A/N: Hey everyone! It's been a busy November, but what I have to show for it is that I'll be uploading two hefty chapters this month. You think this is long, just wait until you see Chapter 57. By the end of this chapter I think you'll know what I mean. Also, thanks to all new reviews, faves, and follows!
serial napper: There really is little to no precedent for a hypnotism headache, is there? Naoi ought to be careful with it. If Hinata didn't have GlDeMo to distract him, Naoi would be in a world of misery tonight XD As for NaYuri interaction, you may soon get your wish!
Seiram: Thank you so much! It was pretty good despite FFN's silliness with the chapter that day ^^ I'm so glad you appreciated the Iwasawa/Naoi scene! With quite a bit in common and basically no canon interaction, they needed a heart-to-heart. And that was definitely my favorite part of their conversation. It's always -when people find their way back to you (ex: Battlefront!), and yet "if it's meant to be, it's up to me" has plenty of truth to it. Operation Songbird is a bit of both. (And I guess so! Yuri and Naoi must just lure the same type of people XD)
Shiranai Atsune: Thank you so much! I'll do my best :D
ZainR: :O I introduced you to Hot Meal? Hope it blew your mind! And glad to hear it reminded you of early AB, was definitely going for a "nostalgia in a new setting" vibe there. And living vicariously as I wrote it! (XD Yup, Iwasawa is 80% of Yui's impulse control) Yuri did say "we"! Based purely on assumption, so Naoi had to correct her. And I'm thrilled the Naoi/Iwasawa scene went over so well :D (Heh, yep! A little TPS spoiler if I ever get to that point, but Naoi did work for a certain bakery for a time) As for Naoi and Yuri, you may soon get your answer.
Hope you enjoy!
[Chapter 56]: Abrupt Exits
Later, in the rehearsal room, the whistling wind and cicada screeches were replaced by wailing guitar riffs, passionate vocals, and thunderous drumming. Which didn't mix quite as pleasantly with the part of Ayato's headache that lingered, but wasn't entirely unwelcome. The songs sounded better than he remembered, anyway, and there were worse ways to spend a Saturday night than sitting back with the Battlefront listening to live music.
They ran through and replayed their songs a few times, some with vocals and some without. Not so much with ones like Alchemy and Crow Song, understandably – they could probably play those in their sleep. But they familiarized themselves with new songs written in this life, much to Yui's awe and delight. One called "My Wonders" quickly became her favorite, followed by "Prism Song" and "Moon Guardian." He assumed that, to Yui, the repetitive practice was like GlDeMo was simply pressing the replay button for her.
It went on like that for over an hour or so. When they wrapped up on Million Star, the analog clock in the room said it was nearly ten so the girls decided to take another breather. Since vending machine snacks didn't count as dinner, Matsushita the Fifth and Hinata took that opportunity to get everyone's orders before promptly heading out to the latter's car for a fast food run.
Meanwhile, Yui barely noticed he had gone – after she told him what she wanted, she'd turned back to Shiina and had jumped right back into fangirl mode without batting an eye.
"—and part of me wants to just wait to hear the new songs at the concert, but I can't resist!" she gushed, then abruptly switched from glittering eyes and clasped hands to exaggerated arm flailing. "And that's like a month from now! That's like FOREVER!"
Ayato glanced over at Shiina. More often than not, her steely expression was difficult to read. But looking at her now, he'd never seen a more relatable emotion flash across her face.
"Besides, what am I supposed to do? Walk out of the room?" Yui exclaimed, pivoting and dramatically throwing her hands to her cheeks at the blasphemous thought. "You can't just walk out on Iwasawa! Right, Shiina—?"
A sudden gust of wind fluttered her hair, which she barely registered as she turned back around.
"Ah—?" Yui made a confused, strangled noise, and blinked twice. "Shiina?"
The ends of a telltale navy scarf disappeared out into the hall.
Yui only had time to look puzzled for a few seconds before Otonashi came striding in through the same door. "Hey, did I just see someone's car pull away?" he asked, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
Fujimaki called from the other side of the room, "Hinata and Matsushita were going out to get fast food, remember?"
"I already told them your order," Kanade reassured him.
Otonashi looked surprised. "They were going to do that now?" he asked, briefly checking the wall clock before turning his attention back to Kanade and then Yui. "Hinata probably should've saved ours for on the way back to Shibuya. I feel like we ought to leave at eleven at the latest. Even 10:30 if not as soon as he gets back with the food."
Yui's shoulders sunk as she fell into a pout. "Aww…!" she whined, and threw a longing glance over her shoulder at the GlDeMo girls as they were coming down from their stage.
"I know," Otonashi said patiently, his tone playful but sympathetic. He gestured to his wife, who was in the middle of demurely covering a yawn. "But Kanade's pretty tired, and we're probably not going to get home until after midnight as it is."
To her credit, Yui recovered rather smoothly, and a mollified smile spread across her lips as she moved to affectionately pat Kanade's head.
"Well, that's okay," she said. "Today's been a lot of fun, anyway. I'm happy we got to see Girls Dead Monster again. I just know the concert's going to be the most magical night of our lives!" She gave a little gasp and sudden jump of epiphany, flinging her hands to her mouth as – unbeknownst to her – the band approached from behind. "Besides, I already have an idea for a promotional video! And my laptop's at home and I need to get started right away. As soon as we get home, even if it takes me all night! I'm sure I won't be able to sleep at all. You heard GlDeMo, they need—"
"—all the help we can get," Iwasawa said, joining them in their corner of the room. Yui uttered a startled peep and spun around, absolutely awestruck. Behind her, Ayato thought he could see a pair of ruby eyes peeking in from the doorway (disappearing when they caught his stare).
Irie, Sekine, Hisako, and Iwasawa were standing there, looking at Yui expectantly. All of them visibly charmed by her enthusiasm. Making a small surprised sound, Otonashi glanced from them to Yui, before catching the serene, knowing expression on Kanade's face and matching it with his own.
"Well, I guess it's a good sign you're already all fired up and talking about promo videos," said Hisako.
Yui cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"
Irie beamed back at Yui, hands clasped. "We wanted to say that we really appreciate your passion in all of this."
Sekine nodded. "For GlDeMo, Operation Songbird… everything."
"So we were sort of wondering if we could put your passion to good use." Hisako paused and turned towards the rest of the group on the other side of the room, motioning someone over. Yusa immediately wandered towards them with something clutched in her hands. As she passed by, Ayato put his aloofness on pause to sneak a curious glimpse, and Yusa passed a thick stack of GlDeMo concert flyers to Hisako, who then offered them to Yui. "Think you can help Yusa put these up? Publicity always was one of your strong suits."
Carefully accepting the flyers as one would a love letter or a graduation diploma, Yui gawked at the girls with sparkly eyes. "Of course!" she blurted out. "I won't let you down, ladies! The world must know GlDeMo lives!" More to herself, she considered aloud, "Maybe the next time Hinakins and I visit Shiina, we could even spread some of them around Kyuuya together…!"
What Ayato heard next, he might've chalked up to tonight's sensory issues if Yusa hadn't flicked her gaze toward the doorway as well. Light footsteps were walking away from it.
They shared a look, being the only ones sharp enough to have noticed. It seemed their eavesdropper had heard enough.
"There is something else we kind of need you for," Iwasawa was saying, her voice laced with intrigue. "But we'll text you about it later. So we're gonna need to swap numbers first. If that's cool with y—"
She obviously didn't need to ask her twice. Yui had already shoved the flyers into a surprised Otonashi's hands and retrieved her cell phone, desperately fumbling with it. When she turned it back on, the girls exchanged numbers.
"And yes, we are giving you access to the private GlDeMo number," Iwasawa informed her.
"Just don't abuse it!" Hisako warned.
Yui clutched her phone like she'd just been given the coordinates of buried treasure. "I won't!" she vowed, her tone extra serious.
Iwasawa smiled, ultimately convinced, while Hisako gave a satisfied nod.
"Good," Iwasawa said, putting her phone away. "And this thing we're going to text you about – it's top secret, just like the band number. So let's keep it between us for now, alright?"
In a trance of starry-eyed honor, Yui could only manage a soft squeak along with a tiny nod. But then Kanade blinked and turned to Otonashi, giving his arm a little nudge. Catching her look, something like a light switch apparently flipped on in his head.
"Oh yeah, that's right!" he said, and returned his attention to the band. "Speaking of which… do you think Kanade and I could talk to you in private at some point before we leave? We kind of have a huge favor to ask you."
Iwasawa shared a silent discussion with Hisako, Sekine, and Irie, before giving a half-shrug of okay. "Sure, is right now good?"
Otonashi and Kanade agreed, and after passing the flyers back to Yui, the couple followed Girls Dead Monster out into the hall hand-in-hand. Ayato followed them with his eyes for a moment, wondering what that was all about. Why did everyone have so many secrets all of a sudden?
Not to mention a certain eavesdropper who had yet to return.
When he turned to look for Yui, she was spiritedly prattling to Yusa as they crossed the room to rejoin the remaining Battlefront members. With Hinata and Matsushita getting food, the Otonashis off with GlDeMo, and Shiina pulling her vanishing act, that left…
Frowning, he watched them go. Was Yui really so unconcerned? Or had the thought not even crossed her mind to go look for her? Clearly she was caught up in the thrill of tonight, he understood that.
But still…
He cast a doubtful squint at Yui and Yusa, then at the doorway. It really shouldn't have to be him. He'd had more than enough heart-to-hearts for one day, and had half a mind to go intercept Yui right now and send her out instead. Contemplative, he chanced another look towards the girls. They approached the group with a cheerful greeting, and were enthusiastically received by Fujimaki and Ooyama while Yuri looked up and acknowledged them warmly. It wasn't more than a second later that she caught Ayato staring and her expression shifted, brow rising in confusion before it creased with distrust.
Purposefully, he lowered his gaze to make it very plain his attention was meant for Yui and Yusa. Regarding the group for a moment, he shook his head and walked out into the hall.
Honestly, just the five of them? On second thought, perhaps a little talk somewhere quiet would be more comfortable than that.
The hallway appeared empty at first glance when he meandered through. Probably Otonashi, Kanade, and GlDeMo had already gone outside or to a different room. He could hear the hum of electricity coming from the vending machines farther down, but no voices or beeps or rumbling from the dispensers.
"Shiina?" He furtively scanned his surroundings, and took a few more cautious steps. Other than back in the room and certain spots in the hallway, the building was mostly dark to conserve energy, but ideally he'd see her before she saw him. "Are you out here? Shiina?" Under his breath, he grumbled, "And please, no jump-scares tonight."
Silence at first. Then a question, ventured with some wariness: "What is it?"
He followed the voice beyond a corner. Past the vending machines and water fountain, there had been a part closer to the lobby with brochure stands and maps and other resources. Shiina was leaning against a wall across from them, between a bench and a fake tree in the opposite corner. Her arms were folded and she had something clutched in her hand. Most of her face was shrouded in darkness, save for her eyes, which peered sternly and uncertainly out at him as she waited for an explanation.
"Aren't you coming back in?" he asked after a moment, for lack of anything else to say.
Shiina's features darkened further. She sullenly lowered her gaze to the floor, then down the hall. "I haven't decided," she answered, after a prolonged moment of brooding. "I might catch a train back to Kyuuya."
Ayato followed her eyes all the way to the front glass doors, past the cars in the parking lot, to the lights in the distance of a town that was still awake. There was apparently a station not all that far from here. Perhaps she meant to walk.
"I was under the impression that Hinata and Yui wanted you to stay with them tonight," he said, silently noting the train schedule in her firm grip before looking up at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't know about that." Shiina folded her arms tighter, almost hugging herself as she shrunk into the corner. "I'm sure Yui will want to work on her video… and other GlDeMo things. I wouldn't want to ruin her concentration." The schedule crinkled in her hands. "Besides, Kyuuya is closer. Shibuya is in the opposite direction. It makes sense to go home from here."
Ayato couldn't help but notice how much gloomier she sounded than usual, particularly on the word "home." Almost as if she didn't want to be there without them.
"If you're going to leave, I hope you're planning to at least say goodbye to them first," he said matter-of-factly, putting a hand on his hip.
Shiina's frown deepened as she pretended to be deeply interested in the parking lot. "He might not be back by the time I have to go."
"But Yui's still here. You can tell her to tell him for you."
"Or you could tell them both," Shiina said stubbornly.
"I'm not a messenger boy."
"Then what is this, what are you doing?" She uncrossed her arms and took a step out of the shadows. "Why did you come out here?"
"Because I know what's really bothering you," Ayato burst out, keeping his voice down but his tone firm. "I know why you left the room like that, and I get it. But don't disappear without saying goodbye. Don't leave it like this."
"She probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone," Shiina scoffed.
"She has noticed," he argued, "and she definitely will if you vanish."
Her hair fell over her eyes as she stared at the ground. "I don't think I can take much more of this," she murmured, her naturally hushed voice still only grazing the silence of the building. "She's always admired her. I knew that from the start. But what if… if they both like her better?"
He crossed his arms at her in return. That wasn't the impression he'd gotten from them in the kitchen last Sunday, but clearly she didn't know about that yet.
"It's just as you said. Girls Dead Monster is her passion," he said. "If the avid fangirl rants are getting to you, I understand. But you need to talk to her about this. To… both of them. You don't want to let these feelings reach a boiling point. Trust me when I say I've been there and it isn't pretty."
Shiina lifted her head. Apparently even she was not immune to the allure of Battlefront gossip. "With Yuri?"
Ayato nodded. "Back in high school she became dedicated to another cause – recruiting for the drama club to help out a friend. For a time it was all she seemed to talk about. I was bitter, and jealous, and I thought she had gotten bored of me. But I didn't tell her how I felt. I let my emotions fester until it all came to a head. I blew up at her, and you can guess how well that went over with Yuri." Shiina managed a knowing smirk, which Ayato returned with a rueful chuckle. "She blew up right back at me. Ended our friendship on the spot. We didn't speak for three weeks."
Her smirk gradually faded at the thought. "I don't want that…"
"Then, from experience I'd advise against slowly resenting something that brings her happiness," Ayato said. "Unconsciously or not, they'll notice you being unsupportive."
Her eyes narrowed, darkening as a frown bit at her lips.
"I'm not being unsupportive," she said, letting the schedule loosen and unfold in her grasp. "I just… need to get away. I need time to think." She averted her gaze to the floor. "I can't bring this up now, it would ruin their night."
"So would disappearing without warning," he noted.
Shiina's frown wavered, deepened, and then dissolved in a sigh. She stared out the front doors, spotting bus lights in the distance.
"Maybe I'll stay a little longer," she amended. "At least long enough to say goodbye."
If that was the best he was going to get out of her, then so be it. Ayato gave a mildly appeased harrumph and turned to start walking back to the room, his satisfaction increasing when he picked up on slow footsteps behind him. "But you're not going to talk to them," he said, more of a statement than a question.
She made a small scornful sound. "I'll talk to them, when you talk to Yuri."
Ayato hesitated in mid-step, wide-eyed and carefully stifling a flinch. He opened his mouth and then quickly clamped it shut. Grateful that his back was turned to her, he hardened his features in composure and regained his stride down the hallway.
He could feel the smugness radiating behind him.
When Ayato and Shiina returned to the room together, Yui noticed them and immediately brightened, waving them over. Ayato gave Shiina a look before sauntering over to join the group.
Fujimaki, Ooyama, Yui, Yusa, and Yuri had angled their foldable chairs in a circle (as best they could with five members) and seemed to be invested in a Battlefront discussion. Yuri acknowledged him with a fleeting glance while Ooyama started to offer Shiina a chair between himself and Yui. But Shiina politely waved it off, electing to stand, so Ooyama stopped dragging it in one direction and Fujimaki instantly dragged it in another, cheekily placing it between himself and Yuri. Catching the man's ridiculous eyebrow gestures, Ayato rolled his eyes with a muted sigh and sat down.
"So where does the operation go from here?" Ooyama asked. "I mean, how do we move forward now that we've found GlDeMo?"
"Yeah," said Fujimaki, rubbing his chin. "Like I know we already bet on people and everything, but what's the plan? Are we gonna just go around being that group of weirdos recruiting random strangers to go to some concert?" He took a moment to consider. "Not that that doesn't sound completely hilarious. I'm in."
"Yusa and I have been entrusted in putting up the promotional posters!" Yui chimed in proudly.
Fujimaki grinned. "Great, but we can't rely solely on that," he said, and motioned to everyone present with a laugh. "Look at how long it took us to see one."
"We've gotta keep meeting up, Yui," Ooyama added. "That's part of the fun!"
Yui considered this with a smile, reaching over to muss his hair.
"Let's keep this going for now," Yuri said, folding her arms decisively as she crossed her legs. "Fujimaki's right. The posters will definitely help us reach a larger audience, but we have to make sure that the most important people see them. We have four more weekends together until the concert. There's no reason to stop just yet." She lifted her eyes to Shiina. "Think Yukine's good for one more month of Locus Felicis?"
"It shouldn't be a problem," Shiina responded. Then she hesitated for a moment before adding, "She'll be back tomorrow afternoon. I can go ask her about it then."
It took a second, but Shiina's words seemed to set in with Yui and her brows furrowed in consternation. She turned in her chair and looked to Shiina with a silent question. The woman stared back wordlessly. In her impassive expression, Ayato wondered if Yui could read her answer.
"It's settled, then," Yuri said, and looked thoughtful. "So, who are we missing again? Chaa, TK, Takamatsu, Takeyama…"
"Fishing Saitou," Fujimaki offered.
Ooyama lit up with excitement. "That's right! Maybe we could go fishing one weekend."
"Oh! Or to an aquarium!" said Yui, matching his enthusiasm as she whipped back around in her chair, while Ooyama made a small delighted sound of agreement.
Fujimaki scoffed. "I dunno, I think he doesn't like staring at fish as much as he likes catching them."
"Yeah, but still! Aquariums are so pretty," Yui insisted, going glittery-eyed. "They're a great place to go on a date too."
"It's not a date, it's a Battlefront mission."
"It would be kind of fun," Ooyama considered. He and Yui both gave him twin hopeful looks.
Fujimaki sweated nervously.
So that conversation carried on, and when Otonashi and Kanade came back in with GlDeMo a couple of minutes later, it had transitioned mostly into jokes of where they might find the remaining Battlefront members. They all eagerly joined in – even the band members, pulling up chairs and deciding to extend the break a little longer. Otonashi and Kanade squeezed in between Yuri and Ayato, while GlDeMo picked spots by Yui and Yusa.
Of course, that was when Shiina tapped Yui on the shoulder and said something quietly to her before heading out again, and Yui had uttered a tiny confused squeak and scampered after her, but nobody else had really given it a second glance since it had gotten lost in the group's guessing and boisterous laughter. Sekine had suggested that wherever Takamatsu was, he was probably stripping, so they should check a pool or the beach. Irie and Ooyama happily reminded everyone they'd never gone to the pool or beach altogether as a group before (commence more sweating from Fujimaki).
"Or maybe if the charm leads us to some empty space, we should dig into the ground," Fujimaki was saying now, already wheezing while a broad grin stretched across his face. "We just reach in and then someone pulls something out and it's Chaa squirming in their hand like a mole!"
Everyone started cracking up at the mental image, loudest of all Yuri, who shrieked with laughter and nearly fell out of her chair as tears came to her eyes. Ayato snuck a covert glance, watching her. Daring to let a small smile waver while she wasn't looking. Surrounded by the Battlefront featuring GlDeMo, the operation was nearly complete. There were just a few people missing. But looking back, she always glowed with triumph like this after a successful mission – particularly when she got to celebrate with her friends.
"We have four more weekends together until the concert. There's no reason to stop just yet."
He remembered her words from earlier, and initially they brought him peace. But soon there came another thought that gave him pause. One that slowly but effectively wiped the grin from his face.
Four more weekends together until the concert… and then what?
When all was said and done, when they no longer had to meet up to search for another Battlefront member, when they had their grand finale reunion and Operation Songbird was fully completed… what was next for them? Would they still meet on weekends, or was that merely for the sake of the mission? What would become of this endearing group of imbeciles?
And Yuri… would she even want to see him again? Or, after the concert, would he truly lose her for good?
These worries furrowed his brow until his head began to throb with pain again, trepidation seeping lower and leaving him with a heavy pang in his chest. He barely even registered the Battlefront adjusting their seats back into audience position, him numbly doing the same for his own on autopilot while he stayed lost in thought.
Though he'd been lucky Yuri kept him around after his hypnotism was no longer required, he knew she was keeping him at arm's length anyway – probably for this very reason. They would only see each other as often as they had to. He held no Afterlife sentiment in her eyes. And every time he had the audacity to laugh with her, or share a glance, or infer they had a connection of any kind, he was breaking a rule.
If he was going to lose someone again, at least he would be prepared for it this time.
"It all comes down to two questions. Do you want them in your life, and if so, what are you going to do about it? It's up to you."
Ayato regarded Iwasawa for a moment, watching her talking and laughing with Hisako on the stage steps, then looked away with a slight frown. If it turned out that Yuri wanted nothing more to do with him after this, then he couldn't really do anything about it. That was life. Sometimes people left and there was nothing that could stop them. Nothing that could bring them back.
After all, Yuri had answered those two questions by taking the potion. If she'd prefer he didn't exist to her, if there was no place for him in her life nor solid sign that she still cared, maybe he should just let her be…
A phone chirped nearby, jarring him out of his thoughts. Instinctively Ayato whipped his head around with a scowl, searching for Hinata or Otonashi, before remembering that Hinata was still not back yet with the fast food. Otonashi had no phone in his hand and had turned his attention toward a black and pink phone that was resting on a chair near the stage.
"Sorry, I forgot to turn it back off," Iwasawa said, trotting over to fetch her phone. She picked it up, glanced at the screen, then did a double-take and studied the message. After a second, she closed her eyes with a sigh. "Okay. Break's still not over. I'm gonna have to take this." After mouthing something to the band, she distractedly tapped in a number and walked out of the room with the phone to her ear.
"That's probably the guys who are supposed to open for us," Hisako said dismally. "We've had some communication issues with them."
"They're flaky," Sekine corrected.
"That's mean!" Irie scolded, then lowered her shoulders with a pout. "But true. Sorry, this could take a while."
Otonashi shot a quick glance at the wall clock. "Well, I hope Hinata and Matsushita get back before she's done," he considered. "It's getting late, and I'd rather duck out during a break instead of in the middle of a performance."
"Naoi, do you mind staying a little longer?" Fujimaki asked, glancing over at him as he kicked back in his seat with his arms stretched behind his neck. "This kind of feels like a real concert to me, and, well, Satone and I always stayed to the end."
"I'll stay with you," Ooyama chimed in with a smile.
Fujimaki laughed, smirking back at him and mussing his hair. "'Course you will! You little party animal, you."
Meanwhile, Ayato nodded, mumbling a "yeah, sure," but most of his mind was already elsewhere. The sound of Iwasawa's phone had struck him with an unsettling reminder. His own phone was turned off, and had been since noon.
He dug his phone out and stared at the dark screen, watching his forehead crease in its meager reflection. Almost everyone who would bother to reach him was in this building. He couldn't understand the unease rising in his chest, but it was there, chewing persistently at his nerves.
If only to settle his mind, he turned it on.
The phone pinged to life, and at once bombarded him with notifications. His eyebrows shot all the way up, taken aback by his inexplicable popularity.
One missed call from his mother an hour ago. Then one more, shortly followed by five from Ryou, and two voicemail messages – all in the past ten minutes. The last call from Ryou was only a minute ago. The unease in his chest grew stronger.
Within seconds his phone started to ring – Ryou again.
Ayato swallowed hard, standing up. "Excuse me," he muttered, and tried to be composed and inconspicuous as he hastened for the door. Good thing he'd been sitting closer to the back. He hit answer as soon as he stepped into the hall. "Ryou?"
This turned out to be a mistake, because riled up female voices were currently coming at him from on and off the phone, and he couldn't make sense of any of it. Somewhere in another room or a different part of the hall, at least one other conversation was going on. It was faint but still too distracting and overstimulating. And it didn't help that Ryou's squeak was getting faster and more high-pitched by the second.
"What?" Ayato said into the phone. "Ryou – hold on, slow down, I have to take this outside."
He strode across the hall and through the lobby to the front exit. Pulling open the door, he slipped out and walked to the edge of the sidewalk overlooking the parking lot. The cicadas were screeching but not a huge inconvenience. He pressed the phone closer to his ear.
"Now what's going on?" he demanded.
A sharp breath erupted from the speaker as a panicked sob.
"Your mom – she tried to reach you, but she couldn't so she called me and – and – there was banging and yelling in the background, she'd locked him out of the room, but—" The line crackled as she cut herself off with a shuddering gasp. "Naoi, it sounds bad over there – really bad!"
The cicada screams became fainter but distorted and just as shrill, like he was enclosed in a glass tube and a heavy swarm of them were circling the outside. The loud thudding he heard, like a knock, was the echo of his heartbeat in his ears. His mother may have only gotten a phone in the past few weeks, but she would never try to call him or Ryou in a middle of a fight with her husband. Not unless it was that bad.
"What did she say?" Ayato pressed. "Did she say anything?"
"She said he found her train ticket," Ryou managed, her voice still quaking as she was still trying to speak rapidly. "And he confronted her about it and pulled out the suitcase she was hiding under their bed—"
Ayato paced farther down the curb. "Tell me he didn't find the phone too."
"He found it!" The line crackled again. "They fought over it but she got it back, and when she tried to get past him with it he grabbed her and it was the maddest she'd ever seen him. She broke away and barricaded herself in another room but I could hear him trying to break in when she called me – I could barely hear anything she was telling me, he kept pounding on the door and screaming at her to tell him who she was talking to!"
The blood drained from Ayato's face. That door couldn't hold Kimito for long. "Did she say she was on the first floor or second floor? Couldn't she go out a window, make a run for it?"
"I don't know – I tried to ask and then I heard shattering or wood splintering and she told me to tell you something and the line went dead!" Ryou burst out in a rush. "When I called her back it just went straight to voicemail. Naoi, I have a terrible feeling about this…"
The tension in his head came creeping back as he struggled to process everything Ryou had said. He could imagine his father slamming his fist and his whole body against the door, the thumping growing increasingly louder in the recesses of his mind, the vibrations all too real and shaking everything inside him. Vases and plates crashing against the wall so his prey knew what was waiting for them outside.
He'd found the phone. This was most definitely worse than the mug incident.
A breeze picked up, and all the hairs on his neck rose with it. He looked out over Kōmyō and above, at the thick clouds that were moving fast in the direction of Akuma. And he knew he had to beat them there.
"I'm going. I have to go," Ayato told her, realizing the truth as he was saying it. "Thank you, Ryou – I'm heading over there right now."
"Wait, what?" Ryou squeaked. "How far away is Kōmyō from Akuma? You'll never make it in time!"
In time for what?! his mind snarled indignantly, though his heart knew the answer. "She's in danger! I can't just stay here and do nothing! What did you expect when you–" He stopped with an aggravated sigh. "Forget it. Thanks for letting me know."
"Wait! What are you going to do when you—"
He hung up.
When all that was left was wind-rustled grass and screaming cicadas, panic set in. His breaths came short and wrapped in barbed wire. Shoving his phone in one pocket, he patted frantically at the other for his keys. And then it occurred to him that he had carpooled here. He slapped his hands to his forehead and cursed loudly.
"What was that all about?" came a voice from behind him.
Ayato spun around, wide-eyed. Yuri was standing in front of the glass doors, arms at her sides with a troubled expression on her face. She stepped toward him, out of the shadow of the overhang. How long had she been standing there? In the chaos, he hadn't heard the doors open.
"That was Ryou," he said, massaging his temples and turning back towards the city. "My mother called her – she never calls for help when Kimito's on one of his rampages, but – this one sounds – I don't know." The cicadas were starting to sound very similar to the ringing wail of hypnotism. And somehow what came out of his mouth sounded even shriller than both. "I don't know! It's bad, he found her phone, he's trying to break down the door – I have to get to Akuma! But…"
One sweeping scan of the parking lot spelled the issue.
"But your car's back in Mizuzaka," Yuri supplied for him, and Ayato groaned in confirmation.
"Meanwhile, Hinata's off getting food with his car." Ayato started pacing again, taking off his cap and clutching and wringing it in his hands. "And – what the hell am I supposed to do? I can't take Fujimaki's car. Well I could but it would strand them here. And I'd have to go back in and explain why I'm stranding them here and I don't have time to—"
"We'll take my car."
Ayato stopped in his tracks and gaped over his shoulder at her. "What?"
"We can take my car," Yuri repeated. "I'll just run in real fast and grab my purse—"
"Wait, we?!"
Yuri put a hand on her hip impatiently. "Yes, we! You're in a hurry and I'm the faster driver!" she insisted. "Akuma's my hometown too. And I care about Ayame. So I'm going with you. You don't have time to argue!"
Ayato stared dumbfounded at her, solid words and sounds disintegrating at the back of his throat.
"Good, I'll take that as a yes," Yuri said, then turned on her heel and flounced to the door. "Go wait by the car – I'll be out in ten seconds!"
She was barely exaggerating. By the time he'd registered what she said and made it more than halfway to her dark blue sedan, the headlights blinked as the locks gave a click. Light but purposeful footsteps slapped briskly on the pavement and when he got to the passenger and looked back, Yuri was bounding across the parking lot with her purse slung around her shoulder.
She reached the driver door three seconds later and they both jumped in the car at the same time. As soon as the engine roared to life, Yuri backed up sharply and they tore out of the parking lot and into the night.
Preview:
"Watch your speed!"
"Don't you have a phone call to make?!"
"I can't even think straight!"
"I've been down this road before."
"You considered us friends?"
"You're not going to face him by yourself."
"Please just stay clear."
"THIS IS ON YOU!"
"I won't let you touch her!"
[Chapter 57]: Gone Too Far.
