Day 58

[from I Watch You Sleeping]

A few minutes later, I'm stood outside the door to Class 3-2. Whatever the deal is with that letter, and those photos, I can't let it get in the way of my schoolwork. Before entering, I take a couple of moments to compose myself. The last thing I need is people asking questions. However, my mouth is still dry and my hand shakes a little as I reach out, grab the handle and open the classroom door.

Everyone else is already inside and seated, and as I enter they all turn to look at me. That's not surprising, since I'm a few minutes late. Normally this would be kinda awkward, but at the moment I have bigger things to worry about.

Our homeroom teacher, Sasaki-sensei, is halfway through a talk about something or other, but cuts herself off and joins her students in staring at me.  She pouts, no doubt disappointed with my tardiness. "You're late, Miyazaki," she says.

I rub the back of my neck apologetically. "Sorry, Sasaki-sensei."

"Any particular reason you're late?"

I freeze for a moment. Should I tell her about the letter? This seems like a pretty big deal…

"…no, Sasaki-sensei. No reason."

She purses her lips disapprovingly. "Well, at least you showed up," she says. "Sit down, Miyazaki." She vaguely waves a hand in the direction of my seat, and I nod silently and sit down.

As I get out my things, Sasaki-sensei picks up where she left off. "Now, as I was saying…"

I'm about to tune out of her speech when I hear a whisper coming from my left. "Psst! Ken!" I turn my head to face Raiden. He's looking at me with something approaching concern on his face. Raiden doesn't get concerned easily. He knows something up. He always knows. That's partly why he's my best friend. One of my only two real friends, as Natsume was quick to point out this morning.

"What's up, man?" he asks quietly. "You look real troubled about something, and it's not like you to turn up late to homeroom. Did something happen to you on the way here? Come on, you can tell me."

I didn't tell Sasaki-sensei about the letter because that would have meant telling the whole class. I don't want everyone knowing about this. But I think I can trust Raiden. So I tell him about the letter, and the photos that came with it. He looks pretty surprised, and concerned. "Wow, really? Damn." Then a grin spreads across his face. It would be frightening, if not for the fact that I've known him since we were both five and I know exactly what he's about to say.

"Hey, you know what that means, right?" he whispers excitedly. "You got yourself a stalker! I bet she's a hot yandere chick who'd kill anyone who looks twice at you! Damn, I'd kill for a girl like that!"

"I know you would," I tell him, "but I don't want a stalker, or a girlfriend who murders people."

"Come on, man!" says Raiden. "Yandere is best dere!"

"No it isn't."

Raiden looks at me like I just told him the sky is orange. "You're weird, man."

"Excuse me?" I retort quietly. "I'm weird? I'm not the one who finds murderous psychopaths adorable." Nor am I the one who bought a hugging pillow of that girl from M*rai N*kki, but we agreed never to talk about that again.

Before our argument can continue any further, the bell rings to signal the start of class.