QR Code Catastrophe

When I got home, both of my parents were sitting at the dinner table.

I let their words flow right through me, too tired to engage. I staggered past them without so much as acknowledging their presence or the trouble I was sure to be in. They didn't like that. So they invaded my room and continued their lecture as if I'd wandered into a university night class by accident.

Do those run in the middle of the night too?

Either way, they eventually gave up and let me sleep. Despite my attempts to ignore them, there was one question they'd repeated enough times it had stuck itself tightly between a pair of unsuspecting brain folds: "You're not hanging out with the wrong people, are you?"

Like a giant two-headed spider, they left me trapped in the web they'd spun for me. Stuck. They gave a final guarantee the conversation would continue the next day. Without a clear definition of "next day," I skipped breakfast to avoid them in the morning, just in case.

Since I had left home earlier than normal, I had also gotten to school earlier than normal. There were only a few students roaming the halls.

I guess no one's checked their desks yet. If I started now, I wonder how many QR codes I could repossess before class. Not that it would make a difference.

As much as I wished I'd never helped Haruko last night, there was a part of me that wouldn't dream of trading the experience for anything else. If only Haruko had decided to write something remotely normal on the website. In that scenario, I could easily justify my (platonic) relationship with her. Instead, I was left scratching my head over what this meant for my social status at school.

"The solution is already within you, I can tell." Sato's words echoed like a wise mentor's. Maybe I wouldn't have to worry after all.

Far too soon, the day's calm demeanour unravelled into a tangled lump of yarn. The school's hallways turned into a chaotic mess of intricate gossip as students ventured into their classrooms and discovered the QR codes. Before I knew it, the only topic in those morning halls was Haruko Arakawa.

I kept my head down and wadded through the mounting roar of the latest school-wide drama. Haruko's name had already made its way around a majority of the first-year classes, but this stunt sent it up even higher, the third floor to be exact.

By the time I made it to my own class, the teachers had noticed the commotion. I caught a glimpse of a small mob forming around Mr. Ando as he attempted to make his way down the hall, presumably due to his involvement with the student council.

If anything came of this, it would be that they stopped letting first-years run for president. Not that it would change much. A first-year would never normally win. Except for Haruko, if she had decided to take it seriously, that is.

Speaking of, the girl of the hour was completely missing in action. It was all anyone could talk about as soon as I entered homeroom.

"Have you seen Arakawa?"

"I heard she got expelled."

"Isn't this a little crazy?"

"Is she scared to show her face?"

Only a few people took notice of me. Of those who did, Fujiwara was the only one who vocalized his thoughts.

"I told you Arakawa was nuts, man. I didn't want to say shit but this is definitely off the rocker levels of weird. I'll cover if she starts talking to you. Make up some shit we're going somewhere, whatever you need, man. Fuck, I should've outright told you it was a bad idea, I didn't think she actually believed—"

"Fujiwara."

He stopped talking. His demeanour changed once he'd noticed how I was looking at him.

"Don't tell me you're brainwashed or some shit. Really, man? This is insane! You haven't even read it yet, have you? Look at this part—"

"Fujiwara, I've read it."

He leaned away from me. "Bro, don't tell me you helped her with it? Is that why you two were running off every lunch? Planning this shit?"

"Look, she's my friend. I don't appreciate you talking behind her back like that."

"What? Bro, I'm just trying to look out for you. What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?"

The class went ice cold. I guess I'm committed.

"Chill, bro," Fujiwara started to chuckle, glancing around as if he were looking for backup.

"You know what, Fujiwara? You don't know shit about why Haruko made that website. Hell, I don't know shit about why Haruko made that website. I have no clue what's going through her head half the time. But just because you don't understand, does that really give you the right to insult her? To assume I think of her the same way you do?"

"Careful everyone, I think it's contagious."

"Don't go hiding behind other people. Instead of running, why don't you stand up for what you believe in? Go ahead! Tell me straight to my face that I'm a fucking weirdo."

Fujiwara took two steps back. "You're fucking weird, man."

"Thank you! And if anyone else in this class wants to think I'm weird, go ahead! I don't give a damn. Just because I'm friends with Haruko Arakawa? Think whatever you want about me! Talk shit behind my back, gossip, start rumours. Hell, make me the topic of conversation, instead of everyone obsessing over Haruko because she's not afraid of what you all think. In my eyes, that alone makes her worthy to be called God—"

"You're being a nuisance, dude. Chill out," Fujiwara said.

"And you're not? You don't think it bothered me to hear you call my friend insane? I'm aware of the situation, okay? I don't think she's insane. Actually, I think Haruko is the most interesting person I've ever met. Worth more than everyone else in this class combined. You should all consider yourselves lucky to have even known someone so incredible, to have even lived at the same time, on the same big fucking floating rock."

"Dude, listen to yourself. You're brainwashed."

God, what's the point?

There was something more important I needed to do. Ignoring Fujiwara, I rushed towards the sliding door, knocking into desks and nearly tripping over a bag or two. A large congregation of onlookers had formed by the entrance. I pushed myself through to the other side. Takamoto was standing on his tip-toes trying to peek over top of them.

"Would you get out of my—Oh! Hey, what's going on in there?" Takamoto trotted after me.

I ignored him too. Making my way past the slowly dispersing crowd. Past the chaotic clutter of students showing off their cardboard squares. Past all the teachers and the staff and the frantic mobs of anyone whose job it was to deal with Haruko's humble advertising campaign. I ran past everyone because I didn't need to see any of them.

The only person I needed to see was Haruko.