Blackmail

June 4, 2216, Wednesday

Last night at the dinner I had as usual with my family, we talked about having a tube that I keep hidden behind the sink. Of course, my parents were very worried, thinking I was endangering their lives and mine. I lied to them telling them that I found the tube on the ground while I was going to school because I don't want to risk my guitar teacher having problems.

Then we talked about my brother returning from boarding school. My mother started crying and prayed that this strange behavior I have would end when my little brother arrives home so that he could have a perfect example.

Like any other child, my brother was forced to be sent to boarding school at the age of four. He can barely remember us. It is not allowed to receive visits and he can only receive one package per year, with a certain weight, being meticulously checked. In fact, the first package that boarding school children can receive is only at the age of eight, which means that they are entitled to receive only three packages during their entire stay at the boarding school.

Boarding school is mandatory and cannot be avoided in any form. There are various tests at the boarding school that I never understood, but now that I have remembered them, I will ask my guitar teacher to explain to me in detail. Many strange memories grind me from boarding school, but one of the most beautiful was Nagamine.

Last night I dreamed of him again. I was in Hell again, and this time I was able to enter the mirror when Nagamine reached out to me. I thought I would never see him again after I went to the cemetery, but I was relieved to see him only in dreams.

The world Nagamine came from was much darker, devoid of blood colors and far too reddish hues. It was much colder there and everything was cold, compared to the land of flames I kept exploring until I reached Nagamine's. He told me that he is in Purgatory, a land where all the people who have committed suicide end up. He also explained to me that the Hell I see is indeed Hell, but it is not what it seems. I see a far too distorted version of it that doesn't really exist. People do not scream, burning in flames, but dinosaur birds do exist.

Nagamine is being chased by what he calls a demon of souls that feeds on the lives of those who have committed suicide. He didn't want to bring me into that world, but it was the only option to tell me more.

Thus, I become aware that my life is changing radically and, according to Nagamine, this was inevitable. All I needed was an impetus to let my strength run. I don't know what powers he was referring to, but something inside me gives him perfect justice without questioning a word. Moreover, he explained to me how he and I were born that way. However, I am stronger than him. Having very strong impulses to commit suicide, I did not give up and continued. I don't know what he meant when he said we were both born the same.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I close the diary and say that it's busy. It is very dangerous to bring such a diary to school, but time does not allow me to write as much as I feel the need, which is why every break I lock myself in the restroom and start writing hard, until the bell rings, and my hand is numb.

After we die, our souls end up in different places. Nagamine told me that there are many more than the two I visited. He said that only people like us have access to these worlds, but again I don't know what people like me and him, meant. He also told me not to panic when I see him around me and just to accept what is happening, having blind trust in him. He told me not to be scared when the things I feel come true because that's in my nature. Let me not be terrified when I imagine something happening and when I am in danger and something other than me protects me.

Then came the time when we had to say goodbye, telling me that he could no longer bring me to Purgatory, because it is very dangerous, both for him and for me because of the constant hunting that the demon of souls does.

We said goodbye, kissing and crying like every time I feel like I won't see him again. We hugged until I started to hear my alarm. He made me go through the mirror again so I could wake up, otherwise, I would be stuck in Purgatory forever. He wished me a happy birthday, which made me very sad. I will have to choose my soulmate and the fact that he didn't tell me that when it was my birthday really makes me realize that I may never see him again.

His life is in danger and no matter how much I want to be there with him and protect him as best I can, this simply seems impossible. I comply, stopping my tears from flowing. I have to finish today, given the fact that a very busy schedule awaits me.

I get out of the restroom, going straight to the closet, and leaving my diary there. When I open the locker door I see a small note that I slip without thinking twice in the skirt of the uniform. Then I close the locker and go without looking suspicious in the cafeteria, being the lunch break I half lost writing in the restroom.

I take a tray and sit in line not very long, reaching the buffet quite quickly. We have a few options. As usual, I do not take my cream soup and I take directly the second course and dessert, along with a bottle of water. I pass my card through a device at the cash register and the price of the food is taken into account, paying at the end of the month everything I have consumed.

With the tray in my hand, I glanced around, realizing that my friends were at the tables outside. I leave the cafeteria and walk into the backyard of the high school which is actually an extension of the canteen. In just a few moments I see the girls, Imada and Mano not being at the table. I'm heading for them.

"Hey, Iwamoto! I haven't seen you much lately," Furukawa tells me.

"Hey, girls! I'm a little upset in my stomach so my breaks are more in the bathroom," I answer jokingly. "Where are Imada and Mano?"

"They left earlier. Ever since Imada took a small grade, she's only been with her nose through books," Furukawa says, eating.

I glance at Hokama, realizing she's staring blankly, scared. She doesn't even seem to notice me sitting at the table and I decide to reach out my hand in front of her, moving it left and right to see if Hokama is with us right now. She shudders and squeaks as if in danger.

"Hokama, are you okay?" Furukawa and I ask in unison.

"Um ... yes. In fact, I'd like to talk to Iwamoto a little bit, if that's okay, Furukawa..."

"I wanted to talk to Mano and Imada anyway. Talk as much as you want," she says, getting up with the empty tray.

I taste the chicken breast that they have prepared at the buffet and as usual, it is dry, but it does not taste bad. I take a few mashed potatoes on the fork, blowing once I see the steam rising in the air.

"Iwamoto, did you read my thoughts yesterday?"

I'm struck by Hokama's far too direct question. I'm starting to laugh, even though I have a feeling inside me that's exactly what I did.

"Hokama, how can you ask such a thing? If someone heard what you were talking about right now, they would shut you up without thinking twice..."

"Iwamoto!" Hokama shouted suddenly. I glance around, trying to stop the other eyes, which were far too curious from looking in our direction. "Please don't rat me on. We live in a dangerous world where humanity is threatened by those creatures, so I suspect you."

"Hokama, what are you talking about?" I ask, confused, seeing her frightened expression.

"Listen Akemi, you don't know anything about the other world?"

"The other world ... what are you talking about?" I ask a little panicked, thinking that maybe she read my diary, even though she couldn't do it.

Hokama doesn't say anything and I realize she's trying to weigh her words.

"Be attentive to her, concentrate, taking advantage of the peace she offers you," I hear the much too strange words of Nagamine.

I try not to turn in his direction and to comply, doing what he asks me to do, although I do not understand where this could lead.

Does Iwamoto know nothing or pretend? Will she rat me? Hokama says without moving her mouth, staring blankly. Should I tell her about wizards, witches, and warlocks? But why doesn't she know this information? I feel like everyone knows it. If I give up the conversation, she will think very strange things about me and maybe she will rat me. Iwamoto is too unpredictable and I can't risk anything. Should I talk? Should I rat her, instead and tell the world what I saw?

My mind is upset. I really think I can read Hokama's mind somehow. Do I have supernatural powers? And what is she talking about when she refers to wizards, witches, and warlocks?

"Iwamoto, you don't know anything about wizards? About the other world, banished to Cursed Land?

I shake my head in shock. What's really going on?

"Good morning! I am announcing that you are all invited to the cafeteria for an important announcement. Attendance is mandatory and whoever is outside the cafeteria risks an appropriate punishment. Repeat! You are called to the cafeteria. A day full of gold and diamonds!" The voice is heard from the speakers.

This is the third time in three consecutive days that they have called us to the cafeteria. First yesterday with the arrival of Furukawa and earlier, on Monday, with the suicide of Nagamine. Hokama and I get up at the same time and she gives me a dubious look. She walks fast as she takes the tray to the buffet, being in a hurry, as if she's too scared to be alone with me or that I'm getting too close to her. I follow her, leaving the tray empty at the buffet, then sitting next to Furukawa, Imada, and Mano.

The cafeteria doors opened, the director, the headteacher, and two policemen nervously entering the room. The four go up on the buffet and try to create silence, then the director says:

"We apologize for another announcement, but I would like to inform you that the grave of Nagamine Keiichi was visited at the Cemetery of Perfect Crimes by a person who does not have access. Thus, the first suspect we will call to follow us to my office is Iwamoto Akemi, then the next suspects or witnesses coming after her."

My blood freezes in my veins, feeling trapped. The room seems to get smaller and smaller, the air not being breathable. The four of them get off the sideboard, and the cops put my hands behind my back, handcuffing me and holding my arms. I leave the cafeteria and go straight to the principal's office.

"Your parents will be here soon. You can sit down," the director tells me, sitting down at his desk. "Where were you yesterday?"

"At NPI after school and then at home," I tell myself in a trembling voice.

"We need witnesses, were you alone?"

I agree. There are a few knocks on the door, and the director shouts loudly that my family can come in. And it really was my family.

"Hello, excuse us for being late. I left work as soon as I heard your call."

"No problem, please take a seat."

"I apologize a thousand times, but what's going on?" says my mother in a frightened voice, looking at my handcuffs.

"You may have heard of the death of Nagamine Keiichi, the boy who committed suicide. Well, a person who is not part of the visitation criteria appeared at his grave, and the first suspect is Iwamoto Akemi, your daughter. Do you know where she was yesterday?"

"Yes, where were you yesterday?"

"I told you, I went to NPI," I say annoyed.

"We need more witnesses..."

"Yes, I have!" I say suddenly. "My friends saw me when I was returning home from NPI, and even led me home. Furukawa Atsuko and Hokama Shizuka."

After long discussions with the police and the director, they decided that I could be released. I walk out of the principal's office, hearing Furukawa and Hokama being called as witnesses. I suspect that Imada will also be called soon, which is why I have to make sure that she doesn't invent other things. Unfortunately, I don't have time to talk to Hokama, who suspects me of being a witch, which is very funny. But if Hokama is right and the world really feels threatened by wizards, then it's enough to get a word out about me and no one would think she's crazy about tying.

I close the door behind me, staring at the two who enter immediately. My mother pulls me towards her and almost whispers through her teeth.

"Where were you yesterday?"

"At NPI, I said a hundred times," I say through gritted teeth.

"No, where were you after you returned from NPI?"

"I forgot the sheet I received from school," I say.

"No. Because if I tell them that, they'll realize you're lying. Why didn't the girls wait for you? Why did they leave when they left you at home?"

"Mom, I forgot the file, went back to get it, and went to NPI again. Then when I went out a second time, I saw Furukawa and Hokama and they took me home."

My mother doesn't seem very convinced, her face being all red. She glances at me very suspiciously, leaving for work with my father. As I said before, my father is not very talkative, so I'm arguing more with my mother.

I walk out into the main hall, seeing Imada heading for the director's office. She was probably also called as a witness.

"Oh, Iwamoto. No wonder you were friends with Nagamine. You both have the blood of criminals," she says, smiling.

"Oh, Imada. I wouldn't say too much nasty stuff if I was you. In fact, if I fall for the strange ideas you have in your head, my mouth might miss the name Tsutsui Koichi," I say winking.

Imada's eyes widen, she was so surprised that her eyebrows furrowed almost touching each other. I motion for her to come with me to the locker, pulling out the note I found when I was cleaning. I open it and show it to her.

"By the way, today after school you have to meet him. But tell me, Imada. Is he your lover?"