Aichi could hear it.
He could hear the seed vibrating in his head, a faint beat that only he could hear, as he watched his dear friends cardfight each other, a smile on everyone's face as they laughed and rejoiced, the sound of cards flipping echoing in the small shop.
The bluenet was probably the only one who had a small frown on his face, lifting up his hand and drawing it to his heart, feeling his heart and the seed vibrate in sync through his fingertips.
He wanted it to get out. He wanted it to go burn in a fire, or throw it into an ocean. He just simply wanted it gone forever. But that means he would have to die as well. It made his lips curl into a frustrated scowl as he thought about all the conflicts this damn seed would bring. Chaos, despair, worry...
Naoki suddenly called out to him, waving his cards excitedly in the air, a smile that seemed too big on his face. Shingo was sitting on the opposite side of him, his head resting on the table and his face covered by shielding arms, groveling in shame.
Aichi forced a smile and a laugh, and surprised himself by just how similar it was to his real happiness. It was so painful, knowing that he got so used to faking being proud of his friends that it actually seemed real... So real that even Kai could no longer tell the difference.
He felt a small pulse of pain spread through his body, and at once he was aware that the seed was reacting to his sorrow. Aichi could not bear it anymore and lowered his head, blue bangs blocking the view of joyful children and their bright smiles, but the laughter resounded in his ears, echoing eternally, and causing him somewhat of a headache.
Aichi Sendou? Getting a headache from the happiness of others? The one who smiled the brightest and laughed the loudest? Unthinkable. But there he was, wishing to clench his head and block the sound out from his ears, yet standing with his hands firmly clamped together behind his back, as if he was restraining himself.
He closed his eyes. He knew. He knew he would have to restrain himself even further before long, and would never be happy again if he couldn't even stand the sound of children. His sealed lids twitched as he imagined himself screaming in pain as the entity known as Link Joker enveloped him, the familiar nostalgic pang searing his sides as he remembered when he suffered, unable to even open his eyes and look up as Kai loomed over him, two bright red marks opaque against his pale cheeks.
So, what could he do? He didn't want to pass the seed onto anyone else, because then he would feel heavily guilty all the time. He didn't want to kill himself, because his friends would worry and who knew what the seed would do. He didn't want to lock himself up, because he would feel lonely and bored all the time.
Aichi bit his lip, feeling the rounded edges of his teeth break a layer of skin. He wanted to just curl up in a ball and shut his eyes forever, in an endless sleep, locked away from all kinds of light, whether they were gentle or harsh, whether they warmed him or scorched him.
Aichi narrowed his eyes emotionlessly. Yes... This was the perfect choice. Slumber forever and the seed would never awaken. There was always a chance that it would backfire, or he wouldn't even be sleeping peacefully, but he could no longer make himself care.
He walked out of the shop, not bothering to say anything to his friends, hearing concerned murmurs floating around from his friends, and comforting hoots from others, the sounds of his friends dying away as he walked outside, a sunset painting the skies above.
He would sleep forever, with no one ever knowing and no one ever being able to stop him.
No one.