She desperately wanted to tell him what they’d done, and see him look dumbstruck, but she was pretty sure even after he heard the whole story, he’d still take their side. In fact, she knew it.

She knew he would go straight to Miori to ask if it was all true. And she’d never admit it.

She would only mention whatever made her look good.

When Miori and her friends had surrounded Kokoro’s house, and Kokoro had lain on the floor, trembling, Miori had started to cry. And her friends had tried to comfort her, saying, Don’t cry, Miori.

In that world, Kokoro was the villain. Unbelievable, but true.

THE THREE OF THEM SAT in the living room: Mr Ida, Kokoro and her mother.

Compared to his earlier visits, her mother was clearly anxious.

The previous night, Kokoro had told her mother the story of what had happened with Miori back in April. She’d never talked about it in all these months, but she wanted her mother to hear it directly from her. Especially as Mr Ida would have explained it as some kind of argument.

When Mr Ida arrived, Kokoro was told to wait upstairs in her bedroom. Your teacher and I will talk first, just the two of us, her mother had said.

Her mother’s expression was so cold and angry, she did as she was told.

ENOUGH TIME HAD PASSED SINCE the events of April that when Kokoro told her mother the full story of what had happened, she could do it without breaking down in tears. She thought it would actually be fine to cry, to show her mother how much she’d suffered, but somehow no tears would come.

It was tough for her to explain it was all as petty as boyfriend–girlfriend stuff, who liked who, but she managed.

She wanted her mother to get emotional and upset. For her to say, What awful people, and protect her daughter.

Mum’ll be so angry, was her first thought, but in the end she wasn’t. As she told the story, her mother’s eyes welled up. When Kokoro saw the tears, she was shaken and even less able to cry herself.

‘I’m so sorry, Kokoro,’ her mother said. ‘I never realized any of this was going on. I’m so, so sorry.’

She hugged Kokoro close, and clasped her fingers. Her mother’s tears plopped down on to the back of Kokoro’s hand.

‘We’ll fight this,’ her mother said, her voice trembling. ‘It might be a long battle, but let’s fight it. Let’s do it, Kokoro.’

BACK IN HER BEDROOM, SHE saw the mirror was glowing again. Today everyone would be getting together beyond the mirror.

And she badly wanted to be with them.