" All of us, at certain moments of our lives, need to take advice and to receive help from other people."
- Alexis Carrel
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Levin POV
It's been a month since the summer festival. The CCG was barraged with questions and such by the media, making them pull back momentarily until they get the civilians support once more.
Ayato and Hinami went silent, no idea what happened to them. Vincent and the others at Nest, including myself, are laying low for some time now.
They sighted us fighting the monster, known as Noro. The media blew up, asking the CCG if the Crow was being used by them as a weapon, which is crazy, they wouldn't team up with me over their dead bodies.
I have had a little conversation with Sasaki, but most of it was how are you doing? Other than that, Sasaki has gone quiet. After remembering his subordinate, who apparently had died during the fight, he went dead silent.
Those eyes he had... they made me once again question what he's been through. Somehow, he reminds me a bit of Yoshimura. The kind eyes he shows are only a blinder to cover the truth.
It's sad really.
Even Touka and Tsukiyama have been unable to contact him, he went silent on us, other than a few brief talks over the phone.
But me?
After I got back, I continued doing what I've always done. I will try my best to live in this despair, even if there's no purpose. There's no point in giving up just because of one mishap.
Though I've had many mishaps...
Right now though, I'm in the kitchen, making "dinner" for them all, like usual. Rize is sitting at the table, reading a book silently. She's been distant lately, every time I try to talk to her she backs off.
I glance over at her, tracing her slender figure. Her hair was tied into a ponytail right now, which was different, made her look more like an adult.
She met my gaze and we both look away. Crap, was I staring? I shouldn't stare, I should get back to work. I sigh and begin to chop up the meat.
By now, I'm completely numb by things like cutting up human meat, which makes me worried about my mental state. No that I've had the best mental state lately.
Rize seems to be trying not to look at me in the eyes, glancing over at me every now and then and back at her book hurriedly.
It's kind of cute...
"Hey, Rize?" I said suddenly, making her jump and almost drop her book, losing that cool composure.
She stumbled with words. "Y-Yes, Levin? I-Is there something W-Wrong?" She said.
"Are you okay?" I asked slowly, stopping my cutting and looking up at her.
Rize froze and looked away. She's probably gonna tell me to mind my own business, and I should, but I'm worried. Wait, I'm worried about Rize?
That's new.
She stood and walked over to me with steady feet that seemed stiff, like a robots. She crossed her arms in front of me, making a stubborn face.
"What did you mean, cute?" She asked.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
She puffed up her cheeks. "Back on that train... you called me... cute..." She trailed off, her face downturned.
"Yeah... I did say that, why?" I asked, confused by the question.
"Why did you say I was cute? Is it another way of getting back at me?!" She asked, giving an angry look suddenly.
I put my hands up in surrender. "No no! It's just what I thought of your reaction, that's all!" I said, trying not to get hit in the face.
Rize went silent, her face was covered by her hair, and I couldn't make out what she was thinking or feeling at this moment. I look over at the entrance, thinking of a way to escape this situation.
Suddenly, her hand traced up my cheek, and she looked up. I froze, my face felt like it was on fire just from her touching me like this.
Usually she was rough and teasing, but right now she was gentle. The gentleness made me feel relaxed, yet my heart was beating so fast I couldn't keep up.
Rize looked me in the eyes, her arms tracing from my cheek to around my neck. Then, she did something that made my entire mind go blank.
Rize stood on her tip toes to reach my lips, and planted a kiss. It only lasted for a couple of seconds, a part of me screamed for it to be longer than that, but another part of me was confused.
Her lips were warm, and tasted of cherries, probably from her lip gloss. Her chest pressed up against mine, the warm and marshmallow feeling pushing against me.
She let go slowly, her arms unravelling back to her sides and letting herself to look at the floor again. I couldn't say anything, I just stared at her with my face heating up.
Rize turned and grabbed her book as she walked out of the kitchen in silence. Before leaving, she stopped at the entrance and glance back, I caught a glance at her face.
Her eyes looked shy, and her face was bright pink.
"Thank you..." She mumbled before walking out and leaving me with a feeling in my chest that felt like jumping out of my chest and doing a marathon.
So... She did that for a thank you? That's a weird way to thank someone... no, that can't be it!?! Right?
I grab my head and grit my teeth while thinking. What did that mean?!? There's no way! Could she-!
I feel a tap on my shoulder and I jump into the air at least a foot. I turn quickly to find Kurona standing there with a blank expression as always.
"W-What's up, Kuro?" I asked, trying to make my head stop spinning.
Kuro looked back at the entrance. "Was Rize here?" She asked.
"Yeah... She just left..." I trailed off.
Oh crap! Did she see what just happened! Please God no! Don't make this more awkward than it has to be!
"Why are you looking for her?" I asked slowly.
Kuro shook her head. "I'm not looking for her." She said plainly.
"Then what are you doing here?" I asked, giving her a blank look of my own.
She poked my chest with a single finger, and looked at me in the eyes.
"I like you." She said suddenly.
"Umm... okay." I said slowly. Didn't she say this at the festival? Actually, she's been saying it a lot lately. She always says it out of nowhere too, she'll walk up to me and suddenly just say it. It's confusing!
Kurona tilted her head. "Do you like me?" She asked.
I tensed up. This was new! She never asked me a question, she usually just dropped the subject after telling me that!
"Uh... I do... we're friends after all." I said, trying to put a smile on, but I bet it looked a bit awkward.
My mind was all over the place right now. I couldn't think straight from what Rize just did to me, and not Kurona just came up to me asking weird questions.
Kurona gave me a short angry look, making me flinch, she usually doesn't look angry! This is new also!
"Idiot." She said, before walking away.
"Huh?"
But she didn't clarify as I stuck the meat into the stove to heat it up. I frown and head out of the kitchen with my emotions played with. These girls will be the death of me.
I head into Vincent's computer room, and he looks over at me with a confused look.
"What's up? You look startled." He said.
"Hey..." I started.
I explained to him what had happened, all the time he didn't say anything, he kept a blank look the entire time. But when I was done, he just sighed, and stood up, standing over me.
"W-What is it?" I asked nervously.
Vincent chopped my forehead with a dark look. "Your a dense idiot."
"Huh?!?!"
(Next chapter will have Sasaki's point of view for the most of it! Prepare for the feels, cause I'm not holding back! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!) - MnMs171
Seriously now, last vote.
Kurona x Levin?
Or
Rize x Levin?