An Empty Shell

Chapter 4: I Have To Know

Disclaimer: Photo not mine.

"Okay that's it for today class. Don't forget your project will be due before fall break so you have plenty of time but don't get too comfortable while waiting for the deadline. I suggest you should come up with something the earliest possible. And Mr. Minamino, I will assign Ms. Miyazaki to your group since she just came in and your group lack one person. Understood?" Instructed the professor.
"Yes, Sensei!" Shuichi replied. He was about to talk to Hayami but she hurriedly excused herself and scurried to the door.
"I'm happy she is in our group. We could get to know her better. Let's go call for her—hey, where did she go?" One of Shuichi's classmate didn't notice Hayami already went.
"Oh she said she's already late for her next class so she have to go right away." Shuichi made up an excuse for her.

What was that about? Why did she act like that in front of me? And her mala bracelet.. Shuichi was trying to discern the recent situation in his class particularly with Hayami's behavior towards him. He was on his way to the school's office to submit their class papers.

"Please let me go to another class or give me another subject equivalent to its credits. I can accept any just not this class please..!" Hayami frantically pleading at the office. Shuichi overheard her conversation with the admin assistant while he was standing by the door.
"I am sorry Miss Miyazaki but this is the only subject we have left available for you. If you can't take it this semester then you can always take it on the next.." explained the assistant to her.
"I can't do that ma'am please.. I am already fully loaded for the next semester. Not to mention I also have a part time job."
Hayami still pleading.
"I am sorry Miss but this is final.." the admin assistant stood for her terms.
"I...I understand ma'am.." hopeless, she gave in to her defeat. But as she turned away she bumped on Shuichi.
"I'm sorry.. I'm so so sorry!" Hayami held her hands up but she was looking down.
"I'm okay.. are you alright?" Shuichi replied with concern.
She gasped and slowly looked up, recognizing his voice. She only took a quick glance of him, bowed to excused herself again and hurriedly left. But Shuichi caught her eyes and he was petrified. Those amber eyes were just filled with grief and horror. She was crying from the inside, wanting to get out, not from that particular situation but from something else.

"Mr. Minamino, are you here to give those papers from Prof. Nagata's class?" called out the assistant to Shuichi who was still looking at the door when he followed the girl, who just went out, with his eyes.
"Oh, yes ma'am. I have them all here." He placed the papers on the receiving table.
"Isn't she from your class with Prof. Nagata?"the assistant asked Shuichi unexpectedly.
"Uh, yeah, she is." His rather short reply.
"Even though she's a good catch of this school, I don't tolerate such behavior especially on their very first day." remarked of the assistant with a stern voice.
"Well then, I have to go to my next class now," Shuichi just simply excused himself, trying to avoid anymore unnecessary conversation. That look in her eyes, that expression of her face.. they portray extreme fear that I have seen only when someone sees the real me... he told to himself while he was walking down the hallway.

It was lunch break and almost everyone is headed to the cafeteria. Shuichi usually prefered to pack his lunch and take his break in a solitary space such as the school's roof top or the courtyard.
"Minamino-kun, can we have lunch together?" another girl came to ask him offering him packed lunch she made, along with her girl friends.
"That is very nice of you, but I still have to finish something before I take my lunch break." Shuichi always made sure of an excuse just to avoid this kind of situations.
"Oh that's okay, I can wait for you or if you want I can help you with whatever you need to finish." This one this time was very persistent.
"Thanks for the offer. Although I hate to bother you, I really do need a helping hand for this one. Do you think you would be able to check these papers for me then hand them over to Miss Himura?" Shuichi instructed the girls like a natural with a sly smile. As soon as the girls heard the name of the terror admin, they quickly backed out.
"Oh, you know what? I forgot I have something else to do too. Good thing you remind me about it Minamino-kun. We'll go ahead for now okay? Let's go girls..!" And just that, the girls disappeared in a flash.