Tamori Taka: Sorrow in the face of absence

In Keshintai's absence, Taka fell to sadness. Her life became a series of motions that she followed. Her lessons lost most of their meaning, her time in the library was spent absent mindedly browsing the pages of long-forgotten tomes, though not a word was read.

The only light she found in the darkness were the lettes Keshintai would send. Taka would linger on every word her friend penned, eager to hear of how Keshintai was faring in this later chapter of her life. Taka wrote back often, though lamented how little of interest she had to write of.

In her sorrow, Taka made the mistake of attempting to befriend the other children in her classes. Once, after class, about three months after Keshintai's leaving, Taka approached them and asked if she could join in with their games. They responded by creating a new game, which involved taunting Taka and throwing stones at her. They indulged in this fresh torment regularly for a month, until one day, they were interrupted by a powerful female voice...