Era : Entropy

Two Little Hearts

"What's up with her?" Yukika heard whispers surrounding her. She turned and saw her classmates glancing over at Sakura. It was gym for the class of 6-A, and the twelve year olds were clumped together in the gymnasium. All except for Sakura, who was standing at one corner of the gym. She was wearing her gym jacket over her clothes. It was raining outside, and the air was cold.

Sakura was staring at her feet. The others took the opportunity to keep staring at her. Yukika gritted her teeth, seeing malicious spirits whispering in their ears. She wanted to make them disappear with a flick of her hand, but she hadn't mastered that yet. She heard another whisper pass her ears.

"Don't you know? She never takes part in gym. I bet she thinks she's so special."

Yukika clenched her fists. It was always that way. She didn't know what the big deal was, but any difference was a reason to gossip and pick on other students. She finally spoke up.

"Shut up about Sakura. It's none of your business."

Some of her classmates looked over and glared at her for interrupting them. They knew better than to pick a fight, however. Yukika would never back down. Some of them had to learn that the hard way.

The teacher finally entered to teach the class. They started to warm up. Sakura had slid to the ground. She started to play with her shoelaces. The class jogged a few laps. Then the true exercise started, a game of basketball. The two teams were divided, and Yukika's team cheered at getting her. Yukika played effortlessly, dodging the players trying to steal the ball from her. She was too fast for the other players, stealing the ball each time in a blink of an eye. She kept her cool trying to shoot the ball in the hoop, ignoring the waving arms all around her. She had to keep cool. 'It's just a game, it's just a game,' she reminded herself.

The game ended with her team winning. Yukika got lots of pats on the back by her teammates. She smiled at some of them and stayed blank faced at others. She walked towards Sakura. She was smiling at Yukika, holding out her water bottle and a face towel. Her face lit up every time she smiled. It filled her with happiness to see that smile. Yukika smiled back at her.

"You did really good, Yukika," said Sakura. "You can be a professional one day."

Yukika laughed at the notion. "Sure, and get paid millions of Decacents. Then I'll buy a giant house in City Three and we can live there forever."

In the middle of her joke, she realised how much she wished for that. It sounded wonderful, to live such a special yet normal life with Sakura. Sakura's eyes shone. A happiness spirit tousled her hair as it rushed past. She was thinking of the same thing.

"You really think we'll be friends that long?" Sakura asked. Her small hands gripped her gym jacket. Yukika took Sakura's hands in hers. They were so warm. So soft. The bell rang for them to go home.

"We'll be friends forever," Yukika reassured her. Sakura smiled. They walked back to class together, hand in hand. Yukika was aware of the stares they got, but she didn't care. Nothing else mattered if Sakura was happy.

Their happiness didn't last long. Back in class, there were crumpled up papers in Sakura's desk. All the contents of her schoolbag were strewn out around the class. Sakura sighed. Her bottom lip quivered a little. A spirit of despair hung around her neck, whispering in her ear. She shook off any desire to cry, and it disappeared. Yukika helped her gather her things and put them back in her bag. As she zipped up her bag, it was snatched away. 

"Oh, looks like Sakura wants her things," the girl teased. Her name was Merry and she was a red-haired girl with an angelic face but a devilish smile on her face. Her friends laughed. Yukika could see two pride spirits resting on her shoulders. They were feeding off her energy. Yukika gave her a warning glance.