The Cat in the Box

As if intending to curb our enthusiasm, the first lesson was a soul-sucking dive into classical Japanese history.

But, while the teacher was making his way to our class, the festive, social mood continued.

I watched Hamu float between groups, eavesdropping on their conversations.

With a happy smirk, I patiently waited for whatever tidbits of gossip she would soon deliver my way.

She lingered over one desk where a trio of girls were gazing apprehensively at a white box with a pink ribbon.

Just as my own curiosity was piqued, one of my classmates approached my desk.

His tousled hair was dyed dark brown and both his ears were pierced.

Although I wasn't fashionable, I could tell that he was.

"The name's Eito Inukai. And I was just wondering, do you play any sports?"

I took a moment to think about it and replied, "Rock climbing and white-water rafting are what I'm good at... And maybe track and field too, but I've never competed."

Eito seemed impressed, "Sumisu-san, why don't you try out for our baseball team? I'll talk to the captain, so we can jump-start the process."

"H-hey! Aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself? I'll go for the tryouts but I won't promise you anything."

Eito put on a charming smile and returned to his seat just as the classical history teacher walked in.

I was surprised, and rather dejected, when I learned that we have a double period of history every Tuesday morning, starting today.

Not only was I drowsy from a long night spent gaming, but this teacher seemed to be determined to put me to sleep.

After an hour or so, when the first period was over, Hamu floated up to my desk.

I was already nodding off, so I jerked up in my seat and casually swung my gaze in her direction.

"Sup?" She asked.

I gave her a slight, weary smile.

She knowingly patted my head and then placed a white box on my desk. It had a pink ribbon on top of it.

Wait. What!?

I shot her a reproachful look.

'Did you steal this!?'

Of course, she couldn't read my thoughts, but having spent an inordinate amount of time together, she could easily read the expression on my face.

"Relax. I'm just burrowing this."

I narrowed my eyes as if to say, 'What if they find out?'

"Don't worry," she said, preemptively. "As long as I hold onto the box, it will stay invisible."

She kept one hand on the side of the box and opened the lid with the other.

It was filled to the brim with black ash marked by a slim strip of paper that bore the words, "Ayame. May she find peace in the world beyond our own."

Just as a wave of guilt and shame seeped into my heart, Hamu's reproachful words swept those feelings away, "All this fuss over a dead cat? Meh."

I sighed in relief, thankful that she had done no more than desecrate the remains of someone's household pet.

I had never given it much thought, but now that I saw it in action, I realized that for a ghost, Hamu really had no respect for the dead.

Just as I was about to convey my displeasure, I noticed that her graceful lips were twitching. Then, slowly, a broad, mischievous smile began to form.

She put the lid back on the box and sped out of the room, passing through the closed classroom door as if its purpose was symbolic in nature.

I instinctively got up to stop her, but when the teacher halted his lecture midway to give me a questioning look, followed by the entire class turning their heads to look back at me; obviously hoping that the transfer student would provide an amusing distraction, I embarrassingly stretched my back and arms out and pretended that I had just woken up.

"Sumisu-kun, please wait until the end of the lesson before you do your stretches."

I sat down and did my best to shake off the uncomfortable sense of foreboding that I felt.

Ugh. Why didn't I lay out some ground rules beforehand?

I couldn't help but put on a rueful smile as I thought about how that ghost girl had just gone wild.