NAOMI

"Are you Nakashima?" Someone kicked me. I opened my eyes to see a twenty-five-year-old woman staring down at me. "Nakashima Naomi?" "Yes, Sensei!" I bolted upright, poking Ayumi with the tip of my shoe. "Ayumi!" "And is this Shinozaki Ayumi?" she asked, adjusting her glasses. "Yeah!" Ayumi hugged me with one arm. "Fantastic." She scribbled something down on a piece of paper. The attendance sheet, I guess.

I shifted my Student ID. My paper scrap was still in it...No. I mustn't think about that. "What's your name?" I asked the teacher. "Terasu Akiko," she answered, showing me her name tag. "Ms. Terasu." "How long until class starts?" Ayumi asked Ms. Terasu. "Half an hour," she replied with that emotionless voice. I smiled uneasily.

"We'll be hanging out at the cafeteria," Ayumi said, grabbing my arm and walking briskly out the door. "Ayumi! Your nails are digging in my flesh!" I complained the whole trip there. "Naomi." As we sat, she gazed into my eyes. "We must not talk about Heavenly Host. We must not think about Heavenly Host. We must not think or talk about who died at Heavenly Host. Consider these as orders from your class representative."

I nodded, my stomach already queasy as I think about Seiko, hanging above the toilet in that cursed bathroom stall, and Satoshi, his arms in my bag. Ayumi grabbed my hands, staring intently in my eyes. "Naomi, I'm serious," she said solemnly. "We'll only live of guilt and sorrow. Do you want to disappoint their spirits?" I shook my head vigorously. I don't trust my tongue to answer for her.

Or my vocal chords. "Listen to me. Breathe, and breathe deeply. Then exhale. After that, speak." Ayumi observed as I did as she instructed. "Hi," I choked out. "Longer," she ordered.

"Huh?"

"Say a longer sentence."

"N-nice t-to meet y-you, I'm N-Naomi Nakashima," I stuttered.

"Good enough. Just relax, okay? Our class rep smiled kindly at me, then stood and walked away without me. I needed some time alone, anyway. I sighed, putting my face in my hands. Satoshi...Satoshi...

I didn't forget poor Yuka, either.

Or anyone else. Seiko, Ms. Yui, even Yoshiki. Everyone, gone...I wiped away a tear, finishing the dreadful list with Mayu-chan. I took another deep breath, then heaved myself to my feet. Maybe a walk around the academy will soothe my heart. I head outside the doors, but then something flashed so bright I shielded my eyes, screaming.