Pat 1108

Yuujin

The sound of school bell rang. School has ended for today. I ran to my groups usual

meeting place to join my friends at the room 3-C. When I arrive there, everyone was talking

already.

Oh! There you are Hiro. Youre late today, whats wrong? My childhood friend, Kitou

Haru shouted across the room to me. Anyway, come and join todays conversation. Its pretty

interesting. He ignored his own question.

I said nothing and closed the door. I slowly walked to the back of the room and sit at a

desk near where the conversation is happening.

Hey, have you heard about the rumour of Ms.Yamamoto resigning? Namazake Yui, the

VIP gossiper of the whole school, asked Watanabe Kanna. It happens that the rumour is

actually true, and shes moving out tomorrow.

Um really? She doesnt look like a person that would give up on her problem on

teaching that easily. Kanna said quietly while pushing her glasses back. This also one of the

times that Kanna would talk this much. I guess because shes talking to us, not other students.

Yeah, so as a result, our homeroom teacher will be changed to Mr. Nagasa inste--

Yui got interrupted

THAT Nagasa? Haru surprisingly asked.

Hes not that bad, am I right? Hes an easy grader. We just need to show him that we

listen to him in the class. Moreover, hes a funny guy. Mr. Nagasas positive side was analysed

by Kanna.

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 Well, I heard that he doesnt give out any help, even about the final project that was

announced yesterday. Well be in trouble when the time comes, I added from what I know.

Right about the final project that well do, when is it due again? The graduation day is

two weeks from now, so should it be the day before that? Haru changes his sitting position as he

ask.

The due date wasnt told yet, but I guess it will be that day, Kanna answered.

The topic have been changed. I should use todays conversation wisely or else the project

will end up like last years school festival booth. I started asking right away, So, the subject for

the project that we will do is... History right?

Yes, well conduct a research about the atomic bombs in 1945, in both Nagasaki and

Hiroshima. We would then survey people about it and make a infographic for that, as a product.

Kanna led the conversation to the way I wanted. Ive already thought about what will be

researching and surveying on already, but lets talk about that later. Kanna told everything that

she came up with to us.

Wow... we are so lucky being able to meet you two years ago, Harus mind was blown

away. Even though weve been together for 3 years already, she always made us surprised every

time she come up with something within a short period of time. And its usually turns out to be a

very good idea too.

Suddenly someones phone rang. It is Yuis boss. Shes working at a convenience store

near her house. Guys, I gotta go. See ya tomorrow. Yui waved at us.

To work already? See you tomorrow then. I said.

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 Then, everyone continue discussing about the project once more. Not so long after Yui

left, we started to walk home together.

***

The next day, we meet Mr. Nagasa in homeroom as expected. Just only some of the

classmates knew about the news today. Mr. Nagasa started talking about the situation that we

already knew about. Then finally, he moved on to what we would want to hear about the most

from him.

Mr. Nagasa said with his deep and low-pitched voice, Ok, moving on. *Ahem* About

the final project you guys needed to do. The project will be due next week Friday, no earlier than

that, no later than that.

What!? The whole class said in sync. The murmur got louder by a bit by bit. It would

take longer than a week, two at least, to make a project. No one seems to be pleased with the

News.

Silence please 3-B, silence. *Cough* *Cough* For the research project that you guys

are doing, youll require at least two information sources from a physical resources like books,

research papers and such to include in your papers. Oh, also you would have to interview a

person that is related to the project. Mr. Nagasa said before coughing again.

Every classmates face tensed up. They knew they would have to work the whole week

on this. Despair is filling the air little by little. It didnt end there.

Mr. Nagasa went on with his announcement, Oh by the way, dont forget to send the

proposal by the day after tomorrow. Its Thursday right? Yeah *Cough* plenty of time for you

guys. He stayed silent for a few minutes and walked off the room with his catchphrase: see ya

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later, guys. Students in the class started to pack up for the next class they have. Except our

group. Our eyes met and we knew right away what we mean. Today, at the same room, at the

same time. Then students separated to their next class.

***

The same bell rang at the same time of the day. The group gathered at 3-C. Haru rushed

in with a fist in his hand and a worried face. Yui and Kanna followed in, not as quickly, and

walked towards the same desk as the day before.

Hiro!! What should we do!? ItsduenextweekandtheclubIattendrequiresthemembertobe

thereatleast3timesaweekandmyparentswontletmestayanywhereuplateand Haru blasted all of

his worries on me while the other two are planning nearby. I couldnt really hear all of the

conversation and neither do I understand the one whose words are shooting at me like a machine

gun, but at least I know what the girls are talking about. They are talking about the jobs that each

members should do according to their specialities. Haru ended blasting everything to me but still

letting out all of his thought out loud as he continues to walk around the area of conversation.

Yes, out loud. It was so loud that students walking past the room peeked inside the room.

Haru, calm down bro, calm down. I stood up and shook him in the shoulders. If he was

an electronic device, his whole body would be shattering into particles. We all knew that his club

adviser is so strict about his team being a part of the baseball league in the province level that

Haru couldnt finish any homework at night: he slept due to his exhaustion. What a busy guy.

Weve decided! Yui said loudly with a serious face but with a grin on her face.

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 Here comes her smart face I thought. We assembled at the last desk near the corner of the

room and start discussing.

Okay, so erm. I will recap everything well have to do. Well do a research on Atomic

bombs in 1945 and the topic will be which one of them caused more damage than the other,

Kanna said.

Yep, right, I said with a quiet voice also.

Kanna continued, The things that will be contained are erm. First the information

about all of that which includes two physical resources and a persons interview. Second, the

survey that well conduct on hundred people. The last one is the infographic that well do as a

product.

Sounds absolutely perfect to me, Haru replied with a calmer face than before.

Kanna started the next topic, Then erm. The--

The roles of everyone, Yui couldnt wait any longer for Kanna, Haru, you will do the

interview, since you could run around and do stuffs, which you should be okay with it, am I

right? Yui spoke with a quiet voice quickly.

Yep, I fine with that, Haru replied.

Great. Then Kanna will be doing the research from both books at the library and on the

internet. And of course, I will be doing the design and physical things like the infographics and

the printing of the research. Oh, that also includes the arrangement of the research too. said Yui.

So that means I will have to do the survey, I concluded.

Everyone got it? Yui asked for the last time.

Everyone nodded in sync.

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 Lets do this guys! For the sake of our graduation! I encouraged everyone as we looked

through the classrooms window to the dusk time sun, though it is a little bit cloudy. All of them

looked more confident than they were in the morning. We then discussed more about the project

for ten more minutes approximately. We decided that we will start doing the project from

tomorrow onwards. Kanna also said that she will be doing the proposal tonight and will start the

research on Wednesday (tomorrow), after school. Then finally, we returned home.

***

I pushed the door of my room and threw myself onto the bed. I already took a bath and

brushed my teeth, ready for sleeping. I stared at the ceiling for a while and thought about the plan

of the project. When should I go out and survey? I thought. It is a tough task for an awkward job

like this. Id rather do boring things like reading a book instead of that, to be honest. My

thoughts overflowed the room, floating all over like balloons and bubbles. Lets create and print

out the survey form tomorrow. I dont have any clubs on Wednesday, do I? I decided tomorrows

schedule and went to sleep right away.

***

As planned, Kanna did the proposal for the group and showed it to everyone in the

morning. There were no grammar errors nor something that looks unprofessional. Then later that

day, when the group gathered, we discussed more about everyones schedule for this week and

the next, except Haru. Haru told me after the homeroom that he would go out into the town this

evening and find some idea where he could do his work. I also did my form there, while listening

to the conversation also. Almost half an hour later, I unexpectedly finished my form, ready for

printing at the library and Kanna also happened to be going there also. At last, Kanna and I went

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to the library while Yui setting off to her workplace. I printed out in total of 110 survey sheets

and Kanna did some research. By that, I mean a lot of research in human world. She said it was

only 10% done for her job. We went home right away after things are finished.

***

The whole week passed away quickly. The time left for doing the project is four days, not

counting Friday, the due date. The summary of the whole week is that, Kanna finished almost

70% of the research and the usage of physical resources requirement was also met as well. She

spent her after-school time at the library for books and some internet resources from the

computers there. Haru found the interviewee that match the topic. Haru will be interviewing him

on Monday and seems like theyre friends now after talking for just ten minutes. Yui already

finished the infographic designs and started to put informations from Kanna already. For me, I

went to some several train station the whole week and stood there asking people for doing the

survey. It was awkward, but I cant even let down my smile of excitement for a second. The result

was that I completed the survey task reaching hundred people goal, I mumbled as I typed down

the record in my laptop. It was already the Monday now, and the progress of the project was

rising constantly in a sufficient amount. At this rate, our project will be done within Wednesday.

Everyone, the record is finished. Do we have to write another one anytime soon? I

asked the team. We gathered at 3-C once again, since theres no one going outside of the school

that early anymore.

Nope, were done for the record. All the things left are the informations for the research,

interview and the physical of THIS infographic, Yui said as she finished the final design of the

infographic. Haru, go print the infographic out for me please, Yui ordered.

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 Yes maam, Haru replied with an energetic voice. There are still plenty of time left

before his interview. Not so long after that, he ran back up to the room.

Wow, youre sure fast. You do really have good legs muscle. Yui complimented Haru.

Err. What is the size of the infographic again? Haru asked with a guiltless face.

Oh, I forgot, you also have a great memory muscle too. Yui took her words back and

sent Haru down again, telling everything once more.

As the infographic is being printed out, Yui kept arranging and writing the report and I

decided to help her too. Since Kanna brought some books from the library up here, she continued

her research. At last, Haru came up and gave Yui the infographic then leave the school several

minutes later. Yui kept the infographic into her locker. We worked for an hour later then called it

a day

***

As time passes, the report progress more and more. Until today, the project is finally

done. It is Wednesday, two days before the due date. I came back home after the gathering at 3-C

when we printed everything out. Luckily, the library ran out of papers right after the last page of

our project have been printed out. I kept the report and brought back home, preparing for turning

in tomorrow. All members worked days and nights to finish this final project and not a single

problem has appeared. Or at least that is what I thought.

I woke up in the middle of the night because I realized that my water bottle has not been

washed yet. I searched my bag for it and placed it on the table then walk to the bathroom to wash

it. Moments later, I came back and placed the water bottle at the same place in the bag which

contains my stationary, water bottle, notebooks and especially the report. Wait. Where is the

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report? I quickly reached inside my bag and searched it. Once. Twice. Nowhere in the bag to be

found. I inspected my own room at every edge and corner, went through every page of all books

in the room, opened every drawer and moved things around. Despair filled my mind, the world

for me is coming to an end. I couldnt ever graduate within this year and its all my fault to make

my friend stuck here. They will be disappointed in me. My thoughts are flooding twice faster

than anytime before. I slammed myself down to the bed and try to think of a way to end this

problem.

I cant even remember how long Ive been awake, full of thoughts. But suddenly

someones voice I recognize echoed in my head. There must be a way out Hiro, no matter what!

Hee hee, trust me. The voice is very familiar. His voice is very childish and bold. Brave and

energetic. Its him Im sure. I recognized that time when I went to the playground with him ten

years ago. I lost my moms wallet there and I cried there. He said that phrase to me and brought

me to the police. At last we got the wallet back. Thats right, if I cant solve it alone, then Ill be

needing some help.

Everyone, I need your help, I texted in the group chat that we had for 3 years, since

when we met each other. Two people read the text. I told them what happened and apologized.

Those two were shocked but they replied that they will help finding it tomorrow. I quickly went

to bed and prayed that everything will be alright.

***

The first school bell rang. I ran to the homeroom class as fast as I could. Everyone was

there.

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 Wh.. whats the matter everyone. You looked like youre in a hurry, Kanna asked, not

knowing what happened.

The report was lost, Yui answered Kanna. Hiro, where did you last saw the report?

Yui started investigating me.

I think its the 3-C, I recalled my memory as best as I could. We all ran to the room and

ask several students there. Everyone said that Itou and Yamada were the ones in charge of the

chores. We went to ask Yamada that sits at the front row.

Hey Yamada, have you seen any project papers in the room yesterday? Haru asked.

Oh! Oh! We saw one. Itou offered to take it home, so its with Itou right now. Yamada

said with his sharp voice.

Then wheres Itou? Seems like hes not here, I asked back.

Seems like he caught a fever. He wont be better yet this week, from what Ive heard

from him. Yamada answered with worries. If yall wanna go see him, then hes not that far

from here. I think he lives near here, at least not further than the outskirts of the town.

Even though we couldnt get the exact place of where he is, we know now that he lives

near the school. We decided to separate and find his house after school.

***

Excuse me, is this Itous? I spoke loudly. Ive been searching for 2 full hours and Itou

is nowhere to be found. My hope is fading away slowly, but not all of them. I kept on searching

and so do them. The rest of the groups went to different direction from the school and still, no

one have found Itou yet.

No, this is not Itous, the house owner replied.

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 Sorry for interrupting, I apologized once more. I kept searching and searching.

Haru texted in the group chat, Um.. guys, I almost have to go home, my dad called me

just a second ago. Cant we just print it all out again?

Yui wrote back almost instantly No, the library ran out of papers already and we know

that none of our house have printers. Other shops would cost even more. Moreover, theres only

one shop in our town and train rarely comes. Dont worry, you could just go home, but ask

anyone nearby about Itous too. Okay?

Haru texted for the last time Okay, thanks guys. See ya tmr.

The time passed by and theres still no sign of Itou. Kanna went home already. The only

one on task is just Yui and I. I lost my hope already. I called Yui and told her that Im sorry for

everything and asked her if we should give up. But unexpectedly, she told me a something that I

couldnt ignore.

There must be a way out Hiro, no matter what! Trust me

I ended the call instantly and thought what should we do. No, what should I do. I ran off

to a place that I think would be helpful. The place where my moms wallet is found on that day.

The day when I first heard him saying that.

I arrive at the police station at around 7 oclock in the afternoon. Luckily just in time. I

asked one of the officers about Itous house. He went back into the building to check documents.

He returned and told me something. My face lit up in an instant.

***

Celebration is yet to be started. The sun is shining bright, right above our head. The

graduation party will start at 5 oclock in the afternoon. I run upstairs to join my friends who are

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waiting for me at the rooftop. Actually we arent supposed to be here, but since todays the last

day of us so, who would care about that, right? We look down to the celebration party that the

whole grade helped decorating this whole week. Some of them are preparing the fireworks, some

are preparing the food. All we can do right now is just look and collect as much memories as we

can. Though, Haru and I are going in the same university, but the other two arent. This is

basically the last time we could meet each other normally. After this, we would be way even

busier.

Last day, huh? I really miss those times we had lunch together, Haru speaks quietly.

Yeah me too, Kanna said with her usual voice.

I will be missing you guys very very very very much! Yui exaggerates.

Yeah, lets enjoy the rest of our last day at school, shall we? I scream out loud along

with my friends. My closest friends.

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