CHAPTER 14
"That takes too much pride and ego to do."
Was I serious, or was I joking? I couldn't tell, the joke itself sounded pretty serious for a second. It was meant to be a joke, but I feel like it's taking over me. Maybe it's not a joke.
Kokonoi and Inui, Inui and Kokonoi, how could I even forget those two names? They were like a different definition of Draken and Mikey, Mikey and Draken.
How could I forget? I could never, but I have to pretend that I did. More like I wanted to, not have, not had. Because of my pride, because of my ego.
Before I could even leave Tenjiku, by the time when I just joined, all I thought about was going back. Going back to my original, normal, peaceful life, going back to school, going back to my friends, going back and seeing Inui again, and perhaps, continuing to know and learn more about him.
Izana would take me out when we had nothing to do, he'd stroll with me in the streets of Yokohama. And sometimes, if I did a pretty good job with whatever he asked me to do, he'd accompany me to Shibuya. I always asked him to come with me to the same street, where my school was, every four in the afternoon because it's the time when students go home or start their club activities.
Knowing Inui and Koko, they weren't in a club so I was certain they'd come out from the school at that hour. And since there were a lot of cafes near the school, we'd go into one to not be suspicious or be spotted by anyone.
There was this one time I could still remember clearly to this day.
I saw Inui and Koko walking together, just like how I expected them to do. At first, I was really happy that I was about to squeal and just jump out of my seat and rush outside to hug them. I was so happy since it was the first time I saw them once again after months.
But as it became our daily routine, I started to feel different emotions than happiness, and it was sadness. I realized how they look unbothered about my disappearance, they acted like there was nothing wrong.
Perhaps I was so lonely that even if I hang out with the gang members, it made me pity myself and think that those who I left didn't care about me. Maybe the loneliness I felt made me selfish.
If Ran, Rindou, Kaku, and Izana weren't there, I would've gone insane.
Ran and Rindou would spoil me with sweets. Meanwhile, Kakucho makes Izana play random songs with his guitar and just sing whatever they want to sing.
And if I were allowed to be honest, I felt hatred towards them. I somewhat hated Inui and Kokonoi for acting as if nothing had happened. But I never hated Mikey and Draken. Maybe it's because I know that they're worried about me, and I don't have to go and look at their faces just to know. And perhaps, it's because I know they'll understand me if I try to explain things to them.
Unlike my two schoolmates whom I just met not so long ago, I can't tell what's going on inside their minds. I can't predict what they're gonna do, their next move and I don't know what they truly think about me.
Being a teenager sucks.
You'll just get depression out of nowhere. You can't tell whether you really have depression or you're just self-diagnosing, or even just trying to copy someone who acts like they're depressed because you think it's cool.
I sighed and opened the small cup of vanilla ice cream in my hands and used the small plastic spoon to eat. The sweetness of the flavor exploded in my buds and the coldness. I felt my fingertips slowly starting to get called due to the temperature of what I was holding, and the weather.
"Funny how that so-called hatred immediately disappeared when I saw them for the first time once again after two years..." I scoffed and rolled my eyes to myself, although it was true. When Draken mentioned their name, the hatred I felt before was gone. I didn't feel like hating them even one bit. Heck, I was even so excited to see them that I had to annoy Draken and run to the park.
I cracked a smile while biting on the plastic spoon, I'm so stupid. I then started to quietly grin.
"Are you okay-" a voice suddenly spoke, startling my soul enough to ascend to the heavens above.
Shrieking, I moved my eyeballs to the person who asked, "Kokonoi." You called out. "You gave me a heart attack," you dramatically whined and stepped away from him.
"You were talking to yourself. It was very alarming." He commented, giving you a weird look while raising his eyebrows.
"I was just thinking about things. Like a normal person would do." I shrugged but I was embarrassed at the same time.
"Very normal, vice president [name]." He smirked and rolled his eyes, "Come on. We're gonna go to wherever captain Takemitchy is." He said after turning his back on me. He waved his right hand, gesturing to follow ahead whilst his other was shoved into his uniform's pocket, "Inupi's already ahead of us. He wanted me to call you instead because he's shy for some reason."
"Shy?" I almost laughed. I ran after him and asked, "Why?"
"Why not ask him and not me? I'm not Inupi."
"Woah okay, jeez. Sorry," I sarcastically apologized for his sassy remark to me.
"Hurry up, you walk so slow." He groaned.
"It's not my fault, your legs are a hundred times longer than mine!" I protested.
"Is that a way of asking me to carry you?"
"What? No! I'm telling you to slow down!"
He loudly laughed and replied, "Okay, okay. Whatever you say."
But he didn't change his speed.
But it made me laugh too.
This was why the hatred I felt before was instantly gone.
____
"Look who finally decided to show up. You made me wait for four days, four. Days."
"Mikey," I called out.
"No, don't call Mikey." But he looked away like a kid.
"Mikey, listen to me. I -"
"No, I am not listening." He then covered his ears.
"That's what you get." Draken intervened.
"Draken, you are not helping."
"I'm not even trying to."
"There they go again," the frail blonde-haired male sighed with a relatively (awkwardly) exhausted expression plastered on his face, Takemitchy sat on one of the stairs while watching the three of you bicker like little children.
Not like it was something new to him.
"Is Mikey upset or...?" Asked the ravenette, Kokonoi, feeling quite concerned. Heck, he's even surprised that he's concerned himself.
Though, the blonde teen could only shrug in response, "Possibly. I don't know, he might be joking around."
The two then turned their eyes back to you and watched.
"Mikey, I have dorayaki."
"Rea- no. I am full."
"That's new."
"Ken-chin, whose side are you on?"
Kokonoi couldn't help but chuckle at the scene. And the emotion he felt was genuine, he finds the three of you, three teens to be exact, bickering like little kids quite wholesome—something he hasn't witnessed for long.
It was like the times when Inupi would bicker with his sister, Akane, he thought to himself and started to reminisce about the old times when the love of his life was still alive and blooming like one pretty white rose.
White roses had always meant peace.
And just like Akane, the white petals were like her soft sunflower blonde hair. Meanwhile, peace was a definition of her personality, she was peaceful.
But recently, his thoughts about the elder Inui have become less than usual.
"You look like you're thinking about something deep, care to share?"
Kokonoi then shot his eyes up and saw the vice president standing in front of him. It seemed like he has been spacing out for quite too long that their little fight ended. Draken raised his eyebrows and sat beside the black-haired lad, and took a sip of his rootbeer. Kokonoi then began to think, what was he thinking anyway? The dead sister of his childhood friend, or the one who occupied his mind recently and made his thoughts about Akane lessen?
"Are you always like that? You look like you're carrying something heavy on your shoulders." asked the president.
That was kind of... offensive. Kokonoi thought to himself while letting out an awkward chuckle slip from his lips, should he take the question and answer seriously? Was he going to have a serious conversation with the invincible Mikey, and Draken? Oh lord.
"I was just thinking of a way how to tell [name] that I forgot to do my homework, and that I want her to let me copy hers." That was unexpected, thought Kokonoi to himself and gulped. The four of you silently stared at the new member, and the silence was too loud.
Did I say something wrong? Kokonoi couldn't help but panic quietly.
"You didn't tell me you were getting along," Draken then sneered at you. You looked at him in disbelief and replied, "You didn't ask."
"Plus, that's not your business." you stuck your tongue out at the tall male.
"Ha? You tryna pick a fight?"
"No, I was just kidding..."
___
"Koko."
"Koko-"
"Koko,"
"What is it Inupi?"
"You saw how [name] fought off those tenjiku dummies by herself right?" The blonde male whispered to his friend. As Kokonoi heard this, he shooed the blonde male, signifying him to sit somewhere far from you and the others, "you called me three times to ask that? Of course, I did, I was just nearly unconscious that time but I witnessed em all."
"Oh yeah, you got hit by a pipe on the head."
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"I mean. I was just wondering why she acts weak when it comes to Draken." Inui shrugged.
"They're just play fighting, come on." Kokonoi then chuckled, "You and Akane-san used to be like that."
"Plus, on [name]'s side, she has things to cover up for." The two then looked at you once again. You were now happily sharing stories with the three, laughing and bickering with each other.
As Inui continued to watch you, Kokonoi took this chance to observe his childhood friend. He watched Inui watch you, watched how his usually stoic and serious face turn to softness. Watch his friend's crush on you grow.
"You like her." It wasn't a tease nor a question, he wanted to know the truth. Inui hummed at his statement.
He wanted to know the truth.
So that he could prevent his feelings to grow fonder as well.
"I like her, Koko. Like, so bad."
• • •
Hi. 😳 <- this emoji says everything rn. Sorry for the late update, it's been a week, I was on my writer's block. And I'm sorry if there are many errors.
And about that Koko fanfic I just published recently (I think), feel free to view it.
Since while writing this Inui ff, I kinda felt sorry for Koko (esp for today's chap) so I decided to write a Koko one. I'm not sure when ill update it, it's more like a book I'll write when I have no chapter ideas for this book hehejsisks.
Thank you for reading!
And check out my new story "HIM | Kokonoi Hajime" I hope you guys like waiting. >:)