Author
The most unbelievable thing happened.
The laptop crashed AGAIN.
I had to go to internet cafe and now, I'm typing with my tablet. And it's not easy.
Plus my tablet file just don't go well with the story format in FF so it's giving me a headache...
Updated: I couldn't upload it on my tab. Had to borrow a computer to upload this... -_-
I have switch between tablet and internet cafe (it's really hard for me to find time to head down to internet cafe).
So I type with tablet, and upload it onto the computer and reformat everything to update. *sigh*
SOOOOOOO. I'm sad to announce I will take much longer to update. *double sigh*
Oh my life... :/
Seiko
[Shuu-chan!]
Kurosaki
[I'll go. Stay here and look after Shuu.]
Seiko nodded and Kurosaki exited toward the source of the scream.
Seiko could almost hear her non-existing heart beating and it felt colder than usual.
It was not long before she heard the cries from Kurosaki's voice.
Kurosaki
[No... No way... Argh... Aaahh...
AAARRRRGGHH! WAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!]
Kurosaki watched in the darkness with only the spirit's orb lighting up her surrounding.
He watched as the murderess buldgeoned the lifeless corpse of a female student before her.
Spirit
[Ha...Hahaha...Hahahahaha!
Keke.. Haha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
HYAAA!]
The spirit shrieked as she struck down on the corpse before her furiously.
Kurosaki could feel his insides rising as he stopped the urge to puke.
He watched as the spirit slowly lift her head.
Her throat was spilt open, her eyes grey but alive like a maniac.
There was blood all over her uniform, but it wasn't difficult to recognize this girl with her short curly hair.
It wasn't difficult to recognize those pink hair ties and whom they belonged to.
Kurosaki
[Why...? Why...?
Mitsuki... MITSUKI!]
The spirit froze upon hearing her own name.
She slowly lifted her head and smiled wickedly at him.
Her psychotic gaze pierced through Kurosaki's soul, sending him chills.
She walked towards him, a bloodied hammer in one hand.
Kurosaki
[Wake up already, Mitsuki!]
Mitsuki's face inched closer to Kurosaki.
Kurosaki saw that her spirit no longer had soul in her eyes, and a sense of despair overwhelmed him.
Without a warning, Mitsuki shrieked and laughed as she fumbled away with her bloodlustful weapon.
Kurosaki
[Mi-Mitsuki... *sob* Why...WHY?
No...NOOOOOOO!]
Kurosaki dropped to his knees and he grabbed his hair in misery as Mitsuki disappeared into the darkness.
A dark mist formed around him as he crouched on the ground.
Kurosaki
[Even the cheerful and gentle Mitsuki... *sob*
What am I doing here alone?
...Maybe it's easier to just give up.]
The swirl of darkness gradually swallowed Kurosaki in the thick mist.
All at once, voices that spoke of hopelessness and despair filled Kurosaki's head.
His empty heart felt heavy and depressed.
Seiko approached the corridor and saw Kurosaki enveloped in the darkness.
Her eyes widen and she shouted for his name.
Seiko
[Kurosaki!]
Seiko ran toward the black mass and tried to grab hold of Kurosaki.
The mist was so chilling yet it pierced like a burning flame.
Seiko
[Argh!]
She felt her hand touching his arm and she grabbed onto it, unwilling to let go.
The mist felt sandy and strong and could almost feel it tearing the skin of her arms.
As her grip tightened, the wind got stronger and heavier.
Seiko was alarmed when she felt the force pulling her in.
Seiko
...It's so strong!
Mrgh... Oh god, it's not letting him go!
At this rate, I'm gonna get dragged into the darkness..!
Seiko
[Damn...damn it!
Didn't you say you were gonna stop Kizami and save as many people you can?]
Kurosaki
[...I-I...can't...]
Seiko
[...Damn it! Don't you dare lose to the darkness and leave us!
Shuu-chan's waiting for us..!]
Kurosaki
[...]
Seiko
[Argh... DAMN IT!
DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME ALONE YOU IDIOT!]
Kurosaki
[..!]
The mist slowly lifted from Kurosaki's body and vanished.
Seiko
[*huff* *huff*
I almost died pulling you..!]
Seiko plopped onto ground and laid there gasping for breath.
Kurosaki
[... *guilty* I'm-I'm sorry...]
Seiko waved her hand and gave him a tired smile.
Kurosaki
[...T-thank you...]
Seiko got up from the ground and brushed some dirt off her skirt.
Seiko
[No problem~
We better get back to Shuu-chan.]
Seiko begun to lead the way back to the infirmary.
Seiko
[We both got worried when we heard your scream.
He said he'd be fine alone but I'm still worried.]
Kurosaki
[Ahh... I even got him worried...
*shrug* That sure was embarrassing...]
Seiko
[Well, just prepare an apology!
...And don't do anything stupid again.]
Kurosaki
[Ye-yeah... Sorry.]
Seiko hit him hard on his back as he stumbled over a little from the impact.
They reached before the infirmary and Seiko pulled the door open.
Seiko
[Shuu-chan~ We're back!
...? Shuu...chan?]
They walked into the room and stared at the empty bed.
All that remained were the warmth and creases from where he once laid.
[THE AFTERMATH: CHAPTER 11 - START]
[FLASHBACK START]
Yoshiki
[*loudly* Shinozaki!]
Ayumi
[! Y-yes?]
Yoshiki
[Would you like to go on a date with me?]
Ayumi dropped her broom.
Ayumi
[Sure.]
[FLASHBACK END]
Yoshiki
[...! *blush*
How did I even manage to pop that question..?]
Yoshiki was in disbelief at what happened yesterday.
He remembered they were both awkwardly silent after that.
They couldn't speak another word until they finished their duty
They then said their quiet goodbyes and left the room.
Yoshiki remembered bumping against the pillar below his apartment on his way home.
The pain reminded him that it wasn't a dream and he left her a text to say he would pick her up today.
Yoshiki checked himself in the mirror.
He hoped he didn't overdo it by swiping his fringe to the side.
Black and white striped tee and a pair of khaki berms.
Yoshiki
[Hmm... Is this a little too casual?
...! What am I even worried for?
Just be myself! Besides, it's just a date, that's all!
...Oh god it's a date.
Come on, Kishinuma Yoshiki, no use getting all nervous!
It's not going to help!
Oh gosh I'm talking to myself out loud.]
Yoshiki then spotted the occult book that he had bought while he was investigating about Heavenly Host Elementary School.
His nervous look dissipated and a grave and worried look formed.
Yoshiki
I need to talk to her about it...
Even if not today, someday soon...
I'll need... To convince her to give up.
And he knew that giving up was not something Shinozaki Ayumi could do well in.
Ayumi stared at the painting she completed a week ago.
It was one of the most detailed painting she had done.
She remembered the number of times he almost caught her looking while she was studying his face.
She recalled the time he had teared when he saw her painting of Ms Yui, and how he said it was beautiful.
Ayumi
[... *softly* Maybe the beautiful one was you...
! *shakes head* Just what am I saying?]
Ayumi put the painting aside and looked at herself in the mirror.
She had let her hair down and wore a blue overall.
Ayumi
[I hope I don't look too childish...]
Ayumi had a hard time choosing what to wear.
She wanted to impress, but not too much in case he might think she was actually interested.
She put on minimal makeup to cover up her flaws and gave herself a little blush.
She decided not to put on the lip gloss.
She read somewhere that a girl wearing lip gloss may hint to a guy that she wanted to kiss.
She definitely don't want that misunderstanding.
She blushed at the thought of that.
She believed the heart racing and the blushing were all the result from the word 'date'.
Had he asked differently, like, 'wanna hang out', she was sure she wouldn't have felt this way.
Yet she woke up early to prepare for the 'date'.
Ayumi
Well, maybe, just maybe...
He might be interested in me.
*blush* I better make sure we don't have any misunderstanding.
He's got to know that I don't like him that way, right?
...or maybe I'll just keep things simple like this.
Too much a hassle to deal with rejecting someone, right?
That's right, I'm sure it'd be fine.
The doorbell rang and interrupted her chain of thoughts.
She grabbed her bag and ran down the stairs.
Hinoe
[Who could that be..?]
Ayumi
[Wait, Hinoe-sis, it's for me!]
Hinoe
[Hmm?]
Ayumi opened the door and saw a fresh looking young man before her.
Yoshiki
[Y-yo.]
Ayumi
[I'm going off Hinoe-sis!]
Ayumi quickly shut the door before Hinoe could see who was at the door.
Ayumi
[Phew...]
Yoshiki
[Hmm?]
Ayumi
[N-nothing!]
Yoshiki
[Well, all right... Shall we?]
It was already three in the noon and Yuka made no move to leave her room.
Mrs Mochida remembered calling out to Yuka when she left her room for the bathroom.
She made no reply and by the time Mrs Mochida reached the second floor, Yuka was back in her room.
Even when Satoshi was leaving the house in the morning, Yuka didn't rush down like how she usually would.
She didn't cling onto Satoshi the way she usually would and didn't cheerfully wave goodbye to Satoshi.
Mrs Mochida tried announcing that Satoshi was leaving, still there was no movement.
Satoshi wondered what happened and found themselves in a discussion that bore no fruit.
Even during lunch, Mrs Mochida tried to call for Yuka to come down to eat but she didn't reply.
Mrs Mochida ultimately left her meal outside her door, hoping she would eat.
After two hours, Mrs Mochida went up and found Yuka's plate to be empty.
At least she ate, but it was still worrying.
Yuka had always ran into her mother's embrace whenever she met up with some issues in life.
She would cry in her arms and whine about the situation to her mother.
Then Mrs Mochida would stroke her hair and tell her it would all be all right.
After a good fifteen minutes or so, Yuka would perk up and smile brightly again.
She would hug her mother and thank her for being the greatest mum.
Mrs Mochida was worried. Yuka has never behaved like this before.
It was the first time she was so quiet.
Mrs Mochida had no idea what she should do, but decided she couldn't leave things the way it was.
She prepared a glass of honey drink and brought it up to the second floor.
After a slight hesitation, she gently knocked on the door.
Mrs Mochida
[Yuka, I brought you some honey drink.
*pause* I'm coming in, all right?]
Mrs Mochida tried for the door and thankfully it was unlocked.
She gently turned the knob and pushed the door ajar, enough to poke her head in.
Mrs Mochida
[Yuka?]
She called and saw that she was curled up under the blanket on her bed.
Mrs Mochida walked in quietly and closed the door behind her.
She carefully approached Yuka after she placed the drink on the table.
She hesitantly stroke her hair and whispered gently.
Mrs Mochida
[What's wrong?]
Yuka
[...]
Mrs Mochida
[...Yuka, what's wrong?
Even Satoshi was worried when you didn't come down-]
She noticed her daughter had twitched at her son's name.
Mrs Mochida
[...Is it Satoshi?
What happened? Did you have a fight?]
Yuka made no move to reply her mother.
Mrs Mochida
[Well, Satoshi's a growing boy...
Ah! *teasingly* Or are you jealous that your dearest brother's got a girlfriend?]
Yuka jerked at that comment.
Mrs Mochida
[Ara? So it's really because of Satoshi?
Well, one day Yuka's get her own-]
Yuka
[You won't understand.]
Mrs Mochida
[I understand how you feel, Yuka. In fact when I was young, I had a cousin Yuuki whom I adored-]
Yuka
[You won't understand-]
Mrs Mochida
[You'll get over it fast! Besides, Naomi seem like a nice girl-]
Yuka
[I LOVE BROTHER MORE THAN HER!]
Mrs Mochida
[*taken aback* W-well, I'm sure you love Satoshi-]
Yuka sat up straight and faced her mother.
Her eyes wide open and teary.
Mrs Mochida could only stare into her eyes that was filled with sadness, one she had never seen before.
There was something mature, depressed and forbidden about her tears.
Yuka
[I love brother, don't you understand?]
Mrs Mochida
[...I-I... Yuka!]
Realizing what she had done, Yuka ran off and out of her room, out of her house before her mother could question any further.
Mrs Mochida
It can't be..!
Yuka...had those feelings for Satoshi..?
Oh god...
Yuka ran in both embarrassment and frustration about her own incestous feelings for Satoshi.
She wondered how she was going back to that home, how she was going to face her mother, or even Satoshi.
Yuka
How could I have done that?
Mummy must be ashamed of me..!
Yuka
[Kyaa!]
Yuka tripped over and fell onto the ground
Her palms and knees were scraped and the blood starting flowing.
The pain started to build up slowly as she lost the strength to push herself up.
Yuka
[Why...Damn it! *cries*
Waaaaaaaah!]
She cried, not just because her physical wounds hurt, but because she was deeply hurt inside.
An unrequited love. A forbidden love. A secret she musn't reveal.
At that moment, Yuka cried like any other girl who had a broken heart.
At the moment, she was just like any other girl.
?
[H-hey... A-are you okay?]
Yuka looked up and saw a young boy staring back at her, his face fearful.
She realized he had offered a hand to help her up and she took it.
Yuka
[... *sniff* Thank you...*sniff* Ah, ouch!]
?
[Ah, are you okay?
...Your wound looks pretty bad...
Hold on!]
The boy reached into his pocket and took out his light blue handkerchief.
He gave an apologetic look before he gently dab on Yuka's exposed injury on her knee.
Yuka's face twitched a little and she bit on her lip.
?
[Ah... It looks bad...
Let's get you patched up somewhere...
I live just behind the street, right there, if you don't mind...]
Yuka
[Ah... *blush* I'm sorry, I shouldn't be troubling you-]
?
[D-don't say that! Your injury looks bad...
But it won't take long so, don't worry.
...*gently* Can you stand?]
Yuka
[*nod* Yeah...
...Thank you so much...]
?
[*smile* No problem!]
Yuka leaned against the boy as he patiently walked her to his house.
Even though there was no conversation during the walk, Yuka felt strangely calm.
It didn't take more than thirty steps before they reached a humble looking house with the name plate 'Shinohara' written at the gate.
[THE AFTERMATH - CHAPTER 11: END]
Author
Well, hoped you like this chapter.
I hope I can update soon. :/
