CHAPTER XIV
~Deleted From Time~
Yuzuki arrived at school around 7:50 AM—much earlier than her usual time. The corridors were quiet, bathed in soft morning light, as she made her way to the primary section on the ground floor’s east wing. Her destination: the staffroom, where she hoped to meet her teacher.
Yuzuki stepped quietly into the staffroom, the gentle hum of teachers’ morning conversations filling the air. The space was lined with low bookshelves, a scattering of mugs and lesson plans on the tables, and the faint aroma of coffee lingering in the background. She scanned the room and quickly spotted her teacher, who was laughing with a small group of colleagues near the windows.
Taking a breath, Yuzuki called out, “Sensei!” Her teacher turned at the sound, her face lighting up in recognition.
“Yuzuki! Good morning—what brings you here so early?” she asked, stepping away from her group.
Yuzuki bowed politely and explained, “I came to collect the drawings you mentioned yesterday.”
Her teacher’s eyes widened. “Ah! Yes, I’m so sorry, I completely forgot!” She gave an apologetic smile. “Would you mind waiting a few minutes while I gather them?”
Yuzuki nodded, smiling reassuringly. “Of course, Sensei.”
The other teachers, curious about the exchange, turned their attention to Yuzuki. “What’s this about drawings?” one asked.
Yuzuki replied, “I’m collecting them for a project. Instead of throwing them away, I’ll be using them for something special.”
The teachers exchanged excited glances, delighted at the thought of no longer having to toss out students’ artwork.Their enthusiasm bubbled over as they began discussing ways to support Yuzuki’s campaign and encourage their students to participate.
Another teacher chimed in, “Really? How many do you need?”
Sensing an opportunity, Yuzuki responded brightly, “If we win this project, we’ll even be able to start a campaign to collect and showcase everyone’s drawings!”
The teachers’ eyes lit up. “Are all drawings allowed, or just the exceptional ones?” someone asked.
“All of them!” Yuzuki said enthusiastically. “The more colorful and creative, the better.”
The teachers exchanged excited glances. “That’s wonderful! No more filling the trash bins—we can finally showcase our students’ creativity!” They began discussing ways to support Yuzuki’s campaign, their enthusiasm growing.
A few moments later, nearly 8:00 AM, Yuzuki’s teacher returned, arms full with five thick bundles of drawings. She handed them to Yuzuki with a warm smile. “Here you go. Good luck with your project!”
Yuzuki thanked her sensei sincerely, her arms now loaded with the colorful artwork, and left the staffroom—her campaign off to a promising start.
Yuzuki hurried up the stairs, careful to keep the bundles of drawings balanced in her arms. She moved discreetly, glancing around each landing to avoid the early students who might give her awkward glances. By the time she reached the third floor, it was almost 8:17 AM. Making sure the hallway to the Left Wing was clear, she darted in as quickly and quietly as she could.
Once inside the Left Wing, Yuzuki called out softly, “Korobokkururu!” The bear-like creatures began to emerge at her call, their small eyes shining with anticipation. As they approached, they repeated in their sing-song voices, “I see you, I see you.”
Yuzuki’s face brightened. She knelt down and began handing out the drawings, one by one. With each sheet, the creatures’ eyes lit up in pure happiness. They hopped and danced around her, their joy infectious. As she distributed the artwork, Yuzuki noticed many new faces among them, though a few of the familiar ones from the previous day were absent. She considered asking about them, but the growing line of eager creatures waiting for their turn made her hold back.
What struck Yuzuki most was the harmony among them. None fought over which drawing was better; each accepted their gift with equal delight. Whether it was their close bond or simply their nature, Yuzuki felt grateful to witness such genuine happiness and unity.
Yuzuki continued distributing the drawings, her arms growing lighter with each happy recipient. Eventually, she spotted the little bear-like creature who had helped her earlier that morning by bringing the cleansing ink. Kneeling down to its level, Yuzuki smiled warmly and handed it a drawing. “Thank you so much for helping me today. I seriously can’t thank you enough,” she said softly, her gratitude genuine. The little one’s eyes sparkled, and it clutched the paper to its chest, radiating joy.
After a few more minutes, Yuzuki realized time was slipping away. The class would start in just six minutes.
With the last drawing delivered, Yuzuki dashed back to her classroom. By the time she reached her classroom door on the third floor, the bell rang—she’d made it just in time.
Slipping inside, Yuzuki noticed her usual spot behind Reina by the windows was already taken by another girl. She let it go with a quiet sigh and settled into the last seat of the next column over.
Reina, as usual, was surrounded by a small group of admirers, too busy to notice Yuzuki’s arrival. As the bell’s echo faded and her fans dispersed, Yuzuki walked up to Reina.
“Good morning, Reina-chan!” Yuzuki greeted, her voice bright. Reina turned, mirroring her smile. “Oh! Yuzuki-chan! Good morning.”
Yuzuki slumped a little. “Seriously, aren’t you tired from yesterday’s ordeal? I really am. I’m so sleepy I don’t think I’ll even stay awake till next period!”
Reina blinked. “Yesterday’s ordeal? What ordeal are you talking about?”
Yuzuki stared at her. “C’mon, stop kidding me. The one where we went looking for the three girls, but never found them, and when we came back everyone was gone. I’m expecting the headmaster to summon us again today to ask about our progress. I guess I’ll have to tell him the truth.”
Reina’s confusion deepened. “What truth? And what are you talking about?”
“The truth about their vaporization. I’m talking about how yesterday our things kept being stolen and then three girls went missing—no, actually four, though one was found,” Yuzuki insisted.
“Which girls? And from where?” Reina pressed, clearly lost.
Yuzuki’s frustration mounted. “BRO! Kisaragi Ayaka, Hazuki Riko, Yura Nanami, and Shirosawa Ayane! Where even are you? Are we on the same page?”
Reina shook her head, brows furrowed. “What are you even spouting? Who are Hazuki, Yura, Nanami and all? I only know Ayaka-chan! Did you have a nightmare or something, Yuzuki-chan?” She reached out to feel Yuzuki’s forehead, checking if she was feverish.
Yuzuki caught Reina’s hand mid-air. “I didn’t. What are you talking about?”
“Yuzuki-chan! When did all that even happen? Yesterday was a normal day. It’s just weird how today almost everyone’s stuff was left on their desks. Did everyone forget to take things home? I found my water bottle on my table, but I clearly remember taking it home,” Reina said, shaking her head.
Yuzuki’s eyes widened in disbelief. She doesn’t remember? What nonsense is this? Without another word, she hurried over to Himari, who was chatting by the chalkboard.
“Himari-san!” Yuzuki called, grabbing her arm and pulling her aside. “Himari-san, do you remember what happened yesterday? Today?”
Himari looked at her blankly. “What?”
“The burning of papers with blood and writing our names on it with ink?” Yuzuki pressed, voice urgent.
Reina caught up, exclaiming, “Himari-san, Yuzuki-chan has lost her mind!”
“Yeah! For real,” Himari agreed, clearly taken aback.
“I think we should take her to the infirmary! She needs to see the nurse,” Reina urged.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Himari replied, concern in her voice.
“What? No! I’m totally fine,” Yuzuki protested, but Reina had already grabbed her arm.
“No, you’re not!” Reina insisted. “I’ll take her to the infirmary and be back!”
“Yeah, please do,” Himari said, still unsettled.
As Reina pulled Yuzuki toward the door, Kaito entered the classroom. “Kaito-kun!” Yuzuki called, but the hallway was filling up with students, making it impossible to talk privately.
Kaito noticed Reina trying to leave. “Please sit in your places and stay put, the teacher is coming.”
Reina replied, “Yuzuki isn’t feeling fine, I’ll take her to the infirmary!”
“Ask the teacher for permission. He’s coming,” Kaito instructed.
Yuzuki pulled her arm free, holding it protectively. “I’m okay, Reina-chan. There’s no need to go to the infirmary,” she said, clearly upset by her friends’ strange reactions. She turned away and went to her seat, unsettled and alone in her confusion.
As Yuzuki settled into her chair, their homeroom teacher entered the classroom. She glanced around and immediately noticed that the three seats usually occupied by the trio of best friends - Hazuki Riko, Yura Nanami, and Shirosawa Ayane, were empty. When roll-call began, she listened carefully—but their names weren’t even mentioned in the register.
Something’s really off, Yuzuki thought, unease prickling her skin.
Trying to make sense of it, she discreetly pulled out her phone beneath the desk. She opened her chat with Kaito, searching for the call log from yesterday. But there was nothing—no call, no message. Huh? I clearly remember calling him yesterday! Where did the call history go? she wondered, her heart beating faster. She scrolled further, looking for her sister’s missed calls that she’d seen just this morning—gone. No record at all.
What’s going on? Yuzuki thought, now genuinely frightened.
She quickly opened her chat with Reina, hoping to find the long conversation they’d had about all the strange events at school. But the chat was empty—no messages, no history, nothing. Yuzuki distinctly remembered spending an hour telling Reina everything: the banging in the headmaster’s room during PE, the missing girls, the strange occurrences. Yet now, it was as if none of it had ever happened.
It was as if yesterday’s date had been erased from her life. Her friends remembered nothing, and now her phone seemed to have forgotten too. If even her phone couldn’t hold onto yesterday, how could she expect her friends to?
A cold chill settled over Yuzuki as she stared at her blank screen, feeling more alone and unsettled than ever.
Yuzuki’s breaths grew shallow and rapid, anxiety tightening her chest. She couldn’t focus on a single word of Yakumo Toma’s lecture—her homeroom teacher, who had been involved in yesterday’s hunt, now appeared as oblivious as everyone else.
What’s going ON? The question looped endlessly in her mind.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced: the headmaster’s furious outburst and the word “Excrosist.” Not knowing what it meant, Yuzuki discreetly googled it under her desk.
“A person who expels or attempts to expel a supposed evil spirit from a person or place.”
The definition left her stunned. Supposed evil spirit? she wondered. What’s that supposed to mean?
The first two periods crawled by. Yuzuki, exhausted and on the verge of sleep, barely noticed Kaito across the room—until she caught a glimpse of him pulling out his phone, his expression suddenly hardening. He kept the device hidden beneath his desk, typing quickly and with intense focus. After a few minutes, he abruptly pocketed his phone and raised his hand.
“Sensei, may I use the restroom?” he asked.
The teacher hesitated, then nodded. “Go ahead.”
Kaito hurried out, his mood visibly tense.
And what’s he up to now? Yuzuki wondered, watching him go. He doesn’t seem to be in a good mood… The sense of unease in her chest only deepened, the mysteries around her thickening by the minute.
“WOAHHH! Calm DOWN, MAN!” the tall ghost boy shouted, his dark hair whipping around his face as he effortlessly glided and slid out of the way of Kaito’s relentless katana strikes. Each movement was fluid, almost playful, as if dodging sword attacks was second nature to him.
Kaito’s attacks were sharp and professional, but the ghost boy evaded every slash with ease, barely seeming to exert himself. He leapt over a sweeping strike, landing lightly and grinning. “Instead of thanking your savior, you’re attacking me?” he teased, blue eyes glinting with mischief.
He continued to dodge, his black outfit blending into the shadows. “Seriously! You bite the hand that fed you? That’s new,” he said, sidestepping another blow.
“Just DIE already!” Kaito shouted, frustration and fury in his voice.
“Nahh~ Not interested yet,” the ghost boy replied, still smiling, his tone mocking and unbothered as he danced just out of reach.
By the time the last period—6th period at 2:20 PM—rolled around, Yuzuki was still distracted and on edge. Suddenly, her phone buzzed beneath her desk. Messages from Himari started popping up, rapid and insistent:
Himari: “Hey, have you seen Kaito?”
Himari: “Why isn’t he in class?”
Himari: “Did he say anything to you?”
Yuzuki blinked at the flurry of texts, then smirked and quickly typed back:
“Why? You his girlfriend or something?”
She glanced up to see Himari shooting her a glare from across the room, cheeks faintly pink with annoyance.
It was now cleaning time, and students bustled around the classroom with brooms and dustpans. Himari paced back and forth, clearly anxious, her eyes darting toward the door every few seconds.
Reina, sweeping beside Yuzuki, leaned in and whispered, “Why’s Himari-san looking so worried?”
Yuzuki shrugged, not looking up from her broom. “Go ask her.”
Reina hesitated, fidgeting with the broom handle. “Ahh, nooo…” She sighed, then glanced at Yuzuki, noticing her lack of energy. “Yuzuki-chan! Why’re you so down?”
Yuzuki drew lazy circles on her face with her finger. “’Cuz I’m sleepy,” she replied flatly, making the obvious clear to her indifferent best friend.
🎶🎵Kin-kon... kan-kon...🎵🎶
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Yuzuki slipped out early—once again left on her own as Reina lingered behind, surrounded by her ever-present fan club.
Dragging herself toward the staircase, Yuzuki was so exhausted she felt she could collapse at any moment. Just as she was about to descend, a group of Korobokkuru—those small, bear-like creatures—appeared before her, looking unusually worried.
Yuzuki paused for a brief moment, meeting their anxious gazes amid the crowd of students who, as always, couldn’t see them. But the weight of her fatigue was overwhelming. Without a word, she turned her head away and joined the flow of students heading down the stairs, her steps heavy and her mind clouded with exhaustion.
The little Korobokkuru didn’t give up—they trailed Yuzuki through the crowd, weaving between students’ legs, their worried faces fixed on her. As she started down the stairs, they grabbed at her foot, tugging insistently in a desperate attempt to stop her.
To be Continued...
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