#falling...

As Yoshiko snuck around the school and peeked to the school rooftop, she saw 5 students already.

“Ugh...I didn’t think there would be people here this early,” she groaned in disappointment, her eyes narrowed in dread.

Then her eyes met a pair of honey gold ones, which were narrowed sharply.

“Yoshiko-chan?”

Yoshiko startled.

“A-Ack! Zuramaru…!”

Hanamaru’s eyes were as sharp as...Yoshiko didn’t know, a vulture or some kind of bird. For some reason, Hanamaru could always spot Yoshiko, no matter how far or how well hidden she was. Which Yoshiko was rarely hidden that well anyway, unbeknownst to herself.

She quickly turned around the corner, hiding, and fled downstairs and hid inside a small locker.

Unfortunately for Yoshiko, she could hear the sounds of footsteps nearing already.

The door to the locker opened suddenly.

“Yoshiko-chan!”

Hanamaru was standing there, and Yoshiko caught only a glimpse of the girl’s face before Yoshiko rolled out of the locker comically.

“A-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!! It hurts, ugh…” Yoshiko rubbed her elbow, which she accidentally bumped in the midst of her rolling adventure.

“So I see you’ve finally come to school,” Hanamaru said happily. She was smiling, her white teeth shining.

Yoshiko glanced around furtively, mumbling.

“N-Not really, I just… I just happened to pass by…”

Ignoring Yoshiko’s response, Hanamaru proceeded to question her.

“Why didn’t you come to school for so long?”

“W-Well, everyone must think I’m really weird and all! After...that happened,” she said as she thought of her introduction as Yohane. “How about it? Did they say anything like… ‘Yoshiko is so weird!’ or… ‘Why does Yoshiko act like that?’ They must have!”

Hanamaru was slightly at a loss, her smile faltering.

“Uh…”

Remembering where they really were, Yoshiko dashed back into the locker and closed the door.

“Ack! I can tell by your reaction! They d-definitely said something bad about me!”

Her cheeks unconsciously puffed up, and she felt tears smarting at the corners of her eyes. But in the middle of her wounded heart, a clear voice came to her.

“No, not really. They all just wondered why Yoshiko-chan wasn’t coming to school, and if they had said or done something mean to cause it.”

Shocked, Yoshiko paused before answering, brushing away her tears. Her voice was still slightly warbled from her crying.

“R-Really? You’re being honest?”

“Yes.”

“Cross your heart and fall from heaven?”

Hanamaru thought for a second, then smiled.

“Zura.”

Yoshiko burst out from her locker, giving Hanamaru a quick hug.

“Banzai! It isn’t ruined,” she grinned. Now her tears were tears of joy. “I might have a chance at a normal high school life,” she cheered. “But wait,” she said, holding Hanamaru by the shoulders. She stared into Hanamaru’s eyes seriously, so long that Zuramaru’s cheeks started to turn slightly pink.

“W-What is it, zura?”

Yoshiko’s lips puckered slightly in concentration.

“Promise me something.”

Hanamaru’s never heard Yoshiko this serious before.

“What is it?”

“Promise me that you’ll monitor me. Sometimes Yohane the fallen angel just comes out unsuspectingly. Please, Zura-Hanamaru, promise me that you’ll stop me from becoming her in front of our classmates!” she pleaded.

Hanamaru simply nodded.

“Sure, Yoshiko-chan,” she smiled and tilted her head slightly.

In that moment, Yoshiko was sure she saw a halo hovering over Hanamaru’s head, but she supposed she couldn’t be sure. Maybe one day she’d capture the phenomenon on camera. She plotted to the side, trying to figure out the logistics.

“What is it, Yoshiko-chan?” Hanamaru’s face was suddenly much too close to Yoshiko’s face, and the pink eyed girl backed away abruptly, her face blushing.

“A-ah-ah! It’s nothing, nothing at all! Then, see you in class! Bye!”

Yoshiko ran away down the hallway. Once she was sure Hanamaru was out of sight, she walked and put her back against the wall, sliding down slowly to sit on the floor. She let out a sigh, then stared at the ground.

A shadow was cast across her face, and a devious smile spread on her lips.