1 Chapter 1

"Sera, are you done? Hurry up and come downstairs or else you'll be late!"

I hurriedly tied my still-wet hair into a messy bun, fixed my thick glasses, and run out of my room.

"I'm not eating breakfast Mom!" I yelled as I run straight to our house door.

"Seraphina Kagura! Come back here! You forgot your lunch!"

"Opppss!" I run back to the kitchen, took my lunch, and kissed my mom goodbye before running my way to our school.

Luckily I always pack some bread and biscuits in my back just in case I skip my breakfast, which happens almost all the time.

"You're always last to come, why aren't we surprised." Naja her only friend in their school approached her with a sarcastic notion.

"Sorry," was the only word that she could only say. After they all have entered the school bus, the driver started the engine and started to drive off to their destination.

While sitting on her designated seat, she opened her bag to eat some packed bread.

"You didn't eat your breakfast again?" Naja asked her casually sitting next to her.

"You know that there is nothing new to this Naja," she said before taking a big bite of her bread.

"Better fill up your stomach, you know we're going on a school trip,"  Naja said to her as she took a lunch box in her bag.

"Here, I brought extra just in case you didn't have your breakfast again, set aside those loaves of bread, and eat some real foods," Naja exclaimed as she handed her the Tupperware full of food.

"Thanks, Naja! You're the best!" Naja just smiled at her friend who is now heartily eating the food she brought.

Naja turned her head to look at the scenery outside the bus's window, letting her friend enjoy the food.

"I don't get it, why does Naja keep on hanging out with that animal freak girl? I mean she's pretty, she's hot, she's rich and she's the most popular girl in and out of the campus, so why stick on an animal geek-"

Naja snapped her head at the person, her eyes throwing death glares.

"Well, I'd rather tie myself up with an animal geek than engage myself with hypocrites such as you." She said as she made eye contact with the girl.

"W-what did you j-"

"Animals are way much better than compared to you, at least they have good breeding." She said cutting off the girl's words. She quickly turned her back on the girl who was speechless and looked at her friend like she didn't hear any insulting words.

"Just ignore them Sera, they're just jealous because I'm friends with you." She said pouting her lips, she wrapped her arms around Seras's right arm, then she rest her head on Seras shoulders.

"Why would I care about them? Although indeed, we humans are also animals, if I would be given the chance to choose between a monkey and a human, I'd stick with the monkey, at least they have more commonsense than the evolved species."

Naja grunted at what Sera had said, although her friend was right, she can't help but chuckle.

When Sera finished her food it was also the time when they have arrived at their destination.

Everyone excitedly exited the bus as they were welcomed by the priestess, who was taking care of the old Japanese temple at that location.

Yes, they were having a school trip to the most glorious but old temple there.

As they went up to what seemed to be a 100 footstep staircase, everyone grunted including Naja, but Sera doesn't mind, she had climbed and hiked more exhausting mountains than the temple 100 footstep staircase.

She was leading her class as she walked first in reaching the temple, the priestess stood beside her as they waited for her professor and classmates.

Bored of waiting she asked permission from the priestess if she could pray at the temple. When the priestess said yes, she quickly walked to the temple's altar, she halted when she saw a strange man sitting in front of the altar, wearing his gray kimono and a mask that somewhat looked familiar to her.

She turned her head to call for the priestess about the strange man when she turned her head back to the temple, the man was gone without a trace.

"Must have been my imagination," she said as she went near the altar and threw a coin, as she was done praying to the god of the temple, her professor and classmates reached the top while panting catching their breaths.

She went to them as she handed bottled water to her friend Naja.

"Those stairs suck!" She exclaimed annoyed making Sera chuckle.

"How were you able to get here so fast! That's just so unfair! Share some of your stamina with me! I'm your friend!" Naja pouted and stomped her feet as Sera continued laughing her ass off.

After hours of walking around the temple, they were finally done for the day.

It was a 3 days 2 nights school trip. Their professor had booked rooms in a hotel separating the girls and boys. And when they finally reach their room, she quickly threw her bag at the corner of some random bed and quietly opened her phone.

Naja saw the sadness in Seras face while her eyes were still stuck on the screen of her cell.

"Sera-" but before her words could be heard Sera quickly run of their room, her face full of grievance, pain, and tears.

She runs out of the hotel not paying attention to her friend and profs calling her name.

The rain poured hard as she run somewhere, not knowing where her feet were taking her was not to her prior notice.

All she was feeling was pain, not even the hard pouring rain could wash it off of her heart.

Not even the rain could bring back her mom.