Chapter 8 || Different Ways to Grieve

Chapter 8: 8 || Different Ways to Grieve

The girl’s locker room became busy almost immediately.

Lockers opened.

Uniforms rustled softly.

Some girls complained quietly while changing while others simply accepted their fate.

Aria stood in her maid uniform—a black gown with a white apron and matching headdress.

Her hand moved toward the locker door, but stopped.

Code 12’s words still lingered in her mind.

Her hand remained still on the door.

’One hundred bronze coin to become a Servitor. Even if I work hard enough I doubt I could come up with such amount...’

She let go of the door and rested her hand in the empty locker, then she lowered her head.

’I’m...’

She closed her locker.

’I’m still not enough.’

Without saying a word, she walked toward the exit.

The others slowly followed behind her.

...

At the Boys’ Locker Room

The room was mostly empty now.

Code, Ken, and Torin were the only boys left.

Code quietly removed the folded uniform from his locker.

Just as he was about to put it on—

Caden suddenly appeared at the doorway.

"Guys!" he yelled dramatically.

"Come see this!"

He disappeared again.

Ken blinked. "What now?"

Torin sighed already. "Probably something stupid."

The two walked out anyway.

Code placed the uniform back inside the locker and followed after them.

A few seconds later—

A shadow flickered quietly across the locker room floor.

Then—

Caden’s voice echoed closer again."WAIT. I forgot something!"

The shadow vanished instantly.

Caden rushed back inside carelessly.

...

Time had passed by quietly.

Eventually—Code stood alone before his locker already dressed in his perfectly fit uniform.

He slowly adjusted the sleeves before slipping on the white gloves carefully.

Everything aligned neatly.

Ding!

Code pulled out his phone.

A new message appeared.

[You look good in your uniform, Code]— Crimson Petal

Code stared at the screen calmly with no visible reaction.

Tap.

A hand tapped his shoulder.

"Code!"

Code turned.

It was Caden already dressed in his own uniform.

He studied Code’s outfit, then grinned.

"You look good in your uniform, Code."

Code’s eyes shifted slightly.

The exact same words with Crimson petal.

...

The room had gone mostly quiet.

One by one, girls finished changing and started leaving.

Kira adjusted her hair once, then quietly walked out through the door.

The soft sound of lockers opening and closing slowly faded.

Lily stood in front of hers dressed in her uniform.

She picked up the white ribbon from her locker and wrapped it around her waist.

Her fingers awkwardly reached behind her back, trying to tie the ribbon properly.

She struggled for a few seconds.

Suddenly, a hand gently pulled the ribbon from her fingers.

Lily flinched and turned.

Ivy stood behind her.

"There," Ivy said softly after tying it neatly. "Done."

Lily lowered her eyes almost immediately. "T-Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Lily hesitated for a moment before quietly turning away. "I think I’m ready now... so I’ll head out first."

But Ivy lightly held onto her wrist."...You’re not ready yet though."

Lily blinked in confusion."What?"

Without waiting, Ivy gently guided her toward one of the benches."Sit."

Lily sat down slowly, still confused.

Ivy walked back toward Lily’s locker and returned carrying a hairbrush and a delicate white maid headdress decorated with tiny flower patterns .

Lily’s eyes widened slightly."Ivy... you really don’t have to do all this."

Ivy smiled."It’s fine."

Then she lifted the brush slightly."Besides, I have to make sure you look beautiful enough to get a perfect rating from your master."

Lily immediately shook her head."That’s impossible..."

Ivy laughed softly under her breath."Don’t underestimate the beauty of a woman, Lily."

Lily went quiet.

For some reason...hearing Ivy say things so confidently made it hard to argue back.

Ivy stepped behind her.

Then slowly—the brush ran through Lily’s hair.

The room became silent again.

Only the soft sound of brushing remained.

Shh...

Shh...

Lily’s fingers slowly tightened together on her lap.

Ivy noticed immediately.

"Lily."

Lily startled slightly. "Y-Yes?"

"I noticed you staring at me earlier in class..."

The brush moved slowly through her hair again.

"...Did I do something wrong?"

Lily’s entire face immediately turned red."N-No!"

She quickly turned around while waving both hands nervously.

"It wasn’t like that. I wasn’t staring at you or anything. I just..."

Ivy gave a small laugh. "Relax."

She smiled. "I won’t bite you."

Lily slowly calmed down again."...Sorry."

She turned back around quietly.

Ivy resumed brushing her hair gently.

After a few seconds—

"Is something bothering you?"

Lily’s voice became smaller."No... nothing’s wrong...It’s just... I..."

Her fingers slowly pressed together tighter and tighter.

Ivy’s eyes lowered toward her hands briefly.

She spoke softly. "It’s Ben... isn’t it?"

Lily froze. Her hands loosened instantly.

She turned around slowly with shock written all over her face.

"H-How did you know...?"

Ivy blinked once, then smiled sadly."Looking at your reaction... I guess I was right."

Lily looked away.

Ivy lowered the brush slightly. "What happened to Ben was horrible."

Her voice softened further. "Anyone would be affected after seeing that."

Her fingers tightened slightly around the brush handle. "It shouldn’t have happened."

The room became quiet again.

Lily stared silently at Ivy.

Ivy lowered her head a little."If I had known that would happen..."

Her voice almost cracked. " ...I would’ve stopped him myself."

Lily’s eyes widened slightly.

Ivy continued quietly. " I just watched him walk toward his death... and I couldn’t do anything."

A long silence followed.

Then—a tear slipped down Ivy’s cheek.

"I was scared too," she whispered. "But more than that... I hated myself for doing nothing."

Lily’s breathing faltered.

She stared at Ivy in complete shock.

Suddenly—she stood up and pulled Ivy into an embrace.

The brush slipped slightly from Ivy’s hand.

Ivy froze.

For the first time since entering the academy...

someone was hugging her.

Lily’s shoulders trembled.

Tears slowly rolled down beneath her glasses.

"I’m sorry..."

Her voice broke badly. "I’m so sorry..."

Ivy blinked slowly. "...Sorry?"

Lily nodded repeatedly against her shoulder. "I was being selfish," she cried quietly. "I thought I was the only one hurting because Ben was close to me and I..."

Her grip tightened slightly. "...I didn’t notice how you felt."

Ivy slowly pulled back just enough to look at her. "It’s okay, Lily."

But Lily shook her head immediately. "No... it’s not."

Her voice trembled harder now. "You were smiling and talking normally with everyone and I thought..."

She lowered her head in shame."...I thought you didn’t care."

Ivy’s eyes softened slightly.

Lily kept apologizing quietly. "Sorry... I’m sorry..."

Ivy quickly waved her hands."No, no—you don’t have to apologize."

She lowered her own gaze slightly. "If anyone should apologize..."

A weak smile formed on her lips."...it’s probably me."

Lily looked up slowly.

"I was acting so normal that it made you feel like you were carrying everything alone."

Ivy bowed her head lightly. "So... I’m sorry too."

Lily stared at her for a few seconds, then slowly shook her head.

"There’s no need for you to apologize..."

Her voice softened."You were just dealing with it differently... and I misunderstood you."

For a brief moment Ivy simply stared at her, then she smiled gently through the remaining tears in her eyes.

She stepped closer and lightly held Lily’s hands between her hands.

Lily’s face immediately turned red again.

"You don’t have to isolate yourself anymore," Ivy whispered sweetly.

Her smile became softer. "We’re classmates now, remember?... We’ll climb each floor together."

Lily stared at her silently, then nodded slowly. "...Okay."

Ivy smiled brighter. "Good."

Then she tapped the bench lightly. "Now sit back down. I’m not done making you beautiful yet."

Lily let out the tiniest laugh and sat again.

Ivy resumed brushing her hair slowly while quietly humming to herself.

Lily lowered her eyes.

"I’m so stupid... I thought I was the only one affected by Ben’s death. But everyone was probably just hiding it differently. Just like you... Ivy."

She paused, then continued.

"That’s why you stopped them from leaving earlier, wasn’t it?"

Lily slowly looked up.

Their eyes met.

Ivy smiled warmly at her. "Yes."

A few moments later, Ivy stood in front of Lily and carefully placed the delicate headdress onto Lily’s head and adjusted it neatly.

Then she stepped back proudly. "There."

She smiled."Now you’re ready."

Lily stood slowly and touched the cap lightly. "...Thank you."

Outside the room door, Meira quietly leaned against the wall.

She stared at the two for a moment, then she pushed herself off the wall and walked away silently.