Episode 5

Leaving the classroom, Takuya hurried home.

He went straight into his room and curled up on his bed.

The scene from school would not leave his mind.

Two people throwing themselves down.

And Saeki’s ghost… it felt like something foul was clinging to him.

What was it that I saw? No matter how much he asked himself, no answer came.

All Takuya could do was tremble. After a while—

“Takuya, did you do something? Mr. Takahashi is on the phone.”

Though Takuya already knew what the call from Takahashi would be about, it still struck him as shocking.

That Shizue Saeki and the other two who jumped had decided on suicide together, that Saeki’s suicide note had been addressed to them, and then—

“Uesugi, what did you see there?”

“Sensei, you didn’t see it!? Saeki’s ghost!?”

Only Takuya had seen it.

No—of everyone in that room, the only one who hadn’t was Takahashi.

If that was the case… Takuya peeked outside through the gap in his curtain.

It was there. Without a doubt.

As if guiding Takuya, who had sympathized with her…

Takuya was terrified.

At this rate, it would be his turn.

He locked his room.

On his bed, he trembled violently.

He desperately tried to think of what to do.

But by then, it was already right before him.

Saeki smiled softly, against his will.

Takuya’s fear gradually faded.

The feelings of admiration he once held rose up from deep within his heart.

“Let’s go…”

“…Yeah.”

Led along, Takuya stepped out the window.

—Now he would be freed from his boring everyday life— “And next in the news, this evening what appears to be another suicide by jumping…”

“These kinds of stories have been common lately, haven’t they?”

—

Thank you very much for reading to the end. I’d be grateful for any thoughts or critiques you might share.