The school stayed closed for two entire days. Two days in that Seiji could further succumb to his depression. All day long, he listened to music and stared at the ceiling. Satoru's death had put him in a mode of shock and bare insecurity. He didn't even know what to think anymore but he felt guilty. Incredibly guilty, to be exact. The rest of his emotions were like drawn back and hidden in a dark corner. He felt kinda empty, aside from the guilt.

When Starfell Academy had opened its gates again and the normal school business went on as if nothing happened, Seiji just kept blankly staring at the table. He was like physically there, but mentally completely gone. That's why he also didn't notice Hirato who tried to talk to him. It took him a while to realize it. He raised his head. "...?" Hirato sighed. "Man, you look like an undead, Seiji. What's wrong with you, are you ill or something?" Seiji shook his head. Hirato sighed, broke off half of his chocolate bar- nut with caramel- and gave it to him in hope of cheering him up. Seiji took it with a silently mumbled 'thank you', but his mood didn't go upwards. Not even the next day. Or the day thereafter.

Four days after the incident, Seiji walked home from school alone, on Thursday, when suddenly, Masato Furuya followed him. "Hey. Aoi." Seiji pulled up his shoulders and said with a dead-sounding voice: "...Leave me... alone...", "Hold it, right there!" A hand grabbed his wrist and Masato forced Seiji to stop walking. Seiji didn't look at him. "...", "Look at me, you damn monster." Masato demanded him. "I know it was you who killed Satoru.", "... What do you... mean...?", "You know EXACTLY what I mean. I heard you saying that you wanted him dead. How you wanted him to die. Don't think I'm stupid, Aoi! I know you killed him.", "... That's not true...", "Liar!!" Masato pushed him to the ground. Seiji fell and landed in the dirt. "..." He sat up as Masato brutally grabbed his chin. "You can't fool me, you freaking son of a bitch!" Masato hissed. "You fucking inhuman beast!!", "I didn't... do anything..." Seiji mumbled. "Gah, don't gimme that shit!" Masato again pushed Seiji down and Seiji hissed when his head hit the stony ground. "I don't know why you blame me... Furuya-kun... It wasn't my fault...", "Stop lying, you damn asshole!!" Masato punched him in the face and Seiji suppressed a groan. Masato grabbed his hair and brutally tore him back on his feet. "Now listen to me, you little piece of shit!" he barked. "I swear to God you're going to have some bad karma! I'll make sure of it, you filthy little rat!!" Seiji hissed again and kicked Masato. Masato cursed and let go of him. "You know what?!" Seiji suddenly yelled. "I wish you would just get hit by a car and leave me alone!! I'm done letting myself be treated like a clown!!" He turned around and ran away, across the road, not seeing a black mark that appeared on Masato's neck. "I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU, LITTLE SHIT!!" Masato shouted and ran after him when he heard a loud horn and a car came rushing their way. Masato reacted way too late and his eyes widened in shock. The wheels squeaked as the driver tried to brake, but it was too late. The car hit him with full power. Seiji turned around not less shocked and held his hands over his mouth when he saw Masato getting hurled throughout the air. The student impacted on the street and didn't move anymore. "Fu... Furuya-kun!!" The driver of the car opened the door and instantly went to Masato. "OOOOOH SHIT!! Shit, shit, shit!!" He took out his cellphone to call an ambulance. But it was already too late. Masato was dead. Seiji just stood there a few moments. It happened again. I wished him to die... Again... This can't be a coincidence anymore... I... I know I... it was me... who killed them...! He put his hands on his head and screamed before he ran away.

After he had ran for so long his side felt like stabbed by a knife, Seiji stopped all the running. He gasped and held his side. He felt so damn terrible. He was certain that the death of these two guys, his classmates, was his fault. He didn't believe in curses, but this time; he had no other explanation... Why else should something happen to people he wished to happen to them? Because of him, they had died. He never wanted them to die... Well, okay, that kinda was a contradiction. But, to put it differently, if he could undo it again, he certainly would. He sat down at the edge of the empty street he was in, bend his legs and wrapped his arms around his knees. He buried his face in them and started crying silently. All he ever wanted... was to be respected. Now... all he wanted was to disappear. 'For two years, I kept telling myself I will be better... but now I realize that I am not, still...' What had he done wrong that everything went this way?

He heard steps approaching but he didn't look up. Sure just some random pedestrian passing by...

The footsteps stopped. "Are you okay?" a female voice asked. Now, Seiji raised his head with tears running down his eyes. "Yeah... just got lost..." The girl standing next to him had long, blue hair banned to a ponytail. Her skin was pale. Her red eyes scrutinized him, before she sat down next to him and pulled him in a hug. A random stranger, just passing by... "...I know you're lying, but that's okay." Seiji looked down. This girl... why did she do all this? She kept quiet and just held him in her embrace and Seiji closed his eyes before he leaned against her, hiding his face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry...", "What are you apologizing for?" the strange girl asked. "For everything... simply everything because I always do something wrong...", "You didn't do anything wrong." she replied calmly. Seiji clenched his teeth as new tears came. "...Thank you...." They were quiet for a while. Seiji cried and the girl spend him a little comfort. "... Who are you...?" Seiji then asked. "My name is Etana." the girl answered. "Etana....?", "Yeah, and you?", "....Seiji...", "Pleased to meet you, Seiji." Seiji calmed a little and looked up. "...sorry for the trouble...", "Quit apologizing. It's alright.", "I always feel like I have to...", "Not towards me." Etana softly patted his head. Seiji knew that he was so thankful to this girl. Even though they didn't know each other, she gave him a shoulder to cry on. And that alone... was so valuable for him. He wiped over his eyes. "...Everything has gone so wrong...", "You don't need to tell me if you don't want to.", "... I've kept it all inside for so long... because I never dared to tell anybody. I was afraid..." He pulled up his shoulders in insecurity. "Will you... run away if I tell you?", "There's nothing in this world that can shock me. So don't worry. I'll stay." Seiji exhaled, before everything just bubbled out of him. Etana said nothing, she just listened. When Seiji was done talking, he lowered his head in fear of her reaction. But Etana just strengthened her hug. "... So... you want to die..." Seiji closed his teary eyes. "I don't necessarily want to die... I just want to stop existing... Nobody cares anyway...", ".... I care." Etana said. Seiji raised his look. "What...?", "I care... because it breaks me to see broken people..." Seiji was quiet. "I want to collect your pieces and put them back in place..." she whispered. "...so... live, Seiji... Suicide doesn't stop the pain, it just passes it on to someone else. It's never too late to fight.... it's just to early to surrender...", "Etana..." Seiji closed his eyes and again, the tears started flowing when he returned her embrace and clang to her as if his life depended on it. "Thanks for everything..." She smiled. "No biggie... I'm just honest."