Reckoning

Drawing closer

Clock hand

Pointing each hour

Minute

Seconds

Before zero.

Consequence

Of stepping up

A relationship

From a solid footing

To thin ice.

Ticking

Hopefully

It does not

Blow up

Right in his face.

Sun refused to shine

Every cloud

Dark

No silver lining

Icy breeze

Cold drizzle

Like tears

Rain

A knife

To his cheek.

Sliding open the door

Reveal

A regular sight

Nothing out of ordinary

Or so it seems.

His gaze

Immediately search

For the blonde

In question

Good.

Surrounded by her clique

The chatty airhead

Two rooks

A fujoshi and a fool

Even the masked prince

Proudly donning

His preposterous façade.

Nothing

Happened.

Center of attention

The queen

On her throne

Green eyes met dead

And she smiled

Sweetly.

A contagious gesture

Forcing him

To smile back.

Little to no trace

Of underlying grudge.

However, something is off.

By the laws of cynicism

If nothing is wrong

Then

Something is wrong.

Source: me.

Skill twelve

Of the hundred and eight

The ability

To detect

Dangerous predicaments.

Everything seemed normal

But to him

Slowly

Pessimism would reveal

Dark truths.

Twelve hours

Does not erase

Yesterday's episode

And he knew well.

Her smile.

Too sweet.

The prince himself

Azure eyes

Lacking in life?

Consult the sweet airhead

From her

Answers.

"Yuigahama. Can I have a moment?"

Her peach colored eyes

Unlike of a certain woman

Softer

Yet

Contain

Traces

Trouble?

"Ah- Hikki! I-I also need to uh..."

"What is it?"

"Yukinon wouldn't talk to me this morning. She seemed... cold?"

"She's always cold."

"Hikki!"

Her brows furrowed in irritation.

"Okay, okay. Notice anything off?"

"I don't know... I guess she's quite upset today?"

The pieces of the puzzle

Insufficient

To form a vague

Picture.

However

It was clear

There is something

Going on.

"Thanks, Yui."

Her cheeks took on a rosy tinge.

"I'll sort it out."

But not all.

"H-Hikki... will you return to the club?"

He pondered the sudden query

For a moment

He was stumped.

"Why?"

"I-I mean... you seem very helpful... and I- I mean we! We would be happy to have you back."

"I'll think about it."

"What do you mean?!"

Wave her off

A sign

He needed time

To think

Decide

Only hours

Before the next

Decisive move.

Time crawled by

When the bell rang

He was nearly frightened

And walking through the door

He could feel a presence

Trailing him.

"Hachiman."

Stiffly

He craned his head

Towards the voice.

From a fiery queen

Unnaturally bright smile

Clearly

A well-veiled ruse.

"Can we talk-"

"Yes yes. Before that, I know you saw what happened yesterday. No, it's not what you think it is. I was waiting for you, then Haruno showed up."

It certainly did the trick.

For the woman in front of him

Rapidly erupted

In a fit of red

Furious.

"You fucker! Always blunt! I'll kill you!"

He chuckled.

Gripped by the collars

Back against the wall

Truly a peculiar sight

Repetitive.

"You think this is funny?"

"Atleast I know you are still you."

Beads of tears

On the corner of her eyes

In a moment

From a fire queen

To a little girl.

"I-I should have told you this... a long time ago..."

He listened intently

Unaware

Her lips

Slowly

Closer.

"Wait."

Something is wrong.

"Hachiman..."

This was not a natural occurence.

"I..."

This is a reaction.

"I love you!"

In a soft voice

Yet audible enough

Now

Garnering an audience

Pairs of eyes

Watched

Mixed reaction.

"Hold it!"

Only a swift grip to her shoulders

Stalled the move

Buy him time

To alleviate

Before

Too late.

Her teary eyes were wide in shock.

"Yumiko. Listen to me. You are not thinking clearly-"

"What are you saying!"

"Look at me. I know you fear that what you have seen yesterday, but it is not-"

"Please!"

Desperately.

Yes, that is the word.

A confession

Triggered by a provocation

An insidious trap

Soon kills the victim

From the inside.

"Miura Yumiko! Get a hold of yourself!"

Perhaps

Too far.

Because the moment

He had broken from her hold

She was in tears

Those green eyes

Desperate.

Like a ghost

She fled.

If clichés taught him anything, the next episode.

Social suicide.

Figuratively

And

Literally.