Day Seven

Day Seven.

Morning arrived unbidden, pouncing like a hungry lion.

I dragged myself from the comfort of my bed, got cleaned up, ate breakfast, and headed for school.

Everything felt perfectly normal. Once I reached the classroom, I took my seat, opened a book, and read in silence, tuning out the noise around me. Every so often, I glanced at Tanaka’s desk beside me. She wasn't there.

*** 

The first bell chimed. Our homeroom teacher walked in, gave the morning greeting, and started the roll call.

When she reached her name, she paused in confusion.

"Anyone knows where’s Tanaka?"

No one answered. Even her closest friends just shook their heads in confusion.

"It’s not like her to be absent without notice. Maybe she’s just running late."

Late?

Yeah. Maybe. Possibly. Of course. 

Tanaka was a diligent student. There was no way she’d ditch class, right?

Yeah. She’d be here any second, sliding the classroom door open, out of breath from running. For sure.

But as it turned out, the day went by, classes were dismissed, and the final bell tolled—and she never showed up.

*** 

[Where are you? Why didn't you come to school?]

I had sent that message during lunch break. There was still no reply. It hadn't even been marked as read yet.

I kept staring at my phone screen, waiting for any changes. Anxiety gnawed at my chest. My mind wandered, searching everywhere for a glimpse of Tanaka Asuka.

By the time the sky pulled back its orange curtains, that anxiety had turned into a daze. I don't even know when I started scouring the city. My feet led me to all the places we had visited together. But Tanaka was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?"

I didn't know. Usually, she was so close. So why had she vanished without a trace now?

Where did Tanaka Asuka go? Even the heavens didn't have an answer.

That was until I finally got home. Then, the news flashed across the television, striking me like a bolt of lightning in the dead of night.

*** 

My body went limp instantly. My eyes were wide, refused to blink even once. My voice was gone. Only my ears remained functional, taking in every word the presenter said.

[A murder has occurred in an apartment in District A. The victim, Tanaka Asahi (45), was found dead in his room with a stab wound to the chest. The perpetrator was his own daughter, Tanaka Asuka (17). The suspect had previously reported the crime to the police via telephone. However, by the time officers arrived at the scene, the suspect was already deceased. She had taken her own life in her bedroom with a rope—]

***