Chapter 4: Honey

"It's getting late." Hanamiya tilted his head in the direction of the senior trailing behind him. "I'll walk you to the train station."

Seika strolled along without making a respond, her blank gaze fixed on the cup of hot chocolate that she cuddled with both her palms. Most certainly his words have reached her ears, but the confusion that clouded her mind was a sound filter, translating every syllable he produces into a muffled echo.

She had tried to drug herself with all those negative thoughts of how Hanamiya wouldn't come to her rescue, and yet he had proven otherwise. He made his entrance with timing so precise like a scene out of a shojo manga. However, even someone as dense as she is could comprehend the fact that Hanamiya Makoto was neither a prince on a white horse nor a knight in shining armor.

"Let go of her." He commanded, sharp, imposing tone carving fear into his audience of two. His well-toned muscles tensed aggressively, and the dangerous aura he emitted sent chills running through the abductor. Like a well-trained dog, the junior immediately responded to his master's order and dropped Seika's hand. The frail limb dropped to her side as she stood helplessly, paralyzed by the electrifying sensation traveling through her vein that has sent her mind into a trance-like state.

He came for her.

Hanamiya would never take any interest in trash like her, someone who has already lost their value to him. She wasn't worthy of his attention, but he came for her. She recognized the expression he had on, his eyes were inflamed by fury and his thin lips contorted in hostility, it was something she had always imagined to be reserved for dire times in the basketball courts. He was agitated, and she was the one who evoked such emotion in him. The moment of realization tasted surprisingly sweet on her tongue, almost as if she had just sank her teeth into a forbidden fruit.

Meanwhile, the hyena-like boy gave a screechy, nervous laughter as he planned out an escape route. "Hey man, I'm so sorry! Didn't know she was already erm," he racked his brain for the right word. "Preoccupied, pardon me!"

Kurosawa reminded himself that it was just a staged play, but he shake off the fear that was drained the strength from his fingers. He knew that Hanamiya is great actor, adept at portraying a wide range of roles, but he hadn't expected his captain to put that much effort into his acting. Mr. Hyena swiftly made his exit, dashing towards safety in a swift motion. As he passed by his captain, a sharp, crisp whisper scraped by his ear.

"Who said you could touch her."

Just for a split second, their eyes met. From the chilling look in his eyes, Kurosawa could tell that Hanamiya wasn't joking.

The captain clearly didn't enjoy his little improvisation.

"Senpai?" He prompted with a smirked that stretched the corners of his lips. "We've reached the station."

"Hanamiya-kun." She tightened her clutch on the heat-proof cup, and stared straight into his amber eyes. "Thank you." It came out a little shaky and she diverted her gaze in embarrassment.

Hanamiya snorted. Is there no limit to how gullible this idiot could be?

"Then," The second year captain stopped short in his tracks and turned to face the girl. Her delayed reaction brought her two steps closer to him, tightening the distance them to half an arm's length. "To express your gratitude, wouldn't you do a little something for me?"

Not bothered by the stares of passing commuters, Hanamiya leant forward, casting an elongated shadow over Seika. The darkness he had created swallowed her features, yet her eyes gleamed with fear. He could see well from her expression that her mind was replaying their little encounter in the elevator.

"Close your eyes for me." The dark-haired teen whispered as he inched closer. She obeyed out of pure reflex, but by the time conscious thoughts took over, Hanamiya was already too close for her to muster up enough courage to open her eyes again.

Hanamiya savoured her trembling form. Nothing tastes sweeter than someone else's fear and despair. The sadistic captain deliberately casted a heated breath on his prey's lashes, and let lose a faint snicker as Seika's lips quivered in response.

Seika could feel her knees crumbling below her. She sucked in a short gasp as cold fingers brushed by the sides of her cheeks, the hair by her temples were tucked back gently behind her ear by his bony long fingers. Then as sudden as he came, she felt a gust of cold air replacing the warmth of Hanamiya. Seika blinked open her lids in surprise, the captain's features appeared oddly clear in her line of sight. She patted the front of her face to confirm her suspicion. The smooth plastic frame was really sitting on the bridge of her nose.

"What's with that unsatisfied expression?" Hanamiya's lips curled into a smirk. "What did you think I was going to do?"

What did you think I was going to do? Seika answered the question silently inside her mind. She could only shake her head in disgust at her own thoughts. Did she really feel unsatisfied? It took a moment before she cringed at how she even doubted herself.

"Nothing." Seika pulled her brows together and shot back her most defiant look.

"Nothing?" He echoed, the smug look on his face grew, clearly taking pleasure from how the little insect is struggling on his web, one last thread to be weaved and the first stage of his plans will complete.

"Seika." Her name escaped his lips, coated with honey. The gentle mask that Hanamiya put on coaxed her stiff expressions into softening.

"I know I probably won't stand a chance against Ando, but" Hanamiya paused for dramatic effect, amused by the way colours drained from her cheeks at upon the mentioning of Ando's name. "Won't you consider giving me a chance?"

"What-" Seika didn't buy his little confession, but she couldn't put her loath into words. It wasn't like Hanamiya had expected her to believe such a transparent lie either; he has long crushed any expectation she had for him. Of course his aim was not so simple, a game like that will be too boring, he craves for her despair and will do anything to prolong her pain. He was merely rubbing salt on her old wounds.

"Just remember," His unfaltering amber eyes stared straight into her grey ones. He continued to weave his lies. "I will always be here for you."

Her grey eyes widened, trying to make sense of the confusion overflowing in her head. Just what is Hanamiya trying to do?

The persecutor didn't leave her any time to digest the situation. Before she could come up with a reply, he drew the curtain with his last act of a wistful smile and made his exit. Unhurried steps carried him away, and she kept watch until Hanamiya's back figure was completely enveloped by the cold, dark night sky.

He had just made known that she has his attention, peculiarly, something started stirring in her.

"Like I'd ever say that, moron."

The Bad Boy let out a psychotic laughter. His lips drew into his signature sadistic smirk, his features illuminated by the artificial light from his phone. With a few rapid taps on the touchscreen, he finished constructing his net. Just like a spider, he only has to lay in wait for the moment she gets herself caught, after that he will be able to revel in her despair, watch her tangle deeper into his web with each struggle.

The circumstances that have been set into motion toppled down like domino bricks; there was no time for a breather, not for the predator nor for his prey. The very next morning a frantic herald intruded into Seika's transiently peaceful morning break.

"Miura-san! Miura-san!" Her shoulders rose and sank like a ship in the choppy sea, Fujioka's pretty face twisted by fatigue; the girl's usually kept half-braid was slightly disheveled from her unanticipated morning exercise. A pair of palms, moist with cold sweat crashed into Seika's desk. Seika recognised the other third year, having just been introduced to the vice president of the string ensemble by her boyfriend recently.

"Ando, Ando-kun he…" Her neat, thin eyebrow kneaded together, drawing thing lines over her fair skin.

"It's okay, calm down Fujioka-san." Seika urged, raising a hand to guide the other into an empty seat.

"No you don't understand, Ando-kun he," Fujioka shook her head anxiously. "He might get expelled from school!"

Natto's rambling:

HELLOS! Sorry for the EXTREMELY delayed update, school started and whatever I'm majoring in has absolutely nothing to do with writing. My computer passed away: c and brought along everything with it, left no inheritance for me, sadly, so I have to start from scratch again. Thanks for the lovely comments guys, pumps me up with motivation to continue this. C:

Seika will grow a pair soon, I promise... or maybe not.