Back To Our "Normal"

After I finished my story, there was a long silence. I told Ko about my parent's murder and my therapy session with Minori. It was hard, but I somehow managed to keep my composure.

"...hey..."

Ko spoke in a low voice, breaking the silence.

"I'm glad that you survived... And Minori was right. You were little and just wanted friends who would admire you..."

"Still, there's no escaping that I'm guilty..."

I could hear a strangled sob come out from Ko.

"H-Hey! P-Please! T-Think of-"

"I'm sorry, Ko, but the guilt will never leave me."

Dropping my head down, I hide my tears as I speak.

There was silence for a few seconds before Ko hugged me.

"H-Huh?"

I look at her with teary eyes. She was crying too.

"Let's make a promise."

She gave a small smile.

"W-What promise?"

"That I'll make you see this colorful world."

"Haha! That's impossible!"

"Don't say it like that. I'll try as many times until I succeed."

That made me smile.

"That's so like you!"

"Hehe! I know!"

We both then stop talking and enjoy each other's company.

Until...

Click.

"Huh?!"

I looked up to see the person I wasn't expecting and didn't want to see at the moment.

"Oh! You're so cute together!"

Masato was standing in the doorway with his handphone camera out. It was awkward because we were sitting on Ko's bed.

"AH! What are you doing here?!"

I screamed, as my heart raced 100 kilometers per hour.

"I knew Ko's brother for a while, and we became good friends, so I often visit him."

His smile turned into a smug grin.

"Say, what you're doing right now is quite brave. Rei did give you a warning, didn't he?"

My anxiety rose.

"What-Ho-Ah-"

Not knowing what to do, I look at Ko. She was just frozen.

"K-Ko?"

At my voice, she jumped.

"Ah! Yeah! We were just, um..."

We were both left speechless.

"Hehe! This is new! I didn't know you could get embarrassed at these things, Ko."

As Masato laughed, Ko got up with an angry face, walked up to him, and kicked his leg.

"OW! Why are you using violence?!"

"Because that's the easiest way to shut you up."

Malice could be heard in her words.

"You're terrifying..."

Even though he whispered that, Ko heard him, and kicked him again.

"Okay! I'll stop!"

We all took 5 minutes to calm down.

"So, did you hear the whole conversation?"

I ask Masato.

"No, just saw you hugging-"

That earned him another kick from Ko.

When will he stop?

"Okay... We'll talk another time about that."

"Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine, Masato! That only happened because I was alone in the crowd."

Ko's face dropped.

"Um! Again! It's not your fault, Ko!"

"Okay... And could I ask something?"

Me and Masato look at her.

"When we're in my house, could you... call me by my first name?"

My face heated up.

"I mean... It could confuse your family, so... I'm all right with it... Sera..."

Her face reddened.

"Ah! It's a little embarrassing."

"It sure is, when this guy is going to marry you someday!"

This time, Masato got punched in the gut.

"...you're a monster."

Thankfully, Sera didn't hear his whisper.

"Now that everything's said, why don't we go get lunch? I'm starving!"

"And bandages! You beat me up good."

"Masato... Don't you know when to draw a line?"

"It looks like I don't..."

We got downstairs after walking for 5 minutes down the hallway!

This is ridiculous...

"Hey kids, need anything?"

Sera's mom walked out of the theater room.

"Yeah, we want a quick lunch, mom!"

"Okay! Do you all want a meal or a snack?"

"Hm... I think we would like a pizza, maybe?"

Sera looked towards us.

"I'm fine with it."

"Me too."

"Then pizza it is!"

Miss Ko called a butler who went to the kitchen. Since it took 10 minutes for the pizza to arrive, I assumed they had the instant pizza maker, which was pretty expensive.

After finishing, we decided that it would be for the better to go home and prepare for the math exam.

Inside my home, I just thought of what had happened that day. Math exams didn't scare me since I was one of the best in our class, plus, I knew I wouldn't be able to focus. 

Before going to bed, I check my alarm.

11:00 PM... I could maybe get a good night's sleep.

The next morning, getting out of bed was as hard as usual, but I felt a little bit more motivated to get up.

"Good morning, Noboru!"

Sera greeted me when I locked my door.

"Good morning, Sera!"

Her face turned red.

"Hey! Don't call me that! People would get the wrong idea!"

Immediately realizing my mistake, my face turned red too.

"I-I'm so sorry! I forgot!"

"I-It's alright. Just call me normally everywhere else."

In school, things were as always boring. The only interesting thing for me was the art class. It sort of gave me a method to vent out my emotions.

"Woah, Noboru! Your work is as impressive as always! You could become a real artist one day!"

My art class teacher, Miss Ryo, loved the depiction of realism in my pencil-drawn drawings. She always said that I could become an artist.

"Thank you, Miss Ryo! As I always say, I am unsure about becoming an artist."

"Give it a deep thought! You could shape the future of art!"

With that, my lunch break began.

"Hey, Noboru! Want to eat together again?"

Ko skipped towards me.

"I don't know. I would, but Masato..."

"Don't worry! I'll take care of him!"

"If you say so..."

Courtyard was full of students, so I grabbed Ko's hand in panic, which made her jump.

"Ah! I see your relationship is progressing quite well!"

Masato found us and didn't waste a second at teasing. Ko kicked him in response.

"Why are you getting worked up over this?!"

"Because... It's starting to get on my nerves, Masato!"

"...sure..."

"You said something?"

"No!"

After the crowd dispersed, a familiar figure came by...

Please no! I don't want to... 

"Your student card, please!"

"AH!"

I let go of Ko and ran off. The robot followed me.

"Why are you still mad at me?!"

Laughs could be heard, as I cried out.

"This is not funny!"