Chapter Four
Tomoko returned to the familiar room as Ayume was there at the front door to greet her.
"How was he?" the blond asked with a giggle. She had on her own uniform, which was the same style as Tomoko's, but a shade of yellow.
"Eh," the dark-haired girl sneered. She immediately headed to the table as she sat down, and grabbed a plate of vanilla cake. Xinu was still not on her shoulder as it walked up to Ayume.
"She told him some details, but she left out the important ones," it answered.
"Did he seem interested?" Ayume wondered. She glanced at Tomoko who was currently stuffing her face with the piece of pie.
"I guess, but the way that she presented it was probably too much for the boy," it sighed. "What did you find out?"
"Oh! Oh! Look!" Ayume pointed at the couch as the creature smirked. Sitting there was three people, or two older men and a woman. The men had on black business suits as the female was wearing a deep purple jacket and a skirt. She had long brown hair with matching scarlet high-heeled shoes. Both of the males had gray hair and intense blue eyes.
"So we're just waiting on Haruki," Xinu stated. It was odd having three older members, but they were necessary for their intelligence and social skills. The cat-like creature licked its paw as Ayume went over to the adults, and began talking to them with a smile on her face. 'Heh. Tomoko told Haruki that he had a choice, but he really doesn't,' it contemplated with a grin.
Haruki returned to his room as he let out a heavy sigh. Hearing about Flounces and getting another kiss from Tomoko made his time at home seem dull in comparison. He remembered about his cell phone as he opened it up to see a few text messages. All of them were from Mao either asking or telling Haruki to come home with some side jokes of course.
'Would I really want to give up all of this and fight some monsters?' he wondered. 'Or would I be living normally but fight them separately?' The boy slammed his face onto the bed as the rest of his body followed with it. Now that he knew about the Flounces and all it seemed hard to forget the recent events. He also had one night remaining before Mao would supposedly do something grand for him.
The boy stared at the window to see that it was night outside, or around his usual bedtime. With Mao not bothering him he felt like hurrying to rest would be the greatest idea for now. Overall he had all of tomorrow at school to think about the club. Haruki didn't get up and felt the drowsiness engulf him as he fell right to sleep.
The next day during school Haruki felt rather sick. He had woken up several times during the night being distracted with reveries about Mao and Tomoko's club. He found it interesting that the day after he saw the girl the dreams about her didn't repeat.
The boy found himself at the end of the day already as he sensed discouragement. He was still so nervous about Mao's special night that he barely ate anything during the day. He also spent most of class thinking about his decision. The male felt like heading home, and getting the event over with in order to feel better.
When he arrived at the house and into his room Mao was already sitting on his bed with a grin on his face. "So Haruki...Are you ready?" Mao inquired with a wide smirk on his face. Haruki tossed his backpack onto the floor as he shrugged his shoulders. Outside of the bedroom door was a long and wooden hallway with dismal green walls. There were several other doors on the one side, and eventually visitors would arrive at a staircase that goes both up and down.
"I don't know. I'm kind of tired," he mumbled. "And why aren't we doing this in your room?"
"Let's try a different area. That might make things go more smoothly than usual," the male razzed. "You've been acting strangely recently."
"How so?" Haruki inquired with a raised eyebrow. His arms were by his sides as he stuffed them into his pant pockets.
"You seem less into it, you know?" the man explained. "I always end up doing everything while you yelp like a child. It's rather boring."
"Oh. I have no idea what you mean," Haruki lied while shrugging his shoulders.
"Is it becoming dull and repetitive for you already?" Mao asked as he stood up and placed his hands onto the younger male's shoulders. Haruki gazed into his eyes as they were staring at one another. The room was unlit so the overcast of the sunset made it more difficult to see as time passed on. "If it's me then-"
"No, you do it well," the other one replied with a frown on his face. He sensed the inner rage building up as all of his feelings that he had been concealing within himself were about to bubble out into an emotional explosion. He tried to calm himself down, but with Mao right on top of him it was rather challenging. "I just..."
"Tell me everything Haruki," Mao cooed while he grasped the male's face with his hands. "I don't mind the truth." Haruki took his hands out of his pockets as he immediately shoved Mao away and was by the window.
"Are you sure?" he sneered. Mao was making him feel anxious, which was causing him to swell up with annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah. We're tight, you know?" Mao said with his usual handsome smile across his face. The younger one then felt himself snap as he deeply glared with tight fists.
"Fine. I'm tired of being forced to sleep with you. I can't stand being in this house and at school with boys all the time. I want to leave this stupid place and live like ordinary people," Haruki growled. He saw Mao's grin turn into an even wider smirk.
"So you would give up everything that you have, and seek after a plain life like everyone else in this world?" he razzed.
"No...No...I'm sure there are others that have what we do." Haruki felt tears coming to his eyes as he felt his stomach turning with guilt. He didn't mean to extrovert like that, and especially toward his only friend.
"Heh. You'll soon shortly see that you're wrong. If you stick with me you'll feel much better," Mao whispered as he extended his arms to give the boy a hug. Just as his hands were about to touch Haruki pushed him.
"I don't want anything right now," he whined. The male backed himself into the corner as he had his back against the wall, but headed toward the door.
"Haruki...Are you scared because I made tonight into such a huge deal?" Mao wondered. "I had something really special planned for you. Something fresh and pleasing." He was mumbling as he continued beaming.
"Like what? Some object that will make you happy for teasing me? And no. I'm not frightened. I'm done being your human toy," Haruki added.
"Just stop complaining and-" Just as Mao began to speak there was a knock at the door.
"I'm coming in," Mr. Akao's voice sounded through the wooden surface. Haruki let out a silent gasp as luckily the nighttime atmosphere didn't let Mao see his horrified expression. If his father saw them arguing then the situation would only get worse. He attempted to relax himself as he watched the man step into the room.
"Mr. Akao, it's good to see you," Mao stated with a formal bow. The figure's presence was like an ominous aura within the petite bedroom.
"Is everything going well in here?" he questioned. His eyes went back and forth between them waiting for someone to answer.
"Haruki is probably suffering from so much studying. He's speaking nonsense," the other one uttered while putting his arms by his sides. "He refuses to participate in my special night."
"Oh really?" The gentleman's eyes then studied Haruki as he frowned a little. "What's going on, my son?" He didn't move from the doorway as both Haruki and Mao shifted themselves obverse of the bed.
"I uh..." Haruki stammered. He put his hand behind his head out of bad habit. Mao was about to speak as the parent raised his right hand to stop him.
"It's alright. I heard the entire thing." Haruki flinched as he felt his eyes widen a little. "My son is ready."
"Heh. He is for sure," Mao widely grinned. "Shall I?"
"Yes. Haruki...Everything will feel more enlightening once Mao is done with you tonight," he told the child. "Have a good one." With that the man shut the door. A moment later Haruki heard the knob to the bedroom panel fall onto the ground with a slight clang.
"What...What's going on?" Haruki wheezed.
End of Chapter Four