{Private} After school visit

As soon as Taizai touched her cheek, Nayumi jumped and crawled back on the bed, her eyes wide open in fear. Why did he touch her?!? She told him she didn't want that! Now, there was no way he didn't feel the metal in her face! She wanted to yell at him, to get mad and chase him out, but she couldn't do that. The fear had gripped her heart tightly, paralyzing her. The only thing she could do was stay back and stare at him, praying that he wouldn't yell at her instead.

"Nayumi...is your cheek...the same as your arms?"

He looks at her somewhat surprised.

Nayumi's hands began trembling. So, he did feel it after all... Of course, it was only natural... The girl felt absolutely terrified. She wanted to deny it, but couldn't really find the strength to say anything. All she could do was stand there and stare at Taizai, with fear in her eyes.

"Nayumi...why didn't you tell me?"

He looks at her sternly, not upset but more curious however.

Nayumi finally found the strength to look away. So, he wasn't running away yet... That was good, wasn't it? But what kind of question was that, anyway? Why didn't she tell him?!? The girl closed her eyes and sighed, then pulled the scarf away, fully exposing her half-cybernetic face. There was no point in hiding it anymore, after all. "How was I supposed to tell you?" she spoke, her voice suddenly sounding more artificial than before.

He stands up and walks over to her. He holds her artificial cheek and smiles.

"It's okay, better now than never."

He kisses her cheek softly and whispers.

"I'm still here, I won't leave you."

Nayumi turned her head aside as soon as Taizai attempted to kiss her. She was mad. She didn't know if she was angry at him or at herself, but she knew she was angry. I'm still here, I won't leave you, Taizai said to comfort her. Pfft, yeah, right! Like anyone would be able to remain her friend after revealing her secret! Or maybe he just wasn't aware of how bad the situation was just yet? Well, Nayumi didn't have anything left to lose, or so she thought. The rage and anger inside her were clouding her judgement, making her do and say things she would later regret. "Of course you will..." she said, then quickly unbuttoned the first button of her shirt, then pulled it down to reveal her cybernetic neck and part of her chest. She didn't show anything much, but thought the implication would be clear enough to Taizai.

"So Nayumi, I assume a majority of you is cybernetics? When were you going to show me, or even let me know?"

His voice remains calm with a slight inflection of anger and shock.

"My entire body is..." the girl spoke quietly, still trying to collect her thoughts. When were you going to show me, or even let me know? her friend asked angrily. Nayumi turned her head and stared right at him angrily. "Show you?!? Are you out of your mind?!? I was never going to show you, or anyone else! How could I?!? I mean, look at me! I'm a freak! You don't just show these things to people!!!" she shouted, finally letting all of that anger and rage out of her. Her artificial voicebox was never made to handle emotions this strong, which made her yelling even scarier.

He looks at her as he gets scared from her yelling. Never before had he been yelled at like that.

Oh my god...I've never been this scared before. I really messed up big time.

He looks down at the ground in silence as he collects his thoughts.

"I'm sorry that I made you show me...I just, you're really cool and nice so I thought it would be cool to see more. If you don't want me around anymore I understand..."

He continues looking down at the floor still slightly out of fear.

Nayumi closed her eyes. Letting all that rage out felt... liberating. Her mind was clear once more. She calmly picked up her scarf, then tied it around her mouth again before turning to her friend. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to snap at you like that..." she apologized, her tone considerably calmer than it was a few seconds ago. "It's just that... In this town, only you and the teachers know about me... And I would appreciate it if you don't tell anyone either..."

He looks up at her with a serious look on his face.

"I will never, EVER, tell anyone. You have my word on it as your friend."

"Thanks..." Nayumi said quietly, then leaned back against the wall and hugged her knees. That was the first time someone had discovered her secret by accident... and he reacted by getting angry at her. Maybe she deserved it. After all, she was the one who was being unfair by hiding a secret from everyone. The girl quickly pressed her face against her knees before Taizai could see the guilt and shame in her eyes, barely resisting the urge to cry.

He crouches down next to her and speaks calmly to her.

"Nayumi, I'm sorry for getting upset. I was taken by surprise and I acted wrongly."

He places his hand on her shoulder and smiles.

"Please forgive me. I will never do it again."

The girl turned her eyes towards him. Why was he apologizing? She was the one who had snapped at him! Not to mention... Why was he still friendly after learning her secret? Why wasn't he running away, calling her a freak? What's what she expected would happen when someone saw her body. "You'll never do it again..." Nayumi repeated, with confusion in her eyes. "Does that mean... You still want to be my friend?"

"Of course I do Nayumi. Why would I not want to be your friend?"

He smiles as he holds her hands.

"B-because I'm a..." Nayumi spoke quietly and looked down at her mechanical hands. She couldn't find the strength to say even one name out, but many passed through her mind. A monster. A mechanical freak. An abomination that shouldn't live. Her eyes begun filling up with tears as she remembered all the names she called herself ever since she got her first good look at what they had done to her body. So, if even she knew what a freak she was... why didn't Taizai acknowledge it at all?

"Because you're a great friend Nayumi. I care a lot about you. Don't cry okay? I'm here for you."

He smiles softly and continues holding her hands.

The girl looked Taizai in the eyes. A... friend? Was that all he could see in her? But what about her body? She wasn't normal! She was... Well, at that moment, it didn't matter what she was, did it? Tears started rolling down her cheeks and into her scarf. But this time, she wasn't crying because she was upset, quite the opposite. Silently, the girl lied down and placed her head on Taizai's chest. "Thank you..." she whispered, still unable to stop her tears. The impossible had happened - someone accepted her as a human being, despite knowing full well that she wasn't one anymore.

"You're welcome Nayumi."

He wipes away her tears and smiles as he embraces her.

"I'm always here for you. Always."

"Yeah... I know that now..." she whispered quietly to him before closing her eyes to calm herself down a bit.

They sit there in silence for a few minutes before speaking.

"Nayumi...will you be there for me if I need you?"

Nayumi rose up, then looked at her friend, with affection in her eyes, wishing she could smile at him. "I will be there for you even if you don't need me, Taizai!" she said softly. "After all, that's what friends do, right?"

He nods and smiles at her.

"Of course that's what they do. You're a great friend Nayumi."

"So are you!" Nayumi giggled. "Thank you, really. I never expected anyone to accept me after learning my secret. You truly are an extraordinary person, Taizai Hikari!" she said and laughed.