Mr Ida’s words, that she was so mature, had irritated Tojo-san, yet Kokoro did find her a little different from the others. Maybe because she’d changed schools so many times. She didn’t consider she belonged in any one place.

‘To be honest, I always thought you’d turn up at school again, Kokoro-chan. But the only time you did was that one day, wasn’t it?’

‘Eh?’

Tojo-san looked intently at Kokoro. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again. ‘I didn’t help you when it was all going on. I’m sorry.’

‘No – it’s OK.’

At least Tojo-san had kept going to school, which Kokoro found amazing.

‘Moé-chan, are you really changing schools?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you worried about going to a new school?’

‘I am, but after all the stuff that went on here, I feel less worried than free, and I’m looking forward to it. It’s as if I can reset things.’

‘I see.’

Kokoro couldn’t bring herself to tell her that she was mulling over whether to switch to another junior high in another area. But Tojo-san might have picked up on it. ‘If you ever transfer to another school,’ she said, ‘and no one talks to you the first day, it’s OK to cry.’

‘Cry?’

‘Yeah. In front of everybody. Do that, and a couple of people will come over and ask, Are you OK? or Please don’t cry. Make friends with them. Cry, and you’ll stand out and at least some people will pay attention to you.’

‘Seriously? Doesn’t that only work because it’s you? You have to be pretty or they won’t let you get away with it.’

‘You think?’

Tojo-san was really being straightforward today, and deliberately provocative. She didn’t even deny she was pretty. Kokoro hadn’t thought she’d believe in a game plan like crying on purpose.

‘But you didn’t cry like that at junior high, did you?’ Kokoro asked.

‘No, I didn’t. Everyone was kind to me, so I could get by without crying.’ She winked.

‘But isn’t crying a bit childish? I mean, wouldn’t it just draw the wrong kind of attention?’

Tojo-san frowned.

‘Really?’ she said. ‘Hm. Maybe you’re right. But it worked whenever I changed to a new elementary school. Guess I won’t be trying it at my next junior high.’

‘I’m sure there’ll be students who want to be friends with you.’

Kokoro knew she had been made privy to her friend’s true feelings and it made her happy.

Kokoro and Tojo-san resumed eating their ice cream. The topic of conversation switched to their favourite TV series and celebrities.

When they’d finished their ice cream, Tojo-san’s expression turned serious.

‘Don’t let them get to you,’ she said, her voice stern. ‘There are bullies like them everywhere, and there always will be.’