Is this reality? Memory? Or just an illusion?
The girl with long Interral Brown hair didn't have time to think about anything as her body reflexively followed Hanasta, someone she loved deeply, venturing further into the forest beside the school.
It wasn't a large forest, but all students had been prohibited from entering it. Allegedly, part of the forest is connected with a slum area and its dangerous, barbaric, primitive, even Neanderthal inhabitants.
But, of course, that was just a rumor. What Solielle needed to think about now was why the best student at Special Proctor Gildas Middle School was entering it. Her curiosity was so strong that she didn't want to miss the chance to find out the answer.
The breath of the teenage boy felt increasingly heavy. Black mist continued to pour from his mouth.
"Hanasta! Stop! You can't even stand up straight!" Solielle shouted.
But he ignored her. His only goal was to put as much distance as possible from others—something he hoped would speed up his recovery.
His steps began to stagger. Once again, he wobbled, almost falling.
Seeing this, Solielle quickly caught Hanasta from behind, allowing him to lean against her shoulder.
Hanasta turned for a moment with a weak gaze, "I told you not to involve yourself with someone like me."
"Not until you tell me what really happened," the girl replied.
Suddenly Hanasta gripped the back of Solielle's head. "I told you I will create a world where all your anxieties disappear, Solielle. For now…"
*
"Where is Soli?" asked a student in the Special Proctor Gildas middle school uniform to several female students walking ahead of him.
The three teenage girls immediately slowed their pace upon hearing a familiar voice. Then they fell silent, astonished at the sight of the newly arrived student.
"Raibeart, you still look charming as usual," one of them complimented unconsciously, completely taken by one of the most handsome students at the academy.
Others quickly answered, "This morning we are not leaving with Solielle."
"The dormitory guard said she left earlier."
"What for? That's not usual," asked Raibeart.
The three looked at each other with doubtful expressions.
"Raibeart, you have been close friends since childhood. I feel this is a critical time for Solielle."
"Many people know how she has always been kind to the kids from that slum area. The rumors circulating must make her uncomfortable."
"We're a bit worried that the boy has a bad influence on her. It would be good if you could protect Solielle more until the Tidsear does something."
"Such a pity. That boy isn't actually bad. He is quite handsome," one of them murmured, "If only he weren't from the slum area."
Hearing that, Raibeart immediately quickened his steps towards the school building after thanking them.
"Ahh, it must be nice to be Solielle."
"I'd be willing to destroy the world just to be near a guy like Raibeart."
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA."
*
"Solielle!" Raibeart called when he saw the girl walking alone in the school corridor. The learning activities had not yet begun.
Solielle merely glanced at Raibeart but did not say anything.
The brow of the teenager with Marigold-colored hair furrowed when he saw that the girl's expression looked weary and her face somewhat pale. He held her upper arms. "What's wrong with you?"
Solielle did not respond a word.
"Soli, are you still in touch with Hanasta?"
"..."
"I told you, right? He will bring bad influence to you. Not to mention the rumors that are spreading. Your good name could be tarnished if you stay close to him."
"..."
A feeling of unease began to creep into Raibeart's mind. Something was off with Solielle.
"Soli, Soli," he called several times while shaking the girl's shoulders.
"RAIBEART!" called a classmate from the other side of the corridor as he approached him.
"What's up?" Raibeart asked, trying to appear calm.
"Tidsear Farras asked me to tell you to meet him in laboratory IV to discuss the research proposal you submitted in his class yesterday."
Tidsear Farras is the homeroom teacher of Solielle and Hanasta. What is that stupid person doing? Has he not done anything regarding the false rumor that I spread? Raibeart wondered to himself. He felt uneasy about this situation, as if something unexpected was about to happen.
*
Class D, the final year of Special Proctor Gildas Junior High School.
Solielle, one of the students in the class, had just woken up from a short nap during a boring lesson. Unbeknownst to her, the bell signaling the change of subjects had already rung, and Tidsear, who had been teaching, was getting ready to leave.
Huh? What just happened? She straightened her body. She looked at her sweaty palms, observing the situation in the classroom that had become livelier after the teacher's departure. And of course, Hanasta's seat.
"Hey, hey, where's Hanasta?" she asked the girl sitting in front of her. She sat in the middle of the class while Hanasta had chosen to sit by the window.
The girl removed her headset. She turned around and lifted her face. "What?"
"Hanasta, Hanasta, Hanasta!" whispered Solielle, pointing to the empty seat.
The girl turned back to the front with a relaxed expression. "Oh, he's absent because he's sick."
"Sick? What illness does he have?"
"Aren't you the one who is closer to that boy, Miss Genesis?" she replied, a bit teasingly. "I don't know. It's probably related to the bullying he always receives, right?"
Solielle clutched her forehead, trying to determine whether her memory was real or not regarding Hanasta's behavior, which was anything but normal.
Normal. Has Hanasta ever been normal?