Airhead with the Perfect Alibi

Homeroom is the worst invention in human history. Maybe not the worst. Because the homeroom teacher is definitely far worse. The teacher talks. And talks. And keeps talking.

'I think she eats crows for breakfast. No wonder she can cackle as much as she does.'

Most of the students pass notes or whisper to survive the boredom, but I don’t need to. I have Ai-chan. The best thing about having a ghost friend is that she talks directly inside my head. No whispering. No lips moving. No getting caught.

Which means I never get scolded for chatting.

Just for daydreaming.

“Sora. Pay attention.” The teacher rolled her eyes at me.

'See? Unfair.'

I wanted to argue. I wanted to roll my eyes at her, but I only nodded.

Ai-chan leaned over my desk and rested her chin on her hands. You look bored.

“I am bored,” I muttered under my breath.

The teacher paused and looked at me. Someone giggled. Then someone else.

I straightened up immediately. 'How long do I have to pretend I care about ancient poetry? '

When my gaze drifted to the teacher, she was staring right at me. “Sora, stand up and read the next passage.” Her voice was sharp.

I stood up slowly. Every creak of the chair felt like it was aimed at me. The eyes in the entire class shifted my way.

Ai-chan tilted her head. You don’t even know what to read.

“I do,” I whispered.

“Excuse me?” the teacher snapped.

“I—I mean—”

Kaito, sitting in front of me, tapped a line in his book without turning around. Once. Twice. The third time, he left his finger on the passage.

I lowered my eyes to the book. The letters kept shaking. I looked at the teacher and then back at the book.

I swallowed and started reading in a stiff voice. The words came out in the right order. I don't know how.

The bell rang.

When the teacher finally left, I dropped back into my seat. The others gathered together, and I, like a good student, pulled out my books for the next period.

Something was missing.

“…Where’s my pencil case?”

I checked my bag again.

Gone.

Kaito turned around, exhaling sharply. His breath was loud, so I looked up at him.

“Do you do it on purpose?”

I slowly looked down. “Do what?”

“I found the pencil case..."

I rested my head on the desk. The wood felt cool. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

He stared at me for a second. Then he reached into his bag and placed my pencil case on the desk. “You left it yesterday.”

"...Right." I stare at it. Was this mine? I noticed the bent zipper; I think I did that.

Kaito sighed and, without a word, ruffled my hair. I kept my head on the table. Why was he touching my head? Does he think I am hollow inside? Or was it the hair?

'Did I wash my hair today?'

I tried to remember. The water was cold… but that was yesterday. Or was it this morning? I remember the shampoo smell. Or maybe that was—

“Kaito,” I said very seriously, “does my hair smell clean?”

His hand froze. "...What?"

“Like shampoo. Does it?”

He grabbed a fistful of my hair and tugged.

“Ow. Okay, okay!” I only whimpered under the grip.

“It smells fine,” he muttered. “The usual shampoo, even.”

I brushed his hand away and sat up straight. He was still staring at me.

“Was that weird?” I asked.

He blinked once. Then turned back around. "No," he said. “You’re always like this.”

I don’t know if that’s comforting or not.

The next teacher walked in. And Ai-chan walked in behind her. She always follows teachers as if she owns the place, and I have to force myself not to laugh.

Ai-chan moved towards me and climbed onto my desk. She sat right in front of me, swinging her legs. Her skirt swayed. I looked away quickly. Heat crawling up my neck.

“Don’t sit there,” I muttered under my breath.

“What?” the girl beside me whispered.

“Nothing.”

Ai-chan leaned forward. You’re blushing. 

“I’m not," I whispered.

With a loud smack my book hit the floor.

The classroom went quiet. I stared at the book. Ai-chan was still sitting on the desk. The teacher’s heels clicked toward me.

“Sora.”

I slowly looked up.

She was glaring. “Why did you throw your book on the floor?”

“I didn’t—” My hand was still extended as if I had just pushed it off. 

The room felt strange. Too bright. I looked at the book. Then at my hand. Then at Ai-chan. She tilted her head.

You dropped it. She said lightly.

The class started laughing. Blood rushed to my ears.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” I muttered.

The class was laughing at me again. I lowered my head.

“Ma’am.” Kaito stood up. “He hasn’t been feeling well.”

“Of course he isn’t.” The teacher walked away; her heels clicked, which matched her madness. “He is always pulling off antics to disturb the class, and you try assisting him.”

“I—” Kaito tried to say something, but the teacher raised her finger, telling him to remain silent.

"Sora, pick up your book and start reading."

'Not again.'

After some time or a lot of time, it was lunch break. 

During lunch break, someone placed a small white box in front of me. His name started with Y, I think. Inside were the earpods I wanted to buy.

"Hey, Sora, I got these before you." He laughed. Too loud. Too long.

I stared at the box. I reached for it, but the kid picked it up. There was another classmate too, but he only laughed.

"You were bragging that you did get these, but look, I won." 

"I know I wanted those, but did I say that out loud?" I tilted my head.

They both looked at me and burst into laughter. "What an airhead."

Ai-chan walked behind them towards me. They are mocking you.

"Are you guys mocking me?"

They only laughed and left. And that wasn't even funny. 

I looked at Ai-chan. 'What do I do?'

One class, then the other, and before I realised it, it was PE class. I don't like PE. Somehow, the kids know about the mark. They don't laugh, but they look, and I can't tell them that it's hers.

While the class assembled in the gym. I slipped out of the building and circled towards the back. Ai-chan was already there. 

It was empty and quiet. No windows, no person. I moved to the pavement. It was rough, gritty, and perfect. I took a deep breath and dropped onto the hard surface. 

Skin splits easily if you fall the right way. Blood beaded up, then started a slow trail down my leg. I limped back inside to the nurse's office. I repeated what Ai'chan told me to say. 

The nurse cleaned the wound and looked at me. "You look pale. Did you eat anything?"

I nodded. 

She didn't look convinced but signed the slip anyway. I could now officially skip PE. 

With the slip in my hand, I walked back to the empty classroom. I looked at Ai-chan. She was standing in front of that Y kid's desk.

It's in there. You saw it when he left.

She smiled and pointed at the boy's bag. I hesitated for a split second and opened it. After a while, I pulled out the earpods. The smooth white surface. I could tell they were not used much. 

My hands kept trembling as I zipped back the bag. 

Poor earpods.

I slipped out of the building and rushed to the auditorium. The school dumpster was behind it. It was quiet as usual. Ai-chan wanted revenge. She wants to do things for me. She loves me. I mean… she even killed for me.

I looked at the earpods one last time and tossed them in. There was a small sound when they hit the metal. Too small. 

A chuckle slipped past my tongue. Then I turned to Ai-chan. She looked back at me.

"Will anyone doubt me?"

No chance. She spoke softly. You scraped your knee, so you were in the nurse's office.

I looked down at my knee. The bandage was already spotting red. 

Perfect.