"Hm... Do you like the school so far? We can show you around if you haven't had time to... familiarize? Uh... yourself with it." It seemed that Shiina-chan's sign language wasn't perfect either.

"That would be nice, actually. I kinda had to go straight from the front door to here." I respond. It was kinda surprising how affable those two were. They make me feel welcome, shocking since I figured I'd have to get most of them to open up to me. Shizune-chan took that moment to make some signs.

"Huh? Oh, right, we haven't even touched the assignment! We should start work now, or Shicchan will get mad." Shiina-chan said hastily.

I give her a bland stare. "There's also the part about us actually needing to finish it for class?"

"Wahaha~! That too!

You didn't need to know sign language to interpret Shizune-chan's glare at the two of us.

"Don't worry, we get the message." I told the class rep.

"After class, we can take a walk around the grounds together. It's a nice day today! Okay~?" Shiina-chan chimed in.

 The assignment itself was pretty basic, but it was really long. It took all kinds of stuff from different aspects of science and packed it into one big stack of papers. We'd definitely need the whole period to get it done. Or so I thought. My partners were very capable, and we made it through the assignment with a few minutes to spare. I took the time to get a better read on their personalities.

Shizune-chan was just as professional as she looked. She seemed to have a playful side to her, but she was a genuinely serious person. She didn't take much nonsense, and quite frankly enjoyed being in control.

Shiina-chan, on the other hand, was quite the character. She's very... bubbly, I guess the word would be. She definitely acts like a stereotypical--if a bit more hyperactive--teenage girl. Her attention span was just as short as her tact, as well.

Eventually, the bells rang, signifying lunch. Considering that I'd arranged to go along with my first friends at the school, I followed Shiina-chan's efforts to drag me with her. Eventually we got to the stairs.

The ones with the railing on the left side.

My supplies were secured in the backpack a carried around with me, but having a free hand meants nothing if the railing was on the wrong side of the stairs. Shiina-chan paused halfway down and looked up at me, wondering what was taking me. I slowly began to descend the evil that was stairs, and I was absolutely dumbfounded to feel Shizune-chan grab my forearm firmly and guide me down the stairs quicker than I would have without. I waited until we got near Shiina-chan to tell he thanks, and she gave me a cute blush.

"Shicchan says she was doing her duty as class rep and helping a student out. Oh c'mon Shicchan, we all know you were just being nice~!"

Upon reaching the cafeteria, I took a minute to take the place in. It was big. A lot bigger than it needed to be, since the tables and chairs were a bit farther apart from each other than they shoud be. I can only assume students with movement issues need as much space as possible to get around.

"It's the cafeteria~!" Shiina-chan announced triumphantly upon our arrival. The people around us took a moment to stare, but the girl in questioned seemed like she couldn't care less. As we stood in line, I looked at the menu. It was extensive, but not exactly gourmet. More likely than not it was tailored to students with special diets. I wasn't going to be getting anything especially tasty for the duration of my stay. There was a vegetarian pizza that stood out among the sea of medicinal cooking, so I went ahead and ordered that.

Shizune-chan and I made it to a table before Shiina-chan did. We sat opposite each other, and there was a small awkward silence until Shiin-chan sat right down next to me. Shizune-chan started signing, and I knew she was talking about me. Even though she wasn't "talking", per se, it was just as curteous to look her in the eye during.

Shiina-chan was quick to translate. "Do you want to know something?"

I pause in chewing my food. I ponder the question while swallowing the less-than-delicious pizza. "Like what?"

"Like anything~! We're your guides so you should ask if there is something~!"

Well, there was definitely something... "Could you direct me to the library?" The sour look I got in response was obvious. "C'mon, Shiina-chan, reading isn't THAT bad, is it?"

The girl in question huffed at my insistence on using her real name. "I figured you ask were the gym was or something. Reading's boring~!"

"Well, that's something I was going to go over with the head nurse when I saw him or her." I revealed.
Shizune-chan gave Shiina-chan a stern look accompanied by some signs. "Yeah, yeah, I get it Shicchan. There's a library on the second floor. We can show it to you sometime, so don't worry~!"

"Much obliged." I responded. Shiina-chan seemed to have trouble signing that word for Shizune-chan. I chuckled at the sight, to which she responded with her usual huff.

What followed was what I could only assume was revenge for not using her cute nickname. She and Shizune-chan signed to each other animatedly, and it was obvious they were talking about me going by the sideways glances I got. Shiina-chan clearly had no desire to translate what was being said, and I was left to watch in wonder as to what kind of conversation they could be having about me. It was kinda rude, to be honest, but both of these girls seemed like they could hold a grudge.

Eventually, lunch ended and we headed back to the classroom. I didn't need help up the stairs this time, so it was much quicker. The first thing I noticed once Shiina-chan busted down the door to the classroom with all the grace of a rhino, was the invisible girl from earlier making an adorable squeek whilst jumping at the sudden noise. Looking at us, she tries to make herself as small as possible in her chair, shrinking back in what almost seemed to be fear. Shiina-chan and Shizune-chan either didn't notice, or didn't care, considering they didn't even send the startled girl so much as a glance.

From there, classes were pretty much standard to what I was used to. Mental disabilities weren't something Yamaku Gakuen particularly catered to, so the curriculum didn't need to be dumbed down or altered. For all the differences I noticed earlier, there were just as many similarities to a regular high school. Classes ended in what felt like short order, considering I'd joined after a few classes had already finished. As I stand up and strech, I notice Shiina-chan trying to grab my attention.

"Unfortunately we can't stay and show you around today, Shirou-chan. We've got to hurry already, since there is a lot of work for us to do."

Shizune-chan signed some more.

"You'll find your way around here, I'm sure of it."
"Can you at least direct me to the head nurse?" I asked.

Shiina-chan looked at Shizune-chan, they exchanged some signs, and Shiina-chan looked back at me with a toothy grin. "Okay! We can at least show you that much~! The nurses have their own building, so you'll have to follow us outside."

As we made our way through the hallway with the rest of the students, Shiina-chan made an effort to point out all the classrooms in our same grade. Shizune-chan once again helped me down the stairs without thought, and eventually we found ourselves in front of the small building next to the main one.

Shizune-chan started signing once we stopped.

"This is the aux...iliary building here. There's a lot of official and important stuff inside, like the Yamaku Foundation office and all the nurses' offices. They even have a swimming pool!" Shiina-chan translated happily."

I cocked an eyebrow at that last statement. "So does that mean all the physical therapy happens here, or just the water-related kinds?"

"Nope~! There are other places where physical therapy happens too. Anyway, all the nursing facilities are in there too. The head nurse's office is on the first floor." She informed me. "You'll be fine from here, right~? We'll be going then! See you tomorrow!"

I nodded at them. "Thank you very much. I'll see you tomorrow Shizune-chan, Shiina-chan." I actually managed to catch the pout on Shiina-chan's face as they turned to leave. Oh, she's fun.

Pretty much immediately after entering the building, the white door on the left side of the hallway beckons me. It says "Head Nurse" on a green cross. A quick knock, followed by a friendly "Come in!", prompted me to open the door and head through.

Immediately, a friendly-looking man spin around in his office chair and gives me a big grin. He's younger than I expected, to be honest, with his dimples and short blue hair giving me a carefree impression. "Hello there. What can I do for you today?"

I bowed. "Ah, I'm Watanabe Shirou. I'm here for a check-up?"

The man's face lit up in realization. "Ah! Yes, yes! Shirou-chan! I was reading over your file earlier." That name wasn't going to start spreading, was it? "It's nice to meet you. You can either call me by name or 'the nurse' like everybody else does."

Name? Oh, there was a nameplate on the door, wasn't there? I didn't even bother reading it. "Nurse" it was. "Did you have any questions for me?" I inquired.

Nurse but a hand to his chin. "Hm... well, I'd like to see your wrappings, and maybe go over a few things we need to get settled while you're here."

I remove the upper half of my school unform with a little bit of trouble (I absolutely despise buttons), but eventually I was bare. Nurse looked closely at the way I had wrapped my stump, what little there was. "Hm, no problems here. Just remember not to make it too tight and clean the bandages regularly. Do you moisturize the nub as well?" I nodded. "Good. I guess this means I don't have to go over proper care for your arm. You seem to be doing just fine." He added with a grin.

"I've gotten used to it. When you're like this for a few years, things that started as tedium turn to routine." I revealed.

"Indeed." He agreed. "Well, looking at your file.." He said, scanning over the folder he'd pulled from his desk. "You're on medicine for PLS. You don't really NEED to be on it considering the treatments aren't exactly guaranteed to do anything, but there's no need to take you off either. Do you have a history of Phantom Limb Pain?" Nurse asked.

I nodded again. "I do. It can get really bad sometimes. Excruciating, even."

"I see. Well, people who at one point had an arm experience far more phantom sensations than somebody born without one. Considering how you lost yours... the pain must not be fun. As long as it doesn't become too much of a hindrance to daily activity, we can keep you on your current meds and see how things go."

Here was where I knew I wanted to ask something, but dreaded it. "Um... can I ask a question?"

Nurse rose an eyebrow at my attitude. "Of course. It's what I'm here for."

"Do you guys have any way to make prosthetics more accessible?" I finally asked.

Nurse closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "You are currently the only student in the third year with a forequarter amputation. Most of our in-stock prosthetics are for below elbow cases, and even then they aren't very high quality. The Yamaku Foundation doesn't make as much money as we'd like, and insurance doesn't like covering arm prosthetics compared to leg ones. Speaking of which, I don't see an insurance provider on your file."

"Yeah, my mom died in the accident. Her premium was quarterly, so it covered my immediate hospital bills, but there was no way for anybody in my family to take over the policy. Even the bandages and lotion are out of my pocket. Now that I'm here, I had to quit my part-time job too."

Nurse frowned. "So pretty much all of your procedures from this point forward wouldn't be covered, so you're stuck as you are. Y'know... I think I can call in a favor and get you a decent prosthetic. You need it more than others, and if we wait too long you'll grow to a point where it'd have to be custom."

I was shocked, and it showed. I gave him the most eager handshake a could, and he just threw up that cheesy grin at me. "Now, there's more to your situation that just your arm. How are your nightmares?" He said, looking over the file.

"They've never really changed frequency since the accident. They're often different, and it's not like I see my family die in them. I just... have lots of nightmares since the accident. We assume it's PSTD, but I can't afford to medicate it."

"Well, as long as you think you'll be okay, we can keep things as is. Just make sure to let me know if they become a problem. We don't want them affecting your daily life, now do we?"

With some inconsequential small talk and a firm handshake, I was finally out of the office.