Don't be sad, I love you

Chapter 4. A bit of Benedictus x Shiori in this scene (I made a little link with Glance lol)

When he came back to his house, Benedictus let him down on his bed, tired of all this crap. He still wondered if all of this was just a dream, and if it was really real. But he already knew it. He sighed and put a pillow over his head, hoping to choke with it. Suddenly, he was interrupted in his thoughts by a knock at the door. He sighed, and woke up, unwillingly.

When he opened the door, he saw a person who he didn't expect to see: his father.

"Father?"

"Good afternoon, Benedictus. Are you ready? I came to get you."

"Why? Will we come somewhere?"

His father sighed.

"Really. Where have you been, these last days? There is a farewell drink party for you and all of the Punishment Squad's members."

Suddenly, his son realized. Ah yes, Georgius talked about something like that.

"And that would be the great occasion to meet your future fiancée."

"Oh, no. Please! Not that again! I've already told you: I'm not interested by your stories of arranged marriage. I'm not ready."

Especially now, he thought.

"I saw it" his father said. "You're looking like if you're ill."

"I won't come."

His father became irritated.

"Oh! Enough with your whims. I don't have time. Your future fiancée will be here anyway. So, you come and without a word! Understood?"

Benedictus rolled his eyes, but his father caught him by the arm forcefully, forcing him to follow him.

"I know that it's difficult for you, but if you could smile for once, it would be great."

Benedictus moaned instead.

"Why don't you let me alone?" he growled, walking with his hands in his pockets.

"Because soon, your old father won't be here. So I would like at least to see you married before."

"I will cry." He said with an insolent tone.

"And your sister neither. Seeing that now, she has a boyfriend."

Benedictus jumped and looked at his father, astonished.

"Did you know it, for Kakeru?"

"Yes." He nodded. "She introduced him to me, and I think he's a confidence man. He will protect your sister. I saw his will in his look. He was determined to protect her, no matter what."

That praises were just raising Benedictus's hatred for this man. He sighed.

"I thought you would be against."

"Oh no. I accepted it easily. But she was afraid of your reaction, so she hesitated to introduce him to you."

And she was right, Benedictus thought, sadly.

"I always knew she was very attractive, that's why I always protected her from evil-minded men."

Yes, he wasn't wrong about that. Scholastica, for Benedictus, was too cute and too innocent, how the little girl she was, and it were the reason why he became irritated when a man came closer to her. Now, if he said to his father that the only one person he wanted was her…Benedictus couldn't imagine it.

"So. It's here. Well, I'll leave you with her. One last thing, try to be nice and polite with her, not like with the others."

And his father left. Benedictus sighed, and thought that he didn't have the choice. He pushed the door and entered into the room. Inside, the room was filled up by so many people, who were eating, or dancing on a rhythmic music. In the middle of the room, Johanna was sat down on a kind of throne, and stared at everyone, with an enigmatic smile, like she wanted to prepare something. He saw Elaine who wanted dancing with Sebastianus, but apparently, this latter didn't want and tried to go away from the floor. Samson was next to the buffet and was eating something with appetite. Misao was sat down close to Georgius, and she watched out him, with much concern in his look. Benedictus noticed that this latter seemed rather out of breath, unlike the open-minded leader he was usually.

"…So, you're here."

Benedictus turned back, and saw his sister, standing up in front of him. He was surprised to see her talking to him, and especially, smiling to him warmly, unlike at the meeting. Despite that, he could still see a flash of embarrassment in her eyes. He sighed.

"…You're beautiful."

Scholastica shrugged, without stopping to smile.

"…Thanks. Hm…This flowers…"

Benedictus remarked now the bunch of violets that his father had slipped at his hand, in order to give it to his "fiancée". He thought it was ridiculous, but when he saw Scholastica's eyes, he remembered that the violets were her favourites flowers. He felt a bit awkward about that situation.

"Actually…" he began, but when he saw that no one girl in the room who could be his fiancée, (they were too old or had already someone) he turned back to her.

"…I bought that for…But if you want, I can give it to y…"

"Ah! Scholastica. I searched for you everywhere!"

The both of them turned back to someone who they didn't see coming. It was a blue-haired boy, a bit taller than him, with big blue eyes. He was dressed in a black suit, very chic. Benedictus didn't know him, but when he saw him kissing his sister, he goggled, realizing his identity.

"…"

"Kakeru…"

He expected that. Benedictus frowned. Kakeru turned back to him, wrapping an arm around Scholastica's waist, and smiled politely to him.

"Hi. My name is Kakeru. I guess you are…Benedictus, her brother?"

"…Yes."

He was unable to speak, too shocked.

"I knew that! You two have the same nose…and the same eyes."

He came closer to him, in order to hold out Benedictus's hand, but this latter moved away. Kakeru was a bit surprised by this attitude, but he kept his smile.

"I…I always wanted to meet you, but I don't know…Scholastica didn't want."

Benedictus glared at her. She cowered.

"To be honest, I didn't want to meet you neither. And an advice: no familiarities with me, okay?"

Kakeru goggled, completely stunned by the blond boy. He glanced at Scholastica, who looked at her brother. He said:

"So. I see that I bother you. Sorry, I leave you two."

"But…why don't you stay…?"

"I have others things to do. Goodbye."

And he left, downright angered by this meeting. Kakeru asked to Scholastica if he'd said something wrong, but she didn't answer.

Benedictus came outside. He leaned against the wall. Close to him, a couple of apostles kissed each other, didn't pay any attention to him. He rolled his eyes, wondered really what he had done for deserve it. But it was none of his business. First, he'll throw this stupid bunch out, and now.

Suddenly, while he opened the dustbin, a calm voice talked to him:

"What are you doing?"

Benedictus stopped and turned back to the person who was here. It was a young girl, a bit shorter than him, with longs, silver hairs partly tied up in two little ponytails by longs red ribbons. She had red and dark eyes, looking like an albinos, but Benedictus didn't try to do this remark. She was dressed in the Index magus's uniform, which was composed of a long white dress. Benedictus raised one eyebrow, surprised by this new meeting.

"I throw these stupid things out! Why? Have you got any problem with that?"

The girl looked at him, contemptuously.

"If you want really get rid of that, you can still give it to me."

Benedictus frowned.

"Yes, yes. As you want."

And he put it brutally in her hands. The young girl sighed.

"It seems you have a bad day, isn't it?"

"It's none of your business, child."

The young girl glanced at the bunch, pensive.

"So. Your father didn't lie to me when he talked about you."

Benedictus jumped.

"What? Do you know my father? So, you are…"

The girl nodded. "Yes, I'm Ursula of the Bookshelf."

After having a brief talk, the two of them decided to go to the courtyard, which was empty because all of the apostles were at the party. They sat down on slabs, and Ursula began to speak.

"It seems that tonight, there will be some breeze here."

"Listen, Ursula…"

"Can you call me Shiori instead of Ursula, please?"

Benedictus raised one eyebrow.

"Why?"

"It's just that…I will be brought to a mission soon. I must being accustomed to my pseudonym."

"Okay. As you want…Shiori. Listen, it seems you are a nice girl, but although what my father said, I'm not ready to be married now."

Shiori closed her eyes. "Me neither."

"So, why did you accept it?" Benedictus asked, with an insolent tone in his voice.

"I didn't accept it. It's just an excuse to see you."

Benedictus analyzed Shiori silently. Hm. She wasn't so ugly. She was even rather pretty. Even very cute, but he shook his head, wondered what he's been thinking. He sighed.

"Oh. Why did you want to see me?"

"I wanted talking with you. Since you are part of my family line, it seemed that you're the one with who I can talk freely."

"What did you say that?"

"Just listen." She stared at him, serious. "I learned about the Punishment Squad's mission. Will you fight a witch named Liselotte, won't you?"

"Yes. Why?"

Shiori sighed. "An advice. You shouldn't go to this mission. It's very dangerous. If you want lose your life, go there."

"Eeer?"

Benedictus glared at her, without understanding. Shiori went on. "Liselotte is too powerful for you all. You will be killed."

"Killed? Haha. You make me laugh. She won't kill us. With my power and the others, we'll defeat this witch easily."

Deep down, he remembered that, in order to active this power, he will must working with his sister. He sighed at this thought.

"No. She is immortal. Even with your power. The only thing which can defeat her, it's the Contract of the Rainbow's technique."

Benedictus goggled. "Contract of the Rainbow? But only Georgius can do it! And this technique could do something wrong to us."

Shiori nodded. "That's why you mustn't go to this mission. Never. Say it to Georgius."

"Georgius won't listen anyway. But one thing: how do you know that?"

Shiori stood up, enigmatic. "I've heard Johanna talking about that with Sophia."

Benedictus also stood up. "That's funny. We never talked to each other, so why do you want prevent us?"

Shiori turned back to him. "I prefer warning you."

Benedictus stared at her, quietly. He thought to Scholastica, then her with his boyfriend Kakeru, together. That thought made him angry and sad at the same time. Shiori saw a flash of sadness through his eyes. Then, suddenly, without she understood, Benedictus drew her close to him, and hugged her tightly. Shiori goggled.

"…What happens to you?"

"…It's nothing. I'm just glad that someone watches out me."

"…"

"It's just that…I need…Just one moment. Just one minute. Please, just one moment like that."

He tightened his embrace. Shiori nodded and hugged him back. The two of them stayed like that during five minutes, in the middle of the courtyard. If there was a third person who was here, she could have guessed that it was an intimate date.

"…Do you want come at my place? It seems you really need comfort."

Benedictus stayed quiet a short moment before to accept. The two of them looked at each other, before heading for Shiori's house.

Scholastica, after another dance with Kakeru, came outside for take some breath. She leaned against the wall, tired. Suddenly, she saw two people through the courtyard. Scholastica, at the beginning, didn't recognize them because they were too away, but she came closer, she saw something she didn't expect to see. It was her own brother, walking alone with a girl who she didn't know. She goggled, stunned by that. But when she winked, the two had disappeared without warnings. But nevertheless, she was sure of what she saw. "Scholastica!"

She turned back. It was Samson.

"Are you coming? We come back home."

Scholastica nodded, without answering.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.

Scholastica closed her eyes. She smiled, reassuring, but Samson, even if they were away from each other, could see a tear rolling on her holographic cheek.

Benedictus and Shiori arrived at Shiori's house, which was not very away from Benedictus's one. The two entered and Benedictus sat down on the sofa, in the lounge. Shiori served him an orange juice, by politeness, and sat down next to him.

"Are you better, now?"

"…Not very."

Benedictus, nevertheless, smiled to her, as he wanted to say thanks to her, that he did nearly never.

"…Say to me, Shiori."

"What?"

"Have you ever got an unhappy love affair?"

Shiori shrugged. "Not really. To be honest, I never had boyfriends."

Benedictus nodded. "And, according to you, what can I do against that and feel better?"

Shiori, didn't understand why, but she felt blushing inside. Nevertheless, she said.

"I think I would see others people and I would try to forget it."

Benedictus agreed, enjoying her idea. "Yes. I think that's the best solution."

He looked down and took his head into his hands. "I madly love her…"

"And did you know her for so long?" Shiori tried to calm him down and came closer to him, putting an hand around his shoulders. "…Yes…Since nearly always."

"Maybe you misunderstood her feelings toward you. As well as your feelings toward her…"

"No. She's…I never really thought about it. I always wanted to hide them I think without really knowing how I really felt. When…I somehow confessed it…"

He sighed. "I think I destroyed our relationship."

"Maybe not."

"Yes" he repeated. "On an other side, I should have expected it. I was never been really nice with her. I always counted on her…I didn't express my feelings…So. She didn't cheat on me. I was so brutal."

"Shh." Shiori muttered to him. "It's okay. I know it."

Benedictus glared at her. "How could you…You don't know how I feel."

"I know it…that's all." Benedictus stayed a bit shocked but finally quiet. He just smiled to her again. "Thanks."

He put his glass down and came closer to her. And suddenly, she felt his hand caressing softly her cheek, very tenderly. Benedictus let his hand redrawing her face completely with his fingers, and finally caught her in his arms to kiss her. Shiori was shocked: she didn't expect that, especially from him, and she stayed unmoving during a moment. Nevertheless, his kiss was very sweet, and after two minutes like that, she realized she enjoyed it. She kissed him back and tightened their embrace. Benedictus interrupted their kiss and said to her:

"…Don't take me for someone who is desperate. That's just that…I wanted to thank you. Just thank you…"

"That's normal. Now, silence."

Shiori kissed him again, and two of them were lying down on the sofa, kissing again, but much more deeply than the first. Shiori groaned when he untied her two ponytails. She finished the kiss before to kiss his neck, and took his cape off that he throw away on the ground. Benedictus contemplated Shiori a moment before unbuttoning her dress. Shiori, by this gesture, closed her eyes, letting her sliding slowly in a kind of coma.