Chereads / 《CHANGE 》 / Chapter 55 - 11/6/2017- "Look what you made me do!"

Chapter 55 - 11/6/2017- "Look what you made me do!"

* MITSURU FUKUYAMA *

"Wow..." I said after hearing that, I was amazed. The way she described it painted a clear image in my head.

Sayuri dropped down on the floor, and buried her head between her knees. She's saddened. She sobbed quietly, as though a spear had been impelled through her heart, she was crying in pain.

"I was so stupid! I didn't just make a mistake...! I ruined everyone! Their lives!... I can feel their spirits  surrounding me...! They're whispering, 'She'll die by the hands that have caused bloodshed!!'..."

She spoke in anger, staring at her hands with paranoia.

"Hm... I guess you're right." I spoke calmly as I sat down next to her on the floor.

*SAYURI SCHREIBER *

"What?..." I looked at him, my eyes filled with shock.

"We are the same..." As soon as he said those words, I was reminded of the night we first met, the soothing rain poured, gently tapping against my soft cheeks... I said those words to him... and now, I have forgotten the purpose of saying that to him...

"I was manipulated by my sister... She repeatedly asked the same question, since I was a child, "you'll always love me... Right,  Mitsuru?" And your boyfriend manipulated you too-"

"He wasn't my boyfriend." I clarified. Mitsuru simply glanced at me then continued.

"...We are both puppets, to the ones we loved... They have always been pulling on our strings... After what happened, I never let anyone control me- never. Because this is my life! Whether or not, I'll allow anyone to take that from me... I will still stand up and face death itself!... I'll DIE when I want to and I'll live when I want to...! No one will control me!"

I averted my eyes, I felt weak in his presence. Why does he have such a strong willed mindset?... he wasn't like that before. Then, why does he panic so much? If he's so strong, then why does he fear his past?...

"...We may be puppets... but it was our fault for choosing the wrong puppet master. Don't you think?" I asked.

"Yeah... We were foolish... Because we believed that we were going to be granted a garden full of happiness, a castle full of security... and a paradise full of love...! Don't follow people's promises... Shut them up and build your own empire!... If you want happiness, let go of the past!... The people who have betrayed me... only proved me one thing...

I let my walls down for you... but you only reminded me why I built them so high..."

I was astonished. I never thought Mitsuru had these thoughts, that he could transform his feelings into something so powerful.

"Yeah... I understand what you mean, but.. people are always going to throw rocks at you."

"Don't throw back... You'll end up being their reflection." I smiled at him. I really needed that...

There was a small silence between us, but I heard a yawn coming from Mitsuru. I flinched. Suddenly, Mitsuru laid his head on my shoulder. Just what am I?! Why do you always sleep on me?!

However, he wasn't asleep.. not yet... I heard him sigh slowly.

"Sing..." He said quietly.

"Why?"

"You promised..." He pouted like a stupid little kid.

He really loves this song... But I don't like singing it, especially after what happened... I hadn't sang this song, since I parted ways with Louise. I only recently started singing it when I came here. However, the reason why I sing this song... is because I believe that Charlotte and my mother would be at peace when I sing...

My mother always told me to sing for her, especially when she was sad...

"Louise, Mein Hertz..."

*MITSURU FUKUYAMA *

"Louise?... Why do you sing a song about him?.." I asked after she finished singing. It took her a while to respond, but she says with a soft voice, almost whispering to me, "... I don't know... My best friend taught it to me, while she awaited for her prince charming to arrive... it was a way of her confessing her feelings to him..."

I remember Sayuri mentioning that she sings this song whenever she felt sad. But why a song that will only give you sad memories?...

I didn't feel like searching for the answer from her just yet... She's already said enough...

I want to sleep...

*HASHIBA MAEHARA *

Today is the last day, tomorrow we'll have to leave and return back to Sekai. We'll stay there for the night then return home for the summer vacation. Sayuri had no place to stay so Yusari invited her into her apartment. Unfortunately, Mitsuru had only one thing to say before the vacation begins...

13/6/2017

*TOSHIRO SHINTARU *

"Can't I stay in school during the holidays?..."

"No." Mitsuru has been begging me since yesterday. I'm so damn tired! We had to visit Hinami's family and give respects at her memorial.

"Come on! I don't wanna go home! Who likes that place?.."

"The answer is no! I need to go home! I've been dying in these past few months! I'm out!!"

I'm not usually the first teacher to leave for the holidays. However... I don't want to stay behind and he to encounter the principle again. I was very stunned by what happened that night.... It happened on the last day of the trip...

11/6/2018

"All preparations have been made for tomorrow..-Uh." No one's here... I've been talking to myself as I entered the principles office.

I was supposed to give in these handouts to him, personally. Unfortunately, he isn't here. So I guess I'll just pop them on his desk and leave. I walked toward his desk, it was messy and disorganised. Papers were Un-responsibly scattered. Odd. Sawashiro never leaves his desk in such a mess.

His laptop was left open and post-it notes were stuck on the top of the device. I didn't bother to read them at first, since I thought it might be some reminders for him. I carefully placed the handouts on the desk, away from the clutter, but as I drifted my eyes away, I was captured by the words written in bold, red ink:

THE GHOST IS HERE!

It was written on one of the post-it. This reminds me of the day Ai Hinami died, she screamed some thing like this too. I don't understand... what is going on?...

I turned around to the sound of the door creaking slowly. The principle arrived, looking drowsy. He entered confused at my sudden presence.

"Toshiro... what are you doing here?..."

"I apologise for intuding, sir... But I came here to give you the handouts." I tried to maintain my calmness.

"I see... I hope you weren't snooping around again.." I'm screwed. I immediately head to the door.

"Toshiro!" I froze, an inch away from the handle.

"Yes, sir..."

"Aren't you supposed to say something?..." I looked at him, confused. I just hope he meant 'goodnight' or something. But as I looked at him in the eyes... I was dead wrong. "You should just come clean..."

I sighed and faced him, "Sir... Can you just tell me... Who the 'ghost' is?..." His expression looked shocked, his eyes widened but what shocked me even more was... I thought he knew... I thought he knew I was going to ask this... but the look in his eyes differ.

It seemed as if he was seeing something entirely different!

"NO! NO!! NO!!" His screams flashed me back and forth to Hinami's screams, how mental they both sounded like.

"IT'S HERE!! THE GHOST IS HERE!!" He's saying the exact same words! He began breathing heavily, and grasping his neck from tightening.

Sawashiro, stressfully rummaged through his drawers and emptied everything out as he desperately tries to find it. Within one of the drawers, that he toppled over, were bundles of injections. I tried to calm him down but there were whispers of other voices ringing in my head.

He began stabbing the needles in his arm. One. By. One. He collapsed on the floor and suddenly the chaos became silent. Too silent that it scared me.

I got back to my senses, and I kneed before him, making sure if he was alright. He softened down, his breathing reduced back to normal. But he was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Sir..?"

"LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!!!"

He drastically revealed his arms to me. Both, with needles sticking out of them. I flinched back. I watched the blood slowly drip from his arms.  I froze. I wanted to run.

But he looked down and said, "What happened to me?.." His voice was trembling. I couldn't take it. That's it. I left.

I never said a word to anyone. It was a frightening experience. However... what frightened me more...was how perfectly fine Sawashiro was the next day.

Very normal. Like nothing happened.

To be continued. . .