"What were you talking about with Fujiwara-kun?"
That question made Ishida Andini turn her head around. She looked at Takigawa Masaki who was walking beside her. His blue eyes stared straight ahead even though the man had just spoken to her. They were on their way home. Initially, Nikaido Eisuke wanted to take Andini home but Andini refused because her cousin still had to practice to prepare for the Kyudo tournament. After all, Eisuke's house is not in the same direction as Andini's house. And, starting tomorrow, Andini will see Eisuke practicing at his school, Tsujimine High School.
"Why do you have to ask that?" Andini asked back. "Whatever I talk about with Shu-kun, it's none of your business, Masaki-san. I didn't even ask about your relationship with Kanao-san and what you were talking about, right?"
"You were there. You can hear it."
"I'm not an innocent girl who has to listen to other people's conversations. While you were talking to Kanao-san, I was busy thinking about something." Andini stopped walking, and so did Masaki. Meanwhile, Kurosaki Inga and Fujiwara Shu were still walking in front of them. "Masaki-san, stop taking care of my life. We are strangers. You are a stranger to me and vice versa. Wouldn't it be rude if you interfered in my every business?"
"I told you that I am interested in you. Don't you understand yet?"
Andini took a deep breath. Suddenly, she felt very tired. The girl massaged the bridge of her nose.
"Then, stop being interested in me."
"How can I possibly control my own feelings?"
Andini looked annoyed at Masaki.
"I'm still in high school!"
"I don't care." Masaki shrugged his shoulders. He bent down so that their faces were level. "As long as we hide it well, no one will know that you and I have a special relationship. I can also wait for you until you graduate from high school."
Andini knew that Masaki meant what he just said. The girl snorted and looked away. She crossed her arms. Then, Andini started muttering in her Mother's language, Indonesian.
"This man is so annoying! What should I do to get him to stay away from me?"
Masaki chuckled and ruffled Andini's hair. The girl immediately jerked Masaki's hand away.
"I know you're scolding me using your Mother's language." Masaki pointed at Inga and Shu. "We are already far behind."
Ishida Andini looked at the road on her left. Many vehicles are moving fast on the road. If Andini ran into the middle of the road right now, maybe a car would hit her straight away. She wouldn't feel that pain, right? She would definitely leave this world straight away.
Suddenly, Andini felt her arm being pulled gently. The girl blinked and suddenly she had changed places with Masaki. The man was walking on the outside of the road, adjacent to the main road next to it, while Andini was walking on the inside of the road. Andini looked at Masaki but the man only looked down to read the message on his cellphone.
Did Takigawa Masaki deliberately switch positions with her because he was afraid that she would jump into the middle of the road?
"When are you going to Tsujimine High School to see Nikaido-san practice Kyudo?" Masaki asked. When the man turned to look at her, Andini cleared her throat and looked forward.
"After school tomorrow."
"Hm." Masaki rubbed his chin and nodded. "Okay, I've decided."
Andini blinked. "Yes?"
However, Masaki just smiled mysteriously.
###
Ishida Andini couldn't believe what she was seeing now.
All members of the Kazemai High School Kyudo club were ready in front of a mini bus parked in front of the school gate. The expressions on their faces were enthusiastic while Takigawa Masaki smiled broadly at her.
"I've decided we'll do joint training with Tsujimine High School. I called Tsujimine High School and they gave me Nikaido Eisuke's cell phone number. This is also necessary to hone Minato and the others Kyudo skills."
Andini groaned loudly in her heart and cursed in English. Then, she grumbled using Indonesian. Masaki just smiled and told Minato and the others to immediately get into the mini bus.
"Andini-chan, you will sit in the front with me."
Andini's mouth opened wide. The girl no longer knew how to react. Her head hurt from having to face Masaki. The girl finally got into the car and sat in the front, next to Masaki.
"Seatbelt?"
"Done," answered Andini. Without realizing it, the girl used Indonesian. When Masaki remained silent and her friends sitting behind her didn't make a sound anymore, Andini realized her mistake and cleared her throat. She immediately used Japanese, her Father's language. "Ahem! I mean, I already wore it."
The mini bus was traveling at an average speed. The people behind were busy chatting, discussing tournaments and such. Andini just kept quiet and listened. She propped her chin on the car window and stared out.
"We will fight your cousin."
Andini glanced at Masaki.
"Are you going to cheer for us or cheer for Nikaido-san? Or, are you going to encourage Fujiwara-kun instead?"
"I won't encourage anyone. Besides, I won't be at the tournament."
"Why?"
"Why should I?"
Masaki was silent.
"But, you want to see Nikaido-san practice Kyudo."
"Because I have to find the answers to all of my questions."
"Which is?"
Andini looked at Masaki. "Masaki-san, can you focus on the road in front of you? If you don't concentrate while driving, you will put me and all of us in danger."
"I am a multi-talented man," Masaki said in a calm tone. "I can drive and chat with you, Andini-chan."
Andini snorted. Why does that annoying man always want to interfere with her every problem?
"Is the answer you want to seek related to your twin brother, Ishida Akira?"
Andini froze. She clenched both of her fists and turned to Masaki. Her light brown eyes were cold and sharp. Masaki, who glanced briefly to see Andini's reaction, was wide-eyed.
"Masaki-san, watch out! In front of you, there is a car stopping!"
Inga's scream made Masaki flinch. He immediately looked forward and stepped on the brakes quickly. The car stopped with a terrible sound. They almost had an accident. Everyone sitting in the back seat was busy catching their breath and calming down, and so was Masaki. Only Andini behaved normally. She unfastened her seat belt and got out of the car.
"Andini-chan?!" Inga exclaimed. "Andini-chan, where are you going?!"
After managing to calm himself, Masaki immediately removed his seat belt and got out of the car. He ran to look for Andini. The girl looked normal when the accident happened but Masaki could see her eyes shaking with fear. The blue-haired man froze when he saw Andini sitting on the asphalt.
"Andini-chan!"
Masaki ran over to Andini and was wide-eyed when he saw the girl trying to breathe properly. Andini looked very difficult to breathe and tears continued to flow down her beautiful face. It was as if the girl was being strangled by someone.
"Andini, hey!" Masaki cupped Andini's face. "Andini, look at me. Try to breathe properly. Inhale, exhale. Andini!"
But, Andini couldn't follow him.
She seemed to see Ishida Akira standing behind Masaki and looking at her with a flat and blank look.
