An Empty Shell

Chapter 9: Keep Up

They finally entered the school grounds but Hayami needed to go to the admin office first to surrender some documents.
"You can go ahead to our class, I have to drop by the office to talk to Miss Himura first." Hayami excused herself from Shuichi.
"Okay, but try to hurry up so we can still have time to review." He wittingly claimed.
"Review? Do we have exams today?!" Hayami blurted in surprise. Shuichi chortled bitting his thumb to curb it.
"Just go see Miss Himura quickly. I will see you in class." He simply answered while walking away and she just frowned.

Hayami hurriedly proceeded to the office.
"Good morning ma'am! My name is Hayami Miyazaki—" She greeted but was interrupted.
"Oh, Miss Miyazaki! It's good you came early today. I have been expecting you." Cut-off Miss Himura. "So, do you have the papers with you?" She added.
"Yes ma'am." Hayami handed the documents and Miss Himura scrutinized them.
"Okay I am missing one or two more documents." Miss Himura told her while checking the papers one by one.
"You have to get this paper signed by your guardian. Also I don't see any medical certificate from your absences." Miss Himura meticulously rechecked each page and then looked at Hayami in a questioning manner.
"Miss Himura I am sorry but I think I have made the school aware that I no longer have parents, I'm an orphan so I can't have someone sign that for me. Also the medical certificate wasn't secured because I didn't go to the hospital or to a doctor's office when I got sick. I just rested and took cared of myself at home, ma'am." Hayami explained a little agitated but didn't lose her composure.
"Didn't you say you currently live with your grandmother before? So where is she now? And regardless if wether or not you went to a doctor's office, it is still your burden to secure this document if you were absent for school for several days. I am sure you are aware of the student's handbook right?" Miss Himura pointed out not accepting Hayami's excuses.
She is really strict as what other students say. What should I do? I can't stay here any longer, our class will start soon. And not to mention we also have exams today! Hayami's thoughts was in panic and Miss Himura noticed this when she didn't respond to her questions.

Meanwhile, Shuichi was in the classroom quietly reading a book while waiting for class to start. He suddenly felt agitated that made him paused from reading. Then he realized that was Hayami's feelings at that moment. He just smirked picturing how she was dealing with the terror admin.

"Okay, I will give you one more day to finish and complete your requirements." Miss Himura let out a sigh as she gave Hayami a second chance. "But if I didn't receive them until tomorrow, I would have to give you a sanction after." She made it clear that this was her final say. Hayami's face brightened in relief.
"Yes! I understand ma'am. Thank you so much!" She bowed with gladness and finally excused herself to go back to her class. As soon as she got out of the office she ran as fast as she could to get to her class. Before she got to their classroom she stopped briefly to compose herself.
She's here.. Shuichi smiled as he knew she was already by the door. But he also felt her hesitation making him confused.
As soon as Hayami made her entrance in their classroom, everyone turned to her in quiet surprise.
"Whoa! It's Miyazaki!" One classmate exclaimed.
"Welcome back Miyazaki!" Another classmate commented.
"How have you been?"
"About time to come back to school huh?"
Almost everybody was saying something but all she could hear were buzzing sounds. She just bowed and greeted everyone but averting their stares at the same time. Until she finally got to her seat that felt like forever to get to for some reason.
"Are you okay?"
Then she snapped when she heard Shuichi asked her. It was as if she was extricated from her own entanglement in this kind of situation. His voice was very euphonic but with a mixture of concern. It sent shivers all over her. She turned to face him and she saw him looking at her. Their eyes met and Shuichi's just so deep she could drown.
"Um, yeah. I'm okay." She plainly replied then quickly averted. Shuichi just smiled but a little worried at the same time. He sensed her disquieting behavior just now again. From what it looks like, she really doesn't have any idea about me being her spirit guide, he sighed.
"Here, try reading this. We still have a few minutes before our class starts." He handed his notes to her.
"Oh, okay. Thank you." She was amazed how fluidly he made his notes. His handwriting was so neat than that of hers. She felt a little embarrassed and went in a daze. Shuichi noticed this again and he couldn't help but smile. Relax, just read it okay? He let out a sigh thinking how difficult this ball of game could be.
After an amount of reading, finally, he sensed stillness in her heart while she was reading.. in fact.. too still.
Shuichi flabbergasted, turned slowly to face Hayami, then his eyes widened.
"Ha-Hayami..?" Shuichi's voice quivered. She didn't respond to his call. She was only looking down, her hair fell over her face, and didn't move a needle. Shuichi could detect presence of darkness in her. He needed to think this through carefully. There were people around them that could see what's gonna happen next. They only have five minutes left before their class was gonna start. He put all his concentration on searching for Hayami's spirit to be able to communicate with her.
"Hayami...Hayami! Can you hear me? "Where are you?" He called out for her several times. Then he felt this warm gentle blow on his back. Hayami, I know you're there. Please follow my voice and come back.
"Shuichi?.. Shuichi! Where are you?" Hayami woke up when she heard Shuichi's voice. She was in a place where nothing ever existed. It was a void, where only cold and dark thrived. She felt dreadful and couldn't think right through it. She ran after a ran and couldn't get to nowhere. She wanted to scream but couldn't make a sound. Then she finally fell on her knees, cried and trembled.
"Hayami, I am here, please stay strong. I believe in you. You can do this! "
"Shuichi, I can hear you! Please help me!" Hayami frantically called out to him.
"Hayami, cast the fear away from your heart. Dive into yourself and look right within. There you will see the light..."
The last word of Shuichi flared up a fire in her. Of course, the light! She finally realized. She stopped and meditated to calm herself first. Then she knelt down and prayed with her eyes closed, arms outstretched, hands faced upward and face straight up towards the sky.
Spirit, through you, I am healed.
Spirit, may all of me be illuminated with the light of peace.
Spirit, fill me with love and contentment.
Spirit, take charge of my thoughts and feelings, erase all negativity and doubt.
You and I are one and I am becoming the peace I search for. Make it so. I am that. I am who am. Be my light and be my guide...
A small light started to beam through the darkness until it grew and illuminated everything that surrounded her.
Hayami...
She heard her name once more from a very familiar voice. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Shuichi reaching out with a smile, and she happily took his hand, then her spirit jumped back to reality.
"You did it.." whispered Shuichi beaming at her with gladness. Hayami heard his whisper, turned to meet his eyes, then looked down and saw him holding her hand.
"Shuichi... thank you.." she whispered back with teardrops in her eyes and he nodded without averting his eyes on her.
I'm glad you've figured it out, Hayami. Keep it up, he genially thought for her.

"Good morning everyone! Okay let's get the exams started." Professor Nagata finally showed up in their class. And everybody reacted with disappointment.
Hayami was cramming on the notes Shuichi lended her to the last minute before the test paper was handed to her. Shuichi chortled, pressing his thumb against his mouth so as not to burst, he thought it was really funny how she looked like while she swot for their exam. Hayami noticed and gave him that looked that sent chills down his spine.