1.6 Vultures

My entire anatomy was heavy from my shoulder to my eyes and numb from my hands down to my feet.

Lost yet self-aware and frustratingly unable to move.

"Yoshi man, do you—" I couldn't quite hear him; Masato's voice rang along the inner walls of my head, aching it with every syllable.

I couldn't make out what he was saying exactly, for my mind was an intoxicated mess, unable to catch his words, failing to focus.

Just like a heart, I was slipping in between consciousness and subconsciousness.

Oh, how I wish for my bed and for the nurturing taste of water. Masato, you fool, can't you read my mind?

We've been friends for long enough.

"What's wrong with him…" but slowly "Poor Erina, she's soaked." Slowly I was coming back.

"Erina, are you okay?" "Let's get you washed up." "You can borrow my spare jersey!"

Their voices, all feminine, orbited my skull like asteroids burning up before a collision.

My face felt numb, the heavy plague had complete control over me. It festered in sparks, exploding from my stomach and echoing on the surfaces of my skin.

I wanted it all to stop, so in an effort I tried to regather myself internally.

It all accumulated in the center of my mind.

"Disgusting—Poor Erina."

I open my eyes despite the burning sensation mixed within. I raise my head, trying to rest my back against the chair as the liquid smudged on my face runs down my cheek before dripping off the edges of my face.

"Why couldn't he have just gone to the infirmary?" I open my left eye; the girl with the braids looked at me with pity, the worst kind of pity. I've never really spoken to her, and in this state...

"Where is the..." I struggle with a mumble, my voice croaking with deflated and weak articulation. I couldn't muster any poise. As moronic as that sounds, I'd rather try than be seen as lacking any self-respect.

I lift my right hand, as numb and heavy as it is, I smear it across my face before dropping it to the side of my chair, my head lolling to my chest as I manage to grasp some sort of control of my eyes now.

I look up and I find 7 or maybe 8 girls huddled together in a group just before my desk. All completely ignoring me, their hands working quickly over the center of their group.

Masato leans in from behind "You've messed up man, this is a big mess literally. Seriously you were coughing up blood, I thought you were dying!"

I groan, only to myself.

My stomach churns at the realization that Masato wasn't exaggerating, the proof was all over my desk, shirt, and regrettably Erina as well.

"Where's the teacher?" I ask louder than I wanted to, but I had done too much to be embarrassed.

"He left a few minutes ago, got called in just before you erupted." He says it without a grin, I sensed he knew not to push it.

However, at his comment, the one girl within the group turned around in an instant. Her hazel brown eyes beaming with a gaze that uncovered a disdain that pronounced Masato and I are a waste of space.

She had a ponytail, was fairly short and had a weird array of bracelets running up her arm all pink in color.

Honestly, I couldn't remember her name, I only remember those who make an impression on me, hence I found myself taken aback.

"You think this is funny? Erina is covered in this slob's vomit. Do you know how long it is going to take for her to remove the stains and that putrid smell!"

My face comes alive, a heat spreading across my cheeks as they flare up in a burn.

Erina steps out of the group, her hand reaching for the girl's shoulder.

"Yumi it's fine really, Yoshi is just unwell—" She's soaked and her face pale, despite clearly being shaken with nerves.

Erina still thinks of others, naturally trying to ease the growing tension.

But the girl called Yumi, a classmate I've never spoken to and her character unfamiliar to me. She wouldn't allow us to get off easy, her bracelets all loosely swing around her arm as she plants her hands firmly on Masato's desk.

"No, this stub needs to understand, we all deserve respect, Yoshi has spoiled Erina's pride."

I tried not to face her, but her frustration pulled my head around as if a third hand, propelled with intensity, grabbing a hold of my head and forcing me to witness Masato defend our ego.

This was all uncalled for, she was dragging it out. I felt embarrassed and this girl whom I'm sure I've never spoken to, offended or even questioned was now questioning our self-respect.

It was irritating, and Masato wasn't having any of it.

"You're acting as if he vomited into Erina on purpose, that is utterly idiotic. Yoshi is clearly unwell."

"Idiotic? Huh, then mind telling me where his logic drowned. Why hadn't he requested to excuse himself before making a mess?"

I couldn't admit that I had dozed off, nor that I was unwell. I had no symptoms, it all stemmed from a dream. How illogical, explaining it all would likely have me excluded from any future gatherings.

Not even Alison could save my reputation.

"The teacher left! how should he have—" Masato began but Yumi cuts him off.

"Any responsible male would have control over their body, clearly there was no self-restraint."

It was pointless, her ego is like a flare that threatens to grow and scorch us all.

And poor Masato, I knew he wanted to comfort Erina, or to at least have helped out but the entire class was showing hostility.

Usually when Alison is here, it's bearable like a scale kept within an equilibrium. Her absence unwillingly has caused frustration, and the resentment that was held dormant now had a feeding ground.

Masato and I usually fly by under the radar, but since becoming friends with Alison, I've had the feeling that both of us are a hot topic within the gossip groups.

Now that she wasn't here, I felt that those like Yumi despite being quiet, and those watching on the edges. They are just like vultures feeding off her frustration.

It's unfair and uncalled for, and these realizations despite my weak body, I felt irritable.

I watch as Masato regains himself "I'll get him checked out and call the Janitor while I'm at it."

He says this calmly while stepping out of his desk, holding onto his chair for support.

Yumi watches this, her hands holding steadfast on Masato's desk as she watches him struggle. A smirk plays over her face.

She scoffs "Oh please, you can't even walk yourself around without needing support, you might fall over yourself before even reaching the infirmary."

Now some students were taken aback, Yumi had crossed a line but her predatory gaze showed she was prepared to go further.

I look into Masato's eyes and all I could see, was an abyss. That stare and gaze that I had seen once before.

The memory had my heart race, back then I had run at full sprint as I pulled him away from the edge of the cliff.

That brief memory…

I instinctively moved, my brain was still caught within that nightmare, I bumped my knee against my desk as I stood up, but I couldn't care.

Yumi faltered as her expression changes from predator to innocence.

I was still weak and fighting my own body, but Yumi's preaching about respect now seemed hypocritical and it annoyed me enough.

The classroom rang in silence yet I realized quickly that it was my ears, ringing out of anger.

"How dare you. Have you no compassion for him? If you are quick to judge about restraint then surely, you're a hypocrite."

I don't shout this, nor do I express a venomous tone.

I don't wait for her to respond; I step towards Masato, my eyes never leaving Yumi's. That is where I poured all my venom.

I knew she saw it, how I reflected the same worthless feeling she gave me a minute ago, was now being reflected back to her.

The vultures surrounding us whispered. I reach for Masato's shoulder, but in that instant Yumi fell straight onto the floor.

I looked to the ground, trying to find what she had tripped over, my eyes surveying a spotless floor. Had she tripped over herself?

The contact had been loud. Masato flinched beside me. Yumi's palms met the linoleum directly where it hurt.

Her sudden, vulnerable stature almost made me forget her words. Instinctively, I reached out my hand.

She didn't look up immediately. For a moment — just a moment — I thought she might take it. Then her eyes lifted from her lap, hazel and spilling steam like hot coffee.

I don't retract my arm in time, as it's smacked away with such force.

"Don't touch me, Idiot!" She says, a tear forming on the rings of her eyes.

I was confused, a mess and unsure as to what exactly I had done. I felt as if all the events that unfolded were that of a bad dream. Maybe I was still drifting, my physical body lounging comfortably over my desk.

Yet I knew that I was only kidding myself.

I failed to meet the gaze of Masato, Yumi or even my other classmates. I was embarrassed, lost within my own unwell body and unsure as to how I should tread this hostility. I was to focus internally but the realization that a shift had moved the entire class to another focus.

I turn around, my eyes focusing on the door and then the front-end center of our classroom. There were two of them, they wore ties and carried badges that dignified their uniform. The one commanding the most attention was female, her expression serious. Yumi was still on the floor — and the officer took great note of this.

I note our teacher standing on the edges by the entrance, like a nervous mouse, his shaky voice tightening the tension.

"Students, these are detectives, they represent the Chichibu district police station. Please treat them with respect and follow their directives." He finishes with a bow and steps out into the hallway.

I wondered if I should sit back down into my desk, but with the mess and Yumi on the floor I was fastened, held by questions and the authoritative stance of the female detective.

"My name is Haruka, Yoshida Haruka." She begins, taking a step towards the desk in front of the middle row, the student arches back with discomfort.

"We are investigating an incident which occurred early this morning. We believe that some students may have..." She pauses, I notice her eyes haven't moved from mine.

"Information. Information that could help with our investigation. If we call your name, please conduct yourself orderly with my associate Detective Yaguchi." She raises her hand towards the man on her right, he seemed to match her intensity despite his nerdy appearance, glasses and hair combed with precision.

"Be prepared to be held within our custody for hours, food and water will be provided. I will finish by saying that this is not an arrest, only questioning."

Her emphasis on questioning was meant to lighten their urgency, but the emphasis had some students widen their eyes.

The detective took out her notebook, opening it to a page bookmarked with a pen, her eyes only scanning it briefly.

"Odawa Erina, Hiroshi Masato, Kakegawa Ichinose, Yagame Hiro and Taka Yoshi."

My ears began to ring again, not out of anger but from shock. I wanted to obey but I felt as if I was struck with hot iron.

"Wh-what's going on?" This came from Ichinose; her lips quivered, her legs visibly shaking, a complete contrast to her usually calmer demeanor.

"Yeah why am I being questioned? I have a baseball match this afternoon, I can't—" Hiro began. He had stood up from his desk in the front left row; he was tall and affirming, but his confidence was quickly snapped away from him.

"My instructions were clear, if your name was called, conduct yourself orderly. Rejecting to cooperate will only prolong your time. Your teacher will notify your coaches, parents and other relatives. If you cooperate, we won't have to use too much of your time." Detective Haruka said with clarity and affirmation. Her eyes studied Hiro, questioning him to continue.

Hiro seemed irritated, but he complied. "Tsk — fine, let's get this over with."

With the growing murmurs of our classmates, each step cautious with uncertainty, each of the named made their way to the male detective. Masato and I approached last.

The man looks at Erina and myself, the mess all over our uniforms and stains of blood that have since dried into our fabrics. His face does not show disgust but instead questions, something you'd expect from a detective.

It seems Haruka has also noticed our mess, but no words or signs of contempt were given.

We were all guided outside, the growing murmurs and whispers of our classmates growing louder, contrasting each of our belief to remain silent.

In the hallway I notice Mr. Ura, Kiori and Ms. Tomita.

Erina exits the classroom last, her face remains pale, strides pathetic and eyes that clench on nerves but long for freedom to melt. Kiori instantly rushes over, her arms freezing just before reaching into a hug, unable to console whatever mess Erina had been in.

Her whispers were clear, I was hyper aware at this moment.

"What happened, you're a mess. Erina are you unwell?" Kiori lifts her hands against Erina's skin, checking the heat coming from her forehead. It's the gentlest I've seen Kiori be with anyone.

Erina lifts her lips, trying to seem positive.

"One of our classmates is sick, I just happened to be nearby." Not specifying, no gaze in my direction to hint at me as the culprit. She wasn't going to confess.

I noticed why instantly, and I was grateful.

Kiori's face went from contempt and concern into a quiet irritation, her hands clenching into fists.

"Tell me who it was, Erina..."

"Kiori stop, they aren't well. I was just unlucky." "Unlucky, common sense Erina, they lack the common decency to..."

With her voice rising in irritation, from Erina's soft heart and maybe the haywire stress brought on by the detectives, Ms. Tomita approaches them both, initially stern but upon seeing Erina, she dissolves.

I walk toward the opposite end. I hadn't begun to speculate what we were called upon just yet, or the questions I would be asked; my mind was simply tired.

I was tired and sick of today, without proper sleep and a nightmare that threatens to visit me again tonight. I was emotional and dissociated from the nerves keeping me sane. That was important, especially in front of the detectives.

We hadn't moved just yet, students were peeking through classrooms, footsteps echoed at the ends of the hallway.

Masato, who had been in a brief conversation with Mr. Ura, walked over to me.

"They are just discussing car arrangements; the teachers are being really pessimistic about our treatment."

"They are just worried about our school appearance."

"Why would they? Our school is not that special; our government built this infrastructure on the edge of a forest."

"Pride, Masato. It's a condition that has no boundaries."

He pauses, as if noting my sour tone. His earlier darkened atmosphere from the encounter with Yumi could not be seen, but I know better and that I should check up on him when this is all over. Not now though.

Our flesh had already been wounded, our own pride tarnished. Our only remaining vocation was to protect what was left of it all, even with the threatening afternoon that awaits us.

Masato finds some ground internally, I can see it. He's already a step ahead of me.

He chuckles. "Pride is not worth anything, my friend, but I wouldn't mind spending it on some MochiMochi." He says this with a widening smile.

I breathe out slowly before returning my own dry smile.

"I could go for that, mind sparing me some when this is all done?"

He nods before clapping my shoulder.