Emiko, frightened, wonders how Azami will react to seeing a walking teddy bear.
"This can't be happening. How am I supposed to explain this to Azami? She'll probably freak out and run away. What do I do?" Emiko asks herself.
But Emiko is stunned to see that Azami doesn't react at all to the teddy bear's presence.
"Hey, Emiko, are you listening to me?" Azami asks, snapping Emiko out of her shock.
"Oh, sorry, Azami," Emiko replies, shaking off her surprise. "I was lost in thought. What were you saying?"
Azami frowns and looks in the direction Emiko had been staring.
"It looked like you saw something. Are you sure you're okay?" Azami asks.
Emiko hesitates for a moment, unsure of what to say. Determined not to worry her friend, she clears her throat and answers,
"It really wasn't anything important. Just my imagination playing tricks on me. Don't worry about it."
Azami seems doubtful but eventually nods.
"Well, if you're sure you're okay... Let's get back to what we were doing then."
Emiko realizes that Azami can't see the teddy bear—it's as if he's invisible to her.
Intrigued and confused, Emiko realizes that only she can see the bear. She decides to carry on the conversation as normal, but her mind is filled with questions.
Why am I the only one who can see the teddy bear? Emiko wonders.
She asks herself if she's going crazy or if something else is going on. Emiko can't help but feel curious and decides she'll look into it later. For now, she focuses on continuing her chat with Azami and sticking to their plans.
But deep down, she knows that the mystery of the teddy bear can't be ignored for long.
After finishing breakfast, Emiko and Azami head off to school together, with the little bear following them closely. As they walk, Emiko glances at the bear, wondering how it's even possible she can see him.
Suddenly, the bear stops in its tracks, staring into the distance.
"Huh… how strange, it stopped moving! Looks like it's watching something," Emiko thinks aloud.
Emiko lifts her gaze to see what the bear is staring at.
"It can't be," Emiko gasps, confusion washing over her face.
In front of her is a group of white creatures shaped like small children, wandering the streets. Emiko, afraid and unsure of what to do, looks back at the teddy bear, but it seems unfazed by the presence of the little creatures. It looked like it wasn't afraid at all. Confused, Emiko looks at the bear again, and it gestures for her to keep going.
Although scared, Emiko decides to follow the teddy bear's signal and keeps walking alongside Azami. As they approach the white creatures, Emiko tries to understand what they are—and why only she can see them.
The creatures seem to be playing and running around aimlessly, but no one else appears to notice them. Emiko wonders if she's hallucinating or if these beings belong to some kind of parallel world.
She cautiously approaches one of the creatures, trying not to startle it. To her surprise, the creature looks directly at her—as if it can see her too. Emiko realizes that these beings can also see her.
She tries to communicate with one, but only gets curious stares and mysterious smiles in return. Although she doesn't understand what they're saying, Emiko feels there's something special about them—a certain energy and glow that sets them apart from the rest of the world.
"Mmm, what's wrong, Emiko?" Azami asks.
Startled, Emiko scrambles to hide what only she can see. Thankfully, she notices a cat wandering nearby and quickly uses it as an excuse. A bit nervously, she says, "Oh, it's nothing. I just saw a cute kitten."
"Really? Where?" Azami exclaims, turning to look and running over to the cat, hugging it tightly while the cat struggles to escape her grasp.
Emiko lets out a sigh of relief at how close she came to being found out. If Azami discovered the truth, Emiko wouldn't know how to explain it—and she'd probably seem completely crazy to her.
Emiko decides to continue on to school, but now she has more questions than ever.
After several intense classes, Emiko finds herself alone, sitting on the school rooftop, enjoying her solitude and reflecting on everything that's been happening lately. The sun shines overhead, creating a warm atmosphere as Emiko takes a bite of her bread and lets her thoughts wander to the mysterious white creatures she's been seeing.
Lost in her thoughts, Emiko doesn't notice the arrival of her best friend, Kaede. Suddenly, Kaede appears behind her with a wide grin, catching her completely off guard. Emiko feels the bread get stuck in her throat and coughs as she tries to recover from the scare.
"Kaede! Don't scare me like that," Emiko says between coughs, trying to calm down.
Kaede quickly apologizes for startling her and takes a seat beside her on the rooftop.
"Sorry, Emi. I didn't mean to scare you—I just wanted to surprise you," Kaede says with a smile. "What were you thinking about?"
Emiko sighs and glances at the teddy bear wandering curiously across the rooftop. However, she decides not to tell Kaede about the strange creatures she's been seeing. She doesn't want to worry her—or sound like she's lost her mind.
"It's nothing important. I was just thinking about the homework I have to do for tomorrow," Emiko replies with a forced smile, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Kaede frowns slightly, sensing that Emiko isn't telling her the whole truth, but chooses not to press the issue for now.
"Well, if you need help with the homework, you know I'm always here to help," she offers kindly.
Emiko appreciates Kaede's offer, but this time she wants to handle things on her own. She wants to understand what's going on before involving anyone else in her strange experience.
"Thanks, Kaede. But I think I can handle it on my own this time. I really appreciate your support," she says sincerely.
The two girls sit in silence for a moment, gazing out over the rooftop and enjoying the calm. Despite all the worries and questions racing through Emiko's mind, she finds comfort in Kaede's presence. She knows she can always count on her friend, and that brings a little peace in the midst of all the uncertainty.
Deciding to make the most of the quiet moment, Emiko picks up her bread and tries to relax. Maybe later she'll search for answers about the white creatures and the mystery surrounding them. But for now, she just wants to enjoy her friend's company and set aside her troubling thoughts for a while.
Suddenly, Kaede breaks the calm atmosphere.
"Hey, Emi, I wanted to ask you something. I need a favor," Kaede says with a big grin.
Emiko frowns at the sudden request. Whenever Kaede asks for a favor, it rarely ends well. Still, she decides to hear her out and give her a chance.
"Kaede… what kind of favor are we talking about this time?" Emiko asks, her voice tinged with doubt. She's already wary—Kaede is infamous for her pranks.
With a mischievous smile, Kaede locks eyes with Emiko and replies, "I want to play a prank on the math teacher."
Emiko raises an eyebrow at the response, fearing the worst.
"Kaede, you know that pranks can be fun, but they can also go really wrong," Emiko warns, trying to talk her friend out of it.
But Kaede doesn't budge. Her smile grows even wider. "Come on, Emiko, just imagine the teacher's face when we pull this off. It'll be epic," she insists, trying to win her over.
Emiko thinks for a few seconds, torn between her loyalty to Kaede and her sense of responsibility. She finally decides to set some conditions if they're going through with it.
"Alright," Emiko says cautiously, "but only if we make sure no one gets hurt, no one gets too angry, and it's really harmless. I don't want us getting into serious trouble."
Kaede nods eagerly, understanding her friend's concerns. "I promise, Emi! It'll be a harmless prank—just for laughs."
Emiko sighs in resignation, knowing she won't be able to talk Kaede out of it easily. "Fine. Tell me your plan, and we'll work on it together. But let's make sure it goes smoothly in the end."
Although Emiko still feels a bit uneasy, she trusts that she can rein in Kaede's wilder ideas and avoid any serious consequences. Together, they begin plotting a harmless but funny prank to surprise their math teacher.
After a while, Emiko and Kaede head back to the classroom, with the small teddy bear following curiously behind. As Kaede rummages through her bag, Emiko watches in alarm as she pulls out a creepy-looking mask. Confused, Emiko blurts out:
"Kaede, what's that mask for?" she asks.
Kaede, eyes twinkling with mischief, answers without hesitation:
"It's for the prank, Emiko. It'll be way more shocking if we use this."
Emiko frowns, unconvinced.
"But you said this would be a harmless prank. I don't think scaring our teacher with a creepy mask is a good idea."
Kaede giggles and puts the mask over her face, trying to reassure Emiko.
"Don't worry, Emiko. No one's going to get hurt—I'm not that irresponsible. We just want to see her reaction. It'll be funny!"
Emiko wants to believe her, but she can't shake the feeling of apprehension.
"Are you sure this is really harmless? I don't want anyone to feel genuinely scared or emotionally hurt," Emiko says.
Kaede pauses, looking at Emiko with an expression of sincerity.
"Emi, I promise. No one will get hurt. It'll just be a quick scare, that's all. Trust me."
Emiko sighs, wanting to believe her friend.
"Alright, I trust you, Kaede. But make sure it's just a scare and nothing more, okay?"
Kaede smiles triumphantly—but Emiko notices her crossing her fingers behind her back. A small pang of doubt runs through Emiko, but she chooses to ignore it, hoping Kaede will keep her word.
Together, they head toward the teachers' lounge, Kaede keeping the creepy mask hidden in her bag. Both are determined to pull off the prank, but Emiko knows she has to stay alert to make sure everything stays lighthearted and safe.
Emiko and Kaede sneak quietly toward the teachers' lounge, trying not to make a sound. Emiko notices the math teacher is alone. She checks to make sure no one else is nearby and gives Kaede the signal to approach the door.
Carefully, Kaede puts on the mask and gets ready to scare the teacher. She knocks gently on the door. The teacher responds, "Come in, it's open," thinking it's one of her colleagues.
The teacher, confused when no one enters, dismisses it. Then there's another knock. She gets up from her desk to check, but when she steps into the hallway, she sees no one. Emiko and Kaede are hiding around the corner, with Kaede struggling to hold back her laughter.
The teacher walks down the hallway looking for someone, but finds no one. Eventually, she returns to her room and sits back at her desk. Suddenly, the door begins to open slowly, and the teacher, now slightly nervous, asks who's there.
At that moment, a macabre face peeks in, and the teacher lets out a scream, falling from her chair. Kaede runs over to Emiko and yells for her to run, and together they dash toward the courtyard, kicking up a cloud of dust. Exhausted, Emiko and Kaede finally reach the schoolyard.
Kaede bursts into laughter while Emiko, sweaty and out of breath, looks at her friend and says, "Hey Kaede, you said no one would get hurt, but the teacher fell out of her chair."
Kaede raises an eyebrow and adds, "Hahaha, come on! Didn't you think it was hilarious to see the math teacher scream and fall over?"
Kaede laughs while Emiko stays quiet for a few seconds, then finally joins in the laughter. "Her face when she got scared was priceless," Emiko says between giggles.
The scene is funny, and both girls enjoy the moment.
Kaede looks at Emiko, who is laughing uncontrollably, and smiles at her. "It's good to see you smiling, Emi," Kaede says affectionately.
Emiko stops laughing for a moment and looks at Kaede, a wide smile on her face. "Thanks, Kaede. You're right—the prank on the teacher actually made my day," Emiko replies, grateful for the fun and companionship her friend provides.
Kaede nods and leans against Emiko's shoulder. "You always find a way to make me laugh," she says.
Emiko leans closer and gives Kaede a hug. "You're my best friend, Kaede. You're always there for me when I need you the most," Emiko says, filled with gratitude for their friendship.
Kaede wraps her arms around Emiko and hugs her back. "And you're always there for me too. You're my rock, Emi," she responds warmly.
They separate and sit together on the grass, enjoying the afternoon sun and each other's company. It's a peaceful and happy moment that both girls cherish.
After a while, Kaede breaks the silence. "You know, Emi? I can't imagine my life without you. You're like a sister to me," Kaede confesses, looking at Emiko with tenderness.
Emiko smiles and places a hand on Kaede's shoulder. "I feel the same, Kaede. You're my family. We'll always be together, no matter what," Emiko assures her, her eyes filled with emotion and gratitude.
The breeze plays with their hair as they both lose themselves in the moment, knowing they have someone to trust and rely on. Their laughter fades, and their bond deepens.
The school bell rings, and Emiko and Kaede walk together through the halls toward their classroom.
Suddenly, Emiko feels a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she sees her small teddy bear pointing ahead. Confused, she lifts her gaze and spots Azami walking down the hallway, completely absorbed in her phone.
But something doesn't feel right. Emiko notices something strange behind Azami: a dark creature is following her closely. The creature is shaped like a heart with a huge grin and hands covering Azami's eyes. A feeling of dread washes over Emiko as she watches Azami continue walking, totally focused on her phone and wearing a flirtatious smile, heading toward the bathrooms. A chill runs down Emiko's spine as she sees that thing following her. She knows something's wrong and wonders what's going on—and why that monster is targeting Azami.
The teddy bear gestures for her to follow, and Emiko, determined to uncover what's happening, is interrupted by Kaede.
"Emi, where are you going? We're going to be late, the English teacher is about to start class," Kaede calls out.
Emiko feels cornered and knows she can't tell Kaede what she saw—she'd never believe her. As her mind races, trying to figure out what to do or how to explain without sounding insane, an idea crosses her mind.
"I'm going to the bathroom," Emiko says hesitantly.
"Don't take too long, class is about to start," Kaede replies.
"I won't. You go ahead. I'll see you in the classroom," Emiko says quickly, heading for the bathrooms.
Nervously, she approaches the door and slowly places her hand on the knob, turning it.
Azami notices the door open and quickly hides her phone in her skirt pocket.
"Hey Emiko, you needed to use the bathroom too? Haha," Azami laughs awkwardly.
Emiko, disturbed by what she saw, tries to keep calm and respond normally.
"Yeah, I just finished eating and my hands are kind of greasy," Emiko replies as she approaches the sink, checking the mirror to watch Azami—and sees the creature still there, behind her.
"Haha, that happens to me all the time too," Azami says with a forced smile.
"Hey Azami, why don't we go back to class together? It's about to start," Emiko suggests.
"I just got here, and I haven't used the bathroom yet. I get embarrassed when someone else is around. Besides, I already asked the teacher for permission," Azami replies.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. Well, I'll head back then," Emiko says, quickly washing her hands and stepping away.
From the door, Emiko watches as the creature grins and stares at Azami while she slowly closes the door. As she walks through the halls, Emiko can't stop wondering what that creature wants with Azami. Her mind swirls with questions.
"Why is it following Azami? What does it want from her? What kind of creature is that heart-shaped thing?" Emiko's worry and fear for Azami's safety grow stronger.
Meanwhile, Azami, still in the bathroom and completely absorbed, pulls her phone from her pocket and reads a message. Smiling and blushing, she glances around to make sure no one is watching. Then, cautiously, she lifts her skirt and takes a photo of her private parts. Filled with excitement, she sends the photo to the person she's been chatting with.
While Emiko sits in class, her mind still reeling from what she witnessed, she can't stop thinking about Azami and the creature following her. Suddenly, as the teacher is giving the lesson, Emiko hears a notification sound coming from the teacher's phone.
The teacher looks at it and says, "Excuse me, it's an emergency." He steps into the hallway, closes the door, and opens the message with a lecherous smile: it's a photo from a girl—an image of her private parts.
Emiko is still thinking about Azami when suddenly the door opens and she sees Azami walk into the classroom.
"Sorry for being late, sir," Azami says.
"Don't worry about it, Miss Sasaki. Please take your seat," the teacher replies.
Emiko breathes a sigh of relief to see Azami is okay—but she notices something strange about the teacher.
She notices something strange about his face—it's covered with a multitude of eyes, all staring at Azami with lust.
Emiko's heart races as she tries to make sense of what she's witnessing in the classroom. Her mind swirls with confusion; she can't understand why the English teacher is behaving in such a strange and sinister way. Emiko stands up from her seat and looks around, hoping that the other students have noticed something unusual. But everyone seems focused on their tasks, oblivious to the ominous presence of the teacher.
Frightened, Emiko quickly turns her head toward Azami. But she sees that Azami is completely flushed and can't stop looking at the teacher. Emiko becomes increasingly worried for Azami's safety and struggles to comprehend why she doesn't notice the teacher's strange behavior. With determination, she decides to approach Azami to talk to her.
"Hey, Azami," Emiko whispers.
Azami looks up, surprised by Emiko's sudden closeness.
"Yes? What's up?" she asks, curious.
"I think something's not right with the English teacher," Emiko says, trying to stay discreet.
Azami frowns, confused.
"What do you mean? He's always been a good teacher."
Emiko nods, but she's not easily convinced.
"Yeah, but I've noticed some odd behavior. He seems to be looking at you in a… different way."
Azami gets upset, her expression turning serious.
"That can't be true... What are you trying to say?"
Emiko quickly apologizes, trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you. I just want to make sure you're okay."
Azami stays silent for a moment, thoughtful. Finally, she sighs and replies:
"I appreciate your concern, Emiko. But I think you're mistaken. I can't imagine the teacher doing something like that," Azami says.
Emiko nods, but her unease remains. The teacher speaks up:
"Is something wrong, Miss Yoshida? Is there something you don't understand in my lesson?" he asks.
Nervously, Emiko looks at the teacher.
"No, it's nothing, sir. I was just asking Azami something," Emiko replies, uneasy.
"It's quite rude to disturb your classmate during a lesson. If there's something you don't understand, feel free to ask me," the teacher says again.
"Or are you shy? If you're shy, you can stay after class and I'll explain it to you better," he adds, staring directly at Emiko with a malicious smile.
At that moment, Emiko is overwhelmed by a terrible memory that crashes into her mind. Without realizing it, she unconsciously grabs the utility knife from her desk. Dazed, with a vacant stare, she slowly approaches the teacher with the intent to harm him. As she raises the blade, the small teddy bear tries to stop her, but its tiny size makes it impossible.
Suddenly, Emiko snaps out of it and looks at the knife in her hand.
"What… what am I doing?"
Completely confused and horrified by her own actions, Emiko drops the blade to the floor and backs away from the teacher. The teacher's lustful look shifts into one of surprise and confusion as he tries to understand what just happened.
Tears streaming down her face, Emiko looks at the teddy bear now lying on the floor and begins to realize that something much deeper is at play here.
Without thinking twice, Emiko grabs the teddy bear and bolts from the classroom, leaving the teacher and a stunned Azami behind.
Emiko runs to the school courtyard, seeking a safe place to process the situation. Her heart pounds, and her mind is overwhelmed with worry and confusion. She can't believe what she almost did.
She sits on a bench and hugs the teddy bear tightly, searching for comfort in it. So far, the bear has always been her confidant and protector.
"What is really going on?" she asks aloud. She gazes at the bear, hoping to find some clue that might explain her actions.
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupts her.
"Emi, what are you doing out here?" Kaede asks, having followed her to the courtyard.
Startled, Emiko wipes the tears from her cheeks.
"It's nothing," she says quickly.
"I was just feeling a little overwhelmed in class, so I came out for some air. I needed a moment of peace," Emiko responds, trying to hide her distress.
Kaede sits next to her and gives her a hug.
"Don't worry, Emi. I'm here for you. If there's something you want to talk about, I'm willing to listen," Kaede says with concern in her voice.
Emiko feels relieved to have Kaede by her side. Still, she fears involving her friend in such a dangerous secret. She worries for Kaede's safety and doesn't want to put her at risk.
Thinking about protecting her friend, Emiko decides to stay silent about what she saw with the English teacher. She knows it could be dangerous and doesn't want to burden Kaede with that worry.
"Thank you, Kaede. It means a lot that you're here. But I'm okay. I just needed some fresh air," Emiko says with a forced smile.
"Emi, I know there's more. You can trust me—we're friends," Kaede insists, her gaze fixed on Emiko.
Emiko feels overwhelmed by Kaede's insistence. She desperately wants to tell her the truth and ask for help, but at the same time, she doesn't want to put her in danger.
"I'm just going through a rough time, Kaede. But don't worry, I can handle it," Emiko replies, lying with a calm tone.
Kaede notices the falseness in Emiko's words and frowns.
"Emi, I know you well enough to tell when something's wrong. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm here for you. You can count on me," she says once more.