Bandaged with Lies

Growing Friendships, Deepening Suspicions

Hello! I am sorry that this chapter took so long to make, however from now on it should take much less time to make a chapter! But for the here and now, I hope that you enjoy this chapter. I am rather happy with how it turned out!

Mikan's POV:

It was half past noon, and I had taken up my shift as a nurse. It was rather quiet today, and other than the people who needed to be given medication, nobody had come in. I suppose that's technically a good thing, but I couldn't help but feel a bit lonely as I sat in my desk chair.

I thought back to the few moments that I was in class today. The entire room had been filled with a tense atmosphere, though somewhat electric. That serial killer, the roses thorn: It had become a topic of gossip among the class. I could still remember it clearly, the way that others talked with fear yet intrigue. As it turns out, two more murders had been committed last night- one in the Tokyo prefecture, and another in Okayama prefecture. The bodies times of death were a mere half hour apart.

As scary as the thought of someone like that being even close to our area, I attempted to get it out of my head and focus on my work- as scarce as that was today. I supposed the supplies could probably use some organizing, so for the time being, I could busy myself with that.

I was able to do that for all of five minutes.

I fidget with my hands for a few moments, before absentmindedly looking out the window. The sun was bright, hitting the leaves in just the right way to make them glow. It was just a quick glance, however in that glance a thought occurred to me- what if I took a walk outside? The fresh air may help my nerves...

No , what was I thinking? It would be totally irresponsible to leave my post like that! If there was an emergency and I wasn't there then it would be a catastrophe that was all my fault! And yet... as I now stood right in front of the window, the warmth of the sun was enticing.

...I suppose if I left a note then...

I felt terrible doing it, however I took out a piece of paper and wrote the words "Taking a break, will be walking around campus if you need me". Then I put a piece of tape on it, and was about to post it on the door before... I go back in quickly, and write the word "sorry" on the paper just underneath. Feeling better about it, I finally place the paper on the door and leave my office.

When I open the door and walk out for the first time, that warm feeling that I had felt at the window returned, though somehow even more inviting this time. This, along with the fresh air, calmed my nerves a bit. And so I start walking, taking in the campus. Since I'm normally holed up inside of my office, I never really got to take notice of the campus before- but now that I was walking around like this, I couldn't help but admire just how beautiful it was. It was simple fields of grass with flowers scattered here and there, however it was beautiful, and framed the school well.

As I walked around the campus, I eventually came across a large figure, dapperly dressed despite the lack of shoes. I recognized this as Gonta, the one I had met at the arcade- and he was walking right towards me with a smile on his face and a friendly wave. I froze up a bit, his bulky frame being intimidating beyond all imagination. He didn't seem like he was mean when I first met him, however- well it was a force of habit at this point.

"Hello! You Kokichi's friend, Mikan, right?" he says softly, stopping right in front of me. Taking a small step back, I nod as my heart pounds a mile a minute. "Y-Yes, um, I w-was there at the um, arcade" I say, clutching at my nurses apron. Gonta was about to respond, when his face became troubled. "Um, is Mikan alright? Mikan look... nervous" he says. Noticing how antisocial and rude this must seem, I shake my head. "N-No I um... Sorry" I say, not having anything to explain my actions.