Chapter 26:
"What do you mean you're leaving? You're joking, right?" Sarah asked, apprehension coloring her tone. She was smiling weakly, hoping against hope that Harima was just kidding with her like usual. "You're just joking, right?"
Harima looked away. "It's true. Nakamura is waiting outside. Well, I'm… I'm gonna get married, and I - I did say it's only for a short –"
"What do you mean you're leaving!?" A burst of uncharacteristic anger came out of Sarah, surprising Harima. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, both from Harima and from herself. "You just got here! Do we mean nothing to you? What about Yakumo? She's been waiting for you all this time! She helped you, right?" Sarah closed her mouth shut, trying to restrain herself from pulling Harima by his ear into the house. Perhaps by revealing the truth to him, he might reconsider his decision. But she knew it would be such a desperate push, playing at his guilt instead of through his own volition. Nevertheless, Sarah, nearly in tears, tried to force the words out that should have been said a long time ago. "Yakumo has been... Yakumo has been... she's inlo-"
"Sarah, that's enough."
Harima and Sarah turned to the source of the voice and saw Yakumo standing by the opened doorway. "That's enough."
"Yakumo," Sarah said weakly.
"Imouto-san."
"I… already prepared your things. They're in your room." Yakumo said, looking away. Sarah's eyes widened. What did she mean by 'already prepared'? Had she been expecting Harima to leave all this time? What was happening?
Putting back on the pensive face he made earlier, Harima went inside the house. Sarah was staring back and forth between both her friends. She wanted badly to try to talk to them again but the heavy tension in the air was preventing her from doing anything. Harima's uncaring attitude and Yakumo's quick acceptance of it all were so uncharacteristic of them; as if they were not the same people anymore and they didn't know each other.
Harima left the house clutching a big duffel bag in each hand. "Thank you, Imouto-san. I will repay you someday."
"That's alright."
"Thank you too, Sarah." Harima quickly said and then strode out of the gate and was gone as Yakumo promptly went back inside the house. Sarah didn't know whom she should be angry with. This wasn't supposed to happen. This was all wrong.
Sarah went inside the house, her emotions in a furious whirl, and saw Yakumo halfway up the stairs. "What are you doing, Yakumo!" Sarah shouted at her. Yakumo stopped. "Will you just run away again!? Will you just let him walk away like you always do?" Sarah breathed heavily, but even after all that Yakumo didn't turn in her direction.
"You love him, right?" Sarah continued, her voice softer this time. "I know that you've been thinking about him all this time. I'm starting to worry that you might –"
"I never asked you to worry about me!" Yakumo shouted back at her. Sarah flinched at this sudden outburst. She had never heard Yakumo shout before, nevertheless at her. It was also the first time she had seen Yakumo this angry and it genuinely scared her.
Yakumo sighed and resumed climbing the stairs. "Please, Sarah. Let this go."
Sarah stared at Yakumo's slowly retreating figure. When Yakumo was out of sight, her knees suddenly became weak and buckled painfully to the floor. The shock of tonight was too much for her. Sarah tried to grit her teeth but her jaw continued to tremble as her eyes started to well up. She couldn't do anything. Powerless. Helpless.
Being a nun, she was not a stranger to helping other people in their troubles. She had heard many different kinds of confessions and had given advice on what course of action to take with the best of intentions. And yet, when the people she cared about the most needed her help, she was powerless and unable to say anything when it mattered.
If it was going to turn out like this, it would have been better if she hadn't intervened at all. In a way, this was her fault.
Harima was an engaged man so who was she to meddle? Wasn't marriage a sacred union that she held in high regard? Perhaps it was a lost cause from the very beginning when she tried to meddle in things that didn't concern her. The possibility of things not working out between them had crossed her mind, but she could never have readied herself for it to play out in reality. Now she understood why Yakumo felt a little bit off earlier. Earlier this morning and their karaoke, Sarah could feel this coldness from her. It was so subtle as if it was always there, waiting to resurface. She was her closest friend and yet she had failed to notice this when it mattered.
This entire ordeal had changed everyone, and she was partly to blame.
Sarah shakenly stood up. The house suddenly felt unfamiliar to her, like she was an unwelcome guest. After all, the owner of the house had shouted at her to mind her own business. She exited the house and started to walk towards the church, the place that she had never left in the first place, wiping her tears along the way.
x-x-x
The limousine Harima was in was so grandiose, it felt like a house all in itself. The interior was all velvet black except for the comfortable leather seats which were in beige. There was plenty of room for 6 people and for them to be able to stretch out their legs comfortably. A miniature refrigerator was stationed in one corner and it held a variety of snacks, sliced fruits, sweets, and a few beverages that ranged from mineral water to sodas and even a bottle of white wine. A tinted glass window separated the driver from the passengers and it could be lowered with a press of a button or remote. A large sunroof stretched overhead and surround-sound speakers were scattered in designated corners. There was a flat-screen TV attached to the roof that could be lowered at an angle. A corded phone was on the side that could be used to contact the driver or to make an outside call. Of course, there were power outlets available too.
Harima didn't use any of these amenities, except for the tinted window behind the driver. He didn't like Nakamura eyeing him like an eagle nor did he want to have idle chat with him.
It was now routine for him to be surrounded by this kind of luxury but he never allowed himself to indulge. Despite the space provided and the many distractions offered, he felt... alone. The only ones with him were a depressed dog and pig lying side by side at the far side of the limousine.
After handing his bags to Nakamura earlier to put into the trunk, Harima had noticed to his surprise that Shiba and Napoleon were following him. Shiba didn't bark, drool or whine for attention but simply followed when he saw him. Napoleon didn't squeal nor bump him on the leg which was odd since he could be quite hysterical sometimes.
Seeing the two act as if they were consoling each other didn't make it any easier for Harima. He knew that their new "home" would be very different. The Sawachika's mansion was a huge place but it wasn't meant for roaming pets. It had its own area for animals. He had seen it personally and it was practically a small house in a corner of the gardens. But no matter how homely it was, it was still a cage. The mansion was not somewhere any of them truly belonged.
Harima took out his new cell phone from his pocket, still not used to having such an expensive gadget. Despite knowing it was of the highest quality, it always unnerved him to move around in fear it might bend or snap in two due to how thin it was. If not breaking it, then he might drop it, or misplace it in his carelessness. His worrying was made worse since it wasn't bought with his own money so he felt indebted. Why even buy him such a model? This sophisticated device had so many features that he didn't know how to use half of them. He would be satisfied with a brick if it could make calls or text and withstand multiple accidental falls.
Vaguely, he knew the answer. When he had accidentally once shown his old phone in front of a scrutinizing audience, the expected murmurings were heard. He had been taught that it was rude to pay attention to his phone whenever someone was talking in front of him. But when his cell had vibrated, he quickly took it out without much thought. No one knew his cell phone number so if someone was texting him then it was important.
It was Yakumo who was texting him, informing him she had submitted his manuscript. It would be unlike him to not reply and thank her quickly. There was a short squabble when he asked Eri when he would return but she finally answered, just to end the bickering. He had joked about the 'throwing it in the lake' thing but apparently, Eri had taken it seriously and went ahead and did it.
It was for show again. He had seen the same model of his new phone in the hands of many rich people. When those rich peacocks had noticed his outdated phone, a "hideous flip phone" in their own words, they quickly pointed it out. Eri was keen to prevent that from happening again and gave him a phone similar to theirs when they got home.
As for his previous phone, Eri had taken it without his permission and may well have thrown it in an actual lake – or the massive pond in the mansion grounds. She gave him a fancy brand-new phone to replace it. He didn't know if he should be grateful but he couldn't hide his frustration with her decision. All his contacts were in his old phone and he hadn't bothered memorizing any of the long numbers. He had few people in his contact list anyway. The numbers were of Itoko, Mitsui from Dankosha, Sarah, Tenma (whose number was useless since she'd left but he kept it as a keepsake), and Yakumo.
The few days stretched into almost a week and Harima couldn't contact Yakumo or Sarah to tell them when he would return. To top it all off, that bastard Shawn kept testing him by asking multiple times if he really knew Eri that well even though he was engaged to her. Eri was also queried if there would be any compatibility issues with Harima. Shawn had pointed out that the two were barely seen together at school. There was even a rumor that Harima was dating someone else and why wasn't Eri doing anything about it?
It was very infuriating and Eri and Harima needed to learn each other's background to avoid getting caught. Their engagement almost became like the real deal, instead of the "only on paper" agreement Harima had first accepted. He only needed to do what Eri instructed, not constantly answer to some jerk who kept making their lives miserable! Even Eri herself was having a hard time. Both were rather reluctant to open up and share their stories with each other. It felt forced thus leading to awkward conversations between them. Argument was the norm but little by little they began to set aside their differences and got along from time to time.
However, it took a turn for the worse. Shawn, never one to simply give up, questioned Harima's suitability to be the head of the Sawachika family. 'What does he even know about business? Could he ever lead a large company? Him simply being engaged to an heiress was enough as a qualification? A company needed a capable leader, not some dreaming manga artist randomly picked up off the street.'
That was the last straw. So Harima agreed. Formalities and all, in front of many people, to announce his intention to marry the person he was currently engaged to. To hell with the witnesses that jerk had gathered to watch this act. Wasn't that what they wanted all along? Might as well go the extra mile.
That Sunday dinner, his bold declaration had opened a Pandora's box - dragging Harima into a world totally out of his reach. It was an understatement to call it the worst week of his life by far.
Books and references about economics, leadership protocols, graphs, and charts were suddenly stacked in front of him in the following days after the official proposal. He was forced to study; to learn things he didn't have an iota of interest in whatsoever. Taking a crash course on the subject and still, his very being was rejecting it. But he had no choice but to accept it, like all the things when he'd first agreed to the engagement. Acceptance slowly turned into monotony. He would only be wasting his breath from resisting it. He knew Eri was getting somewhat concerned about his behavior but he had no alternative. It had to be done. He needed to be in so many places at once, to greet people he didn't know, to learn things his mind couldn't understand the reason for, to speak in a language that he couldn't pronounce right. He really couldn't care less what he was doing or why he was doing it. He learned to accept it as it was.
After all, he had already damned himself.
He was focusing on his useless studies when Eri reminded him he needed to go get his things at the Tsukamotos' residence. He would be living at the mansion now that the engagement was going to continue. That reminder created a moment where it was as if clarity brushed his mind for the first time in what seemed like ages. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished from his mind. He would have gotten his things way earlier if he had had the time to actually do it, he had said to her. He complained he couldn't contact Yakumo or anyone else for that matter after Eri threw away his cell phone without his consent.
Like most of his problems, it was resolved very simply when Eri gave him Yakumo's number. If that was what bothering him all this time why didn't he ask her earlier? Simple solutions were usually merited with exasperated reactions but Harima no longer cared to throw a tantrum. As soon as he got the number, he texted Yakumo to say that he would return Friday evening to get his things. He must have not realized what time he had sent that message since he was up all night studying the Sawachika family tree and history. The pointlessness of this errand made him lose track of a lot of things but he'd already sent it anyway so he couldn't do anything about it anymore.
It was just a text. It was not a farewell message or anything. He could still visit from time to time to continue his manga. The only difference was he would simply be staying at the Sawachika mansion now. Yakumo seemed to understand - she did pack his things so it meant it was okay with her. But Sarah's earlier reaction surprised him. Hadn't Yakumo told her? She'd always seemed pretty calm and level-headed to him.
Despite riding in a luxury limousine that afforded the utmost comfort, Harima felt like crap. Sarah's words echoed inside his mind. Why would she ask such questions? Of course, Yakumo and Sarah meant something to him. He might feel guilty not accompanying Yakumo to the zoo and making her wait but they could still do that next time, right? It was just a one-week absence so it wouldn't have bothered Yakumo or Sarah that much. The two were doing okay before he stayed with them. They could still go back to how it used to be.
It was only a week but it felt like several months had passed.
Finally, Harima felt the limousine stop. Harima let Nakamura open the door for him as was the norm. Even the act of simply opening the door he had to leave to others. Otherwise, it would be somewhat "rude" and unbecoming of a rich person. It was these little things that made Harima not enjoy such vain privileges.
His belongings were hastily arranged to be brought up to his room. The two pets were led to their own lodgings and Harima felt a tug inside of him, but as always, he had to compose himself to not be bothered by emotion too much. True to his prediction way back, his room was at the opposite end of the mansion to Eri's. Eri must be the one who picked it given how far it was from her room. He opened his door and saw his bags by the bed. The room was very spacious but the high-quality Victorian furniture was quite big and made the room feel smaller than it looked. Arched windows lined the walls, draped by thick white curtains neatly tied to the sides. A couple of Victorian chairs surrounded a small coffee table with periodicals and journals nestled at the bottom. A chandelier hung at the center of the room with lamps by the bedside. The bathroom was reasonably large with a bathtub and shower. The toilet was the high-tech type common in Japan that could do almost everything. It was quite funny that the toilet was the only thing "Japanese" related in this room.
Harima started unpacking his belongings to make the room more his own than just another room in a huge mansion. He'd been living here for a week but it was only now that the room was feeling like his own. It was just strange and jarring waking up every day in a different environment as if he wasn't in Japan anymore. He spread his things out – first, his clothes to be put in the closet that already had clothes inside. Thinking about it, he didn't actually need most of his clothes since there were already some here but of course, that was just plain wasteful. His leather jacket has been with him through thick and thin so he was definitely going to keep wearing it despite there being many other, more expensive jackets available. He preferred to wear something comfortable over just the clothes' brand. He hoped to never be that vain; he still had his own sense of dignity.
After arranging his clothes, Harima opened his second bag. He took out the art utensils that had been with him all of his mangaka life. His fishbone pen that was gifted to him was still in good shape even if looking a little worn out. While taking out the pencils, Harima noticed there was something hard and bulky squeezed inside the bag. He took it out and noticed it was similar to the plaque he had gotten from being an honorable mention in a manga contest. Upon reading further, Harima's eyes nearly popped out when he realized this was a new award, him being the most promising mangaka of the year. He could have yelled out loud but he controlled himself to not get too excited.
Why didn't anyone tell me about this? Oh, right. No one knew about my new number.
Yakumo might have discretely placed it here so that he would discover it more privately. He mentally noted that he'd treat her the next time they'd meet which wasn't that long away. He rummaged inside the bag and saw some complimentary volumes of his manga that had the handwritten signature of the Chief Editor, congratulating him for a job well done. He felt flattered learning the chief himself had complimented his - their work. He enjoyed reading his own manga, not out of his ego, but knowing that other people took a liking to it. It made him feel proud and so he took one and began to read it.
-/-
"Well, that was easier than I expected," Hario said, swinging the new weapon around after a lengthy battle. His own sword was in its scabbard because it was ineffective against this type of foe. The new sword had completely obliterated the snowman army and the best part was they didn't regenerate back. With each felled enemy, Hario felt his swings getting stronger and stronger. The Ice Queen had done everything in her power, conjuring endless minions and a severe blizzard, but was ultimately defeated when the power of the sword proved too much to handle. She now lay flat on the ground, slowly wilting away.
"The Spirit Sword is an immaterial weapon that comes from the land itself." Ya'mo explained. "It only took back what was stolen from it. They draw upon the same magical source - one not even the most capable of mages should tap into carelessly. The Ice Queen didn't anticipate that the very energies she was stealing were what led to her defeat."
"If it wasn't for your answer to that riddle, we wouldn't have gotten this gem of a weapon."
"The fairies ask the same question to every traveler so… the answer is pretty much well known at this point." Ya'mo modestly replied. It was still strange that despite her being the one to answer the riddle, the fairies let Hario wield the weapon. For that to happen, the person should be linked to the other in some way, and it wasn't about familial ties. What had the fairy seen in the two of them that made them an exception? Perhaps they just saw that Hario was more suited to using the weapon than her. The fairies would also only appear to a person who had pure intentions to help others. Knowing that they appeared to Hario twice gave Ya'mo the assurance that Hario was indeed a genuinely good person – if not that bright.
"At least we got something out of this mess. I wonder how much this sword would fetch if we sell it." Ya'mo smiled a little at the thought of Hario planning to sell a mythical sword the fairies had given to them in good faith.
"That's not possible," she said.
"Huh?"
"It's an immaterial weapon. It will slowly disappear and return from where it came from. It is only temporarily lent to us." True to her words, Hario looked down to see that the tip of the sword had already started to dematerialize with a faint glow.
"Well, that bites but I can't really complain since it really helped us out. Let's go back. I'm sure the villagers will be happy they won't be freezing anytime soon. You know, you got to tell me where you learn all this stuff." The two started walking away but Hario felt something wrap around his leg. He turned around and saw the Ice Queen's arm stretched towards him, a glowing vine coming from her.
"HARIO!" shrieked the dying Fallen Elite. The knight slashed at the vine but was surprised to see the sword pass straight through. Ya'mo saw this and deduced the vine had another source of energy but where? The Ice Queen should be totally devoid of nature's energy as the Spirit Sword continued to dematerialize right in front of her eyes.
"If it weren't for your lover you would have been an ice statue by now!"
"What are you –" Hario struggled but the vine was wrapped tightly around his leg. A second vine latched onto Ya'mo's leg and an intricate crimson seal appeared under the two. It started glowing brighter and brighter.
"I curse you, Knight Hario. You will be the very thing the other will hate. They have helped you thus far, but now you will become the very bane of their existence!"
A Last Word spell! That's why the vine didn't get affected. It's coming from her very life source itself and she's sacrificing her life for it! Ya'mo quickly tried to conjure a counter seal to dispel the witch's incantation as Hario began to unsheathe his own sword. But just as Ya'mo struck her staff to the ground and Hario swung at the vine, a bright light engulfed them both, and then suddenly everything turned dark.
-/-
"Excuse me, Miss, but Mr. Kenji has returned. He's in his room at this moment."
Eri sighed. "So he is."
"Both of your parents will be here shortly. Would you like me to inform Mr. Kenji to get ready?"
"It's okay. I'll inform him personally. Besides, uhh, well. Never mind. I'll do it myself, that's what I'm saying."
"…Is there something wrong, Mistress?"
Eri smiled a little. "It's nothing, Nakamura," she said with a wave of her hand. "Thank you for your concern." The butler bowed and went on his way. Eri reached out for her tea but decided against it. Chamomile tea was supposed to help her relax but it did nothing at all. Both of her parents were coming by and she should be very happy about it but after all that happened this week, she couldn't get excited herself.
She was about to get married. Not to some popular, rich, pretty boy but to someone she had picked all along. That alone should make her happy. It did make her happy, previously, but it had slowly worn off when things started to unravel and gradually went wrong.
Harima, for all his blustering proposal that reminded Eri of his first mistaken confession, had started changing. Back in the firing range, Eri had noticed it but could not pinpoint what exactly. Was it because of her that he unconsciously reverts to someone she barely recognizes? At first, Harima was such a hard clay to mold, trying to resist everything that Eri tried to make him out to be. It was frustrating but a necessary step. She needed to show that they were equals, that she wouldn't shy away whenever he tried to resist her. The two of them may have never voiced this out, but their different backgrounds were what brought about this divide. Harima was sure that Eri could never understand a commoner like him. Likewise, Harima could never understand a person like Eri who had been raised with everything she needed. That was why Eri needed to drill into Harima's head that despite their differences, they could get along if both of them were willing to yield a little, but mostly Harima. A contest of wills between them. Eri was only going so far because she wanted Harima to see her as someone willing to stoop to his level.
But it didn't go that way. Far from it. Instead of molding him, she practically broke him into submission. Gone was the Harima that would argue with her about why he needed to wear a tie in a specific color. Gone was the man who would complain when they needed to travel to a place hours away but then only stay for a couple of minutes. Gone were his side comments questioning the point of having vast and huge properties if it would only tire the owners out, going back and forth between rooms. To be honest with herself, Eri did like this pragmatic side of Harima. It was a break from her usual routine that she herself grew to scrutinize. But it was all gone.
Not only was Harima becoming more passive, but he also became more resigned too. Eri sometimes didn't need to ask him what to do. He himself would do it but in a very indifferent manner. Whenever Eri asks him if everything's okay, he would just shrug and say nothing was wrong, but his demeanor said otherwise. She knew he was lying. She tried to confront him about it but Harima would quickly drop the argument saying he only did what was asked of him. Was there a problem if he kept his side of the bargain? Didn't she want this? Eri had no answer to that without contradicting herself. She wanted it but… not really. Not to this extent at least.
And so she had to watch Harima do things just because someone had told him to do so. He became emotionally distant and he began to act like her father, going to far-off places, leaving Eri behind, all in the name of taking care of her. To have Harima change into someone like her father of all people brought back bad memories. She didn't want to admit that her father was becoming neglectful and denied it. No wonder she couldn't recognize this change in Harima until it happened.
She hated this. If she knew that Harima would turn out like this, she would have never asked him to be her fiancé in the first place. But if she had done that, she would be in a situation where she would be engaged to someone far worse. If only there was a way to bring back the old Harima. Could she leave the Sawachika family so Harima wouldn't be tied to it anymore? They would still get married but without the pressures of the family name. But that would mean her parents would be affected and lose everything they'd worked for so far. They could start over, but that was no small feat by any stretch of the imagination. She would just be another girl who threw everything away just for love…. But love, for what that word meant, wasn't there. Severing ties with the family meant that Harima would have no other reason to be involved and would simply leave. The whole engagement thing would just be a meaningless farce for people to ridicule. It was never as simple as some stories make it up to be.
Eri stood up from her seat. She still has a role to fill despite her growing resentment. Harima's room was on the other side of the building and she would have to walk all the way there. Ironic that even in her own house, they were still distant, literally. But she couldn't really blame anyone for something she herself did out of impulse. She went out of her room, still thinking about how she could get things back to like they were before.
x-x-x
After the blinding light faded, Ya'mo slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was very blurry but she could sense some… presence. The Ice Queen's malevolent aura was gone meaning she wasn't here or alive anymore but she could feel something was wrong.
There was thick smoke all around her and when her vision cleared, she saw a silhouette in the midst. It was on all fours, with ears and a tail like a wolf creature. It was in a defensive stance and she could even see the raised fur. Ya'mo felt a drop of sweat drip down her temple as she clutched her staff with trembling hands.
The silhouette grew bigger and bigger as it came closer to her. Ya'mo, struck with terrible fear, couldn't move.
Finally, the smoke subsided. The silhouette turned very small and a… puppy came out.
"Ya'mo? How did you suddenly become so – WHAT THE?!" the puppy yelped and dodged the staff. It dodged another hit that would have knocked it out if it had connected.
"Woah! Ya'mo! Get a hold of yourself! It's me Hario!" the barrage of the staff ceased. Ya'mo opened her eyes that she had inadvertently closed from her staff bashing.
"H-Hario? Is – is that you?" The mage asked.
"Why of course it's me. Who else?" Ya'mo looked around but she couldn't see Hario anywhere. Instead, in front of her there was a puppy she'd never seen before. It was a small husky with black eyes and white and black fur. Its fluffy tail curled over its back and its small ears were pointed. It had the bearing of a wolf but features of a dog.
"Again, how did you suddenly become so tall?" Ya'mo stared at the dog. His mouth wasn't moving but she could tell it was Hario's voice. Telepathy. A communication between minds. But – how was this possible?
"H-Hario?"
"Yeah?"
"You… might want to look at your hands." Still confused, the dog looked at his paws, and nearly jumped out of surprise.
"Woah woah woah! What happened to me!? Why do I have a dog's leg! Not just that, how did I become a dog?!" Hario looked at every inch of his body and even tried to catch his tail in a circle. "Ya'mo! What happened!? What's going on?" he approached the mage but was surprised when she took a step away. "Ya'mo?"
"Uhh, I'm not too sure but… ummm."
"Where's that witch! She did this, didn't she?" Hario sniffed around but couldn't catch the scent of the perpetrator. His new keen sense of smell only proved that the witch was gone. This heightened sense of smell was really handy but it wasn't enough to console him of his current situation.
"Tsk. We might as well go back to the village first to check if they're alright." Hario walked away but when he turned around, he saw Ya'mo following him at a distance.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, I, uhh, I'm… scared of dogs."
-/-
"So, what you're saying, young lady, is that the Ice Queen is no more and so is this eternal winter, but Hario has been transformed into this dog here." the elder reiterated. Ya'mo nodded and looked at Hario scratching his ear.
"And you're also saying that Hario can communicate to you but not to anyone else, correct?"
"Yeah. That's right." Hario replied. Ya'mo could "hear" Hario talking and she nodded again.
"And this is all because of the witch's last spell: Last Word?"
"It is." Ya'mo said. "But a Last Word spell is usually not that long-lasting since it draws very little energy from its dying user. The Ice Queen is gone so the spell should be gone too at this point."
"Not quite." The elder objected to Ya'mo surprise. "I know the difference between mages and witches. And the difference is how they use their spells. The latter tend to twist a spell that is otherwise harmless. I've seen this one before. This is a modified spell of an existing one: a Last Curse to be exact." The old man took a breath and continued.
"In my youth, suspected witches were hunted down no matter if they were innocent or not. To my great sorrow, I do not know how many lives had been unrightfully condemned in the hunt. When in front of the gallows, the accused would curse everyone in front of them with such vigor that their words still lingered on after their deaths. This gave rise to this forbidden spell, that even after death, their words still rang true. Witches know there is nothing sweeter than revenge enacted out even from the afterlife. The effect depends on what words were uttered during the curse and they vary greatly. Please recall the words of the Ice Queen, child."
'You will be the very thing the other will hate. They have helped you thus far, but now you will become the very bane of their existence!'
"Do they mean anything to you?"
Ya'mo sighed. "She cursed Hario to be the embodiment of one of my greatest fears."
"And that fear is…a fear of… puppies?" Hario asked. Unfortunately, nobody could hear his quip.
"But the spell is incomplete," continued Ya'mo. "I managed to interrupt it halfway and the Spirit Sword, whatever energy it had left, removed the malevolence in it."
"The spell still went through. And through you, Hario turned into a harmless dog." The elder continued.
"Okay. Now that we've figured that out, can we figure out how I un-become one?" Hario asked.
"That is not a simple task to do." Ya'mo answered, facing Hario. "I cannot simply undo the curse since it is already done. To turn you into a human again, you need a transmogrification spell."
"Transmo- what?"
"I… am not capable of such magic." Ya'mo admitted. "It really is out of my reach, to alter form, especially of a living being."
"You mean to tell me I'm going to be a dog forever?!"
"There is a way if I recall." Ya'mo and Hario turned to the old man. "The huge risk of transmogrification is the lack of basis of the intended form. Hario is originally human so another spell can trace it and revert him back to what he once was. Go to the Citadel, the Archive City, for perhaps they might have such spell at their disposal. This is a very rare occurrence so they would probably like to look into it and help out. I have a colleague there who catalogs spells used by mages and witches. It's in the far west so you have a journey ahead of you if you do choose to go. Stay here for as long as you like. That is the only thing we villagers can give to someone who has saved us twice now."
Ya'mo nodded out of thanks but Hario spoke out, "Is there any food? I smell something delicious."
"I can tell Hario is hungry." The elder said, amused at the dog sniffing away. "Very well, you two stay here. We'll get you two something to eat." He stood up and headed for the door.
"Oh, which reminds me," continued the elder. "Young lady, the spell is tied to you so don't get too far from Hario or else he'll slowly grow rabid. But with the way you two have been going so far, that shouldn't be too hard." The elder left the room, leaving Ya'mo speechless and Hario tilting his head in confusion.
x-x-x
Harima skimmed the next few chapters. It was an adventure and the two characters had to meet some people along the way. The plot point that they needed to constantly be close to each other created a new topic in and of itself. They would have to trek a long way so fillers were in order.
Although Hario wasn't that bothered about his fame, the news that Hario had turned into a dog would absolutely destroy his reputation of being a knight. Ya'mo promised to never reveal his secret but at the very first opportunity she nearly exposed it anyway when a bunch of children fawned over her "cute dog". She stopped halfway, and pronounced his name as "Haru", thus Haru the wolf-dog was born. It was a running gag that Hario would hate being called a dog, and repeatedly insist he's a wolf instead. In combat, his sword would materialize in his mouth sideways and his features would grow rabid depending on his emotions. This didn't help Ya'mo's phobia of dogs and he needed to watch what he was doing around her. She kept getting spooked whenever Hario approached her, and his canine tendency to howl and bark didn't make it any easier. Gradually, Hario grudgingly accepted his drastic change and Ya'mo became more accepting of dogs. In one short chapter, they needed to raise some money for the journey so Hario thought of a brilliant plan of holding a live trick show in the city square. Ya'mo, the mage that she was, would instruct him to do some parlor tricks with a little bit of magic for effects. It was simple and yet very effective, making even Ya'mo begin to see dogs in a different light.
This turning point of his character change wasn't originally Harima's idea. He wanted to feature a dog since Mr. Gotou was apparently a dog lover but he didn't anticipate Yakumo suggesting his character to be turned into one. Coming from anyone else, Harima would be quite offended but it was from Yakumo so he considered it first. As Yakumo reasoned, if Mr. Gotou liked dogs, then Hario turning into one would make the editor like him too. Picking up a random dog from the street would seem forced and the thought of later letting it go felt depressing for some reason. This way, they had material for fillers and the chance to flesh out their characters some more.
Reading these chapters gave Harima a sense of accomplishment. He began to notice how much better it was having an extra pair of eyes to read his manga and input new ideas, rather than him trying to face his troubles all by his lonesome. It was a counterbalance. Now he could see why Yakumo had first suggested that one of his characters needed someone to confide in. He couldn't imagine creating this story by himself. The award he was given wasn't entirely all his – it belonged to the both of them.
Realizing that he wasn't yet done unpacking, Harima set the manga down on the bed and went to his bag. Upon rummaging, he felt a small box tucked away. It was odd that he never noticed this one before. Perhaps the sight of his award blinded him to everything else. He took the box, opened it and saw it had a slice of cake inside.
Did Nakamura put this in here as a snack? Pretty generous of him.
Harima took the small fork included in the box and took a bite.
Wait a minute. This tastes very familiar. Harima took another bite and what first came to mind was his first award of honorable mention last year. This was the same cake that Tenma had given him as congratulations. He might have messed up the other cakes with his haste and stressed himself out trying to right them, but all of that disappeared when he ate the cake from Tenma. Never had a cake tasted so sweet and delicious.
But Tenma wasn't here anymore. He kept taking bites out of the cake to help him remember. How did this cake get in here? His eyes turned to his new award. No one could have possibly have known he had won something except for –
His fork clanked against the dish, alerting Harima that he had already finished it all up. Surely the reason why the cake seemed so special was because of Tenma, but he was still confused. The taste lingered in his mouth and reminded him how happy he was back then. That someone acknowledged him and gave him something to be happy about. That someone knew he accomplished something.
He remembered that he stayed up all night drawing a 120-page manga from being inspired by Tenma. The sugar rush from eating a whole cake might have also helped keep him awake enough to finish the whole thing.
In truth, what inspired him was…
Harima's eyes widened. Did… did Yakumo give me this cake? Why would she? If so, then the cake from last year –
The inspiration that drove him to draw back then was all founded on a misunderstanding. The same could be said for the other volumes of his manga. If it weren't for her, his manga wouldn't have been anywhere near this good. Time and again her involvement had always saved his manga and he had grown to acknowledge it. Even repay her if he could.
But knowing these things now, he knew any compensation could never come close to being enough. Sarah was right. Yakumo did help him and what did he do in return? Turn his back on them like a man running away from his troubles? It seemed foolish to him now to think he could ever "repay her" someday.
He did try though, to be fair. Doing things that no money could buy. Experiencing things that no movie could give. Sharing stories that no mere conversation could do. The sort of things that only required time, effort, and trust – from a man who has nothing to give at all
With this newfound inspiration and a full belly, Harima arranged his drawing utensils on the desk, eager to finally continue his manga. There was a one-week break at the publisher's and that was why he could accept Eri's request to extend "a few days" into a whole week. He was thankful for having something to turn to after all the tedious work he had to do this week. Without it, he might go crazy from all the stress. He was about to pick up his fishbone pen when he heard a knock on the door.
"Whiskers? You there?"
Harima sighed. "I'm here. Come in." Eri opened the door and walked inside. "You know," continued Harima, "this is your house. You don't have to knock."
"It's called common courtesy," Eri replied matter-of-factly. "And I don't want a repeat of walking in on someone doing questionable things." Harima scowled, remembering the time when Eri walked in on him while he was looking for his swimming trunks during their trip to the beach a year ago.
"Fine. Whatever. I'm just arranging my things here. It's been quite a while since I've used them." Harima answered while starting to draw.
Eri looked at the art utensils strewn on the desk. "You'll use them, as in, right now?"
"Yeah. Even a warmup sketch might do the trick when I'm not thinking of a story yet."
"You are aware that we have other things to do?"
Right when I am in the mood to draw. "I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. I returned quite early so I think there's still some time." Arguing while drawing wasn't a good combination, Harima realized as he erased his quick sketch with a frown.
"Way earlier than I expected. What happened there?"
"Oh, Yakumo already prepared my things so I pretty much dropped by, grabbed my things and left." Eri raised an eyebrow.
"How awful of you. You didn't even say goodbye or anything?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not going away. I'll just be staying here instead of over there now." Eri sighed heavily. It seemed Harima had still not realized why he brought his things here.
"I hate to break it to you but that's not entirely correct."
"What do you mean?"
"You will be staying here, and also be going away." Harima frowned, not liking Eri being this cryptic.
"How can I stay here if I'm going away? How does that make sense?"
"I thought you now know how my father works. Yes, you'll be staying here and that's why I let you get your things. It will be questioned if your things are in someone else's house. With your things here, we can now truly say that you're staying here, but you will still be going away if work demands it. And work demands it a lot."
"It's not like this is the first time I've been away."
"And… you might not see them again for a long time." Harima stopped drawing abruptly, the pencil skidding over the paper and tearing it.
"For a long time? If you're trying to make me laugh, it's not funny."
"Again, have I ever joked with you before?" Eri replied with an edge to her voice. "This isn't some vacation. You'll be going abroad if need be. You have to prioritize this above all else – even if it meant canceling your own schedule. It doesn't tailor to what you want."
"Hold on a second! Going abroad? Canceling my schedule? I never agreed to this!"
"Oh yes, you did! Once you officially declared to be my fiancé, you made that decision. I thought you already knew this."
Harima looked away and clenched his fists. That wasn't what he intended. He just wanted to silence those people who kept pestering him with repetitive questions day in, day out! He signed to an engagement, not to his way of life!
"And with it, you have to cancel your manga."
Harima felt like his heart had stopped.
"I know you've been working hard on it but your new schedule won't allow a side project. You have to put that aside for now until work gives you time, but I can't guarantee anything and it's highly unlikely. We can just say you have found a new work that is more lucrative than your manga career. It happens a lot, you know."
Harima stood up and briskly walked towards the window to get his mind moving. This surprised Eri a little but she allowed him to take his time to process the news. A little voice within her cursed herself for her tactless approach to such matters. It was this blunt side of hers that turned any conversation into an argument. Harima wasn't taking this well, as she expected, but she was fulfilling her role. No hammer should be more fragile than its target so she ought to prepare him for what was ahead.
Still, looking at him like this, it seemed it wasn't what was happening. If strong things didn't bend, they broke instead.
Deciding to give him space for now, Eri looked around and saw a few volumes of manga on the bed. She knew Harima was a manga artist but she never did read any of his works except for one, not knowing he had made it. It was quite a surprise to find out that he was a mangaka of all things. The story proper was just a clichéd tale of a knight saving a princess. Seriously, who does that in this day and age? It was a very simplified relationship of stereotypes that was rife with tropes. But she could tell it was full of… heart. A pure old-fashioned love, although fantastical, that everyone wanted in their life at some point. It was dreamy and romantic as Tenma had pointed out. Eri could see promise, but because she wasn't that much into romance it didn't appeal to her much.
Eri took one volume and flipped it open. Yep. Harima was undoubtedly still the main character. What ego did he have to include his very own image as a character? And as the main one too! He was just making a character out of himself but better in all respects. She could tell this story would portray his character to be perfect at what he does and liked by many.
While flipping through the pages, something caught her eye. She was surprised to see someone who looked very familiar. Eri concentrated and realized she knew this witch character. She could never forget the witch costume that suddenly popped up during the play last year. Her personality, the way she talks, her looks, it was identical. Even those little hints of interest were included too! To top it off, this person was alongside Harima's character most of the time! It would only take a few chapters to see that the story was pairing her to the main character, no matter how subtle it was. This was more than a slap to her face, it was an outright assault on her whole person.
"What the hell is this, Harima?" Eri asked indignantly, showing the cursed pages to Harima even though his back was facing her. "Why is she here in your manga? She's just your assistant so what is she doing here?"
Harima tensed up. "It's not your business," he answered flatly. "My manga is for everyone to read so it's not like I'm trying to hide it - not that I expect you to understand."
"Oh, I understand plenty. So that's why you're not letting me review your manga. You two have something special going on as it has always been. Can't say I'm surprised for her to do something so underhanded." Harima's eyes sharpened.
Eri quickly flung the book back on the bed or else she might rip it apart. "So, that's it, huh?" she said in a mocking tone. "I get it now. I was wrong to even think she has a modicum of decency when in fact she was just this secretive, sly, shallow, pathetic excuse of a tramp-"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY ANYTHING BAD AGAINST HER!" Harima snapped. Eri was startled by his intensity. "I don't care if we are in your house, with all your butlers and maids, but if you keep insulting her like this, I'll make sure you'll regret it!"
Harima was breathing heavily. He didn't know why was he so angry all of a sudden but those words struck a nerve in him. How dare she? Who was she to judge a person she didn't know well? Compared to him, Eri didn't know anything about her so how could she speak so rashly like that?
This was the only time he was genuinely so angry at something Eri had done. She could make him bald multiple times, tear his manga in front of him, treat him like a slave to do her bidding, hurt him physically with kicks and slaps - but this?
She had gone too far.
The fury bled away from him and he took a deep breath. He had already made up his decision given how little time he had but this one pushed him a little too far.
Harima looked directly at Eri. "Listen, Eri." Eri was surprised to hear him use her name, not her "rich girl" moniker. "When I first agreed to help you with this engagement thing, I really did mean it. To think about it, I already accepted it without hearing it first, what it really meant. Now I can see what I have gotten myself into. You made me see that there are other aspects aside from just being wealthy.
"I now see the struggles; the sacrifices you have to make in order to maintain your status – even at the expense of your own health and loved ones. If you're missing out on all of that, can you really say that you're rich? I'm also quite terrible at it if you're not aware. They may like me as a person but deep down they would never get around my inexperience and incompetence. I'm very sure that I'll screw up badly one day and they're waiting for it. That's why I can say that this isn't for me.
"You can call me ungrateful. Hell, call me whatever you want. But there is a point where I can only give and take so much. But I want to say thank you for everything, Eri. I didn't deserve any of this, especially your attention. I've gotten to know you more than I would have liked. I get to see that you're much more than what I initially thought of you. You are more than this, Eri. You don't deserve to be locked into an empty engagement with nothing else to say. We always have a choice and that's why I'm saying this now:
"I don't want to do this anymore. That's my final decision." Harima said with resoluteness and turned to walk away.
Eri, still in shock from hearing Harima stand up for himself for the first time in what seemed like ages ago, wanted to physically grab Harima to stop him from walking away. However, she had finally seen that glimpse of the old Harima she had loved dearly. If him staying here meant that he would be that cold, unfeeling person, then she was willing to let him go and be himself – as much as it pained her. Watching him stand up for himself gave her a strange bit of relief despite the roiling emotion within her. The memory of her running away from her first engagement last year, and telling her mother, came to mind.
'Mother, is this how you felt back then?'
"Oh, before I leave," Harima suddenly spoke, startling Eri out of her thoughts. "I would like to say that that strange foreigner Max was the one who begged me into this whole engagement thing. He would have killed himself if it meant sparing you a life tied to Shawn. Maybe you should focus your attention elsewhere. I thought I already told you that you should give up on me. Once again, goodbye and thank you for everything, Eri."
Eri watched Harima walk out of the room. Her emotions should be in an uproar right now as her upcoming marriage to a man she had grown to love, just crumbled apart in one fell swoop. She should have watched her words but his decision would have still happened regardless. Harima had been at his utmost limit, always on the edge, waiting for something to snap and drag him back. It was a bittersweet feeling seeing him finally treat her as an equal by using her name for once. What still lingered on in Eri's mind was Harima's mention of Max.
'Max? That scarfaced idiot cared for someone? As if. It's not like he had ever helped someone else in his life before.
Eri walked outside the room, thinking of a way to explain to her parents that the engagement was off. And she was feeling a little relieved about it, her shoulders feeling lighter than they had been for the first time in ages.
x-x-x
At last. He had finally said it. He was finally free from the puppet strings that bound him to this stifling high-class world, forcing him to do things that he didn't want to. Harima continued to walk in a hurry. This place was suffocating him despite its size. All he wanted was to get out of here and get back to his life. No prying eyes carefully watching his steps. No one to vainly impress how "worthy" he was. No more trying to be a man that he wasn't. He was so tired of it all.
Harima's feet had already carried him outside the mansion but yet he still kept walking. He didn't know where he was going but he knew he didn't want to be in this place any second longer. The lights from the lampposts, cars, and buildings were blending in his vision as he continued to walk. He missed this kind of freedom, to go outside without anyone reprimanding him. So he walked, and walked, and walked, trying to shed the persona that he had artificially built around himself
Harima didn't know how much time had passed but at last, he found himself standing in a very familiar street, in front of his previous home. To his surprise, it wasn't Itoko's apartment, but the Tsukamoto's residence. It was his… home. This was where he found solace, that feeling of peace that he had finally discovered. Harima tried to take a step towards the house but couldn't, remembering what took place here earlier. Sarah's words questioning why he would leave, why he was such an ungrateful person to just walk away as if they mean nothing to him. What would he say now? That everything was back to normal? That he was just joking so they should welcome him back again? He left on his own accord and simply turning up on their doorstep wouldn't suddenly fix that.
Harima turned around and started walking again, leaving the place that he once called home.
x-x-x
Sitting on the playground swing in the middle of the night, Harima was again all alone. This wasn't the first time he had been here. It was when he felt so hopeless after learning that the great Jou Nijou who he had admired as a manga artist, was actually Karasuma. There was simply no chance for him to win Tenma's heart through manga if his competition was Jou Nijou of all people. That was when he felt so lost, his dream didn't make sense anymore. Why fight a losing war? Why was fate so hard on him that even on that lousy day, the heavens cried and rained on his sad parade?
Back in the same predicament, he realized he had now thrown away two lifelines that had kept him afloat these past few months. The first being Eri. No more umbrellas to shelter him from the rain. No more slaps to awaken him to reality. He had walked away from an engagement that anyone else would dive into with no questions asked. And then the second - he'd abandoned a house that he had found to be the ideal place for him to live in. What he really missed this past week were all the little nuances that he had grown accustomed to. He would have preferred cleaning the Sawachika mansion over reading books that he couldn't understand. It frustrated him that he couldn't do these kinds of things anymore but bottled it up inside. Deep inside, and even now, he was screaming for the life that he knew was more to his liking.
I just want to go back to how it used to be!
I want to do chores around the house. To wash the dishes, do laundry, sweep the floor, water the plants, and even go back to that creepy storage room!
I miss feeding Shiba multiple times a day and cleaning up the messes he created.
I miss the times when I accidentally step on Iori's tail and be scratched in retaliation.
I miss Napoleon frantically running around the house whenever I cook something that has pork in it.
I miss visiting my animal friends to feel like I can freely be myself. I even miss Pyotr always taking off my headband.
I miss hearing Sarah's awfully timed jokes at my expense. She was always so upbeat and positive even if I don't fall for her tricks.
I want to go back to drawing manga! I miss thinking up adventures that take me away from reality for a while. I can finally be free to create a world of my liking. Go on quests that would take me all over the world, experience things reality can't afford me. To freely express my feelings when the universe always tries to thwart my attempts.
Most of all -
I really miss working together...
I miss her confused look whenever I think of something too far-fetched for the story.
I miss her sudden blush whenever I compliment her awesome ideas and insights.
I miss her small smile whenever I thank her. Even if my simple words of gratitude will never be enough for everything she has done.
I miss her sincere apologies when it was actually my fault to begin with.
I miss her sweet laugh, her genuine smile, her warm concern, her gentle voice, her comforting presence...
"I just want to be with -!"
His line of thinking screeched to a halt. For a second, Harima had to catch his breath to realize what he was saying. His heart was beating faster, trying to comprehend what he just did. It all felt very foreign to him, like he had found himself speaking in Mandarin all of a sudden.
It didn't make any sense. He tried to form the words again but they became stuck in his throat. Did it really come from him at all?
Before, he had so many visions of the future being with Tenma. Most of the time, it would lull him to a world where only the two of them existed. Nothing else mattered in this small world they lived in. Whatever world it was, he would accept it as long as she was there. Rich or poor, fantasy or not, with alien UFOs around or not, in the Stone age with trampling mammoths or not; he would accept it. As long as Tenma was there, he was happy.
But what was this he said just now?
Did he really consider replacing Tenma who he had loved with all his heart? The one he had only loved in his whole pathetic life? More alarmingly, he was replacing her with none other than...
...Tenma's sister?
It sounded absurd, ridiculous, and way too unbelievable.
But the more he thought about it, the more things started to unravel in front of him. Tenma didn't dump him. He was never given a chance for the two of them to become an item. There was never even a "them" to begin with. It had always been Tenma and Karasuma. He knew this.
Even before Tenma's departure, it was like this. It had been this way from the start until the end. He never really had a chance to be with her. Would she suddenly forget Karasuma if he declared his love to her? If, from the start, he was honest with himself and confessed to her, would she really fall for a man like him? He didn't know what Karasuma had that he didn't, but if it's something only Tenma knows, then the war was lost from the beginning.
How many battles did he engage in only for him to think he had won? How many misunderstandings does it take for him to still continue, hoping it would turn for the better next time around? How many awkward situations and scenarios does he have to be in to realize he was fighting for something he couldn't possibly have?
He had been utterly defeated, and yet, when the enemy surrendered and walked away, he couldn't take it.
He couldn't take his surrender in that manner, being given the prize on a silver platter. And so, he went all in, bet everything his enemy had given him, in order to show him that on a level playing field, he could win over him. He was full of contradictions. He tried to win a losing game but when he was about to win, he tried to lose - and he ultimately did.
He was so defeated. Suicidal, even.
But then...
If he and Tenma were never meant to be, then...
Harima sighed heavily and closed his eyes in resignation. The inevitable conclusion refused to sink into his mind, as much as he thought of it. He was still hurt after all this time and he felt he was betraying his love to Tenma by looking at other girls, more so to her sister. It was a cheap shot, a shortcut, to heal his damaged heart.
He really liked Yakumo. He truly did. She was sweet, caring, and a kind girl. Talented in almost everything she put her mind into and a perfect girl to any boy. Even he could not deny she was physically beautiful. She was his best friend, and she was the only person who he confided in. He would do everything for her like a brother would look out for his sister. He had high hopes for her: to get into a good college and find a rewarding job, have great friends, and a suitable man by her side.
But he couldn't take the extra leap to be that man. He was the last candidate he could think of and she deserved better. Far, far better. As for him, he could only give her a hesitant hand of friendship, which he had stolidly refused to give out like handouts. He thought that it might have been the same case with her. He became friends with her because he saw she could help him out. Without it, there was no other basis he could think of for how they could become friends. There was no common ground they shared with each other. They both love animals? Anyone with a shred of moral fiber should be able to like animals so it wasn't an exclusive trait to have.
Was it the manga that allowed their friendship to grow? Yakumo should have been more focused on other things instead of helping him with his manga. She could be whatever she wanted, so many opportunities she could take. Unlike him, who had none to offer. But he had led her onto a path she wasn't destined for.
It was a mistake, then, to involve her in his manga. What had gotten into him, to drag someone like her into his hobby? Granted, she had helped him tremendously and he was always thankful for it, but that was still no excuse for him to take up her free time. His manga was his struggle alone but now that Tenma was gone, why was he still doing it? Yakumo should be doing other activities more meaningful instead of helping him.
Now that he thought about it, there was no helping him after all. He was a lost cause from the very beginning. Since he first grabbed a pencil and paper and had failed his prime objective to win Tenma's heart, what was the point of all of this?
Maybe it hadn't been wrong joining that fishing boat before. His manga had been an escape to fantasy but thinking about it, that was what he really needed: an actual escape and not something done through imaginary means. If reality was cruel then a lie was kindness. He couldn't take both of that anymore. It was time to leave it all behind. He had to discard everything and everyone dear to him. Over time, they should forget all about him too. He'll be a vagabond of the road, wiping his past clean and starting anew.
Shuuji and Itoko? They could move on easily. They were used to not hearing from him for months at a time. The chief editor would definitely hunt him down but he had had enough of people demanding something from him when sometimes he just didn't have what they wanted. He was his own master now and he didn't want to be chained to any place, people or memories anymore. It was as if his old self was coming back. Yes. The only thing he couldn't escape from was himself and it was foolish to think that he had tried resisting it so much, vainly hoping it would work out for the better eventually.
This city had nothing left for him now.
His mind was set.
…All he had to do was to return to Eri for his things and Napoleon and to Yakumo for his bike. It was ridiculous he had to face them first before doing his disappearing act.
It's not like I'll change my mind after seeing them, he thought, already feeling detached.
Still sitting hunched over in his ruminations, Harima heard a voice not far away from him, returning him to reality. "So this is what you've been doing..." the voice said indignantly. Harima looked up. There was a man a few meters away, walking towards him.
"Hmph?" Harima grunted. "Who are you?"
No answer.
"Tsk. Here pal, if you want a fight, I'll schedule you in for tomorrow. I'm not in the mood to do anything right now." He usually would have been sizing this man up to see if he was a potential threat, but his mind was cobwebbed by so many things that he didn't care anymore.
The footsteps were getting louder meaning the man was getting closer. Irritated by this rude guest, Harima raised his head to tell the man to leave, straight to his face. But the first thing he saw when he looked up was a fist hitting him squarely between the eyes. The punch blasted him out of the swing seat and into a backward roll on the ground. He landed ingloriously on his back, his hand instinctively reaching up to his face. He felt he hadn't ever been hit that hard before, not even from Hanai. Forcing his throbbing head to cooperate, he looked up at the offending man.
"It's true, huh? You really do have a thick skull. You hurt my hand." The man shook his right hand sideways as if he touched something disgusting.
The man had straight raven hair flowing freely down to the middle of his neck. Messy bangs fell over his forehead, ending at the top of his eyes. He was wearing a formal black blazer buttoned low, a light pinstripe shirt visible underneath from the blazer's sleeves and chest. The open collar of the shirt revealed a crescent-moon necklace. Black shoes and crisp-cut dark pants completed his outfit, making him seem dressed for a formal occasion. His tone, however, was harsh and crude, dispelling any notion of formality. His face was in a scowl and there was fire in his eyes. "I expected more from you." The raven-haired man said bitterly. "To see you like this. You look pathetic."
"What the hell's your problem!" Harima shouted, seeing red in his vision.
"For so long, I've been itching to beat the sense out of you." The man raised both his hands up to eye level and curled them into fists, and then smirked. "Oh, nice to meet you. The name's Iori."
Author's Corner: It's been SO LONG since I've updated this story! I'm very sorry it took months and honestly, back then I thought I could finish this before Christmas. Things came up one at a time so I had to shelf the story multiple times. To make up for it, this chapter has surpassed the previous word count by a mile! I didn't plan this to be two chapters in one and still, look at that wall of text above XD I have to cram pretty much a whole chunk of the plot here so pardon me if it does look bloated.
The story only has a few chapters left by my estimate. Not sure if they'll be as long as this chapter though. I have to say that perhaps Harima's POV is the one I like to write about the most. Probably because he sees things as they are and we both write stories :b. The puppy that was in his manga is inspired by Sif from Dark Souls and his looks resemble Kuroko's dog from Kuroko no Basket. I just wanted to throw it out there. :D Oh, for visual reference of Iori here, take a look at the bonus chapter by the end of Volume 21. It's all there. He's more than meets the eye and the series has shown he is not your ordinary house cat.
Thanks again to Sumodog for their services especially their great patience. It's quite crazy that it's more than a year since I have a beta reader. Now that's what I call loyalty.
Anyway, thanks for reading and see you in the next chapter!