LIFE Volume 2: v. 2 - Tapa blanda

After Manami's near-suicide ordeal, Ayumu goes home. She watches a TV program about wrist cutting, and finds out that she's not the only one with the problem. She runs out from her house, and ends up at a sleazy restaurant bar. She discovers that one of her classmate, Miki Hatoba, works there. Miki is considered an outcast in class because she seldom attends class, and many people rumor that she sleeps around and does shady activities. However, Ayumu feels comforted and happy when she talks to Miki. Back at school, Ayumu begins to blend in with the other girls. Ayumu cannot stand watching Manami waste away because of the breakup, so she collects some information about Manami and her boyfriend, Katsumi Sako. She discovers that Katsumi is a well- rounded person at everything (handsome, nice, rich, and he is always the top scorer in tests). She approaches Katsumi one day, and asks why he had broken up with Manami. It rains suddenly, and so the two decide to take refuge at Katsumi's house. While Katsumi dries off, Ayumu discovers an album hidden in a pile of towels. She is shocked to discover that the book is filled with pictures of girls tied up in bondage. Katsumi finds out that Ayumu discovered his secret, and scares her. The next day at school, Katsumi apologizes to Ayumu about his "past" secret. He confides to Ayumu that he and Manami had gotten back together, and that Ayumu should go to talk to Manami at her home. Katsumi gives Ayumu an address, and Ayumu heads to Manami's apartment. However, when Ayumu heads to the apartment, she finds out that Katsumi is inside instead. She is forced inside, and she is tied up just like the girls in the pictures she saw. Katsumi reveals that he has such a fetish because he was tired of being the "perfect guy." Katsumi takes many pictures of Ayumu in bondage, and he also discovers that Ayumu is a wrist-cutter. Ayumu is now extremely afraid of Katsumi for two different reasons. Days go by, and the school takes all the first grade students to camp. On the first night, the girls sneak in some fireworks, but the girls must finish washing the day's dishes. Ayumu finds that all the girls have ditched her for the fireworks and she is washing the dishes all by herself. Miki Hatori sees what's going on, and so she stops the girls from playing fireworks by throwing water at them. The girls are peeved, so the girls decide to collectively ignore Miki from now on.