PHASE 14 - IT WAS A NOT-SO-HORRIBLE SIGHT

Gate Guardian for Dummies Vol 2. It talks about Guardian Spells. Gate Guardians can cast a spell like all wizards in a fantasy game. We don’t need a wand, instead, we only pronounce the name of the spell loudly and do the necessary gestures to cast it.

For example, in order to cast , I will have to inhale a mouthful of oxygen and stab my sword to the designated target. You should try it at home, maybe you can cast it. Idiot.

There goes your daily dose of information dump. Savvy?

<>

My Monday morning continued with anxiety.

Jeannette was there, waiting for me at the bus terminal. She had her arms crossed and she had been tapping her shoes on the ground. When she finally noticed me, she had this cross-veins on her forehead.

“Just how tardy are you?” Jeannette irritatingly said.

I ignored her and proceeded to step on the bus. I’m looking for clues like those I had in my nightmare. I saw a newspaper that was being held by an old passenger, but there are no winning lottery numbers as of now.

“Why are you spacing out?” Jeannette’s irritated voice. Both of us just seated together.

“Nothing. I just had… a bad dream.”

“And now you’re worried that it may come true?” Jeannette held her chin. “We don’t know the true capabilities of your so you should be careful. You might know the next winning lottery numbers!”

I was stunned for a moment there. Jeannette’s wits are terrifying! I made a deep sigh. Maybe it will be better if I take some burden off my chest.

“Actually, I’m looking for one. Tell me if the winning combination is 123456.”

Suddenly, I felt that my phone vibrated. I reached it on my left pocket and saw an unregistered number. It says “Good morning, Mr. Alaric Eisenhower. I want to say something to you at the cherry blossom tree near the gymnasium.”

That cherry blossom tree is a famous place for confessions. I’m quite sure this message is from a creepy stalker so I’ll get in trouble once again for this day. Somebody needs to call 911 because someone will fall down to a crippling depression!

An arrogant girl is going to get rejected by me, baby!

“Oh, a love chat~” Jeannette’s eyes was full of interest. “I used to receive a lot of those back in Mirose Grande. I can still remember when you sent one for me.”

“Shut up,” I said. “We better not talk about the past again.”

“Y-Yeah, right.” Jeannette bowed down. “I can’t imagine I ruined our friendship just because of that guy.”

“At least be glad that I consider you as an acquaintance from now on.” I smirked.

“H-Hey! I thought we were childhood best friends!?” Jeannette’s voice came up. “I thought you have already forgiven me?”

“From ‘Childhood Best Friends’, you got demoted to a ‘Total Stranger’ because of what you’ve done two years ago. You helped me to grow stronger as a Gate Guardian, and you asked forgiveness so I gave you a promotion from stranger to an ‘Acquaintance’. You should be happy and feel blessed.” I said coldly.

“So now, you label your friends in a military-style ranking?” Jeannette’s eyebrows irked for three times.

I made a smug. “At least I’m not Tiara who forces you to sing the Friendly Handshake.”

<>

We came in early in the campus, which was contradictory to my dream. And our lunch break didn’t go that way. Tiara and Jeannette had their own table while I ate with my squad like good ol’ days. I’m starting to doubt that nightmare thing so it went off my mind for a while.

It’s the dismissal of classes, and the cherry blossom tree was busy shrugging off its rosy leaves. I came to the designated place alone, but I doubt that my friends will not see this. I may not know where they are, but I’m sure that they’re watching me.

There was a strong gust of wind that made the leaves dance as they flew upward. There is this girl who had her dark blue hair tied in a ponytail, and she has this large red bow at her head’s back. This girl has a beautiful coke figure. I think she’s my classmate.

“T-Thanks for coming, Alaric.” The girl blushed.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Barbara. What do you want?” I said coldly.

“I-I’m Miyu!” She shrieked. “A-Anyway, I’m here to confess. I have loved you since I first saw you, Mr. Alaric.”

“Look at the stars and count them,” I said. “That’s how much I love you.”

Barbara...err...Miyu whatever looked up above in the sky. “I-It’s still afternoon, and the sun is still up. I can’t see any stars.”

“Exactly.” I said coldly.

Then I walked out as if I just left a big explosion in an action movie. Another creep just got roasted by my awesome rejection! Damn it feels good to be a gangsta!

Suddenly, I heard heavy yet fast footsteps approaching. When I turned around, I saw that damned shrine maiden chasing me!

That Tiara! Where did she come from!?

“Stop being so arrogant!”

Then a right straight went directly to my nose. There was this small shockwave, and then everything went black.

<>

When I wake up, I was in the school infirmary. Jeannette was there in front of me. I looked at the wall clock which says five, so I just passed out for about ten minutes.

“Tiara used to you after you passed out, so there’s no injury. She also said that she’s sorry.” Jeannette stated.

After a few moments, that blonde bitch started to burst a laugh.

“What?” I had my eyebrows curled and jerking.

“I-I couldn’t believe that you dropped a bomb to that innocent woman!” Then she laughed so hard that she rolled on the floor, holding her stomach. This annoying runt!

“You really liked how I performed that rejection, huh?” I forced my teeth to smile.

“Of course!” Jeannette stood up and raised her chin just to have an eye-to-eye contact with me. “I wouldn’t want my childhood best friend to be with the wrong girl.”

I don’t know if she still cares for me or she wants me to die single.

<>

My training after classes with the shrine maidens are far from over, so this week, I will have to sleep in the Kozukata Shrine. Jeannette won’t be accompanying me because she went home to Mirose Grande. So I went to Heightsburg all alone.

The sun is already setting, and everything on this mountain is colored orange because of the afternoon light. Normally, some shrine maidens would sweep and clean this place with their traditional broom at this hour, but now, it’s different.

It’s too quiet.

Shrine maidens are completely absent. The shrine looks abandoned. There’s no soul in this place. I looked up in the sky, and there is still no blood moon so I know I didn’t accidentally open a Gate to Yami.

This place is so creepy in so many ways.

Suddenly, I heard a loud cry from the main door.

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!!” It was Tiara’s voice!

A chill went down on my spine. I suddenly remembered the horrible nightmare. The silently abandoned shrine, and the setting sun. These are all the things I saw before seeing Tiara lying on the ground.

I looked at my wrist, and my watch was not there!

“It can’t be!” I muttered. Then there was this cry once again!

“Rikkuuuuuuuuun!!!” It certainly was Tiara!

“No no no no no!” I said as I dashed finally reaching the door of her room. “Tiara!!!” I screamed as I slammed her door open.

I was too late.

My eyes saw something that shouldn’t be seen.

Tiara was there lying on her bed, her eyes closed. Her face was red, not because of blood, but because she was blushing. She still had her school uniform, but her left hand is groping her breast and her right hand is tucked underneath her skirt.

God knows what she’s doing.

“Rikkun, not there! P-Please be gentle! Don’t go so hard!” She continued to moan.

While I… I was so dumbstruck. I only had my eyes open so wide, and my jaws falling. I am completely out of words to describe this!

When she opened her eyes, she saw me. Her complexion became so red in an instant that I thought she was a chameleon. She had her eyes widened, and tears went down.

“R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-Rikkun!?”

Embarrassed with the situation, the air went awkward silent.

Then, after ten whole seconds, she threw me her bed.