Red Strings

Chapter 8: Who is...

"The hell happened out there?" Koyoka asked me.

"Pres, I'm not doing this anymore. I'm done, I give up."

"Miki-kun? What happened? Why'd you suddenly.... Change onstage?"

Change... Ahh that word, the thing my mom always tells me. "Unavoidable" hmph.

"You think I changed? I never changed. Did you really think I would continue on with that disgusting role?"

"Well... Of course you never changed, but... I thought you were different... Someone who'd be a good friend"

"Friend? Don't get your hopes up. It's impossible for me to have friends, or be a good per-" A sudden push.

"Shut up.... Koama" Koyoka looked at me in the eyes.

"First you disregarded my ideas... Refused to cooperate... And not a single shred of respect... Now... You're gonna ruin this for is too? What the hell do you want?!" He yelled.

I heard Ushuhara's yell to stop, but I didn't care, and smiled instead.

He let me go and stormed out. I looked down.

"Miki-kun.... Don't do this again... Please... I don't wanna see you in despair..."

The announcer said that we will reset the scene and continue the story onwards... I have no choice, huh? If it makes then happy, then so be it.

We continued the story the way it was written on the script, I went through all scenes, faking the emotion.

We've finished our stage play, we were free to do as we wish for the rest of the festival.

I looked out the window, it appeared as the entire place is in full swing... So many people.

I wonder why do they gather in one place so much? They put so much effort, it's a waste of money.

I headed downstairs, completely ignoring the busy students.

"Miki-kun!" I heard a voice, it was Ushihara's.

"What?"

"Hey uhm... I was wondering if you were going out, are you going alone again?"

"We can't leave school until 3. I have no choice, so I'll find a way to kill time" I said in an arrogant tone.
"So.... You're going out?"

"Should be obvious, yes. What do you  want then?"

"Oh! Uhh... Wanna go hang out? Let's have fun!"

"Geeze... What's so fun about walking around constantly eating and exhausting yourself by going one place to another?"

"Oh come on, it'll be fun!"

... We headed outside the building and onto the school yard...

"Oh!" She looked surprised. "I noticed.... You're back to your former self"

"What? Didn't I make this clear? I never changed!"

"Hehe... I guess you're right... You're the same old, same old Mikkun"

That nickname... Huh.... Familiar isn't it?...

"Don't call me that again."

"What, you mean Mikkun?"

"Yes, I don't like it."

"Oh.... Well, sorry for that..."

....

As usual, she kept dragging me along, to a bunch of stalls and games, she kept forcing me to eat some, I guess I don't mind that since she's paying for me.

It's already noon... I was sitting at a bench, waiting for her.

Waiting for her, huh?... That's new...

She came back, holding two boxed lunches.

"I'm back!"

She presented me one of them, and began eating... We look like a couple.... Just the two of us on a bench.... Damn...

We finished pur lunches, we stayed there for a couple of minutes silently...

"Hey Miki-kun"

"Hm?"

"I've noticed... Has anything happened recently?"

"Huh? Why'd you ask?"

"You've been having some troubles recently, and I wondered what's on your mind.."

She's gotta be talking about my breakdowns huh...

"What are you trying to ask?" I said stubbornly.

"Miki-kun, you nearly costed us our festival today, and it's all thanks to you breaking on your knees"

"I said I'm fine. Like I say many times, I never change"

She has no business poking into my life. Bad enough I hate being with other people, now they're meddling with my personal life.

She looked at me again, with a serious glare.

"Miki-kun... Who is 'Kayo'? You've been whispering that name everytime you fall apart.. And... I'm worried Miki-kun"

"SHUT UP" I said with all my might.

"YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH THAT NAME" I ran away.

As fast as I could, I made my exit out of the school. I ignored the people who heard my shout, even left behind my things.

Why... Why does it hurt?? I can't stop thinking about Kayo.. Why does Ushihara remind me so much of her..?

DAMNIT

End of Chapter 8.