Third Person PoV

It's been a few days.

A few days since Kiyopon had locked himself in his room.

A few days since the people close to him had received any news about him.

" Kiyopon is not here again..." Haruka muttered, sadly as she stared at Kiyopon's empty seat.

" He's still not replying in our group chat. He's ghosting us.....but why?" Akito also showed concern.

" 3 days.....3 days since we last talked to him." Keisei frowned.

" Horikita-san, did he reply to you at least?" Mori asked once again.

" No." Suzune sighed. An anxious feeling welling up inside her." This is all.....so unlike him. I tried knocking on his door yesterday but there was no response."

Sakura gasped. " W-What if he-"

But before Sakura could assume the worst, Suzune quickly stopped that thought from escalating.

" Please don't assume the worst. I inquired about him to the receptionist lady and she said she'd seen him exit the elevator while it was class hours. He came back in precisely an hour." But then Suzune leans her cheek on her palm. " But....she also said that he didn't look well......"

" Then we need to pressure him to go out, right? I don't know why he's doing this but if it's affecting his well-being then we should just-" But before Mori could finish her suggestion, Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom and the students quickly quiets down and sits properly in their seats.

" Good morning, Class D. Class is about to begin in a few minutes, if you have any questions then please ask-"

Ike raises his hand.

" What is it, Ike?" Chabashira asked.

" Sensei, I tried to ask you this question yesterday but where is Ayanokoji? Is he sick or something?" Ike asked, curiously.

" Most likely. Does anyone else have questions?" She gave Ike a quick answer and immediately moved on.

Suzune raised a brow at that.

' She brushed that question off so fast. Does she know something?' Suzune thought. She found Chabashira's dismissive response a bit suspicious.

In fact, wasn't Chabashira avoiding the subject of Kiyopon during the past few days? Like Ike had just said, he tried to ask Chabashira-sensei questions regarding the absence of Kiyopon but she always made excuses that class had begun and that questions should be saved for later.

' She knows something. I need to find out from her.' Suzune decided.

After all....

She misses her seatmate.

She misses her closest friend.

Suzune glanced at his empty seat.

' For some odd reason, I just don't feel the same.....without you here.' She frowned slightly before turning back to the teacher.

45 minutes into the lecture, the students ears picked up a few knocks from the door.

Chabashira looks at the door and her eyes widened slightly at the person who had opened it.

It was a man in 40's with a gentle smile and an aura that compelled the students to show proper respect.

" Good morning, Chabashira-sensei." The man greeted.

" Good morning, Chairman Sakayanagi." Chabashira said before bowing.

' CHAIRMAN?!' The Class D students were now getting a bit afraid. They wondered why the CHAIRMAN of the school was here....in their classroom.

" Sudo what the hell did you do this time?!" Ike whispered to Sudo.

" I swear this isn't me!" Sudo whispered back.

Ike had thought Sudo was the cause since Sudo has an unfortunate record of getting their class in trouble. And getting the chairman involved? Ike didn't think he would take it that far but here he is.

" I swear dude. I didn't do shit this time." Sudo continued defending his innocence.

" O-Okay man....I'll try to believe you." Ike nodded nervously.

' Sakayanagi? He shares the same last name as the Sakayanagi from Class A. Could it be that-' but before Suzune could finish her thoughts, the chairman looked towards the students with a gentle smile.

" Good morning, Class D students." He greeted.

" G-G-Good morning, Chairman Sakayanagi-sensei...." the students awkwardly replied.

" Well then, I'm only here to announce something in regards to your classmate's absence. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, if I'm not wrong." He said.

The class stayed silent. For some reason, the atmosphere shifted into an atmosphere of worry. Suzune felt a feeling of dread stirring in her chest when the chairman released a sigh.

" Please forgive Ayanokoji-kun for not attending his classes. You see, the reason he's been absent is because he's going through a rough time. A few days ago, I called him to the principal's office to personally inform him that his caretaker had passed away." He announced solemnly.

The class was silent.

Suzune raised her hand.

" Hm? Your name is Horikita Suzune, am I correct?" The chairman looked at her.

" Yes."

" Since you raised your hand, I assume you have a question? "

" Yes, sir. "

" Then ask ahead."

The class looked towards their leader, who stood up from her seat . They wondered about the question she might be asking.

" Do we suffer any loss of class points if Ayanokoji-kun keeps skipping class, even when he is in this current state?" She asked. It might've been insensitive, but Suzune still needed that question to be answered to ensure a few things.

Meanwhile, the students of Class D had to process that for a moment. Class points didn't really cross their mind since they were all collectively worried for their absent classmate. Now they, too, wondered if they will suffer any consequences.

" Good question. Let's see......I can't exactly excuse him forever. Since it's not fair to other classes. Ah, I've decided." The chairman had a plan in mind, " I'll give him a month for recovery. During that month, if he is skipping class, then he'll still be excused and you will lose no points. But once the month ends, if he STILL skips class...." he paused.

" Then you will lose class points equal to his absences."

" Huh?!" The class exclaimed in shock.

" I think it's fair, no? And besides, he has a lot of time." The chairman said.

"B-But someone close to him just passed away!" Inogashira said.

" Some people will take even years to recover from loss like that!" Another girl complained.

The chairman smiled. " Then, it's all up to you guys, right? You're his friends and classmates. You have the ability to help him so choose wisely." He said before giving one last smile and then facing Chabashira. " Well, I'll be taking my leave now."

Everyone seemed nervous about the entire situation.

Chabashira coughed and announced that morning classes will begin.

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

It was currently lunch time.

Suzune took out her two lunch boxes.

She turned to her seatmate.

" Ayanokoji-kun, I made-.....oh.....right..." She had forgotten that he wasn't here. Her face turned downcast and she sighed and stared at her two lunch boxes.

' This is the third time in a row......' She thought.

Just when she was about to store away the extra lunch box, someone took a chair and placed it opposite of her desk.

" Did you forget again?" A familiar voice said.

Suzune looks up to the familiar brown haired girl....her other friend.

" ....Yes." She admits.

Mori chuckles and sits down in front of Suzune.

Her amethyst colored eyes gaze towards the same spot where Suzune had been gazing at, the past hour or so.

" The day just doesn't feel complete when he's not here, huh..." She solemnly said.

" Mmm." Suzune hummed in agreement. " I'm so used to his presence. I can't help but do the things him and I do everyday.....even though he's not around."

Wayyy to make it sound like he's dead, Suzune....

" I agree. I think everyone shares your opinion. But none of us really knows how to help Kiyotaka-kun right now. None of us ever thought of the possible scenario where he ends up being.....well....depressed. At least, that's the state I'm assuming he's in since it's the most likely." Mori said.

" Should I....try that option..." She whispered to herself.

" Did you say something, Horikita-san?" Mori asked, curiously.

" No. Nothing at all." Suzune denied.

" I see......hey, me and our group are meeting up at the cafeteria. I actually came here to ask if you'd like to join." Mori switched the conversation.

" Mori, you know I'm not good with gyaru-"

" I'm talking about the ' Kiyopon' group, dummy." Mori smirked in amusement.

"....Oh." Was all Suzune could respond with. She'd forgotten that Mori has been hanging out less with her gyaru friends and spending more time with their newly formed group around Kiyopon. Suzune didn't feel bothered with the group, in fact, she was happy for Kiyopon to have a better group around him.

But that didn't exactly mean she'd join in....

Despite having the closest relationship with Kiyopon....

" Sorry, but I'll have to pass-"

"Nope!" Before Suzune could deny the offer, Mori quickly pulled her out of her seat and began dragging her to the cafeteria room.

" M-Mori-san!" Suzune tried to break off her grip without resorting to violent tactics, but Mori was steadfast in making sure Suzune eats lunch with them.

" Horikita-san, I'm not going to let you eat lunch alone! You look like a sad puppy when Kiyotaka-kun is not around, and I'm sure Kiyotaka-kun would NOT like that at all. Just eat with us." Mori said.

Suzune sighed, not having the energy to retort. She surrendered.

Kiyopon slowly ate his food.

He felt hungry.

At least, that's what his body is telling him.

His mind, however, is saying otherwise. His mind was telling him that he didn't need to eat, that the food will taste like nothing, telling him that there was no point in eating.

Kiyopon didn't eat often for the past few days.

But this once, he thought that maybe....if he just ignored his mind.....maybe if he just tried to eat food.....that the pain will be relieved for at least a few minutes.

But all it did....was bring him back bittersweet memories.

He recalled the memories when Matsuo would cook all types of food every day. And on a few occassions, they would sneak out of the mansion together and Matsuo would introduce him to the classic japanese street foods and ramen stands.

Kiyopon places down his utensils. Suddenly, he didn't feel like eating anymore. The memories were bittersweet, and the food in front of him is bland. It tastes like nothing. It perfectly replicated the emptiness of Kiyopon's heart

But it still hurts......please......please stop.... Kiyopon frowned.

I don't....I don't know this feeling....but it just hurts.....why? Kiyopon tried to figure out why he was feeling like this. His eyes felt heavy, but he couldn't rest them. He didn't know why his eyes felt heavy, he didn't know why he was aching all over.

Was it...perhaps fear? He wondered about that. Did he fear Matsuo hating him after death? His son, Eichiiro ,despising his very existence?

.....is not enough to describe the feelings inside him. He's too confused on how to identify such strong....yet empty feelings. It didn't make sense....but when he feels it.....it just does.

He sips his glass of water slowly and only managed to drink a quarter before suddenly stopping and placing it on the table. He was thirsty, yet, his mind told him to stop drinking.

He wondered when the pain will stop.....if it'll ever stop...

" Horikita-san is joining us today?" Sakura asked.

" Yep!" Mori said.

The members of the Kiyopon group looked at Suzune with scrutinizing gazes.

Suzune felt bothered by their gazes.

"....It's okay if you won't accept me. I'll just eat alone-"

" Nope!" Haruka interrupted Suzune and quickly forced her to sit down in one of the seats.

" Glad you finally came to join us." Akito said, cooly.

" Mori-san was stubborn." Suzune blurted out.

Keisei sighs at that before pushing up his glasses, " Tell us something new..." He muttered.

" Hey!" Mori pouts. " I can't let Horikita-san eat all by herself. She looked like a sad puppy!"

" Was it really necessary to tell them that..." Suzune sighed.

" Well, I'm glad Mori-san managed to drag you here. Since well, we planned for you to join us one day....but.....it was supposed to be....Kiyopon....who would convince you..." Haruka's smile turned sad.

"...." The table was silent. Akito and Keisei stared at their lunches in awkward, Haruka looked downcast, Sakura and Mori just didn't know what to say.

Suzune felt like she was given the duty to break the ice this time.

She had to.

This is what Kiyopon would've done if he were here.

Suzune coughs and clears her throat. " Well, I'm here now. And I want to say one thing. I think it's important for you all to hear it."

" What?" They asked at the same time.

" Ayanokoji-kun is glad to have you all as his friends." she continued, " When this group was formed, he texted me about joining in because it was " fun". I declined since I didn't really have any intentions of joining in, but I knew he was happy. He was happy to have found his own circle of friends. " She said.

".....Thank you...." Haruka nodded, tears threatening to come out from her eyes.

" O-Oi, why are you crying! You're making it look like Kiyotaka died!" Akito immediately tried to comfort Haruka.