My eyes bulged out my sockets at the sudden question of sempai.

"Would you please be my girlfriend?"

The confession came in a blink of an eye. There weren't any cherry blossom petals falling as the trees gently swayed from left to right. I wasn't wearing any eyeglasses. I wasn't wearing my best uniform. I wasn't...

My heart.

"Push boing boing!" A black rabbit mascot cried out, bumping his large body against sempai. It made Akiyama-sempai fell to his side, hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Hello there, sophisticated lady!" The rabbit greeted, waving its large paws around. Its voice is very familiar yet I can't put my finger to it.

"Um... Hi." I awkwardly waved back.

"Would you like some sushi balloon?" It asked as it held up one.

The sushi looks silly. I released a small laugh and took the balloon.

"Thank you." I said with a smile.

The black rabbit stared at me for a long time. I can't help but stare back. The staring contest seems familiar too.

"Don't sweat it!" It suddenly said the black rabbit skipped away as it hum tunelessly.

"That... Hurts."

Oh yeah! Akiyama-sempai is still on the ground. I hoisted him up and dusted off his clothes.

"Let's continue?" I asked.

He let out a shaky laugh and nodded.

The date ended without any more casualties. Akiyama-sempai took me home and left after saying,

"I'll ask you again someday... Look forward to it."

I didn't know what he's implying but I simply brushed it off.

"Hey, you." A voice said from my behind.

I looked back and saw Shintaro by the doorsteps... With a mini Shintaro in his hands.

I walked to him and offered a smile.

"I'm home!" I cheered. "What's that?" I pointed at the plushie he was holding.

"A-hhh. Th-this? Y-you can have this." He said, thrusting the stuffed toy in my hands.

"What? That's.. This is a limited edition thing! How did you manage to get one!?"

"I.. None of your concern or anything!" He said. "You know what? Never mind! I'll keep it!" He took out the plushie from my hand, turned around and was about to go.

"Shintaro, wait!" I called out.

"W-what!?"

"I bought you this." I held out a carrot shaped mug that says '#1 Carrot'

He looked back, mouth gaping open.

"I... Uh... Thanks." He snatched the cup from my hands and walked completely away.

I smiled.

Such a dishonest person.

"Oh? What are you doing outside the house? You might catch a cold."

I turned around and saw Rei walking towards me.

"Why are you out too?" I asked, tilting my head.

"I.. Uh.. Bought something from the convenience store." He stopped in front of me. "...How was it?"

I'll just assume that he's talking about the date.

"It was nice." I said, showing him my balloon sushi. "I got a sushi."

He laughed and reached out his hand... Only to pull it back again.

"That's good." He said, clearing his throat.

"And this!" I took out the Rei plushie from its bag. "I got this for you!"

"Wow! It looks so perfect... Just like me!" He cackled, brimming with pride.

"It's for you." I smiled, handing him the mini Rei.

"Nyahahaha- wait. Mine?"

"Yes." I nodded, offering a smile.

He covered his mouth with a hand. "T-t-thank you."

He took the plushie. "I need to make dinner soon! So... Bye!" And ran away to the house.

What's up with them?

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Days turns to months... I got close to Akiyama-sempai. Before I knew it, I was already calling him Takehiko.

But no matter how close I got with Takehiko, the closer I got to two certain individuals.

"Takehiko!" I called out, waving both my arms around as I ran to him.

I coughed a bit. I'm actually feeling a bit under the weather.

"Oh!" He waved back, smiling vibrantly back at me.

I stopped on my tracks.

"I came here to tell you that I can't come home with you today." I said.

"Why?" He asked, disappointment in his face.

"Hana and I are going on a girl date!" I said, flashing a thumbs up.

"So go and stop hogging my girlfriend already." Hana suddenly appeared beside me, wrapping her arms around my shoulder.

Takehiko laughed. "Sure, sure."

"Take care, alright?" He patted my head.

"Yes~" I said, pouting a bit.

"You're so cute." He pinched my cheeks. "I still have to go to the practice. Be safe, alright?"

He waved one final time and walked away.

"So... Why did you lie about our 'date'?" Hana asked once Takehiko was out of ear shot.

"Well..." I nervously laughed. "I have things to do."

Actually, Rei invited me out to have a talk in the park. I don't know what it is about but I'm kinda curious.

I coughed again, covering my mouth with both hands.

"Yeesh. Stop spreading virus and go to the infirmary already." Hana said.

"Whatever." I said, rolling my eyes.

Ouch. That made my head ache.

The bell soon rang, signalling the end of lunch.

"Crap, we're going to be late!"

~~~~~~

"Do your warm ups before jumping to the pool. I don't want any cramps happening in my class. We'll only have this period as a free time. Practice or whatever." Our PE teacher said, blowing on her whistle hard.

"Yes, ma'am!"

My classmates stretched and I remained in a corner, hiding my fats with my hands. I really hate wearing swimsuits. I really hate swimming class.

Yes. I can't swim.

I coughed more, covering my mouth with a hand.

I'm feeling more and more dizzy with each passing second. I think I do have a fever.

"Hey, hey! Why aren't going in the pool?" A classmate of mine asked.

"Ah. I'm not in the mood." I answered, laughing awkwardly.

"Cheapskate!" He said and ran to his friends, whispering on their ears.

Well, whatever.

I continued to have my alone time with myself, drawing on the floor with my finger.

I drew a butterfly and laughed to myself.

"This butterfly looks perfect!" I said, imitating a certain blue haired guy's catchphrase.

I was having my moment when I felt my body being hoisted up. My vision turned upside down and I was carried to the unknown.

"H-hey!"

"1... 2... 3!" They cheered and threw me forward.

"You shit-!"

My eyes widened as I felt myself submerged to a cold, moist surface.

I reached out and tried to kick my way out my current predicament. But I can't. I kept sinking. Deeper. Deeper... And deeper.

My lungs begged for air but I cannot indulge it by breathing.

I closed my eyes.

I really hate swimming classes.

....

"Come on! Breathe! Wake up!"

I gasped, spitting out the water that clogged in my lungs.

"Oh god!" A pair of strong arms pulled me close, hugging my body tightly. "Don't make me worry again!"

"... Rei?" I asked, my eyes droopy.

He didn't answer. He simply embraced me tight.

"Rei, you're wet." I said, hugging him back. "You'll catch a cold."

"I don't care."

"OMG! A REI RYUGAZAKI COSPLAYER!" My PE teacher squealed.

Uh...?

~~~~~

"Are you alright? Would you like me to carry you?" Rei asked, glancing at me every now and then.

He borrowed a PE uniform from one of the male students since his clothes are drenched.

"Yes, I am." I laughed. "I'm alive and that's great!"

I coughed a bit.

"You also have a fever." He whispered. "Those guys are idiots. Why the hell did they threw you on the pool!?"

"It's alright." I said. "They already apologized."

"Still!"

"How are you in our swimming classes though?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Uh... Eh... Something."

The conversation ended at that.

"I... I need to tell you something." He said in a low voice.

I stopped walking and he did the same.

Time seems to have stopped as he stared at me.

"I'm already dead."

~~~~~~~