Ghost School

Special Episode 2: Yurin's Childhood

After coming home from the hospital to see Liliana, I was again pensive in my room which felt very quiet, very different from usual even though there was no Yui but still felt crowded with Izumi, Kagusa, Kei, and I was very happy, and other spirits that come often.

Shortly after, my parents came to get me back.

They were happy at first, but as soon as they saw me they got a little confused.

"Ririn, why don't you look excited?" Ask Mama

"Ah, I'm just a little kangen with my friend"

"Had missed? Just had a school holiday"

"Well, Mama doesn't know she's long dead..." Thought

"So, now let's go home" said Papa who suddenly appeared while lifting the items I had packed

*

After I got home, the atmosphere came back to how it was when I was with my parents. And maybe because I haven't seen each other for a long time, when I came back here I felt so pampered by them.

"Ririn used to be very small and cute with her chubby cheeks. Very active but once meeting other people immediately hide behind Papa. It was unexpected that the little boy was now this big and independent" Papa said with a small laugh

"really. Don't forget that Ririn was also lost. Mama and Papa were very panicked at that time" said Mama

"Aaaahh... Mama and Papa, hentikaaaaaannn!" Shouted shame

"yes too. I forgot it was lost" I thought

"Yes. And since Ririn's gone missing, Ririn's turned brave. Well, all things always have a positive side even if something bad happens"

*

In the afternoon, I got a little bored of staying in my room. Because the weather was nice and not hot, I decided to take a short walk out, and it just so happened that near my house there was an event.

While on that trip I saw a small stall selling cup drinks, so I decided to buy it and drink it while walking.

And, while waiting for the salesman to prepare his drink, I saw a little girl who was crying while walking slowly.

"Why with the kid?" Thought

Out of pity, I approached him.

As soon as I stood in front of him I crouched down to the point of being with him.

"Sir, why are you crying?" Much

"Sister.... I'm separated from my sister in the crowd...." Her speech sobbed

"Pity. I'm having some free time, better help her meet her brother. It's late in the afternoon, it could be dangerous if she hasn't met her sister by night" I thought

"This brother will help you find your brother" I said, stroking his head gently

"Sus... Really?" Ask

"Yes"

I took her back to the stall that sold the drink and bought 1 more for the boy.

"Here, drink. You must be tired of crying, right?"

"Te... Thank you. sis..." His murmuring was still hiccuping from crying

"Either why... Deja Vu's..." Thought

Afterwards I kept trying to comfort the boy while wondering where he was last with his brother.

For about 10 minutes, a woman who was about my age ran up to us, and the little boy ran straight towards her.

"Sister!!!" Yells

"Oh, Eni, you've been anywhere... Brother is very worried...." Said the woman and hugged her sister tightly

I just smiled with relief that the boy finally met his brother again.

Then a moment later, the woman looked at me and stood up politely.

"You helped my sister, didn't you? Thank you for being kind to help her" she said, bowing slightly.

"Yes, brother. That brother was accompanying Eni. The brother also gave Eni a good drink" Shouted the boy

"Is that so? I'm really grateful. My sister was so agile that I couldn't keep an eye on her"

"No. I just felt sorry to see her and I had some free time, so I accompanied her to find her brother"

"And... Because I was in that kid's position, too, so I understand what it's like" I thought

"I will pay for the drink my sister drank, as well as for a thank you, though not much..." He said and reached into the wallet in his sling bag.

"No, there's no need. It was just a regular cup drink and a thank you was enough for me" I said quickly

"Once again, I say thank you very much for your help" he said and bowed slightly with his sister

*

After a while I returned to the streets so separated from the brothers. During those walks I tried to recall the faded memories in my head.

"So while helping the little boy, it felt like deja vu. Maybe it's because I was lost too. But I don't really remember" I thought

I continued to walk aimlessly and my eyes did not look into the road anymore due to being too focused on my mind.

Until finally my consciousness returned because it accidentally collided with a man.

"Ah, forgive me" I said quickly

The man smiled faintly.

"No problem. Next time be careful, yes" he said and resumed his path

I'm back pensive.

"It... It feels so familiar..." Thought

Slowly I felt my memory creeping in.

..."You all right?"...

..."I'll help you find your parents"...

I immediately flinched.

"I remember!!" Thought I screamed

I turned and ran back home.

*

**

7 Years ago, when Yurin was 9.

"Tomorrow Mama and Papa there is work out of town 3 days. So Ririn will come and permit her school first" Papa said

"Well!! Ririn can go for a walk?" I asked with sparkling eyes

Mama smiled thinly and stroked my head.

"Wait for Mama and Papa's work to be done, we'll take a walk before we go home"

"Yeeeyyy!!" I screamed in pleasure

The next day, Mama and Papa left for the city.

And, 3 days later, Mama really kept her promise. Once the work was done, Mama and Papa took me for a walk in a large public park.

The position of the park is beside the right-left road, so that anyone can pass through the park.

I, being so happy, was unceasingly running in that park.

"Ririn, don't go too far with Mama" Shouted Mama

"Yeah!" My legow

I said yes, but I didn't care much.

Then at a crossroads, I saw a cute blue-eyed plain white cat.

"Well, that's funny..." I muttered anxiously

"Ririn, come here" Shouted mama walking to the right turn.

"Yes, Ririn will catch up" Shouted me and still playing with the cat.

Then, a bunch of people passed by and the cat immediately ran away because it might be scared.

"Y!! Mpus, don't run!!" Shouted

I thoughtlessly ran after the cat whose path was different from Mama and Papa.

After getting the cat, I turned around while hugging the cat.

"Mama, I'm there" I screamed

And I'm shocked. Mom and Dad were no longer there.

"Ma... Mama..." Mumbles

I unknowingly took off my arms at the cat, and the cat ran away again. This time I paid no attention to the cat and ran back to where it was.

But, I forgot which direction I had walked in, and the street look was similar. Plus the plants in this garden are quite tall, so I can't see anyone on the other way. The person on the other street also couldn't see me because it was covered in plants.

"Baa... How's this..." I muttered with teary eyes.

After that, I cried and walked everywhere.

Without realizing it, I was out of the park area and walking on the side of a public road.

"How's this? What if I don't meet Mama and Papa?..." I think panicked

Amidst the panic, I accidentally collided with someone at a crossroads.

"Hm? Brother, are you okay? You're crying" she asked

I looked up at the person I hit.

He's a boy and looks like a high school boy.

Panicked, I just talked to him.

"Mama and Papa..." I still cry

The older brother squatted down in front of me.

"You separated from your parents?" Ask

"Yes..."

The brother seemed to think for a moment and then looked back at me.

"I'll help you find your parents"

He immediately grabbed my hand. His eyes looked to the left. Afterwards he took me to a stand that sold drinks.

He bought me a drink in the middle of me still crying.

"Here, drink. You must be tired of walking and crying, right?"

I stared for a moment and then looked back at the brother.

"What... Ririn can drink this?" Much

"So your name is Ririn? What a good name. Of course Ririn can drink it"

"Te... Thanks..." Mumbles

I drank it and the brother took my hand again.

"Your parents must still be looking for you in the park, so let's go in first"

I glanced towards the big brother.

"Sister... Buy a drink for Ririn, but not for sister herself..." Mumbles

"..." - ".I fell silent and looked back at the road.

Afterwards, our conversation revolved around my last position and the chronology of how I got separated from my parents.

I told him as much detail as possible. But still, since I didn't memorize the path of this park, it was hard to find my parents quickly in this vast park.

10 Minutes passed, and we still haven't found my parents. I was also tired from walking.

The brother knew I was exhausted, so he took a break.

"The sun is blazing. Let's rest there for a while" he said and pointed at a large tree in the middle of the garden.

I just followed the older brother and sat down next to the older brother.

The brother looked at me.

"Why hasn't the drink been drunk?" Ask

"Ah, yes..."

I feel like his words are an order. So as soon as the big brother said so, I immediately drank it.

After a few sips of drinking, I glanced towards the older brother and thrust out the drink.

"So, I drink too" I said

He looked a little surprised.

"Sister is okay. It's Ririn's"

"Because it's Ririn's, so Ririn wants to share it with big brother. Brother also has to drink with Ririn"

"Not necessary"

"So, I drink too!"

The brother was silent for a moment. Slowly his head bowed and drank the drink I was holding.

I used to be innocent by sure telling him to drink in the same pipette I was wearing.

And as he bowed, I looked at his face more closely, and realized something.

"Sister's face is wounded. Does that hurt?" Much

The brother immediately flinched and distanced his face.

"Ah, no. This is normal" he said and closed the bruise on his cheek.

"What if being an adult was to get used to the wound?" Much

"No" she answered

"But sister said it was common"

"So sure, your life won't be so dark that you have to get used to getting hurt"

I didn't understand what the big brother was saying, so I just kept quiet.

"Ririn, how old are you now?" Ask

"Pulse... This year it's 9 years" I replied

"So about 4th grade, yeah. After this Ririn had to be even more careful. If Ririn was separated again with the parents, the incident might not be like this anymore"

"Out of the many bad guys who can harm Ririn"

I was silent for a moment.

"That means brother of a good man. Because sister has helped Ririn"

"Don't trust a newly found person, Ririn"

"But big brother already accompanied Ririn and gave Ririn this drink"

"So you can give her medicine in her drink and kidnap you"

I was immediately shocked.

"There's a cure?!" Shouted

"No. Sis drank it too, so it should be fine, right?..." Mumbles

The brother laughed at my behavior.

"Anyways, after this don't accept anything from strangers, especially if they look suspicious, okay?"

"Yes..." Mumbles

The brother gently stroked my head. I immediately looked up at him.

"Don't part with your parents too far if you're in a foreign place you don't know. That's dangerous"

"Yes..." I murmured and felt sorry

The brother looked down at my face and smiled.

"Why drown like that? Brother's not scolding you, you know"

I looked back at the brother slowly.

"Is Ririn afraid of being separated like this?" Ask

"Yes. Ririn wants to see Mama and Papa" I replied

"Then it must stay close. And like this repeated again, ask for help with people around to help"

"But... Fear..." Mumbles

"Where would you prefer? Afraid of asking strangers for help, or afraid of not being able to see them again?"

"...." - ".I was silent and could not answer

"Remember that when Ririn gets lost"

For some reason, after talking to this brother, I became interested in him. At first I was depressed nearby, but now I feel that big brother is quite cool and can give input to me.

"Sister, does big brother live in this region?" Much

"Yes. I live and go to school here"

I was getting excited to hear it.

"If Ririn were to go to school where she is now, it might be possible for Ririn to see her again. At least, while on the road might be able to cross each other" I thought passionately

"School Brother, right? What class? Where's?" Much

"Sister is still in 1st grade. Where, on the way, you might see a big school on the side of the road. That's the school"

I was immediately shocked.

"The school is magnificent and so striking that it can be seen from that distance?!" Shouted

"Yes"

"Ririn when high school will be there!" Shouts of spirit

"The school is not as good as it seems. Better at another school"

"No! Ririn would study hard from now on in order to enter that school!"

The brother laughed a little.

"You're so excited"

I turned to the big brother with sparkling eyes.

"Ririn's name is Asahi Yurin. What's your brother's name?" Much

"...."

*

After a short break, my sister and I continued to look for Mama and Papa.

About 10 minutes later, my sister and I finally met Mama and Papa.

"Rilina!" Shouted Mama worriedly and immediately hugged me tightly

"Bad kid. I told you not to stay away from Mom and Dad..."

"I'm sorry Ririn..." Mumbles

In the middle of Mama who was still hugging me, Papa walked over to the older brother.

"We're the parents of the boy. Thank you for helping our son"

"Yes, it's no problem Uncle. The little sister seemed so happy that she had unknowingly walked far and apart with Uncle and Auntie"

"Because that sister met Uncle and Aunt, so I'm leaving"

"You want to just leave?" Ask Papa

Papa looked at the big brother closely, and realized there were some wounds on the face as well on his hands.

"You're hurt. How about getting treated before you leave? It's also noon, so you can have lunch with us" Papa said

"Thank you for the offer, but don't bother, Uncle. I'm not hungry and my goal is to go to the hospital"

"God. I'm sorry, for helping our daughter, you're late for the hospital. You must've kept the pain going" said Mama, feeling guilty

"No... I want to visit someone, not treat this wound"

"Then I leave now"

The brother walked away from us.

"Darling, is it okay to let that kid just walk away? We haven't even thanked her properly" Mama asked

"It's just that even if we hold it, it actually further hinders its time. It's okay, he doesn't expect anything from us either. He's a really good kid"

"That's right"

"Hopefully... Ririn could meet that big brother again in the future..." Thought

*

**

Back to now.

Brak!!

I quickly walked into the room and scrambled my study desk looking for a book.

"Here we go!" My mummy was bored because it was not stopping running until the room.

I took Izumi's book and opened it. In between the book before I had put a photo of Izumi with her adoptive family before.

I observed Izumi in the photo carefully.

"Really true!" Mumbles

I remember talking to my sister under the tree at rest.

"Ririn's name is Asahi Yurin. What's your brother's name?"

"...."

"Ezumi. Brother Arato Izumi's name"

"Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid. Stupid me...." Mumbles

"At the beginning of seeing this photo I did feel familiar with this male figure. But why didn't I realize it? Why do you realize it now, when Izumi is no longer with me?"

"The brother who helped me at that time was Izumi"

"And the reason why I desperately want to go to school here too... Because I want to see Izumi again..."