn't care for him anymore? That scumbag."

"...rry"

"Eh?"

"I'm sorr- I'm sorry, I lied. I was the- I was the problem! He did not... He did not mistreat me at all!"

Kaede cried.

It seems she had told her friends that she had broken up with Naoki and that she had been ill-treated. In truth, it was just to save her pride and ego. It was not her fault that they broke up, she kept saying to herself.

"-w! I know! I know that I'm...! I'm selfish! I can't even look at him properly! I can't even calm down when I'm with him! I can't even say the words that I've been meaning to say! I get so irritated! Because he doesn't get it! But more so at myself! For being unable to say anything! I'm no good... no good. How am I... How am I supposed to... when he's gone."

She burst out crying.

"Kaede..." All her friends were speechless.

Everyone else went silent, they could not say anything after all. Kaede continued crying, she cried until she couldn't anymore and before she knew it, it was already just her in the classroom.

<<----------->>

"I'm... Nao-Kun... please- come back" Her hoarse voice said.

Her throat was parched and her face was a mess. For all the times that they have been together, she couldn't say anything. Even when she had badly wanted to hold his hand, her pride wouldn't allow her to ask. Everyone seems to have already gone home for the day. The sun was already orange-tinged, signaling that the day was about to end.

"I have... to go home." She weakly stood up.

"You seem conflicted young one."

"Eh?"

Someone spoke, Kaede was sure there was no one else in the classroom and that she had not heard the doors opening.

"Over here."

'-! GHOST!" Kaede's already hoarse voice screamed.

"Haha, compared to the last young one, your reaction is quite a contrast."

"Who are you!?"

In front of Kaede was an old man in white robes. He did not appear to be sinister but it had still scared Kaede.

"Hmm... I see. It seems this could be called fate." The old man acknowledged, seemingly understanding something.

"Eh...?" Kaede was lost.

"How about it little one, I can teach you all that I know. I was thinking of getting pupils you see..."

"What are you talking about...?"

The old man briefly explained It seems he was here to find disciples. He had not explained why exactly he had picked her but only said that "she had compatibility".

"...I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow anything you have said oji-san... and I'm not interested."

"Not even to see him?"

"-! How..."

"You'll soon find out if you agree."

She understood who he referred to, it seems that this old man wasn't an ordinary person, she thought.

"...Fine, so what am I supposed to do?"

"Be at ease." The old man nodded and snap his finger.

Silence followed, it was as if both of them had just disappeared from existence. Where they were going, Kaede did not know. But, the sheer mention of the person she had felt so guilty about had entirely removed her reservations. Only time will tell if she had made the right decision or not.