Chapter 36

"I'm not feeling well." Itsu clutched his stomach in pain while Atashi stood there in a panic. Their teacher Mrs Nagako was waiting for them to assemble outside the lunchroom to get ready to go upstairs for the show. Most of the class was waiting outside leaving Atashi, Itsu, and a few more of them.

"Hang on Itsu I'll get help."

"No you go ahead I need to go to the bathroom it's going to take a while-

"Itsu don't be crazy man. I'm not leaving you here by yourself ya got that?"

Mrs Nagako's voice boomed over the entire vicinity. This made both Atashi and Itsu anxious for what was yet to come their teacher wasn't always approachable. Itsu should probably resort to letting Ms Reina know instead that way he wouldn't have to face the music.

As Atashi was about to tell him to do just that, Itsu disappeared from sight. This made him panic even more there was no time to run off like that they had to hurry. 

"I get that you're having a terrible stomachache Itsu but at least let me know where you're going." The boy quietly ran out of the lunchroom while Mrs Nagako was nagging at one of his friends about the noise they were making.

I have to make sure Itsu is OK I can't just leave him behind. Atashi stopped at the bathroom and called out to his friend who was in one of the cubicles.

Yuki who happened to see Atashi running to the bathroom in a hurry followed him close by and stopped in the middle of the hallway.

"What's going on Atashi?"

"Itsu's having a bad stomachache we have to inform one of the teachers about it, the show is starting soon. Even if we're late at least they know about Ekitsu's condition." Atashi replied.

"Well if you wanted to you should've informed Mrs Nagako before the class left."

"Wait they left?!" Atashi didn't know what to make of it. Sure Mrs Nagako wasn't a responsible teacher but to leave her students behind just like that? This was unacceptable Atashi couldn't let that slide.

Standing in the hallway in silence, Yuki sighed and glanced behind them to see if any teacher was looking for them. Mrs Nagako should have at least notified someone that her students were missing while she manages the class arrangement before the show. I understand that they're in a rush the auditorium is at the very last level it's going to be a long walk there. Yuki's gaze met Atashi's who displayed fear and anguish. If that was her she'd inform someone about Itsu's condition and leave them to it, they'd know what to do.

"Yeah you should've informed them as soon as it happened."

"I wanted to but Mrs Nagako was scolding someone and then Itsu ran away I didn't know where he went so I panicked."

"You guys are better off without me." Itsu said apologetically. "Just go."

"We're not leaving you here Itsu!" Atashi shouted at him the boy didn't mean to talk to his friend like that but he had to knock some sense into Itsu. If they went to auditorium right now Itsu would be all alone in this condition.

Yuki also reassured Itsu that everything will be alright and that they'll stick with him at all times. The girl waited for his response until both she and Atashi heard the sound of the flush from the cubicle. Atashi stood there as Itsu came out of the cubicle and washed his hands with a distressed look on his face.

"I-I-I heard M-M-Mrs Nagako left us." He said.

"Don't worry we'll get someone to help." Atashi held Itsu's shoulder and walked out of the bathroom. 

"Oh no we're going to be late hurry!" Yuki started running down the hallway her white silky locks brushing against her forehead with Atashi and Itsu slowly following behind her towards the same stairs leading to the lunchroom.

To Atashi's horror the class had left. A surge of sadness and a fit of rage consumed him at the sight of the empty hallway. Now she was going to start accusing him of something else again, there was never a time where he heard anything encouraging from his teacher.

The next level they got to was another row of classes. Both Yuki and Atashi were already panting from the tiresome travel their energy was draining faster than they had imagined. The stress was working on them at a rapid rate.

Pushing themselves onto the next flight of stairs, Atashi saw a bright light coming from the next level. A shimmer of hope fell upon him, they were close to the auditorium.

This level which was the second last one was wider. Almost everything below them was visible from up here. Atashi held on to the dark-haired boy and climbed up the last stairs leading straight to the theater which was in the middle of the brighter level, parallel to the transparent view above them in the ceiling.

"We're close Itsu!" Atashi said as they climbed up the stairs and made eye contact with the staff gathering outside the theatre. Some of them were shocked to see Itsu in a badly worn out state he was very pale and scrawny compared to before. This raised alarm.

When they got to entrance, a few people rushed over to them in worry. Itsu didn't have the energy to answer their questions so Atashi answered them on his behalf.

Another girl with leafy green eyes approached Yuki with a concern look on her face. Atashi immediately jumped when he saw Haru talking with Yuki, he was quite confused because she should be sitting in the auditorium with the class. His heart started beating he had been meaning to talk with Haru he was always looking out for her and at some point he wanted her to know how much he cared.

Not even a minute had passed and Itsu was starting to feel the pain in his abdomen the boy immediately ran to the nearest bathroom. A commotion had started outside the auditorium which caught another teacher's attention. She watched the three children and staff panicking over one of the students whom she presumed was facing a problem.

"What's going on here?" The teacher asked.

"Hi Ms Meiya our friend Itsu is having a bad stomachache he's in the bathroom right now." Atashi replied his voice quivering.

Both Yuki and Haru looked at the direction Itsu went in dismay. They just wanted to enjoy the show together as a class.

The people who were trying to help Itsu explained to Ms Meiya what happened. Nodding she assured them everything will be fine, they then went back to the waiting area to join the other groups.

"Did this happen recently?" 

"Yeah after lunch."

Ms Meiya walked away from where Atashi stood she called out to Itsu who rushed out of the bathroom in guilt.

"Sorry Ms Meiya I had a stomachache."

"It's alright next time inform your teacher about it." Ms Meiya replied. "The same thing goes to all of you standing around here."

Atashi and the other three exchanged glances with each other. Now that they were right outside the entrance they should hurry and find a seat, Atashi wondered if his friends from the other class saved one for him.

Right before Atashi walked in, Ms Meiya gave him a stern look. 

"Causing some ruckus again Atashi this isn't the first time."

Those words formed a tightening feeling in his chest. For some reason Atashi just couldn't get the best explanation out his throat was being strangled by his own desperate attempt to be free from Ms Meiya's gaze.

"I didn't want to leave Itsu alone he was really sick." Atashi choked the words out he didn't want to have an outlash in the middle of the auditorium he tried to control himself, his body now shaking in fear of what happens next.

"Then you should've told someone about it. Atashi when will you learn?" Ms Meiya wasn't buying his reasons. Atashi didn't understand what he did wrong, he was just trying to help his friend, why was he the one being blamed for something he too didn't expect to happen at a time like this.

"Now you're going to be late for the show."

"Ms Meiya I-

The lady looked through the documents in her hand containing the list of students attending the show. Itsu and the two girls slowly looked at her fearfully while Atashi stared into space not knowing what to say anymore he gave up trying to explain the incident.

Ms Meiya sure is nice. Atashi's gaze met his three friends who looked at him in uncertainty. One of them, Yuki gave him a look that he couldn't decipher, was she blaming him too? At least back him up too she was there the whole time when Itsu was sick.

"Now I have to check through the list of names again this is what happens when you don't listen to instructions."

"If Yuki and I left Itsu alone he'd be struggling to walk Ms Meiya that's why we stayed behind to help him."

Yuki glanced at him with a look of disapproval at what he just said. This left Atashi very confused it was the truth why would Yuki go against it this was starting to make him feel even more uneasy by her presence.

"That's because I kept telling you to inform Mrs Nagako about it and you didn't want to."

What are you trying to say Yuki I never said I didn't want to let her know she was handling someone else in class I didn't want to interrupt her. Itsu ran off to the bathroom when I was about to inform someone about it. Atashi's chest tightened further followed by a rise in temperature that accumulated into a headache. Yuki was making stories to cover up for herself.

"Yuki why are you going against me you were with us. I wanted to let Mrs Nagako know but she was busy handling another friend of ours I didn't want to interrupt her and Itsu was in pain. He rushed to the bathroom when I was about to tell someone what happened." Atashi explained hoping Ms Meiya's stern look would fade away but it didn't.

"You should at least inform someone beforehand!" Yuki spat.

That was true he should've reacted faster and not leave things hanging but Yuki should at least have some understanding towards Itsu's condition at that time he was weak and couldn't support himself properly. Atashi was starting to despise Yuki she wasn't this nice girl that everyone thought she was, Yuki was a backstabber who only cared for herself which is why she doesn't have any friends at all.

"This won't happen again now go to your seats the show is starting soon." Ms Meiya walked away flipping through the pages in annoyance, the so-called friendly teacher that everyone was now showing her true colors.

Atashi slowly followed behind his three friends who stepped to the side giving the boy more space to walk. He glared at the three of them after all he did for Itsu he got nothing but betrayal in return.

His friends didn't stand up for him, Itsu kept quiet the whole time and Yuki was against him these friends of his didn't appreciate his efforts. Haru looked at him in pity it seems she wanted to say something but didn't out of fear that Yuki might respond, from the looks of it she was getting ready for any interference coming her way.

After all that I've done, Itsu how could you and Haru why are you just standing there. Atashi took one last look at them and walked to the rows of seats that had been occupied by almost everyone in the theater. The boy stared at the ground upset. I can't stand my class. He just couldn't look at anyone.