How about Aki and Subaru? Kokoro looked over at Subaru, just as he turned to face Aki.

‘Aki-chan, can I ask you something?’

‘What?’

Kokoro was certain he was going to ask something about the School, but he didn’t.

‘Why are you in your uniform today?’ he continued. ‘Did something happen?’

Aki seemed to freeze.

‘I went to a funeral.’ There was an audible intake of breath. Aki’s cheeks were pale and drawn. ‘It was my grandmother, who I lived with. My cousins and I were told to wear our school uniforms.’

‘Didn’t you need to go home afterwards?’ Fuka asked. ‘Is it OK that you were here with us?’

‘Well, that’s …’ Aki said, her voice cracking. She seemed about to launch into her usual bold front and say something like It’s none of your business or It doesn’t matter.

But Fuka had no ulterior motive in asking; she was simply concerned about her. ‘It’s fine,’ Aki answered. ‘It’s better being here with all of you.’

When Kokoro had arrived at the castle that day, Aki had been crouching on the sofa, alone. She had her own room in the castle and could have shut herself away. Instead, she was in the Game Room, face pressed into her knees. Kokoro remembered Aki’s face and the look in her eyes, and felt a stab in her chest.

‘I see,’ Subaru said lightly, finally breaking the silence. ‘Were you close to your grandmother?’ He asked this quietly, as if it wasn’t important.

Subaru said he’s living with his grandmother and grandfather, Kokoro thought. Without his parents, just his older brother. Only he could have asked that question.

A surprised look surfaced in Aki’s eyes. Her lips tightened, and she didn’t respond immediately.

‘Um,’ she said finally, her voice small and husky. ‘She could be strict sometimes, and I never really thought about whether I loved her or not. But now I realize I really did.’

‘I’m so glad you wore your uniform,’ Subaru said. ‘Thanks to that, now we know we all go to the same school. If not, March would have arrived without anyone saying anything.’

Aki’s eyes seemed to tear up. Kokoro spoke up quickly. ‘Yes. Thank you, Aki-chan.’

‘It just happened,’ Aki said, and turned away.

That’s when they heard it.

Aooooooooooooooooo.

Aooooooooooooooooo.

The noise rang through the castle. It was the warning howl they’d heard earlier, but much, much louder.

‘Whoa!’ they shouted. The air shook, the floor began to sway, and they were rocked off their feet. They knew exactly what was in store.

It was five o’clock.

‘Let’s get out of here!’ shouted Rion.

Kokoro stumbled and grabbed at her mirror. She saw the others doing the same. But as a huge tremor struck, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. The quaking was so vigorous, she’d lost control of her facial muscles.