Keep on living dear

Chapter 13

"You may be dismissed."
It's the end of the school day.
Those words signalled Yashiro to get up and pack away, of course she was going to head to the old girls bathroom as she is accustomed to.
Walking down the hallways with her bag clutched to her chest, she felt strange, as If something or someone was staring at her. Yes, there are other people in the halls, who are either going home, catching up with friends or going to club meetings so it shouldn't be strange to feel a few stares or so but, this stare was different-inhumane and making her feel apprehensive.

Yashiro turns her head to see behind her but nothing is out of place however, she speeds up.
It's my imagination.
She told herself, though, her gut was telling her otherwise.
Going around a corner which was both dark and desolate of people, the stare grew stronger-it's presence more defined. And that's when she froze.
"Wh-who's there!?" She looks behind her again despite being daunt.
"You-?"
Her eyes are laid upon a fragile-looking boy with long, pink bangs; A sense of meekness surrounds him.
Yashiro:"Mitsuba? How come you're-"
Mitsuba:"Shhh." He puts his finger up to her lips and takes a peek behind him.
Mitsuba:"D-Daikon senpai, I can't be here for l-long."
Yashiro:...
Mitsuba:"I-is... Crazy knife okay?"
Yashiro:"Huh? Hanako kun?"
Mitsuba nods.
Yashiro:"Why wouldn't he be okay? Did something happen to him!" She raises her voice. He gasps and covers her mouth.
Mitsuba:"Daikon senpai you can't be so loud." He whimpers almost on the verge of tears.
Yashiro:"What happened?"
Mitsuba:"Nevermind, but no matter what, don't tell him I'm the one who asked you. I beg you Daikon senpai." His eyes water.
Yashiro:"Why?"
Mitsuba:"You just can't okay?" He says beseechingly, grabbing her shoulders.
Yashiro:"I-I got it."
Mitsuba:"I gotta go." He mouths.
"But you didn't get this from me!"
Yashiro:"Mitsuba kun!?" She reaches her hand out but he won't stop.
What was that all about?
She ponders.
And why was he acting like that?

No. I don't have time for this.
She runs, her chest is feeling heavy. If something were to happen to Hanako kun, she wouldn't forgive herself.
Bursting in, she tries to prepare herself for a nasty sight.
Yashiro:"Hanako kun!" She shouts causing him to jump
Hanako:"Yashiro?"

Yashiro:"Eh?"

He's sitting on the sill playing cards with the mokke peacefully.

Hanako:"What? Did you want to play too?"
He tilts his head.

Yashiro:"No...I thought-"
She rubs her chin.

Hanako:"Uh Yashiro?"

Yashiro:"You're... playing cards?"

Hanako:"Yeahhh? Is it that strange?"

Yashiro:"Is that it?"

It's not like I could ask him about what Mitsuba said because Mitsuba said not to but was he just joking around? But if I don't know for sure, it'll bother me the whole day! Ack but why am I so desperate to know?

Hanako:"Yashiro?"

Yashiro begins walking up to him, her face as serious as ever.

Hanako:"You're kinda scaring me." He smiles awkwardly.

The Mokke hop away.
"Scary! Scary."

Yashiro brings her face close to his.
Her nervousness seems to have disappeared Why? Her mind was focused only on Hanako kun right now. There is no time to get all bashful.
Hanako told me that if I'm scared I could go to him so I should be able to be there for him too.

Hanako:"Yashiro!?" He blushes.

She puts her forehead on his.