Chapter 20: What's Best
"So, what do you want? Why are you here?"
"What're you trying to pull?"
"What're you talking about?"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about!"
"Stop yelling."
"…What're you doing, huh?"
"I've been doing what you told me to do, what do you think?"
"Don't raise your voice to me! Who the hell do you think you're talking to!"
"This is my apartment!"
"Fine, whatever. Did you make the money or not?"
"I made what you told me to."
"Good, then we're leaving."
"What! Now! But-"
"You have a pact to keep."
"St-Stop it."
"Pack your stuff."
"P-Please, just a little more time with my friends."
"Friends? You don't have any friends."
"They are my friends! They…They said so…"
"…Stalling for all the time in the world won't change things."
X-X-X-X
Kiba knocked on Airi's apartment door. "Yo, Airi, you-"
Airas opened the door. "…It's all futile…"
"Airas?" Kiba looked up at her.
She looked down at him with contempt. "…Get out of my way." She pushed him and headed down the hall.
"Geez, what's her problem?" He shook his head and went in. "Airi?"
Airi stood by the window, mumbling. She held something in her hands. "…What…What is she trying to…?"
"Airi, what's up?" Kiba sat on the sofa.
"What?" She looked at him. "Oh, Kiba…" She looked down at her hands, then hid them behind her back. "Oh!"
"What's that?"
"N-Nothing. It's nothing." She put the item in the nightstand and sat down. "What're you doing here?"
"I came to see you." He tilted his head. "Is everything alright between you and your sister?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"You sure? You don't sound very happy and she seemed pissed."
"You ran into her?"
"When I was knocking on the door."
"Oh…"
"Airi."
"It's nothing! Everything's cool between her and me! Everything…" She looked at him and smiled. "So, what's new?"
"Ha, Airi, you never cease to amaze me." He smiled too. "Aha, oh, nothing's new I suppose."
"Really?"
"But…But I did come here to talk to you."
"About what?" She got closer. "I'm all ears!"
"Airi…" He grabbed her hand and kissed her. "Airi, you believe me when I say that I love you, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"And you believe me when I say that I want you to be happy, right."
"Yep."
"And you believe me when I say that I can always find happiness through you, right?"
She gave him a curios look. "Kiba, what…what're you trying to say?"
"Airi, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You've made everything meaningful! You're a fun girl and you're perfect. When I met you, I was drawn to you by your beauty and personality. Airi, you rock my world."
"Well, that's peachy-keen Kiba, but I don't get where this is going."
"Airi, I want what's best for you because I love you. I want you to be happy, despite my feelings." He stood up.
He…no…? Airi shook her head and looked at him. "Kiba…you…you're…"
"Airi…" Kiba looked down at her. "I'm breaking up with you."
"K-Kiba…"
He rubbed her head. "But I want to be your friend." He stretched and headed to the door. "I'll see ya later, okay?" He walked out.
She sat there, stunned. "…Kiba…he just…" She rubbed her arms. "He just…broke up with me…" A small smile crept across her lips.