The island (epilogue)

                                                      The island (epilogue)

(This is part of a multi-chapter story, if you haven't read the first one, go to https://pastebin.com/DAVKrwkq or click my name 'MREN' on the top left, to continue where you're at in the story!)

       A year later

The two students sat down on a bench, exhausted.

Haruo: 'Man, that was a pain. Not letting the student council roping me into working for them ever again!'
Daishi: 'We still have another day or two before the job is done. It's not so bad anyway... Can't say I mind being around three cute girls all day long.'
Haruo: 'Don't know, man. Mikado's creeping me out. The other two are fine though.'
Daishi: 'Creeping you out? How?'
Haruo: 'She's always so happy and friendly and cheerful and all that. I don't trust people who look like they're always happy. And she acts like we're best buddies, even though I met her a couple weeks ago when I transferred in...'
Daishi: 'Do you even know who she is?'
Haruo: 'What do you mean?'
Daishi: 'Right. I suppose you didn't watch the news much while you were in a coma, before coming to Yamaku.'
Haruo: 'The news? What, she's some idol I should know about or something like that?'
Daishi: '...Not exactly.'
Haruo: 'Who is she then?'
Daishi: 'Look her up sometimes... Crazy story. She's the lone survivor of a serial killer or something.'

Haruo raised an eyebrow;

Haruo: 'You fucking with me, man?'
Daishi: 'No. It was just last year too. She went to some "end of the year" party, something like that... and one of the students murdered everyone else. Well, all but Mikado. She was about to kill her too, but the cops took her down just in time.'
Haruo: 'Are you fucking serious?'
Daishi: 'Honest to god. She was traumatized after the events - obviously - and she flunked her year. She spent some time in the hospital, some time in therapy too, and she took the exams after that... But she failed. That's why she's still here.'
Haruo: 'Damn man.'

They both stood up and walked toward the dorms, then Haruo spoke again;

Haruo: 'So I guess I was right.'
Daishi: 'Right about what?'
Haruo: 'Not to trust people who look so happy. They're always hiding something.'

He smiled at his friend, who didn't return the smile;

Daishi: 'That's not funny. After what she's been through, it's a good thing she can even be happy again.'
Haruo: 'Ah, maybe you're right, man. Anyway, it's good that she's made new friends already. At least she's not alone.'
Daishi: 'Yeah. Anyway, see you tomorrow for more work!'
Haruo: 'Definitely not looking forward to it.'



...



Keiko: 'See you tomorrow, ok? Oh, and good job today, we're almost done! Let's power through and finish this tomorrow, right?'
Misha: 'Wahaha, right right!'

Misha left the student council's office, headed to her dorm room.

Aoi: 'How much more is there?'
Keiko: 'Some. You can go if you want to, I'll deal with these two files, then I'll clean up.'
Aoi: 'My, how presidential of you!'

Since the election for the student council president, where both girls had been competing in, Aoi had always been teasing Keiko about her position. It was all in good fun, she didn't really mind; Working under her or above her, it didn't really change much, in the end.

She listened to Misha's footsteps for a while, trying to determine whether she was far enough, and when satisfied, she spoke again;

Aoi: 'Mind if I ask you a question?'
Keiko: 'Sure, what's up?'
Aoi: 'Has something happened?'
Keiko: 'Something like what?'
Aoi: 'Between you and Misha.'

Keiko's eyes narrowed, surprised by the question.

Keiko: '...Nothing?'
Aoi: 'Nothing means something!'

She smiled sweetly; It was Aoi's weird catchphrase when she knew someone was trying to hide something from her.
Keiko knew Aoi wasn't going to drop the issue, so she walked to the door and closed it before answering it;

Keiko: 'You're too good at reading people. Do you get some oracle skills when you go blind?'

Aoi made a weird face at this tactless joke; She didn't like talking about her condition, or other people talking about it.

Aoi: 'You've both been acting strange these last few days, that's all.'

Keiko took a pause, as if trying to picture these days in her mind, to see how strangely she acted;

Keiko: 'Ok, I'm gonna tell you but you can't tell anyone else, got it?'
Aoi: 'My, this looks serious. I promise I won't tell.'

Keiko took another pause, trying to decide whether or not she should tell her about it; Eventually, she came to the conclusion that she couldn't keep it a secret forever anyway, so might as well deal with it right away.

Keiko: 'Ok. Couple days ago, remember when Misha said you could go rest, and we'd finish the job, just me and her?'
Aoi: 'Yes?'

Keiko took a deep breath before continuing;

Keiko: 'She... Didn't really have work on her mind.'
Aoi: 'What do you mean?'
Keiko: 'Well, she kinda... You know. Confessed to me.'
Aoi: 'Did she now?'

She was a bit surprised, but didn't want to have too strong a reaction about it; Confessions were always a delicate subject to talk of... And this one even more so, being a girl's confession to another girl. Keiko knew what the next question would be, and answered preemptively;

Keiko: 'I turned her down...'

Aoi didn't add anything, waiting for her to keep going.

Keiko: 'We didn't speak much after that, and she left shortly after. I thought she'd leave the student council over it. To avoid being so close to me always, you know?'
Aoi: 'But she didn't.'
Keiko: 'But she didn't. No.'

Aoi: 'It must be tough for her.'
Keiko: '...I suppose. I even thought about leaving too, you know? To give her some space. You could be the prez as much as me anyway.'

Aoi: 'I thank you for the praise, but now that I've worked with you, I can say that is certainly not true. You have a drive, a work ethic I do not seem to equal.'
Keiko: 'Yeah. Maybe. Anyway... The next day she came in, cheerful as ever. So I decided I wouldn't quit after all... No one had to quit over this. I think we both handled it well, as adults.'

Aoi smiled at this; As professional as she was, Keiko still had a childish, immature side. So Keiko calling herself an adult was funny to her.

Aoi: 'Well, it is a good thing that she wasn't affected too much by the rejection.'

This time, Keiko was the one to smile;

Keiko: 'I know, right? It's nice that Misha still wants to hang out with me and all. It might take some time, but I just know we're gonna be best friends!'


The end.