Before the Infirmary...
Huh...? Why am I so light headed? Shiho thought to herself.
She was staggering her way to the gym. The black haired student massaged the side of her head as she continued to walk ahead. She was weak to where she ended up dragging herself against the wall, trying her best to walk steadily. Shiho ended up closing her eyes to where she didn't even know she'd end up bumping into someone.
"Huh...? I'm... I'm so sorry." She put a lot of effort to looking up, "Amamiya-san...?" She breathed out difficulty. I'm so glad he's doing okay. A small smile slid across her face.
"You should go to the infirmary!" He held onto her arms gently, helping her stay up.
She jolted a little by the sudden grasp, but a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Shiho felt as though she was finally protected. Yes, the young woman didn't know much about him, and yet she still felt she could put trust in him. The way he held her gently in his hold. The voice that wiped away all the others that made her feel as though her ears were being tainted by those who pressured her. The beating of his heart sounding like an easing melody that made her feel as though her heart beat was matching his, thinking to herself as if their hearts were playing a duet. Everything that continuously grew felt as though it was all melting away which made her feel like she could breathe again and finally rest. Before she knew it, her calmness finally took over to where she passed out in his arms.
Her final sentence being, "I-I can't... I still have practice..." She mumbled, her eyes finally fully closing shut.
"Let's- Suzui-san!?" Is the last thing she could hear before she blacked out unwillingly.
Huh...? She felt like she was being cradled, Am I in someone's hold...? She thought to herself, having the inability to speak, Who could it be? She became wary, hoping it wasn't her gym teacher again, Hm...? This... grasp. It feels so familiar. Her eyes tightened, frustrated on figuring out who it could be, It's not Ann... Who could it be!?
"It's okay. Everything's going to be fine. You'll be taken care of soon." The voice spoke softly.
Ren...? Once she recognized the voice, she was at ease again, He feels so warm... She sighed with relief and admiration, resting her head on his shoulder as though he was a pillow, finally resting peacefully, surrendering herself to the sandman.
Shiho moaned when she felt something was placed on her lips, Am I drinking something...? The taste is so bitter, but it also tastes... sweet? The fragile student thought, trying to absorb what could possibly be happening, Hm...? Why does this glass feel so soft? Am I... Am I being kissed!?
She wanted to open her eyes and push the person away, automatically assuming it was Kamoshida. The young woman tried her best to move, but all she could do was open her eyes. As she forcefully opened her eyes, she ended up gasping and closed her eyes tightly, unconsciously drinking the medicine Ren gave her.
Ren!? I can't believe I'm kissing Ren! She mentally screamed, leading herself to moan.
Her body ended up tensing up even more. She could barely breathe after noticing she was practically kissing Ren. Shiho thought that her heart was about to burst as it throbbed against her rib cage. The adolescent thought she should push him away. No, she felt she should push him away, but in the back of her mind, she knew in all honesty... she didn't want to. But she denied the thought and the feel and used her inability to move as an excuse.
Please hurry up! She pleaded.
The two teens felt so uncomfortable, both of their hearts deafening out the others. Both of their faces turned red. Shiho tried to hide it as best as she could, pretending she was finally relaxed after being forced to take the medicine, but deep down inside, she wanted to scream out of embarrassment and disbelief. The adolescent didn't want to admit it, but she didn't mind what just happened. She couldn't bring herself to admit it though. The young woman begged that he would leave soon so she could organize her thoughts and finally fully relax.
Shiho heard him stand up and begin to walk away. Hm...? She peeked, seeing him look at the nurse kindly before he bowed and walked away.
"Please take care of her, her fever is down, but I don't know how her condition will be later." He looked at the nurse with an expression of plead, "Thank you." She heard before he was finally gone.
Heh... I don't know how to feel about this. Shiho sighed faintly, closing her eyes, I feel I should've pushed him away once I awoke, but... why didn't I?
Shiho started to daze as she rested on the bed. The young woman rested her arm over her eyes, blocking the blinding light and gripped her chest with her free one. Countless sighs continued throughout the time she spent recovering there. Her thoughts just kept building up with questions as if sounding as though it like a broken record, saying the same thing over and over again. She turned on her side, burying her arms under the firm pillow as her thoughts continued to wander.
His lips were so firm, yet so soft. Shiho chuckled lightly, speechlessly lost on how to view this, Would I even count this as my first kiss...? She traced her fingers around her lips. Was this possibly... his first kiss as well? No... of course not... it couldn't possibly... She took it as a joke, even though it led to a twinge in her chest by the thought.
She closed her eyes tightly with a small moan, her mind boggling by the memory of the feel of his lips that met hers. The firm, yet gentle grip he held when he had her in his arm. The touch of his smooth, slender fingers gently touching her lips. His warmth resonating when he inched closer to her. His whole presence felt both intense and so calming to where she felt she was being washed away by a river.
I can't believe this... She sighed.
Shiho wanted to erase the whole scenario, but there was a part of her that wouldn't. No... a part of her that didn't want to do it. This was practically a moment that turned into a burning memory she knew she couldn't, let alone didn't want to get rid of it at all. She turned and looked in the direction he left, effortlessly sighing as though it was on repeat. Putting effort into supporting her countless unanswered questions that suffocated her and made her mind become so cloudy to where she couldn't think straight.
I'll just sleep this off and forget... She sighed once more before falling into a deep slumber once again.
"...There you are." Sakamoto said, looking over at Ren.
Yeah... I feel I didn't have much of a choice. He chuckled faintly, looking away.
"Sorry for callin' you up here like this." He said, grabbing Ren's attention back towards him.
"Don't worry about it." He smiled faintly, trying to get his mind off of what just happened not long ago.
"I bet Kawakami already told you stuff like, 'don't get involved with him,' huh?" Ryuji assumed.
"She said you're trouble." Ren responded nonchalantly.
"Heh, we're pretty much in the same boat." Sakamoto said, leaning back in his seat, looking away.
"Heh... Can't deny that. I guess..." Ren sighed deeply, looking aside again, trying to rid his discomfort.
"I heard you got a criminal record. Everyone's talkin' about it." He brought up. "No wonder you were so gutsy."
Ren groaned, "Can you please not bring that up?" He mumbled, heading over to once of the spare desks, sitting on the edge of one.
"...What was all that that happened? You know, how we almost got killed at a castle..." He questioned, "It wasn't a dream... right? You remember it too, yeah?"
"Yeah." He sighed, looking down, "Doesn't mean I want to remember nor believe what happened," He chuckled lightly before looking back at Ryuji. But I have to admit... I'd rather try and believe that than what happened in the nurses office. He sighed deeply again.
"Well, just 'cause we both remember it doesn't mean much though..." Ryuji said, "I mean, even if it was a dream, you saved me from Kamoshida." He added with a look of praise, "So yeah... Thank's Ren."
Going to first name basis, huh? He breathed out a laugh, Guess I don't mind it... He sighed, looking over at Ryuji with a faint grin. "You're welcome."
"But man, that Kamoshida we saw there..." He growled once bringing up the gym teacher, "You prolly don't know about it, but there are some rumors about him."
"Kamoshida..." Ren asked, I bet countless.
"You know, the guy you met at the school gates. The ripped one. That asshole who was all full of himself at the castle." Ryuji brought up, "No one says anything against him 'cause he's some medalist who took the volleyball team to nationals." He said, "The way Kamoshida was a kind of that castle felt crazy real 'cause of that..." The ruffian said, looking down with a groan of frustration, "...I wonder if we can go back to that castle again..."
Please no... Ren exhaled.
"Ugh, forget it. Must've all been a dream! It has to be!" He growled, rushing out of his seat.
Thank you! He breathed out with relief.
"Sorry to drag you out here like this. That's all I had to say." Ryuji smiled. "You know, we might be pretty similar." His grin grew, "I feel like we're gonna get along just as 'troublemakers.'"
Yeah... I guess. After all, I am seen as a delinquent at this school. He laughed faintly.
"I'm Ryuji Sakamoto." He beamed.
I know... you're quite infamous to a few teachers. Ren thought.
"I'll come talk if I see you around. Don't ignore me, all right?"
As if I have much of a choice... He cackled, nodding his head, watching Ryuji walk away.
"Seeya." He waved, heading to the door, leaving before Ren.
Ren looked up at the sky, seeing the sky change colors noticing the sun was beginning to set. Damn it... He groaned, noticing it was later than when he should've been home. I'll... Ren paused himself from what he was going to do without thinking. No... I should head straight home. Even though the teen began to walk, aiming for the entrance of the school, he found himself in front of the nurses office. What the...? How...?
He was shocked once noticing the sign, quickly going to the side of the door, hoping he wasn't seen. The teen peeked to see if she was there, hoping she wasn't and thankfully she wasn't. He sighed with relief, turning around to leave school. But as he did, he bumped into the very person he wanted to not see after what happened.
"O-Oh! A-Amamiya-san... um... hello." Ren's eyes widened.
"I'll see you later, Suzui-san!" He bolted without giving a chance for them to speak again. I am so sorry, Suzui-san... The student with glasses continued to bolt until he reached the train station, feeling as though he beat a track record. Finally... He caught his breath, entering the train, heading home. First week in Yongen Jaya and I still already feel out of place... Ren let out a sigh of early defeat, Never knew I'd end up having to spend a year in the city. Hell, never expected to experience something as weird as that. Was I hallucinating? No... Ren wanted to deny what he dealt with at school, but he wasn't alone in that palace so he assumed it most likely was real, which ended up making him begin to question about his dream from last night.
He walked in the neighborhood, trying to cool himself off after all the things he dealt with today. "I'm beat... I'll just go straight home and pass out once the lecture is over." Ren said to himself, knowing fully well he was screwed.
"Hey, I got a call from the school." Sojiro spoke right when he entered the cafe, giving a stern look.
Knew it... He stood tall, listening to his guardian, hoping he wouldn't get too deep into trouble.
"I hear you ditched half a day today." His guardian continued.
"I couldn't help it." He rubbed the back of his neck. Can't tell him the cause of it was because I ended up in a castle... I bet he'll view it as insane and kick me out. Ren tried to hold in a laugh and gave a serious face, continuing to listen to Sojiro.
"Yeah, yeah... That's what everyone says when they're caught." He exhaled slowly, trying to get over it, "Look, just behave yourself."
Ren was about to bring a good enough excuse, but the only one he could think of was Shiho. Just by the thought of it, he was glad that his eyes were shielded by his glasses most of the time. He tensed up by the memory and he felt his cheeks become warm, praying his face wasn't exposing any color of scarlet.
"One wrong step and your life is over. You do know what probation means, right?" Sojiro stated.
Probation. Probation. Probation. That word rung in his mind over and over as if it was a huge bell hanging over his head. He hated that word. Once that word was stated, his whole feel of embarrassment got erased and turned towards anger as his flashback arrived.
"I do." He grind his teeth, putting effort into not exposing any anger, nor lashing out at his guardian.
"Good." His guardian responded, looking as though he was about to continue, until his phone rang. "Hey, what's up?" A smile appeared on his face, "...Yeah, I just closed up shop. I'll head over in half an hour, as promised." He looked over at Ren with an expression of annoyance, "What're you standing there for? Get upstairs and go to bed already." He returned to his phone, "...No, it's a guy, I just hired a part-timer."
Finally... Ren sighed deeply, wanting to no longer deal with anyone.
"Don't forget to lock the door and turn all the lights off, okay?" Sojiro whispered as he passed by him.
Seriously...? He rolled his eyes, Whatever... He's letting me stay here. I shouldn't complain. I'll just obey and hopefully get this year over with soon.
"...Yup, I'm leaving now." He returned to the person on the other line, "I told you, he's a part-timer..."
Ren put his stuff down with a huff, wanting to already pass out, but when he heard the bell ring, notifying Sojiro just left, he headed downstairs to lock the door and turn the lights off. He dragged himself back upstairs and headed straight to bed.
I feel exhausted. Maybe it's because of all the weird stuff that's been happening to me... Anyway, I'll just fall asleep and hopefully forget everything once I wake. When his eyes became heavy and fell into a deep slumber, he felt coldness rush over him. What the...? He peeked up, seeing the ceiling was cement and no longer wood, Damn it... not again... At that point, he finally accepted all the nonsense that just happened, officially resigning his sanity.
