Black Swan Wonderland

Daichi

Halo Three: Daichi:

-Daichi-

I am pretty.

That is not something to brag about. They don't take me seriously because of my looks. My mom and grandma think that I just have to be pretty. They pictured me as a model or an idol singer. Grandma went on and on about how she would like to see me in movies. But just isn't me. I am more than just pretty.

I love numbers. They have fascinated me since I was three. Because of this, I majored in mathematics. My mom and grandma didn't say anything but I could see it in their eyes. Disappointment. They just wanted me to just be pretty. Even in grade school, girls would get into physical fights over who would marry me. Thinking back, it makes me want to vomit.

The only three people that take me seriously are Kitano-sensei, Osamu, and Mari-san.

I looked up at Osamu across the table. "Hey, Osamu."

"Hm?" he asked.

"What's going to happen next?" I asked. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"Come on, man," I said. "Aren't you curious to know?"

"I guess," he said. I frowned to myself. I can never figure him out. We barely talk at all when we work. It kind of drives me crazy. In a way, Osamu is like me. We both are misunderstood in a way.

Suddenly, we heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Osamu shouted. We turned to see Kitano-sensei walking in with a mask on his face.

"Good morning, gentlemen," he greeted us.

"Good morning," I said. I quickly bowed. Osamu gave him a wave.

"Got more orders for us?" he asked. I couldn't tell if Kitano-sensei was smiling or not. He reached into his coat pocket.

"We have a special order from quite the young lady today," he said. Osamu and I took a look. My partner whistled.

"Whoa," he said. "Is she coming already?"

"Yes," Kitano said.

"How soon do you need it?" I asked.

"Right now," he said. "I need you to get started right now."

"Yes sir!" Osamu and I said. Kitano-sensei has this strange charm to him. I will get more into that as we go along.

"Very good," he said. "I will leave you to it." Kitano-sensei bowed. He turned and walked out of our lab. I turned to Osamu. He just got straight to work. I shrugged and did the same. I will try to get to know him one day.

-Keiichi-

Keiichi rubbed his forehead. Shirley titled her head.

"Why did I do this?" he asked. Week after week became a headache. Her "papa" wasn't going to let her go.

"Something wrong?" Shirley asked. Keiichi shook his head.

"No, no," he said. "It's fine. Everything is fine." He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He wished that Arisu was here. She would know what to do.

Keiichi looked up when his phone rang. His stomach dropped as he had a guess who was on the other line.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Keiichi-kun?" a woman's voice asked on the other line. A confused look came over his face.

"Mom?" he asked.

"How have you been?" his mom asked.

"Uh... fine," he said. "Is everything okay?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?"