9:Search

Kyoushi and I headed home together like usual, talking with each other, sharing exciting stories that were really all that exciting to a high schooler, gossiping together about people in our separate grades that we didn't know, but would come to learn the names of eventually. Kyoushi laughed a little as he finished up his story about some kid in his class who got a hard on while changing for gym, and how he would "totally" go after him. It made me a little jealous… Okay, very jealous, but I wasn't going to stop him from being happy with someone. It made me a little depressed as I realized Kyoushi doesn't have as many options as someone like me, a straight man. I wanted him to find happiness with someone. Jeez, stop talking about how hot this kid is before I get really hurt…

Kyoushi cut himself short once we arrived at our apartment complex, looking up at the upper level and seeing people snooping around, even inside, Kyoushi's apartment. I looked over at him and saw how concerned he seemed, holding his bag tightly as he started to shake in panic. "Shit…" He whispered to himself as he looked around really quick. Kyoushi grabbed me by both of my arms, glancing at all of the strange people at his apartment to make sure no one was looking. "Hibiki-senpai, I have to go…" He started as my eyes widened.

"Wha… Kyoushi-kun, why?" I asked desperately, Kyoushi looking down as he shook his head.

"I… I can't tell you… You might hate me for it… But, just… Say you haven't seen me today if they ask. Once I can, I'll be sure to contact you and let you know I'm okay," Kyoushi explained in a very hushed tone before taking his shoes off and running off, his footsteps being much quieter without the shoes.

Kyoushi-kun is going away? Where! Why! Who are the people in his apartment! Maybe it's family he doesn't like? Yeah, maybe he's just overreacting… I sighed as I walked over and made my way up the stairs of the complex, all of the strangers turning their heads towards me in a defensive manner. I stared at all of them in confusion, trying to play it dumb, like I had no idea what was going on. It's like school… Just like lying to your teacher about the homework… "Um… Excuse me, who are you people?" I asked softly before a woman in a long, black trench coat walked out of the apartment. Maki-san! Why's she here? Are these all members of the CCG?

"Kaneko-san,"

Why was Kyoushi trying to run?

"We have to ask you about your friend,"

Was he running from the CCG?

"Matsuyama Kyoushi."

Why! "Um… Of course…" I replied nonchalantly, as if every cell in my brain wasn't going to explode from the frightening thoughts of who and what Kyoushi really was. "What do you have to know?"

Next thing I knew, I was in the 5th Ward CCG Headquarters, sitting in a chair in front of Maki-san in a very comfortable, yet confined office. She smiled sweetly, but it was obvious it was fake, she just wanted answers. "Kaneko-san," she started with, finally breaking the dreadful stiffness of the room, even though it returned right after her first words and stuck there long after. "Your friend, Matsuyama-san-"

"We aren't friends, don't associate me with scum like that," I countered, narrowing my eyes on her before looking away and scoffing.

"Not friends, hm?" She asked, seeming to see right through my lie. "He was holding onto you pretty tight in the convenience store. And I'd say you were holding onto him just as tight." Shit, I forgot about that.

"I was in a state of trauma, okay? I needed some temporary comfort, so I just let the closest person there be my anchor for that time," I explained, trying to squirm my way out of it. "I would never associate with that fag under any other circumstances." I'm sorry, Kyoushi-kun, I'm so sorry…

She was startled by my strong use of that kind of language, a smirk forming in the back of my mind as I was already leading her away from our interrogation. "Kaneko-san, you shouldn't be so rude to gay people. Aren't you one yourself?" She asked as I almost choked on her words, not expecting such a turn of events.

"Me? Gay? What the fuck kind of show you running here?" I asked in as offended a tone I could muster up, though it was half true, I was still very in denial about my sexuality.

"Oh, Kaneko-san, we have footage of you kissing The Butterfly…" Her tone went cold as my eyes went wide, the room getting this chill to it that I'd never felt anywhere before. "Obviously, you have some sort of relationship with this ghoul, so I'm gonna give you one chance to tell the truth…" She started and glared at me harshly. "Who is The Butterfly?"

Are they after Kyoushi-kun or The Butterfly? What's the correlation between the two? "Okay, I sincerely have no idea who The Butterfly is, and what do you mean The Butterfly is a guy?" I answered, genuinely confused by both questions as I stared at her with an outraged look on my face.

She rose her eyebrows and stayed silent for a moment as she sat back in her seat, just staring at me as I was left alone to my thoughts once again. Is Kyoushi-kun a ghoul? Do they think Kyouoshi-kun is The Butterfly? Is Kyoushi-kun The Butterfly? "Has Matsuyama-san ever had any kind of strange habits or exhibited unusual behavior?" She asked as I picked my head up, raising one of my eyebrows in a ridiculous fashion to keep up my act.

"He's not my friend! I wouldn't know!" I couldn't help but think about it all, though. He did have awkward eating habits and how he seemed to have known about Asako-san, and how he disappeared during the crisis in town and reappeared once The Butterfly left, and the way he held the card from Maki-san with his finger nails! I had heard that there was special ghoul detecting liquids infused with a CCG member's business card, but I never thought it was true. Kyoushi-kun is… A ghoul…