During the bus drive to school, I notice that all people seem to have this smoke around them.

Some more, some less, and in different colors.

When I compare them to each other, it appears to be a little linked to how well they look.

The more active ones seem to have more smoke around them as those slumped down in their place in the bus.

I trying not to become distracted with this stuff and start to ignore the smoke.

I've got this feeling that this is rather delicate information and I shouldn't spy on it.

Finally, I make it to school.

I really want to find a quiet corner for myself and sit it out, before anything unexpected regarding my current bodily and also general situation happens.

I had enough monsters in the last hours.

And the fact that occasionally eyes would plop out around me which I need to hide, is a good reminder that still something is wrong.

Fortunately, during the rush-hour, no one really pays enough attention to notice.

So I try to just keep a low profile.

If not for...

"Iori!!! Finally you made it here! Again slept in, huh? You should start with little cardio exercises that could maybe help to activate your metabolism!" (C)

Uhh.

First, hell is the smoke around Chiaki bright.

Intense yellow-white and a not ignorable glow to it.

I said I wouldn't inquire anymore but this is literally invasive.

And second, does wandering through the nightmare realm count as cardio exercise?

After all, I am not too sure if you could really describe the results as beneficial for the body.

"I will think about it. Was just a hard night, okay? Please go easy on me." (I)

"Yesterday you had also a bad night. And the day before too. No chance, today we go on a city tour!" (C)

To be honest, physically I feel great. Mentally quite shaken but not the slightest bit tired.

"Urgh, but nothing excessive!" (I)

"Fine, but I expect some commitment!" (C)

And I expect not to be thrown into horror-dimensions during my sleep.

We can't always get what we want.

Since she has devoted herself to this task, Chiaki accompanies me to class.

I try not to look at the colored smoke of others but realize it will be futile to keep this up for the rest of my schooldays.

Instead, I just look a little around me without thinking too much.

When Makoto enters the classroom he greets me with a friendly smile.

His aura, which I am very sure this smoke resembles, is blue but of a darker color than I thought.

Thinking about Chiaki's sparkling sunshine thrower of an aura, I think the brightness has something to do with having a positive attitude.

A serial killer who hates all humans might be much darker, but still could have a big aura.

Not that Makoto is a serial killer.

It might just mean he has more problems and stress than I'm aware.

I lay my head on my desk, and try not to think thoughts that might teleport me to unpleasant places.

After some time, I notice the exchange student entering.

Shortly after this comes the realization that my head lies downcast on my desk.

Half-panicked I catch an eye that followed the girl while traveling alongside my neck.

I mean it literally moved on my skin.

Because of my sudden movement, I get some stares.

But none of the horrified "why-the-hell-is-there-an-eye-kind".

Yet after this, I feel completely distressed.

The panic is visible.

I'm breathing a little harder

Desperately I try to quell my panic and slow down my pounding heart.

Wait!

It doesn't!

My heart isn't pounding fast!

It isn't pounding at all!!!

What's wrong?

Am I dead?!

My complexion worsens and the number of stares grows.

Fortunately, the teacher finally enters.

Before I get questioned I pull myself together.

Class begins and the stares end like this.

If not for the exchange student.

First, I feel her glare, rather hostile.

Then it somehow changes, grows restless.

Uneasy I look behind.

Horror!

She looks as if she's in mortal fear.

Panicked.

A look I might have had several times last night.

I cannot make out what she's got, but after some looks I notice something.

She has no smoke!

No smoke means no aura and her demeanor tells me that something's up.

And this tells me I have to question her something.

The teacher doesn't get to the point, but because I feel right now totally awake I understand everything much easier.

Even if I'm a little distracted at the prospect of a talk with this weird panicking girl, who continuously looks to the door as if waiting to rush out at a sign.

And as soon it comes in form of the ringing bell she does.

So flashy that now everyone stares at the door she just left through.

I notice from my place in the center that she climbs the stairs in the hallway.

After this demonstration of suspiciousness, I become curious and decide to follow.

Made easier by the fact that everyone else stays and talks about this show right now.

I follow the staircase and ultimately find a quivering mess on the upper floor.

"This can't be! What is it doing here? I need to get away! Out of its sight! Maybe it hasn't noticed me? They aren't too invested in their surroundings. Yes. Good. Just leave the city! Or the country! The plane? Might help. Hide your existence! Just don't appear on this monster's radar!" (exchange student)

Okay, this was quite much and at the same time completely random jabbering.

The way she shakes herself while hugging her legs is quite a sorry state to look at.

She stands up and tidies herself up to leave.

As soon as she comes to the corner our eyes meet.

"IIIEEEEEEEEEHHHHHK!" (exchange student)

Promptly she jumps away, falling on her butt, scurrying further back to the wall.

This look is pure dread and tears gather there.

Are they black or is this just kajal?

Before I can ask why she looks at me as if I'm the reaper she starts to change her posture to her knees, slamming her head with quite some force on the floor and sputters:

"P-p-please! I didn't want to trespass territory. I didn't know you had chosen this place. I will quietly vanish and never come back. No reason to act. Really! Please, let me go!" (exchange student with very weird attitude)

This girl looks like someone a criminal organization is about to liquidate.

"C-could you please calm down for a moment? I didn't say I want you to vanish." (I)

"R-really? You're not going to eat me or throw me into an endless void?" (exchange student)

"Ehm, no?" (I)

This girl has certainly to answer some questions.

"B-but then... Why... I-if it's allowed to ask, what does an outer god do here at this place? Even on this plane?" (person I will definitely question now)

"Outer god?" (I)

"Y-you don't know? Oh, yes the old ones aren't this much on track with developments. W-were you in seclusion or something like this? If you wish I can relay everything I know to you." (exchange student)

While this sounds rather promising, I've got the feeling there was a misunderstanding.

"Seclusion? Old ones? God, I'm fourteen! Furthermore your classmate! We might not have talked much, but am I this pale?" (I)

"Ah, y-yes the girl. D-did you skin her? Not that I question your methods, but if you don't keep appearances for her life, you might get questioned. I-is this alright?" (exchange student)

"Skinned? I didn't get skinned!" (I)

However, if I think about what the eels did...

"Brrr, not really at least. Are you maybe confusing me with someone? I am the same I always was!" (I)

"Do... Do you think you are that girl? M-maybe your memories mixed up?" (exchange student)

She grows visibly uneasy and looks at me as if I am the strange one here.

Maybe I am, but not in that way.

"No, I'm not confusing! I am I and my life was rather normal until yesterday the most hellish trip ever started!" (I)

"A-apologies! I didn't want to question you!" (exchange student)

"Just stop this self-degrading attitude. Why don't we give us our names? Mine is Iori Nomia and yours?" (I)

"I-I am Zika, but around here I am going by the name Karin Caspers. D-do you know that names hold power? N-not that someone might control y-you, but mine... P-please don't bind me!" (Zika)

"Listen, I'm almost certain that you have the wrong idea about me. I just have some questions and hope that you can help me to answer them. Since yesterday I'm going through quite some heavy stuff and really need help." (I)

"Y-yes, i-if I can help you." (Z)

"First, stop this quivering. I already said I wouldn't harm you. Just, do you know anything about creepy, nightmarish worlds with far too much evil stuff trying to eat you? That would really mean much to me." (I)

"S-sure. A plane beyond. One of the countless worlds drifting in the ether. B-but I wouldn't know a specific location with just this." (Z)

I take a deep breath.

"Good. Then I am not crazy. Now to the next question. Why do you act like I am going to do these things you mentioned earlier?" (I)

"Be-because you're an outer goddess?" (Z)

"And this the point where I don't get you. How do you come to such an idea? I am a perfectly normal human girl. Or was. (I)

Hard to come to terms with this, okay!

Yet now she looks at me as if I just escaped an asylum.

"A-Ahem, d-despite the point that there is an eye on your neck..." (Z)

Hurriedly I cover it and make it vanish.

"You are emitting this kind of pressuring dread one would feel with an outer god. I... I felt it only one time before, many eons ago, but would never forget this feeling of paralyzing fear." (Z)

"W-wait! Eons? Y-you aren't human?" (I)

Okay, I never thought I would ever see mortal fear and a pitying "you-are-kidding-expression" at the same time on someone's face.

"F-fine, I get it. Not human. What are you? Or better, what are you doing here? Surely not trying to graduate, right?" (I)

She looks scared to the ground, uneasy about what to say next.

Finally, she comes to a decision and addresses me again.

"I feed on human's negative emotions. Sipping my fill from them. N-nothing excessive, only the bit they release here by themselves. This place makes most of them lose it on their own. Stress, anxiety, frustration, envy, even sometimes unrequited affection. This all amasses here free for the taking." (Z)

"This... This isn't harming them, right?" (I)

"No! No! Like I said, just what they release by themselves. They might only feel a little dull." (Z)

No idea if she's lying.

Considering her demeanor, she might tell me everything to avoid displeasing me and get thrown into that mentioned void.

"Okay, just to set this right. I am no outer goddess or whatever this is you think I am. I am simply the same person as yesterday and all the days before. I have no idea about anything going on here and really, really need help before I lose my mind." (I)

At this comment, her face distorts completely.

"No, no, no! Don't lose your mind, please! You might... Please don't destroy this plane! I'm begging you!" (Z)

If before it was fear for her own life, as if I had placed a gun on her head, this is a new level of panic.

This sounds more like I would threaten to burn her family alive and already started pouring gasoline on them.

"Wait, I don't want to destroy anything! Why do you say this?" (I)

"The havoc you will bring if you go crazy. It might at least destroy this land, if not completely shattering the balance! Please keep it together!" (Z)

"Urgh, I get a headache. I simply don't understand this all. All I had was a nightmare this night and today the whole world looks upside down for me." (I)

"Dream? You are a plane walker? Yes, naturally, you are a goddess." (Z)

"Damnit, no I'm not! I tell you till yesterday I was just a completely average girl. Then I went to bed and suddenly find myself in some weird hellscape, where the planets are arranged into a necklace, the whole ground is purple, and everywhere are monsters! From horror-eels, over gluttonous monstrosities to..." (I)

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!" (I)

My words reverberate through a large barren plain.

And maybe caused a quake.

Just one wrong thought and I am back here?

And there is my good old friend maw-monster.

And again it jumps at me.

And again my body reacts in an automated manner to eradicate it.

This time my hair spikes it with countless needles.

Maybe a concession to my wish not to tatter my uniform again.

As soon my hair draws back the creature is gone like always.

I have simply no capacity for this right now.

I was just about to get answers.

Time to get back!

"School hallway! School hallway! School hallway!" (I)