Chap 3
It's almost Christmas.
Kengo is doing some part-time jobs at a store because he didn't want to go home. Not for now when he can keep himself busy. Perharps it's better if he tries his best at making or doing something, like right now, calculating some selling price at the store. Althought the holiday is about to come but it doesn't seem like the guests have come many, so he goes in to help the store manager arranging some package, and what a coincidence, Nene is there doing work too.
"Why are you here?"
Nene doesn't seem to be bother being surprised for seeing Kengo here. She is just quiet as usual, after giving him the to-do list, she answers him.
"I.. want to surprise Kankurou-sama by giving him a present."
Really? When she said that there has't been any changes on her expression.
"I see." What a hard-working girl she is.
"Also, I'm happy for you, you seem a lot better after that day."
That day? Yeah right. After Kankurou saying some weird stuffs, he was being weak for a moment, then when Kankurou is about to do something really close, Nene appeared. She hasn't say a thing but it's clearly that it's not her intention to break in in such a moment. Kankurou then gave out a sigh, pulled her close and then said some weird things again.
Like: "Sometimes I want to run away from taking after the position of being a heavenly commander."
No one knows why did he say that. But then he would just act as nothing happened, then going home with Nene.
It's been amost a month they didn't have a chance to talk properly to each other because they seem really busy after that, so Kengo goes out to find some jobs to kill time. And right now, what a good chance to meet Nene here, but he doesn't know how to ask about Kankurou or she will think that he likes Kankurou or something-
"It's okay if you miss Kankurou-sama, because me too."
She suddenly says that with a smile on her face. What is she saying, isn't she the one who has got to spend the most time with Kankurou that even makes Kengo jealous? Kengo turns away to cover the blush on his face. They didn't say anything after that and continue working. What an awkward moment.
Moreover she is here because Kankurou asked her to keep eyes on Kengo.
"Please go to the school yard at 12:07 PM tomorrow at the south gate."
...
Kankurou has been there, with a tired expression he has but it soon disappears when he notices that Kengo has come. Is he always this tired? Kengo didn't know because he always acts like nothing happened, even when they are eating lunch together, he was just busy reading some strange books.
Which business does he has with me anyway? Kengo thinks so for a moment, but sits down beside him after all. Kankurou seems like he is thinking something.
"I'm sorry they called me back before I can say something to you."
"I don't mind. What do you want to say?" Kengo takes a look at Kankurou, and after finding he might have some difficulties finding words so he goes off the topic for a moment. "There is a prom on Christmas day, will you come? You can invite Nene and I will find someone to tag along."
"Actually you can invite a male partner too, you know?"
"What do you mean?"
"It would be bad if someone else have to go with you." His eyes become dark or Kengo is imagining things. "How about we go together? I will be Ken-chan's partner."
Actually Kengo has no problem with that but how about Nene? There might be a chance that she has a crush on this idiot.
"What about Nene?"
This reminds Kengo a bit about how tall Kankurou is, althought he is 1 year older than Kengo, but maybe he has done so much work that he is slow to grow up.
"She.. doesn't like crowded place. I asked her before, don't worry." Kankurou shows no sight of lying but somehow Kengo can sense he is trying to hide something from him. What are you trying to do?
"I guess.. We cannot force her anyway. But don't forget to get her a Christmas present." He doesn't want her to be alone or forgotten on Christmas Eve.
"Roger that." Kankurou stands up and rubs Kengo head that makes him feel like a child. "Seems like we are running out of time, let's both try our best to be strong and..."
Kankurou suddenly comes closer that Kengo doesn't even dare to breath, so close that he can feel his breath.
"Be careful of anyone, even me."
The embarrassment stops when Kengo hears those words from Kankurou, why does he have to say so? Kengo is still waiting for an answer but Kankurou just gives him a pat on his head and walks away with one last sentences.
"It would be great if I can earn a kiss from you on my birthday."
What the hell is he saying? Is he the type that can't be serious for 5 seconds? Kengo feels pissed of but also a bit wondering why is Kankurou so strange these days. His forced smile makes Kengo want to comfort him, but he doesn't know how. He takes out the cell phone to send him a text before it's too late to say anything.
[Don't overdo it yourself. And stop teasing me.]
[I won't because I have you to protect too. And btw I really mean it lol.]
Such a fast reply. It makes Kengo wanna throw away his phone immediately but somehome feels relieve from it. As long as we still take a step ahead, it will be alright... Is it true?
"If I can tell everything to you.. I'm sorry Kengo, I will find a way to talk to you properly than this."
It would be great if Kengo can come back to his main house, rather than living around with fear like this. That was what Kankurou thinks while looking at Kengo from the 3rd floors above, then he pats Nene on her head and get back before she can say anything.
It hurts.
...
It's Kankurou's birthday, but nothing good happened. Some people went lost, some becomes out of control and out of their mind. Kengo doesn't want to be home, so he goes out, unconsciously arrives at Mitosaka mansion. What does he even be here for in the first place? There are some strange noises, and then Kankurou opens the door, with a pale face but when he sees Kengo, he immediately drags Kengo in and closes the door, runs to a empty room and locks the door.
"Why do you have to be here of all time?"
He is irritated. Kengo didn't have a chance to answer that Kankurou covers his ears with a painful expression. "Don't hear, it doesn't exist." He says that and then Kengo can hear a terrible sound.
It's Nene's.
She is screaming. Painfully.
Kengo can't say a thing, he freezes and looks at Kankurou with terrifying. What is happening? The scream was loud and he even can feel the pain Nene has to bear right now. That's what make Kengo's tears fall. It lasts for about 20 minutes which was a long time, so long that Kengo feels like he has overcome his life. Nene is one of his important person, he wants to run to her place right now to see how is she doing, what have got into her but Kankurou stops him with a hug. While both bodies are still trembling, he tries to comfort Kengo but the other male knows that he has reached his limit that his tears are starting to fall, and he is squeezing him hard. Is there nothing they can do? Kengo tries to escape from his embrace but Kankurou doesn't let it happen, he corners Kengo into the wall, holds him real tight like he doesn't want to lose anybody than this.
What happened to Nene? Kengo asks with a trembling voice but Kankurou doesn't reply, he is so out of control right now so instead of that, Kengo just asks, can Nene be back like nothing happened? Kankurou just shakes his head while repeating: "I don't know, I don't know..."
Kengo wants to run away like far, far away from this place. He right now has no home to come back, the accident happens so suddenly that he doesn't want to believe it's real. What the fuck is happening? He wants to scream out loud but all he can do is crying, look like everything is slowly slipping away from his hand, then this Kankurou too, one day will he disappear?
Thinking of that makes Kengo really scared, he holds Kankurou's body real tight, tears won't stop coming out from his eyes. What can he do for them? Is this the end? Kankurou realizes this might be the only chance he can talk to Kengo properly, he rubs Kengo's back to calm him down first, then try to talk, while his voice still seems hard to come out.
"Listen, Kengo. Don't worry about Nene, I will try my best to make sure she is alright. Now, you have to believe me, your trauma, your family gives you hatred because of something I'm not so sure right now, but don't try to run away anymore. You have to go back to your main house before it's too late."
Kengo then grabs Kankurou's shirt tightly, Kankurou knows that he is thinking about the past, but there is no time to lose, before that one heck of a person can get here, he has to say what he can.
"I know you are scared, but trust me, right now that place is the most safe for you. In the near future, that accident might happen again, so you have to stay calm. More than that, don't go to Mitosaka's house when I don't tell you to go, it's really dangerous now."
Kankurou then takes off his mask in the dark and give Kengo a kiss on forehead, even he is not sure if it's a goodbye or good luck kiss anymore. He just wants Kengo to be safe and sound and hopes for the day they can reunite without problem. He looks Kengo in the face again, then opens one of the window.
"You have to go now, run and don't look back, that one man is about to come here soon."
"But you-"
"I will be fine, let's meet at the prom."
Kengo feels like he has to listen to Kankurou for now. He runs, runs away really fast in the dark, with tears falling from his eyes. He can't do a thing, why is he being this useless? He runs although he doesn't know where to stop. All he wants to do is a normal life, why can't he have it?
It's enough already. Just stop this please.