The Mask Shatters
Chapter 7
"The time is almost upon us. He will begin his search soon. I will ensure it."
It was clear Arthur's presence was unwelcome in the group.
Everyone but the council president looked uneasy with him, and they kept their distance. Neither student looked at him directly, and the intimidation they were feeling became even more clear when they spoke.
It was him and three other third years. Makoto Niijima, the student council president. A young woman who happened to be on the volleyball team, Kae Wakaizumi, and another boy who refused to give his name upon introductions out of sheer fear of Arthur.
Kae shared his fear, keeping a minimum few feet in between Arthur and herself at all times. She didn't dare look him in the eye, either.
Makoto, on the other hand, made it clear she wasn't intimidated by Arthur or the rumors surrounding him. True to her word, she collected him first when gathering her group. She talked with him and didn't try to keep a distance.
"So, we all know what we're doing, yes?" Makoto confirmed everyone's role within the group. Kae nodded, keeping her voice silent if she didn't need to speak. The otherwise unnamed student joined her, and Arthur, noticing this behavior, tried his best to lighten the mood with a bright and friendly smile.
"I understand my role perfectly." He said. Only Makoto looked at him, and she nodded a confirmation.
They had already decided who the group leader would be, and Makoto was the only one everyone in the group would unanimously vote on. At first she didn't seem like she wanted the role, but neither Kae nor the other student offered. But suddenly when Arthur indicated his interest, the other two students suddenly started voting for Makoto, much to her surprise. She seemed fine with letting Arthur be the leader but the other two, especially Kae, were adamant it be Makoto.
Arthur didn't argue. He just simply chuckled, much to everyone's surprise. Especially Kae's, who seemed to be adamantly against being under his leadership. "Niijima-san, you fine with this?" Arthur asked, smiling at everyone's sudden change of heart. "I don't care either way."
"I guess so…" Makoto slowly replied, not sure how to feel with everyone's sudden hostility. But also knew it was to be expected, what with Arthur's reputation around the school. "Then, I suppose we should get started." Makoto then added, satisfied with the result she received.
She had the tools her team needed by her feet. Reaching down, she handed a grabber to both Kae and Arthur as well as a garbage bag for both of them. "Alright everyone, our area is the swan boat landing and the little bridge next to it. We're gonna start with the bridge and work our way to the landing. Williams-kun, Wakaizumi-chan, you take the left side of the bridge. We'll tackle the right."
Kae's eyes shot open, and she looked in between Arthur and Makoto at the realization she was being told to go with Arthur.
"We'll meet up on the other side and take care of the swan boat landing before the hours out."
Kae stepped forward, her voice quivering."Uh… Niijima-san… Do...Do I have to go with… Williams-kun?" She asked, doing her best to avoid eye contact with Arthur, who felt a bit upset but didn't show it.
Makoto nodded, aware of the reason behind Kae's hesitation. "We all need to pitch in and do our part."
Kae opened her mouth, wanting to say something, to object to being paired with the rumored crazy student, but she kept silent. She just glanced at Arthur before quietly taking her garbage bag and shuffling off towards the bridge.
Makoto shook her head. Arthur, meanwhile, frowned at the fact he was going to be with someone who was terrified of him.
Especially if she was terrified enough to bring up a brief argument with the student council president.
Arthur did the best he could with what he was given.
Nothing but a grabber, a garbage bag, and a timid partner to work with.
Kae was a third year, much like him, that looked to be the same age as Arthur. Sporting a black ponytail and green eyes similar to Arthurs', and wearing a red tank top and red and white striped shorts. She certainly seemed at first glance like she was carefree and didn't let much get to her, but when meeting her Arthur realized she seemed almost like a pushover.
Of course, that was a thought Arthur didn't relish having. He barely knows her, and there was a high probability she was acting so timid because of Arthur's reputation around the school. She was frightened, and if Arthur was in her shoes, he knew she'd have every right to be based on what she has heard of him.
Arthur tried making small talk with her and even popping lighthearted jokes directed at her springing from various things such as the event and the garbage he found, but every time he tried he was met with stiff resistance.
"Yeah…" She would say at times, barely lookin at him. Or "I see…" at other moments. Arthur would frown at the reticence she was providing and get back to work, slightly upset at the turn of events but accepting them as he knew there was little he could do to change it.
Meanwhile, Makoto and the other third year worked hard nearby, doing their part of the job on the other side of the bridge. She would occasionally glance at Arthur, watching his interactions with Kae with extreme interest, as if she was trying to figure something out herself.
Arthur didn't notice. He was too busy trying to do his job and defuse the tension.
But defusing had failed to a large degree. At one point he decided, after witnessing Kae keeping a healthy-seeming distance and remaining quiet unless spoken to, to just give up. He had decided that some people are just hopeless in trying to prove oneself to, and Kae seemed to be one of them.
At one point he placed a water bottle floating in the water before him in his garbage bag, and when he turned his gaze back to the flowing water, he couldn't help but look at it..
His reflection stared back. A small smile burrowed onto his lips, all the while his glasses slowly slipped down the bridge of his nose.
But it wasn't his reflection that he was taking interest in.
It was the small turtle that was staring back up at him.
"There's a turtle over here…" Arthur remarked out loud, catching Kae's timid attention.
Kae looked up from the collection of garbage she was accruing to look at Arthur, who had stooped over to watch the small turtle before him. For a moment she didn't say anything, but then she sat her garbage bag to the dirt as she tried to confirm Arthur's words. "A…..turtle?" She slowly asked, unsure if she had heard him right.
"Yeah." Arthur confirmed, slowly sticking a hand into the water to touch the turtle's shell. "He's just sitting here, watching me." He added, not noticing for a second that Kae had said more than two words to him. Kae just gulped, unsure of what to do with that information or how he would react to seeing an animal. When his fingers touched the turtle's shell, it didn't wince nor retreat into its shell. It simply sat there, continuing to stare at him. "Cute little fella, aintcha?" Arthur remarked, smiling as he rubbed the creature's shell.
Kae, meanwhile, had a surprised look on her face born from this remark.
"You… like animals?" She asked, cautiously approaching Arthur from behind to get a good look both at what he was doing and seeing. Arthur, still not realizing he was actually getting her to talk, replied with a smile that remained directed at the turtle.
"I had a turtle when I was younger. So, I guess?" Arthur told her, moving a finger to scratch the turtle's curious head. It seemed like it was enjoying this attention.
"Huh…" Kae grunted, unsure of Arthur's sincerity on the subject. But Arthur, hearing this evident caution, brushed it off. She didn't have to believe him. He didn't care if she didn't.
She stood over him, looking over his shoulder. She opened her mouth, surprised to see he was actually telling the truth and not either seeing things nor making anything up to impress her.
"There actually is…" She said, unable to say anything else. Arthur chuckled, looking up at her.
"What? Thought I was lying?" He asked with a widening grin. The girl, feeling slightly threatened, backed away. His grin then faltered, just as his glasses finally slipped off his nose.
"Wha-" Arthur gasped, scrambling to catch his glasses. They bounced around in his hands, fumbling, almost as if he was juggling them. But as quickly as he was moving, he wasn't able to get a grip. They bounced out of his hands, and plummeted into the water below. "Ah!"
They barely made a splash, but did indeed make a loud plink.
He quickly reached into the water, all the while Kae began giggling at the misfortune she was witnessing. He shifted his arm every which way, trying to locate the spectacles in the deep water by feel alone. He was elbow deep in weeds and water at this point.
"Come on… Where are you…?" He asked himself, only feeling grass, dirt, and water.
"Uh…." Kae suddenly spoke up. "I think he has them."
Arthur looked up at her, witnessing her pointing to something past him. He turned downriver, and there he spotted a blurry, yet obvious figure swimming away in a frenzy.
The very turtle he was giving attention to, with his glasses clamped firmly in its jaws.
"I-" Arthur gabbed, slowly getting to his feet and watching the turtle get further and further away. The further it got, the more clear it became in his vision. "W-w-what… I… T-turtle...?" He stammered, unsure of what just happened.
Kae, meanwhile, giggled even further at his reaction. Arthur noticed and looked at her, surprised completely to see that she was offering anything close to joy around him.
"That was unfortunate…" She remarked, an amused look plastered on her face. But Arthur couldn't share her amusement, he was just perplexed and surprised to no end.
"My glasses…." He continued to stammer, still unsure of what just happened.
"Can you see without them?" Kae asked, stepping up next to him to see if she could still spot the turtle.
Arthur slowly nodded. "I'm… just farsighted is all… But… My glasses…" He continued. . "I just got robbed by a turtle..."
The girl giggled before turning away. "I guess he needed them more." She said. Arthur didn't respond, he just kept his eyes on the water. Trying to spot the animal, but to no avail. It was gone.
Along with his glasses.
"But…. Why, turtle?"
"So, have you figured out a solution to our problem, Principal Kobayakawa?" The vice principal asked, leaning forward onto his superiors' desk. "You know? The one we discussed-"
"Yes." Kobayakawa replied with a hint of annoyance in his tone. "I am fully aware of when we last discussed it and yes I have been probing for a solution among my staff."
The vice principal looked at him, interested completely in hearing of any solutions. "If you have any solutions in mind, do tell."
The principal sighed and stood up from his seat, slowly wobbling around to the vice principal so he could speak in a much quieter tone.
"Mr. Sakutaro continues to report on Williams-kun's good behavior and even the exemplary conduct he has towards the class and his work." The principal informed him. "Meanwhile rumors spread about Williams. Some accurate, some complete nonsense. We've had a leak, and it's disorienting the school once again." He looked over to the door, and motioned the vice principal to check on it.
The vice principal understood and did so, even locking the door for good measure when he found it was indeed closed shut. As he was locking the door, the principal posed a question for him. One that caused his head to turn as if on a swivel.
"You haven't said anything, have you?" Kobayakawa asked him.
"Goodness, no!" The vice principal turned around, surprised to have been asked this of his boss and friend. "Why would you suspect me?" He added.
The principal sighed once again. "Because only you and I should know of what we talked about. Now the whole student body knows…" Kobayakawa pointed out, much to the dissatisfaction of the vice principal.
The vice principal put his hands on his hips. "So that automatically makes me a suspect?" He narrowed his eyes, his voice getting low and disappointed. Kobayakawa quickly raised his hands to defuse the topic, stammering his words as he tried to speak.
"No no no! I was just stating the obvious, Mr. Vice Principal! I trust you. I believe you!" He said, causing the vice principal to ease in his stance. "We're not here to talk about what caused the leak though… We're here to discuss my solutions." He added, lowering his hands as he spoke. The vice principal nodded, and Kobayakawa motioned him to come closer.
"Solutions haven't been easy to come by. But I have spoken with our new counselor…" Kobayakawa stated, leaning onto his desk as the vice principal approached him.
"That may actually be a sensible idea, if I'm understanding you." The vice principal agreed quickly.
"Yes. Maruki has agreed, if Williams-kun is up to the idea, to speak with him on a regular basis. He doesn't want to do it if Williams isn't willing." The principal said, shaking his head at the thought of it being made an optional choice. "According to Maruki, Williams is in a precarious situation mentally. He may suffer a relapse if he's forced into something like this."
"We don't want that…" The vice principal murmured.
Kobayakawa nodded at the obvious his vice principal stated. But as much as he wanted it to be mandatory, he knew that if Arthur relapsed and had an episode, it would negatively affect the school as a whole, not just in the publics' eyes, but also in the school districts' eyes.
He may even lose his position if the scandals continue to mount up on his plate.
"No… We do not."
The rest of the cleanup went off without too much of a bang. Arthur had a little more trouble getting his work done without his glasses, and he was still visibly confused and shocked at what had happened that for a while he just didn't say anything to anyone. He couldn't take his mind off the fact he got mugged by a turtle. Even Kae noticed, who up to this point had gotten used to Arthur's vocality.
In fact, Kae seemed to have softened a little after what she had witnessed. From Arthur showing care for a turtle to his reaction of said turtle running off with his glasses. She quickly stopped distancing herself from him, and even looked at him on occasion. She was still quiet around him, but when he finally got around to actually speaking again she would reply in more than one or two word sentences and with a louder voice than the soft one she offered before.
Arthur didn't notice, though. He was too busy trying to figure out what he was going to do without his glasses. Farsightedness wasn't a fun thing to deal with.
Before he knew it, the cleanup stage was complete. He and Kae had met up with Makoto and the other third year at the swan boat landing, where Makoto had asked "Williams-kun, what happened to your glasses?"
Arthur didn't know how to respond at first and just looked at her for a moment before looking down into the water. At this point the whole group was looking at him, including Kae.
"I…." He started slowly, rubbing the back of his skull as he tried to make it seem less embarrassing. He couldn't do it. "I...err… got robbed….by a turtle…" He told her, looking back at her with a rather bashful look on his face.
She just stared at him for a moment, while Kae giggled and the other third year looked astonished. It seemed Makoto didn't know what to say.
"OK then." Makoto said, cutting her eyes downwards at the grass as she attempted to comprehend his words. "And you didn't go after them?" She asked, setting her stuff down before crossing her arms.
Arthur didn't say anything. He was as surprised as she was.
"Well." Kae started, stepping past Arthur. "He didn't want to hurt the turtle, nor did he want to jump into waist deep water and make a fool of himself." She said, glancing back at Arthur and surprising him with her sudden willingness to defend him.
Arthur didn't say anything. There was nothing he could say. At least not at this point. If anything, the only feeling he felt was the feeling of being an idiot.
Makoto mulled over Kae's words a moment, looking directly at Arthur as she thought and compressed every word mentally. Suddenly, she huffed and righted her stature. "Well, fair enough. I suppose it can't be helped at this point anyways. Let's just hope they don't cause any damage to the ecosystem, or to the turtle himself."
After that exchange, they quickly found themselves done with their portion of the cleanup as well as many of the other students. Makoto had walked off to give a short thank you to everyone with that megaphone of hers, leaving Kae and the other third year alone with Arthur. None of the students spoke to one another. Kae occasionally exchanged glances with the other third year. Suddenly, without saying a word, he walked off. Surprising Kae and Arthur as they stood there, alone and quiet.
Then, moments later, Kae looked at Arthur with a sheepish look on her face.
"I'm… gonna go…" She said, almost as if she regretted saying it. "My friends are gonna be looking for me… It was nice meeting you, Williams-kun…" She added, a polite smile growing. Arthur, noticing her sudden change in attitude towards him, smiled back and offered the same goodbye.
"Same to you, Wakaizumi-san." Arthur smiled at her. "Thank you for participating in this with me."
The girl nodded but did nothing more. Slowly she backed away, shuffling on her feet for a few moments - keeping a steady eye on Arthur for any reaction. When it became clear Arthur wasn't going to stop her, she turned on her heels.
Arthur lost track of her in the big crowd of students that flooded the park.
"The cleanup is officially complete. Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
Arthur took a few steps back, looking for the chair that sat vacant at the swan boat landing. He had accidentally knocked it into the water during his fumbling with his cleanup, which elicited an annoyed sigh from Makoto and an amused chuckle from Kae. It looked like it was still wet, but Arthur didn't care.
"Would the leader of each group please come and get the soup for their teams?"
Pulling out his phone, he saw that he had received a few notifications while he was busy working.
"Huh… Himura and Ichisake…." He mumbled, surprised to see both had texted him.
Unlocking his phone, he started with Ichisake's text. It was a series of three messages, two of them were sent a little before they got started working. The last one was sent nearly an hour ago.
Squinting, he tried reading each one. Although the words were blurry, he was able to make out enough to know what was being sent to him.
"Heya! Sorry for earlier, I thought about wat u said and ur right. I no ur with her right now, plz don't tell her I was talking about her behind her back! Pretty plz?"
"Anyways, I'll see you after the event"
Arthur smiled. At least he was able to make a friend see the error of his ways.
Scrolling down, his smile faded as he read the last text.
"Hey. I got hurt during the event. I don't wanna get into it, but they had to send me home so I wont be there wen ur dun. Just eat some soup for me plz? Okee bye!"
Arthur didn't reply. He just reread the text over and over before a question finally formed in his mind. "How the hell did you get hurt?" He asked himself. He had wanted to ask Ichisake himself, but suddenly he noticed someone approaching. He glanced upwards, only to meet the blurry image of Makoto standing over him.
"So." She said, looking around. "Where are the others?" She asked. She was holding four bowls of soup in her arms, and it looked like she was struggling enough as it were.
Arthur pocketed his phone, standing up to help her. "They left as soon as you were out of sight." He informed her, setting the extra bowls aside next to his chair. Upon hearing this, she shook her head as if disappointed.
"Thanks." She said, referring to Arthur helping with the soup. "I guess it'll just be us, then." Makoto remarked, looking around as if trying to spot the other students. When she failed to do so, she looked back at Arthur. "I'm rather hungry, you want to divide the extra bowls?" She asked.
Arthur shrugged. "I suppose there's no harm in it… Sure?" Looking down in his bowl, he noticed that the soup looked rather appetizing as far as school foods go. Of course, that wasn't saying much since he was still used to the food Americans got in their schools back in the home country. In Japan, school lunches looked like the kind of food you'd get at a restaurant. The young American smiled, stepping back and kneeling on the little landing the two found themselves on.
"What're you doing? There's a chair right there…" Makoto pointed out, surprised to see Arthur ignoring the very thing he was sitting on prior to her arrival. Arthur looked up at her, spoon in hand.
"Nah, go ahead. Sit down, Niijima-san." He dismissed her concerns, to which she replied with a subtle "Oh…".
"Alright then. Thank you." She thanked him, taking the seat he offered with slight hesitation. She wanted to ask him if he was sure, but when she looked over at him, she saw that he was already pulling out his phone. "You did a good job today, Williams-kun." She said, catching his attention.
"Huh..?" He grunted, looking up from his phone. He had barely managed past the lockscreen. "Oh, uh, thanks Niijima-san." He said, setting his phone down next to his soup.
"It also seems Wakaizumi-chan had a quick "change of heart" around you, didn't she?" Makoto noted, taking a sip of her soup before continuing with "At first she seemed frightened of you, then she spoke in your stead after you lost your glasses. I don't think I've ever seen someone change their opinion on another person with such swiftness."
Arthur listened, but didn't say anything. At least not at first. Makoto sipped more at her soup, watching Arthur out of the corner of her eye. She was curious about his silence, but opted to not push the matter.
The ball was in his court, now.
"Uh-huh…" Arthur grunted, setting his soup down and glancing up at her. "Change of heart?" Arthur asked, mimicking her use of the term. He tried mulling over the fact she used that in particular, but couldn't really find a reason why. "Why did you use that term, of all things?" He asked, confused.
"No reason in particular." Makoto admitted, matter-of-factly. "It's just… I've been hearing of these incidents. Incidents where people have sudden changes in their attitude, their actions, and even their personality. A "change of heart". Kamoshida had one, and this master artist Madarame has been threatened with one. What happened with Wakaizumi-chan seemed similar is all." She said, not taking her eyes off of Arthur. She paused, taking a sip of her soup. She gave a satisfied sigh when her spoon left her lips. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about these sudden "changes of heart", would you Williams-kun?" She asked, determination showing off in the subtle glare she was giving Arthur.
Arthur shook his head. "Not really. I know as much as the internet allows me to know. I'll remind you I arrived a little after that whole Kamoshida business."
Makoto nodded, as if she had forgotten that much. "Of course, of course." She said, shifting her eyes to her soup. She took another sip, as did Arthur. "Pardon my asking. It was just a personal interest of mine. I am intrigued, though, to hear your opinion on the subject if you'll so indulge me."
Arthur didn't say anything at first, he instead lifted the bowl up and took a hearty swig of his soup. Catching both a strip of pork and some small floating seasonings in his mouth. Makoto observed, shocked that he was putting it away so quickly. "You haven't eaten today, have you?" She deduced quickly.
An accomplished sigh left his lips as he sat the near empty bowl down. "No I have not, Niijima-san." He answered her, reaching for one of the extra bowls sitting idly by Makoto's feet. A hungry grin accompanying him. "And why do you care about my opinion? What does it matter to you, if you don't mind me asking?"
Makoto hesitated a moment, looking at Arthur with an incredulous look on her face. Arthur noticed, but chose not to say anything.
Makoto didn't say much. Instead, opting to keep Arthur in the dark as much as possible with her intentions. "Again this is purely my own personal interest. You don't have to answer if you don't feel the need to." She told him, watching as he quickly downed the next bowl of soup. She opened her mouth in sheer shock, watching as he barely missed a drop from the bowl. "What the…?"
There weren't even any remnants on his face. He was as clean as his bowl.
She quickly coughed into her fist, shaking off the surprise that was entangling her gaze. "So. I assume you don't wish to answer?"
"I already told you, I don't know much." He reiterated with a slight frown. "With that in mind, I can't possibly have a proper opinion on it." He added, gaining a slight nod of understanding from Makoto. She sipped at her soup, listening as Arthur continued. "Regrettable as that is. I would love to learn more about such an occult topic. It's very… interesting?" He said, as if questioning his own reasons for wanting to learn more about it.
Truthfully, that wasn't the only reason he wanted to learn. Something inside him distantly beckoned him to look for more information. A queer feeling that he tried brushing off. A feeling that tugged at the edges of his mind, and to an extent was taxing on the young man. But he didn't let it show.
"Seek out these Phantom Thieves…."
The words echoed inside his head, and for a moment he almost didn't hear Makoto herself.
"I see…" Makoto stated, as if she had not anticipated that response. Arthur watched as she looked away a moment, as if thinking of her next move. For a moment they sat in silence, and this reticence coupled with her sudden lapse in attention told Arthur a revelation that took him off guard quite quickly.
All these questions about such an occult topic, the obvious reactions she was offering when he answered in a way she seemed to not have been anticipating, and the determination that glowed like candles in her eyes whenever she awaited an answer.
This wasn't normal common curiosity, nor did it feel like a normal conversation any normal person would be having.
She was interrogating him.
Or trying to, at the very least.
"Not very subtle…" He thought, setting his second bowl aside and crossing his arms.
"Allow me to pose another question, then…" She suddenly asked, turning her attention back on him. Arthur nodded, deciding to play along until she showed her full hand. "There are all these rumors going around the school. Stuff like you're crazy, and unstable, and dangerous…"
"Right, right, right…" Arthur confirmed, trying to hurry her along to her question. She stopped and blinked, getting the not-so-subtle hint.
"Oh… Well, OK then." She said. "They don't seem true. Indeed, you seem very collected and friendly… But what I don't get is that you choose to hang around such an infamous student…"
"Huh? Ichisake?" Arthur asked, bending his brows at the thought. "No, no, no. Ichisake? Infamous? Right, and I'm Amakusa Shirō reincarnated. He couldn't hurt a kitten, Niijima-san. Even if he tried!"
Makoto blunk, surprised that he brought up something from class the other day. "Odd that you'd reference something so obscure, but OK…" She murmured under her breath. Arthur chuckled at this. "But that's not who I'm referring to."
"Oh? And who are you referring to?" Arthur replied, cocking his head as he tried to hide the annoyance he was feeling towards this interrogation. He didn't appreciate that the only reason she was sitting with him was the answers she was dead set on receiving. But at the same time his curiosity peaked and he allowed it to continue.
Makoto didn't realize the game wasn't hers anymore. In fact, it never was. Arthur could end it at his will at any moment, and that knowledge alone gave Arthur the confidence he needed to keep up his oblivious charade.
People never realized Arthur was smarter than he looked.
"I'm referring…" Makoto started, pausing to take another sip of her steadily cooling soup. "...to Amamiya-kun."
Arthur blinked. "You mean Ren?" He asked after a moment of silent thought, trying to think back to anyone he knew named "Amamiya".
Makoto smiled, looking Arthur right in the eye as she spoke. "Ah, so you're on a first name basis with him…" She noted aloud, causing Arthur to give off a devilish smirk.
"I barely know him. I only know that he had rumors circulating around him when he got to Shujin but that's to the extent of my knowledge…" Arthur uncrossed his arms, telling her not only what she didn't want to hear, but also the direct truth.
"Hmph." Makoto huffed, setting her bowl next to her feet as she posed another question. "What's your relationship with him?" She asked.
"You're dead set on this interrogation, aren't you Niijima-san?" He suddenly asked, deciding to end the little game she was trying to play. "No disrespect intended, but I don't talk about my friends behind their backs. Even friends I know less of than others." He told her as he stood up, stretching his arms and back out. She didn't say a word as he moved, but her eyes widened when she realized she got caught. "I don't get what your beef is with Ren, but find someone else to talk smack about him. I'm not your guy, ma'am." He further explained, adding a small smile to his words.
She didn't reply. She just exchanged a stare with him. All the while Arthur offered a kind smile. "Thank you for the soup, Niijima-san." He bowed, surprising her with his politeness. "Have a safe trip home." He added as he turned away from her.
Without a word being uttered by either party, he started walking away. All the while she watched, cursing herself for letting him figure her out and then get away without even providing a smidgeon of what she was looking for.
Arthur, meanwhile, was smiling even though he knew he wouldn't hear the end of this. But in the same vein he didn't care. He took pride in his loyalty to anyone willing to call themselves his friend. He wasn't gonna start betraying that loyalty now to anyone, not even a pretty face. He never tattled on his law-breaking friends back in America, and he certainly won't betray the little he knows about Ren.
Especially not when him and Ren are victims of the same unfair social normality.
If anything, Arthur has more in common with Ren than he does with Ichisake.
He turned his head slightly, as if gazing around. In reality, he was trying to spot Makoto's reaction to what just went down. The more distance he put between him and Makoto, the clearer her features became; a result of his farsightedness. She looked absolutely defeated, and was even slumping her shoulders. Definitely lost in her defeat.
She tried to play a mind game with him, and failed miserably.
Confident and proud, he turned behind a tree, vanishing from her view.
"Maybe I should let Ren know she's snooping on him…" Arthur thought as he leaned up against it, concerned as to the reason she was interrogating him. He pulled his phone into view, but stopped at the lock screen when he realized he didn't have Ren's phone number. "Damn… Guess it'll have to wait until tomorrow…"
Still proud of what he did, he then turned his attention on the notification he didn't get to check earlier. The text from Himura.
"Wonder what Himura wanted…"
Pulling up the somewhat lengthy text, it read:
"Arthur, someone's gonna stop by the apartment tonight. I'm not gonna be home. Turn him away. Don't say much to him unless it's a goodbye. Don't invite him in. Don't offer him anything. Turn. Him. Away. If he tries to force himself inside, call the police and get out of the building anyway you can. I'll be home around midnight, don't stay up too late kid."
The walk from the park held nothing significant for Arthur. The only thing that the silent walk left him with was the thoughts and ideas he procured from the encounter with Makoto. At first he was pretty proud that he was able to understand and take control of the interrogation without her even knowing she lost her grip.
He was also proud to know that he had stood up for someone who he knew had done no wrong. Ren didn't seem the type to actively disobey society and its rules.
Arthur's been around plenty of ne'er-do-wells to understand how they operate both mentally and physically. Ren didn't exhibit any of the warning signs when they had spoken.
In fact, Ren even seemed very well read and thoughtful. Arthur felt he had met his intellectual equal, much to his relief.
So what did Makoto want with him?
That was the question of the day ringing around in Arthur's mind.
Furthermore, why did she think Arthur would have the answers she sought?
Arthur knew little of anyone really, even Ichisake was quiet about himself. He was only ever interested in hearing about Arthur, even when Arthur would try to probe the former for his personal life. The most he ever got out of him is that his parents are police officers and one was a former soldier for the Japanese military and that they're almost never home.
That was to the extent of Arthur's knowledge.
As Arthur thought more on the weird situation, he remembered - albeit faintly - witnessing the young woman stalking Ren and some blond-haired boy at both Shibuya Station Square and Central Street the week before last, around the time he was getting acquainted with Shibuya.
He had brushed the behavior off as either coincidence or just people being odd. It was none of his business at the time, but now it was too suspect to ignore.
"What does she want with Ren…?" Arthur questioned himself. But no matter how hard he thought on it, no matter how many times he asked himself, and no matter how deep he analyzed it, he could not produce an answer. From there, he decided to let his mind wander when he realized he wasn't going to find the answer at any point soon.
He was so deep in thought he didn't hear the feminine voice calling his name.
He walked on, passing various kinds of people. Cops, students leaving the park, businessmen, men in tracksuits, and even construction workers on break. He paid no one any mind, and they in turn ignored him. Lost in his thoughts, he was essentially on autopilot.
Topics flew around in his mind, from thoughts of Ichisake somehow hurting himself at the park to the predicament Himura had found himself in to warrant warning Arthur via text.
He stopped at a crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn green so he and a few others could cross.
Someone was calling his name out, jogging to catch up with him and causing a few heads to turn at the sudden callouts.
But Arthur ignored them further, not out of spite, but out of his concentration.
"What did Himura do…?" He next asked himself, confused as to who Himura potentially angered. Himura was a nice guy, and as far as he remembers of Himura he never intentionally made someone angry. Angry enough to come to his place of residence and do something that might warrant having the cops called. "This day just keeps getting more and more interesting…"
Someone grabbed his shoulder, startling him something fierce. His thoughts quickly evaporated as he was jump-started back into reality, and he flinched in place, turning around to see who it was that had grabbed him.
At first he didn't recognize the girl, she seemed surprised with the speed he had spun around with, and even the nearby streetwalkers had stopped to see what the ruckus was about. It was hard to distinguish the person before him without his glasses, as she remained blurred and incomprehensible with how swift he turned on her. When his eyes adjusted, the first thing he noticed was the blond hair the young woman was sporting, bushy and tied into pigtails. The second thing he noticed was her cool blue eyes.
She at first looked startled, but then her lips curved into an amused smile. She started giggling, all while Arthur remained dazed and confused.
The blurred lines remained, but he was able to make out who it was after a few moments of baking in his dazed state.
It was Ann. Ann Takamaki.
"Takamaki-san…?" Arthur asked, blinking as he tried to make out more of her figure. He was confident she was who he thought she was, but he wanted to be sure.
"Williams-senpai… Oops! I mean, Williams-san.. Sorry, I forgot you don't like that word, heheh." She chuckled stepping forward towards him. "Sorry for startling you, I was calling out your name but you weren't responding. Were you ignoring me or something?" She asked, raising a cocky brow.
Smiling, Arthur replied "No, I wasn't ignoring you Takamaki-san. I was just… lost in thought is all." He admitted, placing his hands in the small pockets of his sweatpants. "A lot happened today. Just trying to comprehend it all."
"Ah, I see." She said, glancing around as she began to notice the interest everyone was having in the duo. When it became obvious nothing interesting was gonna happen, many people turned their attention off of them as they returned to their individual businesses. When she was satisfied everyone was ignoring them, she glanced back at Arthur. She squinted, noticing something was off with him. "Hey… Why aren't you wearing your glasses?" She asked, realizing his glasses were gone.
"Oh!" He started, unsure of how to answer the question without seeming like a fool. Rubbing the back of his head, he realized the light was green. They could cross the street without worry. "We… should get going. Before the light goes red."
Ann nodded, following him as he moved to cross the street. But she didn't drop the subject. "You didn't answer my questionnnnn…" She singsongedly reminded him, to which Arthur shook his head.
"Someone's chipper." Arthur noted, looking over his shoulder.
"It's what happens when you have a great day." She replied, giving off a genuine smile to accompany her words. Arthur nodded, turning his gaze forwards.
"Uh-huh.." Arthur grunted. "Well, if you must know what happened... I…." He slowly said, unsure of how to proceed. Unbeknownst to Ann, a royal blush was working its way onto Arthur's cheeks. He didn't really have an excuse ready for what happened to his spectacles, and couldn't quickly come up with one on the spot either. "Er...a turtle…. Well, he kinda….stole them?" Arthur rubbed the back of his skull, unsure himself of what actually even occurred. The whole incident was weird.
Ann didn't say anything for a moment, instead opting to just stare Arthur in the back of the head. At first she wasn't sure what to do or say to that. She wasn't actually anticipating such a response, and an honest one at that. "W-wait, what? Really?" She stammered, unsure if she had heard him correctly. "A turtle stole them from you?"
Arthur slowed his walk down so she could keep pace, shaking his head as if he almost didn't believe it himself. "Y-y-yeah…" He stammered.
Catching up with him, she began to giggle into her hand at the very thought of a turtle stealing his glasses. She thought up of many different ways the little creature could've gotten them. From climbing up his body and snatching them to somehow jumping off the ground floor and taking them before disappearing into the water.
The ideas she came up with were outlandish, but Arthur didn't tell her how. He didn't want to, either. It was embarrassing.
She flashed him a hopeful smile, still giggling. "I guess he needed them more." She said. Arthur flinched upon hearing those words, stopping in his tracks and looking dead at her. She stopped and turned to face him, concerned with the sudden look she was getting.
"That's exactly what one of my group members said." Arthur noted, causing Ann to smile once more.
Arthur, shaking his head at the occurrence, stopped as he realized where he was. Blurry as the street signs were, he could back away and see them clearly from the distance. Ann watched, her curiosity peaked at what he was doing.
"Kichijōji Station...this way…" He read, looking in the direction the sign was pointing. Ann suddenly spoke up.
"So, what's your plan now that the cleanup is over?" She asked, catching Arthur's attention. He glanced over at her, surprised she even asked.
"No plans, really." He said, waving a hand in front of his face to give her a hint of his condition. "Can't really do much if I can't see…" He pouted. Glasses were expensive back in the home country. Good pairs could cost up to the triple digits. He wasn't sure how much they would cost here, and he certainly wasn't looking forward to finding out.
Not that he had the money to spend on glasses anyways, with the eight hundred yen he has left of his initial allowance.
"Oh, I suppose that is a fair point." She said, looking down as if she didn't anticipate that answer.
"You're a mess of red and blonde right now, Takamaki-san." Arthur admitted, stepping past her. "Anyways, it was good seeing you. I'm gonna head home, I guess…" He added, turning away from her to continue on his way. But she stopped him rather quickly.
"I don't ever see you out at the mall OR Central Street. Why's that?" She suddenly asked, speaking in fluent English. Arthur froze, slowly turning to look at her as if he were caught off guard. "What?" She noted his stare with a cocky smile.
"You... speak English?" He asked in perfect English, turning to face her fully. She nodded, giving off a loud "Mmmhmm!". "I… wouldn't have guessed. What a surprise."
"You still haven't answered my question!" She singed, swinging her arms by her sides as if she was a little girl. But Arthur wasn't as amused. He was more curious than anything.
"Er… Well, I really…" He started, unsure of why she was asking. "...I…never have a reason to go, really. I guess I still need to find a bag, though…" He idly mentioned, causing the young woman to smirk.
"Well, I don't have anywhere I have to be, and I happen to have a coupon for two free crêpes down at Central Street. I couldn't find any of my friends either, so…. Wanna come with?" She asked, leaning to her side with a huge, friendly grin stretching her cheeks.
"Why the invitation?" Arthur asked, unsure of Ann's intentions. He didn't want to be paranoid, but she really hasn't had much to do with him in the time she's known him. Such a sudden invitation seemed off.
"Oh, I figured you might need some fun in your day." She said, matter-of-factly. "I saw you were paired with the student council president, Niijima. Plus two others who seemed to be afraid of you. I can only imagine how dreadful the day was for you… Oh, and plus a turtle apparently stole your glasses." She added with a little lighthearted giggle at the end. Arthur couldn't help but look away, embarrassed that that even happened to him.
But he slowly nodded, coming to a quick understanding of her reasonings. They even seemed to make sense to him. At least, the reasons did. But what didn't make sense to him was why she wanted to go with him. Why not her friends? Or why not use the coupon another day? Why did she have to use it today with him? These were the kinds of questions going around in his mind. He couldn't help himself but voice them, either. To which Ann replied earnestly with a fad of innocence in her young voice.
"Wellllll, the coupon expires today and most of my friends were busy hanging out with their own groups or, well, people I don't know, so…. I saw you and thought "Hey, he might want to come eat some sweets with me!" so here I am." She flashed him such a wide toothy smile that Arthur couldn't help but smile back. "You up for it?"
As she stood there, swaying her arms by her sides, Arthur sat in thought. Wondering why he, of all people, was getting such strong attention from people. First Ichisake, then Ren invited him out, then his classmate and student council president tried interrogating him, and now an acquaintance named Ann was inviting him out for sweets. He barely left his apartment building and kept to himself at school where possible. Why were people so interested in at least talking with him when he himself knows he ain't anything special. Just another cog in the wheel of the daily grind; the average norm?
That's how it was back in the home country. You kept yourself to yourself, and to the people you already knew. Trying to enter a social circle you either had no business in or knew nobody in was social suicide.
But even with his apprehension, he absentmindedly nodded an answer to her. Pretty much accepting her invitation. He didn't know why he did it, but somewhere he supposed he felt as if getting out would be more a token favor to himself than anything. Not to mention the idea of making another friend sounded like a good idea, especially on paper.
And if she spoke English? All the better.
Having his answer, she stepped past him and beckoned him to follow before they missed their train.
He stood still a moment, wondering deep down why he accepted the offer.
"I don't necessarily get it, but… I suppose what's the harm…?"
The two got along really well.
Ann was very vocal and outspoken with Arthur, who in turn kept silent and otherwise listened when she spoke. Mainly everything out of her mouth was about how great this crêpe shop was and how she was looking forward to it all day during the event. Arthur couldn't deny anymore that, at this point, a crêpe sounded good. Especially one with chocolate and candies in it.
At one point he pitched the idea to Ann, and she surprised him with the fact they do indeed carry those. And those happen to be one of her favorites.
He smiled, and she in turn flashed him one of her own.
When she stopped fangirling over the crêpe shop and explaining all the different sweets they offered, they had already arrived at Shibuya. Arthur, paying dutiful attention as he had little choice in the matter, followed her as she almost jogged out of the train. She seemed super excited to be going to the shop, and it seemed almost out of character for her to be acting like this, but at the same time he realized he barely knew her. If this was her attitude with people she considered close friends, then Arthur was surprised she was this way with people she barely knew.
He tried to ask her why she was so excited to go to a place she's been to before, but she either didn't hear him or she brushed him off. But to her credit, even though she was speed walking ahead of him, she would occasionally look back at him to make sure he was still following. When he caught up, she would continue on. Rinse and repeat.
Arthur remained uneasy about the whole situation, but that mostly due in part to how things worked back in the home country. Here, most people seem friendly. Chipper. Flamboyant sometimes.
Ann definitely had, when unmasking herself from the norm, all three of those characteristics.
She also kinda seemed like an airhead with this behavior, but Arthur kept that thought to himself.
At some point, she led him straight to the shop. She even waited for him to catch up before asking him what he wanted instead of just getting something she thought he'd like.
He wasn't really sure, but remembered earlier what he desired and reminded her. It didn't take her long to order and receive the sweet treats, to which Arthur was amazed at how fast this shop worked.
Ann was even right about the coupon, as when she handed it to them, they accepted it readily and took no other form of payment for the two crêpes she ordered.
When Arthur looked around, he then realized how out of place Ann and himself were. Ann didn't seem to notice this, as she was too engrossed in seeing Arthur's reaction to the chocolate candy crêpe he practically ordered, but they were the only two Shujin students on Central Street. Arthur knew this because they were the only ones wearing their uniform sweatsuits.
"Should we not go find a place to sit down?" Arthur asked, a bit embarrassed to be seen in such bright red.
Ann was less embarrassed though. She acted as if she wasn't wearing such situational clothing. Coupled with a large innocent smile, she condemned him. "We aren't sitting down until I see you take a bite of that crêpe. I need to know if I made the right decision getting you that."
"I… had you order it… I'm sure I'll like it…" He murmured, still unsure of why he even went with her in the first place. He didn't know her. But, taking a slow bite of the snack he held in his hands, he immediately banished the notion of uneasiness with thoughts of how wonderful the crêpe was.
There was a sudden rush of flavor, a sudden chocolatey- almost fudgelike - taste flooding his taste buds. Sweet crunchy candies washed around inside his mouth as he chewed, crunching into little tiny bits as they collided with his teeth. His eyes widened, and his lips curled inwards as he looked between the crêpe and Ann, who sat there expectantly.
"W-wow…" Arthur said, mouthful of chocolate and candy. "Wh-what tha-"
Ann giggled, holding hers close to her chest. "Mmmhm, I knew you'd like it."
Arthur swallowed what was in his mouth, completely in awe. "You talked about these so much on the way here it was honestly getting exhausting, but to think they were actually, as you described, so tasty… Damn…" He smiled, pleased with his choice.
"Told ya! Told ya how many times but you kept doubting me?" She asked, putting a hand to her hip as she laughed. Arthur couldn't help but keep his smile up as he knew she was right. She told him a lot, perhaps too many times, about how he would like it. She even had told him that everyone she knows liked the place, she had no reason to suspect Arthur wouldn't either.
"Yeah, yeah…" Arthur dimmed his glee down, shaking his head at Ann's ribbing. "We should really find a place to sit down now. We're in everyone's way." Arthur told her, gesturing to the fact many people are actively avoiding them and the fact they were standing in the dead center of Central Street. Ann looked around, a sudden embarrassment visible on her face.
"Yeah, fair point…" She conceded, looking around for a bench to sit down at.
It didn't take them long to find one, even with the bustling traffic of Central Street. A couple of people looked at them funny, but Ann didn't pay them any mind. Arthur was a bit different though, as he felt nothing but embarrassment every single time he realized someone was looking at him.
It didn't help any that Ann was fawning over her crêpe. She was acting like a little girl, not an adult.
Although they weren't adults yet, Arthur was already acting leagues ahead of his age. He sometimes forgot that many people his age didn't do the same.
For a while they just sat there, enjoying their crêpes in silence. Ann would occasionally look over at Arthur, surprised at his reticence. She figured he'd be more talkative, especially after his day. But it seemed he was content to be quiet. Ann didn't want to complain, she did invite him after all. He was her guest, not the other way around.
But as they ate their snacks, Arthur couldn't keep a question out of his mind. Ann was acting especially cheerful today, while the stark few conversations he's had with her had been serious and even she seemed to be a serious person. Today she had shown very different colors, and Arthur couldn't tell if this was her norm, or if she was just hiding behind a mask.
But what he also couldn't get out of his head is the reasoning for her inviting him out. She hasn't done this before and didn't seem keen on pursuing a friendship with him. It seemed before that she was perfectly fine with managing an acquaintance with him and no more. So why all the sudden did she invite him, a guy she barely knew, out for a light snack?
Arthur huffed, catching Ann's attention. She glanced over at him, expecting him to say something. When he didn't, she cocked her head and squinted at him before shrugging and taking another bite out of her crêpe.
"Why did you invite me out, Takamaki-san?" Arthur suddenly asked in his mother tongue, catching the young woman off guard with both the question and language. "We barely know each other. Where I come from, we don't do that in circumstances where we barely know each other. It's considered weird and sometimes even downright creepy."
Ann, recovering from the jolt of the question, turned to look at him. A quarter of her crêpe remained in hand. She'd been jealously eating it until now. "Well that sounds like a horrible social situation honestly, Williams-san." She said, taking another bite of her crêpe. Arthur nodded, agreeing with her. But that didn't answer his question. "I suppose it is like that in the U.S. though…"
"It's just weird to me. I don't normally get invited to places by people I barely know. To have it happen here, three times in a row… I'm just confused. What about me do people like? All those damn rumors… People don't know what's true or not anymore." Arthur shook his head, lamenting the reputation he's acquired around the school. "I know you've said you don't believe in them, but why would you invite me out? It's only gonna hurt you as… as it has with a good friend of mine." He asked, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt that he dragged innocent Ichisake down into the cesspit of rumors Arthur's mired in.
Ann shook her head at the idea of rumors, scoffing under her breath at the fact people will willingly hurt others by spreading them regardless of whether or not they are true.
"Miyara-senpai is strong enough to stay your friend, even though it hurts him in the long run. Keep him close, Williams-kun." Ann quietly said, looking down at her snack with sullen eyes. She turned slightly, facing him with the corner of her eye. "As for why I invited you out… Well…" She said, crossing her ankles and she spoke. It didn't seem to Arthur like she was searching for a reason to give, but instead trying to think on how to word it.
That alone told Arthur that there was indeed a reason for this sudden burst of friendliness. It wasn't just random.
"Well... " She said, uncertain of how to proceed. "You know Ren, don't you?" She asked, catching him off guard with the name.
"Uh, yes. We met just the other day and actually hung out… What, you know him?" He asked, surprised she brought the name up. It was Ann's turn to give a nod of her head, to which Arthur just grunted a "Huh…"
"Yes, I do actually…" She verbally confirmed, lowering her hands as she spoke. "He's actually a good friend of mine. One of my best friends, really…. I know it's gonna sound weird but hear me out: We actually talked about you yesterday, he brought the topic up and things kinda went from there. Told me everything y'all talked about and how much you guys had in common. It really surprised me."
"Uh-huh…." Arthur simply said, not liking the idea of people talking behind his back. Ann's eyes opened wide at his tone and she looked at him, shaking her head to try and dispel any thoughts he was having.
"We weren't gossiping or anything! We were just talking is all! I promise." She said aloud, attempting to stifle any negative thoughts or feelings Arthur may have been having. He sat there, looking dead at her for a moment before accepting her answer with a shrug.
"People talk all the time, why should I really care honestly?" He murmured, accepting that it likely happens with others as well.
"Right…" Ann started up again, trying to ignore the cause of that comment. "Well. He said you had talked to him about the rumors surrounding both him and yourself. I'm sure you've guessed by now but that friend engrossed in rumors I told you about is Ren."
"Yeah. Doesn't take a mathematician to guess that much." Arthur confirmed, although in reality he didn't really realize that until Ann had said something.
"Small world…" Arthur thought.
"Yeah well, when we talked about what you both had discussed… Well, I came to a realization that we may be more similar than I first thought as well…" Ann told him, her voice sounding both quiet yet hopeful. As if she was hoping Arthur would agree with her, but Arthur didn't really see it.
"How so?" Arthur asked, not following what she was saying. Ann looked up at him, surprised he had to ask. She was wondering how he didn't know, considering the fact Arthur had heard all about the Kamoshida incident.
"You… you're telling me you don't know?" She asked, confused as to how Arthur didn't know. When Arthur nodded, she sighed. Not in defeat, but in what sounded like annoyance.
Annoyance that she had to revisit those days.
"Williams… I was also the center of rumors and gossip. For a while actually. Before Ren came along." She admitted. Arthur opened his eyes, surprised to hear that someone so sweet and innocent-looking was the victim of such nasty business. "It was all because of Kamoshida… People said I was….sleeping with him… My looks didn't do me any favors, either. They called me all sorts of things. A cheap American was one of the popular things people used…" She said slowly and quietly, almost to a murmur. She made sure Arthur could hear her though, and Arthur was dumbstruck with this information.
"Takamaki-san… You can stop." Arthur said, realizing how deep this was digging. He knew he didn't have any reason to know all of this, and he also knew that she was hurting herself. "There's no reason for you to bring up old history, especially with me. I barely even know you…"
"But that's just it, Williams-kun. Ren was labeled a criminal, I was labeled a whore, and you're labeled insane. All three of us have that in common. That we were unfairly labeled." She said, suddenly smiling beneath her gaze. Arthur was surprised at how swift that mood turned. It was as if she wasn't actually sad anymore. "But I'm over everything that happened with Kamoshida. Make no mistake, Williams."
"Oh." Arthur said, lowering what little of a crêpe he had to his lap. He didn't understand it all, but he let her continue. This conversation was very intriguing.
"Besides, you and I have a lot more than rumors in common too." She said, raising her head brilliantly. "You're American, I'm a quarter American. We easily don't fit in around here because of that. You speak English, I speak English. We can easily communicate above everyone's heads and make jokes only you and I would understand." She added, a wry smirk on her face. Arthur couldn't help but snicker at that idea.
"Yeah, that does sound like a pretty funny thought." Arthur admitted. "But everything you just said… Why tell me? Like I said, you barely know me." He pointed out, still unsure of Ann's openness about her problems.
"I can't really say…" Ann told him, leaning forward in her seat as she gazed to the ground. "It was the same thing with Ren. When we first actually talked with one another I was the same way with him. The only difference right now is that, well, he sought me out. You didn't seek me, I sought you. I guess that's also a pretty big difference." She added, not sure what to make of her sudden openness with Arthur. But Arthur accepted that as his answer. As vague as it was, it gave him a good idea of why she was acting the way she was.
"So you're saying you're taking Ren's example to heart... Based on what you just told me, he knew you were in trouble and he talked you through it. You see me going through the same nonsense the two of you went through, and so you're trying to comfort me now…" Arthur deduced, putting a hand on his chin as he assessed her actions. "You're using your own pain to relate to mine."
"Yeah, that!" She said, her voice getting spunky and bright. It was so odd to see her voice go from low to high in such an instant, but Arthur chuckled. He's seen her act so girly today it didn't really surprise him anymore. "So tell me, because I'm really curious - and it's only fair since I just told you about my situation - but what's the cause for these rumors? Have you really seen a therapist back in America for… well… You know?" She asked, genuinely curious about Arthur's situation.
Arthur looked at her, lowering his hand as he sat in silence. He just shook his head at the question and took a small bite out of his crêpe, signalling to Ann that he was uninterested in pursuing this topic.
"Oh, sorry… I am overstepping my bounds now?" She asked, lowering her tone in response to his reticence. Swallowing the chocolatey bite he took, Arthur nodded and let a small dominant smile grow on his chocolate covered lips.
"I only air my problems to those qualified to deal with them. The world is much simpler that way, Takamaki-san." He informed her, not taking his eyes off of the sweet snack in his hands.
"Please. Call me Ann." She flashed him a friendly smile. "And that's fair. I just figured it might help both you and I if you said something. But I won't pressure you."
Arthur turned to look at her, surprised she was comfortable letting him use her first name. "Ah, then you may call me Arthur, Ann."
She smiled and snagged a bite out of her crêpe.
Grinning, Arthur wiped the chocolate off his mouth with a napkin the store had provided to the both of them. While he wasn't exactly comfortable with the way the conversation had started, or what it contained, he was satisfied with the idea that he had made a friend out of her. Not to mention she wasn't going to press him for information when he wasn't willing to give any.
That's something he could appreciate greatly, as it showed she knew boundaries.
Friends who knew where their boundaries lie were good friends indeed.
The silence between them didn't last for very long, as Ann quickly changed the subject to something that Arthur could easily get behind.
"Well, friendo!" She said, trying to act cool with their new friendship. "Why don't we steer away from these sad topics and just take some time to get to know each other better? You start! I'm terrible at these things…" She smiled brightly, sitting back on her part of the bench.
Arthur, raising the crêpe to his lips, looked at her dead silent for a moment as he processed what she said. He stopped, lowering the snack again as he bashfully looked around. He was unsure of how to proceed, himself.
"Alright then, Ann… Uh…." Arthur slowly started thinking up a question he could ask her to kick off their new friendship. "What…. What do you like to do for fun?"
The day passed really quickly from there. The two talked for a while, even after they had finished their snacks. From topics ranging from their interests to even their own aspirations. Something Arthur, admittedly, couldn't actually talk about with a sense of clarity for he didn't have any aspirations. At least not yet, anyways.
Ann learned a few things from him. She had learned that Arthur was once a member of his school's fencing team, that he loved cooking but hasn't had a chance to try anything Japanese since his arrival, and a few other interesting tidbits that she would never have figured out without him telling her. Such as his incredible interest in Japanese history and his adept fluency and comprehension in kanji as well as other Japanese writing symbols.
And Arthur, likewise, learned from her own mouth that she liked to act as a model for a hobby and was apparently in competition with someone in her field who, as she put it, absolutely hates her. Yet Ann seemed to think different about her as she called her strong and beautiful all in the same sentence. An oxymoron to Arthur. But Ann didn't care that it seemed weird. She even seemed proud to not hold an animosity towards her competitor.
Arthur had to admire that. It's hard not to hate someone who hates you.
Especially when she works to hurt you, as Ann described she had.
Before they realized it, it was sunset. The two had whiled away their afternoon snacking and talking, and Arthur honestly enjoyed every last second of it. It felt nice talking with someone who didn't fawn over every aspect of America. She didn't seem to be able to keep up with him intellectually. But she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, and in the end that's all that mattered.
Throughout it all, though. Arthur couldn't help but feel like someone was watching him. That, coupled with the time of day, gave Arthur cause to end the little sojourn. Ann had agreed with the idea of going home. As they disposed of their trash and said their goodbyes, Ann turned to look at him with an invitation on her mind.
"If you ever want to hang out, you know where to find me." She told him, flashy him her ever famous good-natured smile.
Arthur returned her smile, telling her to get home safe and that he'll see her at school tomorrow.
They parted ways at Station Square. From there, the walk home was brisk and uneventful.
Although Arthur wasn't looking forward to another night of sleep.
Lately he's been staying up late, from eight to nine, from nine to eleven. Just trying to avoid the nightmares he's been having. The dreams that followed him from America.
Not even a change in his normal affected the dreams and nightmares, and while it isn't giving him insomnia, it is concerning Arthur a great deal. He even asked Himura yesterday when he got home if he had any medicine that would knock him out and keep him out. Himura replied with a solid no, and asked if he was having trouble sleeping.
Arthur didn't give him the truth, as he didn't want to worry Himura with the details. Instead, he told him simply that it was a question for Himura's sake, as he had been coming home late and sometimes would stay up until three in the morning.
Himura didn't argue, but maintained that he didn't have any such medicine.
The nightmares were something Arthur feared everyday, and while he's only had a few that he seems to remember, he knew that the ones he remembered are the worst ones by far.
"Maybe I should go find a doctor…. Or another therapist… Or both…" Arthur told himself, avoiding the awkward glance of a police officer nearby who had heard him.
When Arthur returned to the apartment complex, he shook the thought off and told himself, with a hopeful inward glance, that maybe tonight would be different. That tonight should be different, since he had a good day and kept his karma positive.
"That's how it works, right?" Arthur thought, ascending the stairs to his floor. Step after step was filled with reassurance, and quickly he came to forget his grievance. He replaced it with complacency.
Coming to his floor, he was surprised to see only one other person on it. At this time of the day, it's usual that some of the neighbors begin heading out to their night jobs. A few of the people on this floor had such jobs, but Arthur quickly assumed that he had simply arrived long after they had left.
Only one other person was on the floor. A man who seemed to not notice Arthur. He was just sitting there, opposite the door to Himura's apartment. He looked to be smoking a cigarette while playing on a phone, smoke billowed from between his lips, and he looked rather assuming to the passive eye.
He had a trucker cap that was black and white while wearing a black zipped up hoodie and blue jeans. He was also wearing brown combat boots that looked out of place with the rest of his outfit. He looked rather annoyed, but it didn't concern Arthur. Whoever this man was, he intended to ignore him and go inside.
He reached into his pocket as he approached the door, searching for the apartment key.
The man didn't look up from his phone, and instead seemed engrossed in some video on a popular video sharing website. Arthur couldn't tell what it was from first glance, but he could hear gunshots coming from the phone.
Arthur, unphased, turned towards the door. Key in lock, he turned it. The sound of its clicking alerted the man sitting behind him.
"Oh…?" He grumbled, looking up from his phone towards Arthur. "Huh… 'Bout time someone came home…" He suddenly murmured, slipping his phone into a pocket as he slowly stood up. Arthur, having heard the remark, turned around to face the unknown individual. He was so close, he could even tell the man had a five'o'clock shadow. He looked over Arthur once before taking another puff of his cigarette.
He held the smoke in a moment, tossing the used cigarette to the floor and crushing it underneath his boot before letting the smoke flow past his lips and into the hallway.
"Had me waiting a good hour, kid… You live here?" He asked, putting his hands in his pockets as he questioned the young American. Arthur didn't respond for a moment, and only glanced between the door and the unknown man before coming up with a question of his own.
"Who's asking?" Arthur offered his retort, looking up at the man who easily stood taller than him by a good foot.
"Friend of Arinori-san's. That's more than you need to know. Do you live here?" He asked again, this time taking a step forward towards Arthur.
Arthur, having just remembered Himura's text from earlier, didn't back away or let himself get intimidated by the sudden attempt. He remembered Himura telling him someone was gonna stop by and to not let them in. This must've been the man he was referring to.
"Yes." Arthur said, knowing that if he lied he would've been caught in it easy. The unknown man grunted as he processed that information, visibly appreciative that Arthur didn't try to weasel away with a lie.
"You look American. Arinori-san running a daycare now to earn some extra money?" He asked, scratching his five'o'clock shadow as he glanced Arthur up and down. Arthur didn't budge.
"Excuse me, but who are you exactly?" Arthur asked him, ignoring the question posed to him.
"Hmph. You got moxie, kid. I hear that tone you're using. I can respect that you don't want to answer me…" He took another step forward, bearing down on Arthur with his height. It was at this moment Arthur began to feel an angsty feeling inside himself. "...But don't use that tone with me. I'm simply asking you a question."
"It's getting late. I should go inside." Arthur didn't hesitate to reply. He placed his hand in the pocket containing his phone, ready to dial the police if he needed to. The angst in him grew with each second the silence between them persisted. And it persisted until the man looked down, noticing the pocketed hand. He smirked.
"Calm down, kid." He put his hands up in an attempt to defuse the tension. "I would never dream of hurting a mere child." He began backing away, chuckling under his breath as he put some distance between Arthur and himself. "I just wanted to see if you knew Arinori-san… Himura Arinori… I'm assuming you do, you live here after all."
Arthur nodded, keeping a tight grip on his phone. He didn't let a single emotion show on his face, but he felt as if he needed to tread carefully. This man seemed dangerous, and Arthur wouldn't have been surprised if the guy was armed with a concealed weapon. He gave off that vibe just with the way he was talking.
"Good." He said, placing a hand on his side as he looked around. Confident that nobody was listening in on them, he smiled again and looked Arthur dead in the eyes. "Do me a favor, kid. I gotta get home to the wife, y'know how it is. I'm sure you've got a girlfriend yourself, after all… Take a message for me."
Arthur, glancing over his shoulder at the door behind him, was reluctant to agree to this request. But he knew he wouldn't have enough time to turn around, force the door open, slam it shut and lock it before the man was upon him. He'd be lucky if the man didn't get in while it was open too.
There was danger here. Arthur felt it. But, without a single tremble, he glanced back at the man before giving a slow nod.
"Alright kid, thanks." He said, crossing his arms as he spoke. "Tell Arinori-san to call Kaneshiro. If he doesn't, I'm gonna come back and talk to him myself. That's it. That's all I want you to say. Can you handle that?" He asked, almost like he didn't expect Arthur to turn him down.
And Arthur didn't.
"Fine." Arthur simply said, taking his hand out of his pocket when he was confident the man wasn't going to harm him.
The man grinned, reaching out and ruffling the kids' neat hair vigorously. "Good kid." He said, grinning devilishly. "Now run inside. We're done here." He turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets. His grin persisted. "Don't forget to tell him that, now."
With that said, he started off. An evil chuckle accompanying his departure. All the while Arthur observed him as he left, reaching up to right his hair with an annoyed sigh.
But with that sigh came a relief as well. The angst he was feeling quickly flooded from his system, and he felt more secure with the man gone. He shot his head up, falling back against the door as the relief washed over him.
He was no stranger to rough people. He had to deal with a lot of those types back in the home country. His friends were considered rough people, and the stuff they got into - and often dragged Arthur into - had toughened the young man. He was no longer intimidated easily, and there had even been a few fights he's been in that no one but himself and his friends knew about. Fights with people who had it coming, but fights nonetheless.
It was these experiences that allowed Arthur to confront this man without fear, but something told Arthur this man was no ordinary thug. That feeling is what sparked the angst and anxiety, and even caused Arthur to tone down his voice.
He looked around to see if anyone else had come onto this floor, and indeed he was alone. The man was gone, none of the neighbors had come out, and no security guard was in sight. If something were to have happened to Arthur, no one would've known.
That kind of thought frightened Arthur, and he huffed out a breath as he looked back at the stairs the man had disappeared down.
"Who was that man…?"
Post-Chapter Author's Note
Proof read and edited by a friend named Frozen Foe on my Discord server.
As promised, an extra long chapter to speed everything along. I think I detailed the beginning of his relationships so far really well, and I am looking forward to bringing them to new heights in the coming chapters. This next chapter is going to be special, just you wait.
Speaking of which, my editor came forward with a request. All this editing is burning him out, so we've decided unanimously that the story is gonna be slowed down with the writing process. At maximum, there will only be a chapter a week. But with the length of this next chapter, it's probably gonna be more like two or three depending on how I manage my time. It's gonna be big enough to where I have to split it into two parts. Look forward to that, though.
I hope you all are enjoying, so far. I certainly am.