AYUMI

It was Naomi, her top of her head having many cracks zooming in different directions. She smiled kindly at us, her eyes twinkling. "Nakashima...?" I whispered, angling my body to turn towards her. "Who else would I be?" she asked, cocking her head. "Naomiiii!" Seiko shrieked, dashing forward to hug her best friend. Sudxenly, her body lifted into the air. "W-what's happening?" she questioned, her tone now hinting a source of fright. "W-why am I being lifted--?"

BAM. BAM. BANG.

Seiko stared at us, her face an expression of happiness. "Thank you, thank you!" she wailed joyfully. "I was in pain for so long! Oh, praise the Lord! Praise Naomi and Shinozaki! Thank you!" she called as she began to vanish. Naomi stepped forward, then glanced back at me. "In order to make Seiko appeased forever, I have to come and stay with her," she reminded me. "These are my last words to you: Appease Kishinuma next. He'll be delighted to see you." She grinned somberly, and I waved, feeling destroyed on in the inside as she began to follow in Shinohara's path.

It's unlikely Yoshiki will be happy to see me. More likely happy to kill me. I gloomily left the bathroom, and Akiyo crashed into my arms, sobbing. I was astonished. Where did she go? What had she seen in my absence? "Ayumi! Ayumi! It was terrible!" she cried out, burying her face into my arms. I allowed myself to sit down, and I stroked her hair comfortably. "Cousin, what's wrong?" I inquired softly, tipping up her face to force her to gaze into my eyes.

She sniffed loudly, and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her uniform. "There was a teacher, a female one," she began in a frightened whisper. "She laughed, laughed! She told me I kept staying alive too long. Th-then she tried to choke me with her bare hands!" She broke down, sobbing into my shirt. I felt uncomfortable. I was no one of comfort. What could I say? Oh, yeah, that probably was my psycho teacher. Yeah, she was awesome, and I know what she means. Her gang made me insane, and yep, I was supposed to kill you, but I'm same now, so we cool?

No. That's not how life works. I stood up, letting Akiyo fall limp on the floor. She looked dead, the whites of her eyes showing, her breathing rasped and short, her arms and legs tucked tightly with the rest of her body. I crouched next to her, letting my hand curl around hers. "Akiyo... what did your attacker look like?" I queried. "Short hair... panda necklace... skirt..." she listed, her words slower and slower as she talked. Could it be...?

Yes. My teacher decided it was time for Akiyo to die. I could never leave her, and I can never let my guard drop. "We are Shinozakis," I state firmly, grasping her hand and pulling her to her feet. "We are the brave, fearless, daring Shinozaki family tree. Look, there's an infirmary not far back. Do not leave that room! Lock it, and hide under the bed. Okay?" Akiyo nodded meekly, and shuffled away. I immediately dashed to the bomb shelter, running like Hammer Man was chasing me. Once I got there, I collapsed, panting, heaving for air, then I heard a voice:

"Hello, love."