Petals of Roses

The classroom consisted of four single desks arranged into one. It had been a chaotic adventure, but they somehow managed to arrive in time. Among all the girls Kotaro knew, Noel was by far the most difficult.

She consistently chose incorrect paths, adamantly refusing to follow directions. Paradoxically, she demanded his guidance to find her class. If Kotaro momentarily lost sight of her, she would inevitably wander off, making it feel like a game of cat and mouse.

The school bell rang with pride and resonance.

"Well, we’re in class! That’s all that matters," Kotaro muttered to himself as he made his way to his assigned desk. Suddenly, a single rose petal danced through the air, catching his eye as he tracked its graceful path. His gaze settled on the new student who had taken the seat next to him, and a sly grin crept across his face. "Can't resist being near me, can you?"

Noel let out an exasperated click of her tongue, clearly unimpressed by his flirtatious remark. The two traded irritated glances before directing their attention elsewhere. Just then, a slender man approached them. He was dressed formally, complete with his favorite pink necktie, and his square-shaped glasses resting on his nose. While his attire was proper, his hair left much to be desired—disheveled and brown, as if he couldn't be bothered to comb it.

"Your girlfriend, Koty?"

"With her?" Kotaro pointed at her, amusement resonating in his voice. He shook his head. "Not a chance!"

The math teacher chuckled. "I'm only kidding! Here I thought you decided to give up on M—"

Kotaro let out a loud harrumph, narrowly averting the potential exposure of his secret crush to his classmates. Gossips would surely run rampant if someone like Kotaro was rumored to have a thing for a foreign beauty like Mimi. Mr. Praum quickly apologized before turning his attention to Noel. "And I believe you're the new student."

"I am."

"What school did you go to before coming here?"

She pondered for a moment.

"I don't remember the name," she began, "but it was a school with ranks—starting from bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond. It was a challenging place that I’d love to visit again."

An awkward silence fell over the classroom as they all stared at her, baffled by her words. That’s not a school at all; it sounds more like a military program, Kotaro thought.

Mr. Praum swiftly broke the silence by announcing the entire class about Noel. In her introduction, she appeared more confident and succinct than she had in the previous class.

“Koty, I think she likes you,” commented Rocky, who had returned from the bathroom.

“I think so too,” Kotaro agreed. Rocky's voice became a distant murmur as Kotaro found himself listening to the gossip amongst his classmates. The rumors were becoming rampant. Female students, normally those with excellent grades, gone absent for more than weeks. Some theorized the dark alley was responsible. Kotaro hadn’t paid much attention to it, but concern for their safety gnawed at him. Especially since he was possibly the only one to enter the alley unharmed.

He felt a jolt by Rocky's elbow nudging him, bringing his full attention back to his friend. “Hm? What did you say?”

“I said Ging and I are going to take down Draclo! Are you up for it?”

“Yeah, I’ll get on after I finish my homework.”

As the new student approached her desk, Rocky sprang up from his seat, extending his hand toward Noel. “Hi there, I’m Koty’s friend, Rocky! I see that you and Koty are getting along really well!”

Noel shook his hand and smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. It was just a coincidence that we ended up in the same class, but knowing that we have the same class makes me feel a little more confident!”

Liar, Kotaro thought with doubt in his eyes.

Impressed by her story, Rocky gave his friend a proud pat on the shoulder and playfully wiped away imaginary tears. “I’m proud of you, Koty. You're such a gentleman!”

Ging took a seat next to Rocky, having also returned from the bathroom. He casually picked up a rose petal from his desk and held it up to block one of his eyes. “Ashley just went missing last night…”

A heavy silence fell upon the group as they fixed their gazes on Ging. He was the least talkative among the three boys, and when he did speak, it usually signaled impending trouble. More often than not, his ominous predictions turned out to be accurate. Like Ashley’s sudden disappearance.

The cheerleader had been last seen at Kotaro’s game, and the news of her disappearance made Kotaro's fists clench tightly. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt; her cheerful invitation to her birthday party tomorrow, still fresh in his mind, added to his unease.

Noel shot a deadly stare at Ging and let out a quiet groan, but he hardly reacted.

"You two alright?" Kotaro asked, concerned. None of them responded. "Rocky, have any idea what's going on?"

He shrugged. There seemed to be some sort of connection between Noel and Ging. Rocky gasped after some thought, coming to a singular conclusion. "Noel must be your ex-girlfriend, Ging! Isn't she?"

Both Ging and Noel glared at the foolish jester. Rocky remained unfazed, relishing the moment evident by his mischievous grin. Then, the staring contest resumed. It seemed unlikely. It certainly raised some questions.

Especially about Ging, whom Kotaro had befriended around the same time he met Rocky. Ging's origin was a mystery. His background? None. His favorite food, color, and hobbies? There was nothing. He appeared one day and quickly integrated into their circle.

Time passed until the class fell silent for the remainder of the hour. Kotaro was the first to finish his math assignment, so he stood up and headed to the bathroom.

As he walked down the corridor, the guidance counselor, Ms. Rosenfeld, passed by and then stopped in her tracks. “Mr. Nishiki…”

Kotaro turned to her. “Hm? What is it, Ms. Rosenfeld?” He noticed she had a bandage wrapped around her forehead, raising his brows in concern. “Hey, your head. Did you hit it?”

She smirked, amused by his concern, and lightly patted the bandage. “A little. I’ll be fine. But that’s beside the point. I want to talk to you about something.”

“Is it about my future?”

“Exactly! We need to discuss the kind of future you're pursuing. Your academic achievements have impressed many colleges, and with your accomplishments, you could qualify for numerous scholarships!”

Kotaro scratched his head, a bit overwhelmed by the sudden discussion about his future. “Scholarships, huh? I never really thought about it.”

Ms. Rosenfeld smiled warmly. “Well, you should, Kotaro. You have so much potential. Have you considered what field you might want to study?”

Kotaro leaned against the hallway wall, deep in thought. He was still in search of his past, and that remained his main priority.

“I’m not sure, really! I guess I haven’t put too much thought into it.”

The guidance counselor’s gaze lingered on him a little longer than necessary, and her voice took on a more alluring tone. “Kotaro, you’re a very special young man. I can see you excelling in so many fields. You could easily make an impression in any profession.”

A delicate floral fragrance enveloped him, and an inexplicable sensation stirred in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t quite explain it, but there was an undeniable allure to her presence. He struggled to maintain eye contact, feeling a bit flustered.

She drew nearer, gently placing her hands on his shoulders, and her voice adopting a sultrier whisper. “You know, sometimes in life, opportunities come when you least expect them. It’s important to seize them when they do.”

A jolting arousal surged within him at the tender cadence of her voice. Kotaro’s heart raced, and he stammered a bit. “Uh yeah, I guess you’re right. I just… I’ll think about it more seriously.”

Ms. Rosenfeld smiled, her eyes holding his. “That’s all I’m asking, Kotaro. I believe in you, and I’m here to help you reach your full potential.”

With that, she continued down the hallway. Kotaro couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Ms. Rosenfeld’s sudden change in demeanor. As he resumed his way to the bathroom, the guidance counselor slipped into her private office.

*

With a calculated grace, she moved deliberately toward her desk. She removed her bandage, casting an indifferent glance at the lifeless figure on the floor, who bore an eerie resemblance to the guidance counselor. A cascade of rose petals filled the air, an enchanting prelude to the revelation of Mr. Rosenfeld’s concealed visage.

She was adorned in a long white dress, accentuated by a black feather scarf embellished with vibrant red roses. The ensemble dress featured daring see-through fishnet fabric around her left hip and leg, hinting at a hidden allure beneath the elegant exterior.

As she met her own reflection in the window’s glass, it was unveiled that beneath the once-concealing bandage lay a striking rose tattoo.

“It’s time I take things into my hands now. Let the gegeru begin!”

*

Meanwhile, down the hallway, Kotaro continued his way to class after finishing business in the bathroom.

A spine-chilling scream pierced the air, causing Kotaro and other students nearby to freeze in alarm. Their curiosity mingled with fear, drawing them like moths to a flame. They didn't have to wonder for long as the source of the screams revealed itself—a ghastly, pale creature pursuing a group of terrified female students.

The grotesque being loomed menacingly over the students, its lanky frame with revealing ribcage towered above them, and the creature’s rounded head nearly grazed the ceiling. A putrid stench emanated from its maw, which featured razor-sharp fangs stained with plaque. Each breath it took filled the room with a sickening combination of decay and malevolence. The grotesque being’s claw, poised like deadly weapons, extended with an ominous grace, casting long shadows that danced maliciously across the walls.

Fear spread among the students like a wildfire. Panic gripped them as they frantically searched for escape routes. Sinister laughter emanated from the slender nightmare, a chilling sound that seemed to revel in their terror.

"Tasty human! No run. Go in me!"

As Kotaro sprinted alongside the fleeing students, a familiar face caught his eye—Noel. She stood there, remarkably composed, seemingly unflinching in the face of the pale creature's deadly intent.

With the panicked crowd thinning in the hallway, Kotaro made a split-second decision to stay with Noel. He reached out, his hand grasping hers. "Noel! We have to run!"

To his surprise, she swiftly pulled her hand away from his, leaving him both confused and dumbfounded. The pale creature halted its track. Its massive shadow towering above Noel and Kotaro.

"Human wants to be eaten? Easy for me!"

"I'm not on the menu, yokai!" The new student's body seemed to pulse with a visible aura flowing in a fiery motion, sending vibrations through the air that made Kotaro's skin tingle.

He gazed at her in a mixture of awe and curiosity, but his mind could only process that one burning question: Who is she?