Shizuka had always been a shining star among her peers. With her colorful hair, heavy make-up, and trendy clothes, she had always been the center of attention. But Shizuka had never let the fame get to her head. She was kind and friendly to everyone, even to those who envied her.
Among those who envied her the most was her childhood friend, Yuzihara. They had grown up together and had been inseparable until they reached high school. That was when Shizuka started to change her style and hang out with a different crowd. Yuzihara had tried to keep up, but she just couldn't. She was always a bit of a wallflower and felt left out when Shizuka was the center of attention.
As time went by, Yuzihara's jealousy turned into resentment. She started to spread rumors about Shizuka, saying she was a promiscuous girl who slept around with everyone. At first, Shizuka ignored the rumors, but they became more and more persistent, and soon, everyone in school believed them. The only ones who didn't believe them were Shizuka's close friends, who knew she was a virgin and had never even had a boyfriend.
One night, as Shizuka was walking home from a party, she was attacked by someone in the dark. She didn't have a chance to see who it was or defend herself. The next morning, her lifeless body was found in a park near her house. The police investigation led nowhere, and the case remained unsolved.
Years went by, and Yuzihara moved on with her life. She went to college, got a job, and eventually became a teacher at Good Hills High School in Kyoto, the same school where she and Shizuka had attended. But the guilt of what she had done never left her. She had killed her best friend out of jealousy, and she knew she could never make up for it.
One night, as Yuzihara was working late at school, she heard a strange noise coming from the hallway. She got up to investigate and found herself face to face with Shizuka's ghost. Shizuka was standing there, with her colorful hair and heavy make-up, looking just like she did before she died. But her eyes were empty, and her expression was cold.
"Yuzihara," she said in a whispery voice, "why did you do it?"
Yuzihara was frozen with fear. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Shizuka, I'm sorry," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I was jealous, and I didn't know what else to do. Please forgive me."
But Shizuka's ghost didn't move. She just stood there, staring at Yuzihara with her lifeless eyes.
"Please, Shizuka," Yuzihara begged. "I'll do anything to make it up to you. Anything."
Shizuka's ghost didn't reply, but Yuzihara knew what she had to do. She had to confess to the police and turn herself in. It was the only way to make amends for what she had done.
The next morning, Yuzihara went to the police station and confessed to killing Shizuka. She told them everything, how she had spread rumors and how she had attacked her in the park. The police were shocked, and Yuzihara was arrested on the spot.
As she was led away in handcuffs, Yuzihara felt a strange sense of relief. She had finally come clean, and she knew that Shizuka's ghost could finally rest in peace.
The news of Yuzihara's arrest
The news of Yuzihara's arrest spread quickly throughout the school and the community. People were shocked to learn that a teacher had killed a student, and the rumors about Shizuka were quickly forgotten. The school was in chaos, and the principal had to call an emergency meeting to address the situation.
The meeting was attended by all the teachers, the parents, and the students. The principal started by offering his condolences to Shizuka's family and then went on to talk about the importance of treating everyone with respect and kindness. He reminded everyone that bullying, rumors, and jealousy had no place in the school and that it was their responsibility to make sure that the students were safe and happy.
After the meeting, the students gathered in the schoolyard to pay their respects to Shizuka. They had brought flowers, candles, and photos, and they placed them in a makeshift memorial in the corner of the yard. There were tears, hugs, and apologies, and everyone promised to do better in the future.
Meanwhile, Yuzihara was in jail, waiting for her trial. She had been charged with murder, and the evidence against her was overwhelming. She knew that she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison, but she was at peace with her decision. She had finally admitted to what she had done, and she knew that Shizuka's ghost would no longer haunt her.
Or so she thought.
One night, as Yuzihara was lying in her cell, she heard a familiar voice calling her name. It was Shizuka's ghost, and she was standing in front of her, looking as cold and lifeless as ever.
"Why did you do it, Yuzihara?" she asked again. "Why did you kill me?"
"I was jealous," Yuzihara replied, tears streaming down her face. "I was stupid, and I didn't know what I was doing."
"I know," Shizuka said, her voice softer now. "But that doesn't excuse what you did. You took away my life, and you hurt everyone who loved me. You have to pay for what you did, Yuzihara."
Yuzihara knew that Shizuka was right. She had committed a terrible crime, and she had to face the consequences. But she also knew that she had to make things right before it was too late.
The next day, Yuzihara wrote a letter to Shizuka's family, apologizing for what she had done and offering to help in any way she could. She also wrote a letter to her students, admitting to what she had done and asking for their forgiveness. She knew that her career as a teacher was over, but she hoped that her words would inspire them to be kinder and more understanding to each other.
In the end, Yuzihara was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Shizuka. But even in jail, she continued to write letters to her students, encouraging them to be better people. She knew that she could never make up for what she had done, but she hoped that her words would inspire others to do better.
As for Shizuka's ghost, she never appeared to Yuzihara again. But some say that on quiet nights, you can still hear her whispering in the hallways of Good Hills High School, reminding the students to be kind and to never forget the girl who had once shone so brightly among them.