° ° °
"Ayano.....kouji?" Ibuki's voice reached everyone's ear, barely audible but the Doubt and surprise, evident to everyone
"Hey thats the guy who raced with the student council during the Relay!" Ishizaki as well
Albert stayed quiet, but his body alone exuded surprise and wary
Soon enough, the previously quiet rooftop were filled with shouts of shock.
Until Ryuuen spoke
"So You're X?"
At this, Ayanokouji flinched, which Ryuuen didn't fail to notice
'X? What kind of cringy-ass-nickname is that?' Ayanokouji thought, before composing himself once more
"Heh. So you are.... Who would've thought that the person who seemed like a pet to Suzune was the one backing them up?"
"W-Wait!" Ibuki shouted, interrupting the conversation "there's no way that's him! I'm sure of it. I've been with him during the Island Exam, and he was just a dull guy through and through"
She knew Ayanokouji because he was one of the few who actually talked to her during her job as a spy on Class D.
And she didn't find anything suspicious about him. Aside from being a naive and gullible student, easily fooled by her
"Shut up Ibuki" Ryuuen spoke "if you're so sure about him being dull, then did you expect his performance in the sports festival to be like that?"
"Well.. no... But I know it's not him! Ask Shiina, right! He's her friend. We were with him the whole tim—"
She was about to continue when something flashed in her mind
'wait... Shiina?' she thought 'the bugging device.... Someone close to her.......!!'
Her head snapped in the quiet boys direction. Watching them argue like he didn't mind.
"N-No way..."
"Kukuku.... Finally see the light?"
"Ibuki" Ayanokouji spoke for the first time. His monotone voice making her shiver much more than the cold wind.
"If it helps you clear your doubt, then know that I was the one who knocked that Kaneda guy out during the Island Exam" Chapter 12 - [Epilogue]
"How do you know that....?"
Ibuki's eyes widened.
Truthfully, she nearly forgot about that incident, but only Ryuuen and her should know that information
"I told you, I was the one who did it. That's how Class D managed to obtain Class B's leader"
Ayanokouji spoke, bored if it was to be explained in one word
"In other words...
I'm the guy You're Looking for"
ㅤ
"Kukuku..."
Though Ryuuen chuckled, his fist formed into a hard ball
Veins began to bulge on his forehead, noticing Ayanokouji's demeanor
'this bastard...'
He was fooled by the person Infront of him. Too many to count.
He foiled his plans during the Island Exam
Left him with mysteries, unanswered until now.
Made him think he was laying low during the Sports Festival
And finally made a fools of him when he "interrogated" Class C for a nonexistent traitor
Ryuuen was more than furious. Especially now that the guy was standing infront of him like it was a stroll in the park
But he managed to calm down
After all... He's infront of him now
"So? Now that you're here. What are you gonna do now? Scream for help?" Ryuuen mocked
"That would be ideal, but unfortunately, I just came to retrieve someone"
"'retrieve'? You make it sound like she's an object"
"Aren't you all?"
...
"...sick bastard" Ryuuen scoffed "I didn't realize earlier, but if you did hide there.... Then that means you watched her experience all of that without doing anything"
"Huh? Hide there? Where?" Ishizaki asked, dumbfounded. He, along with the others still don't know how Ayanokouji arrived
"Penthouse, then look up" Ryuuen answered uncaring
The three followed his words, and their eyes soon turned comically round
"He's really good at hiding isn't he? Kuku...."
"You've... Been here the whole time?" Ibuki asked Ayanokouji, but he didn't reply
No use in wasting words for something they already know
Silence Fell on the rooftop for a couple of seconds, until Ryuuen spoke
"What are you gonna do now? You deliberately showed yourself when you didn't have to. And now you're surrounded"
A hint of Fun was noticable in Ryuuen's tone. After all, it was time to return the favor
"You're one of the Class D defects, but I had "fun" with you. You fooled me more so than I can imagine. But now, you're trapped."
Ayanokouji stayed quiet
A second
A minute
Then he sighed
"...you're disappointing Ryuuen"
"Huh?"
"Did you really think I would just hide there like a rat, and not do anything?" He took out his phone, showing it to the Class C students
Everyone simultaneously understood what he meant.
"You could do everything you did earlier because you can escape the school's grasp. But with a solid evidence like this?"
Not just the video recording.
In truth, Ayanokouji also Called Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira here.
The Sound Matsushita heard earlier was her. Quietly waiting, now behind the door.
But he didn't tell them that.
Not yet atleast...
Ryuuen and the others were genuinely surprised for a second, before Ryuuen burst into laughter
After quieting down. He shook his head
"I guess you're just as Naive as everyone else..."
The Class C students who heard this all flinched.
They know full well where this is going towards with
"I told you, You're trapped. What makes you think that we won't forcibly take your phone along with the pay back?"
"My phone's lock, unfortunately" Ayanokouji answered. Putting his phone back into his pocket.
"Hahahahaha—! Then," a devious grin crept up Ryuuen's face
"Looks like tonight's torture show hasn't ended yet"
...
"haaah..." Ayanokouji sighed "I guess You really were predictable like everyone else" his murmur disappeared along the wind
"Then If that's your decision" he told them
"Try and get it"
"Kukuku, bastard underestimating me... Ishizaki, Ibuki, Hold him down." Ryuuen ordered the two. Testing ibuki's loyalty while he was at it
"A-Are you sure?" Ishizaki knows what Ryuuen was gonna do. After all, he experienced it once himself.
"Yeah. Knock him out if you need to"
"W-Wait! Ayanokouji! Just follow Ryuuen for now!" Ibuki shouted but Ayanokouji just tilted his head
"Why do you care...?"
"Just... You don't know what you got yourself into!!"
"Yeah..." Ishizaki said as he stepped forward "I'm not a bad guy Ayanokouji. I'm just following Ryuuen-san's orders"
"..."
Ishizaki threw a punch at Ayanokouji's face. A slow one, but enough that it would hurt.
Ayanokouji stood boredly, his hands in his pocket as he watched the fist about to land in his face.
Then;
Thud!
...
"Aaaaaarrghhhhhhhhh—!!!"
A dull thud reverberated across the roof, and what followed was a blood curdling scream of pain.
"You're noisy" Ayanokouji said coldy as he retracted his extended leg
Watching Ishizaki clutch his knees, painfully rolling across the ground, Ayanokouji spoke once more ;
"What a drama queen"
T-Thud!!
Without second thought, Ayanokouji stepped on Ishizaki's head.
The screaming boy suddenly went limp.
And silence so unnerving fell once more.
...
"So?"
Ayanokouji casually stood Infront of Ishizaki's unconscious body as he let his bored like gaze fall to the Frozen students afar.
"C'mon. Who's next?"
He asked
His echoing voice, cold and empty like a ravine leading to a Frozen Hell
The three flinched as he finally took out his hands from his pocket.
"Let's get this over with"
A gust of wind blew
"I'm getting cold"
° ° °
The sound of Silence
That's what the remaining Class C students heard as they watch the brown haired boy walk over their fallen Classmate
"...kuku... Would you look at that?"
"O-Oi! Ishizaki! Stop messing around!"
Ibuki shouted, a slight tremble in her voice
"Don't bother" his voice rode along the wind
"I guess he showed himself deliberately because he was confident in his skills. He just hid it like his speed.... I didn't expect this." Said Ryuuen, not minding the Shouting blue haired girl
"Are you saying he turned the tables on you?!"
"Are you serious Ibuki?"
Ayanokouji's voice reached her ears once more
"I thought you knew Ryuuen. You think I would marionette all the scenarios only for me to get 'trapped' in the end?"
"So all the things you planned were all for this situation? So you can trap us?" Ryuuen asked
...
"Trap you?" Ayanokouji's voice dropped in temperature
"You thought I did all this just for you? Don't sell yourself too high, Ryuuen"
Ayanokouji drew nearer, his voice clearer the closer he got
ㅤ
"You're just another part of my plans"
ㅤ
Everyone, Everything that happened today. It's all just a small part of the bigger picture.
Fraction of the play, starting even the moment they met
"You!"
Ibuki rushed forward, anger painted on her face
"So all of those times you came and talk over to us. You just used it for your selfish plans!?"
Ibuki aimed a highspeed kick at Ayanokouji's chest.
But Ayanokouji easily stood aside
Using her momentum, Ibuki spun and shot a back kick at his head. With enough force to knock someone out flat
But, Ayanokouji casually tilted his head. Dodging yet again
"Don't talk like I tricked you—"
Smack!
In that fraction of a second Ibuki got distracted, Ayanokouji slapped her across the face.
"Ugh" her head jolted back, and her vision blurred. But before she could fall down, a grip on her neck held her up
"—You're not one to talk"
"Urghh—!"
His hand extended straight, Ayanokouji choked the flinging girl with ease.
"Y-You...ahh.. haahh.."
She felt the grip tighten, her feet leaving the ground
Ibuki grasped for air, scrambling her hands to slap away the hand.
But
In this possible near death situation
All she saw were two emotionless eyes
...
"Oi, Albert, Help her" Ryuuen spoke but Albert was already moving.
He ran towards the brown haired boy presumably choking his Classmate.
Every step he took, a resounding thud echoing across the roof
Noticing the approaching behemoth of a highschool student. Ayanokouji flung Ibuki away
"Stay down" he ordered, and Ibuki hit the ground
She instantly breath in a handful of air, but the shock was too great that it hurts instead of feeling relief
She cought a couple of times, doing nothing but lay down, watching the next fight unfold
ㅤ
"...." Albert approached Ayanokouji with terrifying speed despite his size
Ready to tackle the brown hair boy
Thud
Albert arrived a feet away, planting his feet to the ground, he lifted his other leg. Prepared to kick Ayanokouji away
'is he really a highschool student?'
Ayanokouji thought, noticing the tremor Albert made with just this one move
Smoothly avoiding the kick, Ayanokouji swept Albert's supporting legs.
"Hmm?"
But his kick just bounced off.
"Ghh" Albert feeling the pain groaned, but he swung his arm like nothing happened
His thick metal pole like arm aimed at Ayanokouji's face, but Ayanokouji didn't panic.
Crouching under the Horizontal swing, he shot a fist of his own to Albert's gut
Noticing this, Albert retracted his extended arm at a fast pace. Covering the spot Ayanokouji aimed for with both his arms
"...?!"
"Got you" Ayanokouji immediately stopped his punch, instead grabbing Albert's open head with both his hands
Albert tried to punch away Ayanokouji's arms, but he lost his balance, a downward pull attracting him to the ground
Albert saw the cold concrete enter his eyes
Until
Crack—!
Baaam—!
His face met Ayanokouji's knees at point blank range. A cracking sound echoing across the roof, following it was a heavy thud
"..." Ayanokouji stepped aside, letting Albert's unconscious body fall.
He noticed Albert's iconic glasses, shattered Infront of him, but he didn't really care.
Instead, he looked forward.
To where Ryuuen stood
"I'm surprise you appear to be calm" Ayanokouji stepped forward, leaving two unconscious bodies, and one grasping for air in his wake.
"Kuku...kahaha... Ahahahahahaha—" Ryuuen laughed loudly. As if he was genuinely having fun
"I'm in trouble aren't I? Men you're a monster. You don't hesitate at all" Ryuuen's gaze fell to his Classmates.
He isn't afraid to admit that he would have lost if those three came at him the same way they did at Ayanokouji.
Physically, their Class seems to Excell at it. And while Ryuuen's strength isn't to scoff at, He knows that there are a lot of people stronger than him
But
"Physical Strength alone doesn't determine victory or defeat, Ayanokouji. You gotta be tough on the inside too!"
He leapt for Ayanokouji as soon as he finished his words
He seemed to notice that Ayanokouji wasn't one to talk in this situation, so he used his fist to do the talking
"Kahahaha—!" He laughed maniacally, Attacking Ayanokouji broadly. His kick whistled in the air, aimed at the side of Ayanokouji's head.
Ayanokouji tilted his body back, avoiding the highspeed kick by a hair's breadth
"Hmm..." Ayanokouji observed
Ryuuen was someone you really shouldn't underestimate
That kick alone, if not dodged, could have broken a neck
Weaker, but Faster than Albert
Slower, but A fold Stronger than Ibuki
And of course, a lot more focused and Violent than Ishizaki.
He's was a perfect balance of the three Ayanokouji "fought".
"Tch" Ryuuen clicked his tongue, stopping for a second.
Lowering his stance, he aimed a fist, not at the face this time, but at Ayanokouji's abdomen.
Ayanokouji immediately leapt backwards avoiding the punch, but Ryuuen went ahead on a hot pursuit.
Left jab
Right hook
A straight kick
Ryueen threw everything he had, but on the contrary, Ayanokouji just leapt backwards
'he's leading me back' Ayanokouji thought, noticing Albert's unconscious body near
Baaam—!
Ryuuen stomped hard on the ground. Planting his left foot.
Cautious to not trip on Albert's body, Ayanokouji took a second late to notice Ryuuen-kun's side sweep kick approaching his left ribs.
"..." Instead of avoiding he blocked it with his left hand this time. An electrifying jolt of pain running across his arm
"Haaah!" Ryuuen seemed to have expected this as he quickly punched straight through the gap in Ayanokouji's arms.
His punch slipped right through, and his fist connected. After a solid thud of getting hit in the guts, Ayanokouji staggered back,
"You..." He said
"You're techniques are a mess"
...
"...are you saying you were observing me while we fought?" Ryuuen naturally felt mocked. But he soon laughed it off
"But yeah... I didn't train in martial arts like the others. Unlike them, I got beat and went through countless brawls"
Ryuuen was more or less a thug. With brains to back himself up.
His style was self thought. But it didn't matter, as long as it did the job
"Alright late play some more!" Ryuuen leapt forward again, but this time Ayanokouji met him on.
"Shi—!!" Not expecting it, Ryuuen covered his face in an X like formation to defend. But Ayanokouji quickly improvised.
Letting his right fist bounce off Ryuuen's defense, he followed it up with a left hook at Ryuuen's chest
"Fuck!"
It hit cleanly, Ryuuen's body lifting up slightly into the air before letting the hands of Gravity pull him down.
That punch alone had enough strength to leave him out of breath, but Ryuuen smiled.
"Done playing?" He asked as he wiped away saliva smeared on his lips, but Ayanokouji stayed quiet
"You're strength's abnormal. Why don't you show it off more... often!!" as Ryuuen spoke, he rammed right into Ayanokouji.
But Ayanokouji stood his ground, sending a horizontal kick at Ryuuen's head
Noticing this, Ryuuen ducked down, his fist already flying for a punch.
Ayanokouji blocked it with a slap, then in one fluid motion, clenched his arms, elbowing Ryuuen right in the face
"!!!" An unpleasant sound rang while Ryuuen crouched down, clenching the side of his face. Little bits of blood, dripping from the cut on his cheek
"Kukuku.... That hurts you bastard"
"Seen the difference in our strength now?" Ayanokouji said, standing straight as if he wasn't in a fight.
"Huh?! Seen it since earlier dipshit. But so what? You might win this time, but what about tomorrow? The day after?"
Physical Strength doesn't decide victory or defeat alone.
Ryuuen stood by his beliefs.
Ayanokouji might win this battle, but he sure will win the war
"What of the day after? Are you saying that if we keep doing this over and over, you'll win eventually?"
"What about when you’re in the middle of pissing? When you’re
taking a shit? I'll come after you when you least expect it," Ryuuen said, slowly standing up
"No matter what happens, I'll be sure to win eventually"
"Aren't you afraid of losing?"
"Afraid?" Ryuuen sneered "I don't get afraid, never felt fear before in my life"
"I see"
It was the reason for Ryuuen's confidence
"You'll understand once you feel pain. A lot of it. Pain gives way to fear for ordinary people"
"Then, how about this?" Ayanokouji quickly moved, kicking the side of Ryuuen-kun's head.
Still hazy from the the hit earlier, Ryuuen wasn't able to react. Thus, another clean hit
Plack!
Ryuuen's head jolted backwards, his head hurting like it was on fire
"And this" Ayanokouji didn't rest, showering him with blows that made Ryuuen step back
"Hahahaha! Don't bother. I know what you're trying to do" Getting over his drunk like state, Ryuuen finally fought back
The two went into a brawl, evenly matched. Their hits, blocked by each other in any given attempt.
"Hahahaha, this is fun! Two freaks who don't fear a thing at each other's throats!" Ryuuen continued to laugh as he exchanged blows.
Both were from far being tired, in fact, it just appeared to be getting more vicious
"Kahahahaha-!" Ryuuen launched a right hook, to which Ayanokouji barely dodged. Ducking under his arms, he pushed Ryuuen away
...
"Kukuku... What's wrong?" Ryuuen asked, a grin that spelled fun on his face, never leaving.
"Isn't this enough Ryuuen? This is never gonna end if we continue. If you're worried Bout me reporting, then don't. I won't do it" Ayanokouji said as he dusted off his clothes
His breathing a little fast, but over all, perfectly fine.
"Oi Oi Oi! What's wrong?! Why stop now!?!" Ryuuen raised his voice, his spit mixed with blood flying everywhere
"You're clearly stronger than me! Why hold back!
Don't tell me You're already afraid?
We're just getting Started, Ayanokouji!"
Ryuuen slowly stepped forward, wiping off beads of sweat.
They felt the cold wind no more. Replaced by adrenaline that made them heat up.
Faced with Ryuuen's words, Ayanokouji quietly gazed back
His body relaxing as he silently stood, watching the approaching Magenta haired boy
"C'mon Ayanokouji. Don't stop now!
...
Let's fight!
Beat me like you planned
Punch me
Kick me
ㅤ
Choke the Life out of me!!"
...
...
...
"Is that so....?"
A gust of wind blew
Step
That one harmless step was all Ryuuen heard before an unimaginable amount of force hit him squared in the face
He couldn't process what happened.
He looked down
gradually followed the fist to the arm
The arm to the shoulder
And on from there, he found Ayanokouji's cold gaze
"—Then Die"
° ° °
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka POV
Baaam—!
My fist hit, and Ryuuen was sent flying
"Gaahh!" He gurgled but I didn't give him any time
Following his body, I sent a kick to his open sides
Baaam!
It hit once more
"Fucki—!"
He tried to speak but a punch landed on his chin, cutting him off.
"Gaahh!! Damn it!"
Thud
A Dull thud reached my ears as Ryuuen hit the wall next to the rooftop door
"I didn't really wanna do this" A cold voice I recognized as mine rode along the Autumn wind
Thud—!
Crack
"Gaaaaaaahhhh!—!!!!"
A painful scream came out of Ryuuen's mouth as he clutched his chest I just kicked
ㅤ
"But you really left me no choice"
ㅤ
Not even giving him time to breath, I kicked him right in the head. My foot connecting cleanly as it could ever be
Thud
"Blargghhh—! Khhhh..."
Ryueen fell to the ground on all fours, vomiting blood as he gasped for air
ㅤ
ㅤ
Not enough
ㅤ
ㅤ
"Argh- Wai—!!"
Stomping on his open back, his body fell flat. A painful groan escaping his lips
"C'mon... Get up" the words flew out of my mouth.
ㅤ
"I made sure not to knock you out. So stop laying down"
ㅤ
Crouching down, I grabbed his collars to let his eyes meet mine.
"You wanted this"
Ryueen's eyes shook, his face slowly turning pale
He felt it
I knew
He felt the fear he said that he doesn't have
But I didn't care
Grabbing him by the hair, I slammed his face to the ground
"Ah. Sto—!!"
Baaam!!
A thunderous wet like thud reached my ears, cutting Ryuuen's plea.
Lifting his head up by the hair, I saw him barely conscious. His nose twisted slightly in an odd degree.
Thick red blood flowing out of his mouth as his swollen eyes flickered between life and death
But as always...
I didn't care
I slammed his head to the ground yet again.
Blood staining my white shirt, even spraying across my face, as I lifted his head up
Then, slammed it again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And Again
And..... Again
...
"S-Stop...."
A weak voice entered my ears, stopping me in my tracks
Lifting Ryuuen's bloody head up, I heard him spoke
"I..... I give.."
Ryueen's eyes slowly turned white as his fleeting words faded along the wind
Gazing at his eyes for signs of Life, I slammed his head to the ground.
One. Last. Time.
Baaam—!
Ryuuen's limp body twitched before hugging the cold concrete floor. A puddle of blood spread, starting from his face
"Tch" I clicked my tongue, standing up as I took a breath
The cold wind blew across my face, letting me know, that it was still the eve of night
Tilting my head up, I let my gaze Follow the Full moon along the starry skies
A comforting silence enveloped the rooftop as I remained the only one who stood
But
Similar to the Moon who seemed to not move at all.
Everything is never as it seems
"Ibuki" I spoke in this silent Roof. But I knew she heard. After all, she was the only one who I kept awake
"You don't need to answer. I'm just gonna say what I want"
I slowly moved towards an unconscious girl. Covered with my blazer. She occasionally trembled from the cold, her face, pale, as she lay on the ground
She was soaked wet from head to toe, but I scooped her up in my arms without a care
"Chabashira-sensei is right behind that door right now. But don't worry. I told her what to do, so just follow her for now"
I shifted my gaze from the sleeping brown haired girl in my arms to the blue haired girl who flinched
"In case you're worried you're gonna get in trouble, don't bother. I'm not really interested in expelling any of you"
Like I said, this was just a small part of my plan.
No use in doing something troublesome when I can use them to my advantage instead.
"We'll get going first" I bid Ibuki farewell without waiting for an answer. Walking towards the exit of the rooftop, not sparing the other three a glance
Opening the door, I saw who I expected
"It's done" I told her
"...you went overboard...."
"...sorry"
Sensei's gaze skimmed the dark rooftop as her face turned into a frown
"Are... They alive?"
"Of course...?" I tilted my head.
She seemed to have found my reaction weird, but she didn't address it.
"Get going. And take care of her" Sensei entered the Rooftop without hesitation
My gaze falling to Chiaki in my arms, I walked ahead as well.
"Sure.."
° ° °
Calm footsteps that was my own echoed in an empty corridor that was the dorm building.
In my arms was Chiaki, soundlessly sleeping though ice cold.
I made my way towards her room. To which thankfully we didn't encounter anyone on our way
I used all the back entrances, even using the stairs instead of the elevators, but it was still a miracle that no one noticed.
A miracle I welcome with open arms.
"Hmm..."
Arriving Infront of a familiar door, I crouched down in order to search through Chiakis's pockets to find the key card.
Time was of the essence, so I was a little more forceful than I would've like
"Hughh..."
After we entered, Chiaki let out a quiet groan as I turned on the lights
A room I've only seen once entered my view. But it wasn't the time to reminisce.
Chiaki was still soaked wet so I sat her down the floor, supporting her from behind with my left arm so she doesn't fall
"Chiaki..." I whispered as I lightly tapped her soft cold cheeks
"...Chiaki" after the second attempt, she finally showed sign of waking up
Her closed eyes and soft lips quivering, before she finally woke up
"Ki..yotaka..-kun?"
Her eyes half open, and her mind still half asleep, Chiaki took a second to realize the situation
"Ahh.." but after she did a shadow fell onto her face... As Her gaze dropped down. Her wet hair covering her downward eyes.
I gently took away my hand that supported her, letting her sit on her own.
She sat mindlessly on the floor, not moving even after I stood up.
"...You should dry up and change your clothes. You're gonna get sick in your state"
After those words, I turned around to leave but a hand grabbed me by the arm
...
"Chiaki?" I asked, turning to the defeated girl
"....where are you going...." Her voice barely audible reached my ear. The usual elegance in her tone, gone. Replaced by a voice so weak you wouldn't recognize
"I need to leave..." I reasoned but she weakly shook her head.
"No... Please stay..."
"Still... You need to change your clothes"
Chiaki looked up and what I saw made something deep within me to sink...
Her eyes, though not usually cheerful but filled with life, replaced by a teary expression that begged for me to stay
...
After a second of silence, I agreed
"Alright..." I crouched down to her eyes level and let her let go of my arm
"You should still dry up. I'll turn the lights off if it helps"
Chiaki nodded weakly as she wiped away her tears. Soon standing up to change
I turned off the lights as I said, quietly sitting down on the bed there after.
Closing my eyes, I reorganized my thoughts, updating the events that had transpired.
"...." The sounds of Chiaki changing resounded in this dark room. The sound of her wet clothes falling down to hit the cold floor.
But I wasn't a pervert who didn't know how to read a room.
Silently, I waited for her to finish. Sitting down without a word with my eyes close.
Soon, slow footsteps echoed, which then I opened my eyes and turned my head
My eyes barely adjusting to the dark, the figure who could only be Chiaki leapt into me.
Colliding into me with a considerable amount of force. I threatened to fall down on the bed, but I manged to support myself and her with an arm
"...." Chiaki wrapped her arms around my body with a tight grip. Burying her face on my chest without a word
"Chia—?" I was about to ask her what she was doing, when a quiet sob made me stop
Her embrace tightened as her cry deepened. Her Tears slowly soaking my clothes
I raised my hand, trying to rub her back to calm her down. But then I remembered, the one that made this happen. And that made me stop
I sat still as Chiaki Cried on me in her embrace. After a couple of minutes, she weakly spoke
"....you... You said you'll be there..."
I stayed silent, only listening to her pained words
"And you were..." She pulled me stronger, putting me in an akward position.
"But.... that was what made it more painful"...
...
"You...watched me go through all of that..."
"You made.... Me go through all of that..."
Her voice trembled as her body noticeable shook. Her next words, leaving me in a trance like state
ㅤ
"Why?"
ㅤ
I flinched
ㅤ
To test you
To see how far you'll go with your affection
To see if you can support your words
....Right?
...
No
That's just something I made up to cover up something I didn't want to admit
I was just finding reasons to distract myself from a scar from the past
Deep inside
Deep, deep within my empty heart
I knew
I was just afraid
ㅤ
...
"You don't have emotions? You didn't tell me you knew how to make a joke, Kiyo...
You're only fooling yourself. We both know that you only locked them away do you don't get hurt; so you don't get scared.
Still, You're just not the empty, emotionless husk you claim yourself to be
You're much more than that
I opened those stubborn locks away, that's why I know
And you do too
Right? Kiyo~"
ㅤ
...
Shiiro's voice whispered in my head like a pleasant reminder of the words she spoke from the past.
A conversation we had that stuck with me ever since
Silently, I raised my arms and returned her quiet embrace
...
"...sorry"
I said, a part of myself that was locked away doing the talking
"I... I really am..."
I was afraid
I knew the feeling of being left behind.
Pushed away as they learned the truth
I knew them, because I felt them myself
Thats why I made up a reason to test her
When in reality, I was just keeping her an arm's reach
Preventing her from coming into my life further than she already was.
I was scared
That when she found out a part of me she wish she didn't know.
She would leave
ㅤ
"I can't answer, but I'm Sorry.... Truly"
ㅤ
But Chiaki didn't
I gave her hope, then use that very hope to shatter her whole image of me.
But she didn't sell me out.
It was stupid
It was illogical
But emotions never worked that way
That's why I found it hard to understand
...
And now...
We're here...
...
I didn't answer her question, but she seemed to have noticed the genuine tone in my faltering voice
I noticed Chiaki snuggle a little closer, her previously cold body the source of a now warm embrace
"That apology..." Chiaki said, a tiny smile on her face
"There were more emotion in it than your Six Months here in school Combined..."
"...is that so...?" I asked, curious
"It is... It's really weird. It honestly felt... Warm"
Adjusting herself, she coyly sat on my lap sideways, resting her head on my shoulder and leaning her body on me in one smooth motion.
All she wore was a white oversized shirt, so it made it really akward for me. Wether she had anything under it? I wasn't one to find out
...
"...are you angry?" I carefully asked, changing the topic.
"Hmph... Of course I am... I probably will be for quite a while..."
"I figured..."
No matter happened afterwards, it didn't change the fact that I planned for her to suffer. So her anger was reasonable. And one I was willing to accept
"But..." Chiaki said, leaning her head closer, her breath tickling my neck
"If you promise me you'll never do that again... I might just forgive you....."
A pinkish hue painted her soft cheeks though it was dark. Her sweet smile I was used to seeing, returning on her face
"'might' forgive you. I'm still angry even if you did, just so you know..." She made sure to point it out herself, which honestly made me smile
"Fine... I Promise I'll never do it again"
my arms moved on their own. Wrapping a hand around her thin waist as the other hugged her smooth back
Embracing her tightly, the warmth I felt shared through her.
ㅤ
"So, Can you promise me as well?
Promise me that whatever you see.
Whatever you come to find out
...
You won't turn back?"
ㅤ
Words I didn't expect flew out of my mouth one after another.
But deep down, I quietly wished she would answer.
As someone who I was genuinely fond with in this School like Shiiro is In the White Room
I wished, that she would accept the mess that is myself
ㅤ
"Kiyotaka-kun..."
ㅤ
Chiaki returned my embrace, hugging me tightly.
Then
Words that I didn't expect, echoed like a faint, sweet whisper of the wind
ㅤ
"I Love You"
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ
° ° °
In case you forgot, This Fic's Kiyotaka grew up together with someone in the White Room. Which is Mashiro.
She was the one that made it possible for Kiyotaka to retain his sanity and emotions. Which, he locked up. But his time here in school made them budge, albeit a little.
That's why you usually see him smile, joke, be a little bit mischievous.... And uhhh.... Cough... Hørny. Unlike in the cannon
Now some of you may not like seeing Kiyo be a little fragile. But that's okay. I respect it whole heartedly
That said, that was my decision... Soooo... bummer.
Oh yeah, I didn't know what else to write at the near end of the Chapter so it felt a little rushed
But what do you think?