After the long night out with Mae-chan, I stepped inside. Mari-san was fast asleep on the couch, and the home was quiet for the most part. It seemed that nothing much changed between the two of them while I was out. With a sigh of relief, no matter how selfish that may have sounded, at least things weren’t getting worse at the moment. They were just as awkward as always, and that might have been for the best right now.

I made my way up the steps. When I went towards Hana-chan’s door, the lights were already off, and she was snuggled deep in her bed. She might have gone to sleep early because we have exams starting tomorrow.

“It’s going to be a long 3 days…”

I whined as I shut her door gently. Making sure everything else was in order in my own room, I got undressed, neatly tucked my clothing away, and got into bed. Before I could shut my tired eyes, the chime of my STARS message sound made me open my eyes.

“Hm?”

I couldn't imagine who it would be this late at night. Confused, I checked it, and it took me by surprise. A certain burgundy-haired beauty messaged me with an ominous title. The email had a picture attached to it.

[Do you like the color red?]

“What kind of strange question is this?”

I asked as I casually opened the message. What captured me was Saitou-san in a crimson nightgown.

 

 

 

Her white shoulders were exposed, with a finger on her bright pink lips and a tasty expression, I dropped my phone in an instant.

Guiltily, I looked around to make sure nobody was secretly spying on me. When the coast was clear, I picked it up to look at the image deeply. There was no doubt about it…

This was a…racy photo. In a rush, I message her back.

[What are you doing, Saitou-san?!”]

My entire body was burning up like I’ve been placed in molten lava. The beautiful Saitou-san was lying on the bed in such a seductive way. I…felt a tingle in my chest that rippled down across my body. Likely, this was the kind of response she was hoping for. She replied soon after.

[Making you think about me before bed. Night night, cutie.]

Still in awe over this…I looked deeper into the picture. She was showing off all the best aspects of her. But there was nothing exposed…just loosely dressed. As if she wanted me to imagine her beside me in bed…

“Calm down…”

I told myself as I took a deep breath. So, I hid the photo away from my public photos immediately. That wasn’t allowed to see the light of day anytime soon. I can only imagine the uproar if mom or Mari-san knew that…their boss sent me a racy photo of herself in bed. Now a bit restless, I rolled to the side of my bed and kicked my feet like a fish whipping its tail.

“Geez, Saitou-san…”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. After a moment of contemplation, I responded…

[Wow]

That was the single most embarrassing message I have ever constructed in my entire life. I wanted to die on the spot and what made it worse is that she wasn’t messaging me back. I’m sure she was calling me all kinds of names right now…

“I…have to focus on school tomorrow. Other things…"

So, to prevent my mind from thinking about Saitou-san in a tasty way…I contemplated my next course of action. Today with Mae-chan was an amazing escape from everything. She took my worries away just like she’d always do in the past. But now, I had a bit more clarity, and I could start to look for answers in this maze of problems.

“I think I know where I need to start now…”

My mind began to work around where to go from here. I…need to have a chat with my partner, Taylor-sensei. Not over the phone…but in person.

“I need the real story from her…if she wants my help.”

I thought about how Sophia-san confessed that she was the true person who started their relationship. That she wanted to save Taylor-sensei from a neglectful soon-to-be marriage. However, Taylor-sensei clearly told me that she fell in love with Sophia-san…and intentionally avoided what truly happened.

In other words…I don’t think Taylor-sensei has been fully honest with me. I’ll..have to get her true feelings before I think about what to do…

“Simpson-san…”

And then there’s Simpson Eleanor, the legal guardian of Sophia-san right now. With her physical struggles, she needs this job to be, in a way…independent, doesn't she? Her struggles to keep them apart seem to have stemmed from her worry that she won't have anything to fall back on.

Now what Linda said came to mind. That she’s willing to hurt everyone…for the sake of loving Sophia-san. It was Eleanor who caught them in the past…so it was her that separated them in the end…

“Taylor-sensei…”

I believe Simpson-san only wants the best for Sophia-san. That might be the reason why she was so happy…to think we became a couple. That’s the impression I got from it.

“I…can’t think too hard about it right now.”

I needed to calm my mind…think about sleeping for school tomorrow.

“…Taylor-sensei…you need to trust me so we…can figure this out together.”

That was my choice. That's just what I needed to do to find a way out of this, wasn't it? Maybe there isn't a happy ending for these two…but there needed to be some kind of ending; that was apparent.

But before I could fade into the night, my phone chimed again. Reluctantly, I looked at it.

[You are so cute.]

Those were the hot words that raced down my neck.

“…She’s something else.”

I admitted as I closed my eyes and fell asleep…albeit with my body tingling warm from her excitement. Like a spell was cast on me, it was harder to get to sleep without thinking about that dumb picture neatly hidden away in my phone now.

 

---

 

After a pretty quiet breakfast made my mom, Hana-chan and I made our way to school like normal. 

“Morning, Mihara-san.”

Hana-chan cried out as she spotted the white-haired spirit making her way through the crowd of morning goers. Sadly, she got caught a few times, and I was worried she’d be swept away before she made it. But like a determined puppy to get back to her owner, she made her way through and met us at the door.

“Morning, you two. Are you…ready for exams, Koda-san?”

Hana-chan clicked her feet together and nodded sharply.

“Sora-chan and I did a bunch of studying the other day. I'm all ready for it."

She always sounded so serious at times. So, I put my arm around her and pulled her close to me.

“Good work, Hana-chan.”

“Eh, what about you, Onee-chan? Are you ready for your English exam?"

Now the spotlight was on me. She could have asked me about anything…Japanese History, Mathematics, but this little brat brought up the one subject that I hated most.

“I’ll do f-fine…Hana-chan.”

“You don’t sound too confident…Madoka-chan.”

Even Yuko-chan was doubting me now! This only stirred my motivation more though as I looked at the two of them.

“I’ll get a quick refresher course from Sophia-san before class starts. So can we just drop it already?!”

They both giggled…to my dismay. The way they teased me about this… made me think that only a week ago they couldn't meet eye to eye. Now they are teaming up on me like I'm the villain here the whole time.

“Speaking of exams…”

I attempt to move the conversation…

“You said Saitou-san doesn’t study because she retains a bunch of information or something?”

The ghost nodded, her long hair flipped about.

“Yeah. Saya-san is a monster at the small details. She…can remember the smallest of things so it's easier for her to get the information once…and just put it back when the test comes."

Hana-chan tilted her head.

“Saitou Saya-san? The sister of Saitou Risa, Onee-chan?”

"The very one. I guess she's super talented in that way and doesn't study for exams. But get this, she is regularly at the top of the leaderboards in our school."

Hana-chan crossed her arms.

“That’s unfair!”

“I know, right, Hana-chan?!”

Yuko-chan just shrugged.

“She’s…been like this for the year that I’ve known her. It might be unfair…but it’s the truth.”

The Saitou’s are monsters. My mind went back to that picture Saitou-san sent me last night. That bright red nightgown only made for the blood in my body to spike before bed. She's playing quite the social game with me…and sadly winning. Then her sister has this…3rd eye of some kind and can take the smallest bits of information and turn it around to her advantage.

To think…I agreed to go on a date with one of these monsters.

Our stop arrived, so we got out and walked together for a bit longer. When we reached the cut-off, we waved Hana-chan goodbye and told her good luck as we made our way to school.

“Welcome to hell day…”

Sophia-san complained as we walked into the school gates.

 

 

The mood around us was tainted with sour looks and stressful faces. Students looked as though a knife was in each of them as they walked about with likely stomach pains for the upcoming test. No doubt about it…this was a version of hell if I was being honest.

“Mihara-san! I need your help!”

Mae-chan, who was sitting patiently next to Sophia-san, sprang into action as she wrapped her around the ghost. Yuko-chan leaped as my childhood friend cried in her arms.

“I-It’s a little late…for that, Watanabe-san.”

“Yuko-chan, Watanabe-san…”

From the school doors, Saya-san walked out with a pink-haired girl with pigtails behind her. I never saw her before or at least don't recognize her, but she was around my height…maybe a bit shorter. With her bounciness and movement of her feet, I assumed she was the first year like me but a year younger than me at most. With her blue hoodie over her school uniform and signature school skirt, she exploded with cuteness. If I had to compare her to something it would be a cherry or a strawberry. That's what popped in my head when I saw her.

 

 

“Oh! Saitou-san, Tadake-san! Good morning you two!”

Mae-chan cried, cutting in front of them.

“Eh, what’s so good about it? I'm going to super fail!”

The pigtail cried to the heavens as if a god would hear her and save her from her impending demise. Sadly, we live in a world where the gods are super selective and wouldn’t smite Jinda High School for putting this enormous strain on its students.

Yuko-chan tilted her head. How it reminded me of those cute dog videos where the puppy is confused.

“Oh…you didn’t study Saki-chan?”

Yuko-chan accused.

I could have sworn I saw a flash of lighting go through her body as she jolted.

“Eh…I-I didn’t have time for that! Saya-senpai wanted me to help her with the new years…”

The pink-haired shot back.  Suddenly, the senpai in question bonked her on the head. Takade-san leaped up and rubbed her head.

"Oh! I almost spilled the beans! Sorry, Saya-senpai! Please forgive me!"

 

 

With tears rolling down her cheeks, this girl made for a fun display to watch.

“All is forgiven. Now, have you met Nakagawa-san and Conway-san?”

With a shake of her head, those cute pigtails washed from side to side. I had…the overwhelming urge to touch them. They were beyond super cute and made her look like a doll from a toy store.

“My name is Takade Saki…it's nice to meet you two. I'm in my first year."

She bowed; I did the same. Sophia-san…stayed at her position, though, even if that was a bit rude. She probably just didn’t feel like bending her back for the sake of politeness, as rude as that sounded.

"I'm Nakagawa Madoka. I'm a first-year too."

“Conway Sophia, first year.”

The shark responded dryly. Apparently, she was too worried about school to care about some random girl she wasn't interested in.

“Well, good luck everyone!”

Saya-san cried as she marched in. Likely with no worries at all. It shocked me, even more, knowing that she had this covered…without even covering her bases.

“H-Hey, wait up for me senpai!”

Mae-chan just laughed as she held her stomach. It seemed she was enjoying herself more than she could handle.

“Wow, Takade-san seriously sticks to Saitou-san like glue, doesn’t she, Mihara-san?”

The ghost sighed deeply as she nodded.

“Yeah…Saki-chan is loyal.”

“Kinda like how you’re loyal to Mado-chan?!”

The ghost suddenly started assaulting Mae-chan. I wasn't surprised and had no intention of stopping her either.

“Ehhhhh, I’m nothing like Saki-chan, Watanabe-san!”

We all walked into the school as they battled away at one another.

“Hehe, I was only teasing. I promise I won’t tell Mado-chan!”

“I-It’s not funny, Watanabe-san!”

Sophia-san slumped her shoulders.

“Anyway…I need to ask you Madoka-san…can you give me a refresher on math?"

The shark timidly asked as she rubbed the sole of her shoe into the floor.

“Only if you refresh me on English.”

“Deal, let’s get to class.”

So with determination pushing me forwards, we all waved goodbye and said good luck as we made our way to class. The students were all buried in books, unlike usual. When I made it to my seat, even Okabe-san had her head in her study material….

“Hm?”

The light humming of her breathing was coming from her. That’s when I realized that she propped up her book and was sleeping.

“What a waste of life.”

Sophia-san mumbled as she turned to me.

“This equation here…I don’t know why it’s used or what’s the reason and where you’re supposed to use it.”

“Oh…”

I explained briefly the times this equation was used and not. Why it’s used, hoping she understood the process. She nodded as though it was the only thing she could really do now.

“Now, let’s do some English drills.”

She announced. Only having five minutes left, she shot them out like bullets. It was harder to catch than I first imagined. But after a bit of time, I got the hang of the basics of what she was saying.

“Are you ready, Madoka-san?”

“As ready as I’m going to be.”

I admitted. I wasn’t worried about anything else besides the language that was killing me. These next 3 days of testing were going to be rough with all the mental strain, but I knew I'd pull through.

Takanaki sensei came up to the front.

"Alright, everyone. No study guides. If you are caught cheating you will be promptly escorted out and sent to the principal office. So please, for everyone's sake, don’t cheat.”

After the warnings were over, we all sank our heads into the world of words and numbers. Our pens flew across the paper some faster than others. By the end of all this…my butt was going to hurt from all the sitting. As I went through my first test, something came to me though…

 

 

This is my first high school exam…

I wasn’t a middle schooler anymore…I already knew this, but it all came to me. I was a mixture of happy and sad about it all at once. The time I missed was clearly still there…but I was able to move on from it because it didn’t bother me until now.

I…was slowly changing, becoming someone outside of my coma.