Chapter 82
After school
Ryuu's stumbling a little as they walk down the mountain
Mimura "Chiba are you okay?"
Ryuu "I'm fine…"
Okajima "You don't look fine… you're stumbling…"
"I'm fine. Just… kinda dizzy and really tired…"
Sugaya sighs "Hayami. I'm stronger. You take the guitar I'll carry him."
Ryuu shakes his head "I'm fine. Just… low battery…"
The boys flinch scared because low battery means no filter.
Rinka grabs his sleeve and opens her arms slightly embarrassed. Ryuu hugs her recharging.
Mimura "The fuck?"
Okajima "I'm confused?"
Sugaya "Hayami's kinda like his portable charger!"
They let go and Ryuu smiles softly patting her head
Rinka huffs averting her gaze with a slight smile.
Sugaya "Charged enough to make it home?"
Ryuu nods "Yeah… still dreading seeing Tadashi… Man this's gonna suck…"
Mimura "You need support?"
Ryuu sulks "………Somehow I was less scared to tell him about the assassin thing…"
Okajima "What exactly is this even about? Something with that guitar right?"
Sugaya and Rinka both give death glares by Ryuu doesn't react.
Okajima "Er- sorry… touchy subject… right…"
Ryuu's voice is soft "My dad… he gave it me when I was a kid… he plays it everytime he visits… it means a lot to me and my siblings…"
He smiles a little grabbing Rinka's hand subconsciously.
Ryuu "They don't like that I play it public. That's partly why I don't… but…"
They notice a few tears and panic.
Rinka remains calm holding his hand.
Mimura "Huh?! Why are you crying?!"
Okajima "I'm sorry I asked! Don't cry! I don't know what to do!!"
Sugaya "Oi are you okay? What?!"
Ryuu laughs awkward and wipes away the few tears "I'm okay? I just got some of the mascara in my eye."
None believe it but decide that's better than asking.
They continue the walk for a while and Ryuu's still clearly on edge.
Mimura softens a little "You really miss him don't you?"
Ryuu's startled by the question "What…"
Mimura "You don't have to have the mask with us."
Ryuu looks away knowing his mask is crumbling and his voice is harsh "I don't miss him… stay out of-" he takes a breath tryi to clam down but his voice is still shaking "I don't miss him. He left us. He left me and Nee-san to raise ourselves and the younger two. Sure we had Sakura and mom sometimes but… he was never there. I don't miss him. I don't miss him. I don't miss him. I don't miss…"
He clenches his teeth.
Sugaya puts a hand on his shoulders "Don't worry. The mascara's waterproof and the setting spray is one of the best."
Ryuu hides his face "I'm not gonna cry okay…"
Rinka kisses his hand "It's okay to cry and miss him… Tsukki really loves you and you love him. You're just a tsundere that won't admit any of your true feelings."
Ryuu pouts "Fight me 'Tsundere Sniper'."
She smirks "I'm down. 'Emo dating sim'…"
He shakes his head and smiles as they reach the end of the mountain "Maybe next time. I should get back… while I can still repair the mask in time…"
They notices him shaking a little.
Rinka looks passed him at the boys that are unsure what to do then back at Ryuu
Rinka "Then let's take the shortcut. We live close afterall and I don't wanna deal with those idiots."
Okajima "We aren't that bad!"
Mimura "You are…"
Sugaya "Hayami our of us three I'm your favorite right~"
Rinka pulls Ryuu closer "I like this one."
Ryuu covers his face "Too cute…"
"Oi Hayami if you say things like that Chiba's gonna get super flustered…"
She smiles innocently "I know~ bye."
The two snipers go off their own way (that involves roofs mostly)
They jump down on the clear opening close to where they separate.
Ryuu kisses her forehead "Thanks Rin…"
"Are you gonna be okay…?"
He smiles "Not at all… but I have to do this… alone… this's a family issue…"
"I'll be part of that family in a few years."
"Yeah but- Wait did you just agree to marry me?!" He goes completely red.
Rinka flinches "The point is. You don't have to do this alone. I'm with you Ryuu… if you want help…"
Ryuu covers his face "I'll be fine… This's work out… as long as dad doesn't find out. I'm fine…"
Rinka pulls him down giving him a quick peck in the cheek "If you say so. Text me later."
He smiles softly "Yeah…"
They go separate ways.
On the way home Rinka gets a call from an unknown number and answers nervously.
Rinka "Hello…"
"Hayami Rinka? It's me. Tsukki. I got your number from Rukia."
She comes to a stop "Tsukki?! What? Why? Why are you calling me I mean-"
Tsukki chuckles a little "I know this may be weird. But I need help from someone that knows Ry… his sister's and brother won't help much… can you?"
Rinka keeps walking "That depends…"
Tsukki takes a breath "The graduation ceremony… when and where is it… I really want to be there for him…"
Rinka hesitates
Tsukki sighs "I know… I haven't been there for Ryūnosuke much. He probably tells you how much he hates his eyes because they remind him of me and how much he hates me too… But I want to be better."
Rinka struggles to find words "You're the reason Ryuu's who he is today…"
"Cold, distant, unapproachable, severe anxiety, probably depression?"
"Those too…" 'Severe… probably…'
"I want to surprise him… last time I was in town we… he probably already told you… But me and Haruka are gonna try to be there for the graduation. I need know the date today. I have 3 hours to get everything scheduled… please… I… I have to be there…"
Rinka hesitates for a moment then mumbles "March 13…" she shakes a breath "The ceremony… is March 13…"
"March 13… okay. Thank you so much Rinka. Don't tell Ry or his siblings. I really want to surprise them. Especially him…"
Rinka's voice gets strict "I won't tell him. But. If you aren't there. I will travel to wherever you are. And personally snipe you myself."
"Please don't kill me Rinka… I'm your future father in law remember?"
She doesn't flinch at the comment "I don't care. I love Ryuu. I will kill anyone that hurts him."
Tsukki chuckles a little "My son is lucky to have you. Please take care of him…"
"I will…"
"I need to hurry and schedule everything so bye. Thank you Rinka…"
"Bye…"
End call
Rinka looks at her screen "Would Ryuu want Tsukki there…"
She goes inside her house and is greeted by Kayda
"Mew??"
Rinka smiles picking her up "Hi Kayda. Miss me?"
"Mew!"
She softens "What should I do… Call Sugaya? He might know. Wow that's something I never thought I would say…"
Kayda bats her nose "Mew?"
Rinka sighs "Food."
She feeds Kayda then flops on her bed and looks at her contacts
"The perversion squad might help? I can't stand Okajima… Mimura would be weird… that just leaves Sugaya…"
She groans "I can't believe I'm doing this…"
Rinka takes a breath and presses call.
She's pleasantly surprised at how fast he answers.
Sugaya "Calling your boyfriend's best friend? Weird~?"
"You know Ryuu pretty well right?"
"Hayami I'll be blunt. If there's anything I know that you don't it's because it's either guy talk or something Chiba's extremely embarrassed about. That being said what do you wanna know?"
"Hypothetically speaking…"
She gives him a rundown of what happened and starts to ramble
"Did I do the right thing? Will Ryuu be upset? What if Tsukki doesn't come? What if he does? How will Ryuu react? Sugaya help!"
Sugaya "let me think. Chiba's talked to me very little about his old man… He always insists that he doesn't miss him and that they're better without. But he also went through all of that to get him to come for Senna-Chan's birthday… plus whenever he came to visit before that Chiba wasn't completely dead?"
Rinka gulps "Well…?"
She hears him lay down and the smile in his voice "He won't admit it but he really loves his dad… he misses him a lot too. At the ceremony as soon as Chiba sees Tsukki… I'm willing to bet Chiba will cry on the spot!"
"So I did the right thing…"
"Yes. You did. Go to sleep. Small children need lots of rest to grow."
Rinka "Sugaya. I don't care if you're Ryuu's bro. I will kill you."
"Sure thing shorty~ see ya!"
The line goes dead leaving her annoyed.
Next day in E-3 setting up
Mimura "So Rukia or Tadashi say anything about the guitar thing?"
Ryuu shakes his head "They just said that it was weird seeing the guitar out of the house… and some other things……"
Sugaya "The Aka Ryuko thing?"
He tosses a sack of ingredients over his shoulder "That woulda been an upgrade…"
Okajima "Then what?"
"Well Nee-san said I reminded her of something dad did. I'm not sure what… she won't tell me and apparently I was like 2 at the time so I'm fucked."
Sugaya nudges him "You're not him okay."
Ryuu nods "I know…"
A few hours later…
Rukia plays with her hair as the three siblings ride in the cart "And you're sure about this? Tadashi is this actually a good idea?"
Tadashi nods "Yeah yeah. You want to see their true colors right. And Senna don't you wanna see Ryuu-nii preform?"
Senna nods "I think Mom and Dad would wanna see too…"
Rukia pulls her closer "They're busy."
Tadashi leans on the railing "Terasaka-kun right? And I'm assuming… Yoshi someone?"
Yoshida "It's Yoshida. How do you know our names?"
"Ryuu-nii is annoying."
Terasaka scoffs "Got that right."
Rukia stands up "Excuse you?! No insults our brother but us!"
Terasaka sweats "Ah sorry…" 'no wonder Chiba can handle Hayami… this chick's scary…'
Yoshida gulps looking back at her "Actually he wasn't done… Chiba's an annoying bastard. But before you murder me pretty girl I'm assuming is his older sister!!!"
She sends a glare. Tadashi and Senna are extremely interested by now.
Yoshida looks back at the path in front of him "He's valuable member of our class. He's helped us out of some tough situations. Like this festival. We didn't even know he could play but turns out he's the best guitarist in the school!"
Rukia sits back down "That's him…"
Tadashi smirks "Annoying but helpful when it counts." 'Ryuu-nii is their top sniper. Rinka second. Without either then the world could honestly end… but these two have no idea what's coming…'
Senna pokes him "Tadashi-nii?"
He snaps out of it "Yeah sorry?"
"We're here…"
Rukia jumps out of the cart holding her skirt down "Let's go bully our brother!"
The two muscle heads watch as the three siblings thank them and leave.
Yoshida "The more we learn about that guy the weirder it gets…"
Terasaka nods "It's like he's the protagonist of one of Takebayashi's games…"
Rukia looks around nervously at the crowd.
Tadashi 'Assassins… everyone here looks scary… WAIT ARE THOSE PRESCHOOL KIDS?!?!?!?!'
Rukia "Um… let's stick together until we find Ryuu…"
Senna "Wow! So cool!!!"
She runs over to a man that you would definitely avoid eye-contact with "Hello!!"
He looks down at her "Hm?"
Senna points to his leather jacket with mafia pins "I like your jacket! You look so cool!!!"
The assassin falters a little "Ah? Thanks kiddo?"
Rukia runs over and pulls her closer "Ah sorry about her. She's a handful. I'm so sorry. I-"
He offers a smile that looks real "Don't worry. I'm not a bad guy…"
She looks at the pins then glares making him sweat
Assassin "Decoration?"
Tadashi bows "I'm sorry for the trouble my sisters cause. Excuse us. Cool jacket tho."
Senna smiles innocently "Bye bye!"
Rukia nods "Bye…"
She quickly pulls them away scared.
Meanwhile Ryuu's playing his guitar sitting on the semi stage they built at E-3.
Rinka "Ryuu."
He looks over and softens seeing his siblings "You see them too right…"
She nods "Go…"
Ryuu moves his guitar so it's hanging on his back as he goes over to them.
Ryuu "Don't you guys have school?"
Tadashi "Hito-Chan's in the play so I don't have anything better to do."
Rukia "Katsuki's covering for me."
Senna "I wanna hear Ryuu-nii play dad's guitar."
Rukia looks at him slightly shocked "You're seriously using dad's?! I thought that was just for yesterday as a statement!"
He flinches and pulls the guitar in front of him "I'm sorry… I just… I need it…"
Senna looks between the older three. Tadashi's nervous. Ryuu's scared. Rukia's upset.
Senna "I think it's great Ryuu-nii's playing dad's guitar! It's awesome!"
Ryuu smiles pulling her closer "Thanks Sen… You wanna hear me play?"
She nods eagerly.
Ryuu nods to the area in front of the stage "Front row."
Senna giggles and runs over.
Ryuu looks at the two closer to his age "Look I don't know why you're mad. You didn't freak yesterday or during that?"
Rukia sighs "Because yesterday I thought you were throwing away all that… you said you were done…"
"I like the sound of this guitar. Look if bothers you that much I won't use this one tomorrow."
Tadashi laughs nervously "So… imma go find Rinka and ask her about the food here… ah ha… bye…"
He runs off to her.
Rukia sighs "You should get back on stage. Playboy-kun isn't doing that great…"
"Okay… and you…?"
"I wanna talk to your teachers again. Where can I find them."
"Main entrance, take a right, second to last room…"
She nods "Thanks Ryuu…"
"No prob Nee-san…"
Rukia walks off and Ryuu lets out the breath he was holding.
He turns to the stage "I should get back to this though…"
Ryuu goes on stage with Maehara playing with him.
3 songs later Maehara went back to serving because his looks.
Sugaya "Chiba? Don't you know anything calmer? You're gonna scare the children?"
Ryuu shrugs "I know a few but they're either nursery rhymes or I need a girl that knows the lyrics?"
"Great I'll get Hayami."
"She doesn't know them…"
"Well who does?"
Ryuu looks into the crowd and smiles jumping down "Hey Sen-chan? Do you know where Nee-san is?"
Senna nods "She said she wanted to talk to your teacher about grades and thank them?"
Ryuu pats her head "Thanks. I'll be back."
He runs off
Sugaya "What're you doing?"
"Something stupid."
Tadashi shrugs walking past him.
Ryuu gets to the teachers lounge and sees Rukia talking to Irina.
Ryuu bows slightly "Am I interrupting?"
Rukia looks back at him "Oh no? I was just talking to Irina-san about your english grade. I was curious how you improved so fast?"
Ryuu looks at his female teacher.
Irina nods confirming it "Your sister recognized me immediately and asked to talk. You're lucky to have a sister you can depend on…"
Ryuu softens a little "I'm not sure who depends on who here…"
Rukia pouts standing up "Thank you Irina-san. And I apologize for however my brother behaves… he's the weird one."
"I'm the sane one. Not the point. Nee-san I need you. Bye bitch-sensei."
He grabs his sister's wrist pulling her out.
Rukia "Ryuu? Are you okay?"
"I need help. The only calm songs I can play are the ones we learned for Sen-chan. I need your voice."
Rukia raises an eyebrow "Are you sure about that? I mean… isn't helping other class against the rules?"
He smirks as they get outside "Well you can pass as a middle schooler. No one cares what happens in E-3. And~ what happens in E-3. Stays in E-3."
She sighs "What song…"
Ryuu picks up his acoustic guitar as he sits down on the edge of the stage.
He starts playing the chords.
Rukia "Are you sure?"
He nods and she smiles
Ryuu "Tadashi!"
Tadashi looks over confused "Hm?"
Both older two motion for him to come.
Tadashi sighs going and sitting on the edge by an empty bucket after recognizing the song. He gets in sync with Ryuu.
Those in E-3 stop to pay attention.
Rukia smiles starting to sing. Everyone in stunned hearing how beautiful she sounds. The children listen eagerly.
Rukia "There will come a soldier; Who carries a mighty sword; He will tear your city down, o lei o lai o lord"
The two brothers join singing softly "O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord; He will tear your city down, o lei o lai o lord…"
There's a pause while Ryuu and Tadashi continue to play.
Rukia stands up and spins her sister while starting to sing again "There will come a poet; Whose weapon is his words; He will slay you with his tongue, o lei o lai o lord…"
All three "O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord; He will slay you with his tongue, o lei o lai o lord…"
Sugaya taps Rinka "Did you know about this?"
She shakes her head in a trance.
Rukia sings again "There will come a ruler; Whose brow is laid in thorn; Smeared with oil like David's boy, o lei o lai o lord"
All three "O lei, o lai, o lei, o lord; Smeared with oil like David's boy, o lei o lai o lord…"
They two boys continue to play and the kids clap along to the beat.
Rukia and Senna look like they're doing some folklore dance. Both are a giggling mess and the crowd claps laughing.
Ryuu smiles and pulls his brother into a side hug.
Tadashi "I didn't think we'd play that again…"
Ryuu "No kidding…"
A little later inside E-3
Muramatsu "Okay. We have enough food to make it the rest of the day if we close up RIGHT when school ends…"
Okano "Of we scavenge the mountain anymore we're gonna ruin the ecosystem."
Isogai "What do you think everyone? Call it quits?"
Maehara "We can still have a music only?"
Ryuu rubs his hand and his voice is softer than normal "Maybe…"
Rinka crosses her arms "Ryuu. You're losing your voice again. Don't talk."
He opens his mouth to protest then stops after seeing her glare.
Ryuu sighs and just shrugs.
Isogai "Maybe we should stop after today?"
Everyone agrees…
End chapter
Okay so…like I said in the filler… I write more during school… on a related note: I passed my classes. Things have just been very… weird… lately. But anyways I'm kinda back!!
Happy New Years!! Some of you are already in 2020 but I'm still in 2019 T~T. WE STARTING THE ROARING 20'S LETS GOOOOOO *is well aware of the 1920's but we don't talk about that*
My comments are working again!!!!! BLESS!!!!!!!
@BlackBlazeSniperShipper (cool name btw) Hey!!! First time for everything right? That's cool tho. Thanksss this story is probably my favorite one I've written but could also be cause they my OTP. I hope to continue this story and live up expectations.
@Le055Li0n Magic or those headphones that translates stuff
@lumigo akvo9504 Yee!! I plan to continue this story for awhile but I definitely have some… strange… ideas…
@Guest (that if I had to guess I'd say it's Emichi21) That's understandable. Reviews take time to write and respond too. Like no lie responding to reviews takes a minute cause trying to find words. This arc was fun to write. I love writing the siblings (and it shows). Sugaya and Mimura are REFUSING to address it cause they wack. I wanna rewatch it before I go back to school but my friend keeps recommending new animes and keeps pouting if I don't (puppy dog eyes: brutal assassination T~T). But there's a LOT of little background things with them that I really wish they, and myself, covered more. And studying. I "studied" for each final RIGHT before it. Meaning I cried looking at notes or studying guide. It's annoying I don't understand studying!!! I genuinely can not do it. I just can't. I am physically and mentally incapable of actually studying. It's a problem at this point. Procrastination is my biggest weakness omg. I finished most of this chapter before Christmas but got stuck on ONE scene for a week that I just completely cut out. Question corner #??? I don't really know that many Christmas foods to be honest… I'm not sure what the "chocolate bark" is??? Is it just like??? Chunks of chocolate???? I'm confused???? But I also have a sweet tooth when it comes to chocolates and candy. Hope you had a happy holidays:)