FROZEN IN TIME

"Frozen in Time"

The morning sun filtered through the large windows of the school, casting a warm glow on the bustling hallway as students hurried to their classes. Laughter, chatter, and the sounds of slamming lockers filled the air. Amid the noise, a small group of girls stood together, forming a close-knit circle.

Yumi, Hana, Reina, Keiko, Mayumi, and Aiko were gathered near their lockers, exchanging glances as they chatted, their voices low and their faces showing a subtle unease. The absence of one particular person weighed heavily on them, though no one had quite addressed it yet.

"Is it just me, or does it feel weird without Kyoshi here?" Yumi finally asked, breaking the silence as she adjusted her hair, glancing around for any sign of him.

"I was thinking the same thing," Hana said, her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced down the hallway. "He’s usually cracking jokes or doing something stupid by now. It’s... quiet."

Keiko, ever soft-spoken, nodded in agreement, her eyes downcast as she fidgeted with the edge of her uniform. "It’s like something’s missing," she murmured. “It doesn’t feel right.”

Reina let out a sigh, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall with an air of frustration. "He’s probably just late. Knowing Kyoshi, he probably overslept or got distracted by something dumb." But even her usual sarcasm lacked its sharpness, and her eyes kept wandering toward the door, as though she half-expected him to walk through it any second.

"Kyoshi’s never this late," Mayumi said quietly, looking concerned. Her fingers absently ran over her sleeve, where her jacket used to cover the scars that had long since healed. "Maybe something happened?"

Aiko, standing a little apart from the group, stared at the floor in silence. The usual heaviness in her demeanor seemed to return for a moment, the familiar worry creeping back into her mind. She bit her lip, her gaze distant as if lost in thought. "I hope he’s okay," she finally whispered.

The girls exchanged glances, each feeling the same nagging worry tugging at their hearts. Kyoshi’s absence felt unnatural, like a part of their day had been stolen away. He was the one who brought energy to their group, the one who always found a way to make them laugh, even when they didn’t feel like it.

Yumi crossed her arms, her expression softening as she remembered Kyoshi’s usual antics. "It’s weird, isn’t it? I didn’t realize how much he lightens the mood until now. It’s like... everything feels heavier without him here."

Keiko nodded in agreement. "I miss hearing him joke around. He always knows how to make things feel less serious."

"Yeah," Mayumi said softly. "He’s the one who keeps us all together."

Reina sighed again, but this time her expression softened too, her tough exterior giving way to a quiet acknowledgment. "As much as he annoys me sometimes, I have to admit... it’s too quiet without him."

Hana, ever the logical one, pushed her glasses up her nose and spoke thoughtfully. "Maybe he’s just taking a day off. He might be stressed or something and needed a break."

The others nodded, though the worry still hung in the air between them.

---

As the morning wore on and the first bell rang, the girls made their way to class, still talking quietly amongst themselves. Kyoshi’s empty seat in the classroom was a glaring reminder of his absence, and as the teacher began the lesson, they found themselves distracted, their eyes flickering toward his desk every so often.

The teacher’s voice droned on, but Yumi couldn’t focus. She leaned over to Hana, whispering, "It’s not the same without him here, right? Like, he always makes class less boring."

Hana gave a small nod, her eyes serious as she responded in a whisper, "He’s a distraction, but a good one. I didn’t realize how much he affects the mood until now."

Keiko, sitting behind them, overheard and smiled weakly. "I miss his dumb comments," she added softly, glancing down at her notebook. "They made the day go by faster."

Reina, who was usually quick to scold Kyoshi for his behavior, now found herself missing the very things she used to roll her eyes at. "You guys are so soft," she said, though her voice lacked its usual edge. "He’ll probably show up any minute with some lame excuse and a grin on his face."

"I hope so," Yumi replied, her voice quieter than usual.

---

Lunchtime came, and the group gathered in their usual spot outside, the sun shining brightly as students milled about, laughing and eating. The girls sat together on the grassy hill overlooking the courtyard, but the usual lively chatter felt muted.

"He should’ve been here by now," Aiko said, glancing at her phone. "Even if he was late, he’d usually show up for lunch at least."

Mayumi frowned, her fingers brushing over the grass absently. "Do you think we should call him?"

Hana shook her head. "If he’s not feeling well, he probably just needs rest. But it is strange that he didn’t say anything."

They all nodded, but the unease only grew.

As they sat there, the wind rustling the leaves around them, Yumi broke the silence with a soft laugh, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Remember when Kyoshi tried to make us all laugh by doing that ridiculous dance during gym class?"

Reina groaned but smiled despite herself. "Yeah, and he tripped over his own feet and ended up face-first in the dirt."

Keiko giggled at the memory, her face lighting up. "He was so embarrassed, but he played it off like he meant to do it."

"He’s always been like that," Hana added, her expression thoughtful. "Trying to make people laugh, even at his own expense."

As they reminisced, the mood lightened for a moment, but it wasn’t long before the weight of his absence returned. The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and the girls made their way back to class, their hearts still heavy with concern.

---

Back in the classroom, the teacher resumed the lesson, but the girls’ attention was elsewhere. As the minutes ticked by, they found themselves stealing glances at the clock more frequently.

It was during one of these glances that Yumi noticed something strange.

The clock’s second hand had been moving steadily, but now... it stopped.

Her brow furrowed as she stared at it. "What the...?"

Hana, sitting beside her, noticed Yumi’s confusion and followed her gaze. She frowned. "Is the clock broken?"

Before anyone could answer, a sudden stillness settled over the room. The noise of the classroom, the faint rustling of papers, the distant chatter from the hall—it all vanished. The air seemed to grow heavier, as if the very fabric of time had been disturbed.

Everything froze.

The teacher, mid-sentence, stood frozen at the front of the room. The other students, their hands poised over their notebooks, were still, as if time itself had been paused.

Yumi looked around, her heart pounding. "What’s happening?"

Reina’s voice was tight with confusion. "Why is everyone...?"

Keiko’s hand trembled as she reached out toward her desk, but it never made contact. Her body stiffened, her eyes fluttering shut as if she were falling into an unnatural sleep. One by one, the girls felt their bodies succumb to the strange force, their consciousness slipping away as their surroundings faded into a blur.

Mayumi tried to speak, but no words came out. Aiko, who had been sitting closest to the window, stared out at the frozen world, her eyes wide with shock before she too fell into the same deep slumber.

The room was eerily still.

All that remained was silence, and in that silence, the world seemed to pause, as if time itself had come to a standstill.

---

Elsewhere, Kyoshi walked through the quiet streets, unaware that the world around him had frozen. His heart was heavy with memories, but something darker loomed in the distance. Time was no longer his ally.

As he made his way through the empty streets, he felt a strange pull—one that would lead him to a familiar shadow waiting by a car.

And so, the world stood still, and time itself began to unravel.

**To be continued...**

Chapter end