ANOTHER DOOR ALWAYS OPENS
Chapter Four
A/N: Chapter Four is complete! I appreciate all the reads and reviews this story has gotten! Please note that, in this chapter, not all of the information is historically accurate nor may be canon to the anime. I have done some research on what I'm writing about, though! Please enjoy this slightly lengthy chapter and leave a review if you want! Any and all tips and critiques are welcome!
Three weeks passed by like a bullet train in front of everyone's eyes. In that time, however, much changed. May turned into June, which meant the rainy season was upon North High and the surrounding area. During Golden Week, Itsuki and the S.O.S. Brigade went on a boat trip to a deserted island where an unexpected 'murder' took place. It turned out to be a façade put on by Itsuki and his distant relatives, of course.
Once Itsuki returned from his adventure, he and Mitsuki started talking and hanging out more than just at school. They had their rituals before and after class, but both agreed to meet in secret during the evening. Neither of them wanted a repeat of the situation directly after their first outing. They would mostly talk over the phone, but sometimes both decided to meet at a predetermined location after dark. During those late-night outings, Itsuki and Mitsuki oftentimes strolled through the park or saw a movie.
The situation that witnessed the most change, however, was the relationship between Mitsuki and Arashi. Tension ran rampant throughout the two-bedroom apartment the siblings shared. The brunette had stopped talking to her brother, and Arashi was either holed up in his room or playing video games. Mitsuki had started to wake herself up much earlier than her older twin. She would pack herself a breakfast as well as a bento lunch and leave well before Arashi knew what was happening. Most of the time she would go to a 24-7 diner, order a cappuccino, and work on homework or read a book.
On one of those occasions, she encountered quite a familiar face.
Mitsuki was sitting in her favorite diner eating her boxed breakfast. It was storming and raining cats and dogs outside, but she didn't mind. The weather had actually set up a great reading environment in her eyes, especially for the manga that she was engrossed in. She had just taken a sip of her iced cappuccino, when out of the corner of her eye a girl stepped up.
"May I sit with you?" the girl asked.
"Yeah, knock yourself out." Mitsuki answered. Looking up, she saw that the girl was none other than Mikuru Asahina, the mascot of the S.O.S. Brigade.
As Miss Asahina ordered a coffee of her own, Mitsuki closed her book and quietly stuffed it in her bag. She folded her hands in her lap and gave a small smile.
"Beautiful weather this morning, huh?" the brunette said, hoping to start a conversation.
"I actually prefer clear days, but this will do," Mikuru answered. "We are in the rainy season, after all."
Both girls gave a nervous laugh and stared into their drinks. Mitsuki had the feeling that neither of them were great conversationalists. Then again, there had to be a reason that Miss Asahina was sitting in front of her. The time was only six A.M., so they had a while before the school was even open to students.
"M-Mitsuki, I have to t-tell you something," Miss Asahina blurted out of the blue. "May I see your hands?"
That caught Mitsuki off guard, but she obliged. She held out her hands, which Mikuru took in her own. Mitsuki became further suspicious. What was this girl up to?
"What I have to say might come as a surprise to you, but please promise to listen." the red-head stated.
Mitsuki nodded, suddenly feeling concerned.
"I…I encourage you to…not trust Itsuki Koizumi!" Miss Asahina exclaimed nervously.
"What?" the brunette responded. "Why?"
After some stammering and stumbling over her words, Mikuru went on to explain that she and Itsuki had vastly different worldviews, specifically when it came to the S.O.S. Brigade. The two of them belonged to enemy factions, which had a long-standing history of fighting. This ongoing feud had resulted in bloodshed and wounds that never quite became scars. Because of their association to said organizations, Miss Asahina and Koizumi would never see eye-to-eye but were respectful of each other nonetheless.
"Does that make sense?" the red-head inquired. "I hope it wasn't too confusing."
"It makes sense, yes. Why shouldn't I trust Itsuki, though?" Mitsuki answered. "He's such a friendly, honest guy. Just because you two don't have the same outlook on many things doesn't make me think any less of him. I mean, it's not like he's a serial killer or a sociopath."
"Well…uh…h-have you ever seen Romeo and Juliet?"
"Yeah."
"P-please think of it like this. Koizumi and I are from organizations that have a rivalry similar to the Montagues and Capulets. We…were born or entered this fight through one circumstance or the other. Our two families, in this instance, are the time-travelers and the espers. I'm part of the time-travelers, which are from the future."
"Then that means that Itsuki…," the brunette murmured, staring into her drink.
"Yes, Koizumi is an esper."
"Then where do I fit in? I mean, I'm not even in the S.O.S. Brigade! You can't expect me to take you at your word."
"Surely you remember, don't you?"
Miss Asahina's expression softened and she smiled. Mitsuki looked away and gazed out the window into the storm. She knew what the red-head meant. She recalled every moment from the Meiji Era to when she and Arashi arrived three years ago. It's not like Mitsuki had forgotten that Miss Asahina had been of great help to her. There were some memories, Mitsuki had realized, that weren't meant to leave traces.
"L-let me think this over…," the brunette said. "I need…some time to process all of this."
"That's all I can ask," Mikuru answered. "Would you like me to pay for your coffee? It's the least I can do in return for your listening ear."
After the tab had been settled, the girls stepped out into the pouring rain. They prepared their umbrellas and dashed through the chaotic weather all the way to the slope leading up to North High. There they were joined by fellow early risers that took the extra effort to arrive at school for sports activities and whatnot.
Upon the girls' arrival at the top of the hill, Mitsuki spotted Itsuki leaning against the gate of the school. He had an umbrella over his head and appeared to be lost in thought. To her surprise, Itsuki appeared to be fairly serious in his expression. Mitsuki glanced over at Mikuru, who apparently had spotted one of her friends and was scampering away.
The brunette darted over to where Itsuki stood and peered under the umbrella up at him.
"Itsuki." she said.
No response.
"Earth to Itsuki Koizumi…"
Still nothing.
Mitsuki lightly tugged at her friend's shirt sleeve, which made him nearly jump out of his shoes. Itsuki lurched around, bumping his umbrella into the brunette's head. Mitsuki let out a small yelp, causing the other teen to glance down and spot her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mitsuki," Itsuki gave a small laugh. "I was spacing off and didn't realize you were right next to me!"
"Heck yeah, Captain Obvious," Mitsuki answered, rubbing her head. "What brings you here so early in the morning?"
"I have a lot on my mind right now. I thought the rain would help me think. Anyways, though, we have study hall this morning. You wanna get together with your two flute friends in class? They can help us on yesterday's assignment, I hear."
Mitsuki happily agreed and started through the front gate towards the school with her companion. However, as she got closer to the front doors, she felt a piercing gaze going down her back. Someone was watching. Maybe two people. The brunette dared not look back. She felt safe in Itsuki's company, and that was all that mattered.
Study hall days, whether half or full, went at a snail's pace compared to regular classes. Despite the students' best efforts, it was difficult to concentrate. Around mid-morning, the class representative of one-nine announced that all students could take a ten-minute water-and-bathroom break. The whole class heaved a sigh of relief and everyone started either chatting with their friends or leaving the room.
"Well," Itsuki yawned, stretching his arms. "I'm gonna step out for a minute. You ladies need anything while I'm up?"
Mitsuki and her section friends gave a collective 'no thank you' and watched as their friend walked out the door. The brunette got out her latest best-selling read and tried to immerse herself in the story despite the noise level in the room. It was always that way on breaks. Once the students were free, none of them shut up.
"So, Mitsuki," one friend said. "Has he asked you out yet?"
"W-what?!" Mitsuki nearly yelled, dropping her book.
"We're asking if Koizumi has asked you out yet." the other friend added. "You two seem pretty close. You call each other by your first names, for crying out loud!"
"Uh…um…we're just friends…," the blue-eyed teen answered quietly. "I mean, we're in different clubs, so…"
"It'll be okay, ya late bloomer," the first friend commented. "That Koizumi will come around one of these days."
Both friends gave Mitsuki a pat on the back or shoulder and followed one another out of the room. As they did so, the brunette noticed an old book fall out of Itsuki's bag. She picked up both books and studied the older one carefully. It was a brown leather-bound book with English lettering on the front. After scrutinizing the title, Mitsuki made out the words.
The Meiji Era: A Collection of Events.
Mitsuki made note of the title and started flipping through the pages. She came across several small post-it notes on some of the pages. Following a quick skim through most of the chapters, she came across a page marked with an actual bookmark. Most of the pages were yellowed, so Mitsuki took extreme caution in getting to the marked page. Once she was there, though, her heart nearly skipped a beat.
One of the innumerable article titles in the book read "Chief Takiya of Police Killed in Cold Blood."
Mitsuki gulped. Her eyes slowly scanned through the words. She knew exactly what this article was about. The yellowed pages seemed to bring a few of the most tragic events from the Meiji Era to life. She continued to read despite her increased anxiety. The article went on to say how Chief Takiya had left behind two children without anyone to care for them. According to the news reports of the time, only one child stood to inherit the estate and title of Police Chief: the son.
'Both kids were forgotten about in the end, though.' Mitsuki thought to herself.
Just as the class representative was calling the room back to order, a few stragglers, including Itsuki, made their way in. Mitsuki noticed as he came in and put the book in her own desk. In her mind, he didn't need to read any further. Koizumi wouldn't read any further if she could help it.
The rest of the day went by as turtle-like as the first part. Mitsuki found herself playing with her pencil and daydreaming for most of it. After being scolded a few times from the teacher, the final bell rang at last. To everyone's dismay, however, it was only Monday. There were still four more grueling days before the weekend.
"Hey, Mitsuki?" Itsuki inquired. "Can…I talk to you about something?"
"Yeah, sure," Mitsuki replied. "We both have club meetings, though."
"That's not an obstacle. What I have to say can wait until afterward. Could you meet me in the park at seven this evening?"
"You bet. See you then!"
The two waved good-bye for the time being. Mitsuki went to Wind Ensemble as per usual and avoided Arashi like the plague. She never glanced back to see what hijinks the percussion section was getting themselves into even when the director lectured them. After rehearsal was over around six, Mitsuki stayed an extra thirty minutes to assist putting the room back the way it was. Arashi attempted to make small talk with her before leaving, but all the brunette did was give her brother the evil eye. That alone caused him to slink away.
The next time Mitsuki looked at the clock, it was twenty minutes before seven.
Crap, I'm gonna be late!
Following a swift farewell to her band mates, Mitsuki grabbed her belongings and rushed to the park. She had to dart around for about five minutes before spotting Itsuki sitting on a bench under a streetlamp. His face had the same stern yet far away expression to it. Catching her breath, Mitsuki walked up to him.
"Hey." she greeted.
"Hello." Itsuki answered, casting a sideways glance.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"This isn't the place. Come with me."
Mitsuki cocked her head to one side as Koizumi stood up and began sauntering away. She stood there confused for a few moments. Her gut told her not to follow him, but curiosity took hold and caused her to catch up with her friend. The two teenagers continued on through the park and to a busy street. Itsuki hailed a taxi and they quietly got in and traveled for a mile, and then two. Before she knew it, the vehicle had taken them clear across the city.
All the while Mitsuki wondered where in Japan they were going. She became lost in her own thoughts, questions flooding her brain. Was Mikuru right about Itsuki? Was he truly from an enemy agency that had a mangled worldview? Or was he a sociopath like Mitsuki herself had said? Either way, she vowed to not make an assumptions until Itsuki was ready to tell her.
Just as the brunette was dozing off from all her mental activity, the cab stopped at an intersection. Itsuki motioned for her to follow him to the crosswalk near where the taxi had parked. There both stood awkwardly and silently, waiting for the light to turn green. The light did turn green after a few moments of fidgeting. As they meandered out into the street, Itsuki paused and looked back at her.
"Is…this where you were wanting to talk?" Mitsuki asked nervously.
"Not exactly." Itsuki answered. "Close your eyes. I want you to see me for what I really am."
Mitsuki did as her fellow teenager told her, but not without hesitation. What did he mean, exactly? She couldn't get a good read on this guy.
As quickly as she had closed her eyes, Mitsuki felt Itsuki grab her hand and pull her towards him. When she opened her eyes, she found that the world had turned into a dark bluish-gray. The buildings, the street, the sky…everything. What's more, there were no people other than she and Itsuki. The brunette glanced around anxiously.
"Where…are we?" she whispered.
"Closed space," Itsuki replied. "This is a place created by Miss Suzumiya whenever her emotions become unbalanced. When she's bored or frustrated, these realms are created. The organization I belong to hunts these down and destroys them before the world turns upside-down. Now, follow me."
Miss Suzumiya can create something as desolate as this…?
Mitsuki trailed behind her friend all the way to the top of an enormous office building. From where they stood, she had a view of some of the cityscape. Looking around, it appeared as though the apocalypse had occurred and made all living creatures just…disappeared.
"Look over there." Itsuki said, pointing towards a skyscraper.
She peered over in the distance where a mammoth creature was rising up from below the buildings. It reminded her of an amoeba, only this one was a transparent sky blue and had blank red eyes as well as arms and legs. Mitsuki took a couple of steps back and became terrified once the monster demolished the building in front of it.
"W-what is that?!" she cried.
"It's a Celestial," Itsuki answered. "They appear in the closed spaces that Miss Suzumiya creates. It's the job of us espers to kill them off before they cause Armageddon. Now watch."
To Mitsuki, her auburn-haired friend seemed a bit too calm and collected. She observed as an orb of crimson energy gathered around Itsuki. To her surprise, there were other espers in the area that shared his same mission. The red energy spheres gradually wore the Celestial down, dismembering it and slicing through its midsection. Then, in a fierce explosion, the monster disappeared. The other espers dispersed and Itsuki came back to where Mitsuki stood.
The closed space cracked and vanished as quickly as it had formed. She found that they were standing back in the same crosswalk where he had pulled her into the deserted world. Her eyes met his. She noticed that he appeared uncertain and slightly apprehensive. The brunette felt a tightness in her chest. She wanted so badly to unsee everything, but that was a fleeting wish.
"What do you think?" Itsuki inquired. His gaze was unwavering.
"I…I'm…sorry…" Mitsuki responded, her voice cracking. She tried to keep a smile on her face despite her inner emotions. However, even that wasn't enough as she stumbled backwards towards the sidewalk.
Then, in a flash of mixed feelings, the brunette dashed away before Itsuki could do or say anything more. Sorrow, resentment, anger. Everything and more at once hit her like a truck. Just as Mikuru had warned her, Itsuki was an esper. She and the red-head were from the same general organization, the one that opposed Koizumi's. Mitsuki didn't know what to think as she flagged down a cab and started for her apartment. Could she trust him ever again?
'Why couldn't he have told me before I fell for him?!' she screamed silently.
She didn't particularly want to go home, but she didn't have any alternative. It wasn't like she could live at the school.
Once Mitsuki arrived at the apartment she shared with Arashi, she ran past where he sat on the couch playing video games as usual. She went in her room, closed the door, and scribbled a note that read: Not going to school tomorrow. Don't ask. After taping it outside her bedroom, she curled up in bed and stared at the wall, desperate to shut everything out.
Hope you enjoyed this segment of the story! See you in Chapter Five!