15 Chapter 15: Rumors are everywhere (Part 2)

My mouth moved on its own and asked the question, "Hey, what do you fear the most?" to the black haired boy beside me. 

"Me? I guess it is dying" he answered. "Why is that?" I asked him, which he replied with a blank stare.

He looked up, down and side to side, before looking back at me and mumbled, "Isn't it normal?"

"Plus, if I die I won't be able to spend time with her and you anymore, and I don't want that to happen" 

The black haired boy looked at the girl who was picking flowers behind us, who were in the front of the flowing river.

My head looked up the sky and my mouths moved on its own, and said the words,  "I see, so it is normal, huh..?" 

"How about you, what do you fear the most?" the black haired boy asked and I pressed my chin,  "Hmm…" 

As if he remembered things, the black haired boy asked, "Is it living?"

And again, my mouth moved on its own and spoke, "Would I fear living? Me, who loves living" as I snorted.

He looked at me with the words, "Then what is it?" written on his face.

Seeing that face of him, my head moved on its own, and looked away from the black haired boy.

My mouth moved on its own and said, "You know, it's neither living nor dying… the thing I fear the most. It is being forgotten after I die" 

"Well, I would hate that too…" the black haired boy looked down.

A breath left my mouth.

"But, if you think about it. Isn't the fact that one can forget the bad memories, the most beautiful thing?" 

My mouth moved on its own, once again. But, this time. Even I did think of such statement, before I spoke it out. 

"So, I was thinking" the words left. "Isn't that the best contradiction?" my lips formed a grin and my eyes squinted, as I looked at the black haired boy's blurred expression.

…

"Ed! Ed, Wake up!" a familiar voice tried to wake me up, whilst shaking me.

  Another familiar voice came, interrupting the previous one, and said, "Let me be the one to wake him up…" 

"Wake up, Sleepy-Ed!" the new voice spoke and pulled me out of the bed. 

My hands hold my head and I shouted, "Ouch!" as some birds taking a rest on the tree nearby, flew away. 

"It hurts..! Can't you wake me up normally!" I complained, as I looked up and saw a girl with crimson hair.

Reina sen Arledimeth was the one who always do this to me.

  "You always tell me that, but had you ever woke up from a normal way?" she asked, as she placed her fist on her fist. 

It frustrates me that I can't answer back to her.

I had been getting along well with Gino, Kirt and Russell, but I just can't get along nor want to, with this girl.

Saying so, would only disregard the fact that we are acquainted to the point that she went to the boys' dorm to wake me up, like usual.

…

A sigh left my mouth, as I rubbed my back while walking to the cafeteria, with Russell and Reina ahead.

A familiar voice called from behind, "Ed-kun!" and I saw a girl with lavender hair color, fidgeting behind me. 

"Hmm?" a sound left my mouth, and she flinched. 

Anna hold her hands tight, as she looked all around her except for me, who was just in front of her.

"I will apologize to you on behalf of Reina-chan" she spoke upm "She didn't mean it. I am sure that she's just… you know, not well with others" 

She's shivering.

Well, I'm not surprised, since Anna is bad with others, like Reina, especially with adults and us, boys.

"It is fine, Anna I know that she's just embarrassed" I stated, as my hand unconsciously reached out and patted her head, which made Anna squeaked.

And I gasped.

"What are you doing to Anna you, Ed-iot!" Reina approached me from behind, like a boar, who is eager to rush on ahead.

Looks like you were wrong with her, just being bad with others, Anna. And I, myself am wrong with the fact that you two are alike.

Yeah, I admit those, but… just why the hell is she making puns with my name, like that?

…

"Hahahah!!!" Gino laughed and Kirt mumbled, "To think that such thing happened with us out of the scene, how frustrating" 

I gulped in.

"Don't tell me you're frustrated because you didn't get to see it?" I asked Kirt and he nodded at me, "Exactly!" 

Instead of complaint, a sigh left my mouth.

After Reina scolded me for (unconsciously) patting Anna's head, we were scolded by the Leaders of the District One's Dorm.

Haah, what a tiring morning…

Since, all of the students here live in the dorms.  During the weekends we are free to do anything we want to. 

We are free to go anywhere.

Of course, except for the places that only professors and the academy's staffs are allowed to go. 

"So, we'll be going tonight. Are you guys ready?" Gino asked, as he talked to us in a very quiet tone, and Russell imitated him and asked, "Is there anything we need to prepare?" 

Gino pressed his chin and mumbled, "Of course! Well, like a way to catch the ghost girl and more…" 

Catch? The ghost isn't an animal. It is practically a person, you know? 

"Is there anything else we need, other than that?" Kirt asked in a quiet tone, as he looked at the three of us.

It's kinda surprising that you're seriously joining, Kirt. 

Gino turned and asked me, "Hmm, what do you think Ed?" who due to his sudden throw, had unconsciously said, "Eh, Me?!" in a loud tone. 

"Shhhh!" the three told me, as some students in the cafeteria looked at us. "S-sorry…" I apologized, as I changed my tone in a quiet.

Gino cleared his throat and repeated, "So what do you think Ed?" 

You're really shoving that topic to me…

"Well, isn't it about a way to avoid the suspicions of the professors and a way to go to the woods without being noticed?" 

Gino flicked his finger, as he stood up and said, "That's it!" in his usual loud tone, which made the other students looked at us again.

  "I-I mean that's it!" he tried to come up with an excuse, as he sat down.

What do you mean by that? 

"Hmm, a way to go to the woods without being noticed, huh..?" Gino mumbled, as he crossed his arms.

Kirt pressed his chin.

"The teacher that patrols at night is very workaholic that he even checks if we're really in the bed, so I doubt putting some sheets won't work" 

Isn't that too old Kirt? 

Gino complained, "Can't we just put that aside that for now?" as he can't think of anything to conclude it. 

"You can just put that aside, for I have an idea already" I beamed a grin at them. 

Gino looked at me and slowly, he moved his face close to me and asked, "Eh? What is it? What is it??"

  "I-I'll tell you later…" I shoved him away.

A familiar voice spoke up, "What the heck are you guys whispering there?" which made us four flinch.

Reina appeared, with Anna who is hiding behind her. 

"Ah, Reina!" Gino gasped and the person asked Russell, "Is this seat taken?" as if she purposely ignored Gino. 

Russell shook his head and moved the seat out, "Nope, you can take it" and the other sat down there, "Thanks" 

Wait a minute, did you just honestly thanked Russell? 

"What? Is there something on my face?" she asked, as she noticed my stare and I shook my head, "Nope, there's nothing" 

She then moved the chair beside her and made Anna sit there, and even beamed a smile at the timid girl.

So she can be a bit honest sometimes. 

"What were you guys whispering about, something bad?" Reina asked and Gino clasped his hands together, "Ah, right!" 

Gino raised his index finger, "Why don't you two come with us?" 

"To where?" Reina asked and Gino then started explaining everything to the two of them, as he put on a role of a teacher.

…

Reina mumbled, "I see…" and slowly looked at Anna, which soon made her lips form a soft smile.

"I'll be going" Reina spoke up, before taking a sip of her tea, which made Anna put on a face saying, "Eh?" as she looked at her friend.

Gino then turned to Anna and asked her, "How about you, Anna?" and she gasped. 

Anna spared a glimpse over Reina, who was happily drinking her tea, whilst humming a cheerful melody.

She then pressed her chest, and took a deep breath in and out, which looked like a sigh.

"I-if Reina-chan is going, then I will also go…" Anna stated, with a determined face that slowly disappeared, as she looked down.

Gino cheered, "Yay!!" 

Reina smiled, which looked a bit like a smirk, more than just a soft smile, this time. 

Did she noticed that Anna wanted to go, but knew that she surely wouldn't say that herself. So, she decided to be the way for Anna?

I smiled and leaned my chin on my palm.

Isn't she kind? 

"What are you smiling there?" Reina pointed at me and I answered, "Nothing" whilst giggling quietly.

She looked away and mumbled, "You creepy…" 

Okay, I'll correct that. This Princess, Reina sen Arledimeth is only kind towards her best friend, Anna Kirthyln.

"Nevermind, Ed's creepiness. How' bout you Forth, won't you join?" Gino looked over the guy, behind him. 

Oi!

"Me?" Forth jolted and Gino flicked his fingers, "Yes you!" 

"I-I don't have any choice. But don't misunderstand, I will only be going to make sure you guys don't do anything wrong!" 

Whilst saying those words, Forth tilted his glasses and glanced over us, twice and was in a row.

So, he also wanted to join…

"You don't have to lie like that, you know?" Gino waved his fork, as if he was using it as a bait for a dog.

Forth grabbed his fork and tilted his glasses, whilst retorting, "I am not lying! All of it is just your misunderstanding, Borther"

Gino remained silent, and leaned his back over our table.

"Then, I guess you wouldn't join us" he turned his back against Forth, who mumbled, "Eh?" with his eyes wide.

Gino turned his head and looked at Forth.

"You said that it was all my misunderstanding, right? Then I mistook your words as an agreement" he rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry, sorry"

Forth's glasses went down the bridge of his nose and he uttered, "N-no… that is"

Kirt then hit Gino's head with a karate chop, which made the latter shout, "Why the hell did you do that?!"

"You were being annoying, so I did it" 

Hearing those words, Gino clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, whilst saying, "Not an answer…"

"I think it is, though…" Kirt munched and Gino went on, and fought with him.

Russell stood up and grabbed the shoulders of Forth, "Well, well. Nevermind those guys, you're free to join us, Forth" who he sat down beside me.

"Looking forward with working with you, Forth" I held out my hand to him, which he took as he nodded, "Likewise"

So, he didn't hate me…

I spared a glimpse over the Gino and Kirt who were complaining things to each other, as Anna moved around to-and-for, trying to stop them.

"Stop fighting, you two. You're being noisy enough to call the dorm leader, you know" Reina told Kirt and Gino, who flinched because of her statement.

The two of them fixed their way of sitting and went on to continue eating their breakfast, quietly.

…

And so, the page was turned, with our small adventure awaiting to begin.

I'm still kinda worried about things. But, well. I will find out whether it is true or not, today night.