My family has always been interested in spirits and supernatural phenomena, so that's how they gave me my name, Seishin. My mother gave birth to me fifteen years ago, in 2037, in the cold month of December 16th.
Many foreigners do not believe I am Japanese due to my long strawberry blond hair and turquoise eyes. I don't blame them because the family was confused about how I looked since both my parent's brown hair and brown eyes. I guess genetics work in bizarre ways.
My two best friends, Taiyou and Kazan, are very socially active, while I am the unsocial one. We live in a dorm and matters can get confusing since they have a way of living while I have mine. While I could stay in bed all day, Kazan and Taiyou have to go out at a certain hour. Overall, it's fun to live with them, better than staying all day with my parents.
Taiyou Sumewa, or Tai for short, is my first best friend. We knew each other ever since pre-school and we never got separated. He is a calm and collected person but can be very talkative if he wants. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and gosh do people crush on him. I remember once, in primary school, there was a girl who visibly had a crush on Tai. She stalked him around and followed him everywhere. In the end, he just reported her to the school council, with me and Kazan as a witness. Afterward, she left us alone and we never heard from her again.
Kazan, from her full name Kazan Nenshou, is my second best friend. I knew her in 9th grade since she was in my class. She has such an exploding personality that I find amazing. As she is black and comes from a family that lives in a ghetto, many people mock her at school, but she isn't one to shut up in front of these mockeries. I remember once a girl, Ninki, insulted Kazan by some racist sh*t. The next moment, blood was dripping from her face.
Kazan punched Ninki so badly that she had to go to the hospital. Of course, my best friend was punished, but people learned to never mess with her again. I try my best to keep Kazan out of possible danger, but she is reckless. I don't mind it, but it could be dangerous for others.
"Seishin! The bus is here and it's not going to wait forever!"
"Coming, mama!"
I rushed down the hallway, took the bento that mama made for me, and ran towards the bus outside. I could see the bus driver waiting for me.
"Sorry, sensei! It's the first and last that I'll be late!" I yelled upon arriving in front of the bus.
The bus driver chuckled and answered: "You're the first one that accepts the facts, kid! Hop on I saved a place for you. It's for the last time you did me a big favor."
I smiled, thanked him, and headed to the seat he saved up for me. I could hear kids behind me gossiping and whispering some crazy theories about my relationship with the driver. In reality, he was one of our neighbors and needed some spare hands on something he was working on. I just helped him with that specific task.
"Hey, Seishin-sama~ Remember the homework I asked for?"
I turned around to see Ninki, the popular girl who had been punched by Kazan, with her minions standing before me.
"Ninki, sit down if you don't want another nosebleed." I calmly responded. Ninki was visibly upset by my response.
"You? Give me a nosebleed? Pft- Please, your friend is still not here, don't act so tough."
She laughed loudly so that everyone hears her. Her minions copied the act out of stupidity or out of pride.
Ninki Jinkaku is the popular girl. She is the literal stereotype and will act exactly from what you see on TV. She used to be an idol in the Metaverse, but she abandoned due to a "lack of passion". I honestly think she was forced into the program and dropped out when she had the chance to do so. I mean, have you guys heard her voice? It sounds like a dying dinosaur on crack. I went to one of her concerts in the Metaverse and regretted it immediately.
"Let's be reasonable. You don't want things to go sideways, right Ninki?" I asked, keeping my temper down.
"How could it possibly go sideways? Ninki giggled, Your only talent is drawing and playing video games on a computer!"
"I at least have talent. But that's beside the point. You know well what I saw the last time with your family."
She stopped. Her face froze, looking much worried. I had just hit the jackpot.
"What's with the face? I smiled, Did someone cut your tongue?"
Ninki returned to her seat glaring at me. Seems like I somehow discovered a secret of hers.
Thirty minutes passed, and the school bus finally arrived at its location, hell, or in order words, school.
Today was our final day. We will receive our diplomas for our last year in middle school. I was very excited, but when I looked for my friends, they were nowhere to be seen. It seemed odd because they are the first ones to arrive. Something was off but I didn't think much of it. They live right next to each other, so maybe they are both late due to some traffic.
After the school began giving diplomas, I started to freak out. Tai and Kazan were nowhere, and the school didn't even seem to notice. It's like they dissipated and the school was aware of it. I stood up from my seat in the stadium and walked to a more quiet place. As I began searching for them, I could feel something behind me, but there was nothing to be seen. I guess that's what they call a false instinct.
Like it was still early, I decided to call it a day. They must have skipped the festival. I'll visit them at their houses as they probably didn't wake up early enough to go to school at 8:00 am.
"What? What do you mean you haven't seen your child all day?"
"Seishin, I know she left for school, reassured me Kazan's mother, you don't have to panic."
"M'am, your daughter was nowhere to be seen. I've waited some time, I've waited a few hours, but that's already a lot! What if she was kidnapped?"
Kazan's mom chuckled. I guess she was finding me irrational since I was being a better parent than she is.
"I know where she is. However, I cannot tell a mere mortal."
That phrase froze me. What did she mean by a "mere mortal"?
"I'm sorry?"
"You heard me. Kazan knows what she is doing, as well as Taiyou. I suggest you don't interfere as they will come back home tonight. You can ask them, but you'll never be satisfied with the answer."
I stood there, stunned. I never saw her mother like that. She must have been very pissed at me because she is a very sweet person. I took a step back, out of fear. She must have seen my movement as her face sweetened.
"Seishin I- I'm sorry! I didn't know what happened. Please, don't- don't be afraid!"
"No- No need to- No need to excuse yourself. I'll be on my way, and you haven't seen me all day."
Before she could respond, I left their house. Why did she suddenly change back to her usual self?
Something was off, and I was going to find out what.
No matter the cost.