Chapter 45: The Stranger
It was the next day and Bo and Gou were waiting for the train back to their town. They were still tired from the night before but they kept their heads on straight both thinking about who is trying to hurt them.
"Could it be Kairi? She did tried to hurt you once?" Gou spoke up.
"No. I don't even know her. Hana, too." Bo answers. "Chigusa could."
"She might but she works a lot so I don't think she even has the time to even do stuff like this." Gou rubbed her chin. "Ugh! This is frustrating!"
"Don't worry, we will find her and end this together." Bo pats her shoulder enthusiastically. Gou just smiles as the train finally arrives. When they were about to get on someone blocked their way.
"Ama-chan!" the girls yelled. Their teacher was surprised to see them so early in the morning on a school day.
"What are you two doing at this hour? In Tokyo?" she asked as her face twitched with a scary smile. "Did you...skip school...just to mess around here? You have scratches so…" suddenly her face was steaming with rage. She pulls the girls onto the train to Iwatobi and sat in silence all the way back.
In the principal's office….
"YOU SKIPPED SCHOOL TO GO A COLLEGE PARTY!" the principal yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Sorry sir. We just wanted to have fun. You know, take a breather." said Bo. "It was all my idea. I made Gou come with me."
"Matsuoka-san, you had a decision and you pick the wrong one. Watanabe-san is a bad influence on you. I'm sorry but I am going to have to call your parents or legal guardians."
"But sir! My mom's away on business in Germany!" Gou yelled.
"My aunt is hunting a killer pedophile right now and is super close to catching him! It's not a good time." Bo yelled too.
"So they are too busy to even have a phone call from a supervisor like me?" the principal sighed with frustration. "Fine, both of you are suspended for the whole week."
"What!"
"You can't do that!"
"Yes I can. Matsuoka-san, you are an exceptional student but this is not you and I can see that. But I must punish you for your poor decision. Watanabe-san, you….you're just suspended, again." after that the principal shooed them out of his office.
The girls walked through the halls in shame. The other students whispered and laughed at the girls as they walked by. Then the girls caught sight off the guys looking angry at the end of the hallway.
"Sick huh." Makoto scuffed and turns away.
"Makoto!" Gou grabbed his arm but he pulls away and looks over his shoulder showing an expression that she has never seen before.
"You went to a party with Bo. I thought you were different...I thought Bo was different than the rumors...I guess I was wrong. All of us were wrong." he said backing away disappearing around the corner.
"What is this all about Bo?" Haru asked with anger rising in his voice. "Did you lie?" Bo didn't say anything. She didn't look at him at all. "Say something…"
"Say what, Haru? I went to a rockin' party with older men? Drank and did all that, Haru. I got into fights as well. Want to see?" Bo said in a way that she has never done. It sounded harsher than usual and seemed way more strange. Haru didn't say anything else after that. He slowly turned away and didn't bother looking back.
"I can't believe you two!" Nagisa cried out. He tried to leave while pulling Rei, but was able to get him off. "Rei-chan?"
"I'm sorry, Hazuki-san." said Rei. Nagisa was shocked. He covered his mouth and ran away from them, crying.
"Rei? You never call him that." said Gou.
"It's...for the best…" he sighed heavily. "Come on, let's talk about what you learned in Tokyo."
….
The three left school and headed to Gou's house. When they opened the door all three were stunned and didn't care to move a muscle to what they saw. Rin and Sousuke, half naked, on top of each other, on the sofa.
"G-Gou! I-I thought you were at school!" Rin got up and tried to dress himself. Sousuke awkwardly out in his clothes with a deep red blush across his sweaty cheeks.
"I thought you were at school as well!" Gou yelled at him.
"I'll be leaving…" Sousuke got up and left the house quickly.
"Well that's hot!" Bo smiled ear to ear.
"You're into that stuff Bo?" Rei asked surprised.
"It's better than one shot shoujo manga. More action if you know what I am saying." she winked.
"Anyway, why are you guys here?" Rin asked.
"Onii-chan...I got suspended." Gou looked down.
"WHAT!?" Rin yelled.
"We got a story to share with all of you." Gou said taking a seat on the couch. They all sat down and Bo and Gou told the boys about their situation that happened in Tokyo.
"So, there was an Oracle that told that you two will replace a goddess called Ran when she dies."Rin repeated.
"And you made a deal with her to find out who did this to you in exchange for replacing Ran. The person behind it is actually two person team, one woman, struggling to get love." Rei repeated as well.
"Yup." the girls said at the same time.
"Apparently Gou and I are in sync mentally not physically, so we are going to have to practice a lot with our powers in able to defeat these guys." Bo clarified.
"But we have to figure who is also behind this as well." Gou added.
"Well you girls are going to need all hands on deck for this. It's not going to be easy, but we will do our best to help you guys out." Rin said with Rei agreeing.
"Thank you." the girls said to them with smiles on their faces. After that Rei and Bo decided to head home. When they were gone Gou confronted her brother about what happened earlier.
"What's going on with you and Sousuke?" she asked. Rin was bright red and looked the other way trying to gain composure.
"We...are in love, Gou." he said down casted. "We've been seeing each other for a few weeks now."
"That's...so cute!" Gou screamed. She jumped around smiling and clapping her hands. "I'm so happy for you!"
"You...don't mind?"
"Of course I don't! You like each other right? So be together!" then Rin grabs his sister and pulls her into a tight hug.
"Thanks…" he whispered. Gou smiled and hugged him back.
…
"So what's going on with you Ryugazaki? I have never heard you call penguin that before." Gou asked suddenly as she walked with a trembling Rei.
"N-Nothing!" he shouted. Bo rolls her eyes and stops in front of him.
"Look, Butterfly, I know that you are not all that comfortable with me because all those rumors that might be true or not true but we're friends now, right?"
"Well, you did try to hurt me in the janitor closet a few weeks ago."
"Well I wasn't myself and I'm super sorry about that but I really need you to trust me. As a friend. If you're really not that comfortable about us being friends, then strangers at a bar who just drop everything on them after multiple drinks!" Bo said earnestly. "Rei, I just want us to be okay with each other...but… I guess that's not going to happen, huh." Bo smiled sadly and shrugs her shoulders.
"I'm sorry that I make you feel that way Bo. It's just that...those rumors are very believable because of the way you act and I am really sorry. I really do want to be friends, but I am afraid that you might regret or bully me."
"I don't bully people I like. I tease them. I bully people who deserve it like Hana or Kairi. They kind of suck. Especially Chigusa! I can't stand her!"
"Let's not talk about her." Rei said in a way that made Bo shut her mouth instantly.
"Did something happen between you two?" Bo asked. Rei looked defeated and sat on a nearby bench and sighed.
"And it's all my fault…"
"Can you tell me about it?" Bo brushed off some dirt and sat right next to him.
"After our last swimming competition, Nagisa and I went to celebrate at my house. We had a lot of fun laughing, joking, teasing, talking, all those things. But then he suddenly kissed me. I didn't know what to do so when he pulled away I didn't move for a minute. Then I unconsciously kissed him back and then we...did things and it went on for months." Rei confessed.
"So you cheated on Chigusa with Nagisa?"
"Somehow Chigusa found out and had this huge melt down at the back of the school when she confronted me about it. I told her that she didn't even love me and just used me for gain and Nagisa was the only one who really did and that I did too. I love Nagisa."
"Do you know the reason why she used you and who she was trying to get noticed by?"
"Never got an answer. She told me she loved me just to avoid her true reasons and kept saying I love you over and over, but I didn't believe her so I left." Rei looked down at the ground rubbing his hands. "We've been together for almost a year and I thought we were so happy. I was a fool. Neither of us were not even close to being happy."
"Then why did you treat Nagisa the way you did today?"
"Because I remembered that I hurt Chigusa with him. And besides I am Gou's and your ally. I have to help you guys before you guys get hurt."
"Awe, you really do care!" Bo smiled and rubbed his back as comfort.
"What about you? Why did you treat Haru the way that you did? Who even gave that idea of partying with college students?" Rei laughed a little.
"That was the only thing I could think of at the time. I regret it but I can't let others be involved in this. It's going to be even bumpier than ever now since we're one step closer to finding out our tormentor. I had to hurt him." Bo's voice wavered as she spoke.
"Will you fix it up with him?" he asked but Bo shrugged.
"If he can forgive me." she smiled and didn't say anything else after that.
…
They went their separate ways and Bo walked slowly back to her empty house.
"I guess when aunty gets home, I am going to be in huge trouble again…" Bo talked to herself. When she got to her door she opened and was surprised to see her aunt their with another woman.
"Boboa!" her aunt smile sarcastically. "I'm glad that you're home!"
"Aunty, I can explain!"
"Oh, don't worry! We have guest for once so we will talk later." she said with a scary smile. Bo gulped and nodded and went straight to sit at the table.
"Wow, you're so pretty!" the stranger said to Bo smiling so happily. The woman had blonde hair in a ponytail and a white cardigan over her very faded blue dress. She looked not much older than thirty.
"I don't think we have met, ma'am." said Bo.
"Oh sorry, where are my manners!" the woman chuckled. "My name is Watanabe Sakura. I'm from a town nearby! I am here with my son, Midori who is taking a nap right now in the other room."
"Watanabe? Wow, that's a common last name. That's exciting!" Bo smiled. ''The same last name! How cool!'
"I know! I was shocked by that! Who knew!" Sakura laughed.
"Boboa, they are here to see you!" Nana said bringing snacks. "Her son Midori saw your video and really likes your singing! They came all the way here for his birthday so that you can sing to him in person! Isn't that amazing!"
"Well...I'm not that good." Bo said looking away in embarrassment.
"You're spectacular!" Sakura chimed. "My son loves watching the video and so many others. It's got over a million views with the help of my son." she laughed.
"Mommy! Is she here yet?" a boy called out as he stepped into the room rubbing his eyes. He wore a striped long sleeve shirt and blue pants and had dark hair. When they boy saw her, his eyes lit up and ran to sit next to her.
"You're-You're-" the boy stuttered looking at Bo with wide happy eyes.
"It's nice to meet my biggest fan! Hello, my name is Boboa, what is your name?" Bo smiled feeling warmth in her heart staring at this happy little boy.
"M-Midori! Watanabe Midori!" he said.
"I heard you really like my singing! I am very grateful."
"I watched the video over a million times!" he said all embarrassed. "I am a really big fan, Watanabe-sama!"
"Well I heard it that today is a special day for you, is that right?"
"Yes! It's my birthday! I'm turning six!" he said sticking six fingers up.
"That's a big number! How about this, I'll sing any song for you today. Any song you want." Bo smiled softly. The boy nodded his head and laughed happily. Suddenly someone was banging hard on the door. Bo got up and opened the door.
There was a tall, slender man in a business suit. He had shoulder length black hair and blue eyes like Midori's and wore glasses. The man stopped himself before he hit Bo and stared at the girl in shock. 'He...seems familiar...have we met?' she thought but instantly rejected that thought and gained composure.
"Do...you need something?" Bo raised her eyebrows at him.
"I-I-you-" he started to say but didn't seem to get the words out.
"Look, there's a pharmacy up the hill over there." Bo pointed at the direction to where it is. "They have the medicine there if that's what you are looking for."
"I'm not here for medicine…" the man said putting his hand down.
"Daddy!" Midori ran out and hugged the man's leg. The man picked his son up and hugged him.
"Hajime!" Sakura came out next. "How did you find us?"
"I knew you were coming here so I thought I'm come get you guys." he smiled but it seemed forced.
"Not yet Daddy!" said Midori. "Watanabe-sama is going to sing to me for my birthday! Please, I don't want to go yet!" he pleaded. The man sighed and shook his head.
"I don't think it's a good idea…"
"I think it's swell!" Nana came out and leaned against the house. The man was petrified when he saw her. "Come on and stay a little while, Hajime." Nana said smiling wickedly. The man gulped and went inside with his son cheering happily in his arms.
