*pant...pant...pant
"...".
I arrived on the floor where I saw her but she was not there.
"Where is she ?".
Ugh, okay this is getting troublesome. Where I can find her?
"Naegi ?".
"Gaah?!" I shouted.
I turned around and saw Mukuro stood in front of me.
"Are you okay? You seem...pale".
"Oh, it's you Mukuro. Fuuuh, please don't surprise me like that".
"I'm just calling your name" she sounded upset.
Sure, you just called my name but of course I would surprised if you suddenly showed up in behind.
"Um, I'm sorry. I think I'm overreacting a bit".
"It's okay. Um, do you need some help ?".
"Well, the truth is yes but how did you know?".
"...".
"Mukuro ?".
"I saw you ran around the school before and now it seems that you need some help so...well, I think I can help you" she said while looking other way.
"Wow how lucky, then I'll gladly accept your help" I said while smiling.
"...".
"Ng ?".
"So you're looking for Maizono, right ?".
"Yeah, w..w...wait...I know it's weird to ask same question but how did you know?".
"Maizono told me".
"Um, she told you?" I got confused.
"I mean she told me that you would accompany her after school, so I guess you're looking for her".
"Oh, well...yeah, so do you know where is she ?".
"Yeah, I saw her before went down here".
"So she's upstairs".
"Yes".
"Okay, thanks Mukuro, you're really helpful".
"Um...It's nothing" she said while looking other way.
Ng, Did she hate me? I didn't know why but it seemed that she tried to not looking at me.
"...".
Mukuro, Mukuro Ikusaba. She was the older twin sister of Junko Enoshima. Her title was Super High School Level Soldier and just like her sister, at the same time she got title Super High School Level Despair. There was no much information about her despite being a soldier in the elite mercenary group Fenrir at young age and never received a single injury on the battlefield. Even I met her in killing game, I didn't know much about her because she disguised herself as Enoshima.
"...".
I looked at her. She was different with Mukuro I know. Compared to when she became Enoshima, It seemed that she was stoic, shy, and mysterious. So this was her real appearance.
"Naegi".
"Yeah, what is it ?".
"Can you stop staring at me ?".
"Oh sorry, I...I don't realize that I'm staring at you" I said in panic.
"Um, actually...".
"Actually ?".
"Never mind, by the way don't you think you should go right now ?".
"Damn, you're right. Thanks for your help Mukuro".
I started to run but then I stopped and turned back to Mukuro.
"Mukuro".
"Ng ?".
"I'm sorry if this is sound weird to you but do you love your sister so much ?".
"...".
"...".
"Yes".
"So will you do anything for her ?".
"Of course".
"Can you tell me your reason ?".
"...".
"...".
"Sorry, Naegi. I can't tell you".
"Oh, it's okay".
"Why you ask ?".
"Well, I'm curious, it's like you two have strong and unique bond".
"...".
"I have sister too but it seems that she hate me haha".
"It's not like that".
"Ng ?".
"It's not like she hate you, you're just don't realize her feeling and it's same with everyone that close to you".
"Um, sorry I don't understand what are you talking about".
"Me neither".
"Pfft".
"Ng ?".
"Hahahaha".
"..." she looked confused.
"Well, you're really weird Mukuro, I don't know that talk to you would be this interesting".
"Interesting ?".
"Yeah, It seems that you're scary but you're kind person after all".
"No...".
"...".
"I'm not kind, you don't know what i did until now".
"Do you mean about killing people ?".
"..." she looked surprised.
"Well, I know and it can't be helped, you're soldier after all. I'm sure you did that because that was order".
"That's...".
"So you want to say that you're enjoying to kill people ?".
"...".
"Mukuro ?".
"No...".
"Yeah, that's right. You're just happen to be born that way but that doesn't mean that you can't change. That's your past and now you're here. You can do something new".
"It's easy for you to say that".
"Well, you're right but that's why i'm here".
"...".
"I'm here because I want to help my friends, so they can enjoy their life. Not in bad way of course".
"But that's...".
"Impossible ?".
"Yeah. Some people born to enjoy and good at doing bad things".
"You're right but I believe that even those people can become better people".
"How ?".
"I don't know but I'm sure there is a way for that".
"You seem optimistic".
"Well, After all, my only redeeming quality is my optimism" I said with smile.
She chuckled. Then, She gasped and suddenly she covered her mouth with her hands.
"What's wrong ?".
"No...I'm sorry".
"You don't need to hide your laugh. There is nothing wrong with that. The truth is, I like to see my friends laugh, well in good way of course" I said with smile.
"...".
She put down her hands.
"Well, Mukuro can I ask you something ?".
"..." she nodded.
"Do you have anything that you want to do ?".
"...".
"...".
"Nothing. there is no special thing i want. Up until now i'm just living like that"
"How about search it ?".
"Search it ?".
"Yeah, I'm sure if you search it then you will find something special that you want".
"...".
"And when you found it, make sure to tell me and others. We'll gladly to support you".
"...".
"...".
"The truth is...".
"Ng ?".
"Never mind. I'll make sure to tell you when i find it".
"Good, I'll be waiting for that. Okay, I think that I should go now, oh...by the way i think that smile suits you well, so try to smile more from now on okay" I said with smile.
"Just go Naegi" she said while looking other way.
"See you later".
Hm, I wondered if I made her mad but well, at least I got picture about Mukuro. It seemed that she had sister complex, I didn't know the reason but I assumed that she still thought, only Enoshima who she can trusted.
I can't imagine how she felt at that time, when Enoshima betrayed her.
"...".
In killing game, I knew that she was like different person, I had spent time with her and I felt something wrong on her but I didn't realize it.
"If only I realize it and save her, I feel that everyone would survive. So is Maizono, if only I quickly realize...".
I bit my lips.
"No time for regrets. I'm here now and I've to realize that dream".
Yeah, dream where all of my friends are survive.
"Ng".
When I arrived, I saw someone.
"Oh hai Naegi" Asahina said.
"Hai Asahina, hai Ogami".
"Naegi, Maizono is looking for you, where have you been ?".
"Well, the truth is, I'm also looking for her. Do you know where is she now ?".
"She is in the lobby on the top floor, you should meet her immediately Naegi" Ogami said.
"Okay thanks".
"Make sure you apologize Naegi" Asahina said.
"Of course".
I ran and when I arrived in lobby, I saw her sat alone. I immediately came over her.
"Maizono".
"...".
She looked at me and seemed displeased.
"Maizono ?".
"Oh, come here Naegi" she said with smile.
"Ng ?".
"Look, before I came here, I met with Asahina and Ogami, then they gave me book that i requested".
"Hm...Mastering martial arts in 3 step ?".
"Yup, the content is not much and simple to understand, even for me".
"Ho...so why you need it?".
"Um, well, you said that you wanted to become strong or at least knew some self defence. So I asked them if i can get some book so you can use it".
"Huh? I said that?".
"Yeah, you told me, did you forget it ?" she asked curiously.
"Um, well, of course I remember haha".
"..." she looked at me suspiciously.
"Hm...so, did you read it ?".
"Yes, of course".
"Well, what's the first step ?".
"Training".
"Ng, how about the second step ?".
"Training".
"Don't tell me the third step is training as well".
"Wrong" she said with smile.
"Huh? So, what's the third step ?".
"Find and protect your precious person".
"Well, that's deep".
"Yeah and I feel that the third step is the most reasonable".
"Ng, it's like you say second and first are not reasonable".
"Hm, of course, actually i think that you don't need to train for protecting your precious person".
"Huh ?".
"I mean there are many ways to protect your precious person".
"Well, I know but this book is about martial arts after all".
"Oh you right, I forget about that" she said while chuckling.
She looked happy and fine, but just as Asahina said, I should apologize. I didn't know the usual place she meant and made her wait. Sure she was upset because she had to wait for a long time. But...
"...".
...There are things more important than that and I have to apologize.
"...".
Maizono, Sayaka Maizono. She was the lead singer of a popular girl group in Japan and that made her got title Super High School Level Idol. Although she has cheerful, sweet, and supporting personality, she easily got panic when it comes to her band members.
"...".
In killing game, she was being killed after failed to kill Leon. She did it because she was desperate and couldn't stand the situation.
If only I realized it, if only I could be more sensitive, if only I were stronger….
I could stop her and saved her. She did something that she shouldn't, but that was because I didn't realize it. She wanted to use me but in the end she was still protecting me, she left message for protected me. Even she was dead, the fact that she left evidence which saved me was real. She was not supposed to die, and because I was careless she was dead. I should apologize for letting her did that and made her killed.
"Um….".
"It's okay, Naegi".
"Huh ?".
"You don't need to worry, I'll not angry just because I have to wait for a long time, it can't be helped because you don't know the place".
"What? Um...well, sure thanks but-".
"That's okay too, Naegi" she said with smile.
"Huh ?"
"You don't need to apologize, if I do something, it's my responsibility. If I do something wrong, you don't need to feel guilty. I've been happy with the fact that you're here with me now".
"H...How did you know ?".
"Well, It's because I'm psychic" she said seriously.
"...".
"Hehe, Just kidding, actually...".
That's...
"Naegi ?".
...Not fair.
"Naegi ?".
Even if it's just your intuition, even if it's just coincidence, even if you by any chance are the real psychic.
"Naegi ?!".
That's not fair!
"...".
Suddenly, she pulled me into her chest and she hugged me strongly.
"...".
"It's okay Naegi".
"But...".
"I'm sorry".
"...".
"Yeah, I forgive you okay!".
"Let me say something...".
"No, You don't need".
"Why...".
"I don't know but I'm sure you had gone through a lot until this time.".
"...".
"Just calm down okay".
"Well, I'm fine".
"Wrong, you're wrong again, Naegi".
"...".
"If you're fine then why are you crying again ?".
"Huh ?".
"You're suddenly crying when we talked before, that's why I hugged you".
"...".
"...".
"So that's it".
"Yeah, so for now just calm down okay".
"...".
I didn't know why but i felt a little sleepy. It seemed that i was exhausted. It just like she said, I should calm down first.
What a crybaby, crying in front of your precious person two times.
I closed my eyes.
-Omake-
N: "zzz...".
S: "Hm..." *patting his head.
M: "..." *staring.
S: "Ng?" *looking at Mukuro in distance.
M: "...".
S: "..." *Smirk.
M: "..." *annoyed.