♚ CHAPTER TWENTY TWO ♚
IT ALL STARTED A MONTH after the 2010 Spring Tournament when they win their last nationals at middle school.
"Aah, this feels so strange. There's no one following us around anymore," Konoha complained, rubbing his palms together to produce warmth in this winter. "We really become an ordinary schoolboy. I'm still not used to it."
Yanagi chuckled beside him. "Hmm, you're right. Usually, we're at the gym by now."
They came to a halt in front of their school's very large and spacious gym. They could hear the familiar screams and loud bangs from outside.
"Well, we're in the third year. Already thinking about the future," Konoha said. "Oh yeah, you really are going to accept Fukurodani's recommendation, right?"
Yanagi nodded. "Yeah."
Konoha nodded happily. The two of them have decided to accept Fukurodani Academy's recommendation. "It's unfortunate that Ryugu doesn't have a high school. If there is one, I will most likely continue."
The two of them continued their way until they reached the front gate of the school. Konoha turned to Yanagi. "You coming?"
The dark gray-haired teen shook his head. "There will be a student council meeting later."
"Then I'll go first. Don't forget to rest, captain," Konoha gave him a small grin before continuing on his way home. His house is not that far from his school. Just 2 train stops.
Not nearly five minutes he walked to the station, somehow whether this was just his imagination or not, Konoha felt someone was following him. If they just have the same way, it was a reasonable possibility because there were bound to be many people who walk the same way he did. This, however, feels different.
He feels like someone watched him a lot more than usual and his skin is tingling as if to warn him.
Konoha was able to board the train and was standing near the door. From the corner of his eye, he could see, in the reflection of the windowpane, that someone was attempting to dress in a non-suspicious manner, despite the fact that it was extremely suspicious. A dark gray bomber jacket, a black mask, and a hat. Typical.
But then again, he couldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe it was just a hallucination. Maybe it's just someone who really likes to dress like that.
The train stops at his destination station. Konoha immediately came out, wanting his mother's warm miso soup quickly. However, he could see the person following him out of the corner of his eye. Sometimes he disappears into the shadows when he looks back.
Weird. But he can't jump to conclusions quickly.
○ ♚ ○
"Breaking news. A car accident killed the head of the Yanagi family and his wife on the spot at 17.00. They―"
He stood up in shock, eyes wide, and chin drooping. Konoha couldn't believe it. He tried changing the channel, but almost all of the news was showing the same thing, and Konoha didn't know what to do.
He quickly took out his flip phone. Typing a message to the former captain.
Little Squid
I heard the news.
I'm sorry for your loss.
The day flew by more quickly than usual. Yanagi skipped for two days after the accident. While Konoha spent the entire day studying. He didn't want to embarrass himself at the start of his high school and the finals, even though he had accepted Fukuronadi Academy's recommendation.
His message from two days ago had not been read. He wasn't expecting an answer; all he wanted to know was how he was doing. Aren't they friends?
"Achoo!!" Konoha sneezed, luckily he swiftly covered his mouth. "Please don't be sick. Final exams are coming up!!" He drew a tissue from his backpack pocket with haste. Clean his nose thoroughly and dispose of it in the nearest garbage can.
His gaze was drawn unintentionally to the cafe's glass reflection in front of him. He could see a large and burly man dressed in a long black coat and hat from the corner of his vision.
Konoha's heart was pounding furiously. Not again. He had the distinct impression that someone was following him for the entire three days. He initially mistook it for his new neighbor. When he tried to slow down, the figure followed him as well. And it was only yesterday that he realized he was being followed by someone.
But why? Konoha doesn't know. He looks normal, almost plain. He's not tall enough. And he also comes from an ordinary family. Nothing is interesting. So, why is he being followed?
Konoha was starting to get agitated. His hands were fidgeting with his red scarf as he tried to calm down. He tries to get into the convenience store, buy the items he wants, and see if anything can assist him. A can of soda and some eggs, for example. He hoped that it will be beneficial.
As he expected, the man followed him. If his prejudices were wrong, then the man should have gone from now.
Konoha is getting restless. Gripping the plastic bag tightly. He hastened his way. Chose to use a long and twisted path to outwit him.
But even though he was moving fast, that person was still able to follow him. Konoha's hands instinctively reached for his cell phone and dialed a number. Feeling more and more restless at the ringing sound.
"Yes?"
"Naoto!!" he whispered in relief.
"Akinori?"
"Naoto, please help me," Konoha's voice sounds so weak and shaking. "I'm scared."
"What happened?" there is a noise from the phone but Konoha continues.
"Help me. Help me. I'm scared. I'm scared," he chanted. Body shaking as he quickly goes to to the crowded room.
"Where are you? I will be there."
"At the mall near the school. Someone's following me."
"I'm already in the car. Try to get into the crowd. Don't hang up."
"Yes. Yes. Please hurry..."
"Calm yourself. I will be there."
Konoha made his way through the crowd. Fortunately, it's afternoon so the mall was quite crowded. He was still holding his phone to his ear. Obtaining some reassurance while remaining restless bout that person.
A few minutes had passed. Konoha's feet patted the floor in a restless rhythm and he bit his thumb. His gaze couldn't stay still as he searched for Yanagi's whereabouts. "Naoto, where are you?"
"I just arrived. Where are you?"
Konoha looked around, his body still trembling with fear and shock, looking for Yanagi's figure while walking around to the entrance and exit of the mall. He finally found him, striking with his all-black suit.
The man was on the verge of collapsing when Yanagi stopped and helped him to his feet. The tall man can feel his body trembling and his eyes nearly dripping with tears.
"Have a drink first." Yanagi took the bottle of mineral water that Albert prepared and helped him to drink.
Konoha was still gasping for air. "Naoto... Naoto..."
"I'm here," Yanagi wrapped his arm around his shoulders and gently pressed them against his chest. His hand then moved to his head and gently rubbed it. "Tell me what happened."
And he told him. Starting from the beginning he just assumed that he was a new neighbor, then with a few days, he was followed but did not want to assume something, until now.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Yanagi asked, leading him to his parked car.
"You're still mourning, I don't want to bother you," he whispered.
Yanagi was silent for a few seconds before sighing. "You will never bother me," he said, leading Konoha into the car. The man closed the door to the Konoha section and spoke quietly to Albert.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Yes, Yanagi-sama."
"Good."
○ ♚ ○
Konoha's life returned to normal after that incident. It was just that, he get some sort of trauma, he would occasionally cast a wary glance back. Pepper powder spray is now in his bag and school coat pocket. He'll also make certain that his phone's battery is always charged.
Konoha had just returned from the store, where he had purchased some stationery supplies that had run out due to his study activities. He inhaled deeply, tried to calm his racing heart, and summoned the courage to return home.
His eyes blinked a few times as he saw a familiar pair of shoes neatly tucked away at the end of the shelf. And when he walked into the living room, he saw his parents and Yanagi.
Eh?
"Naoto?" he called. The teen turned to him and nodded in greetings as usual.
"Why is he here?" he asked his parents.
"Naoto-kun helped me carry some groceries earlier," his mother replied, a faint smile on her face. Konoha simply nodded and decided to ignore it.
He went to his room, dropped his belongings, and quickly changed before heading downstairs. His mother had begun preparing dinner with his father, who had returned to his study.
"Eh? Naoto you want to go straight home?" he asked, seeing the tall man standing there with his backpack.
"Hmm," Yanagi nodded and Konoha had no reason to keep him here.
"Alright, be careful," Konoha came out to the terrace of the house, seeing Yanagi's black car parked there.
"Akinori," Konoha turned around to face him.
"What―"
Yanagi lightly flicked Konoha's forehead then smiled a little. "Goodbye."
And he left, leaving Konoha standing on the terrace of the house with a shocked expression.
But somehow, Yanagi's last sentence has a different meaning than usual.
This is a flashback chapter 😅