Chapter 4: The Diamond of Strength (Parts 3-4)

Chapter 4, Part 3

In the morning at school, tired of all the teasing, I show up with my hair a bit shorter. It's not a huge change, but at least I don't look like a girl anymore.

We start having classes in the school yard because the classroom is in ruins. As usual, Kenji comes over to talk to me.

— Hey, did you get a haircut?

— Heh, so you noticed.

— It's barely noticeable, but at least you don't look like a girl anymore...

I nod firmly and put on a confident face.

— Mission accomplished, then.

I strike a small victory pose when Kibō pops out of the diamond and joins the conversation.

— Wow, Kenji, you really noticed! — he says in a mocking voice.

— Shut up, Boki.

— It's Kibō!

Kibō and I start arguing again, and Kenji, in the middle of it, says sarcastically:

— Wow, you two really get along well...

— I'm forced to live with Rasec! So it's normal.

— Tch, the good thing is I don't have much time left to put up with this.

— What are you talking about?

Did I subconsciously say I'm going to die soon?

— Forget it.

Apparently, Kenji heard it differently too.

— Sometimes you say weird things, Rasec. Stop cutting yourself; it's affecting you.

As Kenji says that, the science teacher, Huevito-sensei, enters the yard.

— Let's see, said a blind man who saw nothing, go to your seats, please.

Kenji notices the teacher has arrived.

— Tch, it's Huevito-sensei. We'll talk later, Rasec and Kibō.

The teacher starts talking to some classmates before beginning the lesson.

— Well, good morning, young people, and Kibō.

— Good morning, Huevito-sensei! — Kibō responds cheerfully.

— I hope they repair the school soon so we don't have to take classes in the yard.

— Haha! Sorry about that, haha!

As the class goes on, I start thinking about a lot of things while I look at the trees in the yard and the mountains surrounding us.

After the battle with Nekoyashiki at the school, all the spirits from our diamonds are more freely mingling among the crowd. It was just a matter of time before that happened.

But how true is it that I have little time left to live?

For some reason, I feel scared, but I don't know why. Is it that I don't want to die?

I really don't want to die, that must be it.

Once again, I spend the classes thinking about these things, unable to stay calm like everyone else.

I think about it so much that it's already lunchtime.

Makoto, Kenji, and I gather to eat together. I don't know where Kibō went, but it's not something that worries me.

For now, I just listen to the conversation Kenji and Makoto are having.

— Dude, it hurts to sit outside, and these days the sun is scorching. — says Kenji while sweating.

Makoto seems to be complaining too.

— You said it, at least the student council budgeted to repair the damaged areas. It cost a fortune. The good thing is it won't stop the school trip from happening.

— Woah! Really?!

— Yeah, but to cut costs, all the second, third, and first-year students will go together.

Makoto suddenly speaks to me.

— You should go to the student council to vote on where to go, Rasec. The trip has been postponed until November, so we have time for that.

— Ah! Sure.

Once again, I go back to my thoughts while eating and Kenji talks to Makoto.

So the school trip will include the first-years too, I'll get to be close to Miru-chan.

Miru-chan... if I really am going to die, that means...

Time passes and classes end. Together with Kibō and Kenji, I head to the music room because, believe it or not, Kenji is a member of the music club.

— Why didn't you go to the music club last time? — I ask him.

— Haha, sorry, I had to work.

We enter the music room, and Kibō joins the conversation, saying:

— You work?

— Yeah, I work as a waiter... at a café! — Kenji says, striking a weird pose.

— You should get a job like Kenji. — Kibō tells me.

— I already work at a pupusería.

— But you don't get paid, haha!

— I work there unpaid just to create the legendary pupusa...!

I don't finish what I was going to say when someone opens the music room door.

It's Chan-chan-sensei and Neko-chan, who come in chatting together. I decide to silently observe their conversation. Sumire's cat is here too.

— Seriously, Nekoyashiki, the things I'd do with you! With your voice, with your talent on the guitar.

— Oh, you're flattering me, Chan-chan-sensei!

Then, Nekoyashiki turns to me, looking very surprised but quickly changes her expression to a cheerful one.

— Ah, Urasek-kun!

She comes closer to me, standing less than a meter away. Being so close to her only highlights how small she is.

She always has her cat on her shoulder, and when it sees me, it meows happily.

Chan-chan-sensei is curious about us knowing each other.

— You know Urasek-kun? No wonder! He plays the guitar very well, you should invite him to watch you play!

— That's already arranged, Chan-chan-sensei!

Hearing that reminds me of something Nekoyashiki told me when I visited her.

— That's right, I forgot, you play in a bar, right?

For a moment, I had forgotten Kenji was with me, and he quickly joins the conversation.

— A bar?! That sounds fun, we should invite Makoto!

Kibō questions something and asks Nekoyashiki.

— Umh? And my brother?

— I asked him not to come with me to avoid... "controversies," hehe.

— I see.

It doesn't make much sense, she was the one who destroyed the school...

In the background, I hear Kenji and Kibō talking to each other.

— Don't you get it, Kibō? We'll go for girls, teenage rockers and goths!

— Really, goths?!

— I'm telling you, let's call Makoto to go together!

— Yes!

I can't hide my discomfort hearing them talk so loudly about goth girls...

After that, Kibō and Kenji leave the room to find Makoto.

Chan-chan-sensei tries to stop Kenji, but before she can, he escapes.

— Kenji...! It can't be, he just came and left... kids these days.

Meanwhile, something very important is running through my mind.

— By the way, Neko-chan, can I know what you're doing here?

— Ah! We-well...

Nekoyashiki blushes like a tomato. It seems to be something that embarrasses her, but from what I see, even though I know her very little, she trusts me a lot and tells me.

— It's just... I decided to sing and play at the bar today, so I came to practice with Chan-chan-sensei.

She said it in a trembling, low voice, but the fact that she told me that shows her life has improved even though I know her very little.

— Wonderful, Neko-chan! I think I now have a good reason to go to the bar, I'm excited to see you play, I'll be cheering you on!

— Thank you, I'll do my best!

She seems more animated, I guess I should go with Kenji and Makoto if they convince him.

I spent the entire music practice playing the guitar with Nekoyashiki. She didn't practice her singing during the whole session, apparently wanting to save her voice for the concert.

At the end of practice, I clean and store the instruments and inform Seji-sensei that I'll be late getting home.

He wasn't very supportive, but I'll go to the bar anyway.

Chapter 4 Part 4

I quickly head home to change my clothes. Kenji calls me to confirm the meeting place for going to the bar. Fortunately, the bar isn't outside this small town, so we get there without any problems.

The sun has almost set. I meet up with Kenji and Makoto near the bar, and we all go in together. They're dressed really stylishly, and their attractiveness definitely stands out more because of their clothes. In my case, I grabbed the first thing I found: a light blue shirt with a pupusa being chased by a spatula, both with faces, and the phrase "Las espátulas voltean a las pupusas." Of course, Kenji looks at me weirdly.

— Hey, why are you dressed like that? We're here to hit on girls, not scare them away.

Makoto seems embarrassed too, but not because of how I'm dressed.

— Why did I agree to this? I don't even know how to flirt with girls in the first place.

Kenji confidently leans on Makoto.

— Don't worry, Makoto-chan! I'll teach you, but not with Uraseku here, he'll just scare them off.

I seriously respond to him:

— I only came to see Neko-chan sing.

Kenji looks confused.

— N-neko-chan? A cat?

In Japan, "neko" means cat, so he thinks I came to see a cat sing. Makoto, who's with Kenji, says:

— It's not a cat, he's talking about the girl who came to practice in the music room.

— And how do you know that?

— As the student council president, I'm in charge of giving permissions for the use of the rooms.

Makoto exclaims proudly about his role at the school.

— And what about that girl, Uraseku?

After that question, Kenji gets a mischievous look on his face, once again...

— Don't tell me she's your girlfriend?

— Is it true, Uraseku? I didn't know you liked them so young, are you...?

Makoto looks at me uncomfortably. Feeling very awkward, I shout at both of them:

— She's not my girlfriend, and yes, I do like Miru-chan!

They look shocked, almost like it's the revelation of the century.

— S-so you like Mi...?

Before Kenji can finish whatever he was about to say, Kibō bursts out of the diamond, furious.

— Grrraaa, let's stop wasting time here like idiots and get inside already!

— You're right, let's go!

After that, we finally enter the bar. Kibō saved me...

Inside, the place looks like some kind of electronic music club. The youthful atmosphere is evident, and you can see all kinds of people, from rockers to young folks just looking to have a good time. Makoto looks very nervous, while Kenji can't hide his excitement. As we watch others having fun, Kenji points to a table, and Makoto and I follow without protest.

Each of us grabs a menu from the table, and a waiter arrives.

— Welcome, what will you be ordering?

Kenji decides to order for us.

— Orange soda for everyone!

...

I just came to see Nekoyashiki perform. Kibō starts to walk away from us, a bit disappointed.

— Ugh, orange soda? I'll go get something stronger.

— Boki, don't go too far.

— Yeah...

Kibō heads to the bar; I suppose he's old enough to order that kind of drink. Kenji did well not to order alcohol, and he points it out.

— Dude, we're minors, we don't need to drink anything stronger than soda.

Kenji notices Makoto, who is a bit nervous.

— Makoto, is something wrong?

Makoto shyly and with big eyes responds.

— If anyone from Adachi Institute sees me here, I'm done for... this isn't a place for the student council president.

His hand is shaking a lot; he's really nervous. Kenji tries to lighten the mood.

— Come on, relax and enjoy! If there's a girl you fancy, just let me know and I'll talk to her first.

— I-is that how it works?

— Of course! Right, Uraseku-chan? Umh?

At this moment, there were more important things on my mind...

— Umm... did I leave my controller batteries charging...?

— Good thing you won't be hitting on any girls.

Kenji starts looking around.

— Hey, Makoto! What do you think of those girls?

— W-wait, my orange soda!

Kenji drags Makoto with him to talk to some girls, leaving me alone... Although being alone reminds me that I did leave the batteries charging.

While I'm having fun at the bar, I wonder what Miru-chan is doing.

At Miru's house:

In a room lit by a single light source on the desk, there's a girl sitting and drawing—Miru-chan, who's creating costume designs, or something like that... Ai watches from behind, very expectant and happy.

— That looks pretty!

— Yes! I'm thinking that now we'll be a group, so we need to wear a uniform for the battles.

— That's true.

— But, the group members don't know each other well or get along a bit poorly...

— Maybe we should have a party to get to know each other and become better friends!

— You're right! Let's ask Seji-sama to see if we can have a party at his place.

I suppose she must be having a good time. While sipping my orange soda, I see my music teacher from school playing. Chan-chan-sensei plays wonderfully...

Her voice shakes the speakers with the low and high tones she can reach. Her guitar riffs would put many modern rock bands to shame, it's simply amazing...

I have a great time tonight—good music, good atmosphere—though I would prefer to be at home playing. I don't regret coming. Plus, Nekoyashiki wants me to see her sing and play today. Did I do something to make her feel that way about me?

Whatever the case, I'm glad she can count on me.

Chapter 4 Final Part

At the entrance of the bar, a girl with very pale blue hair trying to get in is stopped by a guard.

— This place is only for those over sixteen, you can't come in, — says the guard.

Just then, Nekoyashiki comes out to greet the girl.

— It's okay, she's with me.

— Umm, my apologies, miss, please come in.

Nekoyashiki and the other girl enter the bar.

— Why did you call me?

The pale blue-haired girl asks Nekoyashiki with a serious expression, in a sweet and very soft voice. Nekoyashiki stands in front of her and smiles.

— I wanted you to see the little concert I'm going to do since I'll also be singing!

— I see.

Nekoyashiki returns to what seemed to be a friend of hers. She looks at me from afar.

— Look, it's senpai! Poor guy, all alone and so cute.

— Senpai? Is he the guy you talked about before?

Nekoyashiki timidly blushes. Meanwhile, I'm talking to myself about other things.

— Chan-chan-sensei plays amazingly, why does she only teach us children's songs at school?

Nekoyashiki takes her friend's hand.

— Come on, I'll introduce you to Uraseku-senpai!

She was approaching me, and from afar, I hear someone with a sweet voice calling me.

— Senpai!

A voice that sweet calling me senpai, she's definitely a loli. I'd go to jail for having these kinds of thoughts...

I turn to see Nekoyashiki and another girl.

— Ah, Neko-chan! Good luck tonight, I'll be cheering for you.

— Yes!

— Huh? Who's with you today?

The girl with long, pale blue hair bows.

— I'm Fujisaki Chisato.

— Ah, nice to meet you!

I bow back, but something crosses my mind.

— Wait, Fujisaki? Where have I heard that surname?

Chisato-chan looks around and sees Makoto.

— Oh, hello, ni.

Makoto, with a party hat and a girl on each side, gets startled.

— S-sister!

Wait, "ni"?

"Ni" is a way to refer to an older brother, and Makoto responds by calling her "sister." They both have the surname Fujisaki... that means...

— Are you guys siblings?!

Makoto looks worried, but Chisato keeps her serious face. I didn't know Makoto had a sister; they don't even look alike!