Chapter 3

Theo was the first to think of the paper Connor had found when he snuck back to the classroom during P.E. and searched my desk.

"He must have had a reason for doing that."

"Yeah, but I can't think of one at all."

Feeling helpless, I showed Theo the sheet of paper.

"It's just an ordinary health screening form. It says everything's normal."

I'd racked my brain but still couldn't figure out why Connor would dig through my desk to look at my health report.

Theo's frustration was written all over his face. "Was he afraid you had some contagious disease and would infect him?"

I looked down at myself. "I'm clean, healthy, and look perfectly fine. How could I be sick?"

"Nonsense. Of course I know you're not sick." Theo rolled his eyes.

The whole thing was too strange.

I suddenly remembered that a few days ago, I'd asked the class president whether there was anything odd about me.

He'd looked me up and down in confusion and said I seemed normal.

So at least in the class president's eyes, I wasn't strange. Maybe I could ask him for help.

Thinking of that, I turned to find him, only to discover that the class president had come to talk to me first.

"Mason, have the things with your last two seatmates gotten to you lately?"

I said miserably, "It's still pretty annoying. They're acting like I'm some kind of plague."

The class president comforted me. "It's not your problem. The teachers were even wondering if that seat's cursed, or if the cherry blossom scent is too strong and messing with people's heads."

I knew he was joking to cheer me up.

"It's fine. I know this probably has something to do with me, so don't try to comfort me.

"Grace was one thing. Maybe girls can be more sensitive. But what happened with Connor is probably because of me."

The class president asked, "Do you remember when their attitudes suddenly changed?"

I thought carefully.

Grace started acting strange when the cherry blossoms bloomed.

That was just a few days after this semester started.

Connor went from warm and enthusiastic to cold and terrified in the span of one lunch break.

The class president caught the key point. "When the cherry blossoms bloomed, did you do anything?"

I thought about it. "I dragged her and Theo to the little grove behind the school to look at the cherry blossoms. Does that count?"

"The grove? Isn't that off-limits? Why'd you go there?"

A trace of reproach flashed across his face.

A moment later, he suddenly looked extremely frightened.

He gave me a strange look, his legs started trembling, and then he ran straight back to the classroom.

Theo's mouth twitched. "The school only banned us from going there because there are too many bugs, right? Why's a grown boy so scared?"

But I had an epiphany. "So it's all because of the grove. Why don't we go take a look after school?"

Theo spread his hands. "Up to you."

Once again, after lunch, I came back to find the classroom still empty.

I stood at the door and saw the class president sitting in my seat, frantically searching for something.

Blood-red veins filled his eyes. Sweat slid down his forehead.

Finally, he pulled out a sheet of paper.

The instant he finished reading it, he looked as if he'd been struck by lightning.

Then he looked up and saw me standing at the door. His legs went weak, and he screamed in terror.

I jumped because of him. "Why are you screaming? The teacher asked me to ask you about getting me a new seatmate."

"Go ask the teacher yourself. I don't know!"

Seeing him like that, I was honestly afraid I'd scare him unconscious if I took another step inside.

I had no choice but to turn around, go to the faculty office, and find my homeroom teacher.

"Ms. Keller, I really don't know what the reason is."

She comforted me. "It has nothing to do with you. High school students are under a lot of pressure. It's normal."

She said that, but her words still hinted at something.

She wanted me to think about how I interacted with my classmates, to yield to others more, and to respect female classmates.

It made me feel terribly wronged.

"Then how about this, Ms. Keller? Since no one's willing to sit with me anyway—Theo's my best friend. Why not move him beside me?"

At least Theo wouldn't dislike me.

Ms. Keller's fingers, which had been tapping on the keyboard, suddenly froze.

Then she stopped in confusion and turned her head to look at me.

"Theo?

"Who's Theo?

"Do we have someone like that in our class?"