Prologue (1/2)

The funeral of my classmate, Sakura Ya of her when she was alive

As proof of the value of her life,the ritual, as well as last night’s wake - neither of which I attended I stayed home the whole time

Fortunately, the only classmate ould have forced me to attend had already left this world, and it wasn’t as if our teacher or her parents had the right or the obligation to request my presence, so I was allowed to stand by my own decision

Certainly, I, a high school student even without being acknowledged by anyone as such, was supposed to be attending school - but because she died on a day off, I was able to avoid going out in the bad weather

Since ether, had left me an adequate lunch, I remained holed up in my own room These actions ofa class

Unless I was o out by her, my classmate - I alas the type ould spend their days off in their own room

Inbooks More so than guidebooks and self-help books, I loved to read novels I would readeither my head or my chin on the white pillow As hardcovers were too heavy, I preferred paperbacks

The book I was currently reading was sonuirl who didn’t read books Its position on the bookshelf had not been disturbed since I borrowed it Though I had planned to read and return it before she died, it was too late for that now

Since nothing could be done about my tardiness, I made up my mind to return the book to her house after I was done with it As I greet her portrait - that would be a good time to return it

By the ti had arrived While using the fluorescent light that filtered through the closed curtains to see, I learned of howphone call

The phone call wasn’t anything special It was from my mother

Though I ignored the first two calls, I realised that this was ht the phone up tothe cooking of rice I confirmed the instructions with her and ended the call