Chapter 5

Hey… Are you there???

-Someone sniffs…

Are you there? Ple-please say something…

-Tears fall to the ground as it can be heard during a silent scenario…

Hey… Please… I’m here for you… I won’t leave you…

-I then found her in the dark hallway…

Wait… ___… P-please… I’m here for you… even if it hurts…

-She looks at me and hugs me tightly. Crying on my chest…

Shhh… There there… you’re safe now… I promise…

-I comforted her and wipe her tears with my finger…

I will be here with you… always…

I wake up again. From a vivid dream I always have. I don’t know why it keeps happening to me. It’s so surreal.

Aoi then do his morning routine and he wrapped up the perfume gift. Then he walked to school after his routine in the morning.

When he arrived. The gift giving began. A lot of students have unique gifts. Like a big teddy bear, a make-up kit, and even an expensive dress. Aoi wonders if this is even a ritual or just donating stuff. During the lunch break, unknown to others, he engages in clandestine conversations with Mei. But the thought of thinking about this again every year makes his head dizzy.

Then he went straight to Mei in the hallway. In his hand is an expensive perfume. It cost about $100-$300. Well, for him it’s expensive cause it’s his saved-up pocket money. With persistence and determination, he managed to push his way through the crowd of people until he successfully saw her.

-White background…

-Then the scene changes back to Aoi and Harumi talking after eating in the cafe…

-Harumi looks puzzled at why Aoi is holding a wrapped box. She took it and unwrapped it.

Hey! Don’t touch that! Give it back!

-Harumi laughs at me. “No, I won’t.”

-When she opened it, it is an expensive perfume. She looks at Aoi with wide eyes.

- “So… how much is this?”

I exhale. Now looking into her eyes. I reply.

“It’s around $250.”

-Harumi then took my hand and tries to return it but I pulled her back to her seat. She glares at me like I did something wrong. “Why did you even buy this? For what? You just wasted money, you know!”

I look down. Can’t look at her eyes or even look at her face.

“It’s a thing I have to give tomorrow. In our school… Ummm….”

-Harumi looks at me and took my chin. “In your school what?”

-She looks super angry. Has a face like my mom when angry. Although her tone is caring. She is still upset with me.

“Look… let me explain.” I look at her eyes, and she is waiting for me to explain. “So… in our school. Ranks matter. From beauty to smartness. From good looks to dirty looks. It’s like a new-”

-She cuts me off. “That’s a thing!!! What! What kind of system is that!? Your school is crazy, Aoi!”

“I know, okay? Just don’t worry about it.”

-Harumi looks at me. “Well, I saw earlier that I can’t transfer schools yet. So, I’m waiting for next year. But don’t think I’m going to leave you. This is a promise, Aoi.”

“A promise, huh? So, you’re saying, you’re going back to Tokyo and then after a year you will transfer? Is it right?”

-She nods. “Yeah, that’s the entire plan, anyway.”

-White background…

-Back to the present…

-Aoi gave the present to Mei and went to class as usual. At lunch, he went to another building beside the other buildings. He is alone. Eating lunch by himself.