Author's Note: Another short chapter, sorry!
Kahoko dressed for school and kicked herself mentally every time she checked her cell phone. Yunoki had never been one for frivolous communication, so naturally there weren't any new text messages or missed calls. The only time he contacted her was when—
She blushed. Only when it was inconvenient for her, or when he needed something. If something was even an appropriate word for . . . you know . . . it. And it's not like he was the romantic type either. She pushed the thought out of her mind, and tried to ignore the fact that her phone remained silent. She knew better. She ought to, anyways.
She said goodbye to her mother and left the house, feeling a small pang of disappointment that there wasn't a car waiting outside.
Why do I care all of a sudden?
It was irrational to think that the shift in Yunoki's behavior last night was a marker signaling a change in their relationship. In his personality, even.
We present for your pleasure, the newly upgraded Yunoki 2.0! Softer, more sensitive, more gentle than ever before!
Kahoko shook her head. It was a long walk to school, and she didn't need to be dwelling on this. Not to mention the fact that her internal infomercial sounded like an advertisement for toilet paper. She turned her focus to the violin piece she had learned last week and began humming it to herself.
Yunoki wasn't feeling well.
Okay, that was a major understatement. Yunoki wasn't feeling very . . . how should he put it?
Whatever. It was all so confusing.
Confused, then?
Yes, Yunoki was confused.
He bid his driver goodbye with a nod of his head. He didn't feel up to conversation today, but he knew better than to wish for the impossible. With a sigh, he assumed his beatific school persona. A gaggle of girls scurried over to wish him good morning and ask about what he had done the previous evening and whether or not he had difficulty sleeping because of that terrible storm, and Yunoki smiled and did his best to seem interested. When his patience reached its limit, he used the excuse that he needed to meet Hihara before class and broke away from the crowd. He was headed down the hallway when he saw her.
Kahoko Hino.
Bits and pieces of the previous night flickered through his mind. The thunderstorm and the rain. The darkness. The fear that weighed down on his chest, threatening to suffocate him. Standing outside of her house. How angry she was at him for disturbing her. Walking into her bedroom. Pulling her close. That feeling of warmth and peace. Feeling like he was safe.
Yunoki felt all of those thoughts dissolve into anger. The idea that one girl should have that much power over him was ridiculous. It hit too close to home. In a flash, he pictured Kahoko and his grandmother standing side by side. He saw himself on his knees, begging for mercy, for forgiveness and acceptance. He saw himself alone in his room, the weight of his family name pressing down on his shoulders.
So when he saw Kahoko in the hallway, when he saw her face light up ever so slightly when their eyes met, it angered him. Quite pointedly he looked at her, through her, and walked by without a word or any sign of recognition.
He felt a small pang of remorse. He knew she wasn't to blame, but it didn't matter.
Originally, the plan had been to capture her attention because he wanted a plaything. He was bored, and he wanted to know what it would feel like to exert control over something, someone else for a change. Somehow, everything had backfired.
Kahoko made him vulnerable. Sooner or later, she was going to hurt him.
He had to strike first.