I was discharged from the hospital the next day. I messed up my first appearance in my school, I wondered how the others will be? Will they still get stunned if I went by the name Rinka? I never knew. I hope everything goes well.
I stepped into my class, some of my classmates talked to me.
"Rinka, good morning!" I'm not sure about why. They started calling me Rinka. Which is a good thing that they are not stunned like yesterday when I talked to them.
A girl came in and visited the class. It's Haruna. I wouldn't want to face her, since I fell in love with her love interest, that would make us love rivals. I returned to my seat and pretended to sleep. I raised my head a little, to see her trying to flirt with Yuuma. Who seemingly haven't noticed my arrival.
"Oh Rinka, you're here." Shoot! Yuuma noticed me. He walked over. Perhaps he's interested because I happened to have the same interest as him. I can feel the envious glares from other girls, it seems like there is nowhere to run. I guess I would have to face him normally. I casually greeting him, which surprised all other people who thought I'm harmless to their conquest to Yuuma. Well, sorry to say, I have no idea why I'm here, but I'm just having a little fun here.
He talked about stars with me, although I just had some amateur knowledge in it, as long as he's excited talking about them, I'm happy. Not long after, a teacher entered the classroom, it's Ryutenji!
"Well, good morning students, it's time for class." Ryutenji said.
Wait a minute, is he seriously going to be my teacher now? Regardless of that, I stayed quiet. He occasionally looked at me, I guess he's here so that he could observe me.
Classes went on as usual, except that Ryutenji occasionally looked in my direction. He didn't seem like introducing himself as a new teacher as well. Is it because he could somehow change the memories of people in this world? I guess, living in this world is not a bad idea at all. I went along with the idea of using the name Rinka, which solves a problem. But, what's next?
I walked home after school, Yuuma usually spends his time playing basketball. I once felt relieved when I can enjoy my way back home without him tagging along. I turned around to see an empty street without anyone, I hoped Yuuma is right here with me.
Sigh... He's not coming, well I should really head home and study. I returned home, I saw my father's pair of shoes. He's not working huh? I went inside and looked for my mother.
"Mom! Why is dad not working today?" I said loudly. I then saw them sitting in the dining room, motionless, but then suddenly jolted up into life.
"Ah Rinka welcome back, how is school today?" My mother asked.
"I'm doing fine, thanks mom... Dad, why are you not working today?" I asked in return.
"My stomach is doing weird today, so I decided to rest today." He replied.
I went back to my room after I had took something from the fridge. There's a lot of weird things today. Firstly, everyone called me Rinka without me reintroducing myself. Second, what happened to mom and dad? What were they doing when I'm away? Mysteries popped up one after another.
I tried analysing everything that happened in this world, but to no avail. I'm not that smart enough to understand such logics as parallel worlds, but I was forced to believe it since Ryutenji said so. What if, he was lying all the time? But how to explain about the sudden change, when all of my classmates, including my parents called me Rinka without me doing anything?
Who is he? What role is he playing? I wouldn't know if I didn't ask. But there is no guarantee that he would answer me properly. For Dr. Hiro, he said that he never heard of the name before, therefore, his world never changed at all. I ran out of clues, truth or theory wouldn't come to me if I don't investigate. I tied my ribbon on my school uniform again, and decided to head back to school, hoping to find Ryutenji for more answers.
On my way to school, it's actually pretty late, it's time for Yuuma heading back home from school after playing basketball in school. I wanted to watch him play though. I guess, I contradicted myself huh? I reached the traffic light, which is still red. I looked across the road, it's Yuuma holding a ball, waiting as well.
He waved at me, which strikes some nostalgic feelings, I get flustered as well. I waved back at him, feeling shy. After a while, the light turned green. We passed each other, "Where are you going?" He asked when he passed by.
"It's none of your business!" is what I would yell at him if I'm still my old self.
"I have some questions for sensei." I answered.
"Why aren't you bringing your bag?" He asked in response. Dang it, why are you so sharp now?! I flustered, trying to come up with an excuse to avoid this. At the moment I was desperately trying to think of another crappy excuse, a truck passed by. I immediately rushed to school, I'll spend a bit of time to come up with a better excuse for this.
Before I noticed, Ryutenji is standing before me.
"What is it? Rinka, you need any help again?" Ryutenji read my thoughts? I'm sure he didn't know I'm looking for him. Nevertheless, I declared my doubts.
First, it's about how everyone else refers me as Rinka. Second, it's about why my parents did not move at all since I left home. I felt like I have a lot of doubts living in this world. But I couldn't pinpoint all of them.
"Well, I think I should praise you for your sharp senses." Ryutenji said.
"This world is merely an ideal world of your very own imagination." he said while he poked his head.
"As you might notice, the worlds you leapt through without knowing is the worlds you never existed, yet they are all centered upon you." Ryutenji added.
I was surprised. Every word he said started to make sense, while negating one another. I was leaping through different worlds without noticing?
Everything could happen if I wanted it to happen, isn't that too godly to have such an ability? No, the one who has the power and authority to do so must be the Rain Goddess. However, what's up with the trial she's suppose to give me? Is it about tormenting me after I lost my so called "ideals" in this world? Before I completely digested the facts, Ryutenji started talking again.
"The answer for your second question, the Rain Goddess' power is limited, so it is logic in her sense to not move too many people in this world." He said.
That literally means that every other people that I didn't see is not moving as I breath now? I looked around, cars are moving, and some of the students chattering and walking out from the school gates... So, it appears that they aren't.
"Am I supposed to start answering your third and fourth doubts?" I was surprised that he even predicted that I would ask more questions after this.
"You might want to ask, why are actually people still moving around despite the fact that you are not seeing them nor you knew them." I didn't feel much more surprised that he actually knew what I was going to ask, so I just nodded.
"Even though you don't know the people you see, they, do exist." He said.
I couldn't catch what he said. Before I could voice out my next question, Ryutenji saw something, and pointed behind me.
"Oh, someone has come for you." Ryutenji said. I turned around...
Wait, Yuuma followed me! I haven't even thought of any excuses yet.
"Uh... Ryutenji sensei, I went back to school just to ask you about this problem..." I said while turning back to where Ryutenji was, he's not there.
"So you had some problems with homework huh? But you didn't even bring your workbook." Yuuma asked after I explained the situation to him. It's all lies obviously, but I can't get anyone in this world to get involved with my problems. If that happened, Yuuma would potentially become petrified due to confusion, according to Ryutenji.
We waited at the traffic light. While waiting, I remembered that the world is centered upon me. I would like to test something out... When I thought of what I wanted to happen next, I blinked. Before I noticed, I heard Yuuma's voice.
"Watch out!" He yelled.
I was in the middle of the road?! The lights are red though! What am I doing?! Yuuma rushed towards me. Wait, its impossible... Is it really happening?! I closed my eyes.
It's just like that day, a car managed to stop, and scold us. I was still closing my eyes, my muscles were all tensed up. Well, I felt that someone embraced me, and something touched my lips. I quickly opened my eyes...
Oh my, this couldn't be! Yuuma's lips touched mine! I almost fainted...