Truth that unravels in these hands. . .
"You'll . . . you'll always tell me if something's wrong, right?" Aoko's tightened her hands on the strap of her bag, knuckles turning white as she bit her bottom lip. She could hear the footsteps halted behind her. Rustling on the pebbles as he took another step back to look at her face. Kaito's eyes felt heavy on her. She gulped.
"What made you say that?" His tone was light, slightly inquisitive, but most of all still guarded. His face was guarded.
"We've been . . . different."
The evening breeze brushed between. Streaks of dark crimson and faint yellow crossed the sky behind him. They stood like that for far longer than a lingering moment, but the reply finally came.
"We've been busy."
You've been, she thought as he started to walk again. His strikes were quicker than before, and for a second she wondered if she made him feel uncomfortable or at least upset him but quickly cascaded it. Kaito doesn't get upset like that.
At least some things stayed the same. . .
"You always do that." She said, catching up to him. "Never answering my questions."
"That's because they're stupid- in fact you are." He snorted, "Running out of the classroom like that."
"You're still upset about that?" Aoko threw him exasperated glance. All pervious tenseness slowly ebbing away and she remembered that's how they're supposed to be.
Carefree, happy, and enjoying each other company. Though she'll never say the latter out loud.
"You know," he begun lowly and her eyes widen, had she been wrong? She whipped her head towards him. His tone was dark, heavy, something it shouldn't be. And in a flash, pictures of swollen eyelids, sluggish shoulders and a memory of a drowsy morning voice, Kaito picked up on some time ago. Her eyes widened to the point they could've fall out from their socket.
Weren't they getting better?
As if he heard thoughts, he continued, a vein twitching on his temple. "You've never told me what that bastard wanted that evening."
She blinked. All thoughts that whirled and rambled in her mind havoc seconds ago disappeared, leaving a deep vent as she stared at him. Quiet unabashed. And then blinked again. "What?"
"Last week, you know, when you went to that café. . ." He trailed off, his left hand massaging his neck, looking away from her blatant stare. "What happened?"
His gaze lowered to her again, and it was her turn to redirect her eyes.
"Oh that," she waved her hand as she scrunched up her face. "He thinks you're KID, but we both know that's not true."
Aoko waited for a reply, feet crunching below the gravels and sand. Upfront, she could see the first strand of greenery. The way to home never seemed this long before. The wind blew to her face, swaying strands of hair into her eyes as she turned, remembering, and pressed forward. "You're not, right?"
"About that," the words were spoken soft- whisper like- and Aoko's heart throbbed.
His fringe covered half of his face as his footsteps came to a complete stop. Was this the moment? Was he going to tell her that he is-?
Aoko felt her lunch spiral upwards, pushing up against her oesophagus. She shook her head, stumbling backwards, incline to press her hand over her ears.
She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear it-
"I'm way cooler than him." He said nodding to himself, arms crossed. "Both of them, in fact."
Wait, what?
She glared at him, at least tried to. The motion felt strange on her face that still was in a half frown. There was laughter right beside her and she jumped. When had he gotten so close?
She felt so jumbled, topsy-turvy, that she didn't hear what he said. His mouth moved, but somehow her brain didn't make any connections. She must've stood there dumbly, rooted on the spot like that, for his hand tugged hers. She glanced up, glimpsing a cheeky smile twist on his lips as he pulled her in steps with him. Hands warm and face shining, Aoko felt like the breath got knocked out from her.
They're alright after all, she thought then, smiling, they really were alright.
A daredevil shadow dances in glory . . .
Aoko felt invincible during the recent days. Like nothing could stop her. Even the surprise test her maths teacher flung at her that morning felt zilch. All those formulas and equations took the form of ants she easily stomped on. Keiko was certain it has something to do with Kaito, but Aoko knows that wasn't true, partially anyways.
She shifted the books she carried towards her neighbouring classroom. Keiko was adamant to have a study session over lunchtime along with the other girls for some history assessment, or she said. Aoko wasn't really paying attention. Her mind was occupied with discerning this strange warmness in her chest, each time she thinks of Kaito.
Maybe I should visit a doctor. . .
Her books toppled over as she ran into somebody. "Hey, watch it!" She grunted, quickly picking them up, not sparing the other a single glance.
"My mistake." A familiar voice hummed, bending low to help her gather them and yet asked anyway. "Need a hand?"
She rolled her eyes but thanked him nonetheless. Kindness should never be ignored after all, no matter where it came from.
"Well, you've never contacted me," he begun as she turned to leave. "I think, it's fine to assume, you're rejecting."
"Haha, about that," Aoko turned sheepishly, a blush adorning her cheeks. Thinking of ways to explain without mentioning the card that fell victim to one of her angry fits. "I just don't believe in your theory." She opted at last.
"It's not that far-fetched if you think about it. . ." Aoko already tuned off, staring out of the window. It was the same thing every time, she was growing bored. He knows magic tricks, arrives exhausted to school after a heist, and-
"What?" She whipped her head back at him, snapping out from her reverie.
"I said," he started off slow, almost mocking, and Aoko would have frowned if it wasn't for the dread that was piling up in her stomach. "His physical attributes coincides with the data I've collected based on a streak of hair that lay on the ground after a heist."
She opened her mouth to protest but the quickly beat her to it. "No, you weren't attending with him- not that time." She bit her lip as he shut her off again. "I've checked. His presence wasn't registered. It was a closed off building, he shouldn't have been there."
"He's an avid fan," it was faint, weak, but she still tired. Even after Hakuba's brow begun to furrow. "Might wanted to see KID up close." She shrugged, more like a helpless gesture, and Hakuba shook his head but she continued anyway. "Whatever the reason, he's not. I would know."
He breathed out a deep breath. "You're in denial and we both know it." She sunk her head at that, because- well, it's true- Kaito never objected the notion of it every time she brought it up.
But, he never consented it either.
Head still bowed, she walked passed him. Steps measured in tiny portions. The books never felt heavier in her arms as she continued on her way. A familiar cold sensation embraced her. The cold snuck further in her inside, diminishing the previous warmness her heart relished, estranging it.
Strange, we're not even at home. . .
Tell me the secret you're hiding. . .
"Aoko, you alright?"
Aoko gazed up, pen quivering between her lips as she hovered over her book. "What makes you think that, Keiko?"
"Well your spirit damped." Her brows furrowed, "Did something happen on your way here?"
How awfully perceptive, Aoko thought with a wary grin but soon found herself shaking her head. "Nope, nothing at all."
Keiko regarded her for a few second hard, roaming her face for details before muttering under her breath, "Liar." She dropped the matter after that, though. Aoko send another quick cheery grin at the other girls that regarded her with interest and concern.
Keiko nudged her, jokingly. "Stop that. You're so Kaito-like, it's strange."
Aoko breathed out a laugh. "Don't compare me with that freak."
"But you like him, though." Aya-chan said, wide eyes and smiling, and Aoko spluttered out a loud, no, they giggled on. She huffed, returned to her book while the others resumed talking, welcoming the break.
"I don't understand why, he's so cool!"
"A real prince charming!"
Aoko had to gag at that which earned her a few glares. Still chuckling, she gazed at everyone's faces. So weirdly starry eyed as they speak of him, she had to laugh. It was only Kaito they were talking about. What was the big deal?
"I wish he had more free time, though!"
Aoko perked up at that, looked straight at Aya-chan as she asked, brows furrowed, "What do you mean?"
She blushed and slightly ducked her head to avoid the blatant stare Aoko shot her with. "I mean- well- every time he gets invited to some outing he rejects. I just thought that- well- he's busy. Very busy."
"We all came up with it." Hanako- san spoke up, after the following silence. "He even rejected Akako Koizumi more than once. If she doesn't stand a chance how do we."
The conversation ended after that. One by one, they picked their books up again and buried their noses in them. Faintly, she heard pens scribbling down on notepads and the likes, as she traced the rim of her books, quiet absent-minded.
Keiko nudged her a few more times, urging her to concentrate and study, but stopped after Aoko didn't- couldn't- do it for more than ten seconds. Aoko was sure Keiko would interrogate her later.
Needless to say, Aoko failed the test. Keiko also rounded her around a corner after school, just like she suspected.
"Aoko, really, what's going on with you?"
"I've told you; nothing at all." The grip on Aoko's hand slacked and Keiko leaned against a wall, rolling her eyes.
"You've been saying that, yes. But why do you then look like," Keiko moved her hands as if she's defining something. "Like- like-this!"
At Aoko's confused gaze, she elaborated. "You've been on high spirit for a couple of days, all cheery and jovial, and today? You're acting all dead."
"Dead?"
"Corpse like." Keiko amend, crossing her arms. "It happened twice today. Don't act like you don't know."
Aoko sighed, conceding, and leaned in for a hug which Keiko willingly gave. "It started last week. You know with that thing you call 'outing'. . ."