Play 4: Gone With The Dream
"W-wait a minute...!" I didn't want to resign to my fate and die, especially in this foreign world and when my competition was due on the July, considering if the months in this time was the same as back in my present time. I gave a desperate look at Kondou, who in return shot Souji a reproving glance.
"Don't be so cold, Souji." Kondou glared. "We wouldn't gain anything by killing a civilian."
For once, Souji's smile dropped, and he looked down on the floor in an almost pouty manner. "Please don't give me that look, I was just joking."
"It should at least sound like it," Saito said, causing him to snort and look away, his face slightly red. The sight almost made me want to laugh at him, but the serious atmosphere held me back.
"But surely there must be something we can do? After all, we're talking about a child..." Inuoe finally said, and I wanted to get up to thank him.
Sanan's brows furrowed as he thought. "I don't have any wish to kill him either, but we can't ignore the fact that he could reveal information about us." He paused to look at Hijikata. "I would like to hear what our commander would like to say."
Hijikata, who was silently listening to all of us, sighed. "Last night we had to kill some men who broke the code. This kid was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Moreover, I doubt he understands what it was."
Wait, Hijikata was around at that time!? I must have fainted a little too early to meet him. I frowned, a little relieved that he was helping me, intentionally or not.
"Even so, we have to make sure that this is kept under wraps," Nagakura pointed out solemnly. "If rumours get out that soldiers of Shinsengumi are thirsty for blood, that would be bad."
I thought you all are already thirsty for blood, I thought, glancing over at Souji. He made eye contact with me, and I pretended to ignore him.
"Though I think Souji has a point, I'll still do whatever Hijikata-san and Kondou-san tell me to." Harada smiled at me apologetically.
"Well," Toudou said, his eyebrows furrowed, "I still think we oughta let 'im go." He looked as if he was thinking this over seriously, and I was happy that another person was helping me. "It's not as if he knew why they went nuts, you know?"
Somehow, the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, and I knew that I was hearing something I wasn't suppposed to hear. I kept a blank look on my face as Hijikata's eyes narrowed at me.
"Shut it, Heisuke."
Toudou realised that he had said something wrong, and cupped both hands over his mouth. Seemed like I wasn't the only one with the big mouth.
"Uh oh. Well, this is going to make it even harder for us to just let you go," Souji said, and I mentally cursed. Damn it! Toudou should just kept his own mouth shut...I continued glaring at Souji, whose lips twitched in amusement.
"A man should be always be ready to face death. You should peace with yours..." Nagakura muttered, and I almost retorted that I wasn't one.
"Oh." I forgotten that I was dressed like a boy. For a moment, I wondered if I should reveal that, but decided against it. Who knew what they--especially that Souji--might do if they found out?
Harada agreed, as if he didn't hear me. "Very true. A brave death is always an option. When I was young, I committed honorable suicide."
I choked back a surprised gasp. I, for one, at the age of six, had performed as Brutus from Julius Caesar, where he lost a battle and killed himself. But for Harada to really attempt suicide at a young age...
"it didn't really stick though, did it, Sano?" Nagakura and Harada burst out laughing at the joke as Saito turned to Hijikata, trying to ignore them.
"Since we can't seem to reach a consensus, can I send him back to his room?" Saito looked at me, his eyes emotionless. "If you hear something you shouldn't while you're here, then we'll have no choice but to kill you."
I frowned at that. They might as well send me to a cell, where I could live in peace without being afraid to hear something wrong. At least the three meals were covered too. You would never know if they would torture me by starving me to death.
"True." Hijikata nodded. "Can you take care of him?"
When Saito agreed, Sanan said, "I agree too. There are too many careless men here." He didn't look over at Nagakura, Harada and Toudou, but they understood.
"Heisuke, you should be mindful of what you say," Harada sniggered, and Toudou looked flustered.
"H-hey! Back off! It wasn't on purpose!" His voice rose as everyone gave him a look. Then he muttered an apology that only I could hear. I nodded in response even if it wasn't for me.
Just then, Saito stood up and headed to the door. "Shall we go?" I struggled to stand up, and then followed him back to my room. Without saying anything, he opened the door and then I entered. He gave me a look, silently telling me not to escape, before leaving me to my own devices. I waited for him to be out of earshot, and then let out a loud sigh.
"What do I do now..." I glanced around, tired. "My competition and Satoshi...Where the hell is Yukimura Koudou?" I closed my eyes and then opened them again, staring at the ceiling helplessly and hopelessly. "What should I do now...?"