Of all the colors it was black and like the previous days, Yoshihiko was once again presented the dream that seemed to be meant as an acid trip—standing in the middle of Evergreen's plaza and surrounded by black fire. His dark purple eyes glanced with wariness and also confusion for not only him but there were others standing rigid in the waves of black flames. Faceless people, shackles on their wrists and sounds of sobbing despite lacking eyes, noses and lips.

Yoshihiko woke up overtaken with irritation and annoyance instead of fear. The clock on the wall read past 12 midnight, tsk, he hadn't moved from his position in the sofa since he plopped down there.

Why wouldn't he dream of his Mafuyu? The longing was 6-feet deep and hard to take his mind away from it. He imagined himself standing near that deep dug, staring hard at the dark below without seeing the end but anticipating a miraculous turn to happen and for hope to show its head.

He reluctantly checked his phone with furrowed eyebrows, browsing chosen messages and instantly deleting some. A chat from Maou Pulangbuwan—huh, that brute barely chatted him, preferring to talk in person.

"What? That's impossible" Georgina pulled a bad prank? It was unbelievable, before Yoshihiko went absent indefinitely, he knew how jolly and perky Georgina was that bordered sometimes to exaggeration. He didn't dislike her but he was also neutral to her and never exchanged any words with each other.

'I think she meant to jump but she held back.' This last part of Maou's chat left stuck in Yoshihiko's mind as a mirror scenario resurfaced.

.

.

Miss Jackielyn Femante had a deep apologetic and grim expression sculpted on her face whilst standing inside the faculty office. The sun outside was beginning to set, basking the sky in its shade of dusk. Almost everyone had gone home for the day, both students and teachers, only Miss Femante and Yoshihiko was inside.

"There is nothing we can do, Yoshihiko..." The Star Section's secondary advisor was careful with her words, speaking in a soft manner. "Mafuyu made her choice, it was not a good and proper choice but it's what she wanted."

The tall longish dark-haired teen shook his head, overflowing with disbelief. "No, I don't believe this, Mafuyu will never kill herself!" Saying this with conviction and hands curled into fists.

"I am truly sorry, Yoshihiko" Miss Femante reached a hand, placing it on his shaky and tense shoulders.

.

.

A statement was released by the authorities after conducting an investigation, that Mafuyu was driven by depression and decided to end her life. Yoshihiko leaned back onto the sofa, staring up at the dim ceiling of his apartment, grimacing.

.

.

Bright day it was, nothing unusual and school was school. Yoshihiko had a surprise present to lighten up his girlfriend's mood. He would tell her about the sufficient money he saved up that he'd use to get a place outside Evergreen, when they go to college, he would ask Mafuyu to live with him and possibly attend the same school.

Indeed it was bright. So clear that everyone saw her standing at the edge of the building during morning assembly; Yoshihiko stared in shock, going cold with disbelief, his hand enclosed tightly at the velvet small box in his pocket containing a ring.

The ring he first gave her was not extravagant, and he wanted to replace it with something better, a symbol that this was no school love story only.

Mafuyu jumped.

,

Despite being present that day, Yoshihiko refused to accept it as a suicide.

A knock jolted him out of musing and his face contorted a suspicious frown. Who would be dropping by at this hour? His friends would never, last time they attempted a surprise visit after he went absent, he told them not to do it again. Yoshihiko didn't despise his friends, they were his only anchor but his mind remained to be a puddle of mess and unable to move on.

Another round of knocks from the other side.

Standing up, Yoshihiko skirted around the mess on the floor, he didn't turn on the lights as he reached the door and peered on the peephole.

An eyeball stared at him, zoomed into the other side of the peephole.

Yoshihiko took a stepped back holding a hand on his heaving chest, he thought his heart was going to leap out of the ribcage. The eye was so detailed he saw the veins on the white. What the fuck?

"Kagami..." A voice called out from the other side, it was a girl's voice. It sounded far off familiar.

Thinking it was a prank, Yoshihiko turned annoyed and looked through the peephole again, there now stood at a distance enough for him to see was a girl in Saint Catherine Sierra Academy uniform.

"Kagami, yoohoo, please open the door"

Did Erick or Filolix send this girl to make fun of him?

Exhaling, Yoshihiko decided to unlock the door and pull it halfway ajar. He stood near the frame, eyes narrowed. "Who are you and what the hell do you want at this damn hour? I'm trying to get some sleep here" His gaze traveled down to the girl's body, a slight discomfort tugged in his mind seeing how dirty and wrinkled the uniform was as if she didn't bath for month. She had bruises, gashes and wounds which were still fresh feasted by flies.

The messy-haired girl lifted her face, smiling. "You're not asleep, Kagami, you never were and don't try to close your eyes or you will end up the same way as the others"

"Huh?" What was she talking about? Her face...Yoshihiko couldn't place a name on it but she rang familiarity at the very back of his head. "How did you know me?"

"I always know you, the one who promised to love her forever and I believe you are soulmates" Chuckling to herself, she bent to the side and scratched the wound on her lower leg that made it bleed more.

The idea of getting picked on by his asshole classmates flew out of the window. Yoshihiko concluded she wasn't with Filolix or Erick, not when she looked like she lost many screws in the head. "I think you need to go to a hospital or go home to get yourself tended instead of bothering people"

But none of his words reached the disheveled and dirty school girl, she continued snickering after walking away, talking loud enough to be heard. "Do not fall asleep, Kagami! I'm going to sleep soon, goodbye!"

--

The fourth year Star Section of Saint Catherine Sierra Academy was regarded by majority with astonished gazes, looked up to and the students in it carried an air that the other sections did not have. Of course each years have an A-section but the fourth years of this present were unspoken the top of the top. Being in this section have privileges that weren't stated in any orientation or brochures, bragging rights were default in the inclusion.

It was past 6 PM and while everyone was either gone home or about to leave, Fourth Year's Star Section remained in attendance at the highest floor of the state-of-the-art building.

"DO YOU THINK YOU ARE BEING FUNNY?! PULLING A PRANK LIKE THAT IN THE FIRST DAY OF THE SCHOOL FAIR?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" That was Teacher Lino Buranko, not too tall but with defined body built result from his consistent workout. He also happened to be the Star Section's primary advisor, he cared very much for the class.

Standing in front of everyone with bow head was Georgina Benitez, she wasn't as pretty as Chanel but she had this notable mole on her face that made her look endearing. Everyone sitting behind like theater audiences were silent but their faces have varying reactions from the current show.

On the side standing straight and watching with those doe-like eyes were Teacher Jackielyn Femante—5 foot 1 and ever docile by Teacher Buranko's side. She was the class' secondary class advisor.

Teacher Buranko was seething as he paced, eyes livid while looking at the girl who started the unexpected uproar. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION, GEORGINA"

With his voice at maximum, other students would have cowered and shook in fear, barely uttering any coherent words but to their surprise, Georgina lifted her face and smiled. That smile shifted to full-blown laughter.

Joycar, who was sitting on the second row glanced sideways to where Chanel was. Both of them shared the same confusion. Was she out of her mind?

"Caroline, are you okay?"

In the middle row, Caroline had been wincing while inhaling menthol and she was noticed by their class rep who happened to be next to where she sat. Parfait frowned in concern.

Caroline was touched, their class representative and student council president was tirelessly thoughtful of everyone. It was no wonder she was liked by many. "Sorry, my head is suddenly aching"

"I'll bring you to the infirmary so you can get some rest," With her signature soft, innocent smile, Parfait stood up.

Would that be okay? They were in the middle of an important discussion. But glancing at Teacher Jackielyn, she gestured to Parfait that it was okay for them to leave the classroom.

"Thanks Parfait," Caroline got up, letting the sweet class rep clasped her hand as they stepped out.

Georgina's laughter subsided and she finally replied, "Yes I am being funny, always been the punchline, right? As it was the first day of the school fair I thought it would be nice to take everyone by surprise and nothing is wrong with me" She answered in the chronological order Teacher Buranko asked his questions earlier.

Teacher Buranko was in disbelief, shock and rage weaved on his face after hearing Georgina's answers laced with thick sarcasm, not even an apology. "You ridiculous attention whore!" He raised his hand to slap the laughing girl harshly across the face, doing it thrice back and forth. "How many times must you be disciplined to understand the gravity of your situation? Not only are you barely passing your exams but you are not right in the head!" He grabbed the ruler on the table and was about to hit Georgina with it.

But the ruler didn't make contact with the girl's arm, Teacher Buranko's hand was held tight by a scowling Zenji. This earned a gasp from their secondary advisor.

"Mr. Kitamura! Get back on your seat" Compare to Teacher Buranko, the docile secondary advisor was more soft and gentle in talking.

Zenji's friends at the back and middle row were also surprised at what he did, they didn't even notice him standing up. He was always the cheerful, sunny figure in their circle—a sweet, gentleman to the girls in their group, to see him upset was rare.

"Oy bastard, fuck is wrong with you?! Get your ass back here!" Erick Naiteru yelled, his voice was just as rough and loud as Teacher Buranko. He slammed his palm against the desk of Zenji's armchair.

Teacher Buranko turned his sharp gaze to Zenji, "Do you have an issue with me, Mr. Kitamura?"

"I do not have any personal grudge against you sir," Zenji let go of the teacher's arm and chose to stand in front of Georgina, shielding her from view. "But I've been staying shut about this issue for too long, why do we resort to barbaric methods in correcting one's mistake?"

--

The throbbing in Caroline's temples were akin to rapid knocking of fists against a closed door, it wouldn't stop and wanting to be let out. But what did want to be let out? Her migraine grew more painful when Teacher Buranko asked them to stay back and bore witness to his anger.

Because the nurse was not around the infirmary, Parfait went through the available objects to find anything to help her classmate with her dilemma. "Sorry Caroline, I do not know which among these will help—oh, here! I found a medicine" She took the lone medicine intended for headaches and got water from the fridge and brought it to the girl lying in the white bed.

Caroline moved to a sitting position, "Thanks, you're the best" Grateful for the help, she carefully popped the medicine between her lips and emptied the cup of water. "Never saw Teacher Buranko that angry before...he scolds us sure but not to this extent"

"It can't be helped, Georgina brought it to herself" A soft chuckle escaped Parfait's lips as she took the empty plastic cup and threw it in the trash bin, then she sat by the edge of Caroline's bed, reaching a hand out to pat the latter's head. "But you are obedient and a good student, Caroline, you will never experience such thing"

The affectionate gesture partnered with Parfait's smile made Caroline's face warm, she glanced to the side, feeling flustered. "Not really...say, Parfait, are you not bothered by Teacher Buranko's outburst" Her expression shifted to concern.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"...Georgina did a terrible thing but humiliating her in front of us doesn't feel right..." This was what Caroline wanted to open up to their secondary advisor but couldn't find the timing for it, she understood where Sir Buranko was coming from—the whole jump prank thing attracted the wrong attention. Amid her musings, the blurry figure next to Georgina that time on the edge of the building resurfaced. The blurry figure who waved, jumped and vanished.

A pair of warm hands clasped Caroline's face, it was comfortable and soothing. "I expect nothing less from dear Caroline, you are truly smart..."

Caroline jolted, pulling back and whirling to face the other person inside.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" Parfait was equally confused that her classmate pulled back and now ashen-faced. She blinked, unsure. "Caroline?"

With a deep sigh and schooling her features, Caroline asked. "I am sorry Parfait for being suddenly jumpy but what did you say?"

"No worries, I said Teacher Buranko's anger is justifiable, it is necessary to make Georgina realize her mistake otherwise she might do it again." The Class Rep explained with a sweet smile, "We do not know what else Georgina is capable of, she has always been lacking in attention"

No...that wasn't what Caroline heard and the voice was a deeper velvet than Parfait's.

But whose? She couldn't put a face on it, trying hard to, it only became blurrier and far from reach.

"Get some rest, Caroline, I'll tell our teachers about your migraine so you don't need to stay long" Parfait tapped the girl's hands before leaving.

Once alone, Caroline laid back in the white bed as the throbbing continued.

--

Like a dynamite thrown in the air, an explosion occurred in the Star Section classroom. Erick Naiteru rose up from the armchair with gritted teeth and not bothering to hide his animosity towards Zenji—he threw multiple punches toward the latter.

"You lanky piece of fairy shit! You want to sound smart huh?! This bitch deserves to be humiliated! It's not even enough!" Erick Naiteru didn't hold back in his words, coiling his hand on Zenji's collar to throw another punch.

The next punch however was already countered by Zenji. "Are you too self-absorbed to see what's wrong here?!" He pushed Erick with all his might until they both made a mess of falling onto the floor, the armchairs clattering to the side.

It did not take long for the other boys of the section to join the fray, most were by Erick's side and provided him assistance in beating Zenji couple with derogatory words. Reina and Chanel tried intervening to stop the fight from escalating further.

Maou and Hayato would not let these guys overthrow their best friend, they pulled back anyone they could, also raining their own hits on Erick's group. Georgina was crying on the side, uncertain to whom she would turn her glance to or what she would do.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" If Sir Buranko's voice whilst scolding Georgina was loud, this time it was as maximized as a bass speaker and raw anger evident in his tone.

So loud was his voice it filled their room and enough to make everyone stopped, his chest heaving up and down, frustration was thickly surging through his veins. But those glimmer of rage was directed to Zenji, he stared at his pupil on the floor, sporting bruises from the punches.

"You obviously have an issue with how I manage your section, Mr. Kitamura" Irony that contrasting his raw anger, Sir Buranko's voice became calm when he spoke again, gesturing to Erick and the others to step away.

The stylish lad slowly pushed himself up, enduring all punches he got earlier. He straightened up, those raven black eyes not wavering from Sir Buranko's stare. "I cannot feel apologetic about what I did because it doesn't feel right to be sorry." He held the handmade white bracelet on his wrist, it already became a habit whenever a confrontation or found in a middle of an intense situation, Zenji would hold the accessory. "I understand the need to be disciplined when we go out of the line but this is too much, Georgina does not deserve to be humiliated. We are in a school, how is this okay?"

--

We are in a school, how is this okay?

School was supposed to be fun, exciting and acted as a second home. Classmates as secondary siblings while teachers their parents; to get a different kind of experience and learning outside home. When Hayato was little, he differed nothing to those kindergarten kids with a dense unseen veil around his eyes that made him find joy even in the smallest things, that veil stuck until he reached elementary days—if anyone found the old pictures with him grinning and gotten medals, they would find it absurd.

But the unseen veil was taken off his eyes entering junior high school when he was pulled in a secluded alley by a bunch of upperclassmen, to humiliate him in front of the pretty 12th grader—the first girl he had a crush on. He could never forget when she intentionally made out with her boyfriend, staining Hayato's eyes, tearing through his innocence and joy of having a crush.

Stupid and naive, they called him with mocking laughter.

Those students were from this school, Hayato hadn't seen them anymore and assumed they graduated.

"Want one?" Maou's question rang Hayato's thoughts.

Hayato, standing in the middle of the open quadrangle, had been staring at fire trees lined up from a distance—it was called as such because of the beautiful deep crimson and orange shade of the trees' blooms. "You got to be kidding me" He scoffed, glancing down at the stick of cigarette his friend was offering.

"What? You look like you need it" A playful small smile graced Maou's lips.

With a shake of head, Hayato pushed the stick away. "Dude no, how's Zenji?" He left the classroom after their teachers asked Zenji and Erick to go with them in the office, they were supposed to tail them but Zenji didn't want them to get further involved.

"He is caring of us in his own weird way" Maou sat on the grass, not minding the dirt.

The sky was getting darker, it would be night soon.

Hayato looked down at the white bracelet on his wrist, "He is right though...we never really just brought it up in the open" It wasn't just in their section but in the other years and sections too, only that no one said a word against these barbaric actions.

"You'd wonder how the School Board of Members and the parents are not questioning a damn thing, to think we are still regarded as Evergreen's top performing school" A dry laughter from Maou.

"Did your father get angry when you told him Sir Buranko called you a throwaway, good-for-nothing trash of the society last month in front of the faculty members?"

"My father is too preoccupied in his own miserable shit to worry about mine, he already gave up on me, Hayato, you all are the only ones dumb enough to still hang out with me"

"Glad to be part of those dumb ones then"

--

Something felt aching.

The throb in her temples were again similar to loud desperate knocks against a door, with force and wanting badly to be let out. Caroline winced, eyes still closed and turned to the other side but the pain did not fade away.

"Tsk, what's going on with my head?!" Sleeping on it was not helping, Caroline pushed herself slowly to a sitting position. Through bleary vision she glanced up at the clock—it was past 6 in the evening, she overslept and everyone likely gone home already.

A female figure caught Caroline's gaze standing afar and near the windows. The pain in her temples became stronger. "Parfait...? My head, I need help" She needed some medicines or a menthol ointment.

There was no movement from the silhouette from afar.

"Parfait, please!" Tears rushed to the surface of Caroline's eyes when the knocking turned louder and so was the pain in her temples—raw and intensifying ache.

From her temples, green stems sprouted elongating into leafy vines spreading onto her head and next came bud of flowers blooming one after another. Amid the girl's agonizing protests, crimson tainted white flowers continued coming out of her temples to the point the upper part of her head was no longer visible.

'...fed you with lies and planted seeds of another in your heads.'

A voice whispered, it was so soft it wouldn't have been heard if not spoken directly close to the ear. Caroline heard the words without a problem, she felt someone hovering very close whilst she struggled to make the flowers stop sprouting and scattering on her head. There was a fragrance, soothing floral smell.

Caroline fell onto the white floor, coughing heavily. A sudden queasiness stirred in her esophagus and lump needing to be thrown out, she continued her coughing fit until the thing that blocked passages in her airways dropped between her lips.

It was a medium-sized piece of a rotten apple.

'...fed you with lies and planted seeds of another in your heads.' The statement was repeated.

"...line..."

"Caroline...!"

Dark forest green eyes opened with panic, instead of dimness, Aya's worried face greeted her. Caroline sat upright and looked around—still in the infirmary but not yet past 6 PM and no more migraines.

Aya placed a hand on her friend's wrist, "Parfait left already with Reina, she asked me to come see you here because she had some errands to finish" She squeezed Caroline's wrist gently, "You were having a bad dream that's why I woke you"

"It's so...strange..." Caroline murmured, mostly for herself only. She leaned back on the headboard, her hand played with the white bracelet hidden under the sleeve of her uniform. "Don't mind me, just not yet in the right head space. How is everyone? Zenji?"

"It's not going to be alright with Zenji, he was called in the Faculty after getting into a fight..." The meek brown-haired girl hoisted herself to sit on the edge of the bed.

The look on Caroline's face when she stared at Aya, "You're kidding me"

"Surprising, ne? We all were, he is so sweet and nice but the way he stood up for Georgina...honestly, he looked amazing..." Her voice trailed off. "Hey Carol, do you think there is nothing wrong with our teachers' ways of managing us and everyone in this school?"

They stared at each other, their eyes speaking what they knew deep in their hearts were the honest answers that if spoken loudly would land them in a humiliating spot and trouble.

Never question someone on the top pedestal, they always reminded them. Never oppose their words, always say yes and never a no.