- Chapter 9 -

The crisp air and autumn leaves surrounded the school scene. There was a slight breeze and the sun was bright in the morning sky. The school sat where it always had, soaking in the morning light. Students passed to and fro, here and there, all over the school grounds. The late ones were just arriving, and the early ones were already talking with friends. Everyone was generally happy and ready for another day of school. Everyone that is, except for two people.
They stood by the main entrance. Everywhere around them was good feeling. The two stood out like a sore thumb, so to say.
The boy sighed. "I really don't feel like another day of school..."
A moment of silence and the girl replied. "I don't either..."
They gazed around the school grounds. Other students passed by them. If anyone else noticed how sad they both looked they didn't make it known.
"I wonder if I'll ever get over this... It all seems like one big, long nightmare..." said the girl.
Toshi nodded. "I know... I know. ...I think so, too. ...Let's at least try to make the best of it..."
Mariko shed a tear but quickly wiped it away and tried to compose herself. Perhaps no one knew yet what had happened, she thought to herself. It wasn't like Kaori was an incredibly popular person... Her dress swayed in the breeze.
"It's just not fair..." she said.
"I know... I know..." was all Toshi could say.
She straightened herself up and dried her eyes. "At least.. at least we're still friends."
He nodded. "It's never going to be the same, though..."
Mariko nodded slowly. "Yes... that's true..."
Toshi looked around. "I don't think I've seen Takashi since that day..."
Mariko looked down. "He must have really liked her... he probably feels as bad as we do... He's such a nice guy... it's terrible to see him like that. I wonder if he knows..."
As if to answer them, Takashi came by, walking slowly, carrying a sports bag in which he kept his uniform, glove, and bat.
They both looked at him. He stopped next to them and turned.
"..Hey... you're Kaori's friends, aren't you? ..Do you know where she's been? She's been absent for weeks..."
They both looked down this time.
Takashi's expression became sterner. "I heard she was sick... but she must be really sick to be gone so long..."
Toshi managed a half nod. "Yes... She was sick."
Takashi looked concerned now. "..Was sick? Are you saying she's over it now?"
Mariko couldn't take this atmosphere. She turned around and then merely said, "Yes, at least I hope so..."
"You hope so? She's either sick or she isn't..."
Toshi looked at him gravely. "She no longer has to worry about being sick."
Takashi dropped his small bag. His voice rose a little. "Just what are you saying?"
Toshi looked away and closed his eyes. Mariko still couldn't face them.
Takashi's voice trembled a little. "You don't mean that she's..."
He looked at Toshi, then at Mariko, from one to the other, searching for clues on their expressions.
"NO!" he yelled, and grabbed his bag and ran off. "NO!!!" His shouts were short and filled with anger. People glanced their way, wondering what was going on. Why was the school's star pitcher so angry?
Mariko had turned back around as he was running off. She held her hand out to him. She was crying.
Toshi was analyzing Mariko and then said, "I really hated to have to be so vague, but I think just coming out and telling him would have been worse..."
Mariko made a few sad murmurs.
"You like him don't you?" He said it quite bluntly.
Mariko let her arm drop limply. After a moment she said, "He was always trying to get Kaori's attention... Even though she never seemed interested in him, he kept trying. I sometimes wished he'd do the same for me. I kind of envied Kaori for it. But now I'd feel terrible hoping to just take her place for him. Hopeless..."
Toshi didn't say anything, and looked at Mariko. He then straightened up.
"...say, we'd better get inside. The bell will probably ring soon."
They got up to leave. Toshi stopped on the steps and turned around. He gazed at the autumn sky, which was illuminated from the morning sun in such a way that played shadows dramatically on the trees and buildings. There were only a few wisps of clouds for as far as his eye could see. He looked longingly on the sky for a few moments and then pointed to it. "Look, Kaori. When the sun comes up, it's time to be happy..." He lowered his arm and turned back toward the doors.

The End...