"Shiki-san."
"What?"
Shiki snapped. Akabayashi looked surprised.
"Woah, what's with you, Shiki-san? I thought attending a wedding would lighten you up, but it seems it has made you worse!"
"…"
"But to think, Heiwajima Shizuo is married! And to that foreign beauty! Ahhh, I'm so jealous! They make the perfect couple, don't they? Oh and I finally got to talk to her without being attacked, what a blessing weddings give!"
Akabayashi spoke jovially, as Shiki's frown grew deeper and deeper.
"Though Heiwajima left in the middle of his reception, I wonder why? How could he leave his bride all alone? Well she wasn't alone but you're not supposed to abandon your bride after the wedding, right Shiki-san?!"
"He left to chase after Orihara. You saw didn't you, Akabayashi."
Akabayashi smiled, until Shiki said, "Orihara is in love with Heiwajima."
"Eh?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"But they're both men – oh wait, is this why he hasn't been contacting us lately?"
Akabayashi said in realization, and Shiki gave a scoff, "He hasn't even been answering my calls or messages or emails."
"But I thought he told you he needed time?"
"Yeah but afterwards he seems to be ignoring me," Shiki's eyes narrowed.
"That little brat. I don't care if his heart is broken, he has a fucking job with the Awakusu-kai. To show such irresponsibility…he needs to be punished."
"Well go lighter on him," Akabayashi smiled wryly despite the dangerous tone in Shiki's voice, leaning against the wall with a cane.
"After all…a broken heart isn't an easy thing to deal with – even for a man like him."
"Are you speaking from experience?"
Akabayashi's smile seemed sharp but he just shrugged and said –
"Shiki-san, compared to bad adults like us, Orihara is still just a kid. And you know, you can't push kids too far –"
" –'Cause they just might do something drastic."
…
…
…
I plan to end this by the end of October.