Chapter 106

May 1st

Chiba and Gin are walking together in the halls. Chiba is carry 2 heavy boxes and Gin has a stack of papers

Gin "I coulda carried one ya know… I'm pretty strong!"

Chiba sighs "Whatever you say, Futoshi-kun."

"Ryuu-ichi!! Call me 'Gin'!!"

Chiba blinks at the sudden nickname "Ryuu-ichi?"

Gin snickers "It's your new nickname! If ya wanna change it, you gotta call me 'Gin'!"

"If not for these boxes, I would smack you."

Gin sticks his tongue out.

Chiba looks around "The counselors office should be close right?"

"Hm? Yeah! It's just a couple doors down."

They stop outside the room and hear talking inside

"Apparently there's some students from Kunugigaokain? A few first years."

"Yea I think four or so from the class that was held hostage and did mock Assassinations?"

"They actually succeeded you know? Those poor kids actually killed the creature holding them hostage…"

"We should confirm with those students and make sure they'realright…"

Chiba clenches his teeth while Gin open the door.

Gin "Delivery."

The two who were talking look over "Ah! This is from class C-1 right?"

"Yup!"

Chiba sets the boxes down "Excuse us."

He grabs Gin by the wrist and pulls him out.

Gin "Ryuu-ich? Are you alright?"

"I don't like people acting like those kids were hostages or murderers. No one knows the truth about what happened."

"Truth?"

"I just feel like there's more to the story than meets the eye. Let's go."

Gin stops and looks out the window

Chiba "Futoshi-kun?"

"Hey… Ryuu-ichi… do you ever look at the moon and feel… sad…"

Chiba crosses his arms "Why."

He shrugs "I dunno. It's sad I guess? Yeah, it's been over a year since it became a crescent but still. I always loved space." He laughs a little "I actually dreamt of going to the moon and from there seeing the universe. Create intergalactic relationships and stuff. Kinda silly right?"

Chiba looks up at the moon and touches his bracelet. The crescent moon.

"I don't think it's silly. Space seems cool. We all see the moon differently… I wonder how those students see it… is it heartbreaking… comforting… are they reminded of the things they did with that creature? Are they filled with guilt… they survived but he didn't."

Gin looks at him paying close attention and really observing him.

His pained smile, eyebrows bunched slightly, eyes locked on the moon, fingers running over the charms on the bracelet. He's never gotten a good look at the bracelet to make out exactly what it is.

Chiba shakes his head and puts his hands in his pockets "C'mon? We gotta get back to science before Kurosaki-sensei gets mad again."

Gin smiles normally "She's a mad scientist." 'No way he was one of them? I woulda recognized him. Same with his friends? That would mean all of them are! Haha! As if!'

Skip to lunchtime

Gin "Hmmm… I'm starting to feel like a third wheel… what happened to Okuda-chan and Taka-chan?"

Chiba opens his bento "They made some friends in their classes and helping out apparently. Also the fuck is with the nicknames?"

Gin smiles "Hayamichi? Do you think the nicknames I use are weird?"

She thinks "Mm… a little? I'm not very big on nicknames."

"You call him 'Ryuu'!"

"Well he's my boyfriend? I just call him by a shorter version of his first name. He does the same for me."

"You're dating but ya now? It doesn't really seem like it? You're both a little distance. Hardly even hold hands!"

"Not very big on pda."

Gin shrugs "Fair enough? Hey I was curious about something? How old are you guys? I'm 15 and turn 16 in June?"

Hayami "16 in July."

Chiba picks at his food "16 on the 20th."

Gin jumps "Ehh?! Really!! Man I wanna get you a present but what… Really all I know you like is guitar and arcades… oh I know! Music! What're your favorite bands? And shirt size!"

Chiba smiles "You don't have to get me anything?"

Hayami "Emo bands. My chemical romance is his favorite. Size medium shirt."

Chiba pouts "Really Rin…"

She smiles a little "He's your friend isn't he?"

Gin perks more than he thought he would "Really! We are!"

Chiba looks at him confused "Yeah? Of course?"

Gin laughs and tackles him into a hug "I made a guy friend!!"

Chiba groans "Get off Futoshi-kun!"

Gin smiles rolling over to lay beside him "Sorry! I got excited!"

Chiba sighs "Dumbass…"

Gin "Oh! I just realized! I never got a chance to give you guys my number! Ryuu-ichi gimme phone!"

"Sure. Why not."

Gin puts his contact information into both phones "Shoot me a text so I can save your numbers!"

'This guy isn't so bad I guess…'

Pe

Half the first years have pe during 6th period, and the other half during 7th

Chiba, Hayami, Okuda, and Takebayashi all have it 6th but different teachers

Hayami's class

"Pair up and warm up. Running laps!"

Hisa "Hayami? Wanna partner for this?"

Hayami nods "Sure, Hisa-san."

They start stretching

Hisa "You're really flexible? And have pretty nice muscles. Would ya mind flexing them?"

Hayami blushes a little "Eh- I- sure?"

She flexes her arm and Hisa whistles

Hisa "Not bad, kitten?"

"Kitten?!"

She smirks "It's a cute nickname for you. Haven't seen such a strong kitten? How about we arm wrestle~"

Hayami sighs "When we get back to class. We need something to arm wrestle on."

"You're on, kitten."

From across the field Chiba's looking past Gin to Hayami's class trying to spot her

Gin "Momichi you're in right?"

Momo nods "Yeah? Of courses. Chiba-kun?"

Chiba doesn't say anything

Gin pokes him "Stop gawking at your girlfriend and pay attention."

Chiba glares "I wasn't gawking."

Momo "Wait what?! Chiba-kun you have a girlfriend?!"

Chiba nods "Yeah? She's in the A class."

Momo blinks "You? Have a girlfriend?"

His vein pops "You don't need to be so surprised!"

She laughs "Sorry! But I've never seen you alone with a girl?"

Gin "If you would hang out with us during lunch, you'd know her!"

"Grrrr!!! Invite her with us today! All four of us are going to karaoke!"

Chiba shifts "I'm not sure if she'd be up for that…"

"Hm… how about paintball or laser tag then?"

Chiba tenses and gulps "Those- those are bad ideas. Let's just- stick with karaoke…"

Gin "You don't like paintball or laser tag?"

"Not in the mood for either of those." 'It's way to soon… I- I can't…'

The teacher blows the whistle "Hope you're warmed up!! You all have to run three laps around the track!!"

Gin sighs "Momichi? Can I borrow a hair tie?"

"Ughh just keep it."

He smiles "Thank you~"

Gin ties his hair into a ponytail.

Chiba smirks sarcastically "Wow! You actually have two eyes? Shocker~"

"Fuck you."

The whistle blows again and they all start running.

Gin stays beside Chiba as they run ahead

Gin "You're pretty fast?"

Chiba "So are you."

"Sports."

"Running away from problems."

"Haha! I bet I'm faster!"

"You're on."

They both start running faster.

Chiba finished just ahead of him and is only a little out of breath 'I haven't trained in awhile and it's showing. That was nothing compared to parcore on the mountain!'

Gin lays down in the grass "I'm outta practice! That's the only reason you won!"

"Well I haven't practiced in awhile either!"

They lay down laughing a little.

Chiba sighs smiling at the sky "I missed running…"

"Did you do track or something?"

"Not exactly."

"Hm?"

Chiba closes his eyes thinking back.

Parcore through the mountain. Running down to make it to assemblies on time. Laying beside his friends. Korosensei teaching them.

"Kun? Iba-kun? CHIBA-KUN!!!"

He jolts up and hits his head "Ow! Ow ow!!"

Momo rubs her head in pain "Seriously?"

Gin laughs awhile smiling "Idiots."

Momo sighs "Chiba-kun did you hear anything I said?"

"Sorry Sugawara-san?"

Gin pouts "Can't you drop the formalities with each other…"

Momo crosses her arms and looks away with a very soft blush "No! Absolutely not! If anything you boils start using formalities!"

"But Momichi!!!"

"But nothing! We're almost 16!"

Chiba raises an eyebrow "When?"

"Secret!"

"November 18th."

"Gin!!"

"Hehe~"

Chiba laughs a little "Guess I'm the oldest here?"

Momo cringes "Really?"

His vein pops "You really don't have to be so surprised when finding out things about me!!!"

She shrugs "So your birthday is before June if your the oldest… you seem like a Taurus…?"

Chiba blinks "I am? My birthdays the 20th?"

"Oh deadass? That's pretty soon!!"

Gin laughs a little "Momichi is a fan of birthdays. Every year we do something for each other. And this year, something for you too!"

Chiba laughs nervously "Please don't?"

After school

Hayami is walking with Hisa when she meets up with Chiba who's with Momo and Gin.

Hayami "Hey Ryuu, Futoshi-kun."

Gin waves "Yo! Hayamichi!"

Chiba hits him "Enough nicknames." He looks at Hisa "Hello."

Hisa nods "Sup? You and Kitten know each other?"

Chiba tenses and his eyes darken "'Kitten'?"

Hisa smirks "Hm~?"

Hayami sighs "Hisa-san."

She shrugs "I was just messing? Can't a girl have some fun… Names Hisa. We sit together in class."

"Chiba."

Gin steps between them to disrupt some of the tension "I'm Futoshi Gin! That's Sugawara Momo. We're all in C-1."

Momo keeps her eyes on her "As he said."

Hayami looks over to Momo "Hayami. Nice to meet you, Sugawara-san."

Gin "The three of us were going to karaoke, you two wanna join?"

Hayami glances to Chiba who shrugs with a slight smile "Sure. I'm in."

Hisa "Mmm can't. I already have plans."

Gin pouts slightly "Oh… okay… Maybe next time?"

"Who knows."

Hayami "See ya on Monday, Hisa-san."

"See ya" Hisa starts to leave but glances back "Oh, and overly friendly guy? The piercings and dyed hair make you seem more edgy."

Gin touches his dark red hair "It's actually natural. But I'm aware."

Hisa looks the three from the C class over before leaving.

Momo sighs once she gone "scary…"

Chiba holds onto Hayami's hand "Your… friend… is really odd."

Hayami points to Gin "You want to call Hisa-san weird when that is right there?"

Gin "Hey!!"

Momo laughs "Hayami right? I've known you for maybe 2 minutes max, but I love and will die for you."

"Eh?"

Gin growls starting to walk to the karaoke place "Let's just go have fun! It's a Friday!"

Chiba "Wait it is?"

"Dude. Seriously."

Hayami "Wait- friday- Ryuu aren't we supposed to meet with Rio and the others tonight…"

He groans "Yeah… we haven't all been together since then?"

"I've met with Rio like twice since then."

"Broke into Sugaya's awhile ago."

Gin and Momo share a confused glance

"Middle school friends?"

They nod "Yeah."

"They go to different schools."

"Oh cool. Did you still wanna do karaoke today or another time then?"

"We could do it today?"

"Yeah we aren't meeting them until late."

"Besides? Those guys would be pretty pissed if we didn't. Right Rin?"

Hayami nods "Definitely."

"What are your old friends like?"

They exchange a glance before smiling.

Chiba "Well? There's Sugaya, who's no doubt the best artist we've ever met. He's someone who's there for me no matter what. Oh and there's Mimura! He's an amazing director. Also he's great at observation and analysis. I can't really explain it, but he's saved our butts a lot. There's also Okajima who-"

Hayami "Who's a pervert idiot sometimes and gets so wrapped up in his interests that he forgets simple things."

Chiba "Are you still upset about him having me hold you over a cliff?"

"That too. Frankly I'm more annoyed about the tree."

"Seriously? Why that?"

Hayami looks away "Anyways! Okajima a really great photographer."

Chiba smiles "All three of them are gonna change the world with their creative works."

"Fuwa too."

"Definitely! I can already tell, her anime is change people's hearts."

"Yeah. Oh? Fuwa is really into anime and wants to become an animator. She's really smart when it comes to solving mysteries."

"Never watch mystery horror movies with her… at least say spoiler alert before blurting out who the killer is!"

"Right!! Oh and there's Rio?"

Chiba sighs "Nakamura is… blonde devil. That's all I can say."

Hayami laughs a little "That's one way to put it? She's really smart. Definitely the smartest of our group."

"But just as chaotic as the rest of us."

"Yeah? She would try to come up with schemes to get us together."

"Oh man… the schemes… and pranks…"

The two laugh recalling the times spent together.

Gin smiles "Your friends sound like so much fun!"

Momo nods "You're friends with some really creative people."

"Yeah…"

The two share stories about their friends and are sure to censor and change certain things to avoid their cover being blown. Once they get to the karaoke place and into a room Gin immediately starts looking through songs.

After an hour Momo notices something

Momo "Chiba-kun. Aren't you gonna sing more than just backups?"

He laughs a little "I'm okay watching."

Hayami 'right… Aka Ryuko… but pretty much only Kunugigaokastudents know that?'

Chiba notes Hayami's glance "My voice is a little from talking so much."

"Awww…"

"Man I wanted to hear your singing voice…"

He sticks his tongue out.

After a couple hours they decided to leave to get something to eat.

Gin loosens his tie "That was so fun!! Ryuu-ichi better sing next time tho!!"

"Mmm… maybe I will… if? You stop with calling me that."

"Not happening, Ryuu-ichi~"

Momo sighs "He never stops… trust me…"

Hayami smiles a little "How long have you two known each other?"

Momo looks at her pained "Yes."

Gin laughs throwing an arm around Momo "We met first year on primary school! Been best friends since then! Right Momichi~?"

"Help me…"

Skip to them saying going separately

Gin "Text ya later!"

Momo "Nice meeting you, Hayami-san. I had fun. I'll see you guys around."

Hayami smiles "I had fun too, Sugawara-san."

Chiba "See ya."

Chiba and Hayami start going to the train station to go to Nakamura's house.

Meanwhile at Nakamura's house

Nakamura "Do you think they're coming?"

Sugaya shrugs grabbing another chip "I dunno. I think so?"

Okajima's sitting on the counter "I think at least one will."

Fuwa steals the chips from Sugaya "They should be getting here soon…"

Mimura "Haven't seen them in so long…"

Before any could respond, Nakamura's phone rings

Nakamura perks and answers it "Rinka!"

"Outside. Unlock the door."

"Coming~!"

Nakamura goes over and opens the door "You both came! Together!! And still in your uniforms?"

Hayami laughs nervously "Can we borrow some clothes?"

Chiba "No offense, but rather not wear her clothes."

Nakamura pulls Hayami inside "You can stay outside then!"

"Ehh!! Nakamuraaa!!"

She laughs "C'mon? Everyone's here already."

They sighs going to join them but are immediately tackled with hugs.

Okajima "Long time no see!!"

Mimura "Why are you both in uniforms still?"

Chiba "Neither of us have gone home yet."

Hayami nods "We were out all day."

"Date~?"

Chiba shakes his head "No. Some of my… classmates… invited us out…"

"'Classmates'?"

"Friends!"

Hayami nods and with a smirk "They're definitely friends. Right? Ryuu-ichi~?"

He pouts "Don't start that. Futoshi-kun saying it is bad enough."

Sugaya "Sounds like you made a friend. I'm so proud!!"

"He was persistent!! And insists I call him by his given name but I refuse."

Hayami "Rio? Can we borrow some clothes?"

She nods "Yeah. Follow me. Chiba, you can borrow my brothers clothes. He wouldn't mind."

"Hm? Thanks."

After a few minutes the group is sitting together in the living room

Most are on the floor but Hayami is laying upside down on the couch while Fuwa is using Hayami's stomach as a pillow.

Nakamura "Hows school been for you guys?"

Sugaya groans "Can't spell paint without pain. I'm dying. But I guess I'm relieved these idiots and I all go to the same school…"

Okajima nods "Agreed with the second part. Have been talking to some people in my class. Someone almost recognized me but didn't."

Mimura "I'm just stressed. We go to the same school, but don't have any classes together. My classmates are more stuck up too. Plus there's this guy who's a conspiracy theorist and reminds me a bit of Fuwa."

Fuwa "Rude! I'm not as crazy as him! You mean the Americans exchange student right?"

"The one who thinks we were injected with serial killer dna at Area 51 and that the mission was a test experiment? Yes."

Hayami "Don't need Area 51. I already have serial killer dna in me."

"Er- hayami- are you okay?"

She nods "Yeah? Sorry was that a weird joke?"

"Unexpected."

"My bad."

"But yeah that guy is weird. So sorry he's in your class…"

"Yeah me too. You got some interesting classmates too?"

Fuwa nods "Definitely. Someone is already a really great animator and has a YouTube anime series! It has about 200 follows or so… I made friends with this girl who cosplays too. She writes fanfiction a lot and let's me read it."

"Oh cool!"

"Yup. What about you?"

Nakamura shrugs "It's… so-so… Nearly perfect English and my french is pretty good. But then they talked about learning different types of sign language. Ughh… this boy keeps flirting with me in french and it's so horrible! His pronunciation is so off and on top of that? He's so not my type!!"

They all laugh which causes her to role her eyes.

Nakamura "Chiba? Rinka? How's school with you two?"

Chiba groans "This guy keeps trying to be all buddy buddy and calling me 'Ryuu-ichi'. He drives me insane. His friend, this girl, is pretty cool I guess. Don't talk to her as much."

Hayami sighs "This girl kept calling me 'kitten' all day. We've talked a few times and all but still. She seems cool and kinda reminds me of a more intimidating Yoshida."

"Pfft!!"

Chiba crosses his arms "I don't really like her…"

Nakamura smirks "Why? Cause she flirted with your girlfriend?"

He averts his gaze silently

Sugaya "Jealous."

Hayami "She was flirting?"

Chiba "Did you really not notice?"

"I don't think she was? She calls me kitten since she knows I like cats and cause I'm really flexible."

Chiba's eyebrows bunch up as he pouts a little "Mkay…"

Fuwa sits up "You really can't tell when people flirt with you."

"It's no wonder it took so long for you and Chiba to take a hint."

Hayami pouts sitting up "Well that's- head rush… give me a second… ughh. Well that was cause we had other things going on and didn't think much about it."

Chiba nods "Yeah. Pretty much."

Things are comfortable. They chat and snack and watch movies.

It's normal. Too normal…

Chiba stands up going to leave.

Sugaya "Chiba? Where you going?"

Chiba "Get some air."

He ends up sitting on the roof and looking at the night sky

The crescent moon shines bright

"You know what I did… was it the right thing… is this right? Making new friends in high school who don't know. Hanging out with these guys as if nothing happened… Rin is acting like things are okay too… but I can see it in her eyes… she's scared… she should be. But the others… they act like nothing changed… I killed someone… I… I helped kill you… granted we all played in part in the second thing? But… I killed Yanagisawa… I got Kayano killed too… it haunts me… every night… I have nightmares about it." He looks at his hand shaking "I can still feel the weight of the gun in my hand. How it felt pulling the trigger. How easy it was… it's terrifying… it was so easy to pull the trigger and take a life… it shouldn't be that easy to do that…"

His gaze locks onto the moon "I'm scared… Korosensei… I… what do I do… What now…"

End chapter

Futoshi and Sugawara I use first names for just cause it feels more natural calling them Gin and Momo. Hisa I use last name cause it's shorter than Kimika even tho I actually like her first name most.

@lumigo akvo9504 Maybe. Who knows~

@Le055Li0n Senna and Chiba do be concerning lol and thank you!!!