"Professor, I'm sorry about the other day. I was rude to you," Kaede exclaimed, slightly embarrassed.
Professor Tanaka smiled and replied, "Don't worry. We all go through difficult times in life. But I'm glad to see you back here, in this space where you can express yourself freely."
"I feel like you're carrying something with you, something that's hurting you deeply," Professor Tanaka continued in a soft but firm tone. Kaede felt trapped, as if the professor could read her mind and bring all her hidden emotions to light. A tear slid down her cheek, unable to contain her pain any longer.
Professor Tanaka slowly approached Kaede and offered her a tissue to wipe her tears. Kaede, her guard lowered, accepted the kind gesture.
"Kaede, we all carry secrets and guilt inside, but we can't let them consume us. Sometimes, opening up and sharing our burdens with someone can lighten the load we carry."
Kaede looked at Professor Tanaka, her eyes filled with fear and hope. She knew he was right—that she needed to talk about her guilt to free herself from it—but she was still afraid to face her inner demons.
With a sigh, Kaede finally decided to trust Professor Tanaka. She told him everything about her father's death and how she had felt responsible for it all these years. The words poured from her like a torrent of bottled-up emotions, while Professor Tanaka listened attentively, without judging or interrupting.
After pouring her heart out, Kaede felt strangely relieved. The guilt was still there, but having shared her story with someone who truly understood meant a great deal to her.
Professor Tanaka offered her a comforting hug and whispered in her ear:
"Kaede, I know you may never fully erase your guilt, but I promise you're not alone in this. I'm here to support you and help you heal."
That night, Kaede didn't feel so alone in her room. The presence of Professor Tanaka lingered in her thoughts.
Sharing her burden with someone had given her a sense of relief she had never experienced before. Kaede realized she wasn't alone—there was someone willing to listen and support her through her healing process.
From that moment on, Kaede continued attending art classes and sharing her deepest thoughts and emotions with Professor Tanaka. As she opened up more and more, Kaede began to feel lighter, as if her burden became more manageable.
Over time, Kaede and Professor Tanaka became close friends. The professor always managed to make Kaede smile with his quirks and words of encouragement.
Every night when Kaede lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about Professor Tanaka and his warm smile. Each time she saw him smile, she felt a strange sensation in her chest.
Whenever she was next to him, Kaede's heart wouldn't stop pounding. Without realizing it, she began to fall in love with her teacher. She wanted there to be more between them than just friendship. But she was afraid of ruining the relationship they had built so far. Kaede knew that unrequited love could be painful and complicated, but she couldn't ignore the feelings she was experiencing.
Kaede felt trapped by her past and guilt, which prevented her from expressing her true feelings toward Professor Tanaka. She feared that if she did, he would reject her or feel uncomfortable with the situation.
As their friendship deepened, Kaede faced an internal dilemma. On one hand, she wanted to keep sharing her art and thoughts with him, knowing that he supported and understood her. On the other hand, she feared that revealing her true feelings might destroy the special bond they had.
Kaede found herself at a crossroads, torn between the voice of her heart and the fear of being vulnerable and hurt once again. She didn't know what to do or how to handle the situation, but she knew she had to make a decision and face her fears.
One sunny afternoon, Kaede and her professor were alone in the art studio. Finally, after much contemplation, Kaede gathered all her courage to talk to Professor Tanaka about her feelings. With a nervous voice, she explained how their friendship had grown and how she had developed romantic feelings for him. She confessed her fears and insecurities about ruining what they already had.
Professor Tanaka listened to every word and looked at her with a warm smile. Gently, he placed his hand on Kaede's cheek and, slowly leaning in, kissed her lips. Kaede, surprised but also happy, responded to the kiss by hugging him tightly. In that moment, a mix of relief and joy took over them. Although they both knew that this new step in their relationship would be complicated, they were willing to face it together.
From that moment on, Kaede and Professor Tanaka began to explore their love in secret, aware of the school's rules and restrictions. Kaede was completely in love with the professor and felt overwhelmed by her emotions. However, Emiko, unaware of what was happening, waited eagerly for Kaede after classes to walk home together. But Kaede always made excuses, telling her she had to stay late in art class due to the professor's demands.
Emiko noticed that Kaede had been acting differently lately. Her distant gestures and constant worry were hard to ignore, but Emiko didn't feel confident enough to directly address the situation. As the days passed, their once-close friendship began to fade; Kaede no longer found time to spend together and didn't want to share her secret with anyone.
However, Emiko couldn't help but notice how Kaede's teacher looked at her with a disturbing expression. His eyes conveyed a mix of lust and desire that was hard to overlook. Each time she witnessed this, Emiko felt uncomfortable and worried for Kaede's safety, imagining the potential danger she might be in.
Meanwhile, Kaede and Professor Tanaka continued their secret relationship, seeking moments of intimacy and connection in the art studio. They resisted any temptation to show their love in public, knowing it could jeopardize their futures and his career.
One afternoon during English class, Kaede began to feel nauseous. Unable to hold it in, she quickly got up from her seat under the confused gaze of her teacher and classmates. Rushing to the bathroom, she vomited. Concerned, Emiko quietly followed her and found her kneeling in front of the toilet.
Gently, Emiko placed her hand on Kaede's back to comfort her. Startled, Kaede gasped when she realized Emiko was there.
"Ah! Emi, you scared me!" Kaede exclaimed.
Emiko, worried, asked, "Kaede, are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?"
With a fake smile, Kaede replied, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Just a bit of dizziness. It'll pass."
Although Emiko wasn't fully convinced, she decided to respect Kaede's answer and stayed by her side as she recovered. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that Kaede was hiding something. Yet she chose not to press and simply be there for her.
The days went by quickly, and Kaede remained in a constant state of discomfort. Nausea overwhelmed her, and exhaustion left her bedridden. But something even more concerning was happening: her period was late. Worried, Kaede decided to take the initiative and visit the doctor to find out what was wrong. After several tests, the doctor gave her the news—Kaede was pregnant.
Upon hearing those words, Kaede was completely stunned. She couldn't believe what she had just heard and was paralyzed by the shock. A wave of emotions overtook her—an overwhelming mix of fear and a frightening sense of joy. She didn't know how to face such an unexpected and complicated situation, especially since she couldn't reveal her secret relationship with Professor Tanaka.
She decided to find Professor Tanaka and tell him the news. When they finally met, Kaede trembled as she spoke, finally confessing that she was expecting a child.
The warm smile that always adorned Professor Tanaka's face vanished as he heard Kaede's news. He was speechless, and his expression turned grim. Kaede, nervous at his reaction, anxiously awaited his response.
After a long silence, Professor Tanaka finally spoke in a quiet voice.
"Kaede, this is a very serious problem. You know our relationship is forbidden, and if anyone finds out, we could both face severe consequences."
Kaede nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. But she also felt a deep need for support during this difficult time.
"Professor Tanaka, I know this is complicated and risky, but I don't know what to do. I'm scared and need your help."
Professor Tanaka sighed deeply and placed his hands on Kaede's shoulders.
"Kaede, I understand you're going through a tough time, but we have to be conscious of the choices we make. We'll have to take extreme measures to protect ourselves and our future."
Kaede looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"What do you mean? What should we do?"
Without any sign of remorse, he replied,
"Kaede, you should consider ending the pregnancy."
Tears streamed down Kaede's cheeks. She was in shock, hearing those words from the person she had trusted the most. The echoes of his suggestion shattered her hopes of finding support and understanding. She felt abandoned and betrayed.
The professor's heartless response tore her apart, revealing a darker side of his personality. Kaede felt used and manipulated, unable to comprehend how someone she trusted so deeply could suggest something so cruel—something that went against her most intimate desires.
Drowning in despair, sobbing uncontrollably, Kaede ran away from him, desperate to escape his presence and the pain he had caused. Every step she took felt like a betrayal to her trust and self-worth. She saw no other option but to flee from the unbearable situation.
When Kaede finally arrived in her room, she collapsed onto her bed, feeling a deep ache in her heart. Confusion and turmoil flooded her mind, and the emotional burden became too heavy to bear. She no longer had the strength to face more challenges or pain.
Kaede knew she couldn't tell Emiko what had just happened. She didn't want to worry her or involve her in her pain. She felt more alone than ever, with a broken heart and an impossible situation to resolve.
Professor Tanaka's words, telling her to terminate the pregnancy, echoed in her head over and over. The idea of ending the life growing inside her was heartbreaking, yet she felt trapped in a maze with no way out.
Days went by, and Kaede sank into a deep depression at school. Unsure of what to do, she hid her sadness behind a wide smile in front of Emiko and her other classmates. She tried to fake happiness and keep up the appearance that everything was fine, but inside, she was suffering in silence.
Each day, the burden of her secret grew heavier. Kaede knew she couldn't keep going like this. One rainy morning, while Emiko walked to school with her umbrella, she couldn't stop thinking about Kaede. She felt that something was wrong with her friend and was determined to find out what it was.
As she approached the school, Emiko noticed a group of students gathered in the courtyard. Curious, she made her way through the crowd and was horrified to see Kaede lying in a pool of blood on the ground. Emiko froze, unable to believe what she was seeing. Her heart pounded, and a deep fear took hold of her as the students murmured that Kaede had jumped from the rooftop.
Emiko ran to Kaede, pushing through the crowd and kneeling beside her. Her eyes filled with tears as she took Kaede's trembling hand.
"Kaede, please wake up! Don't do this!" Emiko cried, struggling to contain her anguish.
The rain kept falling over them, mixing with Emiko's tears as she looked helplessly at her friend, now lifeless. Emiko felt overwhelmed by pain, sadness, and guilt. She knew she could have done more for Kaede—intervened before things went this far.
As the crowd swelled around them, Emiko was left in a state of shock. She couldn't believe Kaede had taken such a drastic and final step. She wondered what had pushed her to that point, what she could have done to prevent it.
Kaede's death deeply impacted the entire school community. Students and teachers were stunned and devastated by the loss of such a talented, vibrant young girl. Yet, despite the pain and grief, the truth about Kaede's relationship with Professor Tanaka remained locked away.
The professor's reputation stayed intact, something that disturbed Emiko. She struggled to understand how someone she had admired and cared for could have taken things so far. She felt guilty for not seeing Kaede's anguish, for not acting in time to help her.
Grief consumed Emiko, leaving her desolate and drained. Despite taking antidepressants, the pain persisted and the emptiness grew stronger. Remembering the joyful times she shared with Kaede and the dreams they once had only made the sorrow even more overwhelming. She couldn't accept her friend's death and kept replaying imagined scenes in her mind where Kaede was still alive, laughing and talking with her.
Days passed, and Emiko and her mother decided to move to a different city. Emiko's mother remained unaware of Kaede's death.
Emiko took refuge in her imagination, creating illusions where Kaede was still by her side—hugging her, helping her through difficult moments, accompanying her through the solitude that consumed her. These fantasies offered a brief sense of comfort, but reality always returned to remind her that Kaede was no longer in this world.
Life moved on, and Emiko turned 18. One rainy day, she stood on the rooftop, lost in her thoughts. The memory hit her again—Kaede lying lifeless in that pool of blood. Kaede was gone, and all this time, Emiko had been alone. Sadness engulfed her once more. The memory was so vivid and painful that a shiver ran down her spine. She clung tightly to Azami, trying to hold on to the present and push away the painful past.
"I won't lose anyone else," Emiko whispered with a trembling voice.
"I can't just stand by and watch others suffer. I promise I'll be here for you, Azami. Always."
When she got home, Emiko went straight to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with cold water. Without hesitation, she submerged herself completely, still wearing her uniform and shoes. She felt the cold embrace her body, and her mind went blank, as if her pain and anguish had temporarily vanished.
She stayed there, allowing the stream of sorrow and despair to flow through her, letting every tear fall and blend with the water. It was her way of releasing the pain consuming her, seeking a bit of calm in the darkness that surrounded her.
Yet Kaede's laughter still echoed in her mind, relentlessly. Emiko couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking, she dunked her head underwater and screamed with all her strength, even though her voice was swallowed by the liquid.
Her muffled scream mixed with the water around her—her despair turning into an uncontrollable torrent. She felt the weight of grief and guilt pressing down on her chest, dragging her to the depths. As her lungs filled with water, Emiko fought against the tidal wave of pain and memories. But the burden of loss was simply too much to bear.
Desperate to escape this unbearable anguish, Emiko emerged from the water, coughing and gasping. Her heart pounded, and her mind was clouded by what she had just experienced underwater. In that moment, she realized she too had been standing on the edge—desperate to escape the pain and sorrow suffocating her.
Gripping the edges of the tub, Emiko trembled, tears still flowing down her cheeks. She met her reflection in the bathroom mirror—tired, broken eyes staring back at her.
Emiko went to her room, picked up a craft knife from her desk, and sat on the floor. She stayed silent for a moment, holding the knife in her trembling hand. Sadness and despair enveloped her, and she felt that the only way to escape her suffering was through physical pain.
Just as she was about to hurt herself, Emiko suddenly dropped the knife and broke into sobs. She collapsed to the floor, hugging her legs and crying uncontrollably. Amid her desperation, a small teddy bear appeared and sat beside her, trying to cheer her up with silly gestures. Emiko looked at the bear and whispered,
"Leave me alone."
But the bear ignored her and kept trying to make her smile.
Distraught and frustrated, Emiko grabbed the little bear and hurled it against the wall. She screamed with rage, feeling trapped in a whirlwind of overwhelming emotions. Though it couldn't speak, the bear's eyes expressed empathy and a sincere desire to help. But as it faded from her view, Emiko remained curled on the floor, hugging her knees and trying to steady her breathing. The silence engulfed the room as her tears continued to fall.
The next morning at school, everyone watched in disbelief as police officers escorted the English teacher away. Rumors and speculation about his arrest spread quickly. Meanwhile, Azami cried in the courtyard with her mother, confessing that she had been blinded by love for the teacher and had become pregnant. She admitted she was terrified and didn't know what to do—that she had almost jumped from the rooftop, but Emiko saved her.
Azami's mother, shocked by her daughter's revelations, hugged her tightly and promised to always be there for her. She assured her that they would get through it together.
Meanwhile, Emiko sat silently in class, consumed by guilt for not having been able to save Kaede—and for not preventing the tragedy. Still, she felt a faint sense of relief knowing she had managed to save Azami.
Suddenly, Emiko saw Azami's mother approaching her from across the classroom. The woman knelt in front of Emiko and apologized for not realizing what had been happening between her daughter and the teacher. Surprised, Emiko was left speechless. She knew it wasn't Azami's mother's fault, but appreciated the apology nonetheless.
Emiko reassured her, saying she didn't need to apologize—no one could have known what was happening. She urged her to focus on supporting Azami and helping her through the ordeal.
Azami's mother thanked Emiko for her words and promised to do everything she could to help her daughter.
One afternoon in math class, Emiko drifted into dark, painful thoughts. She felt as if her mind disconnected from the present and fell into a bottomless pit.
Suddenly, she noticed a small group of white creatures she had seen the day before. The creatures laughed and jumped joyfully. Intrigued, Emiko wondered what was going on.
Unexpectedly, one of the creatures entered the body of one of her classmates. Emiko watched with confusion as the classmate didn't react to the intrusion. Then, the other creatures began entering the bodies of her classmates as well, making them act strangely. Emiko was stunned to see her classmates—and even the teacher—behaving like children.
A laugh escaped Emiko's lips as she saw a serious adult acting like a toddler. She tried to hold it in, covering her mouth with her hands, as she watched one classmate jumping in a schoolgirl skirt while whistling a cheerful tune.
Trying to look away to avoid laughing, Emiko turned only to find that all the boys were wearing girls' uniforms and all the girls had on boys' uniforms. Despite her efforts to stay composed, sweat poured down her face. Finally, she couldn't hold it anymore and collapsed to the floor in a fit of laughter.
Suddenly, everything snapped back to reality. Her classmates and teacher looked at her in confusion, not understanding what was happening. But Emiko couldn't stop laughing—it overwhelmed her completely. Her teacher, clearly annoyed, reprimanded her:
"Miss Yoshida, have you lost your mind? Please control yourself and focus on the lesson!"
Emiko, still laughing, got up from the floor and mimicked her teacher mockingly:
"Miss Yoshida, have you lost your mind? Please control yourself and focus on the lesson!"
The other students stared in shock—some even laughed along with her. Azami approached Emiko and gently shook her, trying to calm her down.
"Emiko, what's going on? Please, stop," Azami said, her voice full of concern.
Emiko ignored Azami and kept laughing, climbing onto the teacher's desk and jumping up and down. The other students, stunned by Emiko's strange behavior—especially given how quiet she usually was—watched in disbelief.
Azami, growing more worried, tried again to soothe her.
"Emiko, please calm down. This isn't normal. Do you need help?"
Still laughing uncontrollably, Emiko jumped down from the desk. The teacher gave her a final warning:
"Miss Yoshida, if you don't calm down immediately, you'll have to go to the principal's office. I can't allow this disruption to continue."
Emiko jumped off the desk and shoved the teacher as she laughed and staggered toward the door. Azami watched, stunned, as her friend slowly disappeared down the hall.
"Hey Emiko, don't jump on the bed or you'll hurt yourself," exclaimed the person recording—her mother.
Emiko lit up upon hearing her mother's voice in the video and kept watching. In the footage, little Emiko ignored her mom's advice and mimicked her. "Hey Emiko, don't jump on the bed or you'll hurt yourself," she repeated mockingly, sticking her tongue out at her mom. Her mother scolded her, and Emiko, seeing her approaching quickly, jumped off the bed and ran off laughing.
"Hey, come back here! Don't run, you naughty girl!" her mom shouted, chasing her around the house.
Emiko watched the tape with a mix of embarrassment and amusement, wondering if her mom had gotten very angry with her that day. Yet, she didn't remember being that mischievous as a child. She kept watching and was surprised to see that her mother wasn't angry or annoyed at all—instead, she laughed with her as they played. Emiko felt confused by these contradictory memories and wasn't sure what to think.
The video continued. In another scene, her mom held the camera while searching the house. "Emiko, where are you, you little rascal?" she called, climbing the stairs to Emiko's room, where she found her daughter scribbling on the walls. Her mother sighed and smiled while recording, gently telling her that she shouldn't draw on the walls. But Emiko kept at it, giggling.
"Look, that's you," little Emiko said, pointing at a drawing on the wall. Her mother smiled and approached her, gently stroking her hair.
"Yes, that's me. But you really shouldn't draw on the walls, sweetie. We can get some paper and crayons so you can draw without ruining anything," she said with warmth.
Emiko nodded and, with a mischievous grin, asked if they could go buy the paper and crayons right away. Her mom laughed and agreed, promising they would go get the supplies so she could keep drawing without a problem.
In the next scene, Emiko's mom heard the sound of electric clippers coming from the bathroom. Alarmed, she rushed in and found little Emiko trying to cut her own hair. Startled and worried, she quickly stopped her and told her she couldn't cut her hair without supervision. But Emiko insisted, saying she wanted to look like her and be just as pretty. Her mother smiled and explained that she was already beautiful just the way she was and didn't need to cut her hair to be like her. Disappointed but convinced, Emiko accepted her words and asked if her mom could do a pretty hairstyle for her instead.
Emiko continued watching, seeing herself as a little girl dancing in front of the TV, trying to imitate two ballet dancers while her mom laughed in the background. She smiled, remembering the energy and playfulness she had as a child. Even if she couldn't recall all those moments, it became clear that her mother had always been there to guide her and lovingly teach her how to behave.
To her surprise, the tape wasn't over. Emiko kept watching and saw herself sleeping in her room. Her mother was sitting beside her, stroking her head and whispering loving, peaceful words in her ear. A deep sense of calm washed over Emiko as she watched the scene, realizing that her mother had always been there to protect her.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang in the video. Her mother left the camera running and went to answer the door. Emiko tensed as she watched, wondering who it could be.
As the tape continued, a stranger entered the room and approached Emiko while she slept. His face wasn't clearly visible on camera. The man chuckled and said,
"She's asleep... I hope Emiko didn't give you any trouble," he said to Emiko's mother.
Emiko felt uneasy and confused watching that scene. She didn't recognize the man and wondered who he was and why he was talking so familiarly with her mom. Determined to find out the truth, she kept watching.
On the tape, her mother replied,
"Don't worry, she didn't cause any trouble at all—she was just playing in her room."
The man smiled and thanked her for taking care of Emiko.
A chill ran down Emiko's spine at those words. Who was this man, and why did he seem so familiar with both her and her mother?
She kept watching as the man picked her up onto his shoulders. Half-asleep, little Emiko mumbled,
"Hi Daddy… how was work?"
Emiko froze at the sound of her younger self calling the man "Daddy." A wave of emotions overwhelmed her. She had never known her father and had always wondered who he was and why he hadn't been in her life.
As Emiko watched the tape, her mother—who had been tidying up the room—noticed an open box on the floor. Her face turned pale with horror, and she quickly rushed toward Emiko's bedroom.
Meanwhile, Emiko kept watching. The man in the video—her father—gave her a teddy bear as a gift, and little Emiko beamed with happiness. Emiko felt overwhelmed seeing this—she had never had the chance to know him, and her mother had never mentioned anything about him. Now it seemed all the answers were hidden in this old tape.
"Alright Emiko, it's getting late. We'd better go home!" her dad said.
"Bye Aunt Misaki, thank you for taking care of me!" little Emiko exclaimed with a huge smile.
In that instant, everything around Emiko went dark. She had just heard herself call her own mother "aunt." Emiko froze in place, stunned as the realization struck her: the woman she had always called "Mom" was actually her aunt. Confusion and disbelief overwhelmed her. She couldn't understand how the truth had been hidden from her for so long.
Just then, her mother burst into the room and stopped cold at the doorway, seeing Emiko on her knees, the camera still running in her hands. With tears in her eyes, Emiko looked up at the woman who had raised her—her aunt—standing silently in the doorway.