Chapter 26: White Egret Misora 1

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Translator: Soafp

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June 10th. Monday. 9:32 AM. I'm sixteen years old.

I returned to the classroom. The atmosphere in 2-C was chaotic. Students were chattering about who had fallen, while others clung to the windows, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening outside. Here and there, I could hear the sound of girls quietly sobbing.

Eventually, the school decided to cancel classes for the rest of the day. The teachers were urgently summoned to the staff room and returned midway through the second period.

Students were instructed to pack their textbooks into their school bags and head home together as a class, with all club activities canceled. Even though the student who attempted suicide was in a different grade, the shock among my classmates was palpable.

I didn't have many friends in my class, but I decided to ask the one person I was close to—Tateno Saya.

“Hey, Saya. Do you know that girl?”

“Sniff… Yeah. She's the new manager who joined the soccer team. She's a smart, really quiet girl. Why would she do something like this… hic.”

Poor Saya was completely drained, emotionally exhausted. As she spoke, I remembered that Saya herself was also a manager for the soccer team.

“I see… Do you know her name?”

“Sniff… Misora… Misora Shirasagi-chan.”

“I'm sorry, and thank you.”

I said to Saya, then headed towards the staff room.

Misora… Misora… Misora?

The name sounded familiar, so I kept repeating it to myself as I walked. I wondered if Rik-kun knew Misora Shirasagi. If she was a manager, maybe they were close… I suddenly remembered Saya’s reaction at the burger joint.

No, no, this isn't the time to be thinking about that. I hurried up the stairs and knocked on the door of the staff room on the third floor.

“Excuse me…”

I knew she was a first-year student, but I didn't know her exact class. So, I decided to go to Shibata-sensei, the P.E. teacher who also handled student guidance. He was the one who had arrived right after me at the scene where Misora Shirasagi had fallen.

“Um… Shirasagi… Misora-san was taken to the hospital? Do you know where?”

“Sorry, we're not allowed to give out that information.”

“Misora Shirasagi-san is a close friend of mine. I'm worried about her and want to visit her.”

“You and Shirasagi? That's surprising, Arahama.”

Huh? What did he mean by that?

“Um… well, that’s…”

“…Alright. She was taken to the Tokyo Metropolitan Tama South Regional Hospital. Make sure you go alone. Whatever you do, don't bring your whole class along.”

With that warning, the teacher got up from his desk.