Kagome, we were really worried about you! I can't go back to that world anymore—at school.
The instant Kagome walked into the classroom, three figures sprang up from their seats.
"Kagome!"
"You're finally here!"
"We heard you were sick—we were worried to death!"
"We haven't seen you in so long! We missed you so much!"
"..."
Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi crowded around her and wrapped Kagome in a tight group hug.
Kagome was squeezed in the middle of them.
"Okay, okay, I'm fine. I just had a little illness."
"What do you mean, little illness! Three weeks! You didn't come to school for three weeks!"
Yuka's eyes were red, tears glimmering in them.
"We thought you had some serious disease!"
The smile on Kagome's face stiffened a little.
What kind of illness was it supposed to be? Could I make one up on the spot and have it sound believable?
Eri held Kagome's hand and looked her up and down.
"You've lost weight. Your face is a whole size smaller."
"Have I?"
Kagome touched her own face.
"Does being thinner make me prettier?"
"You're still in the mood to joke!"
Ayumi lightly thumped Kagome on the shoulder.
The four of them sat down. Yuka lay across her desk, propping her chin in her hands as she looked at Kagome.
"Kagome, what exactly were you doing at home these past three weeks? It wasn't really some serious illness, was it?"
"No, no, it was just a cold and a fever, and then it wouldn't go down, so my mom made me stay home in bed."
Kagome said it with a smile, her voice perfectly natural.
But something flickered in her eyes.
"Are you better now?"
"I'm better. Look at me, I'm full of energy."
Kagome made a flexing gesture, and all