• Mitsuya Ira •
I was pretending to be dead.
Truth is, I am just tired of Higuchi always trying to behead the crap out of me. I already sensed her presence a while ago, and then I saw her while I was on my way to the restroom. The moment that I opened the cubicle door was the same time that Higuchi quickly shot me in the head.
Unfortunately, my ability had activated on its own after that I've filled my hunger. Even with my energy regaining back my powers, I don't think it would last me long. If I take any more heavy damage, I'd be done for good.
"This fight is only between me and my future." I heard Higuchi said.
I tried to hold my laughter, not wanting to exert more energy nor to reveal that I am only pretending to be dead. Gin was also holding me by the back of my shirt, which was a moment that I want to savor.
But no, I couldn't contain myself. Higuchi's statement was so hilarious that I couldn't see her purpose for doing all this.
"'You and your future'?" I repeated in a sarcastic way, still laughing like a maniac. "The only future I see in you is your future being locked behind bars."
Higuchi's eyes widen in shock. "H-How are you still alive after all that damage you've taken?!"
"Goodness gracious," I stopped laughing, but keeping the sarcasm. "I've been dead long ago, Higuchi. Physically, emotionally, and mentally."
The blonde-haired girl reverted her aim, pointing the end of her gun directly to my head. I can feel how heavy her grip was, and how she tries to pin it in my head like a thumbtack. I would like to stand up at this rate, but trying to move might result her to pull the trigger.
Akutagawa unleashed his Rashoumon, grabbing Higuchi from Gin's grip. He went to exit the restaurant and continued to settle things there. His extra arms from the ability slammed her to the concrete ground multiple times, earning ear-breaking screeches from Higuchi.
"Your motives are too unclear, Higuchi," Akutagawa approached the severely-damaged Higuchi, looking down at her with a stoic face. "Killing Ira wouldn't be your access in trying to get my attention back."
"D-Don't tell me you two are already in a secret relationship?" Higuchi muttered, coughing out blood and rolling over the rough, gray surface of asphalt.
Akutagawa said nothing in response, which Higuchi went to assume that the answer was yes. She aimlessly fired a shot in attempt to shoot me, but Gin swiftly moved away, dragging me along with her.
I took this opportunity to get back up, still not entirely straight but just enough for my legs to support the weight of my upper body. The white pants that I wore for this dinner was covered in red stains along with my white and black polka-dotted top.
"Hear me out, Higuchi," I spoke with much confidence. "When trying to get your senpai's attention, never expect him to feel the same way about you."
"What do you know about this, man thief?" Higuchi reacted violently, treating me as if I knew nothing about the situation.
I ignored the side comment and proceeded in what I was saying. "Stop drowning in your fantasies and accept the fact that Akutagawa rejected you."
"And I should listen to you because...?"
"Because in this world we live in, our love and efforts for the people we care for will always go to waste, no matter how much you deny it."
Higuchi was triggered from my remark, aiming another shot at me but only for me to side step it; easy as pie. I appeared next to her weakened body, kicking her gun towards Akutagawa and having it further from Higuchi's reach.
I knelt down her level, caressing her face and plastering a smug look on my face. Drawing my face closer to hers earned reactions not just from her, but also the Akutagawa siblings.
"What the heck are you doing, Ira?" Akutagawa yelled.
"Has Akutagawa told you I am more in to women?" I teased the dumbfounded Higuchi, feeling her nervousness from my hand on her chin. "So why bother to eliminate me when you're competing with me -- I am not even straight like you."
Having no weapons left for her to get, she simply gave me a punch in the face, knocking me off to her side. Akutagawa responded almost immediately, summoning one of his varieties of Rashoumon.
I slowly got back on my feet, coughing out a little blood from the punch. I continued to be loquacious in order to trigger her even more, so that she'd waste more energy in being carried away with her emotions; rather than using her remaining energy to fight back.
"I may not be straight," I went on, sending an enhancement ability towards Akutagawa to keep Higuchi stuck in her senpai's grasp. "But my intentions are straightforward. I don't plan on being anything more than being his servant."
Having the enhancement on my master allowed him to unleash his Early Blooming Sakura more quickly than he normally would. Most of his abilities take time to be active, but with the help of my utility mode, Higuchi was taken down and out.
Gin went to catch her again, ensuring that she is unconscious or unable to move. Moments later, several teachers came to the scene of the crime. Dazai, Kunikida, and Ranpo came out from a car all at one, running to our direction as fast as they could.
"Aww, it's over!" Ranpo whined. "I knew we shouldn't have let Kunikida drive!"
"Out on a Saturday dinner, huh," Dazai put his hands together with a joyful expression. "Too bad somebody had to ruin it. Ain't that dandy, Ira?"
Kunikida stashed out a pair of handcuffs, locking them into the unconscious Higuchi's wrist. Fukuzawa and Mori, the two presidents of the school came to follow up a few minutes after the teachers' arrival. Higuchi was put inside the presidents' car, probably for interrogation or punishment.
Dazai and Ranpo approached my bloody self. I couldn't keep my composure due to too much energy drain, but at least I could stand up for a few more minutes. Tapping me on the shoulders, the flow of my ability calmed down thanks to Dazai, although that halted my wounds from healing itself.
"Stop pushing yourself to heal on your own, Ira," Dazai said, giving me a light pat on the head. "You are not Yosano."
"I know, I know," I smiled. "I am a try-hard, after all. It was worth a try."
"You made no difference with the blondie if you say it like that, then~" Ranpo added, walking towards Akutagawa afterwards. "If you don't mind, mister master!! We will be taking Mitsuya to the doctor first!"
Akutagawa did not show any signs of agitation, but went to say out "I want you back alive, creep."
I gave a feeble nod, waving a small goodbye at the siblings. My master did not react, but Gin gave out a bow and a small smile. Oh my God my heart, please send help.
Ranpo got in the car along with me, now just waiting for Dazai. He was staring at Akutagawa with quite the strange aura, making the man in black uncomfortable.
"W-What do you want?" Akutagawa coughed, looking away.
Dazai said nothing at first, until two-worded sentence escaped his thin lips.
"Thank you."
--
I haven't been to Yosano's clinic for about a week now; the last one was when I was dragged in to the forest as a hostage of Higuchi's plan. I kind of missed the black, empty room filled with nothing but the thin foam beneath me and an oak table right next to the metal wheeled bed.
Painfully chained down on the bed, I waited for Yosano to do her thing. She was not yet around, since she said she needed new 'dissecting' materials. While waiting for her, I went to rest my eyes even though my current position was really uncomfortable.
As soon as I closed my eyes, a visual image of Akutagawa appeared in my mind. The view was as similar of what had happened at the training room yesterday afternoon.
"Just do me a favor and never wander off, ever."
What does he mean by that? During my first few days as his servant about three to four years ago, he would always tell me to get out of his sight. I was a huge failure way back then, and I think until now I still am.
But now he is asking me to never leave?
I am still overthinking about the whole Higuchi thing. Those words that I've said only came from the book that I have been borrowing from Kyouka, but deep inside me, it quite pains me to think that even I can't get the attention of my senpai.
It was understandable, though. Having to get a chance to actually talk to her with only about twenty-four inches of gap made me realize all of those things that I said to Higuchi a while back. It is that no matter how I try to make efforts for anyone, sometimes they just don't return the same level of intimacy towards me.
I guess only staying friends with Gin -- and enduring his brother's orders -- is the closest that I can get for me to be in touch with her.
"Creep. I don't want to be in a relationship." Akutagawa's voice rang in my head again. Remembering those words saddened me a bit; I am not even entirely sure why.
Paranoia came to hit me like a truck, thinking of things like "Would he even care if my contract is finally over?" Probably not. He is strong and is very capable on his own.
"Would I be able to graduate along with him?" Most likely not. Over the years, I have seen him improve, but not me. I will surely stay in school for another year.
And last, but not the least... would he even care if I die?