The cafeteria bustled with activity, as I slumped over the table. Without Harry sitting with me today, the table felt emptier than usual. Somehow, I looked more alone when I sat at a vacant table in a busy cafeteria than I did cooped up in my room.

Where my brain should have been, I felt a lukewarm puddle. Of all the days I needed normalcy to return to my regular state, Harry disappeared. I couldn’t help it if he had a cold, but I still needed a touch of humanity to cure me of my current problem.

Despite telling Itra that I could work on the draft, I spent far too long dwelling on the paper to actually get anything done. I couldn’t figure out how to recreate the scene to open up to the end, for the second time.

I turned my head to watch the crowd shuffle around, as they get food and sit at tables. A small part of me wished one of them would sit next to me and talk, but no one registered me as a presence in the room. Letting up that hope, I turned back to stare at the table.

“You look dead,” commented the aggressive voice of Gentrei, “what happened to Harry? Is he not here today?”

Looking up from the table, I took on the full force of Gentrei’s interrogation. Even when she wasn’t scowling at me, I still felt targeted by her gaze.

“Harry got sick yesterday,” I informed her, keeping myself brief, “he’ll be back next week.”

“Right, right,” Gentrei disengaged from our conversation the moment she got the information she wanted.

She walked off to join her table of friends. I stared a little, as her form grew further and further away. Again, I was left alone. I wondered what she wanted Harry for.

----------------------------------------

Following lunch, I began to make my way to class. During my trip, a small body stood in my way. Gentrei blocked my path. I thought she finished any business she had with me when she asked about Harry, but it seemed I was wrong.

“Let me see it,” she demanded, as if I knew what she meant.

“Huh? What?” my thoughts came to a halt at her odd request.

“You heard me,” Gentrei continued, “I want to see what you’ve done.”

“Wait, wait, slow down, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I retreated a few steps before she noticed.

“Don’t try to run,” Gentrei ordered, “just show me your story so far, and it will all be over.”

“M-my story?” I shrank at her glare, “What do you need my story for?”

“Just show it! Don’t ask questions!” Gentrei shouted, scaring me into a corner.

As I cowered, a third party came into the rescue. She stepped in front of me, as if a protector of the weak. My chest rose, as I saw Itra block the frightening presence of Gentrei.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Itra asked, letting out her own ominous aura.

Apparently Itra’s scary side could intimidate even Gentrei, as she took a step back. Still, Gentrei didn’t give up easily, as she clenched her fists and did her best to stare Itra down. Sadly for Gentrei, her height difference didn’t work in her favor.

“W-what business do you have with us, huh?” Gentrei stumbled with her defense, “This has nothing to do with you, back off.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Unaffected by Gentrei’s offense, Itra replied, “Illate’s my friend, if you’re causing him trouble, then I do have business with this.”

Gentrei gulped, unable to keep up with Itra’s intensity. The person I’d feared for so long stood no chance against Itra. In fact, I almost felt sorry for her. She looked as though she would crumble at any moment.

Conflicted, Gentrei stepped back, once, then twice. She opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. Instead, she opted to bare her teeth at us, yet something was off. Her eyes glistened, as tears poked out. Then, she ran off.

“Phew, that was scary, huh,” Itra smiled, “I’m glad you’re okay now, was that the girl you mentioned before?’

“Yeah…it was,” I responded, staring off to where Gentrei went.

She started crying. I expected her to get angry and storm off, but I didn’t expect heavy reactions beyond that. I remembered Harry. When he first saw Gentrei, she attempted to extort money from me, yet he saw beyond that. Now as she asks me for something without Harry, I’m cowering behind Itra.

“Itra,” I said as I stood up, “I’m going to take a page out of my friend’s book.”

“Huh? What?” Itra stood stumped as I took off towards Gentrei, before hesitantly following.

Harry may not have been here today, but I’ll make sure his spirit is!

----------------------------------------

Gentrei hid her face behind her locker. Even though I didn’t see them, I could sense her glare through the cold metal. Her voice never hid any hostility.

“What,” she spat, “you came to corner me at my locker now?”

Somehow, her false assumption stabbed into me. Even though my intentions were to help her, she still held up a defense. Then again, I didn’t exactly give a reason to why she should open up yet.

“I wanted to know why you needed to see my story,” I told her, “and why you seemed desperate.”

“Why?” she asked, “What’s it to you, huh?”

“Well, uh,” I faltered a bit, not knowing how to respond, “Harry…told me?”

I came up here with the idea of Harry in mind. He wouldn’t mind me using his name as a shield, right? It’s his virtue that started this all, so I’m sure hiding behind him is all right.

“Did he?” Gentrei’s tone heightened as she asked, “Why’d he tell you?”

“It’s just that, uh,” I desperately crafted my words to convince Gentrei to open up, “He’d rather have you be okay, than not.”

At this point, Gentrei stopped messing with her locker, meaning that she was just standing behind it. I noticed Itra come up behind me, lagging a little behind from when I took off.

I barely heard Gentrei mumble, “...My story.”

“Huh? Your story?” I questioned, “What about it?”

“I…” Gentrei’s voice tensed, “was having trouble with it.”

“S-so you wanted to steal mine?” I asked.

“No!” Gentrei denied, “I just…wanted to know that I wasn’t the only one struggling too…I guess.”

“Oh…” I faltered.

I didn’t expect Gentrei’s reason to be so simple. With how she acted, I thought she just wanted to bully me. Seeing her now though, too afraid to show her face, I felt as though I’ve seen a different side to her terrifying self. Could Harry have been seeing this the whole time?

As I stood contemplating, Itra reached for Gentrei’s locker and revealed Gentrei’s face.

“Hey! Wha-” flustered, Gentrei tried to reach for the door, but found herself face to face with us both, “What are you doing!?”

The fiery eyes I remember in Gentrei were gone. Instead, I saw startled, wide eyes darting between Itra and me. I could have sworn I was the prey in this food chain, but now Gentrei had the image of a cornered rabbit.

“Both of you,” said Itra, “I’ll teach both of you.”

““Huh?!”” Gentrei and I were taken aback.

“This Saturday at the Hangman Cafe at twelve,” Itra gave the place and time, “Will you be able to make it?”

“Well, I guess,” I answered.

“...Me too,” Gentrei replied.

“Perfect,” Itra put an end to our conversation, “then we have a group study planned, I’ll see you both there.”

We all parted. Itra picked up her pace around the corner to make it to her class, while I glanced back at Gentrei. For some reason, she was still standing there. I guess she still needed to process Itra’s sudden request.