In a small town lies Kaijo High School, but our story no longer takes place there. In the city of Tokuko, five hours from Kaijo, 4 old friends, who were a part of their high school culture club, alongside some new faces, embark on the next stages of their lives, and this is their story...
September 2024
Yazzy: Hang on, say that again
Lizzy: He's gone
Tori: We got that. Elaborate
Lizzy: Michi just said that whatever was going on with him was impacting his life, that he's still in Kaijo and Michi reckons he might not even come back
Katie: So he's just gone?
Lizzy: Seems like it, little bitch, I finally got my punching bag back and now he's abandoning me
Tori: You still have Delia
Lizzy: That's true
Katie: He's doing this all on his own? He doesn't have anyone with him?
Yazzy: I doubt he's alone
Katie: What does that mean?
Yazzy: He's got a girlfriend
Lizzy spits her drink out
Lizzy: The fuck?
Tori: Jealous?
Lizzy: Shut the fuck up
Lizzy turns towards Yazzy
Lizzy: I told that jumped up little shit bag that if he didn't get back together with you, I would cut off his balls and burn them on a fire whilst chanting demonic verses, cursing him to be unattractive to every single organism on the planet for the rest of his sad, miserable life. I said-
Tori: We get it
Lizzy: Don't fucking interrupt me
Katie: Girlfriend?
Lizzy: You're always a little behind the conversation aren't you?
Katie: I can't help it, my brain's filled with Riko, it takes a little longer for everything else to squeeze through
Lizzy: Yazzy, who is this bitch anyway?
Tori: That's Katie
Katie: Hmmm?
Lizzy: No you fucktard, the skank bitch boy's dating
Yazzy: Oh I think her name is Ashlie or Meredith or something
Tori: That's a lot of names
Yazzy: Don't you think we should call him?
Lizzy: That bitch left without saying anything so no, he can rot in hell for all I care
Tokuko Center
Delia: Hey
Kaylin: Hey
Delia: I haven't seen you in forever
Kaylin: Work's been so busy lately
Delia: I wouldn't know
Kaylin: Don't be so hard on yourself, you'll find something
Delia: My friends don't think so
Kaylin: Well your friends are crusty ass bitches
Delia: What have you been up to?
Kaylin: I've been working on a project for work, it's kept me busy for ages
Delia: It's good to see you anyway
Kaylin's phone rings
Kaylin: Oh babe, I'm so sorry it's my boss, I need to take this
Delia: No worries, I'll just go check us in
Kaylin answers the phone as Delia speaks to the hotel receptionist
Kaylin: Hey
Kieran: Hey
Kaylin: How are things?
Kieran: You'd know if you'd been here
Kaylin: Don't start
Kieran: I haven't seen you since the day you walked off from our coffee in July. I came back to the room and you'd just gone
Kaylin: I told you why
Kieran: Yeah yeah work
Kaylin: Why did you call?
Kieran: Just wanted to see if you would actually answer. You're supposed to be my girlfriend, we've been together over a year and yet I haven't seen you in over 5 weeks
Kaylin: Are you being serious? You're making me feel bad for the fact that I've been working. We don't all get a summer break like you do
Kieran: If you'd been here, you'd know that this hasn't exactly been a break
Kaylin: It's always about you isn't it
Kieran: What is wrong with you lately?
Kaylin: Me, I've always been like this, it's you who's got the problem
Kieran: What?
Kaylin: You're always treating me like shit, talking down to me, blaming me for everything. Have you ever considered that you might be the problem?
Kieran: I'm sorry
Kaylin: Just think about these things before you snap at me, especially when I've done nothing wrong
Kieran: Things have just been tough lately
Kaylin: I know and I've been sympathetic, I've done everything I can do stand by you and support you, even when you are being like this
Kieran: You know I appreciate it
Kaylin: Do you?
Delia: Hey, do you want breakfast tomorrow?
Kieran: Who's that?
Kaylin: It's my boss, we're checking into our hotel for the conference tomorrow
Kieran: Oh. It's just the voice sounds familiar
Kaylin: Well look, I need to get on, I'm busy, you know I can't spend too long on the phone
Kieran: Yeah, yeah, sorry, I'll let you go
Kaylin: I love you
Kieran: Me too
Kieran puts the phone down and walks over to the mirror in his bathroom. As he looks at himself, he takes note of the deep purple bruises across his ribs, the blackest of eyes, the fat lip and the large cut stretching from his collarbone to the centre of his chest. He sighs and heads over to his bed
October 2024. Tori & Delia's Apartment
Tori: Shhhh, my roommate's asleep
Kaylin: Ok, ok, I'm going
They giggle and share a kiss
Kaylin: I had a great night
Tori: Me too. Same again tonight?
Kaylin: I'm working tonight
Tori: Oh that's a shame
Kaylin: I'll text you
Tori: Bye
Kaylin: Bye babe
Kaylin walks out the door, pulls out her cell and texts Delia. She tells Delia that she'll see her tonight
Katie & Lizzy's Apartment
Yazzy: I'm worried about Kieran
Katie: You are? I would never have guessed
Yazzy: The sarcasm is not appreciated
Katie: So go see him
Yazzy: It's not that easy
Katie: Why?
Yazzy: Uhh...ex-boyfriend?
Katie: And? You're friends now aren't you?
Yazzy: Well yeah but
Katie: You're his friend, you're worried about him, go see him
Yazzy: I don't even know where he is
Katie: He's in Kaijo, we saw him there
Yazzy: We saw him in the town square, we don't know where he's staying. What do you want me to do, knock on every door in Kaijo?
Katie stares at Yazzy with a deadpan expression
Katie: I would if it was Riko
Yazzy: Riko's not real Katie
Katie falls off her chair
Katie: How dare you?!
Yazzy: I feel like I'd be overstepping. Yeah we stayed as friends when we broke up but ever since he started dating his girlfriend, it's felt like he's become more closed off. Everyday he gets a little further out of reach. It's like high school all over again
Katie: So do something about it. Stop complaining and get up off your ass, get on a train, go to Kaijo and check on him. Remind him that your his friend and that you care for him. You've gotta fucking do something about it instead of telling me
Yazzy: You sound like Lizzy
Katie: Well, we've shared a place for 8 years now, it was bound to happen
Yazzy: Will you cover for me at work?
Katie: Yeah of course
Tori & Delia's Apartment
Delia: I'm so glad you made it
Kaylin: I promised you didn't I?
Delia: Come on, let's go to my room quick before my roommate gets back
Kaylin: Your roommates coming back? You said they were out tonight
Delia: She was, but her shift at the hospital was changed so she's home today instead
Kaylin: This was a bad idea
Delia: What? No come on, don't be stupid
Kaylin: You lied to me
Delia: Not intentionally, I only found out an hour ago
Kaylin: How am I supposed to trust you when you act like this?
Delia: You know what, I'm not getting into this. Just go, it's fine, we'll do this another day
Kaylin: No wait, I'm sorry
Delia: You can't just throw a tantrum and then apologise like it's nothing
Kaylin: Delia, please
Delia: I'll call you tomorrow but for tonight I think it's best if you go home
Kaylin: We're ok, right?
Delia: Yeah we're fine
Kaylin makes her way to the door and as she leaves, Delia sits down on the couch and switches the TV on
Reporter: In other news, a trial at Hanabu Court came to a close today after 9 weeks. The trial, which had seen multiple witnesses give evidence, suffered a pause in proceedings when the defendant suffered a panic attack. Lawyers representing the defendant claimed that "the baseless accusations" against their client had caused him undue stress and worry, remarking that the prosecution had conducted a witch hunt. The trial resumed 2 weeks ago after doctors determined that the defendant was of sound mind and able to continue the trial, going so far to note that the defendant was actually in a better mental state than declared. Closing statements were heard today from both the prosecution and the defence with the jury retiring to make their decision.
The front door opens and Tori comes in
Tori: Hey
Delia: Hey, you good?
Tori: Yeah, I was anticipating a 12 hour shift tonight so not having that is a dream. I'm gonna call my girlfriend real quick
Delia: Ok
Tori: Oh, wasn't your gf coming round tonight
Delia: She's been and gone. She proper freaked out when I said you were coming back
Tori: Sounds like my girlfriend
Delia: What if they were same person?
Tori: That thought makes me sick
Delia: Tell me about it
Tori starts dialling and as she waits for an answer, the couch starts vibrating
Delia: That's not one of your toys is it?
Tori: What? No, they're all in my closet
Delia: Oh it's a phone
Tori: Must be the girlfriends. She probably left it behind last night
Delia: Wasn't here earlier though
Tori: How do you know?
Delia: Because I was cleaning
Tori raises an eyebrow
Delia: I have nothing else to do, what do you expect?
Tori: Fair
Delia: Perhaps I just missed it earlier
Tori: I'll put it on the side, I'm sure she'll come pick it up soon
February 2016. Kaijo High School
Lizzy: There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you
Kieran: We're in the same class, you know this
Lizzy: I don't care what class you're in
Kieran: I figured
Lizzy: Look, I'm trying to be nice this time, don't make me hurt you
Kieran: I uh....
Lizzy: Your dad
Kieran: What about him?
Lizzy: He's an ass right?
Kieran: He's the only human being that's more abusive to me than you, what's your point?
Lizzy: I just want you to know that any time he hurts you or abuses you, you can talk to me ok? I'm serious
Kieran: I appreciate it
Lizzy: Besides, the only one allowed to abuse you is me. You're my personal punching bag
Kieran: What's brought this sudden conversation on?
Lizzy: Well, we're graduating soon and y'know just needed saying
Kieran: You care about me don't you?
Kieran smirks and Lizzy retaliates by crushing his fingers
Kieran: Okay...ow ow OW OW that hurts. Yep that really hurts
Lizzy: You breathe a word of this conversation and it's bye bye fingers, got it?
Kieran winces in pain
Kieran: Yeah....got it
October 2024
Yazzy took the earliest train she could get to Kaijo. She felt out of place checking on Kieran like this, but she couldn't not make sure he was ok. Using methods that would impress Lizzy, she had managed to track down the hotel he was currently staying at and once she had convinced the receptionist that it was vital she got his room number she made her way up to his room and knocked on his door
Kieran: Who is it?
Yazzy: It's Yazzy
Kieran: What? What are you doing here?
Yazzy: No one's heard from you in months, we're worried about you
Kieran: I'm just busy
Yazzy: Don't lie, especially not to me. Kieran, you quit your job....
Kieran: Look if I wanted you all to know I'd tell you alright, but I don't so please just go
Yazzy: Come on, just let me in and we can talk
Kieran: Yazzy I'm serious please leave
Yazzy: No
Kieran: Yazzy c'mon
Yazzy: I'm standing firm
Kieran: It won't make any difference, I'm not going back to Tokuko, I'm done there. I'm not allowed to live my life the way I want to so it's done. I'm finished. I'm staying in Kaijo and I'll live out the rest of my sad, pathetic excuse for a life right here, which hopefully won't be that much longer
Yazzy: Ok I'm coming in
Kieran: Don't you dare
Yazzy backs up a step
Yazzy: Kieran.....I just want to help
Kieran: Well I don't want your help! I don't want anyone's help. What I would like is to be left alone
Yazzy: We don't get what we want
Kieran: Yeah, I know......Yazzy go home
Yazzy: Kieran....
Kieran: Get on the train or whatever the fuck you took to get here and go home. I don't want you here
Yazzy: I'm-
Kieran: FUCK OFF YAZZY AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! GO!
Yazzy turns away from the door and begins walking away, she holds her hand over her mouth so he can't hear her sobbing as the tears stream down her face. As the elevator door opens, she enters and as the doors begin to close, she drops to the floor and cries
In his room, Kieran rests against the back of the door before slumping to the ground. He puts his head in his hands and breaks. There are fresh wounds on his body, wounds he doesn't want anyone to see. His cell buzzes and he pulls it out of his pocket to see a message from Kaylin
Kaylin: I think we need to talk...