Calm before the storm

Yuuko floated in the depths of emptiness, her eyes closed, basking in the serenity. Her countenance radiated tranquillity as she expressed her thoughts. ‘Never imagined the spirit world like this. It’s less heavenly than expected, but at least it’s a sanctuary of boundless peace.’ The pain that once plagued her body had dissipated, her muscles now relaxed. However, the sudden sensation of discomfort jolted her as the first blow struck her chest. Before she could comprehend the situation, another touch landed on a distinct spot. Warmth enveloped her, followed by a third blow to her chest. ‘What the hell...?’ A shiver ran down her spine, and with the subsequent strike, her eyes widened. She came back to reality fixing on the roof of the sports hall. She glanced downward, meeting Ryoko’s gaze as her friend swiftly raised her index and middle fingers. ‘Wait... Ko...’ The fingers descended onto Yuuko’s chest, causing her to jolt upright, emitting a heart-wrenching scream as excruciating pain seized her.

‘Yuu!’ Her friend tightly embraced her, weeping and repeatedly calling her name.

‘Now is true... I’m dying!’ Yuuko’s screams ceased, as if her spirit had momentarily left her body.

‘Yuu!?’ Ryoko showed alarmed. She released her grip and attempted to replicate the action.

‘Stop!’ Yuuko halted her. ‘I’m conscious now!’

‘What the hell were you thinking?!’ her friend reproached her.

‘I’m sorry...’ Yuu fell onto the mat. She made an expression of pain. Her body still burned, a sign that her internal injuries were being healed.

‘If it weren’t for your power, you would be dead! You’re old enough to stop acting like a child!’ Ryoko was really upset with Yuuko.

‘The Phoenix’s spirit has helped to some extent, but the wounds exceed its regenerative powers. I wouldn’t have survived without Ryoko’s intervention.’ Yuuko’s eyes fixed on Azu. Her companion continued scolding in the background, but Ryoko’s voice faded before reaching her friend’s ears. ‘That brute was genuinely trying to kill me, and she almost succeeded.’ Yuu looked bewildered. ‘But why did she react that way?’ She felt an intense pain and released another scream.

‘Yuuko!’ her friend called out, striking her palm against Yuuko’s abdomen with some annoyance. ‘Are you listening to me?!’ Yuuko regarded her friend with a hint of dread and nodded.

‘Sometimes Ko is scarier than the Onihime,’ Yuu glanced at their other companion once more. ‘Sho- shouldn’t you look at Azu?’ The nurse approached, narrowing her eyes and reluctantly studying her friend’s face up close.

‘Azu only has a few bruises,’ the nurse clarified. ‘You were the one with serious internal bleeding,’ Yuuko closed her eyes.

‘A-ah!’

‘What’s going on? Since this morning, you’ve been acting strangely, first in the car,’ Ryoko distanced herself from Serizawa. ‘Then the fire, running towards the shelter, and now a fight with Azu that nearly killed you... Since middle school, you have kept nothing from me.’

‘Well, back then, I couldn’t exactly cheerfully tell you, I met a crazy person who gave me her powers, and now I’m a witch. Besides, Mitsu would have killed me...’ Yuuko defended her argument.

‘We’re not discussing that!’ Ryoko reproached her friend again. ‘Don’t you trust me?’

‘Ko, you’ve always been my best friend. Of course, I trust you.’ She stood up, still in pain. Ko looked at her, somewhat surprised, and also stood, facing her.

‘Then why don’t you tell me what’s going on?’ she persisted, causing Yuu to averted her gaze.

‘Because it’s got more complicated than necessary. The two students who arrived late yesterday... Well,’ she paused. ‘There was an administrative error, and Nonomiya wasn’t an ordinary student.’

‘What do you mean?’ The nurse didn’t quite grasp the explanation and recalled the conversation in the car.

‘We were quite surprised when we realised there was a mistake. It said Ayumu instead of Ayumi. Can you believe it?’ A bewildered Ryoko turned to her friend.

‘A boy!?’ Yuuko flashed a ridiculous smile. ‘I can’t believe it. The Onmyou admitting a man!? It’s not possible!’ She approached Yuuko again, and she interposed her hands, attempting to calm her down.

‘Well, well...’ Yuuko distanced herself from Ko once more. ‘The thing is, since he arrived late, the administration was already closed. I weighed my options with him. I ended up taking him to the shelter, promising that I would pick him up today and sort out his issue at the administration.’

‘You got Mitsu drunk to stop her from finding out, right? But you ended up drinking as well, so she wouldn’t suspect,’ the nurse deduced.

‘Oh no, that was just a coincidence. Although I was afraid of running into her,’ Yuu corrected her. ‘It’s all out of my control now.’

‘But why'd you two almost kill each other?’ Ryoko pondered. ‘Azu can be stubborn, but going as far as wanting to kill you...’

‘I don’t really understand it, either. Ayumu is just a kid,’ Yuuko stated before recalling Azu’s words. ‘She mentioned something about a sect and me potentially colluding with them by protecting him.’

‘The White Order,’ Natsume’s voice broke their conversation. She garnered a strange gaze from her two subordinates. Natsume leaned against the doorway. ‘That’s why Azu went crazy.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Yuuko’s expression was outlined in bewilderment. Her friend was horrified at the mention of that name. The principal continued with the explanation.

‘The White Order mark is visible in his left hand. I’ve seen it too, and for a moment, I thought...’ Yuuko cut off her.

‘But that’s not possible! I was practically with him the whole afternoon. He didn’t have any marks, and there’s no way that could be hidden. We know it... I would have noticed when I found him unconscious!’ Yuu finished with anger. ‘I would have killed him myself.’

‘Yuuko!’ Natsume sharply cut her off, silencing her. ‘He could have fooled us.’

‘What do you mean by us?’ Yuuko was overwhelmed by the information. Natsu frowned.

‘I had him right in front of me, and my initial reaction was to kill him.’ Natsu’s gaze fixated on the palm of her hands as she delved into her past. ‘The possibility of a misunderstanding didn’t even cross my mind. I thought about my mother, Nori, Sayuki and the other countless murders made by those undesirables.’ With clenched fists and a bitter laugh, the director’s voice sounded somewhat sorrowful. ‘Sounds like a sick joke... that disgusting mark on a face as familiar as Noriko’s.’ Natsu’s face calmed down at that statement. ‘Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn’t kill him. I’ll probably regret it and will face the consequences if that happens. He must be an exceptional actor, or, as I think, a harmless little lamb,’ the principal confirmed, shifting her gaze towards the astonished Yuuko. Natsume made her way towards them and halted in front of Yuu.

‘Natsu.’

‘If things go wrong, I’ll accept any punishment imposed on me. But I know someone who won’t hesitate. What are you going to do, Serizawa?’ Quietness reigned among them. The teacher clenched her fists, looking at the torn remnants of her clothes on the floor.

‘Are you crazy!? Mitsu’ll kill you too!’ Ryoko tried to stop her. Yuuko turned around, and her friend tried to grab her arm. Natsu raised her voice.

‘Ryoko!’ Ryoko choked before the call of attention of the principal, who kept a serious expression. ‘It’s her who must decide, not you.’ Yuu walked towards the looker room, grabbing Sae’s shirt and skirt from the uniform. Without saying a word to anyone, she looked at her friends and left the sports hall.