Sunday, June 13th
Much like the past couple of days, Akira woke up in the middle of the night.
He shot up from his bed as he panted, holding his face as he struggled to pull himself together—to remember where he was.
An annoyed sigh came from his lips as he stared into the darkness, wiping the sweat from his face.
He couldn't quite place the cause behind this form of probable insomnia. All he knew was that it started after his last session with Takemi.
Well, that was partially true. After she visited the apartment, it was subtle. Very few moments where he'd be woken up by his body from sleep—but he would almost immediately fall back into the comforting realm of sleep. At first, he just attributed it to stress from the Madarame plot and the aftermath of it…but it continued. It only got worse…and worse…until it reached its current form Thursday night.
It wouldn't just be waking up, he kept repeatedly waking up throughout the night and kept struggling to go back to sleep. Sometimes, he wouldn't even return to sleep and he'd be forced to stay up the rest of the night.
This was one of those times.
He could feel it in his bones.
Of course, Akira had done a good job of not letting anyone know, there was no need for needless worry, especially when there were more important things at hand—like Yusuke.
I still don't know how to fix that.
We'll find a way.
I'll find a way.
I always do, right?
My mess…my responsibility.
Yeah.
But it was getting difficult.
Ann noticed Friday morning.
Haru…possibly noticed?
Even Yusuke gave me strange looks on our way back home after yesterday's events.
The only one who hasn't noticed is…ironically the one who should've noticed from the start—Morgana.
Akira shook his head as he rose from the bed.
I don't think worrying over Mona is good, not right now.
Besides, I asked if something was wrong…with the way we are now…if something was wrong, he'd just tell me, right?
I think so.
He surrendered a long, worrying gaze at his brother's room as he left his room and walked through the hallway, ending up in the kitchen to make a glass of water.
As he took a sip—a brilliant stroke of light and pain electrified his skull, forcing him to wince in pain as his mind went awry.
It was as if his mind was elsewhere—like he wasn't in the apartment, instead in a place with…some distorted forms of black around him.
It was all so…overwhelming, so incomprehensible—but he was able to make one thing out.
He saw a knife covered in blood.
Akira ended up back in the apartment, his legs nearly buckling from the sensory overload his body felt. Choked wheezes escaped from his lips as he gained his bearings—the pain almost maddening for the split second he underwent it. Akira was sure if he didn't hold the countertop he would've collapsed on the floor.
The wheezes started to die out, slowly coming under his control as he felt comfort from his surroundings.
Comfort from the familiarity.
Luckily, his panting wasn't enough to wake Yusuke on the comforter, the apartment still basked in silence as all sounds surrendered back to the deafening inevitability of the silence—until he heard the sound of something wet hitting something.
At first, he looked to the sink, thinking the water was dripping from the faucet but there was nothing.
Until he looked at the countertop.
It was red.
Blood?
His hand rose to touch his nose, pulling it back to see his fingertips covered in blood.
Wha…what the fuck is happening?
A girthy yawn slipped from Makoto's lips as she let herself into Shujin, finally utilizing the master key Kobyakawa gave her at the beginning of the semester. The morning sky was dark as the sun hadn't yet started its ascent above the horizon.
This wasn't her being a victim of her overbearing nature, it would be regrettable if it was considering it was a Sunday.
No, this was a calculated effort on her part. She told Ohya she intended to follow up on her lead, and that wasn't bravado on her part. She meant it, and now she was fulfilling it.
From her tenure at Shujin, Makoto knew for a fact the teachers would never appear on Sunday unless they were named Suguru Kamoshida—and he wasn't employed at Shujin Academy anymore.
Thatwas the perfect part. She could slip into his former offices and see if there were any tangible strands of evidence that might point the two girls in the direction they desperately knew was there.
As Makoto made her way to the practice building, a pang of guilt hit her.
Was she not doing the same things Kurusu-kun had done? Had been doing? How could she dare condemn him when she was teetering into the same thresholds as well?
This…
She shook her head, freeing herself of those thoughts as she ascended the stairs.
It's not the same thing.
It is not.
As she stepped into the faculty office, she bit her lip.
Who gives a damn if they are.
I'm doing this for the right reason.
To find an innocent girl.
Another victim of my hubris.
Initially, Makoto was both disappointed and impressed with the appearance of the office. Sojiro had done a good job of tidying up the almost desolate landscape Kamoshida ushered. Though that only meant it would be harder—and a probable failure—to scour through for clues.
Only one way I can find out.
Makoto started with the desks, pillaging through the drawers with no avail and electing to move throughout the room. The only thing that filled the space between the walls was Sojiro Sakura's things, sheets of music, arrangements, ideas, and planners. One of the recent notes mentioned something relating to Tetsuo.
Makoto could simply tell how much he wished for this to all be a success. How much care he was putting into the program and its students.
And she hated that.
A sigh slipped from Makoto's lips as she groaned, reaching a lone stack of folders near the window, meticulously combing through each paper until she got a tucked-away calendar for April and March near the end of the stack.
Months that were before Sojiro Sakura's tenure.
The two months had days that were two weeks apart, marked by…a minimalistic castle.
In April…the last day that was marked with one of these castles was Wednesday.
The 21st.
Now, she had some connective tissue…the problem was figuring out where to go from here.
Takemi: Nosebleeds?
Akira: Yes, do you think it means anything?
Takemi: I'm not sure…
Akira: You're the doctor here! What do you mean you aren't sure?!
Takemi: Look, is this the first time? Are those the only symptoms?
Akira: Yes?
Takemi: Then let's not sound the alarm just yet, this could just be a reaction from your body in response to stress. Unless this happens again? Don't stress yourself out.
Probably not a good idea to mention the visions or hallucinations yet. She could be right about this being a form of stress…
Takemi: In the meantime…relax. Seriously.
Takemi: Also, take some of my vials. If it is stress or whatever, then your body should have a boosted response and this shouldn't happen again.
Fine, fine.
Akira: If you don't want me to have another visit to your clinic just say so.
Takemi: Fine, I don't. I have too much going on at the moment.
Akira: A lie doesn't care who tells it, huh?
Takemi: Shut up…but take the vials, seriously. Don't get so worked up over something that might not be anything.
Akira closed the messaging app as he fished around in his bedside dresser, eventually finding the few vials from Takemi's house visit. Downing a couple, he looked at his phone, seeing Ryuji still had him on delivered.
That's…not surprising.
However, the real surprise came from the last text he sent last night.
Akira: Hey Haru, I just wanted to check up on you!
She hadn't replied.
Hell, she didn't even look at the text, an even weirder fact.
Even if she wasn't able to reply, she always looked at his texts and at least gave a reaction with emojis.
Things were weird—complicated.
And it was starting to annoy him.
Monday, June 14th
Makoto's mind, while preoccupied with everything else on her agenda, kept jumping back to Sojiro's plea for help and planner notes about Tetsuo all throughout the rest of her Sunday. This slight fixation caused her to reach Shujin early, combing through the Student Directory in hopes of finding the boy that had mentioned him to her on that Friday afternoon.
Hopes that were quickly fulfilled.
Bingo.
Ichiyumi…in the same class as Morgana Kurusu.
Hm. It's weird he isn't in the same homeroom as Suzuno-kun…he made it seem so.
Perhaps I heard him wrong.
Ah, Suzuno's teacher is new…I don't have any relationship with her so I doubt I'll be able to pull her student out first thing in the morning.
I don't have that much power.
Speaking of which…I need to see why Sakamoto-kun and Kurusu-kun are having a sort of spat. Ohya-kun is my best bet without arousing suspicion.
Though…what would be the best way to follow up on what Usami-sensei said about her being interested in Kurusu-kun?
Damn it Makoto…you should've asked Murakami-san…
Language…
And there's no worth crying over spoiled milk.
Just be better…stop making mistakes. Solve everything.
Fix everything.
Don't give in.
She circled Ichiyumi's name in red marker, jotting down his phone number if it came to that as she stood, exiting her domain and making her way to Aoba's classroom where—like her first year–-he was lazily resting his head on his desk, desperately trying to regain the semblance of sleep he never seemed to have.
Things never change, do they?
She knocked on the door frame, alerting him to her presence, "Niijima-kun? What's brought you here today?
She bowed, "I was hoping once the students get here, you could send Ichiyumi-kun to the council room? I have something to discuss with him."
He nodded, "Ichiyumi-kun is usually on time, sometimes even earlier, so you shouldn't be waiting for long."
Makoto bowed, giving him thanks as she returned to her room, a yawn slipping from her lips.
As she settled back into her seat, her mind returned to the connection she made yesterday.
Kamoshida and Bael.
They're connected…but how?
Did this mean Bael had something to do with Kayo's disappearance? Did Madarame know Kamoshida? What was the extent of their relationship? What importance does the card hold?
And most importantly…who is Bael?
The sound of knuckles rapping against her door freed her from her thoughts—at least for the moment—as her voice slipped out, "Come on."
Ichiyumi entered, bowing as he stood nervously, "Niijima-senpai? I heard you needed me?"
She gave a faint nod as she pointed at the seat in front of her, "You remember how you mentioned to me the other day about your friend's sudden absences?"
"Yes? I thought you said they weren't anything to worry about?"
"At first, I thought the same, but considering Sakura-sensei came to me about Suzuno-kun as well, I—"
Ichiyumi quirked an eyebrow, bringing a pause to the conversation, "E-Excuse me? You mean…Tetsuo Suzuno from Class 1-C?"
"Yes…? That's who you were referring to, right?"
He shook his head, "No…my best friend, Jin Kageyama is who I'm talking about. I heard Tetsuo's been flaky with his attendance though…"
Makoto was stunned, cursing herself as she chastised her eagerness and hastiness, "I see…you can go back to class, Ichiyumi-kun."
Ichiyumi seemed a bit stunned as he stood up, making it to the door before stopping, "Niijima-senpai…you're going to look into this right?"
She nodded, "I promise. Don't worry."
Her words gave him a bit of reassurance as he closed the door.
Makoto wasn't going to fail again.
Makoto Niijima: Hello, please text me back at your earliest convenience.
Makoto lifted her eyes from her phone screen, "Were you able to find anything on the card, Ohya-kun?"
Ohya picked her head up off the table, trying to get some rest, "Oh…I forgot to mention that to you…I wasn't. Not in the way you're hoping."
Makoto faltered, "What do you mean?"
"I tried looking for castles in Japan with those tusk things but I found nothing…at least, nothing here. Then I thought about the idea of it being stylized…just the roof ridges."
Makoto caught on quickly, "If that is the case then it could be any castle in Japan…"
Ohya shuffled around in her chair, "I guess that's the end of that huh? That reminds me, you never told me about your lead from Saturday?"
"That's why I brought up the card…I let myself into Shujin yesterday and went into the faculty office."
Her eyes lifted a bit, "Kamoshida's old office…what did you find? Something relating to Kayo?"
Makoto tapped her screen a few times, pulling up the pictures she took, "Not exactly," she turned the screen to Ohya, "But I found this calendar with the same castle emblem…" Ohya took hold of her phone, investigating every date on the calendar, trying to find some sort of semblance.
None of them had any—except for the 21st.
"You think…Bael had something to do with Kamoshida…? That he had something to do with her disappearing?"
"I'm not sure…but it's a strange coincidence. One too large to ignore."
Ohya placed the phone down, unsure of how to approach this theory, "But…Niijima-senpai, who's to say it's actually the same? This is a minimalist castle while the Bael card is immensely more detailed…"
Makoto sighed, tired of her hesitancy, "You have to admit this is all too strange."
"Yes but–"
"But it's the only thing we have to move forward. We just have to find Bael…and then we can find Murakami-kun."
Ohya sighed, "If…if that's the case, then how can we even find him? We have no leads."
Before Makoto could offer her solution, another knock formed on the door as Ichiyumi let himself in, "Niijima-senpai? Um…I know this might be a bad time, but Suzuno-san's in the courtyard today…"
Makoto's eyes faintly glistened with hope as she grabbed her bag, "Just wait here Ohya-san, I have an idea."
Makoto swiftly made her way toward the courtyard, quickly taking notice of Tetsuo leaning against the railing, seemingly trying to gain his bearings. The closer she was, the easier it became to see the bruises on his neck.
Odd.
Makoto cleared her throat, alerting the first year to her presence, "Suzuno-kun? I see you've been ignoring my messages."
Tetsuo jumped, a yelp shooting from his lips as if he expected–or feared—Makoto as being someone else.
The person behind those bruises?
Makoto put her hands out, trying to calm him as he kept putting distance between them, "Suzuno-kun? Don't panic, I'm just here on behalf of Sakura-sensei, he's been really worried about you."
"H-He has?"
She nodded, "Mhm, and I was…wondering if you knew anything about Jin Kageyama as well?"
That seemed to set him off, but instead of running off…he spotted a familiar face from behind Makoto—one she wasn't riveted to seeing today.
"Kurusu-senpai!" Tetsuo ran behind Akira, the second-year confused as to why—before he laid his exhausted eyes on Makoto. He still didn't know exactly why but…if it was Makoto, it probably wasn't a good thing.
He seems…more exhausted than usual.
Makoto crossed her arms as she stared at her junior, his size still dwarfing her own, "Kurusu-kun."
Akira kept it short and sweet, attempting to adhere to Hifumi's…persuasion, "Niijima-senpai."
"Do you mind moving out of the way so I can continue my conversation with Suzuno-kun?"
Akira looked over his shoulder, seeing Tetsuo shake his head, causing him to look back at Makoto with a stern look on his face, "Seems Tetsuo doesn't really want that. Considering I'm Band President and he's a part of my section, I gotta look out for the little guy." He tapped him on the side, telling him to scurry off.
Makoto groaned as Akira tried to walk off but she tugged at his sleeve, "Where do you think you're going?"
She loosened her grip as he stared, confused, "I'm…going to eat grab a parfait and eat it…?"
Her eyes narrowed, "Do you even know why I was questioning Suzuno-kun?"
He shrugged, "Nope, and honestly? I don't care, you were clearly making him uncomfortable with how hard you were pushing with…whatever you were doing."
She snorted, "That's rich coming from you."
Akira winced for a moment, biting his tongue as he calmly took a breath, "Look, Niijima-senpai, I know you don't like me, but can we…not argue or anything today?"
Her signature Niijima stare intensified—but dwindled as she sighed, "Fine. But can you answer a simple question for me?"
He quirked his head, confusion and intrigue coming forth, "Uh…sure…?"
"What significance does the name Kayo Murakami hold to you?"
Akira paused for a moment, "Nothing actually." He sighed as the implications burrowed into his head, "Don't tell me Kobyakawa has you thinking I have something to do with some random girl…"
Makoto didn't utter a word as she examined Akira's body language, his words, his tone, and his eyes.
He wasn't lying.
Damn it.
Language.
She clicked her teeth as she turned around, "Enjoy your lunch, Kurusu-kun."
As she grabbed the handle, Akira's voice rang out, "Wait…Niijima-senpai, mind if I ask a question in return?" She turned back to him, humming a yes as he came a little closer, his voice strained and focused, his eyes narrow with intrigue, "How did you know Sojiro was my legal guardian?"
Makoto felt a lump form in her throat.
It was a slip-up at the shack she chastised herself for later in the night, an idiotic mistake she knew would come back to bite her—but in the week since Kurusu-kun hadn't made any pushes on it…so the fear of it being brought to light was pushed to the wayside.
Oh, how she was wrong.
T-Think Makoto…
Think!
Students don't know how the directory works, right? I can just—
She cleared her throat, albeit a little nervously, "The d-directory. It has any and all information on students. Hence why only the council uses it."
She broke contact with Kurusu's stare, a weight lifted from her chest as she pried open the door, but his voice came once more, "You didn't have to force Tora out because of me."
Faintly, she gritted her teeth as she made her way to the Student Council Room.
I don't need to hear that from you.
Sojiro tapped Akira on the shoulder, bringing him to the land of the conscious, "Kid? You alright? I sent you guys to sectionals five minutes ago and all you've been doing is sitting in my office."
Akira came to life, remembering where he was and his duties as he lifted himself from the chair, "R-Right…I'm good. Just been…really tired. That's all."
Sojiro sighed as Akira tried to walk out of the office, "Alright, close the door. I can clearly tell something is bothering you." Begrudgingly, the teenager listened and sat back in the chair, Sojiro's gaze unrelenting as the sternness infected every portion of Akira's mind, making him shrink in the chair, "What's on your mind?"
Oh, besides Yusuke staying at my—shit, your apartment with no clothes, money, and barely going out besides Saturday?
Or should I talk about the fact my best friend seems to want nothing to do with me? How he's ignoring the hell out of me?
Or the fact that SOMETHING has to be wrong with Morgana since he's being so…unusually giddy?
Or the fact something is bothering Haru and she isn't texting back or how I couldn't find her at all today?
Or the fact I'm barely getting any sleep and I'm having nosebleeds and strange visions and that Takemi doesn't know why and she got me drinking these damn vials?
I mean, it's helping and I'm feeling better besides the sleepless nigh—
Akira gritted his teeth, breaking away from Sojiro's gaze, "It's a lot. I can't lie."
"Ryuji?"
"How did you…"
"He came into my office a couple of days ago…I was kinda hoping you guys would have it figured out by now…" He flicked his eyes to the window, clearly seeing Ryuji focus on perfecting his rudiments with his section, "I see that hasn't happened."
"Did he tell you why he's…avoiding me?"
Sojiro paused, "In short…I think it's because of trust."
"Trust?"
"Have you been truthful with him? Not your half-truths, but actual truths."
"I mean…yeah?"
Sojiro sighed, "Hm. Then I don't know."
Akira gazed over his shoulder, taking in the sight of the random members of the band, "Have you seen…Tetsuo?"
Sojiro huffed a chuckle, "Nope, I haven't seen the kid since last week…I even asked Niijima-kun to look into it for me since she's…more liked than me."
Akira frowned, looking away from Sojiro, "Oh…I…I see."
Oh shit…guess I kinda screwed that up.
But that's so strange…he was here this morning so…why didn't he come to practice?
I kinda know the kid, he would've told me if he wasn't coming…
A sigh slipped from his lips as he regained eye contact, "Okay…then can I ask you a question?" Sojiro looked at him attentively, a grunt of agreement coming from his lips, "How…do you exactly know Shido…? I didn't…have any time last week to ask since detention was kicking my ass but—"
Sojiro raised a hand, his face grim, "Look…um…I'll tell you all about it. Just…not now. When I'm ready. Can you respect that?"
Akira paused, but nodded, "I get it, boss."
Sojiro nodded, "Thank you."
"Ohya-kun?"
Ohya perked her head up from her phone as she and Makoto waited in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Hifumi taking a grating amount of time to come down from her office, "Hm?"
"I've heard that Kurusu-kun and Sakamoto-kun have been…on the outs lately. Why is that?"
Ohya flinched, "Oof…uh…how did you hear about that?"
"The Delinquents of Shujin Academy having a sort of issue? You think that wasn't going to spread around school?"
It hasn't I don't think, but what's one little lie?
Ohya sighed as she pocketed her phone, "Okay…I might've…told Ryuji about Akira's past…I just didn't want him to get caught up in the mess just in case you…decide to do something with the file I'm creating." Makoto stared at her for a moment, her stare unflinching in those seconds until she closed her eyes and sighed. Her hand went to her mouth as she nibbled on her nail, "I didn't think he'd stop talking to him…I was kinda hoping maybe he'd ask Akira and maybe—"
"Does Kurusu-kun know why Sakamoto-kun is avoiding him?"
"From what I can tell…not exactly. Ryuji's been around me a lot, and he hasn't been mentioning Akira. Well…he did talk to me about him yesterday when we were on the phone and seemed angry as well..."
Makoto peed, "What did he say?"
This isn't needed…
But any information is good information.
"Apparently they went to a…underground thing thanks to Iwai and a whole lot of things happened. Yusuke was there and went missing."
"Kitagawa-kun? But why—"
"That's where I'm trying to get to. They got chased by a serial… ass-taker and a…gloryhole participant?"
"Wha…what do those even…" Her voice died out as she shook her head, "Langauge, and please get to the point."
Ohya shook her head, "Your loss…but he said that Yusuke's apparently dropped out of school? That he's staying with the Kurusus'? After that, he said something about Akira keeping from him again so…yeah."
Makoto gnawed on her nail once more, attempting to center her focus.
Kitagawa's staying with the Kurusus…and he's dropped out of school…
What a wonderful plan, right?
Ah, stop that's unbecoming. Stop being petty.
Could that be the reason behind Okumura-san's observation?
Maybe…
This still isn't enough to use against Kurusu-kun if things get out of hand in the future…especially if he decides to get in my way with using Suzuno-kun…
Isn't enough for Principal Kobayakawa as well.
Damn it…
Language.
Ohya-kun shouldn't have told Sakamoto-kun…knowing Kurusu-kun, he will find a way to figure out what's wrong with him…and that could lead directly to Ohya. He's smart, there's no way he won't be able to piece together me and Ohya-kun's involvement…especially if he was wise enough to keep my mention of Sakura-sensei in his back pocket.
I can only imagine how things would go then if he learns of Ohya-kun's…"betrayal,"
Makoto opened her eyes, "How is the file on the Kurusus going, anyway?"
Ohya sighed, slouching a bit in her seat, "It's…pretty hard. My cousin's gotten back to me, but she doesn't know anything. Kind of."
"...Kind of?"
"Apparently, the teacher Akira assaulted was…actually his band director, Masayoshi Shido."
Makoto froze.
This Masayoshi Shido is the one?
But…I thought…
Ohya continued, "She didn't…know Akira too well since she wasn't in the band or his homeroom, but they talked here and there apparently. He used to be really soft-spoken at the beginning of last year."
Makoto snorted, "That's definitely not Kurusu-kun."
"That's what I said, but due to that quirk of his personality and…how close he was to their band director, she doesn't believe things went down how they went. But…where things are getting shifty." Ohya shuffled closer to Makoto, "My cousin's trying to go around and ask members of the band but they're all brushing her off. The most she'll get is people trash-talking him if anything. I've even called the principal and Shido respectively and they acted as if everything was fine. To be quite honest, they're making it seem as if Akira or Mona never went to Tachibana."
Makoto quirked an eyebrow, "Isn't that normal for a school to just…ignore an incident?"
The two faltered as they thought of Shujin, "Yes but—"
"Don't tell me you're trying to say there's some grand conspiracy against Kurusu-kun. Is it really that surprising an assault victim and a principal wouldn't like to talk about him to a random caller? That students in a band wouldn't feel a sense of betrayal? Anger?"
Ohya paused for a moment before sighing, "No…I just…I think there's more. Can you blame me for going with my gut after this weekend?"
Makoto gazed at her before she heard heels clicking against the tile, coming in their direction.
Hifumi sighed, crossing her hands as she stared at her cousin, thought that was an assumption on her part as Hifumi was wearing her signature sunglasses again, "Makoto. What are you doing here?"
Here we go.
Makoto cleared her throat, "Can we enter your office, please?"
Hifumi huffed a sigh, but relented, nodding for the teenagers to follow her lead. Soon enough, they made it inside. The detective gestured to the two chairs that lay untouched at the front of her desk. After taking her seat, she took her sunglasses off, electing to have the two suffer under her unrelenting gaze.
Throughout the years, Hifumi found it extremely effective, especially when grilling criminals…or suffering through an utterly boring date.
"Again, what are you doing here, Makoto?"
"I…um…"
Shoot…I can't tell her we're here investigating a lead involving a pedophile…that's just going to unleash another rant on me…and she'll probably tell sis.
"...We're here on behalf of Ann Takamaki and Shiho Suzui."
Hifumi perked an eyebrow, "Oh? Why is that?"
Ohya perked her eyebrow as well, but continued to keep her mouth shut, entrusting—and hoping—Makoto knew what she was doing.
Sure, her nerves were bubbling beneath the surface, almost to a fever pitch, but Makoto knew what she was doing.
Kinda.
"Um…well, we're really here on behalf of Takamaki-san…she came with Ohya-san a couple of days ago and asked if I could…use our family relationship to say a few words to Kamoshida. As a way to gain closure."
"Hm, and why is that? I would think a victim—if they have the ability and willpower to—would like to gain closure on their ownaccord."
Makoto nervously chuckled, "O-Of course, it's just that…she didn't have the willpower and…she had commitments today. She sat on it and decided to use my connection and have Ohya-san as an overseer."
Hifumi's flat expression hadn't changed, "I see." She grunted and stood, making her way to the door. She looked back at the girls, "Are you two coming or?"
The two girls looked at one another before they rose and followed behind Hifumi—albeit with a good margin of distance between them.
With the distance came the gift of whispers being unheard as Ohya spoke first, "Are you serious? Why would you lie and—"
"If I told Hifumi why we were really here, she wouldn't let us see Kamoshida."
"So you decided a shitty lie such as that was better?!"
"Language. And I think I did fairly well. What would you have gone with, Ohya-kun?"
"I don't know but isn't lying to a detective worth a charge? Or something?! I have a wonderful investigative journalist career coming up! I don't want to go to jail!"
Makoto shook her head as she closed the gap between her cousin, Ohya having no choice but to begrudgingly do the same.
After a while, the group of women made it to an elevator, with Hifumi pressing a button, causing its doors to wrench open, allowing them to step inside and start their descent.
Soon enough, the doors opened, revealing nothing but a black door and a security door at its side.
Hifumi pressed closer to the desk, sighing as she rapped her fingers against the marble surface, "Hiroto-san?"
He raised his eyes from his manga, catching sight of the girls at her side—especially Makoto, "Lemme guess, another favor?" She nodded as she went inside the holding cells, leaving the two Shujinites to stand awkwardly, "Niijima-kun."
"Hiroto-san…"
"It must be hard for you to stay out of trouble, huh?" Uyama pressed a button, unlocking the interrogation room and allowing the girls to enter while Hifumi followed suit with Kamoshida in tow.
She forced him down, leaving the disheveled man confused as he laid his eyes on the two girls.
Hifumi circled around, stopping by Makoto as she sought to leave the room, "You have two minutes. Make it quick."
The door close with a thud, leaving the three of them alone. Kamoshida tried to speak first, but Ohya was quicker, keeping her voice low just in case Hifumi or anyone could hear from the outside, "Where's Kayo Murakami?"
His brow knitted upward, confusion rife on his face, "Who?"
Ohya gritted her teeth, slipping into the seat across from him, "Kayo. Murakami. The girl whose past you leaked last year? My best friend?"
There seemed to be some faint form of recollection on his face, but a grin soon brandished itself, "Ah, speaking of leaked pasts," He turned his eyes to Makoto, "how's your little lover boy? Been disappointed he hasn't decided to greet me…you two done the deed yet?"
Makoto rolled her eyes as she approached the table, lowering her voice as well, "Answer the question, Suguru. We know she last saw you on the day Shiho jumped."
He sighed blissfully, slipping deeper into the chair, "Ah…I miss that catch. I should've done more with her, that one day wasn't enough." He sneered, "I wonder…does the little Kurusu still remember? Or is his memory still jumbled from all the…boxing lessons?"
Makoto's eye lingered to the left, catching Ohya's balled-up fist, giving her the foresight to place a calming hand on her shoulder.
I wouldn't be surprised if he knew someone would come asking about Murakami-kun…
But would he expect someone to know about Bael?
Makoto got closer, leaning on the table as her gaze harshly pierced his own.
He has no power.
I do.
"What did Bael tell you to do with her?"
His smirk evaporated, his face flat as he stared her down, almost as if he was piecing together his next thought. Soon, it came as he turned back to Ohya, "It was after school. I canceled practice since Niijima's little boy toy decided to punch the shit out of me and I had other business to deal with at the time. After all the staff and police finally left me alone, I was in my office. Just utterly weeping from the sad inability to cope that Suzui showed. Just as I got ready to leave…that's when that little bitch showed."
Ohya snapped, "How dare—"
Makoto reached her hand out, indicating to Ohya to stop, "Ah, at least someone here has some manners when they're listening to someone pouring their heart out!"
"Just continue the story, we didn't come here to hear you gloat."
Kamoshida rolled his eyes, "Fine, fine, sheesh everyone's a critic nowadays. Anyway, the annoying broad showed up, throwing all types of slanderous allegations on my name! Some about your little boyfriend, some about Sakamoto's worthless ass, and some about her past. I can't even lie, I thought she was trying to come onto me with just how aggressive she was being!" He leaned forward, "I kept telling her to leave but she wouldn't listen…until…" Makoto leaned forward with bated breath— "Until she did! I don't know what she did after that, but it had nothing to do with me!"
Makoto heard the door open behind her, Hifumi tapped her watch as she passed the girls, "Time's up."
Exasperated gasps came from the girls as she roughly grabbed Kamoshida, "W-Wait, Hifumi we—"
She eyed her cousin, "What more could you have to say for Takamaki and Suzui?"
Makoto kept her mouth shut, quickly remembering the lie she burrowed for herself and swiftly frustrating herself for the limitations she forced on herself.
As Kamoshida reached the door, he chuckled, "That name you mentioned Prez? That's a little above your pay grade."
Makoto's eyes widened as she reached out, following the two as Hifumi went back to the holding cell section, "What? Wait! Hifumi!" Her cousin purposely closed the door behind her, separating the two since she didn't have a card to access the area.
Makoto quietly cursed under her breath as Ohya caught up to her, "See? I told you they had to be related—"
Ohya's jaw was tight, a sight that filled Makoto with confusion as she silently stomped to the elevator.
Before Makoto knew it, Hifumi was by her side, her voice strained into a whisper, "I hope you got what you came for."
Makoto jolted, turning to meet her cousin's eye, "I d-don't know what you're talking about?"
Hifumi rolled her eyes, "I really did hope our conversation over the phone would've made you stop doing idiotic things but here we are. Whatever you needed to talk to Kamoshida for? It's clearly out of your paygrade, and something a child can't handle. So drop it. Enjoy your youth while you have it, and stop trying to harm yourself trying to…prove something. This is my last time warning you, so go home and be a good girl, please."
Makoto bit her lip, struggling to look her cousin in the eye as she eventually heeded to her word, but Hifumi called her once more, "And Makoto?" She turned around to see a gaze—so cold and harsh—pointed directly at her, "Don't ever make a mockery of Takamaki-san or Suzui-san like that again."
Tuesday, June 15th
Ann sighed as she walked into Shujin with Akira at her side, her eyes lingering over his slightly hunched-over form. He even had more bags under his eyes, "Are you okay? You look—"
"Like shit? Yeah, I know."
Hard to ignore it when Yusuke says I look even paler than him…
Would be so great if I could just take these weird vision dream things out of my brain and throw them into the trash but here we are.
Wait…speaking of weird things…
He tapped Ann on the shoulder as they ascended the stairs, "Uh…can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"Isn't Kayo Murakami the best friend of Ohya's you told me about?"
Ann faltered a bit in her step, "Yeah…? Why bring her up?"
He shook his head, "No uh…no reason."
Ann squinted suspiciously at him but shrugged it off as they sat at their desks before she turned to meet his exhausted face, "You're not losing sleep over Ryuji, right? The last time I asked you about this, you—"
He immediately cut her off, "Trust me, Ann, it's really not about Ryuji…although that whole situation isn't helping at all."
She looked at him grimly, not believing a lick of it, deciding to push more, "Then is it about Yusuke? And I feel really irritated that you and Mona decided to nottell me about him by the way…"
Akira sighed, "Now you're making me wish I didn't tell you Sunday…and besides, that's his business…not really mine to tell… even if he's living on my couch at the moment… " He shook his head, "But no, I promise it's not about him either. Just…really bad nightmares, I think."
She glanced at him with confusion on her face, "Nightmares? About?"
Akira faltered for a moment, struggling to think of the best way to convey his incomprehensible dreams—but another flash of pain wracked his skull as he winced in pain, his hand instantaneously cradling his head as he grasped the edge of his desk, using it as a form of stability.
It felt as if his brain had been ripped in a thousand different directions within one second before suddenly stopping, giving himself a reprieve from the pain.
It wasn't much of a reprieve as another one of those visions shone brightly inside his mind—though the subject matter wasn't as happy as the brilliance would suggest.
It was Haru…an unsightly display of tears streaming down her face as she yelled in agony, anguish rife in her voice—
It felt so gutwrenching that Akira felt it was real.
So real he forgot where he was.
So intense he forgot he was speaking to Ann in Class 2-D as he panted up a storm as a new symptom started to form—a crushing headache that had him nearly passed out.
It was a sight that caused Ann to worry as she gently shook him, "Akira…? Are you okay?"
Akira looked around, partially bug-eyed as he remembered where he was.
Shujin.
Shujin Academy.
Yeah.
I'm here.
But…what the hell was that…?
Are…are things getting worse?
"Akira…your nose…" Ann's worry was front and center on her face as Akira touched his nose, pulling back to see crimson on his fingertips and desk for the first time since Sunday.
Something's wrong with me.
Despite the nosebleed—and Ann's incredibly warranted worry and panic, Akira went through school with his usual rhythm, instead electing to immediately make his way to Takemi's clinic.
Akira panted, having ran from the train station to the inside—where Takemi was nowhere to be found.
Sh–
Shit!
"Takemi! Takemi, are you here!?"
Takemi threw her head from the curtains of the examination room, "What? I'm trying to take a nap."
Akira took a few more bundles of air as he stood upright, "I think…I think something's wrong with me."
"It took you this long to figure that out? I knew that from the second you decided to take my dru—"
He stepped closer, shaking his head, "I'm being serious. Today…I had another nosebleed, it was more intense, with a headache to boot and…I've been having these visions both times as well."
Takemi narrowed her eyes, staring up and down before she opened the curtains fully, revealing her attire for the day—a dark cyan dress with a spiderweb imprint, overlayed with a biker jacket and a pair of ripped black leggings to complete the outfit.
She walked further into the examination room, seemingly expecting the stunned teenager to follow as she turned around, "Well? Do you want my help or not?"
Takemi moved her light from one eye to the other, gazing inside Akira's pupils, seemingly finishing her set of check-ups. "Huh…everything seems to be in order…and you're sure you haven't been exposed to anything recently?"
Akira shook his head as she rolled back to her desk, "Nope, the only experimental thing I've been around is…well, you."
Takemi paused with her note-taking, placing her pen on the desk before turning around, "Hmm…from our texts, I do gather you agree on you being stressed? Restlessness…nose-bleeds…they all sound like an unhealthy influx of stress."
"Well…yeah, but…aren't the hallucinations, or whatever the hell they are, kinda worrying Takemi?"
She shook her head, "No, not really. Stress can cause hallucinations, Akira. That particularly comes from anxiety-based stress though…" She rubbed her chin before gazing at him once more, "What have the hallucinations been about? The ones you've been able to see clearly?"
Akira paused, "Uh…well, the first one was about a knife covered in blood…"
"Uh-huh, go on."
"The second one I got this morning was about my friend…she was crying—like someone died or something."
"Okay…did you stop and think about the possible meaning of these? Like your friend, has she been on your mind lately? The knife doesn't have to be literal, like…is there anything halting you? Scaring you? I think the best way to describe these are like…waking dreams I suppose? I'm not going to lie, I do think the drug is affecting you." She paused, grabbing a vial of experimental liquid and holding it in front of the boy, "Just like how you go into your subconscious when you take this, it's possible a lingering side-effect is causing your worries and fears to manifest in the waking world instead."
He stopped, giving her thoughts some consideration as he gazed at her warped perception inside the vial, "So…it's just amplifying what's already there?"
She nodded.
Well…Haru has been a little odd lately. High-strung.
Then…the knife—
Shit, my mind's probably telling me to stop letting those predictions eat away at me.
Probably another way to tell me to check up on Haru as well.
Been doing a pretty awful job at being a decent…friend?
Yeah, friend.
Yup.
Fuck.
So much for harmony of the soul and mind.
Akira sighed, "Okay…let's say this is the case, what should I do?"
"Besides trying to tackle them?" Takemi opened a drawer and fished a few vials out with a grin on her face, "You could be a good little patron and support my business!"
"Oh for the love of God."
"Come on! I've been letting you off the hook a little too much lately! Especially with that house visit! I know you're running low!"
Akira narrowed his eyes at her before grumbling under his breath, fishing a few yen notes from his wallet, "Fine, fine. Just take the damn money."
Takemi's grin turned into a toothy smile as Akira made his way out of the examination room with the vials in his hand, "Why thank you, Kurusu-kun! We appreciate your business!"
"Kiss my ass!"
Takemi popped her head out once more, "Akira? In all seriousness…take care of yourself. I'd hate to see you again all passed out before you forgot to fight off your stress. Plus…I think Sakura-san would beat my ass if that happened as well."
For the first time in the day, Akira smirked, "Fine…fine, and I don't think Sojiro would harm a pretty woman such as yourself."
She smirked in return, "Flattery isn't going to get you more free vials, kid."
He chuckled, opening the door and stepping into the humid streets of Yongen, "See you around Takemi."
Ann knocked on the door of the Sakamoto residence, Ikumi Sakamoto instantly opening the door with a smile on her face, "Takamaki-chan! How long has it been?"
Ikumi pulled her into a hug, smothering her with kisses as Ann laughed—struggling to free herself from the motherly assault.
Oh wow…I see her ungodly strength hasn't changed at all…
Great!
Ann stopped fighting it as she wrapped her hands around Ikumi's waist, hugging her back as Ikumi eventually broke the hug, a grin on her face as she pulled the young woman inside of the apartment, "How have you been?"
Ikumi made her way around her kitchen, quickly grabbing something for Ann to drink, as the young Shujinitie took a seat on the sofa, "I've been…alright. I think."
"Ah…that's right, you were involved with that whole…nasty situation at Shujin, weren't you? I'm so sorry…"
Ann smiled, thankful to see Ikumi's compassion hadn't wavered in the few years, "Thank you, but it's fine, I don't let it affect me anymore."
Ikumi returned another smile as she placed a soda down, "That's great to hear…and you don't like carbonated drinks, right?"
Ann nodded as she grabbed the drink, "Yup!"
Ikumi sat down as well, popping open her drink and taking a sip as she stared at the young girl, "I hope this doesn't come across as weird, but…you do know Ryuji isn't here yet, right?"
She nodded, "Oh, I know, last I saw him…he was going into the newspaper club room so…I think he'll probably be here within the hour."
A frown spread across the matriarch's face, "That means he's with that reporter girl, right…?
Ann sighed, "Yup…"
"Takamaki-chan…this might not be…apt, but aren't you single?"
Ann instantly turned red, "W-What? Wh-Why are you asking?"
Ikumi giggled, "No reason…but if you knew Ryuji wasn't going to be here, why did you come? I mean, I appreciate the visit and all."
Ann calmed down, tinges of red still on her face, "I want to talk to him. He's been avoiding all of us over the past week. Anytime I've tried to talk to him or even text him, he's just been ignoring it."
Ikumi tilted her head in confusion before a flash of motherly anger filled her, "He's been ignoring you?!" She chuckled, "Oh…that little shit is going to get gutted!"
"Wait! Wait! I need to talk to him first! Then you can do whatever else!"
Ryuji's mother chuckled, "And that is why I've always liked you, Takamaki-chan."
Ann flashed a sincere smile, "Mind if I wait for him in his room?" Ikumi nodded, giving the girl free rein to enter his room.
It had been at least two years since Ann stepped foot in Ryuji's room, and in all that time…she saw that nothing had changed.
Quite literally nothing.
In a way, it was almost comforting the fact this room was stuck in time almost—but in other ways, mainly the uncleanliness of it, made her very annoyed.
Should I clean up his room for the sake of old times?
…
Hell no!
He's avoiding us—HE'S BEEN AVOIDING ME FOR A WEEK!
PISS OFF!
Ann stomped on a few of his stray pants and shirts angrily before sitting down on his bed, calming herself down before a sigh left her lips.
I hope you have a really good excuse, Ryuji.
Ann eventually elected to tap away on her phone, her mind wandering elsewhere as she subtly prepared for the encounter, and what she exactly wanted to say.
Should I bring up how me and Akira have been worried sick?
Maybe…the nosebleed? To get the point across?
No…
Maybe I should bring up how Ohya's nothing more than a snake and how she's trying to—
Oh, what the hell am I doing….
Maybe I should've left this up to Akira…
Ann heard the door shut and froze.
Oh crap! He's here!
Soon enough, after bantering back and forth with his mother, Ryuji opened his room…to see Ann sitting on his bed.
For some reason, the two of them went red—well, Ryuji went red as he jumped back, pointing a hand at Ann, "How the hell did you get into my room?!" He turned his head to his mother on the couch, "M-Ma! Did you—"
Ikumi's voice overtook him quickly, "Shut the hell up and talk to her! I should give you a stern whoopin' for ignorin' the poor girl for as long as you did!" Ikumi threw a slipper at him, which he dodged and slipped into his room, locking the door as he sighed a breath of relief.
The two of them were alone with each other.
Great…what did you get yourself into Ann…
There was a beat of silence, until he sighed, turning around and addressing her—though he failed to look her in the eye, "W-What are you doing here, Ann…?"
That, thankfully, was enough to jumpstart Ann—and her boiling irritation, "What am I doing here? After you ignored us for over a week? Ignored me?" Ann paused for a moment, "I can somehow get ignoring Akira, but me?After we just fixed our relationship? Do you know how that feels?"
Ryuji faltered, but bit back, "You think I don't know how it feels? Really?"
Ann bit her tongue as she winced, remembering the past few months before Akira came, "If that's the case then why are you? Come on Ryuji, I thought we were going to tell each other stuff when we needed someone to talk to…"
Ryuji sighed, pacing around before sitting on the edge of the bed, "I'm…I'm not ignoring you. I'm just…tryna give myself time to think."
"Think about what? I've—We've been worried sick about you. Akira's been worried sick about you…he's literally been losing sleep and getting nosebleeds!"
Ha! Good!
Wait, not the Akira having nosebleeds part, that's actually awful and I need to text him to make sure he's okay after this…
Ryuji's strong visage faltered as he turned to meet Ann's gaze for the first time, "H-He has? Is he okay?"
"I think so…but I think you could just find out firsthand if you'd just talk to him." Ann pushed closer, "What's wrong Ryuji…? I know you wouldn't just do Akira like this, you care and trust him too much…"
Ryuji snatched his vision away, electing to view the carpet instead as his grip on the sheets tightened, "That…that might be the problem."
Ann was confused, "What…?"
Ryuji sighed, "I…I don't know what to do."
"About what?"
He readjusted, shuffling on the bed as he sat right next to her, "I…I've learned something about Akira…and I'm not sure what to do."
"Something like…?"
She froze.
Something from Ohya…?
It has to be right?
There's no one else he trusts enough to the point where he'll consider their words.
"I don't want to say. It's not my place, and that's really why I've been avoiding you…what I have going on with Akira? It's my issue to deal with and I don't want you involved, just in case it doesn't…work out like I hope."
Ann stared into his eyes, examining him for a moment before she scoffed, "You're such an idiot. The both of you are such…idiots. When things get hard, why do you think you can just say screw everyone and try to do it on your own?! You're just run-"
Ryuji broke the contact as his voice rose as well, feeding off her emotions, "Did I force myself into your visit with Kamoshida?!"
"Th-that's not the same and you know it. Don't you dare try to compare that monster to Akira!"
"I'm not! B-But this is something I have to do alone! How do you think I feel?" He froze for a second, considering if he could go further but it didn't matter anymore, "Knowin' that my own best friend is keepin' so many secrets away from me, despite me givin' and pourin' my own 'effin heart out to him so many goddamn times?! Tellin' me to just go along with it because he says so?! Because he thinks it's right?! That's a bunch of bullshit!" Ryuji shot from the bed, irate as if he was exploding from holding this all in—almost as if he was a powder keg lit ablaze, "Look at Yusuke! Yusuke is sittin' on his damn couch wastin' away and not doin' shit, droppin' out of school because of what we did! Did he even tell you?! Did he tell you why?!"
Ann rose to meet his gaze, "Yes! And Yusuke only left because people bullied him and he couldn't take it anymore!"
"Bullied him because of what? Madarame? And did he only tell you because I found out?!"
Ann tried to bite back but clenched her jaw, unable to think of anything.
"You see what I mean…Yusuke wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for us…it's like Akira only…only does things when…it fits. You should've seen how he and Miss Prez were arguin' at the shack, it's like he completely forgot about why we were doin' it and just wanted to one-up her. Hell, she pointed out how I was just a pawn. How we're just pawns. If she can see it…then why didn't we?" His voice went quiet as an overwhelming layer of sensitivity filled him, "How could I not see it again…?"
Ann swallowed shakily, "So…you're saying we should've just left Yusuke to the clutches of Madarame? That we shouldn't have helped?"
"N-No…I'm just sayin'...maybe we should've done things differently. It's not justabout Yusuke or his past or whatever the hell else…it's just the principle." His eyes hung low, "It's taken me a while to realize it but…actions have consequences and you can't run away from them, and Akira needs to realize that too." He took a shaky breath, "...maybe Miss Prez was right about that. Has he told you if he has some sort of plan when it comes to Yusuke?"
Ann's silence was more than enough.
He had his answer.
Ann went to the door but Ryuji's voice made her freeze, "Can…can you promise to just…not say anythin' to him? Please?"
Ann sighed as she opened the door, "Fine. But you need to fix this and talk to him. I don't want Akira to worry himself to death because of you."
Ann angrily walked out of his room, damn near slamming his door as she headed out of the door, trying her damnest to ignore Ikumi's confused pleas.
On the train back home, Ann pulled her phone out, pulling up Iwai's contact.
Ann: Senpai?
Iwai-senpai: Hm? Takamaki?
Ann: Can you do me another favor?
Iwai-senpai: Hm?
Ann: Can you look in Ohya, for me? I think she's…messing with Ryuji.
Iwai-senpai: As in…?
Ann: I think she's telling him lies and why he's not talking to Akira.
Iwai-senpai: You got any proof?
Ann: Nope, but…that's why I'm texting you…can you help?
Iwai-senpai: …Fine, but this is another favor that's going to cost you.
Ann: Or I could put my fist up your ass. I'm not an idiot like Ryuji or Akira.
Iwai-senpai: …Fine, I'll just put it on their tabs.
Ann placed her phone in her pocket, gazing at the passing imagery outside of her train car.
That feeling in her stomach…the anxiety.
It was there again…and it felt like it wasn't going to leave anytime soon.
Akira: Haru?
Elite Milk: Hm? Yes?
Akira: Are you busy?
Elite Milk: ?
Elite Milk: Why?
Akira: Just answer the question, are you busy?
Elite Milk: No…I'm at home.
Another day ignoring the garden? Strange.
Akira: Okay, mind meeting me at Kichijoji?
Elite Milk: Um—
Elite Milk: Why?
Akira: Just trust me, okay?
Elite Milk: ….okay...
I should really change her name in my phone…
But good.
This is good.
No matter how many times she tried calling Jin's number and his parents' numbers, none of them answered the phone and kept going straight to voicemail.
Worrying.
Instead of waiting…she didn't want anything to slip past her, so she set out to the Kageyama household.
But that was the odd thing—it was vacant.
And there wasn't a landlord to help her this time.
Things were getting stranger. Excessively strange.
"So…why did you want to hang out today?"
Akira turned around to meet Haru's gaze, "Oh, I need an excuse to see my friend now?"
"No…but I'd like to know. Wouldn't this be a good enough time for you to…get some sleep? You look awful, Akira…"
He chuckled as they continued walking, "I'll be fine Haru, no need to worry about me, and besides, I couldn't help but notice how you've been…distant. You haven't even been at the garden lately, so…I thought this might help."
Haru froze for a moment before giving a brief–albeit forced smile, "I see…thank you, Akira…but you don't have to if you don't want to…"
Akira chuckled, "Nope, I want to. I think it'll be a nice change of pace for both of us. Besides, Sojiro's told me about this place before, so…let's try it!" Akira grabbed her hand, leading her into Kichijoji, the district was bustling and vibrant with an endless charm that was seemingly grabbing a hold of Akira as well.
Soon enough, he hoped, it would have Haru as well.
She doesn't look the same without her smile.
Thankfully, Akira was following Sojiro's instructions to a T by the time pulled Haru into the club, since they notably didn't allow patrons until the sun fell below the horizon.
Akira quickly grabbed a table near the front of the stage and asked for drinks—a coffee for Haru and some tea for himself.
Mhm, I see you still don't like coffee?"
"Bleh, I don't get how you and Sojiro like it so much…it tastes like watered down…y'know bean juice."
"That's…kinda what it is. But, ooh…you're missing out on a wonderful world of tastes, Akira."
He chuckled, "Or…maybe it's missing out of me. And besides, I've already experienced so many wonderful worlds of tastes, what's one more?
"I suppose you can't go wrong with that line of logic…"
There we go again…she seems withdrawn…
I gotta figure that out.
I have to.
He cleared his throat, "So…what's been going on? The garden's been crying out for your name, constantly asking me when mommy Haru's gonna be back. I can't keep lying to those poor…tomato-things anymore."
Another faint smirk formed, "In that case, you could just…garden if you don't want to hear them cry anymore."
Akira laughed the suggestion away, "I don't think you'd want me to touch your garden without your intense supervision, I'd probably cause them to wilt up and die within seconds."
She briefly chuckled, "It happens, it's a part of the process…doesn't mean you can't try."
Akira paused, taking the chance to just stare at her.
Something's weighing her down.
Please…just tell me Haru.
I know everything's going to be alright…we just have to get there.
It just starts with you.
Akira reached across the table, placing a hand over hers, tapping into the sincerity that coated his voice on Friday, "Haru…I'm seriously worried, you haven't been yourself and now you're trying to…move the garden onto me? What's wrong? Seriously."
Haru froze at the touch—until the blood came rushing back to her brain, causing her to wrench it away from Akira, a gesture that actually hurt him.
Oh.
The air between them was frigid as silence filled the table, their own little pocket of the club their own-yet it was empty nevertheless as they nervously shuffled in their chairs, desperately trying to keep to themselves in order to not ruin the night any further if that was possible.
In other words? It was incredibly awkward.
The server came back, placing their respective drinks in front of him as he left. The two silently consumed their hot drinks until the singer for the night came onto the stage.
Surprisingly, it was Lyn.
The song was titled, 'With The Stars And Us.'
The sing began with a beautiful chord sprayed over F Major, a gentle series of cymbal crashes coming every other beat. The keyboardist continued, moving seamlessly between the chords with a simple bassline filling the club until, finally, Lyn sang into the mic.
"In the endless days,
We lost our place of belonging,
And wandered around aimlessly,
Streets of yesterday,
Are reflected in the mirror,
Even if I try connecting,
The mingled pieces of the past together-
No matter how much I try scooping them up,
They slip through my fingers,"
Akira felt odd, the last two bars rousing something in his head.
"...like grains of sand,
But even so,
The things I can see,
Aren't all there is to them,
It's in my heart,
I will search for tomorrow,
From here on with my heart,
Under that sky,
We were able to come across each other,
Through mutual attraction,
I lived every day,
Spilling my feelings,
Even if I try to only add up,
My overflowing memories,"
Out of Akira's sight, he failed to notice Haru's increasing shuffling in her seat, the song's topic dawning on her more and more—and how it was unsettling to her.
"They say that physical things,
Are all that exist in this world,
But where they begin or end,
Shouldn't be decided by anyone,
I will follow my heart,
Let's return to the future we aimed for,
Anytime, anywhere,
We can meet if you wish for it,
From now on,
We don't need to make promises,
We're looking at the same stars,
Even if we're apart,"
Haru felt her heart flutter.
It was frightening.
So that's why we say goodbye today,
No matter how much I try scooping them up,
They slip through my fingers,
Like grains of sand,
But even so,
The things I can see,
Aren't all there is to them,
It's in my heart,
They say that physical things,
Are all that exist in this world,
But where they begin or end,
Shouldn't be decided by anyone,
I will follow my heart,
Let's search for our future,
With our hearts,
I will follow my heart,
It's in my heart,
Follow my heart."
It was frightening because her heart was longing.
Longing to be heard.
Yet, she didn't listen.
The song finished as an uproar of claps, whistles, and applause came from the crowd, with Akira being one of them.
The song was beautiful, there was no denying that. It even had an unparalleled about of emotional weight to it as well…though, he thought it was strange he didn't hear any applause from the opposite side of the table.
His eyes moved over to Haru, her frame unmoving as she stared at Lyn. It was almost as if the singer had enraptured her…though her face was marred with a barren expression.
Soon enough, Haru tapped him, "Can…can we leave?"
He lingered in her eyes for a moment, gaining nothing from it, before deciding to relent to her request with a nod, "Of course."
The two stepped out of the Jazz Club, the streets of Kichijoji basked with the darkness and cool breeze of the night. They continued through the streets, leaving Kichijoji as silence enveloped them.
Honestly for Akira?
He was starting to get tired of silence is more of a friend to him than his actual friends.
Maybe it was a form of punishment, a sort of repentance.
He wasn't sure what he did to Haru for her to react like this—for her to avoid and recoil from him like this.
He wasn't sure what he did to Ryuji for him to act like this—for him to avoid his supposed best friend like he was the plague.
Maybe that was a part of the problem.
He was too aloof to notice.
Maybe I shouldn't have listened to Therapist Haru.
Maybe I shouldn't have listened to Takemi.
It's happening again.
God.
Too self-centered.
Too selfish.
Too idiotic.
Too focused.
Too blind.
Too much like Shi—
Akira paused in the street, sniffling coming behind him—the only sign that the silence had been broken.
Though he was slow to do so, Akira turned around to see Haru, her face lined with tears. Her cries were choked and held as if she was ashamed of even being brought to this point.
A…Almost like my vision…?
"Haru…?" He hesitantly stepped forward, unsure of the best course of action.
Haru didn't conjure any words, her cries still being the only sound between the two of them. She stood stiff in the street—
Until she fell into Akira's arms, hugging him–-as tight as she could, almost as if she was afraid of him fading into grains of sand that would slip between her fingers.
What…?
What's—
Akira stood stunned as she burrowed her head into his chest, her voice muffled, "I…I want to follow my heart."
What?
"What? What do you mean?"
She continued to hold her head in his chest, her hold only getting tighter as she hid her vulnerable visage from the raven-haired boy wonder, "I…just want to find my own future. I want to carve out my own path…"
Her own future…her own path…
Suffocated by others…manipulate to appease others…
"Do you mean you can't do anything yourself, Haru?"
Another choked sob came from her as she raised her head, her teary gaze reaching Akira's own as they stood transfixed outside of Kichijoji, she nodded, "My…father he…" She took a few breaths, attempting to calm herself as she recanted the last week, "I'm in an arranged marriage now…"
Akira was stunned as he stared into her weathered eyes as she garnered the strength to continue, "In a couple of months, I won't even be a student at Shujin…I won't be able to grow in the garden anymore…I won't be able to…go outside, I won't be able to see everyone…" She faltered, struggling to say her next words, "I–I won't be able to see you…and I…I hate that. I hate it but…it's what father wants. It's what's best for father. It'll even help my mother but…"
Akira stared at her grimly, "It's not what you want." He gazed into her eyes, his own almost softening in the reds, blues, yellows, and oranges of the city light as he stared at her, "What do you want?"
Haru seemed to get a hold of her emotions as she stared at him once more, almost captured by his gray eyes and the determination they held. They were fierce…almost protective, and all of it was pointed solely at her.
And no one else.
"I…want…I want to stand by everyone…to make memories…to be me." Her hold tightened as she spoke her final piece, "To be by your side."
Akira's eyes faintly widened as he realized the implication.
Finally, he remembered he had arms as well, and for as long as need be, he wrapped them around her—as tightly as he could.
Until an urge spoke to him, compelling him to place his hands softly on her face, gently wiping away her tears and taking in her beauty—before he went in for a kiss.
The two stayed there, enveloping each other in their searing passion before Akira pulled away, a form of embarrassment masking his face as he went crimson, the two peering at one another, unsure if one of them should make the next move or the other should.
Eventually, Akira spoke, his mind focused on one thing and one thing only.
Her.
"U-Um…s-sorry…but um…your w-wish…I promise I'll make it come true. I promise."
For the first time that night, Haru's smile seemed genuine as she never broke the gaze, "I believe you."
A/N:
A writer's intent vs what's actually in the material is always interesting to me. You can intent for so much foreshadowing, motifs, themes, and maybe an extra amount of heavy-handedness but the fear of overwhelming and feeding too much to the reader can cause an egregious amount of restraint that results in the audience getting a different interpretation than you've intended. Sometimes it can even shift the entire response to a plot point completely.
I only bring this up since this idea kept permeating in my brain with Akira's struggle with insomnia and the subsequent hallucinations, Ryuji's dilemma, Makoto's increasing instability, and Haru's first example of vulnerability with Akira in MP so far...especially that kiss lmao. All I can really do is try, then see what worked and what combusted into a ball of fire with my writing approach and pick up the pieces. Failure is necessary after all and I can't be scared of that. Fuck it, we ball right?