(no subject)

[petals_scatter]

Who: Erika (open)
Where: Auditorium area, various.
When: Sunday, May 7th. Immediately after the assembly announcing Miyume's death.
What: Introducing Erika.


The school assembly announcing the sudden tragic death of Hazama Miyume ended. Most of the students leaving the auditorium held somber or troubled expressions but not Erika. While not exactly bursting with joy at the occasion, her soft smile seemed jarringly sunny in comparison to the others around her. It wasn't that she was unaffected by the death of a classmate. Of course, it was tragic news - a girl her own age, her own class even, dying so suddenly of a brain aneurysm like that. It was much like witnessing the death of a sick pet, she thought. Shocking and saddening but not entirely unexpected. Honestly, Erika had been more surprised by that it had been an aneurysm instead of suicide after how miserable Hazama had looked on Friday and her very messy, public breakdown on the school network over Golden Week.

Life went on, however, no matter how much it hurt to admit it. She'd given both Hazama and the German girl a wide berth, as did many in their class after the sick girl's little stunt during introductions. Dealing with Kiwanami-sensei on a daily basis was hard enough without giving the teacher concrete reasons to dislike her any more than she already did. Erika had survived school so far by playing it safe and doing her best to fit in, not an easy task for a hafu in Japan these days.

With a light grace to her stride, Erika filed out with the others, wondering what she should do with the rest of her Sunday.

Comments

[harmonizenpc]

Passing by was a pair of fellow high-school first-years, the taller one wrapping her arm around the shoulders of the smaller one, whose eyes were red.

They stopped for a moment, seemingly to allow the distraught one to collect herself a little, and the taller one's gaze fell on the hafu with a scowl. "You seem awfully happy about this."

[petals_scatter]

Erika faltered slightly, a somewhat troubled expression clouding her face briefly. She went quiet with thought, wondering how the other girl would react if she said what she really thought. That she hadn't been Hazama's friend and neither had most of the people shedding tears over her now. But to say such a thing would only invite more trouble in her life than she wanted.

Instead, she bowed, molding her expression into one of proper shame and contrition.

"I am sorry. I meant no disrespect."

[harmonizenpc]

Sachiko seemed to be preparing a sharp reply, but Yoshino looked up at her with a pained expression. "Sacchin, it's okay. It's okay, so let's just go, all right?"

So, instead, the taller girl dismissed Erika with the quiet sort of tch that made it clearer than words could say that she thought the hafu not worth her time. With that and not another word, the pair moved on, back toward the dorms.

[petals_scatter]

As Erika watched them go, she wondered if she would have gotten such a reaction had her hair been black like theirs instead of pale brown but she suspected she already knew the answer. Best to move on as well, she decided.

She had yet to settle on an activity for the day, after all. Perhaps she should go for a walk or pick up some treats for the stray cats behind the school. Playing with them always made her feel better. Animals didn't care if you were Japanese enough the way people did. Mind made up, she headed for the main gates instead.

Her smile did not reappear.

[burningbow]

Mirai stood quietly by the wall for some time. The sight of Yachiyo had made him utterly angry. She was controlling Miyume after she'd died. This was not the way he would have wanted it. He slid his hands in his pockets. He couldn't understand why he was so angry about it.

And it was a great hurt to him that he felt alone. He turned a shoulder and rested on his arm - and watched everyone leave the auditorium. Yoshino with Sachiko, who was admonishing someone else he knew. He rubbed the base of his neck. The two hurriedly walked off. If his coldness scared most of those involved in the gossip off just as quick, he thought he would certainly leave a happier person.

He boiled quickly and furiously and itched to leave - he could no longer bear waiting. He came over across the floor, following behind Erika.

"Excuse me," he said tersely.

[petals_scatter]

At the sound of a familiar voice, Erika glanced behind her. A flash of recognition went over her face and stepped aside to make room for him to pass.

"Sorry, senpai. I didn't realize I was in your way," she apologized quickly. Her expression softened and her eyes filled with cautious concern. Unlike the others, Imaizumi had good reason to shed tears over Hazama. She'd seen the flowers he'd planned to give to Hazama and understood their meaning.

"I'm sorry for your loss," she added softly, then averted her eyes. She stared at the floor awkwardly, still a bit embarrassed by the altercation with Inuzuka but more painfully aware she had to tread carefully on this issue.

"If you need someone to talk to..."

She trailed off into uncertain silence.

[burningbow]

Mirai was somewhat annoyed by this question. In the course of his time at Chitoku he had talked to nobody in detail. He proceeded to act normally though; in the fast-moving crowd he pulled ahead by a step. He did not stop but turned his gaze back. His teeth clenched, but he said politely.

"I wouldn't say no," he said, "but I owe others a talking to first."

[petals_scatter]

He just received terrible news, she reminded herself as she smoothed her skirt in an attempt to keep her hands from clenching into fists. She'd had enough people trying to hammer her out of existence throughout her life to recognize it when she saw it. Imaizumi's motivations just seemed different from everyone else's.

She didn't respond. Better to just leave things alone. The day had started out nicely enough but between the assembly, Inuzuka, and now Imaizumi, it looked like it would just get worse the longer she stayed on campus.

[burningbow]

Mirai shouldered Erika's annoyance and walked off, hands-in-pockets. He vanished in the crowd and walked up the stairs ahead. He had not the slightest interest in talking to her about Miyume. Nobody else either. As far as he was concerned, his needs in that area would never be fulfilled.

[petals_scatter]

So she'd already managed to piss two people off in rapid succession. Erika looked around, wondering morbidly if anyone in the crowd around her would step up to be a third. She must be on some kind of roll, she thought bitterly. This might be a new record for her.

Another day by herself looked more pleasant by the moment. She didn't feel nearly so lonely when she kept to herself out of choice. She'd been named for a type of flower - the erika flower, also known as spring or winter heather. It symbolized solitude in hanakotoba.

Once again, it struck her that her parents couldn't have chosen a more fitting name for her.

Sometime later, not far from the school

[petals_scatter]

Cats were the best medicine.

Erika sat down in an alley a block away from the school, stroking the stray tomcat monopolizing her lap. He sprawled out in all directions, taking up twice as much space as he should in that way that seemed genetically programmed into anything feline. She scritched under his chin and behind the ears, watching the way his tail flopped lazily about with fond amusement. This cat had a particularly loud purr, one that could be easily heard by anyone happening to walk by the alley.

Re: Sometime later, not far from the school

[truthdealer]

Little did Erika know, there was a stalker on the streets. Soon it was right behind her, with a practiced silence that'd make cats envious. They continued to watch for a time with a thoughtful frown before making themself known by leaning over her shoulder and saying suddenly, bluntly,

"Doesn't he do anything interesting?"

Re: Sometime later, not far from the school

[petals_scatter]

The sudden question nearly made Erika jump out of her skin, her heart racing quickly. The cat, upset from his roost when Erika jerked back and tried to twist around to see who had approached her, ran off deeper into the alley.

Her face was flushed and she managed a slightly shaky smile. She should have known better than to linger here. Erika jumped to her feet, back against the wall of one of the buildings. Her arms crossed in front of her instinctively as if to protect herself.

Erika opened her mouth but closed it immediately, seemingly trying to regain her composure.

Re: Sometime later, not far from the school

[truthdealer]

Yuri clicked her tongue with irritation as the cat ran off and the younger girl failed to reply. She stepped towards the girl and said expectantly,

"Well?"

Re: Sometime later, not far from the school

[petals_scatter]

"Um, it's a cat..." Erika began slowly, once the initial shock wore off. She shifted awkwardly, letting one arm dangle loosely at her side. After a moment, she reached across and clasped her elbow.

"Cats can be really fun. Especially if you have a laser pointer and give them catnip and a plastic bag."

Neither of which she had on her today. She wouldn't do that to a stray on the street, anyway. It'd be cruel to leave it outside in that state.

Re: Sometime later, not far from the school

[truthdealer]

Yuri nodded along, as though in great contemplation. She then pulled out a set of keys from a chain on her bag, from which an assortment of seemingly random tools and nick nacks dangled. She rustled through them until she pulled out a small pen light.

"It's not a laser pointer but this should work, right?"

She didn't wait for confirmation before nodding to herself again. She took a few steps down where the cat had gone before turning back to the other girl and saying, "Come on! He's probably not far gone yet."