Chapter Text
It was a dim, rainy day. Rain battered against the art room windows, making the space dark and cold. Shijima Mei sighed. She loved the rain, but the storm would make it difficult to get home.
Oh well. She hummed a quiet melody as she worked.
School had been over for at least half an hour, probably even longer, so she decided to finish up. She stepped back and studied the canvas in front of her for a moment. It was a simple landscape - a sunset over a field of flowers. It looked like the perfect picnic spot. She sighed and began to pack up her things and put up the art supplies. As usual, she was the last person to leave the classroom. With a sigh, she turned out the light and left.
The hall was empty, of course. The lights were off, too. ‘Not again.’ She should have left long ago, but she had been too engrossed in her painting that the real world seemed to fade away, leaving her alone in her own little reality.
“I didn’t think anyone was still here this late,” a voice behind her said.
Startled, Mei turned around to see a girl with green eyes and green hair. She seemed like she was her age, perhaps a year older. There was something about her that seemed slightly off, but Mei couldn’t put her finger on it.
She was pretty.
Mei felt her face grow warm as realized that she had been staring. She regained her composure, brushing her unkempt hair out of her face. “Hi..?” She waved awkwardly. Her hand was covered in paint up to her elbow.
The girl looked surprised. “You can see me?”
’I have paint all over me and that’s what she’s so shocked about?’ “Of course I can, what do you mean?”
“I thought-” a strange expression - an almost sad one - flashed over the girl’s face, but passed just as quickly. “I thought… that I was the only one still here.”
“Nah, I stay late a lot of days, too,” Mei replied, shifting her stuff to hold it in one arm. She held out her free hand. “I’m Shijima Mei by the way! I’m a third year.”
The girl didn’t take her hand. She seemed uncomfortable about something. “Nanamine Sakura. It’s nice to meet you.”
Mei took a better look at Sakura. She was really pretty. Upon closer inspection, Sakura’s eyes had little flecks of gold in them. Her short hair was neatly brushed, a stark contrast from Mei’s own messy hair.
Mei realized she had been staring again. She lowered her gaze so as to not make too much unnecessary eye contact.
“What grade are you in? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. But then again I don’t really talk to anyone outside of art class.” She laughed.
“I… third year.” Sakura said simply. “I only have one or two friends here myself.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you!” Mei smiled politely. She glanced at her watch. “I better go, I don’t want the rain to get any worse and I’m already late enough as it is.” She smiled once more. “See you around, I guess!”
With that, Shijima Mei turned and began the journey down the hallway, waving back at Sakura. She realized, as she ran, that Sakura seemed almost translucent, like a stained glass window. The effect was hard to notice at first, but once she did it was impossible to ignore. And if she was a student, why didn’t she have books or a backpack?
‘I must be seeing things,’ she decided, leaving her new friend behind.
At the same time, Sakura waved back. “See you,” was her response, her voice quiet.
---
Sakura returned to the broadcast room. Like she always did.
Like she had for almost a century.
Before she even fully opened the door, she was ambushed.
“What took you so long? I’m so booooored!!” Tsukasa complained, shaking her by her shoulders.
It was hard to take him seriously.
“I’m sorry.” she said with no sympathy in her voice. “I got distracted.”
Tsukasa looked at her, part annoyed and part curious.
“One of these days I’m going to find you a proper friend, if you really are so bored. That or a babysitter.”
Tsukasa gasped, letting go of her. “But I thought we were friends! I’m betrayed! (And I don’t need a babysitter)” He fell back dramatically so that Sakura would have to catch him.
She stepped aside and let him fall unceremoniously onto the ground. “Rude.” He stuck out his tongue at her in retaliation.
“You’re so immature.” Sakura said, sitting down in front of her broadcast equipment.
“I’m not the one who moved out of the way just because I’m a bit grumpy!” he complained. “But then again, you’re always a bit grumpy. And you’re more lost in thought than usual.”
No response.
He sat up and floated over to her - definitely not invading her personal space. He wouldn’t dream of it.
He poked her face. “What rumor is next? You still have to find a fourth school mystery, you know.”
“Yes, I’m aware.” She sighed. “I’m working on it.”