Hello again, Reader-Chan! Since I posted the first chapter on Halloween, I thought I should post the second one as a special gift. I should have posted it on the same day as I uploaded the first chapter, but I got so busy that day. Today is my little brother's birthday (Happy B-Day Little Bro) so I just thought to post the second chapter today.

The first chapter was able to catch your attention, so let's see what you think of this one. I forget to say the art is not mine on any of these (sadly, I'm not that good of an artist) so don't assume I made them. Next chapter WILL be posted next week. Enjoy!

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Maiko told me that she would take me out to visit town and get my uniform for school. I was a little nervous about the uniform, hoping it wasn't exposing on the back. I changed into a casual red and white dress and put on some nice grey flats.

A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts of planning. I walked over to my door and opened it.

"Surprise!!" Maiko cheered, holding up a plate of chocolate chip cookies. She looked at me with her big blue doe-eyes and beamed. I gasped and jumped back at this. "Oh my! Maiko!"

Maiko chuckled girlishly and straightened up. "I made some cookies for you. I didn't really get a chance to ask, but I hope chocolate chip is okay." I took the offered plate and looked down at them. "Of course. I love chocolate chip cookies!" I smiled.

Putting the plate back in the kitchen, Maiko walked in, looking around. "Wow, you settled in pretty fast." She admired a picture on the wall that I hung up. I turned around and examined her sky color blouse with a pink heart on it. She wore a short pink skirt that matched the color on the heart shirt. Her little white socks and navy blue flats complimented her wardrobe quite well.

"Yeah well, organizing is what I do fastest." I chortled. Maiko looked out the window, "Anyway, ready to go?" I hummed a 'yes' and grabbed my purse. "Where's Akito?" I couldn't help but ask. I kind of wanted to see Akito again.

Maiko's expression got bored and she waved her hand, gesturing to not make it a big deal. "He said he would be out, taking pictures with his camera and such." This caught my attention, "Akito takes photos?"

"As an amateur photographer," Maiko explained as she walked out of the apartment. "It's his own thing." I shut the door and locked it with my key. "I think that's pretty cool."

We headed down the stairs talking about our recent topic and greeted Mr. Tanaka on the way out. "Have you eaten yet?" I shook my head timidly, "Not since breakfast before I left this morning." Maiko's mouth dropped open, "You must be starved."

"I already am." Maiko prompted, "I know, we'll get something to eat right now. My treat." My eyes widened, "No, no. I couldn't do that. I could pay for it myself." Maiko insisted, "Oh come on, I want to pay for it. It's alright, I have a lot of extra money that I don't use. Since I have an extra job at the restaurant down there and my papa pays me what he can, I get paychecks back and forth."

I thought for a second. "Oh..." Maiko looked back at me and raised a finger, "After all, I'm a good saver. I only use a certain amount of my money and save the rest for emergencies or something like that." I put a hand to my chin, "Well, if you insist."

"Of course!" Maiko winked at me. This made me chuckle a bit.

We stopped at the school first, despite my friend's arguing, to inform the staff of my arrival before the school closed for the day. They seemed like pretty nice and were happy to show me around and answer all my questions. One thing I was especially nervous about was the school uniform. Would it be alright to wear?

A white button up shirt with a small red tie and black overcoat was nice. The red skirt that went with the top was cute too, but I personally wasn't used to short skirts that much. I'd just have to make-do.

"The black coat isn't always necessary, mainly only for cold weather, but the rest of the uniform is required." A female teacher offered the uniform to me. She wore her short brown hair in a bun and wore a formal pantsuit. "It's wonderful." I took the uniform and checked around it. The shirt was luckily good to cover up my whole back.

Maiko chimed, "It suits you very well, Ritsuko." I brought my eyes up to the teachers and Maiko. Smiling nervously, I nodded. "Thanks."

The teacher grinned at me. "We hope to see you tomorrow at school, Ms. Ritsuko." I put the uniform down. "I hope to see you too, Mrs. Yamada." I bowed respectfully to her and the two other teachers, Mr. Yamada and Ms. Kobayashi. The principal, Mr. Shinonome bowed back.

Maiko took out a box and greeted, "Thank you for your help, teachers!" She then held out the box. "Ahh!" Mrs. Yamada gasped and took the box. Ms. Kobayashi leaned forward, opening the box. "I want one too!" Mr. Shinonome reached out to the box.

Maiko giggled, "Don't worry! I can always bake some more donuts if you want." She waved and put her hand on my shoulder, leading me to the exit door. "Bye guys!"

The teachers waved back at us, "Goodbye, Ms, Tanaka and Ms. Akiyama!" I opened the door, waving to the teachers and leaving with Maiko. "Well, the teachers are nice." I mused. Maiko put her hand on her face and shrugged, "They're very nice. Very patient too. They have to be especially with the- ahem," she finished quietly, "Special students."

I raised my eyebrow, "Special students? Ah!" I yelped as I stumbled backward almost tripping. Maiko stepped back a bit and held me steady. "Oh!" I heard a high pitched squeal. "I'm sorry for not watching where I was going." a girl exactly Maiko's height rubbed her forehead.

There was another one next to her. Wait, was I seeing double? I blinked and stared forward, seeing two identical girls. Each with black hair, with streaming red highlights. One girl had her hair up in a ponytail tied with a small black bow with short bangs down on her forehead and the other with loose wavy hair.

They each wore the same dress, a little black dress with lace on the skirt, orchid purple fabric under the ponytail tied girl's dress and scarlet under the other one's. Their corsets were different styles.

The girls' complexions were pale but fair. They both had cute honey brown eyes. One was an inch taller than the other but it was hard to notice since they both wore heeled boots. They must have not been from here either. The fancy dresses might have given it away.

"It's alright, no harm done." I shrugged. Maiko took my arm and held me close to her.

"Um, yeah, right." The one with loose waves nervously agreed. Maiko laughed nervously, "Hey, accidents happen! We were just minding our own business." She took me further back a step as if I was a small child.

The girl in red chuckled with a hint of benevolence in her voice. "Why don't you ever drop the nice cute act, Maiko?" She took her twin with her who was staring at me curiously as they walked through the door. It was probably because of my red eyes. I always got that initial reaction for the color of my eyes. The twins left me and Maiko alone again. Wait, those were twins!

The twins that were said to be cursed were here. Those were them, right? I didn't happen to spot the mark of the flower on them. I should have read one of their minds when I had the chance to. (Did I happen to mention I could do that?)

"Ritsuko?" Maiko snapped me out of my thoughts. "Yes?" Maiko looked back at the door, "Those twins aren't really friendly. I wouldn't consider making friends with them." This coming from the social butterfly that was friendly to everyone she crossed paths with. I knew it right when she spoke to me this morning.

"Why? Do you know them?" Maiko crossed her arms, "I know them enough. First time I met them, Alexandra was willing to try and make friends with me while Rosalina is downright cold. After a while, Alexandra sided with Rosalina and they just ignore me now. I know I can't exactly blame them, they might just be like that because of the curse-"

I perked up a little and looked at Maiko. "Wait, curse?" Maiko hummed an affirmative response. "You have heard of the Flower of Despair, right?" I nodded, "I'm familiar with it."

Maiko continued, "They touched it and they've been cursed. They're two of the 'special students' I was talking about. They came here to have therapy when they were about 12." I put my hand on my chin and bit my lip. "So the twins are here. No doubt the other three are here to get therapy."

"Rosalina and Alexandra, right?" I inquired. Maiko threw her thumb over her shoulder toward the door, "That's them; the Koizumi twins." I looked at the door and pondered, "I wish I could tell the difference." Maiko held up her finger and smirked, "I have a little method. Bangs on Alex, none on Rosa, she likes her apples green, Rosalina ikes them red. It's the little bits and pieces of the difference between them that help you identify."

I remembered the little phrase and nodded. "They probably did come for therapy today. Their appointments can be at random. Especially with their curse." The girl shuddered.

I tilted my head, "What is their curse?" Maiko replied, "Something of making things disappear or disintegrate. Sometimes they go up in flames." I concluded to myself, "Destruction."

"If you want to be logical, yes." Maiko agreed. "Just keep your distance from them." I nodded. "Alright, if you say so." Maiko shrugged, "I'm not trying to tell you who to be friends with, it's just a warning. The cursed students seem like the most complicated."

I put a hand on her shoulder, "Of course. I will be. Now can we go eat? My stomach is about to eat itself." Maiko laughed out loud, her laugh being almost contagious. "Yes, yes, let's go." She cleared her throat from the laughter.

Then Maiko and I went to eat at a small restaurant. Maiko seemed familiar with the waitress that came to our table. A dark haired, green eyed girl gave us the menus. "Here ya go!" She said. Maiko waved, "Thanks, Rin. Ritsuko, this is Rin Sakura. She's a friend of mine." I looked up from my menu that I already opened and smiled, "Hello."

"Hi!" Rin greeted. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Akiyama. I assume you're new to these parts?" She winked at me. I shrugged, "Yeah, I guess. I haven't really been to Crysolia before. Do you go to school here?"

Rin looked at me peculiarly and chuckled, "Actually, I graduated school about a year ago." I turned red. "Oh dear, I'm sorry. You just looked a little-"

"A little younger?" Rin finished for me. I nodded shyly. "Don't worry, I get that a lot. I hang around the school a lot when I'm off work. My little brother is still in school, so you might see me there."

Little brother, huh? I couldn't help but wonder if he was a cursed one. Then, my stomach interrupted me, begging for something to fill it with. I couldn't concentrate right now.

"That's nice. I hope to see you more often." Rin took out a notebook, "Same here. Anyways, what can I get you both?" It was as if this girl read my mind. "Hmm, can I get a cup of green tea, please?" Rin wrote that down, "Sweetened or unsweetened?" I looked up in thought and answered a second later. "Unsweetened."

"Alrighty. What about you, Maiko?" Maiko winked at Rin, "The usual." Rin pointed at Maiko with the pen, "How did I know?" She wrote it down and asked, "And are you two ready for food?"

"Oh, I've been waiting for food." I couldn't help but sound half-starved. "I'd like some curry rice and yakizakana, please." Rin put her hand on her mouth and snickered, "Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you were hungry." I shrugged down in embarrassment. I must have been more hungry than I thought.

Maiko put her finger up again and glared playfully, "Hey don't blame the girl, she hasn't eaten all day since she got here." Rin waved her hand, "I know, I know. I'm just kidding." Maiko looked at her menu and ordered, "Can I have some dashi soup?" Rin wrote the two orders down. "You betcha!" Maiko clapped her hands once "Great!"

"I'll be right over there if you need me." Rin mentioned, flipping a page on her notebook and sticking her pen in her hair. "Okay." Maiko replied. Rin walked to some people who were just seated and greeted them, "Welcome!"

"Well, isn't she a character?" I looked back at Rin. Maiko put a hand under her chin and shrugged, "Don't mind her. She's just outspoken like that. It's just Rin being Rin." I rolled my eyes playfully. "I couldn't help it if I'm starving."

Maiko looked down at the table. "So Ritsuko, do you plan on staying here long?" I shrugged, "I'm hoping to finish the school year at least. But so far, I really like this place." Maiko grinned gratefully, "It is very nice. I'm just worried about the cursed students."

"How many are there?" I asked, highly interested. "Well, there's the twins, and then there's three men...well-" she snorted, "I say men but they're only a little bit older than me. They're closer to yours and Akito's age."

"You know them?" Maiko put her hand on her head. "I've talked to them a few times. I'm pretty sure Akito knows them better than I do. He's dealt with them more than I have."

"Dealt with them?"

"Yeah. It's okay. Not all of them are mean like the Koizumi twins. Some are actually pretty nice from what I've seen." I put my hand to my mouth and bit my finger, thinking. Maybe some of them wouldn't be so hard to heal. I still needed to keep my identity on the low.

Rin snapped me out of my thoughts, putting my tea right in front of me. "Tea. Lemonade with extra strawberries." She put down a glass of pink lemonade with 5 strawberries floating on it. "Ah! Finally!!" Maiko licked her lips and put a straw in her glass, sipping it. Rin chuckled. "And your food will be done in just a few minutes."

I looked at Rin. "Thank you." Rin gave me a thumbs-up. "You're welcome! Now off to serve the next tables." She turned around and walked to some other tables.

The food was great. I don't know if it was my stomach just being happy to have something in it or it was actually that good, but it tasted amazing. I think I finished 10 minutes before Maiko did just because I was so hungry.

After leaving the restaurant, Maiko and I found Akito taking pictures near the forest. I stopped and stared at the ground, trying to see what Akito was taking a picture of. He was crouched down and had his camera up to his eye. I didn't have the right mind to see Maiko creeping up behind him.

Akito snapped a picture or two when I looked far enough to see beyond the long grass at what he was taking a picture of. "Watch out!!" I screamed. Maiko jumped but shouted, "Gotcha!" Tackling Akito over.

"Woah!" He yelped, leaning forward and falling. My eyes widened in fear and I ran toward them. "Akito!"

Akito held himself up, pushing Maiko off his back who was laughing at her silly prank. "Maiko!!" He growled. Maiko held her stomach while she sat up, "You weren't expecting that one!"

I stopped in front of the two and gulped, "Are you two okay?" I think I started sweating from the scare they gave me. "Yes, I'm fine." Akito said, checking his arms and face.

Maiko giggled. Akito hit her in the arm and picked up his camera. "Maiko, that wasn't funny!" Maiko snickered, "It was for me!" I shook my head, "No, Maiko. One of you two would have gotten cursed."

"Cursed??" Maiko questioned. Akito gestured forward at what he saved himself from. Maiko gasped, her face going pale. I stared down at the Flower of Despair in front of Akito. It's 6 blood red petals and black stigma and anthers were all too familiar. It lived up to its name. It had such a distinct and eerie look. You couldn't mistake it.

"A-Akito... that's the Flower." Maiko trembled. Akito looked over his shoulder at her, "I know. And you almost made me touch it!" Maiko looked at him and glared, "Were you taking pictures of it?!"

"Why else would I be near it?" He scowled at her. Maiko grabbed Akito's shirt and pulled him closer, "You're not supposed to be taking pictures of it. You should chop it down before it hurts someone."

I couldn't really say anything, though I wanted to remind the siblings I was still here. "U-um, maybe we should just leave it alone." Maiko shook her head. "Akito, you could have been cursed." Akito brushed her off, "I know. I was being careful, I promise."

Maiko gulped and stood up. "You better not get close to it again, or I'll tell Papa and you won't be able to take anymore pictures for at least a month." Akito nodded, "Fine."

"Here, why don't we all head back and forget about this? It's getting pretty dark now anyway." I offered. Maiko grabbed Akito and stood up, "Yeah, I think that's best." She dragged him long as he checked his camera.

I stayed back a second, too ignored to be noticed since Maiko was still shaken up and Akito listening to her scold him. I looked back at the flower. Crouching down, I touched it, knowing it wouldn't curse me. "Please don't curse any more people. Especially him." I whispered to it.

It was foolish to talk to a flower, and even though I had a special connection to these ones, I couldn't control who they cursed, just like how they can't control who I heal or curse. That's another secret I needed to hide, my ability to curse. I was practically another Flower of Despair, but able to reverse the permanent effects.

No one would understand it, though. Even if I tried to explain it, people would treat me just like the Flower. They'd want to destroy me.

"Ritsuko?" Maiko called. I perked up and took my hands off the Flower. "Yeah, I'm coming!" I stood up, looked back at the Flower once more and ran off to catch up with the others.

Back at my apartment, I sat in the kitchen, contemplating everything that I went through on my first day. I was eating some of Maiko's cookies that she made for me with some milk too.

I wonder how the other cursed ones act. Maiko said Akito 'deals with them' so that must mean that they're not exactly normal. I bit into a cookie, it was still soft and chewy. "Then again, what is normal?" I questioned to myself.

It's going to be hard trying to heal the twins. But if I could get close to them and act as a friend, I could earn their trust. Oh, but Maiko already told me that they rejected her, and she's way better at making friends than me.

It was a time like this I realized I could use the help and advice of my parents. Father would instruct me how to correctly and strategically associate and Mother would pat my back and tell me that I'm doing fine, giving me advice on how to act friendly and sociable.

I didn't lie to Maiko about that part. I seriously need to learn to be sociable. Why couldn't I learn that in one of the hundred books I've read in my life? "Ughhh, I hate this!" I wailed in frustration, burying my face into the table.

There was a knock on the door. I checked the clock on the wall reading 8:45 and wondered, "Who would be knocking on my door at this time?" I went to the door and opened it. Akito stood there.

"Ah!" I squealed, embarrassed being in my pajamas. I closed the door a bit. "Akito??"

Akito chuckled, "Yeah. Sorry to be at your door at this time. I hope you weren't asleep." I shook my head as if he could see me, though I was hiding behind the door. "No, no. I was just sitting down and doing nothing." I opened it a crack and looked at him, my face was turning red again.

"Oh, well I just wanted to see if you were okay. Sorry for the scare I gave you with the Flower. I just was really scared." I smiled a little. "No, don't worry. I was scared too. Hey at least no one got hurt." Akito nodded. "Yeah. You're going to school tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. I spoke to the teachers and they gave me my uniform and everything." I explained. Akito brushed some hair back with his hand, which made him look so much more attractive. I gulped, trying to hide my face, "So yeah."

Akito's expressioned brightened, "That's great! I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then." "Yep! I will too." Wait that didn't sound right. Akito chuckled and backed up, "Have a good night, Ritsuko."

"You too." I closed the door at the same time I realized. He called me by my first name. "He said my first name." I whispered to myself and felt a smile grow on my face. I slid down onto the floor and laughed.

"He said my name." I repeated, giggling and covering my mouth. Oh, what an excitement it was to me. I might've looked crazy in front of someone, but I couldn't help it. Akito called me by my first name. That meant he considered me a friend.

I stood up, still smiling. Suddenly, this day didn't feel like a bad first day. But of course, there was always the next day; my first day of school.

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So what do you guys think? What are your thoughts on the twins? Do you think Ritsuko has a chance with Akito since she has a crush on him? What about Maiko? Comment on what you think! Thanks, Reader-Chan! Bye!! 💜