— Beneath the Fire and Ice —

- Chapter IV -

— [ Yumiko Miura / Mihama Ward Area ] —

~o~

"Ahh mou! this is officially by far the worst day of my life!" I indignantly swore as Hikio and I quickly ran up the slope after being caught right in the middle of a torrential rain that poured down all of a sudden.

Initially we thought the drizzle would remain as it is for at least half an hour before gradually worsening into a downpour thus we decided to proceed along our plan to head back in school, yet our predictions were entirely mistaken when the rain abruptly fell hard when we are just about only at the halfway point of our return trip.

The rain slowly washed my makeup off as water sips through my jacket and into my uniform, making me feel a little bit colder despite the arduous task I'm doing right now.

I frantically looked around, hoping to find a place we can use as a refuge but alas, this street's mostly filled with high-walled residential houses and sakura trees but the latter hardly provides any sort of cover at all so we really can't stay under one for far too long.

Goddangit!

I internally cursed as I swept off the raindrops that abruptly hit my eyes which partially impaired my vision but then I felt that my shoe got suddenly tripped onto something and—

—Clash!

The very next thing I knew, I was already down at the ground.

I frustratingly hissed.

Great, this day just keeps getting better and better.

I swiftly checked myself and found that my skirts all entirely dirtied now and I could already see the puddle underneath me having a streak of re—What!?

I quickly followed the red trail towards its source and discovered that my right knee has a gash that is bleeding profusely. Color instantly drained from my face as my brain finally registered the stinging pain due to the wound.

Holy mother of santa!

All my sensations have suddenly been overtaken by an acute excruciating pain as a river of blood continually flows out of my knee. I tried standing up but my strength frustratingly gave away and thus, I once again fell right back down on the ground.

Goddangit!

W-Why is this happening to me?

I almost let out a litany of curses when a voice suddenly interrupted my intentions.

"Stay still."

A black haired figure knelt down beside me and pulled something out of his pockets. I looked up and see Hikio scrutinizing the gash on my knee for a second before moving his arms and tying a handkerchief around the wound.

I blinked.

I'm drenched, cold, wounded, broke and downright famished but for some inexplicable reason, I suddenly felt this urge to laugh out loud due to the ridiculousness of this whole situation.

Ah, I must be slowly going insane.

We surely must have look absolutely comical at this moment.

Just imagine, a boy and a wounded girl, fully drenched in the middle of the street while stuck right under the downpour of a heavy rain.

Seriously what is this, some kind of cheap poorly written j-melodrama?

The only thing missing now is some overly dramatic lines and the male lead piggy-backing the wounded heroine to a place where they can do some horizontal tangos and it would be the perfect example of a cringe inducing low budget chick flick.

Seriously, kill me now.

End this misery already.

"This should help the bleeding for now but we really ought to find a good cover in this rain." Hikio said after helping me stood up and slowly guided me towards the nearest tree.

"Can you still walk?" He asked before giving my wounded knee a pointed look.

I made a conflicted expression before feebly nodding.

Hikio still gave me an unsure look before sighing aloud and cranking an arm up his neck. He then pointed a finger at a distance and said, "I remember there's a bus stop over in that direction. Let's go there for cover instead since hiding under this tree really isn't covering us from the rain at all."

I squinted my eyes towards the area he's been pointing at and see a spot that indeed looks to be a bus stop. It looks only just a few blocks away and I estimated that we'll reach it in about a minutes or so even in a walking pace.

"Great, I'm gonna get wet again." I muttered in annoyance and out on the corner of my eye found Hikio staring weirdly at me.

Perhaps because his stare had somewhat creeped me out so I decided to ask him why he's looking at me like that but the weirdo just looked away and cast out a blatant fake cough.

"N-Nothing...anyways, are you really okay walking?"

I began to feel irritated of his apprehension.

"I'm wounded not disabled. Stop treating me like I'm a fragile thing. Geez, that bus stop is only a few blocks away so I think I could at least endure walking that far." He still doesn't look entirely convinced so I mockingly added, "What, are you offering to carry me instead?"

He quickly shook his head.

"H-Haha, no I'll pass. You look like you'll bite my head off if I even accidentally touch you inappropriately."

I snorted at his lame response as I gave this weirdo an analytical look.

Hayato would probably confidently offer to princess-carry instead in this situation. Ah, it such a shame that my prince isn't around when I needed him here. Its only this creep I'm forced to rely onto...b-but I guess this weirdo isn't so bad as I once thought.

Initially I was skeptical about this guy's overall ability since I've seen how socially inept he is but to my surprise, this seemingly reclusive classmate of mine is unexpectedly reliable at the most crucial times.

The way he can diffuse my ire and make me calm with just a few words are totally shocking, like as if he knew the perfect time to say the right words.

...He's still a creep though.

I shoot Hikio a pointed look before stating, "Hmph, well at least you're not like those green minded boys who jump at the slimmest chance to cop a feel. Anyways, enough chatter let's just go now okay?"

Hikio simply shrugged as the two of us finally leave the cover of the sakura tree. The wound on my knee has once again began aching as I limp onwards with difficult steps.

C-Crap, I think I might have underestimated the severity of my wound for my knee suddenly feels like its about to snap in two.

Fricking Arse!

I think I'm about to fall once again but then—

"—Hold on."

Something soft and warm suddenly grasped my left hand.

I looked ahead and see Hikio pulling me along as he stride in front of me while shielding me from the onset of rain. I felt a slight fluster due to the entanglement of our hands but his placid expression as he sprint forward without even looking back at me had somehow settled the beats that suddenly spiked deep within my chest.

Really, what a surprising guy.

Without me becoming aware of it, my cold fingers began to seek the warmth that was enveloping it as I grasped his hand even more tightly.

— [ Hikigaya Hachiman / Bus Stop ] —

~o~

It took us a couple of minutes to finally reach the bus terminal and were both fully drenched by the time we have arrived. I finally let go of Miura's hand and swiftly sat on one of the seats available before beginning to settle my panting breaths.

I observed her doing the same as she sat on a seat that is at arms-length away from the one I picked. To my surprise, something began to aroused in between my pants as I silently watch her rinse the water off her hair and exhale a visible air out of her lips.

Perhaps its because of the permless and makeup free look, but her current appearance gives me an entirely new refreshing vibe that's entirely different from the sharp and dominating allure which she usually sports.

"I wonder what time it is now." I asked after reluctantly moving my eyes away and shifting my sight into the road ahead.

"Probably somewhere around eight pm?" Miura responded in an unsure tone before adding, "It was around seven forty when I called Hayato earlier."

And thus the conversation swiftly ends.

Silence.

Sigh.

Whatever, I'm too tired to talk anyway.

I simply just closed my eyes then breathe out slowly in an effort to relax myself then began assessing our situation.

With the way things have devolved, its pretty obvious that insisting on going back to school now to fetch our bags are going to be a lot more harder especially for the wounded girl sitting on my right. Her current condition wouldn't permit her to travel long distances due to the wound on her knee and not to mention this bad weather would greatly hamper our efforts.

Thus our only option now is for me to go by myself and let Miura rest and wait here at this stop while I fetch our bags back. However I'm reluctant about this option since I really don't want to scamper against this bad weather anymore and leave a wounded girl alone here to fend for herself in case someone with ill intentions decides to approach her.

I combed my wet bangs up in annoyance.

Hmm, what to do, what to do...

Our main problem lies on the fact that we both doesn't have any money on us to pay for the ride back on our houses. However if I exclude the cash then there's really no point in getting our bags back at this time anymore. We can just try going back at school again tomorrow instead when the weather is better and we're far more prepared unlike now.

Its not like our bags would be lost anyway even if we don't get it tonight since the school's security is pretty solid.

"Hey I've been thinking," I cautiously started then paused to wait for Miura to focus and turn her head at me before continuing, "How about we postpone getting our bags for tomorrow instead?"

Miura's expression swiftly soured the moment I finished my question. I knew she's about to lash out at me, probably will proclaim that I'm a goddamn fool or something so before she could even build up her steam, I quickly raised my palms and interjected, "Wait! Hear me out first okay?"

My adam's apple took a dip as I face the direct sharp eyes of our resident class Queen. It felt like I was being stared at by somekind of predator which is quite funny since her current appearance looks anything but menacing.

Miura's eyes are telling me to proceed along so I heedfully said, "Its already late and its raining hard plus your knee is wounded. I don't think its optimal for us to insist on going back to fetch our bags anymore in this situation, so how about we do it tomorrow instead? Sure, there's no classes tomorrow since its Saturday but I'm sure there's still some guards working to help us open the doors if we just explain it properly."

Miura's eyes narrowed as she placed a thumb at the base of her chin and remained still at that posture for about a minute before asking, "Well it sounds reasonable but how do we get home if we don't get our bags then?"

Ahha, finally the question I desperately wanted to hear.

I lopsidedly smirked before confidently stating a single word—

"—Taxi."

Silence.

It felt like the constant pitter-patter of the rain as it hit the stop's roof have suddenly became so loud in this few minutes that just passed by.

My smirk began cramping as awkwardness permeates the air.

The look she's giving me now make me feel as if I said something really retarded just now.

Oi Milady, say something will ya!?

I think its a good suggestion, but why is she acting as if I suddenly said the most stupidest thing in the world.

Finally after three minutes of pure awkwardness, Miura came out of her stupor.

She gave me a dismayed look before facepalming herself and drew out a long sigh.

"I also thought of riding a taxi home, but I live in Hanamigawa-ku so the fare would definitely cost a lot. I already spent all my allowance for this week and the emergency savings stored at my room would definitely not be enough to cover the cost. Also my mom's usually returning from work around midnight so there would be no one else I can ask for money even if I return home at this time."

Silence.

...Oh.

Well that's a bummer.

I guess I have to think of a new plan now...although will this really be useless? Riding a taxi might not be possible for Miura but I reside in Makuhari Baytown Area, so it'll only take me at most fifteen minutes if I ride a taxi home from here.

Money's also not an issue since I saved some in my place.

Hmm, I sense an opportunity.

The gears in my brain starts turning.

What if...What if Miura instead come along with me when I take a taxi ride home? Letting someone whom is close to that bastard in my place might prove to be a risky endeavour since she might notice something but the benefits I can gain from this can offset the potential dangers I might incur.

Initially I thought that being acquainted with this haughty girl might prove to be hazardous since she's infatuated with one of my enemies but now that I think about it, there's no one better I can use as a 'mole' than her.

This Queen might be the perfect chess piece to counter that annoying spy that's been plauging my highschool life.

The only inhibitions I have is that this powerful piece is going to be a lot way more harder to convert in joining my side.

However the greater the risk there is, the better the gains and I've always been a daring gambler.

I smirked.

Helping Miura with this small problem would be the start of it all. She could come along with me to my apartment and then afterwards, I can just give her the money for the taxi ride back on her house.

I bet its only a few yen's worth anyway.

I also have a first-aid kit back home so I could change that makeshift bandage I made earlier into a proper dressing.

Women highly values the smoothness of their skin so Miura would at least feel some sort of rapport if I show some concern on her wound.

I could also cook something for her while I'm at it since I'm sure she's pretty hungry by now.

These actions might seems so irrelevant but influencing someone starts on these small inconsequential things.

Its basic manipulation 101.

I only have to prevent Miura from accidentally entering my room where I store all the important stuffs. I've also left some files in the living room but I can just put it on the spare room easily.

Good thing this all happened a week before that wayward sister of mine finally comes back in Japan since I don't know how I'll explain this all to her.

Inadvertently the muscles around my face began to loosen at the mere thought of my sister, my sole partner in crime and the only one whom I truly considers family in this harsh cruel world.

I can't wait for her to come back for her arrival would be the herald of the demise of all those people whom have ruined and stole everything that once been precious in my life.

I can't wait.

Soon...very soon.

The noose is already starting to tighten yet those imbeciles still hasn't notice a damn thing and once the second phase of the plan finally begins, then it would be all too late...

I will finally taste vengeance as everyone will burn at the fires of my sweet revenge.

But for now all I can do is patiently wait.

Bide my time, and hold out hope.

~o~

A/N : You won't see me coming~ Till I strike! Ehem Ehem, ahh enough of this nonsense.

I will try to update once a week most around Fridays.

Thanks for reading~