Together with Hinata, I fall down on a small but soft patch of grass next to the road. My lungs feel like they're about to explode, pumping oxygen in and out at a very fast rate.
Both of us are unable to say anything for a while. I can't even form any thoughts. I need to calm down...
I need to think about what happened. Someone was chasing me and Hinata. Everything went exactly as I thought it would... Yet Fortuna saved me.
What is Hinata thinking right now? He must understand even less of the situation than me. How will I explain this to him...?
'Are you... Okay..?' I manage to bring out in between my breaths.
He hums shortly. 'What...?' He, too, can't say much yet. But I know what he means.
I force myself to catch my breath quickly. 'I'm so sorry.' The first thing I feel I should be doing, is apologize. Which is funny, because normally I never feel like it.
The small boy turns his head to look at me, still panting. 'Kageyama.'
'I know. You want answers. But I can't give them. All I can say is that someone is trying to kill me. And if you get too close to me, they'll come for you, too. I'm sorry.'
'What?!' Hinata finds the energy to yell again. 'Someone's doing what? And me too?! You should've told me that before!'
'I didn't know until just recently. I am so sorry for getting you involved.' For the first time since all of this happened, I feel like crying. I have hurt Hinata. I have scared him. Surely, now that he knows all this, he will leave.
Never have I called him my friend. Never have I thought of myself as lonely, but now that he's about to leave..
He was the only person willing to talk to me, to spend time with me. I may regret admitting this, but... Every second with him was so much better than all those years I spent alone.
'Hey, Hinata... Can I make a selfish request?' I ask him, staring at the clouds again.
He stays silent again. Probably because he is at a loss for words. I use the opportunity to talk.
'I know I'm just some angry asshole, and I know that I am putting you at risk... But I think you were right. I was lonely. You showed me that. And now I don't think I can take it to return to that. Please.'
It sounds like I'm begging. Maybe I am. I don't know anymore, nor do I care. Never in my life have I felt so desperate. And today has shown me that I might not even have that long anymore. So it's okay to be selfish for once... Right?
Hinata still doesn't answer. I turn to look at him. Is he even awake? It seems so; his eyes are wide open, looking at me. How did I not notice? Normally, his gaze burns holes through my skin...
'I promise, if I live to tell the tale, I will tell you everything. And I know this is weird to hear, because we haven't known each other for that long... But I need you to trust me. I need you to get through this with me.'
'Kageyama.' He finally speaks up again. 'That thing I wanted to say. Let me say it tomorrow. After that, we'll see if I stay.' For some reason, he sounds distant. It hurts.
Damn it, I hate how emotional I am getting over this. It's just a boy. One like many others. So why? Why can't I just be normal? Why do I risk my life for him? Fucking shit.
'Tobio...' A new, soft voice pops up. 'You absolute donkey!'
I am about to sit up, when I get kicked in the side. 'What the fuck? That hurts!'
'If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead. You do realize that, don't you?' The voice belongs to Fortuna, who is looking more angry than ever before. 'I told you so many times...'
'Who was that girl? I have seen her in the visions before,' I ask the girl.
'Visions?' Another curious question, but this time it comes from Hinata, who is also sitting up now.
'Ugh, he's still here...' Fortuna frowns. 'You didn't tell him anything, did you?'
'I told him I'm gonna die. Didn't tell him why or how, though,' I assure her.
'You dumbass!' She strikes me in the back of my head with her fist.
'I thought you said you weren't gonna die...' Hinata is sitting right next to me, but it feels like he is miles away.
My heart squeezes again. 'Hinata, I.. Can you make it to your home by yourself?' Though I feel really, really sorry, he can't be with me and Fortuna while we talk. And I need to know more.
'Sure. Oh, and just so you know. I'll be acting like nothing happened at school Monday. Please go along, at least until we talk.' He doesn't look at me while he says this.
'Alright. Please get home safe,' I tell him.
Without another word, the boy leaves, not looking behind him once. It is weird to see him like this. The shock has made him a completely different person. I hate it.
'Dammit...' I can't help but curse. I never wanted this. Why me? 'You really couldn't think of any other way to make your girl jealous back then?'
'Well, I am soooo sorry for bringing you in this situation, but you simply don't listen! Everything would be okay if you did!' Fortuna yells at me as we start walking back.
'It wouldn't! If I had to ignore him for no reason at all, both of us would've gotten hurt. I can't help it. You need to understand.'
No, you need to understand. I am working my ass off, day and night, trying to find Pepromene. Meanwhile, you just go ahead and fall in love with that shrimp more and more every day.'
'I am not in love with him.' I refuse to accept that.
'Stubborn...' the blond girl sighs. 'That girl. The one that attacked you. That was Pepromene.'
'Huh?' It doesn't surprise me as much as I expected. 'So.. She's coming for me now?'
'Apparently, she found you through a descendant of hers. Have you had any strong, negative feelings for some random person today?'
'Now that you mention it...' I frown. 'There was this guy at my school. He was loud. He did have the same hair colour she has. He made me very angry for no reason.'
'I bet that was him, then. Pepromene probably made it that you hate him because she hates me.' Fortuna laughs a little, but I can see she is hurt.
'And what. She told you all of this? What happened after you tackled her?'
'I pinned her to the ground and forced her to talk. Ah, I'm sure she's even more mad at me now...'
'Well, great job with that, then,' I sigh.
'Yeah. I should've just let you die, right?' she answers sarcastically.
'I get it, I get it. But you know what she looks like now, so it should be easy to find her, right?'
'Easier said than done, that's for sure. But I think I can make some progress soon. Just, make sure not to get too close to the boy. I will try my best to fix this as soon as I can.'
After that, both of us fall silent for a while. I haven't processed any of today's events yet. But there is one more question that I need to ask.
'I remember something you told me at the very beginning. Hinata's life is at risk too, huh? I saw a vision where she... She killed him...' I have to swallow hard before continuing. 'So, is she after him as well?'
'Sorry. I can't answer that. Not because I don't want to, but... It's better not to tell you some things. Just know that it is safest for both of you to keep your distance from each other.'
I eye her suspiciously, but let it slide. If it is for my survival, so be it. 'Alright. And one more thing. Thank you.'
She looks at me, surprised. 'Wow! You really are a changed man!' She laughs, softly hitting my arm.
I smile along with her for a quick second, before my mind gets swallowed by anxiety. Tomorrow will be an eventful day...
~How many chapters did I publish in the last 12 hrs? 4? I am getting a deja vu kinda feeling.... -J~