She must think that Kokoro was spending all day napping or watching TV, and misinterpret her absence from the house as her going out to have fun – and if she hadn’t been going to the castle, that might actually be true – but despite all that, Ms Kitajima still said she was battling?

She found herself trembling.

This idea of kids battling to get by might just be a generalization. This was Ms Kitajima’s job, after all. So perhaps she was simply saying what applied to everyone.

But her words shot straight to the very core of Kokoro’s heart. She hadn’t thought of it that way before, but now that she did, she realized that yes, she had been trying to battle through each day. Even now, not going to school in order not to be killed.

‘Is it OK if I stop by again?’

Ureshino’s words suddenly came back to her.

The teachers there really listened to me.

‘Of course.’

It was all Kokoro could do to get this reply out.

‘Thank you,’ Ms Kitajima said. ‘Here’s a little something for you,’ and she held out a small package.

What could it be? Kokoro wondered, eyeing it without taking it.

‘It’s tea. Teabags,’ Ms Kitajima said.

It was in a pretty light blue envelope with a drawing of wild strawberries on it.

‘It’s a kind of flavoured black tea I like. Please try it if you’d like to. Will you take it?’

‘Of course.’ Kokoro managed to thank her.

‘You’re very welcome. I’ll see you soon, then.’

Their conversation had died away, but Kokoro found herself wanting more, wanting to somehow keep her from leaving.

After seeing her off, Kokoro realized she felt a strange sense of closeness with Ms Kitajima.

She reminded her of someone. Even though she hardly knew anyone Ms Kitajima’s age.

Or was that exactly why she was a teacher at the School, because she was good at winning over children?

Kokoro opened the envelope with the tea. It wasn’t sealed. Inside were two teabag sachets that matched the colour of the envelope. At home her parents drank black tea, but she’d never been asked if she’d like some. It made her happy finally to be treated like a grown-up.

October

IT HAPPENED SOMETIME AT the beginning of the month.

Kokoro was preparing as always to leave the castle just before it closed at five o’clock, when Aki asked, ‘Are you planning to come over tomorrow?’

It was unusual for Aki to ask. ‘Sure, but what’s up?’ Kokoro replied.

Aki said meaningfully, ‘I have something I want to say. Something I want to tell everyone. If I do it when one of us is missing, it won’t be fair.’