Thank you all for the kind reviews! It was lovely reading them. I hope you'll all enjoy this chapter too!
Time ticking. The sound of hurried scribbling. A certain anxiousness in the air. Yui gnawed at the head of her pen without realising what she was doing, but if she still doesn't get the answer down, she's going run out of time for the later sums.
The math paper was their last one, after nearly two grueling weeks of examinations. It was arguably also the toughest one, but Yui had worked hard on it and she was determined to at least do okay. After completing yet another sum, something crosses her mind and Yui steals a peek at the person seated next to her.
Ayato looked restless, which was the normality these several weeks. Yui had been persuading him to study, a notion which Ayato would always turn down, but so long she offered a bit of blood and guidance, Ayato would then change his mind…at least for a while.
What am I, it's like I'm his mother…and bait.
Yui erased the horrible thought that popped into her head. Whatever she had to do, be it to offer her blood or make a mountain-high stack of takoyaki, so long Ayato could pass the year, then it'll be fine. She just couldn't sit by and watch Ayato be told off by Reiji again for his bad grades.
The bell finally rang and the class representative collected all their papers. It was, at last, freedom for them!
"Ayato," Yui turned to a side, her hand patting on his shoulder to get his attention. The whole class was now reeling about in chitchat and it gradually became noisy. However, Ayato remained asleep on his desk, a frown still visible on his face.
When he didn't respond, Yui tapped him again, and he looked up at her irritably.
"What d'ya want, Chichinashi?"
"Well, how was the paper?"
"Who do you think yours truly is? Of course it went fine."
In all actuality, Ayato had skipped quite a few questions and he barely knew his formulas. The same could be said for the rest of all the other papers. He was annoyed at the questions for being set this tough, but he was also just as annoyed at himself. He could recognise some of the stuff from the work that Yui had asked him to do, and he did sort of want to score well since Yui had been nagging at him the past weeks. But when it came to the crucial moment, he could barely remember what was practiced.
Not that he's going to admit it to her anytime soon though.
Ayato was just about to tell Yui off some more when their homeroom teacher sauntered right in, and everyone had to get back to his or her seats.
"I know all of you have just finished your last paper, and you guys deserve a break. But as you know, exams are over and it's that time of the year again. I'm talking about the school cultural festival."
Yui's ears instantly perked up.
"We decided to announce it slightly earlier this year, which means that all of you can have a little extra time to plan for it. The whole school's involved and the rules are the same; we're going to appoint a event representative, then vote on what your class is going to put up on the big day."
The class instantly went abuzz, with students throwing about ideas on what they could do.
In truth, this is the first time Yui will be experiencing this, and she's excited. In the past, she'd always been home-schooled by her father, and public schools with their activities were something she'd never been through until now. In a way, it's also something she's grateful for since coming to the Sakamaki home.
She was spacing out, and hadn't even realised when her name was being called.
"…Then it's you, Komori."
"Huh?" Yui finally snapped back to reality.
"I said," repeated the teacher, "Since you weren't reluctant, the event representative for our class this year is you then, Komori."
Yui looked around at her classmate's faces, and some girls quickly turned their backs on her when she met their gaze, so it's assumable that they were the ones who nominated her. She'd never done anything like this before. Yui swallowed hard as she was summoned to the front.
It felt scary to be in front of everyone. Yui didn't know what to say, but she plucked up some courage and asked decidedly.
"So, uh, any ideas on what we can put up as a class this year?"
"How 'bout we sell something? That's pretty common," someone contributed.
Another girl piped up, "If it's common, why are you suggesting it? How about we do a play instead?"
"Or we could make a game?"
"Those are hard to do. And boring."
"Then," Yui cut in, "What about a themed café?"
It was something she'd only ever seen photos of on the Internet. But quite amazingly, the class took it really well and everyone thought it was a classic but good idea.
"Then Yui, what theme do you think we should do?"
It didn't take long at all for Yui to answer.
"You must be joking, right?" Ayato scolded.
He hasn't stopped scolding her ever since school ended. Even from inside the family limousine on the way home till when they're back in the mansion, Ayato had kept a permanent glare on Yui.
Laito, who'd taken the earlier ride home, greeted them in the living room.
"Now, now, Ayato, let's not be too harsh on Bitch-chan now~," he smiled. "What's this all about, hmm?"
"You ask her!" He yelled, taking a seat on the sofa and propping a leg up.
"I really didn't know everyone was going to be this keen…" Yui said to Laito. "It's about the cultural festival."
"Ahh~," Laito nodded, "My class is doing a play. I think it's Romeo and Juliet, but I've no interest so I might just skip it to have fun someplace else. What are Ayato and your class doing?"
Yui shifted uncomfortably.
"…A maid and butler café."
"My, that sounds fun, Bitch-chan! How cute!" Laito exclaimed, "Ayato is going to make a terrific maid!"
"Not like that!" Yui cut in quickly, "It's just going to be regular café! The boys are going to be butlers and the girls will be maids."
"Eh~, then Bitch-chan is going to be in a maid costume?"
"Yes. I've never done this before though, so I'm a little nervous."
"Don't worry, Bitch-chan," Laito said beaming, "If you have your skirt reallyyy short, I'll make sure to drop by many times!"
Ayato instantly threw Laito a dirty look. "You better stay the heck away, you pervert!"
"Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing my brother in a butler suit too, y'know. Although not as much as I'll like to see Bitch-chan in a maid outfit."
"No fucking way is yours truly going to be strutting around in some stupid suit serving people!"
"Once you get used to it, maybe you'll like it~"
No, Ayato thought to himself as the idea of murdering Laito crossed his mind concurrently, I will not like this at all.
"So that's our plan for the class," Yui said, while sipping on her cranberry juice (she's still very much into the drink, for no particular reason.)
She was on the rooftop with Subaru again, going through their usual break routine. Ayato had gone off to play basketball with some of their classmates, so Yui was again left to her own devices. It was only recently did she learn that Ayato liked basketball. Every now and then, she would learn something new about him that she's quick to carve to memory.
On such days when Ayato is busy, Yui would come look for Subaru. Today, they talk about the cultural festival.
"Then what's your class going to do?" Yui asked.
"A haunted house," replied Subaru. He was a level below Yui and Ayato.
"That sounds fun! What's your role?"
Subaru hesitated for a while, but soon responded.
"A vampire."
"Ah," Yui looked amused, "That's…fitting."
"Hey, it's not like I wanted it," Subaru said irritably in a fluster, "All our roles were picked at random. I wasn't even given a choice."
Yui giggled. "Then I guess you can just be yourself. I'm sure it'll be fun."
"It's not fun at all! Who gives a shit about this anyway!" he raised his voice.
"Ah, sorry…" Yui quickly apologised.
Subaru looked away, not wanting to have any eye contact with the girl. He wasn't really mad, no, even if Yui might probably think otherwise. It was just that lately, ever since a month or so ago, just being alone with the girl would cause him to feel discomposed.
It's never been like this before, but nowadays, be it whether she's smiling happily or crying due to sadness, or even so much so as sit down like this next to him, he'd feel exceptionally uneasy, something he couldn't even explain himself.
Subaru never had one of those 'cliques' like everybody else, nor had he ever wanted to stick around with anyone, that's why he chose to be alone on the rooftop where he didn't have to deal with people (actually, he just wants to be alone forever). When Yui came, he thought it'd be fine since it's just one person and they technically live together anyway.
But now, he'll be looking forward to her dropping by, where he could hear her stories. It only gets worse when she's laughing or smiling at him the way she does so very often. Times like this just gets him all irritated.
The bell ringing shook him out of his train of thought. He watches as Yui gets up to go.
"Have a good day in class, Subaru! I'll see you back home."
He didn't bother to respond, so Yui simply turns to go. As she does, Subaru's eyes follow her figure.
When he catches himself, he shakes his head. Maybe what he needs is a vacation.
Being event representative wasn't as easy as Yui hoped it would be. The cultural festival would be taking place in the first week of November, and while it seemed like there was quite a bit of time at first, there really isn't.
Not only was she in charge of her class, she also had to attend meetings with the other student representatives from across all levels and classes to discuss and co-ordinate things. It really wore her out to so involved, even if she had some other classmates to rely on. But she kept telling herself; it's for the sake of everyone and to create memories. She thinks she should be okay.
Ayato was mostly no help at all. He claims he hated the suit and tie idea anyway in the first place, so he's never really around.
What was worse was that Yui also had to alter many of her classmates' outfits, on top of a list of other things. She didn't hate sewing and it can be fun sometimes, but when it's a class of 30 people, it isn't that fun anymore.
For the third day in a row, Yui stays up to alter her classmates' outfits.
"Chichinashi, I'm thirsty now," Ayato had come to her room, standing beside her.
"Can you give me a little while more? I have to finish this," Yui answered, not looking up.
Times like this really annoyed Ayato. He's been trying to be as understanding as he could possibly be, but not only was he was hungry; he was also pissed at how she'd been ignoring him. Yui was just all buried in doing things for the festival. This situation was unheard of.
"Do it later," he demanded.
"I…I can't," Yui's replies came slowly, as she's concentrated, "I have to finish this. Later, okay?"
It was the last straw. Ayato snatched the garment and scissors out of Yui's hands, against her protesting, and tossed it aside.
"Ayato! I really need to finish this!"
"Feed me first."
While Yui stood there feeling troubled, Ayato's eyes lain on the scissors he's just threw aside, and smirked. He picked it up, eyes gazing upon its metal blades.
"Since you like working the scissors so much, let's try this on for size."
He loved it, seeing the fear rise in her face, but in his opinion, Yui certainly deserved a lesson for ignoring him. He slides blunt side of the blades down the side of her neck slowly, watching her terrified expression and enjoying it.
"It's been quite a while since I've seen that look," he remarks, "I love it."
Yui only holds her breath in fear, as he continues taunting her, cool blades sliding across her throat slowly…
"So what do you think I should do now? A slip of my hand and this could leave an ugly mark, you know," he chuckles.
"Please don't…" Yui replies timidly.
"Then you know what you must do, right?"
Reluctantly, Yui makes a move to reveal a side of her shoulder, exposing the pale skin. Ayato looks down at her with a smirk.
He makes a swift move, dropping the scissors to the ground and burying his fangs on her neck area. Yui cries out, feeling teeth bury itself deep in her flesh and the blood spilling out. He was being more violent than usual.
Tiny beads of tears form in her eyes as Ayato sucked on, his tongue running itself over her wound hurriedly, as if to lap up every single drop. Yui begins to feel slightly dizzy, and had to instinctively cling onto Ayato for support. In turn, Ayato wraps his arms around her.
The pain she felt earlier got less and less, and Yui stopped tearing as well. Now, it feels just like any other day, when Ayato draws blood from her.
Midway, Ayato pauses to scoop Yui up in his arms to carry her to bed. Their eyes meet and the contact doesn't break till he lays Yui on bed. Then he goes back to sucking her blood.
"Ayato…" Yui whimpers. Ayato only curls a hand loosely around her throat, arching her head back.
"Yui…" Ayato breathed. When he eventually finishes, he looks up to Yui's face, which is flushed. Her lips were slightly parted, a lovely pink and he can't resist.
Ayato doesn't hesitate and dives to claim her lips with his own. He kisses her intensely, and Yui closed her eyes, trying to do the same in order to match up to him. As he sucked on her lips, Yui could feel one of his hands roaming about, going upwards into her blouse. It pans over her stomach, then up to her chest, brushing against one of her breasts. This only makes her feel embarrassed.
Ayato kept kissing her, but midway, he realises she's no longer opening her mouth to give him better access, and their kisses were slowing down too quickly. He opens his eyes as he pulls away, and only then understands that Yui had been dozing off!
"Oi, Chichinashi, wake up!" he demanded.
The sudden outburst had Yui struggling to peel her eyes open, but it only lasted a second before she completely dozed off.
Ayato could only stare at her in discontent. After all, who on earth would fall asleep in the middle of a make-out session? But then he lets out a small sigh upon realising that she really isn't about to wake up anytime soon. Anyway, for the past week, Yui had been working harder than anyone in class and only just, she'd also given him her blood. She's surely exhausted.
Quietly, Ayato switches off the lights and pulls the sheets over them. He drapes a hand over her to pull her warm body closer to his and for a short while, observes her sleeping face.
Tiredness envelops him soon after, and Ayato caves in to his own exhaustion. He fell asleep, with Yui still in his arms.
