Thankfully, whatever drama there was seemed to blow over like the scent of mashed potatoes (very mashed potatoes) dissipating in the air. And everyone else was preoccupied with the little boy who had a fork up his nose and underwear patterned with pink things around his ankles. This school was really, really strange. Maybe if she told her mother what it was like, she would be allowed to go home, even if they'd already bought the rather hideous robes.

Kana decided that now would be a good time to make an exit. She grabbed Matilda by the scruff of her neck and tugged, while the tail end of the other girl's own shameful semi-apology wafted into her shell-like ears. "Crazy! Look who's talking," Kana snapped. "Now, c'mon, before they notice us."

The kid bleeding to death was a good diversion.