Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Just Thirty

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

Holy shit. I know Jenie well enough to know what she meant, but to just say it like she did in front of Christina was stupid. Impressive, but I’m not even that dumb.

How can I fix this? Can I fix this while I’m still tired?

Why is time moving so damn slow?

I can still feel Christina’s hand pressed against my stomach. But the hand on my back is gone. Kai was mid-cry, but Christina wouldn’t go for Kai.

I can’t see Sakura, but screw her.

Screw this.

Screw all of them, and screw that I have to save Jenie’s ass.

This day sucks…

Come on, brain, while we have time to think of something.

Shit. All I can think about is Shimeko’s diary now. Okay, okay, if I were Ren, how would I fix this… with hugs? Bad model. Maybe I could draw a picture like Shimeko. We both suck at art.

I mean, I’m not good, but I’m not that bad.

Not helping.

Yoshime? Yeah! Let's pretend we’re Yoshime and start a war. Now, how do I speed time up? Damn, how do I slow my heart down?

Oh, shit. Christina’s hand just left my stomach. Like, I can feel her touching my jacket, but not my stomach.

Jenie, as much as I dislike you for putting me here, I really wish you would stop staring at me. Or blink, please.

Hmm?

"I’m…" Christina said.

Is it game time already? But I’m not ready!

"Going… to… kill…"

I bent down and grabbed the bottom of our lunch table.

"You… you dumb…"

Then I lifted with every ounce of strength.

"bitch…"

The table flipped over, and all our food crashed onto the floor.

I inhaled as much air as possible against my heart’s advice.

"You can all piss off! I don’t care about everyone’s shitty feelings! I’m not your damn hani! Don’t freaking touch me, and you," I said, pointing at Sakura.

"You’re the worst of them all."

Shit, did she even do anything? Probably.

I turned to Nakamura to deliver some hate, but she was crying and staring at the floor.

Shit, I forgot that eating at school was like the greatest thing in the world for Tiffany.

I turned back to Jenie and Kai and realized that I was running out of steam. I walked to the cafeteria's red door. I was halfway out when I realized Christina and Jenie were still in the same place, so I quickly walked back, took Christina by the hand, and said, "I need you."

She blushed so damn hard that I thought she would catch on fire. My heart certainly wanted to.

The air in the hallway felt refreshing. No lingering eyes or chatty students.

I started down the hallway, pulling the killer queen with me.

"H-hani…"

Christina's hand tightened, and I knew why. After Jenie's bullshit, I needed to do something about her right now for Kai's sake.

"Antwon—"

"Nope, I'm your hani. Just don't get used to it, Christina."

Christina caught up and matched my stride as we walked to math.

"So, what the fuck was that? Don't think…"

Don't think what, Christina…

I looked to my left to figure out why she stopped mid-sentence, but she was still talking.

Huh, that's interesting.

My fingers slipped from Christina's embrace.

Fine, I didn't want to hold your hand either.

The world started to wobble, and my breaths became kind of shallow.

"Cris…" was all I could say.

Then my right foot struck the ground, and the bones melted into jelly as I lost strength.

Through blurs, I remembered seeing the floor, the ceiling, and Christina's face before falling back into the void.

Okay, what was that?

***

"Well, I understand that none of you four caused the mess, but he ain't here anymore," the lunch aide said.

I stared at the savory salmon Christina gave me for lunch. I'd considered eating it regardless of it being on the floor, but…

"This is horseshit! Antwon isn't even mine anymore, and I'm still cleaning up his mess. No way. Call the queen back in here so she can bask in the responsibility of having him!" Sakura shouted.

"I-I'll clean it," I said, catching my group's attention.

"I don't mind—"

Sakura kicked food off her shoe and touched my shoulder.

"There is no way in hell I'm going to make you suffer for sitting with us, right, Jenie?"

…

"Uh, Jenie?"

Jenie was still with us, but her attention belonged to Kai, who had crossed his arms and turned his head. I'm unsure of what Jenie expected after inviting Antwon into her bed.

It feels warm. Am I getting sick?

"Hey, Nakamura, just go. I'll take care of the mess. Besides, you look like you're running a fever, or something. You're…" she said, pointing at my face and drawing a circle in the air. "All this is red."

I nodded.

"Nakamura, wait," Jenie said. Then she reached into Antwon's bag and pulled out an unopened bento box.

"Antwon wanted you to have this as recompense. However, because of the urgent situation, he was unable to convey it."

"There better be one for me in there, too," Sakura chimed in.

"I don't mind helping—"

Sakura took me by the shoulder and turned me toward the exit. She gently pushed me.

"Look, girly. I'm going to take care of this, so don't worry yourself. After all, what are friends for?"

I balled up my lips.

We're… friends.

I wrapped my arms around the bento.

All my life, I've had only one person I could truly call a friend.

I lowered my head.

Now, I have so many.

I ran out of the cafeteria at full speed.

Thank you all for giving me so much.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch and the beginning of something more.

***

I blinked until I couldn't feel the void. Then I stared into a bright light, unsure of where I was.

Did I die again?

I was warm, but not all over. Not my warmth.

Looking to my left, I found Christina curled up next to me. I was lying down, but we weren't at home. I reached for her face and brushed her cheek.

Cute, but only when she's asleep.

Was this a hospital?

My bed was veiled in a white cloth, hanging from a rail. Then I checked my clothes.

"I know what you're thinking," a voice said beyond the veil. "What kind of hospital doesn't undress its patients? Well, the kind that isn't a hospital, dear heart," the voice said.

Then a head poked through the veil.

He had short black hair and a white mask that covered his mouth.

He kind of reminds me of Junpei, but Junpei's hair was longer. Maybe they're related.

"Who are you, and why am I here? More importantly, why is she here?" I said, pointing at Christina with the same hand I’d just touched her face with.

He pulled the veil back and slid in, sitting backward on his rolling chair.

"My name is Mr. Okimoto, dear, and I'm the nurse on this floor."

Guys who smile behind a mask are the least trustworthy. I've got to be careful around him.

"So, why am I here?"

"Well, I thought you died—"

"It was that bad?"

"—from being awestruck by Ms. Tetsusen's presence, but then I checked your vitals, and you were fine."

This guy!

"Wait. She carried me in? Like, how?"

I gripped the bed sheets.

"She lifted you and—"

"Yeah, yeah. I get that, but use your hands and show me how."

Mr. Okimoto sat up in his chair, then raised both hands, holding them out in front of him.

That's not too bad.

Then he brought his left hand to his left shoulder. His hand hovered over his shoulder as if something prevented him from connecting; then he brought his right hand down, down, as if he were cradling something at his waistline.

"NOoo!" I screamed.

Christina sprang back to life, heaving and gasping; then she pushed me down onto the bed.

"W-what the fuck happened?!" she screamed.

"You did. You've ruined me!"

Christina wiped her eyes.

"The fuck are you talking about, Antwon?"

"You—" I said, pushing her hand off me. "—carried me like a girl."

Christina looked at Mr. Okimoto, who just shrugged.

"I carried you like a boy. What the fuck are you saying? If you were a girl, I'd leave you there, and if I did decide to waste my time carrying you, I'd throw you over my shoulder. So, why the fuck are you mad?"

"Who saw?!"

Christina crossed her arms.

"Mr. Carter, if Ms. Tetsusen hadn't brought you in, you wouldn't actually have died. You were experiencing a stress-induced fainting episode."

I looked at Christina, then back to Mr. Okimoto.

"What the hell is that?"

He covered his mouth with his hands.

"Oh, dear. You shouldn't use naughty words; it isn't cute."

"Spare me."

…

Then he looked at Christina.

"It's… a work in progress. Yeah. I just need, like, twenty-five more days," Christina said.

Mr. Okimoto spun in his chair; then he stopped.

This guy is weird.

"So, what happens in twenty-five more days?" Mr. Okimoto asked.

"I lose my freedom—"

"The world will address me as Ms. Carter and bow its head in reverence of our shared unity. Isn't that right, hani?"

Why the hell did she make it sound… so grand?

I frowned.

Christina smiled.

Mr. Okimoto just rotated back and forth in his chair.

"How exciting it is to be in love," Mr. Okimoto said. "Now, before I forget again, you were running on adrenaline; your heart was going 'da dum da dum' times ten. This is normal, but sometimes our hearts don't manage it well."

"So, what?" I said.

This guy is starting to piss me off.

"Well, the human heart can't handle that much tension, dear. That's why you crashed."

I hung my legs over the bed, but before I could push myself off, Christina grabbed my shoulder.

"I don't know what your deal is with me carrying you, but only a few students saw."

"Give me a number, Christina."

She looked down.

"Just thirty."

…

"Nooo!"