HAJIMA (Stop It)

[Chapter 4]

"It's nice having someone right by your side right?" Sana said as they were approaching the flower garden outside.

"Exactly" was what Tzuyu said yet she was confused as to why Sana asked her that.

The flower garden is enormous just like the building itself. The bonsai trees lined the garden's boundary perfectly in their wooden boxes. In the other side was a pond as large as a small lake with flowering lily pads and a wooden bridge that crossed the middle. Few benches are scattered throughout the place. A stone pathway is also leading towards the bridge. You can say that the garden is a place to go to if you want to make your mind at ease.

"So how has it been with the girls here?" Sana asked, still looking around some flowers that are blossoming the garden.

"Good, good. They are like sisters to me. They cared for me since I got here, and they are really fun to be with especially when they are like forgetting their ages and act like little kids in front of us" Tzuyu replied as she was leading the way. Sana hummed in understanding

"Momo is the only one who usually goes in this place, but we also come out here to get some fresh air when we needed to cool out from stress. This place is perfect for Momo to practice her healing power" Tzuyu added.

"The flowers here look so fresh" Sana said as she was inhaling the scent of flowers and looking at them. "Smells really good too"

"We'll go back if you are done admiring the flowers"

The red roses planted on the sides of the garden caught Sana's eyes. She was tempted to pull just one and take it to give it to Tzuyu but she was successful to convince herself that she didn't need to for it will only destroy the beautiful bushes. Besides, it's not normal to give a flower to someone you just met a moment ago and it's also embarrassing to think about it. Sana thought to herself.

"I can come here another time if I wanted too. Come on, shall we?" Sana turned to look at Tzyu and smiled. The pair walked out of the garden.

"Jihyo told me that there were more students here? How many students are you before?" Sana asked as they were walking back. The stones crunched under their feet with each step they took.

"Jihyo was here for ten years, while I was here for only about four years. When I joined, there were like a total of 31 of us? And then as time goes, they slowly left. Some wanted to fight and never came back, but for some? They disappeared without a trace" Tzuyu looked down on the ground, hands shoved in her pocket and lips pressed together.

"They left to fight?" Sana asked as carefully as much since she was on a sensitive topic. She can tell by just looking at Tzuyu that this topic hurts her.

"Yes, they also wanted to rescue other mutants. Before, we would do rescue missions because Jihyo could track mutants that are near the academy. But she refused to continue doing that task because there seemed to be more casualties from the rescue missions, and some are not fortunate to even return back. She didn't want to send more mutants to their deaths and she even had a fight with the leader because of that. I think that this information is necessary for you to know, but last year, there had been a fight and that is when the leader left with the experienced members and handed the leadership to Jihyo. She wanted to go also, she wanted to help, but he made her stay to take care of the academy and to welcome new members. When the others left, only eight of us remained. No one came back after the fight, the number of monsters has been greatly reduced. The neighbouring academy lost many members too, there are only thirteen members over there now. We also received that the other members of the other academy are not fortunate to get back"