Chapter 14: Kyoko’s Bad Ending, Activated
“I was thinking about… biscuits! That’s right, biscuits!” Kyoko exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Bubbles, I promise I’ll bring you back some Bear Biscuits!”
“Bear Biscuits?” Bubbles’ eyes lit up as she looked at Kyoko expectantly.
“Yes, I promise I’ll come back and visit you with biscuits.”
Kyoko held out her pinky finger. “Pinky promise?”
“Okay!”
Bubbles giggled happily. “Pinky promise!”
She linked her pinky with Kyoko’s. “Pinky swear…”
“A hundred years,” Kyoko finished.
“No take-backs!” they shouted in unison.
On a sunny afternoon, Ms. Eve stretched, her back cracking as she finished cleaning the classroom.
She glanced out the window, watching the children playing in the courtyard, a wistful smile touching her lips.
“Youth is wasted on the young.”
“Don’t say that, Ms. Eve. If even a young woman like you feels that way, what about us old folks?”
“Captain Araki?” Ms. Eve turned around to see the middle-aged man standing in the doorway, his usual stern expression replaced with a rare smile.
“Something good happen, Captain?”
“Something good… yes, indeed.” He held out a thick envelope. “The results of last month’s blood tests are in. We have good news.”
“Good news?” Ms. Eve’s heart skipped a beat. “What kind of good news?”
“Congratulations, Ms. Eve.”
He didn’t keep her in suspense any longer. “One of the children’s Pollution Level has dropped below the threshold. He’s cleared to leave.”
“Five years… five years of hard work, and it finally paid off!”
Ms. Eve felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She stumbled back, her hand reaching out to steady herself against the wall.
Excitement, joy, relief…
A torrent of emotions surged through her.
“Who… who is it?” she asked, her voice trembling.
…………………………………………………………….
“Nothing beats a cold glass of water after a good game!”
Kyoko gulped down the water, savoring the simple pleasure.
“Kyoko.”
“Ms. Eve?” Kyoko jumped, turning to see Ms. Eve striding towards her.
“Go gather everyone. I have an important announcement to make.” Ms. Eve struggled to contain her excitement as she gave Kyoko instructions.
Kyoko sensed that something was different about Ms. Eve, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“Okay,” she replied, then ran off towards the courtyard.
“Back to the classroom, everyone! Back to the classroom!”
“Ms. Eve has something important to tell us!”
Soon, the classroom was filled with students.
“I apologize for interrupting your activities, but I have some wonderful news to share!” Ms. Eve beamed at them. “I just received word…”
She paused, taking a deep breath.
“One of you… has recovered! He’s… he’s going home!”
Silence descended upon the classroom. The joyous celebration Ms. Eve had anticipated never materialized.
The children exchanged confused glances, seemingly unmoved by the news.
Ms. Eve frowned, repeating her announcement. “Children, one of your classmates is going back to a normal life!”
Still, no one spoke. Some, like Bubbles, looked bewildered, as if they hadn’t understood.
Others, like Kosan and Kyoko, looked troubled, their faces etched with worry.
After a moment of silence, Kosan’s usual nonchalant expression returned.
“Well, that’s wonderful news. Congratulations!”
Her voice was flat, devoid of any genuine emotion. Then, she raised her voice slightly. “So, Ms. Eve, who’s the lucky one?”
Ms. Eve’s heart sank. The children’s reaction disappointed her deeply.
‘What is this? Don’t they see what this means? Don’t they appreciate my efforts?’
‘This is a momentous occasion, a day to celebrate! Why are they so indifferent?’
‘Where’s the excitement? Where’s the gratitude? Where’s my applause?’
Ms. Eve gritted her teeth, her chest heaving with suppressed anger.
After a moment, she forced a smile, her expression strained. “Yo.”
“Huh?”
The boy stared at her blankly, his mind struggling to catch up.
“Congratulations, Yo.”
“Ms. Eve…” He gaped at her, speechless. “I-is it… me?”
“Ms. Eve!” Kyoko jumped to her feet. “There must be some mistake!”
“Yo… Yo, he… no, it can’t be Yo!” Panic laced her voice as she repeated herself over and over. “It’s not him.”
“It’s not Yo.”
“It can’t be.”
“Impossible.”
“It can’t…”
“Kyoko!” Ms. Eve’s sharp voice cut through Kyoko’s frantic ramblings. Kyoko looked at her, her eyes wide with fear.
“That’s enough! Get out!” Ms. Eve’s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. Her eyes were dark, her gaze chilling.
‘She’s scary… Ms. Eve’s eyes are scary…’
Kyoko trembled, rooted to the spot.
“Crash!” Ms. Eve slammed her teacup onto the table, shattering it into pieces.
“Get out!”
Silence descended upon the classroom. Then…
“Waaaaahhhh!”
“Sob… sniff… waaaaaahhhh!”
“Boo hoo hoo…”
The younger children burst into tears, their faces pale with fear. The older ones looked on, their expressions a mixture of shock and apprehension.
Ms. Eve’s face was thunderous. Kyoko, her head bowed, walked out of the classroom without a word.
………………………………………………………………
“Kyoko…” Bubbles looked at her friend, her heart filled with worry.
Three days had passed since that incident. Ms. Eve had calmed down, returning to her usual kind and gentle self.
She had even apologized to Kyoko in front of the entire class the next day.
“I’m sorry, Kyoko.”
“I was wrong to lose my temper. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“You’re still young, you don’t understand. I shouldn’t have expected so much from you.”
“Please, forgive me.”
Ms. Eve had bowed her head sincerely.
“It’s okay, Ms. Eve,” Kyoko had replied, her voice subdued.
Bubbles had thought everything would go back to normal, that they could all be happy again.
She was wrong.
Kyoko hadn’t smiled since that day.
She barely ate, she stopped playing soccer, she was back to her moping, lovesick self.
But… it was different. This time, it was different.
Even Bubbles, young as she was, could sense it. This wasn’t like the last time. Something was wrong with Kyoko.
Bubbles wanted to help her friend, but she couldn’t think of anything.
Yo was leaving. That was a fact.
Ms. Eve had said he would be leaving next week.
‘What do I do? What do I do?’ Bubbles wracked her brain, her brow furrowed in concentration.
A hand landed on her shoulder.
“Kosan?”
“Stop stressing yourself out. Leave it to the ever-reliable Kosan.”
“You… you have a plan?” Bubbles’ eyes widened with hope.
“Well, it all depends on him.” Kosan gestured towards the boy, who was watching Kyoko with a worried expression.
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