"Why do we have to kill Satoru-kun?"
Sumiko quietly mouthed to herself. Her pink bangs covered up her face as she sat in class ruminating on the conversation she had during lunch with Sango.
Infront of Sumiko is Satoru's back which seems different than it was yesterday. What was she to make of Sango's comments.
There was no doubt in Sumiko's mind that Sango was insane for even thinking about killing Satoru. Sango's talk of a 'script' and Satoru being the 'key' was just asinine: drivel from an insane person. That was the only thing that Sumiko could make of Sango's talk.
But the seed of doubt was firmly planted within Sumiko's psyche. Was this world truly as it seemed or was it an elaborate play that she was an actor for? For now, Sumiko had to play along with Sango.
Sumiko looked through her bangs at Sango and pondered for a bit.
'Also, what kind of group name is 'Friends'?'
-Come here sheep~!
Friend B held his arms outstretched to receive a flock of sheep into his embrace.
-Yay~!
-W-wait! Don't tickle me there!
The Sheep piled onto him until he looked like one big cotton ball.
Friend B woke up with a sneeze.
'Jeez this school really needs to invest in air conditioning, or… maybe I need to get a thicker jacket?'
Regardless I was awake now. Fully prepared to take on any questions that Mrs. Yuki asks!
Looking around, it looked like it was going according to the script. This was a study hall, so I could just relax and not worry about much.
'Man, with how much the script has derailed I'm thankful that I have moments like this.'
Some say that idle hands are the playthings of the devil, but I'm sure the devil doesn't exist; otherwise, I would have met him or the big man upstairs at least once.
'What happens to others when they die?'
I look at Friend A who receives my gaze with a dazzling smile. What happens when he dies? Does he experience what happens to me, or does he go to heaven or hell? Personally, I haven't seen him die and I hope I never do. But there are some others that I wonder what happens to them: like the heroines.
I look up at the familiar celling and reminisce. Is this place really where I have to spend eternity?
'What did I do to deserve this? What did Sango do to deserve it either?'
I look at Sango, her newly developed sentience might be a blessing for me. But I know. I know what living in each second feels like. The visceral feeling of trying over, and over again. To feel your skin peel away from your muscle. From muscle from bone. I have been there. What this world is.
Maybe she can help me get Satoru through the entire script to end this world.
I put my head down. All the times I have tried for naught strike me again and again. Satoru. Is he really the 'key'? or am I grasping at straws?
You know, sometimes I look at some of the heroine's faces and I can remember what they look like when they greet the reaper. A pale face, whereas previously seen with hope and a youthful energy. Lifeless eyes. Cold skin. There has been so much I wish I could do for everyone here, that I play protagonist sometimes and foolhardily believe I can help everyone.
Has there been a time where I was able to save someone?
Yes.
That's why I continue to persevere despite the odds. For one day, I wish to be the protagonist that will save this world!
"Oi are you awake?"
Kohaku brutishly says.
"What's your reason for being around my Sango-chan huh?"
She pushes my shoulder with a ruler.
"Hey, c'mon don't act like you're asleep. Hey! Hey! Answer me!"
I raise my head; it seems that class already ended, and everyone began to leave.
Kohaku grabbed my face and turned it towards herself.
"Hey! Answer me! Why are you being so buddy-buddy with my Sango-chan!?"
"W-w-what? Me? D-doing what with Sango-san?"
She started pulling my cheeks and making my face contort into silly faces. Maybe she wasn't interested in my answer and was more content in making my face look funny.
Her strength was obviously higher than mine, if we were to use a scale of power levels, I would be dead last, she would be on the top.
So, I was a hapless rabbit looking at a lion.
After about a minute of struggling in her grip while she continued pulling, I started to speak out my grievances,
"K-whaku-swhan, Pwese stahp pooling mah cheeks!"
'Kohaku-san, please stop pulling my cheeks'
"No. Until you answer what you're doing to my Sango-chan, I won't stop."
My eyes started to water up as my cheeks began to feel pain.
Sango who was standing behind Kohaku, put her hand on Kohaku's shoulder. Sango's hand was light, but her touch seemed to weigh Kohaku down by several hundred tonnes.
"Stop."
Kohaku immediately stopped her actions.
While Kohaku appeared to be a lion, she was merely a big cat in front of a dragon like Sango.
"Good girl."
Sango looked at me who was at the verge of crying.
"Come-on~ let's go home already~!"
She pulled me out of my chair by my arm, pulling me past Kohaku. Kohaku's eyes widened in shock.
Sango preceded to pull me to the entrance of the school. I was out of breath and red faced while she looked completely fine. Super humans I swear!
As we approached the gate she finally spoke,
"I told Sumiko."
"H-huh?"
I tried to catch my breath while she casually said that.
"I told Sumiko about our plan and our group."
Sango seemed really excited about this, I however sighed. This is a useless endeavor.
I hardened my expression.
"Sango-san, the others… They can't be convinced."
To my surprise, Sango didn't seem dejected. She seemed slightly exuberant, almost glowing.
"I told you~! We're going to flip this script."
Her blue eyes seemed to have pierced the very veil of this world we're in. Her black hair flowed in the slight breeze.
"Together as Friends!"
Sango declared to my awestruck self. She held out her hand.
I looked at her hands for a minute. Those same hands that have been around my throat and the same ones that I held as the life drained from her body.
'I'm going to make a difference. Starting now.'
From here on out, whatever happened in the past, what those girls did to me, I am willing to look past it for the sake of creating a better world.
I took her hand without knowing the consequences.