The orphan.

Grandma was there in the kitchen hurriedly making something for me while Airi-chan explored the house like a little child. Well, her personality might be like that of a child's.

"You don't have to do anything, grandma. We were here just to visit."

"I can't let my grandchild go back hungry!"

"But I have just eaten..."

"Then eat more!", that didn't make sense and made sense at the same time. I laughed.

"Let me help you at least." I went beside her and started picking up things to help her. I could immediately recognise the dish from its smell. It was my favourite dish. My mom first made the dish for me. It was poached-egg curry.

"That you can do, but you have to eat."

"Sure sure."

As I was helping her, Airi-chan placed her chin on my shoulder, looking at my deeds. It tickled a bit. Her silver hair touched my nape. Yep, she has a child-like personality.

I don't know why people hate her, especially my classmates.

Her personality, nor her background is something of shame. I just can't fathom her being treated like that. It is about two months that they have started treating her like that.

Airi-chan grew up in Tokyo alone in a government-funded orphanage. She lost both of her parents at a young age and had to live by herself. Her being an Albino didn't help either. Her white hair was intimidating to others when they were kids, so she grew up alone too.

When I first met her in high school, she was like that too. Looking depressed, out of the world and always zoning out in classes. Her personality was rather cold.

And look at her now, she is beaming. But if she is treated like that, she might return back to that phase, which I don't want. The only reason I can find for them hating her is because she moved in my apartment and we are now living together under the same roof, and what they say about my 'deteriorating health', which I don't know what they mean by.

"Okay then grandma, I will head out! Sorry for disturbing your sleep time like that. Anyway, we will come visit again at the end of the trip."

She smiled, putting her hand on her cheek. "You are talking like a grown up adult. But you know you are always the pesky little kid to us. You don't need permission, you can just come here anytime!"

Even if I visited them after so long, grandma ensured me that I was still invited. That filled my heart. I held Airi-chan's hand and headed out back to the dorm.

You know what else is filled to the brim right now? My stomach... I feel like I am going to throw up. I have eaten so much food, will I be able to digest them?

"It is such a weird timing... a diving test today? Moreover, at nighttime?", Airi-chan didn't seem to like the idea.

"That's what happens with a short time to three days and two nights. The water currents of fujigawa are high, but lower than our last diving trip. As our last diving session was during the day, we are having this one at night."

"Ehh... being in the cold water at night? I don't wanna..."

"It's gonna be fun though."

"Don't ever let the sea touch you... if it does, it will kill you.", It echoed again. This is now getting irritating. I hate this voice.

The Sun's heat lessened now that it's the afternoon. The sea was clear as it used to be during the blood moon fifteen years ago. People still believed in the rumours from the look of things.

Analysing again, it is really going to be hard navigating the seas at night here. There is not going to be ships nearby, nor the lighthouse is going to be turned on. We have to be together during the test at all times, otherwise we might be lost.

Anyways, we will be able to figure it out.