Chapter 3: An Encounter

That day came suddenly.

As usual, while I was shut away in the restroom eating my lunch, the sound of people talking drew closer.
A familiar high-pitched laugh, and the word “Hanako” I caught unexpectedly.
They had come looking for me.

“Is it in here?”
“It’s locked, so this must be it.”

I was holding my breath, but as long as it was locked, it was obvious that someone was inside.
I hoped they would think it was someone else and leave, but that did not happen.

Bang! Thud! Bang!

It wasn’t knocking at all.
They were clearly pounding and kicking.

“Hey! Hanako, come out! You’re in there, right?”

I still remember how terrified I was by the shouting voice I heard, so scared that I couldn’t make a sound.
All I could do was close my eyes, cover my ears, and crouch down.

And then, that was the moment.
When a cute little “Yeees?” voice came from inside.

Along with a voice shouting, “Don’t try to act all cute!”, the sound of the door being violently kicked echoed.

There was the sound of the lock being undone, and the door creaked as it opened.

“Calling someone by their name without honorifics when you’ve just met isn’t very nice, you know?”
It was a gently admonishing voice, but the bullies let out screams and ran away.
She was shouting after their retreating backs, “Take better care of things!”

When I finally opened my eyes, what came into view were white socks and deck shoes.
As I lifted my gaze, a red suspender skirt and a white blouse.
And her hairstyle was cut in a straight bob.

She was exactly like the “Hanako-san of the Toilet” I had heard about.

When I was still unable to make a sound, the girl turned around lightly and smiled at me, saying, “I’m Hanako. Nice to meet you.”

In the suddenness of the moment, all I could manage was to try to give my name.
No— even that didn’t quite come out, and to Hanako-san, it seemed to have sounded like “Nana.”

I didn’t like my real name, and so I accepted it without correcting her.

And then, the tightly drawn thread snapped, and I burst into tears.
Toward me like that, Hanako-san spoke to me gently, flustered, trying to get me to stop crying.