Chapter Text
—
A flash of light then everything went dark.
…
Windows of man-made glows running down rows of stories
…
A hand reaching out
Unable to capture the weight of
Kou Minamoto
…
—-
Floating above a body that would no longer take another breath
…
A human body that could no longer feel
A child that soon would be no longer remembered
Not by a single soul
…
—
Weeks passed and the mango haired boy had no memories, knew nothing of the life he used to live, nothing about his friends or family or even if he had either of those things. Just empty gaps of burned photos of the ones he used to love, no longer able to picture their delicately formed features and the warmth of their smiles.
Kou sat on the roof of Kamome Academy, leaning against the metal railing that ran from one end of the building to the other. A wall. A wall between living and dying. It could easily be passed through by a ghost or even mounted by that of a human who wishes to escape from the world of the living.
“Was I one of those humans ? One that chose that I would be better off as a ghost rather than enjoying life as a living breathing human, as the universe expected me to.”
I still have a great deal of knowledge for the person who used to maneuver this body . Most I can remember is comprehension of ghosts and other supernaturals, seems whoever I used to be was either an exorcist or just a part of an occult.
The third year began to hum the lyrics of a song that played through his mind.
It was crazy to think that I can remember the beat of a song better than my own fucking family, and to be completely honest I’m starting to believe I never had one. Maybe my parents died or left me to rot. Maybe they were just complete assholes. But I guess that doesn’t matter seeing how things are going I’m not sure I will ever remember them.
Kou sat down laying his back against the cold metal, or at least he assumes it would be cold.
Minamoto began to whisper the lyrics of the only melody he could recall.
[ Fight or Flight, I’d rather die.. ]
[ Than have to cry in front of you ]
[ Fight or Flight, I’d rather lie… ]
[ Than tell you I’m in love with you ]
…
The main chorus continued to repeat through the empty air
Ah, the bell rang. Soon the roof will be swarmed with students, So it’s probably best if I leave now before it gets crowded.
Even though most students can’t see me it’s always a pain to have so much noise inflating my ears. “I wish I could leave this school.” Kou mumbled as he passed through the doors walking down the steps passing by students running to beat everyone else, and secure a place to eat and goof off.
The third floor wasn’t too crowded just yet, but kids soon began bubbling up through the hallway making there way to different classrooms to eat and talk to people they called their friends .
Did I ever have any of those? Was I one of those kids running through the building to go meet with friends?
Kou slipped into an empty classroom,
I believe this is the yearbook room. I don’t often see anyone spend much time in here.
There were multiple PCs lining the wall sitting against wooden tables, then there was a shelf full of past year books and any other photo albums with photos taken by students. The only ones that took photos were the students in the yearbook crew or one of the photography students, with the occasional images submitted by other kids or teachers.
He reached for one of the smaller books, it was just a regular composition notebook with photos taped inside. It had a red spine that faded into a pink cover with thin sticky notes marking various pages.
Kou pressed his thumb against the slices of paper skimming through it, the album was mostly of the gardening club. Beside each photo was a small note more or less explaining the photo and stating the names or titles of the students in each photo.
This particular photo had two girls placed up front, one had plum hair curled into loopy pigtails, while the other had light brown hair braided to the side with mint green tips and a beautiful smile to match. Both of them looked genuinely happy.
Kou fumbles with the book as it slipped from his hands landing half open on the final page, signed with the name of the cameraman.
MITSUBA SOUSUKE
-photographer-
…
Kou’s hand froze for a moment as his thoughts began to turn towards the name. It sounded familiar… Like really…really familiar. His brows furling into confusion.
The bell rang once again announcing the end of lunch, snapping Kou out of the trance the book had sent him into. He lifted up the book, shutting the lined pages back together, sliding it back into its designated place on the shelf.
The door rolled in between the walls making a thudding sound as the wood closed against the wall, fully opening the classroom. In the doorway stood a student. A high school uniform with a brioche laying against her bust. Coffee colored hair with mint tips curling around her shoulders. Thick ankles with multi-colored eyes. Her eyes shined with orange and several shades of pink.
…
She looked up at him as if she saw a ghost; I mean he was…but humans shouldn't be able to see him.
“Kou….?” The girl stumbled into the classroom, “Your Kou Minamoto.. right?” She slowly stepped towards the ghost.
“Uhm…I don't, I don’t know who you're talking about.” Kou stepped backwards, gaining more distance from the doorway.
The girl froze, her hands shaking, pulling out a piece of notebook paper. “Are you really not him…”
The supernatural slowly shook his head, “Sorry… I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
The corners of her eyes began to bubble up in drops of water; slowly they started to roll down her cheeks, falling off the point of her chin. Her smooth hands covered her mouth trying to not let any sobs escape her mouth.
Kou felt his body freeze up; he was overwhelmed with emotions and thoughts. He felt like he should be helping her, but he doesn't know her. Yet at the same time his body says he should . It must have just been the photo album. yeah…right she was one of the girls in that photo album about the garden club. That’s why she looks fimiliar.
The girl wipes her tears, lowering her breathing speed back to normal, “I’m sorry, I should ask you your name..” She lightly smiled even with her eyes still red and puffy matching with her the sound of her voice getting stuck in her throat.
The supernatural thought for a moment; the truth was he didn't remember his own name. It was forgotten much like several other important things.
“I- … Sorry I can't remember…” The ghost mumbled.
“Oh, did you lose your memories?” The small girl looks surprised and sympathetic.
“Yeah.” He didn't really enjoy it when people gave him sympathetic looks…it made it look like he couldn't do anything for himself. “How about you?...what’s your name?”
“Ah right sorry, I’m Nene Yashiro; I’m a first year in high school.” The corners of her mouth lifted into a small smile. You could still clearly see the red marks still blushing around her eyes, but at least it seemed she was feeling a bit better.
“Oh well even if you can’t remember your name you could still pick one…It’s like you have an
unlimited opinions and-... I think you get the point..” Nene nervously chuckled.
The ghost shrugged his shoulders; he really didn't know what he wanted to be called plus since he had no idea who he was it made everything even more complicated.
“Alright what if I call you Kou? I-I mean since you look a lot like him… and- and- I guess…maybe not..you probably don’t want to be named after someone you never met..” Yashiro looked unsure as she rubbed the back of her head. Lightly biting the inside of her lip.
Well I guess I kinda do like the name…, but I’m not sure about being named after someones probably dead friend. Unless I am that friend; I mean she was pretty certain when she first walked in… so..
Kou immediately waved off the thought, I guess it would be easier to go by a shorter name; plus she’s been staring at me as if I have the answers of the universe.
The middle school ghost sighed, “Alright you can call me Kou, but do understand I’m not him, so don’t get mad if i’m not exactly like him, or even if I’m like the complete opposite. okay…? Cause whether you like it or not; I’m not him. And I never will be.”
Yashiro nodded with a light smile brushed across her face.
Did she understand though? It’s been hard to tell how others are thinking, I mean I can’t even tell basic human emotions from each other for god's sake.
The school bell rung again.
“Ah! I have to get to class,” The girl with the skull broche waved as she quickly ran out of the classroom door; still holding onto that same smile. It looks as though her smile got even wider. “I’ll talk to you later Kou!”
Within a matter of seconds she was already out of view, running towards her next class she was meant to be in.
Why did she even come in here? Did she mean to grab something and just forget or what?
Kou sighed, running his hand through the back of his hair. “Well, there's no point in thinking about that too much.”
The ghost walked out of the yearbook room, sliding the door shut as he made his way back up the stairs that lead up to the roof.
It gets boring after a while. Bored of sitting on the same roof glancing around at the same scenery
day in and day out, but it was also comforting at the same time. It was the only thing he’s gotten used to. The only thing he really knows.
Dear Nene Yashiro,
I want you to know I had a lot of fun over the past year; you never failed to make my day more enjoyable and we shared tons of laughs! I’m sorry I was seeming a bit off closer to the end and asking you all those weird questions like oh what would you do if I turned into a zombie??? or some shit like that… To tell you the truth I did really like you and I mean really . Once I saw you and Hanako together I knew it wouldn't work out, and so I never told you; I thought it would have caused more harm than good…
Don’t worry though because I’ll come back as a supernatural and then we can still see eachother! Isn’t that cool??
If there is a chance, I don’t come back.
I just know none of this is your fault and you should know by now that you deserve the whole world. Thank You so much for always being there for me. It really
meant
means a lot. And I will tell you also one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, never lose your special spark that can make everyone laugh and smile.
I’m sure Teru would still be okay with you dropping by our house with everyone else; he really does enjoy it when everyones really lively and having fun. I’m sure Tiara would love to play with another girl, since she didn't have much of an older sister figure. Sorry I guess that’s a bit selfish to make you feel inclined to visit. Just know this is all if you want to; I mean theres no reason to actually do anything I said. This is getting a bit long and I’m sure you’re getting fead up with how much I yap, so…yeah. See you soon! <3
~ From
Kou Minamoto ~
Nene sat on the floor of the third floor bathroom; constantly rereading the slighting crumpled paper.
She had read it thousands of times now; she might as well have the handwritten letter memorized by now.
It didn't matter how many times she read; it never stopped tears from creeping up in the corners of her eyes. It hurt. her hands couldn’t stop shaking.
So signs she missed, so many things that were laid in front of her that never tried to but together. God she was so selfish. Even with the other boy from earlier; she shouldn't have even thought about suggesting the name Kou. He was right though she was just trying to convince herself that he was him. That oh here he is. He’s not gone, he never died.
Water escaped through the tear ducts of her eyes causing balls of liquid to roll off her chin onto the small note.
“I’m so sorry Kou…” Yashiro whispered off her tongue.
“Yashiro..” A shorter ghost sat beside the crying girl wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his shoulder. “Hey..It’s going to be alright…”
“I saw him..or I think I did?” Nene mumbled in between breaths. “He had his earring Hankao! It was him! I could tell…I could-” More tears begin to rain down her face as she dug the heels of her palms into her eyes.
Hanako rubbed the side of her arm, “It’s okay Yashiro I believe you…”
“But- but he didn't remember me…he wasn't like himself; I mean he didn't even know his own name. And- and he looked so different. ” Her breathing spead up as she began to hyperventilate.
“shh…it’s okay…it’s okay” Hanano pulled her into a tight hug as the cursed girl laid her head in the nape of his neck.
“I just want to help him…”
______________
A ghost slid his back down against the door of the girl’s bathroom. One hand hovering over his mouth with the other clenching around a small piece of lined paper.
Tears welled up inside the ghost's watermelon shaded eyes; they began to flood down his face filling up the corners of his fist. The voices from the other room screaming in his ears.
Minamoto-kun really died for me…But why? why? Was it even worth it, the dikon girl just said that he didn’t even recognize her. If that was true then there is absolutely no way he’s even have a smidgen of memories about him.
He would never be the same. He could never be the same old lame ass traffic-earing boy he once knew.
He knew Kou could never be the same; I mean fuck the same thing practically happened to Mistuba several months ago. He’s nowhere near the same person as the “original”.
Mitsuba pressed his knees into the center of his pink sweater; unable to to breathe. It was like he was taking in breaths, but they could barely fill his lungs before the air got knocked out of him only seconds later.
Coughing up a storm as water continued to run from the corners of his eyes all the way off the tip of his chin.
The liquid slowly soaked into the material strangling his knees.
The stabbing feeling throughout his body as a knot formed in the way of the bottom of his throat. His mouth growing dry and cracked, while the tears stained his cheeks as they slowed in speed and quantity.
“Kou…I’m so sorry.. ” Mitsuba tried to whisper, but it came out more as a croak; as he stumbled over the sounds of the letters.
______
Not too long after all the student began exiting the building running off with friends or going to their clubs as Kou continued wandering the empty halls. The sun began to set, lighting the whole school up in an orange hue.
Going in and out of different classrooms; running his hands along the wooden desks. One of them had a notebook laying on top, left and forgotten.
He scanned the name printed across the notebook “ Satou Yomogi” .
Kou ran his fingers along the side of the pages; stopping on a few pages glancing at the writing. A lot of the pages had little doodles along the sides and small conversations between satou and another student. That last page that was dated; which was most likely today.
Kou doesn't know what day it is, the process of time got mixed in and lost along with all his memories.
hey are you okay?
i’m okay
do you want to come over to my house?
yeah sure
alright…we can talk there
Kou closed the notebook, sliding it into the slot where all other thick text books were being held.
It sounded like something happened to one of the students but what?
…
…
Well it wasn't his place to play detective; I mean he doesn’t even know the boy.
The supernatural continued to roam around the empty school with no goal or accomplishment in mind.
Until he ended up in one of the bathrooms, it was cold. He looked into the clear glass staring back at him with a silver border swirling around the edges into all kinds of designs. Gazing into the looking glass that reflected everything in sight but himself.
That was just the luck of being dead I guess? Never really knowing what you look like, it’s not always bad..I mean less to worry about.
I mean that girl from earlier, Nene? I think that was her name. She didn't seem to think he was ugly , but she did also believe that he was her probably dead friend. Kou sighed before leaving the restroom.
________
By the time the middle school boy made his way back up to the roof the sun was starting to peak over the horizon; illuminating the dark sky with shades of yellow and pink.
He imagined the air still being cold with a slight warmth running along his skin from the rays of sunlight tickling his arms.
Kou wished he could still feel the changes in seasons; but now everything felt cold and bland. Missed the day where he took all the small things for granted, even though now he couldn't remember all those times.
“Oh? what do we have here?” A tall guy in a high school uniform peared over Kou’s shoulder.
He had fluffy brown hair that tickled down to his nose; his white uniform jacket was open revealing a loose fitting cyan shirt that was carelessly stuffed under his woven belt. A choker matching with a longer necklace that roundabouts around the corners of the small cutout rhombus placed against the nape of his neck.
“The boy our lil mitsuba has been crushing on.” The upperclassmen gave an over confident chuckle.
“Uhm.. who are you exactly?”
The brown haired man paused; “huh?. Am I really that forgettable??” The older boy began to dramatically sigh with a snarky smirk.”
“Natsuhiko Hyuuga. I’m a third year at this very school.”
“Well it’s nice meeting you…”
Natsuhiko looked the Minamoto up and down, scaling all the differences from the last time he saw him.
“Wow, you sure have changed a lot haven't ya!” The upperclassmen smiled. “I mean I can hardly recognize you with all those new supernatural features going on!”
Nastuhiko reached out mapping out Kou’s new demonic features.
Short black horns that shot out from his skull wrapped in small flashes of burnt gold lightning; just barely poking over his hair. along with matching wings that roared out of his shoulder blades, sliding the tips of the feathers against the school floors.
“Are you saying you knew me? That you knew me when I was alive?”
The brunette nodded; “Yeah you we were really close ya know?” Natsuhiko's lips curled into a smile sending shivers across Kou’s skin.
“How do you know I'm the person you’re thinking of?” His foot slipped taking a small step back; something about this guy felt off…
The school bell rang.