groundsnow

[groundsnow]

ムイカ

It's 6:45 am. It's time to wake her up. I sit on the end of her bed.

"Aki, it's 6:45 am. You have 8 am class, right?" She's such a heavy sleeper, as always. I grab her arm and squeeze it lightly this time.

"Hey, Aki, wake up." She turns slightly then opens her eyes. She's finally awake. Her eyes are still reddish from sleep and her cheeks kinda fluffy. She sits up then covers her face with both hands.

"Thanks for waking me up, Sena." She still looks sleepy.

"No problem." I reply. She gets up and opens her cabinet to get her white nursing uniform. She then proceeds to the bathroom with her toiletries. It's already 6:50 am, but I'm still sitting on my bed. The professor in that subject is usually 10 minutes late so might as well rest here for a while. My phone rings. It's Eri.

"Sena, PSY 12 class is cancelled today, just in case you don't know yet."

"Great! Thanks for letting me know, Eri! Any announcements—" She hangs up. That girl, seriously. She's cold as ice.

Since my 7-8:30 am class has been cancelled, my next one would be at 10 am. Aki gets out of our bathroom wearing a white collared dress that extends a few inches below her knees. Her long hair, which she always ties in a bow hairnet, reaches her lower back.

"What happened to your face?" She asks me. Oh right, the bruise from our fight last night. I quickly think of an excuse.

"I was walking in the park when I tripped into something and hit my face in the ground."

"Ehh? Does it hurt then?" She comes closer and examines my face. I find it funny that she doesn't even have an idea that she's the one who did this to me.

"Nah, it's fine. I've applied cold compress to it last night." She looks at me with curiosity. It shows in her eyes.

"Why are you laughing? Look, you're already injured." She's dead serious, or maybe just worried.

"Nothing. Anyway, it's 7:30, are you all set?" I change the topic.

"Oh, I'm not done combing my hair yet." She steps back then goes to her desk to comb her hair then ties it with a bow hairnet. Her fringes are still showing though. She turns to look at me.

"Why?" There's her curious face again. Well, she did catch me looking at her.

"Nothing." I smile at her. She smiles back."

"By the way, we don't have each other's number yet, plus I'm not always on Facebook." I tell her.

"Ah, right." We exchange numbers and class schedules.

"I'll drop you off on your class."

"Are you sure? Don't you have classes?" She says as she puts on her black backpack.

"Nah, later at 10 am. Let's go." We left the dormitory at 7:45. Ample time to make it to her class.

"We haven't eaten yet. Let's grab some food at the convenience store first before we go." She nods in agreement. We enter SyncMart to buy food. She gets onigiri, chocolate chip cookies, and a can of Milkis. I grab a ham and cheese sandwich and a bottle of Pocari Sweat. She has been quiet since we left the dorm.

"You good?" I ask her.

"Yes, why?"

"You've been quiet."

"Ahh"

Aki is such a quiet person. I should know that by now. It's unbelievable how violent she can be though, when the other persona takes over — that girl who gets mad if someone calls her out for being quiet and timid. Things can get really bad if someone actually does that, which is why I need to keep an eye on her.

We arrive at the College of Nursing building. There are lots of students in the lobby.

"Where's your classroom?" I ask.

"It's on the third floor. I'm fine here. Thanks for accompanying me." She smiles warmly. You can really tell when she's happy. Even her cheeks have turned red.

"I'll drop you off then." I insist.

"Eh? You sure?" She looks confused.

"Yeah, let's go." I continue walking towards the stairs, so she's left with no other choice but to follow me.

"Uh, Sena, why are you doing this?" She asks softly.

"Doing what? I don't have class yet so why not accompany you to your class?" I smile at her.

"Oh okay." She nods yet looks unconvinced. We're now at the third floor, and someone familiar shows up.

"Hi Aki!" It's Hiromi the bastard.

"Hi Hiromi." Aki responds. I glare at him.

"Hey, twin brother. What are you doing here?" I greet him sarcastically. Aki turns to look at me.

"Twin brother? You're siblings?" She asks.

"Yeah, we might not look alike, but we're both Horikawa." I tell her jokingly.

"Oh I see. It's been three weeks, but I never knew you were twins." She still looks surprised.

"Yeah, Hiromi hasn't mentioned that you two know each other. Are you classmates in this subject?" Hiromi looks appalled. I won't yield to him, ever.

"Yes, we're blocmates too." Aki says. I act as if this is new information, but I already discovered this morning that they are blocmates. Hiromi is too secretive. Annoying as always.

"I see. By the way, Iet's have lunch later at 12 nn, ‘kay? I can't invite Hiromi because he has an errand later." I tell Aki while looking at Hiromi occasionally. He looks pissed off. Ha!

"Okay, see you later then!" Aki smiles and waves at me. They both go inside the lecture hall. Hiromi glances at me before entering. I give him a straight face.

I walk to the College of Arts and Sciences building where my PSY 11 class will be held. My phone rings. It's Eri for sure.

"Hello, Eri—"

"Horikawa-san! It's Mako!"

"Oh, Mako. What made you call all of a sudden?"

"I just got in at Yokohama University!"

"Congrats then."

"Aren't  you going to ask which degree I got in to? Why don't we have lunch later?"

"My schedule is jampacked today, so I can't. I also have class now, so I have to go. See you around."

" Wait, Horika—"

That girl, really. How did she even manage to get in here? Isn't she an incoming 4th year high school student? That must have been the work of her family's connections.

I enter the lecture hall. It's 9:30 am, so there's not much people in here.

"Horikawa-san!" That familiar voice. Mako. I turn to look at the source of that voice.

"See, we're classmates!

Oh, man. I was totally not expecting this.

“Oh, hey Mako. Fancy meeting you here. When did you graduate? I haven’t heard the news. Congrats, by the way.”

“Just this year. Thanks! I’m studying Psychology.”

What? Is she actually serious? You mean, someone who is one year my junior is now going to the same university as me, and under the same degree program? I can already sense that something is wrong here.

“Oh, that’s great. Good luck then. Anyway, it’s almost time. I’m going in.” I walk towards the door, leaving her on hew own. She should be able to manage. She was able to get in anyway.

“Wait, Horikawa-san!” Ugh. As expected, she runs towards me and clings to my arm.

“What?” I say as I push away her arm. I’m sorry, but it annoys me.

“You’re not a kid anymore, Mako. You’re a university student already. Act your age. I’m not here to be your nanny, okay? Reach out to others and make new friends, because they’ll help you in your journey. Uni life is not a joke, so you have to do your best.” I walk away from her. Seriously, she needs to learn her lesson. I see her frowning out of the corner of my eye.

The class finished quickly; I didn’t even notice that an hour and a half has already passed. I briefly exit the lecture hall, since seeing Mako would be a pain in the neck. I’m now walking in the Blue Park. I pull out my phone and see a few messages. One of them is from Cirql. I wonder what’s up.

[groundsnow]

イツカ

I gotta act normally. Prof. Matsui specifically instructed me to keep watch on Aki without letting her suspect me.

"Remember, Horikawa, you need to get close to her as much as possible, but don't let her or anyone suspect your actions. The Cirql System is determined to keep this a secret from the general public. Only the concerned authorities are aware of our operations. You can think of yourself as Masuda's bodyguard, keeping watch 24/7. Do anything you deem appropriate to accomplish this task as long as you uphold the principles of Cirql."

Anything? So, basically, it's up to me to handle this case? That is, as long as no one discovers about the secret society... and Aki's true identity. I'll get creative then, I guess. I look at my wristwatch— it's 9:48 pm! Damn, I can't be late. It's going to be another violation. The dormitory's curfew is at 10 pm. I'll definitely make it before 10!

I run as quickly as I can. Recently, I noticed that my endurance has improved. The trainings must have really paid off! I'm about the enter the gate now. It's 9:53 pm. Well, that was fast. Whew!

I put in the key and turn the knob. I open the door and see that Aki is still awake, sitting in front of her desk and facing her laptop. She's probably studying. I enter the room and put my stuff on the desk.

"Yo, Aki" I greet her with a two-finger salute.

"Hello, Horikawa." She waves at me.

"Busy, huh. Studying again?" I ask.

"Yes, we're gonna have a quiz on Thursday. She says.

"You know, Aki, you don't have to speak so formally to me." I say. She looks so startled.

"O-okay, Sena." Am I actually intimidating her? She can't even say it loud enough.

"Right. From now on just call me by my first name. " I say cheerfully. She looks surprised then laughs.

"Okay." She looks embarrassed by what I just said. Maybe she's just really shy.

"By the way, Aki, I have a question." She looks at me intently, her eyes not blinking.

"Eh? What is it?" Her face looks surprised. She's too easy to read! If someone wanted to pull a prank on her, I'm sure she'd fall for it easily. But I won't do that, ever. Not to an innocent and gullible person like her. Sorry, Aki, but I have to do this. Please forgive me! I run my fingers through my hair, then look her in the eyes.

"Can you stop being timid? Seriously, it's stupid. Don't waste your potential by being a nerd who avoids people. You shut-in." It's mean, I know. But this is the fastest way to know if she has DID too. Silence fills the room, and she's still staring at me. She doesn't blink or move at all. I move closer and wave my hand in front of her.

"Hey idiot?" She slowly turns her back on me. I guess I have my answer now. I hear a loud, manic laughter, which startles me. She slowly turns to face me again, this time her eyes turn blue. Okay, now that's unexpected. Is this part of the gene mutation too?

"HAHAHAHAHAHA IDIOT? YOU MUST BE SO FULL OF YOURSELF. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO." Whoa dude that 180° change to a totally different personality. She's still laughing manically. She really has MGID, plus DID. I just confirmed my theory. The aggressive personality is triggered when she's faced with a potential threat. Her facial expression, voice, and overall aura are completely different. She's turned into someone else.

"Who are you then?" I respond, trying to find out how the other persona reacts.

"HA. YOU WANNA PLAY A GAME, HUH?" She smirks then grabs the closest thing she can reach then throws it at me. I quickly dodge it. She's finally gotten violent. She throws a punch at me, which I dodge again. She laughs while attacking me. I catch her fist and try to stop her. She's surprisingly strong despite looking so petite and weak.

"Tell me who you are." I ask her, now holding her fists to prevent her from punching me.

"NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, IDIOT!" She twists her arms, causing me to lose grip of her. She attempts to kick my abdomen, but I quickly dodge. Is she actually trained in martial arts? I don't want to hurt her so I've taken a defensive stance all this time.

"What are you doing?" I ask again.

"YOU'RE ANNOYING!" Yikes. I never thought the other personality would be this violent. She continues to throw punches and kicks at me, all of which I either dodge or block with my arms. I grab her arms then pin her against the wall. Her sharp gaze pierces through me. I suddenly feel something hard on my stomach, forcing me to fall on the ground. Right. She just used the one-inch punch on me. It hurts. I can't help but cough. She's about to throw me a punch. Running out of options, I grab a needle pen from my pocket then stab her left thigh. She still gets to hit my left jaw though. A few seconds later, she loses consciousness. I catch her just before she hits the ground. Phew. That was tiring. If only I fought back, I wouldn't have been hit. I just chose not to injure her. I'm now carrying her to her bed, my arms supporting her back and the back of her knees. She's so light that I don't feel like I'm carrying a person. I'm glad the tranquilizers worked on her. She'll wake up soon.

I sit on my bed, still watching her. I'm now feeling the injuries I sustained earlier. My left jaw is lightly bruised, and my abdomen still hurts. I stand up to get some ice cubes from the refrigerator for cold compress. Now sitting on my bed, I can't help but look at her who is sleeping peacefully. I can't believe that I'm looking at a 16-year-old, because she honestly looks like a 12-year-old kid. Her face is too young-looking, and she looks so innocent, which is too different from the other persona earlier. I've proven that she indeed has DID apart from MGID, and how the violent persona is triggered, but I can't let Cirql know about it, or else I'm doomed. Prof. Matsui would surely scold me for being reckless.

I put down the cold compress bag on my desk, realizing that I haven't changed clothes yet. I quickly grab a t-shirt and a pajama so I could rest on my bed. I'm lying down, facing the ceiling. Ugh. Still can't sleep. I'm wondering why her violent persona was triggered when I told her to stop being timid. She was probably bullied in the past. I face sideways, now facing her. She sleeps in a fetal position, which makes her look cuter. She's almost like a kitten. I let out a sigh. Well, at least, I have some leads now in handling this case. I've uncovered some clues on her identity. I hope everything goes well.

I check the time — it's 4:36 am and I still haven't had a wink of sleep. Damn. I keep tossing and turning. I'm thinking about what happened earlier. I specifically thought of asking that question, because I somehow knew that she'll react to it strongly. We haven't talked a lot, but my intuition tells me that it'll cause internal conflicts for her, hence an ideal trigger. I suddenly feel guilty for doing that to her, still, it's the only way to know. I'll take responsibility for this, and won't let anyone know about the reckless move I made to confirm my theories.

Looks like I won't be able to sleep at all. It's 4:50 am and I have a 7 am class. I'm not even sleepy. I get up and gather my toiletries before going to the shower. If I keep lying on my bed, I might fall asleep eventually and miss my class.

It's now 6:00 am, and I've finished preparing. She's still sound asleep. I check her class schedule on her desk. She has an 8:30 am class. Should I wake her up now? It might be too early though. Aight, I'll just stay here until it's 6:45 am so she can sleep for 45 minutes more. It's like making up for what I did last night too.

Her phone rings, and for some reason, I get curious who sent her a message. Her screen's locked, but notifications and details are still visible.

Hiromi Horikawa

Hi Aki! :)

What the hell? Why is that bastard chatting her? Seriously, what is he up to? Does he know that she's a case?

I grab my phone from my pocket. I gotta text someone. I search the bastard on Telegram.

Annoying Bastard

Sena: Do you know Aki?

Hiromi: Yeah, we're blocmates. Why?

Sena: Stop talking to her.

Hiromi: Why should I listen to you?

Sena: Because I'm the sentinel assigned to her. Get away from her.

Hiromi: What? Since when did she become a case?

Sena: Haven't you heard from Prof. Matsui at all?

Hiromi: No. I don't understand what you're saying.

Sena: Idiot. You don't attend meetings, that's why. Talk to Prof. Matsui then.

Hiromi: You know that I've filed a request for inactivity. I need to focus on my studies.

Sena: Focus on your studies, and yet you've chosen to abandon the most important duty bestowed on us. Nice. Just talk to Prof. Matsui. And don't get near Aki again, or I'll personally report you to Cirql. I'll be destroying this convo now.

Hiromi is typing...

I tap the "delete conversation" button so that there's no trace for both us. I can't risk that bastard doing something stupid.

[groundsnow]

ヨッカ

I'm now on my way to the University Library for a meeting with my orgmates. I still remember how Aki was so flustered earlier. Now that I think about it, I feel bad for laughing at her. You see, she's really timid. Her academic prowess compensates for it though. She's hardworking and disciplined, which, as a chronic procrastinator, makes me feel ashamed.

My phone rings suddenly. I pick up the call; it's Eri.

"Oi, Eri."

[Hey Sena, where are you?] Prof. Matsui is prolly roasting them by now.

"I just passed by the College of Law building. I'm approaching the Library."

[Okay, hurry up. You're five minutes late. Prof. Matsui is furious. We're being scolded here.] Figured as much.

"Oh no. Aight, I'm coming." I run faster towards the glass door, which automatically opens as I stand before it. It's 5:40 pm. Shoot, I'm 10 minutes late. Prof. Matsui would really be angry.

I take the elevator to the fifth floor, where the YUPC's headquarters are. I walk towards the door then press face the scanner. The large glass door opens.

"Ms. Horikawa, you're late!" Uh-oh. I knew he'd be angry.

"I'm sorry, sir." I bow my head.

"Explain yourself." He says sternly. I quickly think of an excuse.

"I had to meet a classmate for an assignment." I say confidently.

"OK, take your seat." He says. Still stern but calmer this time. My tricks never fail to work. Haha.

"If you arrive late next time, you'll be faced with more serious consequences." If his looks could kill, I'm probably dead by now.

"Always be alert and regularly check messages and announcements on our online group. If you slack off, then you don't deserve to be here." I never fail to check them, it's just that, I saw Kira earlier and decided to greet her. If I hadn't done that, I would've arrived here on time. Oh well, what's done is done. I'll just be more mindful next time.

"The reason why I called for an emergency meeting is of prime importance — the Cirql system has detected a student with abnormal expression of IAV6A13 and AJD113 genes. As you know, these abnormalities are associated with severe psychopathy. Unfortunately, she has the most severe abnormalities recorded in the history of genetic monitoring and crime investigation activities of the Cirql System. Others who were diagnosed with such ended up committing some of the worst crimes since Cirql System was established. Don't fret, however, not all with severe MGIPD end up committing grievous crimes. Some turn into geniuses who make groundbreaking scientific discoveries." Prof. Matsui's expression lightens up. Does it mean that, she's the result of —

"Yes, this student is most likely a product of the 2020 embryo experiments." Can he read my mind? I didn't even say that loudly. Putting that aside, I cannot believe what has just been announced. I've only read about it in books, and now I've lived to witness something like this.

"Cirql System, registered as the Yokohama University Psychology Circle, exists to handle cases such as this. We believe that the executive board has prepared sufficiently for this event, as predicted by mathematical models." Still, I never thought I'd live to see this day, that I might actually be deployed to deal with this.

"While the past system has institutionalized, and in worst cases, executed people with such detected genetic abnormalities, Cirql System now has taken on a more humane and compassionate approach. Instead of execution, psychopaths are now put under strict monitoring and surveillance to prevent them from posing a threat to society. The ones in charge of this are the sentinels. Since the system is understaffed, sentinel apprentices will also be deployed if necessary." I figured as much. I'll really be deployed anytime now. Prof. Matsui taps the whiteboard and a detailed target profile is displayed on the screen. A familiar face is projected on it.. I cannot believe the information I'm reading now:

PSYCHOPATH CASE #37

MASUDA AKIRA

16, FEMALE

HEIGHT: 150 CM

WEIGHT: 42 KG

ILLNESS: MUTATED GENE-INDUCED PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDER

1ST YEAR BS NURSING, YOKOHAMA UNIVERSITY

SCIENCE ACADEMY SCHOLAR

BORN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2004 AT KYOTO, JAPAN

BIOLOGICAL PARENTS: UNKNOWN

ADOPTIVE PARENTS: MASUDA HARU (ESTRANGED) & MASUDA KAGAMI (DECEASED; CAUSE AND DEATH OF DEATH: CANCER, AUGUST 7, 2015)

GUARDIAN: SASAKI TOMOMI (MATERNAL AUNT)

SIBLINGS: UNKNOWN

CURRENT ADDRESS: RM 2112 WOMEN'S RESIDENCE HALL, YOKOHAMA UNIVERSITY TOKYO CAMPUS

ROOMMATE: HORIKAWA MIZU

PERMANENT ADDRESS: CHIBA

CRIMES COMMITTED: N/A

I still can't believe it. My roommate, Aki, is the dangerous psychopath? What the actual hell?

"Horikawa." Prof. Matsui's gaze is now directed at me.

"Yes, sir." I answer.

"By now, you probably know the reason why I was especially concerned when you arrived late. Out of everyone in this room, it's you who is most involved in this case. You're Masuda Akira's roommate, after all." The expression on his face changes into a sad one.

"I've known her for a while now, but she definitely doesn't exhibit any of the signs previous cases had shown in the past. Are we really certain that she's the psychopath case the system has detected?" Sure, Prof. Matsui is intimidating, and the system's judgment must not be questioned, but I just can't believe what had unfolded before my eyes.

"It has only been three weeks since the semester started, so it's too early to say that she doesn't exhibit the behavior. Further, studies have demonstrated that not all display the signs. Masuda Akira can be one of those identified asymptomatic psychopaths. Nevertheless, it's too early to determine, especially that she has the highest genetic abnormalities recorded in history. It's best that we keep an eye on her, particularly you, Horikawa. You're the closest to her right now."

Well, damn. The situation is too complicated. Seems like she's is a statistical anomaly. She could be asymptomatic. I know that I've only known her for such a short time, but something tells me that she's completely harmless. This is definitely my intuition at work. And I'll continue to trust it.

"As shown on her record, her adoptive parents died in a vehicular accident in 2031. She doesn't have any identified relatives and grew up in boarding schools. Such is expected for people who are a result of embryo experiments. The reproductive cell donors are mere strangers who don't take responsibility for the offspring they produce. They sure live a lonely and solitary life."

I don't understand what I'm feeling right now. Is it sadness? Fear? Anxiety? Psychopath cases are just too sad. But I can't let myself be swayed by my emotions. I need to perform my duties as a sentinel in order to protect this society.

"Prof. Matsui, I have a question." Ryuji asks boldly.

"Go ahead, Ishida." He nods at him then takes a sip of his coffee.

"If Masuda Akira is this dangerous, then why are we letting her roam the university? Shouldn't she be institutionalized as well?" I clench my right fist upon hearing Ryuji's question. Is he serious? He wants Aki to be institutionalized? Does he even know what he's talking about?

"Good question. As I've mentioned earlier, we need to preserve Masuda Akira's freedom and safety while monitoring her. Her academic records show consistent remarkable performance, which the system has assessed to outweigh the risks she poses to society. If you have been diligently attending your trainings, then you would understand that people with MGIPD often have unusually high IQs and perform excellently in academics."

His eyes narrow. Now I understand why she excels in her studies. Part of it is due to her disorder. The meeting ends with more specific agendas, such as delegation of taskings, schedules of reporting, coordination with concerned departments, and action plans to prevent any acts of violence. Prof. Matsui also highlights the need to observe Aki for abrupt personality changes and behavior patterns as some psychopaths also tend to have dissociative identity disorders.

I look at Aki's photo on the screen one last time. Is this really what a psychopath looks like? That child-like smile and innocence are too deceiving. The way she talks, dresses, laughs, and smiles shows her naivete. She's too gullible for a 16-year-old even. She actually believed me when I said that the arrest of the thief was just a dream.

Her face, body frame, and even voice, don't seem like they belong to a 16-year-old. If I haven't met her, I'd think that she was just 12. She's too baby-faced to pass as a college student. Her soft, small, and high-pitched voice also suits a child, and it matches her face and petite frame. I've confirmed with Prof. Matsui that her disorder doesn't have anything to do with her looks. How would anyone believe that such an innocent-looking girl would be a psychopath who could pose a threat to society?

I'm walking towards the dorm now, still thinking of the things we discussed in the headquarters earlier. In just a few moments, I'll enter the room and see Aki, the girl with the most severe recorded case of Mutated Gene-Induced Psychopathic Disorder in the history of Cirql System.

[groundsnow]

ミッカ

"Good morning class." Our 7 am Biology class just started and Mr. Takahashi greets us with his usual monotone voice. I'd be lying if I say that I never get sleepy in his class.

"There will be no lecture for today, but I'll return your test papers so we can recheck. Topnotchers will also be announced." As expected, exam results are usually returned the meeting after the exam.

"Psst, Aki." That's definitely Minami.

"Yes?" I face my left side where she is seated.

"I'm sure you're top 1 again." She tells me cheerfully.

"N-not really! The exam was really difficult,  isn't it?" I get embarrassed whenever she talks about me topping the class. I mean, it's probably not impossible, but I just feel uncomfortable whenever someone brings it up. I'm bad at receiving compliments, I guess. Minami keeps laughing though.

"Okay, settle down students." Minami stops laughing and quickly straightens up. I hold back my laugh.

"I'll now be announcing the top 10 students for this exam. The class topnotcher got a score of 105/100." Noise suddenly fills the room.

"What? That student even exceeded the number of items? What the hell?" I hear someone say.

"Dude, even the 5-point bonus question that was extremely difficult. Is that even a human?" Another remarks. Minami nudges me gently.

"That's definitely you, Masuda Akira!" Her voice is so loud that everyone fell silent. Ugh. Why is she doing this? I want to hide in a cave right now. Everyone's looking at me. I hear people agreeing. I let out a sigh.

"Quiet!" Mr. Takahashi raises his voice. Everyone stays silent. He grabs his clicker. A slide appears in front of us. It's the list of topnotchers. It reads:

BIO 21 1st Lecture Exam Topnotchers:

1) MASUDA AKIRA - 105

2) TANAKA MITSURU - 92

3) WATANABE JUNPEI - 91

4) YAMAMOTO KAORU - 90

5) KOBAYASHI  SAKURA & SAITO MIKA - 85

6) MATSUMOTO KAEDE 84

7) ITO SOUMA - 82

8) SHIMAZAKI MINORI - 81

9) YAMADA SHION - 80

10) AMANO MIU - 79

"Whoa, you're really amazing Aki! You've been topping quizzes, and now an exam! You're legendary." Minami exclaim. I can't help but smile as well. My face just dropped into my right hand.

"Thanks, Minami." I say with a soft voice. I'm too flustered to say anything.

"Damn, Masuda is a genius! Look how her score sets her apart from the rest!" Someone behind us said. I look back at them then wave my hand in front of me.

"Ahh thanks! I'm not a genius though." I say while scratching the back of my head. We finished with the checking of test papers. Some ended up with higher scores while others had lower ones. Some, like me, retained their initial scores. Class is dismissed.

"I'm so proud of you, Aki!" Minami suddenly hugs me. I don't have any idea how to react, so I just stand here like a tree, unmoving.

"Thanks, Minami. I'm proud of you too." I say while patting her on the back.

"You'll be well-known here at Yokohama University in no time." She grins widely. I laugh nervously.

"Um, I don't really like that idea. Ha-ha." I say. I'm fine with the way things were. People being oblivious to me. I don't like attention.

"Aki" That familiar voice. I look back to see him. A tall, fair-skinned guy with a neat haircut suitable for high school guys. He waves his right hand at me then nods at Minami.

"Oh, Hiromi." I smile at him.

"Sorry, I didn't get to reply to your message." I said.

"It's okay. No worries!" He remarks.

"By the way, congratulations for topping the exam. I'm a fan of yours." He says. Right, we're classmates in BIO 21. W-what? He's a fan of me? Now that's weird...

"Ah, thank you!" I bow at him.

"Why did you text, by the way?" I ask him.

"Oh, that, I was just about to ask about the homework." He answers. For some reason, his face looks a bit red.

"Ahh, I see. Have you finished it?" I ask.

"Yeah, I guess?" He obviously looks like he needs help.

"Do you need help?"

"S-sure. I'm not really confident with my answers." He says while looking down.

"Okay, you can just chat later about your questions." I say as I smile at him.

"Thank you so much, Aki!" He says with a cheerful tone. He and Minami are too cheerful. I hope I match their energies.

"You're welcome, Hiromi." I smile back at him. He waves at us then walks the opposite direction. I just noticed that Minami has been unusually quiet all this time. I look at her and her grin shows it all.

"Ehh?" I say. She nudges me again.

"Hiromi likes you." She teases me. What? She's overthinking it.

"I don't think so Minami. He just needs help with the homework." I look at her sternly.

"Hmm. Let's see then." She smirks at me then walks ahead of me.

"What? There's nothing to look forward to, okay? Also, wait for me!" I tell her as I catch up. What is this girl up to? I follow her and we arrive at a restaurant where we usually eat lunch. Minami is my constant companion since I entered college.

"It's on me." She smiles at me.

"What?" I ask.

"It's my treat. You topped the exam, so you deserve this!" She says cheerfully.

"Um, you don't really have to, Minami." I tell her. I'm too shy to let her pay for my meal.

"It's fine! I've already decided I'll treat you, so no disagreements, 'kay?" She insists. Ugh. Looks like I have no choice.

"Thank you, Minami." I smile at her. Speaking of which, it's been a while since I actually got a free meal. We ate a chicken and spring vegetable bento meal then ordered tapioca milktea. Ah~ The food is so good.

"Thank you for the meal!" I tell her just before we leave the restaurant.

"No problem!" She says while giving me a thumbs up.

It's 4 pm now, and we're in our last class, CHEM 12.

"So that wraps up our discussion for today. Prepare for a quiz on Thursday. For those who have questions, you may contact me via email. I already provided my credentials during our first day of class." Students start standing up and leaving the room. Some approach our professor for consultations.

"Ahh it's only Tuesday yet I feel so tired." Minami complains.

"Indeed. There's so much information we have to absorb." I nod in agreement.

"But you have a superb brain, Aki. So you don't have to worry as much. Meanwhile, I only have like 2 brain cells?" She points to her head then laughs. I can't help but laugh as well.

"Ah Minami, you're too hard on yourself!" I remark.

"Just kidding. But really, I have to do a lot of studying to keep up." She smiles then scratches the back of her head.

"You can do it." I encourage her.

"Thanks, Aki. You're too nice! Oh, by the way, I have to run some errands again. My mom is waiting for me at home. See you tomorrow!" She waves then runs away. That girl always seems busy. Her home is just a 10-minute travel from the campus, so she gets to go home everyday and see her family. It must be nice to have a family.

"Hey Akicha. I quickly turn my head to see who it is.

"Yo." A short-haired girl wearing a hoodie greets me with a two-finger salute. It's my roommate.

"Oh, Horikawa." I greet her back. She just smirks at me.

"You look surprised." She laughs.

"Well, you did surprise me. Why Akicha?" I ask.

"Just a joke. I just thought the nickname suits you." She smirks again. Now that I think about it, she looks kinda creepy.

"Oh, is that so.. I guess it is?" I'm too confused to think of anything to say. But, either way, I'm glad to see her. We don't see each other often, since she's always not at the dorm.

"What are you doing here, by the way?" I ask her.

"I was walking around when I saw you standing here, so I decided to greet you as well."

"I see. Are you going home now?" I'm too intimidated in this situation. Ugh.

"Not yet. I still have to meet some people." She answers.

"Oh okay then. I'll have to head first, I guess." I reply. She's staring at me, and for some reason, I find it uncomfortable.

"Aight then. I'll be home later tonight." She makes that gesture again then waves at me. I smile at her then walk away. Meet some people? Is she actually sociable? She looks reserved though. Or maybe it's just me? Gah- I don't understand. I take out my earphones from my bag and connect it to my phone. The relaxing landscape in the campus matches the songs in KIZUNA's new album. It's like all my worries are being blown away by the wind. Still, my curiosity in Horikawa Sena just grows further. There are a lot of things I have yet to discover about my mysterious roommate.

[groundsnow]

フツカ

"Ah classes are finally over!"

"Yeah! Today was tiring, isn't it? But at least we're done with the dreaded quiz!"  I exclaim.

"Indeed! I didn't sleep last night just to study. Ugh."

"What? You didn't sleep at all? You ended up sleeping in our Biology class though." I laugh.

"Yeah. I can't afford to fail the quiz." She says with a sad look. I try to console her.

"Try not to cram next time, okay? You can absorb information and learn better if you study regularly with time intervals between sessions." I explain.

"Whoa Aki! You're not only hardworking but also intelligent. I wish I had even 50% of your brains. Thanks for the tips! I'll try to follow them." She looks at me cheerfully and smiles like a child. I smile back at her.

"Any submissions for tomorrow?" She asks.

"We just finished with the homework today as well as quizzes this week, so there aren't any." I smile at her.

"Oh great! This week has been tiring." I can see her face light up.

"Yeah, I can tell. Take some rest then once you get home."

Minami is my blocmate with whom I share the same class schedule this semester. We've talked to each other via Facebook group for our bloc before classes even started. I guess I'm luckier than most people, because some don't even know anyone in their classes.

"Aki, I'm going ahead! My mom just texted me and I have errands to run. See you next week!" She smiles and waves her hand then runs off. This girl is just too energetic.

It's Friday again. A week really goes by so quickly. I check my watch and it's already 5:13. I need to get some dinner then head back to the dorm. I wonder if Horikawa is already home. She usually goes home late, often just before the 10 pm curfew, and has never gone home ever since the semester started. There are lots of questions in mind, which makes me realize that there's still an air of mystery about her.

I take out Chicken Fillet with Rice from Mcdo then walk to the campus dorm. I like walking while listening to music through my earphones. The university is situated between lush green forest reserves so the landscapes are breathtaking. Walking around the campus after an exam is enough to relieve stress.

It's already 5:34 pm, so a lot of students can be seen walking in the campus grounds. The noise they make while talking to their friends fill the atmosphere. It's what makes the campus lively at this hour. Since it's Friday, the roads are busy as students rush to go home to their respective provinces. As for me, I don't have a home to go to. This university is now my home.

and fit in a crowd instead.

I arrive at our dorm and It's been two weeks since classes started, so I've adjusted well. I usually walk alone when I'm not with Minami, and I've gotten used to it. I'll probably be in a more uncomfortable situation if I was forced to join enter the gate. The guard greets me with as smile and I smile back at her. As usual, there are a lot of students at the TV area. Some are studying while some are chatting with their roommates while the TV serves as a background noise.

Our room is in the second floor of the dorm, so I have to take a flight of stairs, which frankly, is too tiring. I put in the key then turn the knob. I open the door and see that it's dark inside. Horikawa probably hasn't arrived yet. I turn on the light. I place my bag on my desk then look at my bed. Eh? She's asleep? She's wearing a t-shirt and a pajama. A pillow is also blocking her face. Does she even have enough oxygen in that position?

Our beds are placed side by side and against the wall, so it's really easy to observe her even when I'm lying down. She's facing the wall, so I can only see her hair. I wonder why she's back at the dorm so early? It's Friday, doesn't she have plans to go home? I lie down on my bed and check my phone. There are a number of friend requests from some of my classmates. I accept all since I've met them personally.

I put down my phone then close my eyes for a bit. The exhaustion is only sinking in now. My eyes feel so heavy. At this rate, I'll fall asleep. No, Aki. You can't let it happen. I sternly tell myself. I still haven't changed into comfortable clothes, and the food I'm supposed to have for dinner is in the paper bag. There's a lot of things I need to do, but my bed just won't let me get up. I let out a sigh.

Horikawa starts moving and changing positions. Is she still asleep? She slowly gets up. She's awake now. She runs her fingers through her hair then walks to her desk. She's really strange. She doesn't even look in my direction, as if I'm invisible. I want to call her, but I can't. I'm too shy to do so.

There's suddenly loud sounds of footsteps nearing our room. Someone barges in! What in the world is happening? Is this the dorm thief who has been stealing gadgets? Did I fail to lock the door so he was able to enter? I can't even let out a scream because of how fast things happen.

She throws a punch to the guy's face then kicks him. He loses his balance. He tries to regain his composure, but my roommate quickly pulls his one arm back. He shouts in pain as she restrains him using handcuffs. What? Where did she get those handcuffs? That's really strange.

The university police force rushes to our room and quickly takes custody of the thief. She runs her fingers through her hair again then blows air upwards which makes her fringes move. I'd be lying if I say that she doesn't look cool. She really looks like Mirai. Ikemen, it is. She looks at me. I freeze.

"Aki." I look at her.

"Yes?" No words are coming out of my mouth? This is so strange.

"Aki." Her voice sounds much louder and clearer.

I open my eyes and see her sitting on my bed. Wait, what? It was all a dream?

"Hey, are you okay?" I've been trying to wake you up for 15 minutes now, but you're a heavy sleeper. I even tried pulling your hair, you know?" She says with a straight face. She does look scary when she's serious.

"Eh? So it's all a dream?" I say, still sleepy.

"What dream?" She asks. I get up and sit on my bed to face her.

"I dreamt that the dorm thief barged into our room, but you stopped him and even handcuffed him! You have great hand-to-hand combat skills in my dream! You're so cool! Everything just seemed real." I exclaim. She laughs.

"Your dreams are weird, Aki. You're probably too tired." She pats my head then ruffles my hair. Why does she seem like an older sister or something? We're both 16, right? The way she acts makes it seem like she's older than me.

"Oh, by the way, you haven't eaten your food here." She points the brown paper bag on my desk.

"Indeed.. I haven't eaten." I say. I get up then start eating.

"How about you, have you had dinner?" I ask her.

"Yeah, I went to the cafeteria while you were asleep." She smiles at me. I smile and nod at her.

She goes back to her bed then takes out her laptop. I go back to eating as well. There's actually only one desk in our room, and we just agreed which side each of us will take. A lot of papers are on her desk and they look quite messy. There's one thing that caught my attention though — an organization application form. It reads, "Yokohama University Psychology Circle (YUPC)". But aren't freshmen students prohibited from joining an organization? I didn't know that she is a rule-breaker.

"Horikawa."

"Yeah?" She answers.

"Ah— nothing." Am I stupid? I shouldn't ask her about it. It'd be awkward. Besides, it's none of my business if she decides to join an organization.

"What is it, Aki?" She insists.

"I forgot what I was about to say." I make an excuse just so she'll let it go. She laughs.

"You're really funny, Aki." She says with a grin. I smile and nod. My phone vibrates. There's a message from Hiromi, one of my blocmates.

"Hi, Aki :)"

I haven't finished eating yet, so I won't reply to him. Maybe later. I put down my phone then take my last few bites. The disposable food box and paperbag goes to the trash bin.

It's Friday, 8:28 pm. I'm just glad that I can take some rest from a busy week.

I still can't stop thinking about Horikawa. I feel like she's hiding a lot of things. She's doing a lot of contradicting actions as well. Sometimes, she's cold and distant, then she'd be friendly and warm towards me. Weird. What's even stranger is the fact that I'm curious about her. I guess it can't be helped; she's the first roommate I've ever had and I've never been forced to share a room with anyone. It's like I'm compelled to know things about her since I have no choice but to have her in my personal space.

"Aki." She calls me.

"Yes?" I respond.

"Are you going home this weekend?" She asks. Her face looks serious.

"No. Why?" I never expected her to initiate this conversation.

"Aight then. I thought you're going home." She says with a grin.

"How about you? Are you going home?" I ask.

"Nah." So that's why she didn't go home last weekend either. I wonder why. Is she also an adopted student like me? This is a story for another day, I guess.

[groundsnow]

ツイタチ

It has been three days since news about multiple burglaries and thefts at Women's Residence Hall were reported. I heard from some of my classmates that their laptops and phones were stolen as well. As odd as it seems, the criminal has not been caught yet. It's my first semester at Yokohama University, and strange things just keep happening, not to mention that the semester has just started.

I hear the sound of the key turning in the door knob. It's Horikawa. I get up from my seat and turn the stubborn knob for her. The door opens, and I'm greeted with her smiling face. "Yo." My roommate enters and gestures a two-finger salute. "Thanks." I smile back at her. She puts her black backpack on her desk then sits on her bed. I get back to my chair then face my laptop.

"Aki."

"Yes?" I answer while staring at my laptop, trying to read some news articles.

"Looks like these burglaries won't be going away soon." There's the usual pokerface, but I can sense that she's worried as well.

"Indeed. I wonder who's doing it." Silence fills the room, which is quite the signal for me to go back to what I have been doing. It's already 6 pm, a weekend, and I haven't gotten out of the dorm yet after a long day of work. Horikawa was out since yesterday and only arrived tonight.

"Aki, have you eaten?" I had to rethink what I heard. Is she asking me to eat outside?

"Not yet. I haven't left the dorm all day." I face her direction.

"You sure are hardworking. The semester has just started though." I never thought she would notice me studying all the time.

"I got lots of homework and quizzes." I smile at her. "You're too GC." She laughs a little.

"Not really." I tell her laughingly.

"Would you like to eat dinner?" She's actually asking me? Is this real?

"I want curry rice. Let's try the new curry place near the Blue Park." She looks cheerful. This is rare.

"O-okay, let's have curry." I answer then smile back at her. We get out of the dorm after a few minutes of preparing. I guess it has been a month since the semester started. I'm not really counting the days. Time passes by so quickly when busy with academics. But tonight is different because it's the first time I'll be having dinner with my roommate.

On the day of freshmen orientation, we just had a brief introduction and a short conversation. She has always seemed reserved and quiet, an air of mystery surrounding her, so I only know a few things about her.

Sena Horikawa. 16 years old. Lives in Nagoya. Psychology student. Plays the violin and piano. An anime fan. Likes wearing black hoodies and pants, has short, black bob cut hair with fringes, and is generally boyish in style. Looks just right for her age, and has a resemblance to Mirai, a popular female Japanese ikemen idol, which I noticed from the first day of our encounter.

These are some basic information I discovered when we had our introduction. I just realized that there are still a lot of things I don't know about her. Most of my friends have already gotten close with their roommates, so I kinda feel lonely. But who knows, it might be different starting tonight.

"Thank you for the food." We are both surprised that we said it at the same time. She looks at me while laughing. I laugh too. It feels strange, probably because it's rare for me to see her like this, cheerful like a child. She would always have a serious demeanor, so I have never really imagined her this way.

"Oi, why are you staring at me like that?" She says as if teasing me.

"What? Uh sorry, I was just thinking."

"Aight, eat then. Look, I'm almost done, and you haven't eaten anything." She laughs.

"Okay." I smile then start eating. Sometimes, I tend to zone out when thinking deeply.

"Horikawa, are you aware that you look like Mirai?" I ask intently. Staring at her for so long made me realize that her looks are incredibly similar to the Japanese idol than I initially thought. She can even pass as her sister.

"A lot of people have said that. I've received a lot of confessions from girls in high school because of it. Mirai used to be a member of an ikemen group, after all. They're projecting to me their affection for her." She says while finishing her plate clean. I'm actually not surprised that girls would run after her. She's charismatic after all. But I never thought she'd tell me this.

"Eh? You're so cool, Horikawa! What did you do when they confessed to you?" I exclaim. I fail to control my emotions this time. Ugh. How embarrassing. She laughs.

"Not really, I just happened to look like a popular idol." She says, waving her right hand in front of her. I'm surprised by her humility though.

"As for the confessions, I had no choice but to reject them. I'm not interested in girls." Looks can really be deceiving. Just because a girl dresses and often behaves like a guy, doesn't mean she's into girls. "Can we go get ice cream after this?" She asks. "Sure." I say while taking my last bite.

"You're a slow eater." She teases me.

"I-I guess." I laugh.

"You took so long because you were literally staring at me. I'm not Mirai, you know." She jokes.

"Un, I know." I look at her while laughing. We decide to buy ice cream at a nearby convenience store then go straight home.

"I'm too full." I say after a yawn.

"Really, you must have a small stomach." She jokes. "Maybe. I eat a little." I gesture to her.

"That's why you're so thin." She says, looking at me. "I guess. I'm just not a big eater. I would like it if I gained a little weight though." I look down on the floor.

"Meanwhile, other girls wish they were thinner. The irony." We both laugh. I turn on my laptop and bring out my notes. "Homework?" She asks.

"Yes. I have to submit a problem set on Monday." I say as I face her direction.

"So busy. It's only Saturday though." She says while typing on her laptop.

"Two days is short for this." I smile while showing her the stapled papers.

"That looks tedious." She says then walks close to me to take a look.

"MATH 13?"

"Yes." I smiled at her.

"I heard that's one of the dreaded courses freshmen have to take."

"I guess it is..." I look at my paper.

"What about you?" I ask.

"I also got homework due on Monday, but I'm gonna do them tomorrow." She says carelessly.

"Eh? Wouldn't it be a bit too rushed?" I ask.

"Nah, I'm used to it. I tend to procrastinate a lot, because if I won't, I'll miss out on life." She winks at me. No wonder a lot of girls fall for her. She's too charismatic and confident. People tend to be attracted to confidence.

"Well, you're not wrong." I say. I'm surprised by what she said, probably because it doesn't fit her character which is on my mind. Who would've thought that an enigmatic person like her would joke around and wink? Maybe she's just introverted, and is only expressive when around certain people. If that's the case, then I'm honored, I guess. She looks like a totally different person to strangers.

I start answering the math problems. She takes a shower. It's about 8 pm so I'm already sleepy. I rest my head on the desk, telling myself that I'll just rest for a bit.

"Aki." I feel something on my head.

"Hey Aki, don't sleep there. Your neck's gonna hurt." I face sideways as I slowly open my eyes. I see Horikawa patting me on the head.

"Ah I fell asleep." I say while rubbing my eyes. I slowly raise my head.

"Yeah, it's actually 8:30 pm. I just got out the shower. If you're gonna sleep, sleep on the bed and not on the desk. Your bed is just a few steps from here." She says, still standing next to me.

"Thanks, Horikawa. I still need to finish this but I'm too sleepy." I'm feeling groggy so I just close my laptop without even shutting it down and head to my bed to sleep.

"Ms. Masuda, why didn't you turn in your homework on time?" My terror professor stares at me, speaking in a serious, low tone.

"S-sir, I submitted it." I'm sweating profusely and stuttering.

"Please don't make excuses! I was clear about the rule last time: No submission, no grade."

"But sir —" Arguing with him won't go anywhere. "Aki!" I felt a strong grip on my right hand while someone called out my name. I open my eyes slowly and see Horikawa standing next to me.

"You were sleep talking, you know." She says while holding a carton of juice. She's wearing her usual black hoodie and dark jeans.

"I had a bad dream. I wasn't able to submit the homework." I say. She laughs.

"I figured. Your alarm actually went off twice already, so I woke you up. It's 9 am by the way." She says, laughing.

"What?" I can't believe that I woke up so late! I get up quickly and look for my slippers. There are lots of boots by the bed.

"And, yep. You slept on my bed last night." She says, laughing.

I feel my face heat up of embarrassment. I put my right hand on my face.

"I'm sorry. I thought I slept on my bed." I say, still covering my face.

"Nah it's fine. I knew, so I didn't wake you up and slept on your bed instead." She says.

"Thanks." I look at her, still covering my face except my eyes.

"No problem! Anyway, I have to go now. You're lucky I returned here earlier."

"Ah thanks! A-and.. Sorry. About that." I say, looking down in embarrassment."

"It's okay. Well then, I'm going ahead. Later." She makes the two-finger salute then leaves the room.

I still can't believe I slept on her bed. It was too nice of her. If it was someone else, she would probably wake me up just to let me transfer beds. Things are really strange: First, the burglaries, then my cold and aloof roommate suddenly warming up to me. My first week as a freshman student is surely filled with unexpected events. I place my hands on my face then get up.