four: baby steps pt. 1

In his world, there were just two people. Him and Shiro. Shiro and him. And that was how he thought it would always be like.

He imagined growing up living with Shiro, being with Shiro. He pictured sharing a home cooked meal of ramen while sitting cozily together in front of their gaming console for the rest of their lives. They would make commentaries here and there, throw in a couple of compliments, but overall they would bask in each other's presence, not uttering a single word.

It was what he loved most about Shiro. She was patient, quiet, sensible...quite unlike a pink haired girl he had met recently.

Jibril Flugel.

Jibril Flugel was who he would consider, the hacker of the game. Insidious and unexpected, Jibril joined in the game when he was at a standstill. She blackmailed him, was uncouth and annoying, always arguing with him and wanting to be proven right.

Sora even wished, at times, that he didn't have to deal with someone like her but he does for the sake of his precious Shiro.

Still, he admitted that Jibril wasn't all that bad. She does reveal reasons he could never come up with for Shiro's odd behavior.

"Jibiriiiil! Why is Shiro so cranky?"

"Maybe she's on her period? Goddammit man, get a clue!"

And she was helpful. Very helpful. That was the most insidious part of her. Though Jibril grated on her nerves, she surprised him by being utterly charming.

She was the first person, other than Shiro, who entered his world—and he doesn't regret one bit.

—

Cherry lips parted. Petite hands twitched. Cyan eyes heart shaped. Jibril groaned, shaking her head at the sight. They were the tell tale signs of a girl in love.

Or, at least, the tell tale signs of a Stephanie Dola in love.

"Oh," Stephanie flashed a fake smile when she noticed Jibril was beside Sora. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm a club member," Jibril replied, berating herself immediately for answering Stephanie. She added, "I'm an official member here."

Smoooothe. Way too smoothe, her inner thoughts sarcastically said. Stephanie's expressions mirrored her inner thoughts completely.

"Well, that's great that you're a member," Stephanie's tone was anything but pleased. "Since I'll be joining today!" She turned to the boy, who was too preoccupied listening Shiro's speech to bother their talk. "Are you in the club as well?"

Sora, who couldn't concentrate on Shiro's speech with Stephanie's prodding, faced the girl. "Huh?"

Not deterred by the boy's seemingly unresponsive attitude towards her, Stephanie drew out her arm and offered her hand. She smiled that fake smile again, but wider. "My name is Stephanie Dola! I've decided to join the club. Please guide me through."

"O-oh." The boy paused a few seconds before accepting her hand, giving it a few pumps. "Please to meet you. Sora Nai."

As Jibril watched this awkward exchange, Stephanie looking ridiculously pleased and Sora looking ridiculously confused, a wave of dread washed over her. People don't change, which most definitely applied to Stephanie. If Jibril remembered correctly, Stephanie tried her best to get what she wanted—especially, especially when it came to those she liked.

—

"Sora. Can you help me read this?"

"Sora. How do you pronounce this?"

"Sora. Sora. Sora!"

"God," Jibril gritted her teeth, crumpling her paper in one hand as the boy left yet again at the bidding of a certain red haired who wasn't even in their group. The debate team had decided to have mini workshops where members—and honorary ones—broke into groups and accomplished different tasks. The group that finished first was given coupons to a renowned cafe that opened recently. "Can she not do her own stuff without calling other people's members? And why is Sora listening to her anyways?"

"There, there," a calming, soft voice said. Jibril felt her hair being lightly patted by the smaller girl, her face expressionless but still holding a subtle smile. "Nee-chan...is just nice."

"Nice?" Jibril felt like laughing her life away. "Your brother? Nice? He's the worst. He's lazy, complains a lot, is annoying. Worst of all he's a sis—"

Her words died before they escaped, realization dawning her. Nervously sweating, she looked at Shiro, who waited expectantly for her to continue.

"—he's just extremely weird," Jibril finished, knowing she was completely not suspicious at all. Completely.

Nevertheless, Shiro didn't bother prying, simply commenting, "But you...and nee seem to be good friends."

"Pft," Jibril snorted, browsing through the papers detailing the exercises they had to complete, "what makes you say that? We're just together because of we have to."

She tried ignoring her reddening cheeks and how perfect it felt to say they were together.

"Because nee is happy." Her voice was cracked, alarming Jibril, who looked up to find Shiro gazing half sadly and half happily at her lap. "He...hasn't been this happy since our parents remarried...so...thank you."

Jibril doubted the validity of Sora not being this happy. After all, he loved Shiro. When he talked about Shiro, he spoke with this strange liveliness that flamed brightly in his eyes.

"Really? I'm pretty sure Sora cherishes you." She applauded to herself for sounding so elusive with her wording. "You're amazing after all."

The complaint meant to be a shallow ice breaker as she had a foreboding sense they would run out of things to complain (well, complaining was only for her case) about Sora and would be submersed in awkward, unbearable silence until Sora himself came back. Speaking of Sora why was he taking so slow?

Before Jibril could make her mind up to find him, she caught sight of a tiny blush forming at Shiro's snow white cheeks. "Th-thank you," Shiro whispered.

It was safe to say that this was possibly the cutest scene Jibril had ever encountered.

"What are you two doing?" The boy of the topic finally made an appearance, his expression annoyingly neutral as always.

"Still, the way his lips form a straight line is kind of cute," Jibril thought to herself before shaking it off. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Talking about how nee...is a baka," Shiro said. To both girls' amusement, Sora slowly paled, immediately curdling over to Shiro's side. "Shiiiiiro! You don't mean that do you? How could you say something like that? Did she," he threw a cursory glare at Jibril, "say something? Whatever she says, it's not true!"

Jibril rolled her eyes at Sora's overly exaggerated reactions. "I didn't say anything—"

"Oh Sora!" The overly fake girlish voice sounded the arrival of an unwanted party. Jibril noted Shiro bringing her thumb to her lips and biting on it. "How do you do this?"

The unwanted party, Stephanie, didn't spare the girls a single glance and immediately latched onto Sora, whose happy expression morphed into one Jibril couldn't decipher. "Soraaa! It's getting pretty dark out so you want to walk home with me when this is all over?"

"Well," Sora looked over the two girls thoughtfully. "I guess you can join us—"

"—sorry," Jibril intervened, picturing how bad that would be, "but you can't."

"Wh-what?" Stephanie's eyebrows furrowed. "Why not?"

"Because you're being a bother to us."

"Ehh, I'm not a bother," gazing cutely at Sora's eyes, she shook the arm she latched on from. "Am I, Sora?"

Jibril didn't understand it but for some odd reason Sora seemed completely helpless at the presence of this girl. It was as if all her fake cuteness and clinginess had an effect on him. He wasn't acting as his normal self from the way he remained silent and allowed the girl have her way.

"S-sure," Sora stuttered.

Jibril scoffed. "Hey. Look here. Do you really want this bitch to walk with us? Heck, I can't even stand here with her."

"Excuse me?" Stephanie stepped forward before Sora could. "You. What did you say?"

"You heard me. I don't want to be anywhere near you." Stephanie didn't step back and neither did Jibril. She held her defiant glare against hers, memories of the past they shared resurfaced. Memories of the times they played, the times they cried together, the times they laughed over the same things…and that time which resulted this all.

"It's your fault. Not mine."

She could still remember the merciless, sadistic intent glowing so harshly in her eyes back then. Jibril always thought Stephanie's eyes were the most beautiful but after staring into her eyes then, they appeared disgusting, revolting. Just like now.

"So uhm…" Sora intervened, catching the attention of the two girls. "…can we go home now or what…?"

"Actually nee," Shiro piped up, tugging at Sora's sleeve. "I will walk with the other members. I have to speak with them about something. See you at home nee. See you tomorrow, Jibril."

Jibril waved goodbye while Sora tried convincing Shiro otherwise to no avail. After the girl completely went out of sight, Jibril felt an ominious emitting from the boy and sure enough, the boy was glaring right at her.

"Jibril…let's go home now."

Stephanie tried inviting herself but the boy grabbed his jacket and stomped his way out, brushing harshly against Jibril's shoulder. Left with the shell-shocked Stephanie, Jibril swallowed back a growl before walking out to catch up with Sora, letting Stephanie's outbursts die with her every footstep.

—

The walk to the station felt entirely different from their last walk. The air was freezing cold and the city bustled with life around them. Yet, despite all this liveliness, there was a heavy murderous intent hanging, keeping Jibril walking a few footsteps behind the source.

They passed a few more buildings before the boy stopped, sighing. He turned around. "Oi, what are you doing?"

"What does it look I'm doing?" She halted as well. "I'm avoiding the storm."

"I appreciate being treated as the bad guy when the victim is the one who ruined everything."

"Ruined? What did I ruin?"

"You really want to know huh?" He was sneering now. "You're way too meddlesome for your own good, did you know that Jibril?"

"…I was only trying to help."

"You're not helping!" He exploded, catching the attention of passing pedestrians. He didn't seem to notice though, continuing with his tone increasing. "You're just being so damn oblivious as always! You only understand things when they're told to you straightforwardly, don't you? That's why you're always reading books, aren't you?"

"Hey, hey," Jibril walked a bit closer to him, her own anger peaking. "If I'm oblivious what about you? Aren't you also so damn oblivious, Mr. Pretentious?"

"That's right! I am oblivious! I am completely oblivious of everyone but Shiro!" He came closer. "So don't get in the way. You're supposed to help, remember?"

Before Jibril could retaliate, the boy turned his back and stormed off. Jibril watched his back fading slowly and slowly into the crowd before it completely disappeared.

How frustrating. She didn't do anything wrong. Why the heck is he angry at her? Big deal: he didn't get to walk home with Shiro this one time. She started walking, stuffing her balled fists in her pockets. The guy fucking lives with the girl. He had a lifetime worth of chances to walk with her.

So what was his goddamn problem and why did he had to take it out on her?

"THAT BASTARD," she shouted, finally unable to take the absurdity thrown at her, "Why the hell is he so annoyed? Why the hell am I so annoyed? I know I didn't do anything wrong so why? Why? Why? Why?"

"Mommy, that girl is scary…"

"What is that girl doing?"

"Don't stare. She's probably on her period or got dumped."

Shaken from her stupor, Jibril realized that she had captured the attention of many and, to her embarrassment, was screaming in the middle of the busiest district of the city. She bowed slightly around her surroundings.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry." As she apologized for the fifth time, she paused, raising her posture slightly. Bright neon lights caught her attention. She was in front of a karaoke bar.

—

"Do not hesitate, for this is the path we've chosen,

"Even during the times when we're at a loss,

"And feel like they've stripped us off our pride ,

"There's only one honorable way for us succeed..."

She gave up, throwing the mic against the mahogany loveseats. Sitting cross legged, Jibril ran a hand through her hair. The karaoke bar was a place she frequented in the past, whether it was with her friends or by herself. When she was alone, she would seclude herself in the dimly lit room and blast the song on full volume. When she was with her friends, she would join them in a brightened

Speaking of her friends, she smiled bitterly. The last time she had seen them since their awkward falling out had been recent. She bumped into them when she was on her way to join Sora and Shiro at their usual spot.

"Shit, shit," Jibril muttered as she ran down the hallway. "Why did class have to end so late?"

On any other day Jibril would've taken her time getting to the cafeteria. Shiro and Sora did the job of reserving a table for her to sit at. This particular day, however, the two had informed her beforehand that they would be late and relied on her to getting a seat. In a school of three thousand students, securing a table at lunch was no simple feat—it was a competition, it was war.

Skidding around the corner, Jibril prepared to sprint but bumped into someone instead.

"Ops, sorry!" She turned to see who fell. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay—" Her voice cracked when she realized that the person she bumped into was Izuani. And standing close to her were Fii and Kurami.

"Ah, Jibril," Fii greeted, good natured as always. "Hello. How have you been?"

"I'm doing fine," Jibril nodded stiffly. "And you?"

"I'm doing fine," Fii nodded back. "And—"

"—ah! Enough with the awkwardness," Kurami cut, "let's go. It's so suffocating here."

Despite being indirectly called uncomfortable, Jibril couldn't help but smile a little at Kurami's roundabout honesty. It had been quite a while since Jibril experienced her bluntness, which both concealed and directed the truth. It was both taxing and refreshing. Jibril quite…missed it.

"Yeah," Jibril said finally, "I have to go as well." She started walking but something tugged at the hem of her skirt. Izuani.

"Izuani-desu…missed you…desu~"

Jibril froze, letting the little girl's words sink in. It didn't occur to her that while their friendship ended on a rough, unexpected note, their feelings didn't. They couldn't easily erase the memories they've shared together and if Jibril thought about it, so would she if she hadn't met Sora and Shiro.

"I…missed you too."

It was strange. Jibril picked up the mic, ready to start over the song. She hadn't thought of her old friends at all, yet she was so preoccupied with Shiro and Sora, who she knew for less than half a year. She had definitely cherished them enough but perhaps…friendship couldn't be measured by how long you've known them. Trust, and compatibility doesn't only age with time…it ages when you've met the right people for you.

Besides. Jibril grinned as the song finally reached the part where she can sing. If we're meant to become friends again, there'll surely be a chance to meet again. With her happy thoughts bubbling inside of her, she opened her mouth to sing…only for the room next door to start making…noises.

There were violent thuds from the room beside hers and they continue to grow in volume until Jibril couldn't take it. She banged back violently, ready to shout for them to stop when she was close enough to hear the voices of the occupants in the other room.

"Ah-ah," a feminine voice cried, "S-sir, where are touching? Kya!"

"Hold still. You're supposed to entertain me aren't you? Well, entertain and I'll reward you…handsomely…"

Their conversation continued in this similar manner. The female sounded more and more panicked while the male became more and more impatient. Unable to take it, Jibril stormed out of her room and thrust open the door to the room next door. Before her was a middle aged man, well built for his age. His body was positioned to pin a girl—the girl who was being harassed—down.

"Excuse me sir," Jibril said disgustedly, "sexual harassment isn't allowed especially in this establishme—"

Her voice faltered when the man completely switched his attention to her, giving Jibril clear view of the face of the victim.

Donned in tears and a promiscuous bunny outfit, the girl took the man's inattention as a chance to pull up her top which was dangerously falling off. She froze when she saw who had come to her rescue.

Stephanie Dola.

Word Count: 2827

A/N: I swear I had this chapter half readied last week but this chapter was waaaay too long. Hence why this is part 1. Next part will be released by the end of this week~

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! It is kind of awkwardly planned but it smoothes out in the second half (next chapter). As you can tell, I'm still an inexperienced writer, not yet having a completed fic and all. Appreciate any feedback if plausible. Nevertheless, hope this chapter was enjoyable enough.

Hope to have your continued support! Let me know what you think in your reviews and thanks for all the favorites/follows!