CHAPTER 31

“P-Prove it!” Al points his finger at us.

It turns out the new transfer student was a royal prince from a foreign country, and he had just proposed to the love of his life, Mary Kaneko. Somehow I got roped into this situation.

“W-What do you mean?” Mary whimpers.

“I mean prove it! Show me that you’re actually a couple!”

Al wasn’t convinced. If we didn’t do anything to alleviate him then the situation was just going to get worse. Even if we “did” something to prove our love, I’m going to make things worse. There was no way any good was to come out of here.

Maybe if we just did something minor…?

I look into Mary’s eyes, to confirm the same thoughts I had in my head. She had offered a trial run a few days ago, and I doubt she expected this was how it was going to end up. But I can’t let Mary be whisked off to a foreign country against her own will.

“Maybe we should…?”

Mary closes her eyes and her lips move closer and closer to my face. She was biting her bottom lip with her fanged tooth, having no other choice. I never noticed how full and soft her lips looked, as if they were prepared for moments like this. I close my eyes as well, not because she did, but maybe because I didn’t want to sear this image into my memory.

Is this…okay?

“My lord!”

SLAM!

That was the sound of the sliding door. I open my eyes to see Mary was only an inch away. She’s close enough that I can feel her breath. We turn our attention towards the door, as I see another unexpected visitor standing outside, panting heavily. He was wearing an underclassman’s uniform.

“F-Frederick? W-What are you doing here?!?” Al shouts.

“I’ve been looking for you all over the campus. I’ve only managed to find you after running into the school doctor, who said you were supposed to be studying.” he explains. “Egads!”

Frederick covers his face in shame.

“I-I’m sorry. A-Are you two some exhibitionists?!? D-Don’t tell me you’re going to join in?!?” he gasps.

“Frederick it’s not like that! This is-“

“Let’s go my lord! We’re already late for check in.”

Frederick tugs Al by the ear, dragging him out of the study room, closing the door behind him.

“Pardon Al, he is a curious child.” Frederick suddenly appears then disappears.

Aren’t you younger than him?!?

Now it was just Mary and I in this quiet room. I finally notice that Mary was still wrapped around my arm.

“Eep!” she lets go, lightly pushing me away.

“I’m sorry for that. I just didn’t know what to say at that moment.” as she rubs her Masked Avenger pin. “Thank you for playing along though.”

“Y-Yeah, of course.”

I don’t exactly blame her. How would you react if somebody just impulsively proposed to you after a few seconds? I certainly didn’t have the guts to go arm-in-arm with someone next to me, but what other choice did she have at the time?

“Look Mary…” I sigh. “We can’t keep doing this to ourselves.”

“I know. I just don’t know what to do. I still remember Al when I was a kid, but I never really saw him that way. It was just so sudden that I couldn’t think of a better way to say no to him.” she explains.

“As kids…?”

Mary sits down on her chair.

“NGHRNGHRNGHR!” she moans.

Finally, she takes a deep breath, and begins to explain.

“Y’know how I said I was in a hospital for a long time when I was younger?”

“S-Sure?” I nod.

“As you know, I couldn’t keep still in my hospital room the whole day, so I escaped a lot.”

Nothing could contain the Roadrunner.

“One day, I ran into another kid who was lost. He was crying and pouting like a baby, totally not manly at all! It was the first time I’ve ever someone who had natural blonde hair and blue eyes like me. I’m sure he was shocked to see someone like me in this country too. What’s weird was he was dressed with like a tie and everything – way too fancy for some reason.” she laughs.

“Anyways, we tried my best to figure out where he lived, but obviously no one knew. Al and I spent the whole day on an adventure, exploring the big city as kids. I-I even used some of the money I saved up for a year on candy to calm him down! Eventually someone found us after a while. I guess two blonde kids really stick out so it was easy to find us. He asked for my name, and I told him.”

“And he turns out to be a prince…” I comment.

“I know…it’s like any girl’s dream as a kid to become a princess, but I can’t just leave everything and go with him. Argh!” Mary slams her head onto the table.

“I’m sure if you just talk to Al, he’ll understand.”

Mary raises her head.

“Really…?”

Honestly I had no idea. From my brief time with Al, he seemed like a nice guy, albeit a little odd. A prince was not the first thing I would think have when I saw him.

“But honestly I don’t really…nevermind.” Mary psyches herself up.

“A-Alright! I’ll tell him the truth! B-But!”

“But…?” I ask.

“Can you come with me…? I’m not sure if I can turn down a proposal alone.” Mary blushes. “Besides, you’re in this mess too.” she pouts.

“Because of you!” I sarcastically reply.

Life keeps getting complicated.

Wait a minute…

After walking Mary home I stepped into the convenience store for a drink. I run into someone I don’t expect.

“Y-Yuki-san?”

It was definitely her. She quickly pays for her items and leaves. I rush outside.

“W-Wait! Can we please talk?” I cry out to her.

Yuki-san stops. It takes her a moment to turn around, and she has her gaze towards the ground.

“Please. Hear me out. Like the old days?”

The waitress places the cup of coffee in front of me.

“Enjoy.”

I was more fixated on the coffee than I was for the person in front of me. I suddenly feel this immense pressure on my shoulders. It felt like everyone in this café had their eyes glued to our table.

“Kazuki-kun? Do you like it?”

I finally muster up my courage to look up.

Ah.

I’ve nearly forgotten how beautiful Yuki-san looked up close. Of course, Akane looked practically identical, but it was just her aura, her presence which truly took my breath away. Seeing her in front of me like this after a long time left me speechless. However, she looked visibly tired, as her face looked a bit thinner than I remembered.

“Yes.” as I take a sip of the coffee.

I resist the urge to make a disgusted face, as it was bitterer than I anticipated. I immediately reach over to the side and add some more sugar cubes.

“Enjoy.”

The waitress returns, this time with a small slice of strawberry shortcake. I could see a bit of drool seep out of Yuki-san’s mouth, but she quickly wipes it away, returning back to her stoic self.

“It has been quite some time has it not?”

“Y-Yeah…it’s been a while since we’ve spoken to each other.”

Yuki-san was nervously tapping her finger on the table, the only part of her body that had any reaction. I suppose her asking me here took most of her courage, and now she had no idea what to really talk about. It reminded me a lot of how Akane acts to be honest, which is cute.

Maybe I need to take the initiative? I can’t be passive anymore.

To be honest, I have no idea what to talk about with her; I’m surprised she even accepted. It was just a spur-of-the-moment kinda thing, as I didn’t expect to run into her like that. Maybe this was a sign? I have to set things straight with her, even if she was apparently with Daisuke. I can’t hold my feelings inside anymore.

I can’t let down Akane either…

“Can I tell you something Yuki-san? It’s about Mary and me.”

Yuki-san stops tapping her finger.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard but, it’s not what you think.”

“So then you’re not…?” she asks.

I shake my head. “It’s complicated, but we’re not going out.”

Yuki-san gives a heavy sigh.

“But why? Do you not like Mary?”

“Yes. I do like Mary. B-But not in that way.” I scratch the back of my head. “I just don’t see her that way.”

Yuki-san curls her hand into a fist.

“The truth is I already had feelings for someone else.” I say.

“Who…?”

I pause. Maybe she knew deep down, but wanted me to confirm it. I’ll gladly do that.

“It’s you. I’ve been in love with you since the first day you transferred to Kasumigaseki.”

Yuki-san averts her gaze. She moves her hands off the table, sitting still like a statue.

“But why? I-I rejected you Kazuki-kun. Why do you still feel this way?”

I promised Akane to never leave her; I will always stay by her side. Was this how Yuki-san felt as well? Even though they were two completely different people, I couldn’t help but feel that it applied to Yuki-san too.

“Because I made a promise. There’s no logical reasoning to love is there? I just know you’re the only one I have feelings for.”

That’s the truth.

“Huh?”

Yuki-san raises her hand up towards her face. Tears were pouring out of her eyes.

“W-Why am I…?”

“Y-Yuki-san?!?”

I can already feel the scorn coming from the other customers here. I wasn’t exactly painting a good picture for myself, especially since a girl was crying in front of me! Yuki-san wipes away her tears and quickly composes herself.

“I-I am sorry for that.” she clears her throat. “I am glad to hear that from you Kazuki.” she smiles.

“Then does that mean-?”

“I cannot.” she interrupts me.

W-What the?

“It pains me to do this, but I am sorry.” she looks at me with her piercing eyes. They were determined, unwavering. “I cannot reciprocate your feelings.” she says in a monotone voice.

“W-Why?”

Yuki-san bites down her lip.

“I cannot say.”

Is she hiding something from me?

“Is it because of Daisuke?” I ask her.

It had to be! Who else would be the reason why she was silent? Thoughts race through my mind. I can’t believe I had the audacity to call him my partner in crime. I clench my fist, my fingernails digging into my palms.

No…he’s not like that.

“N-No. Daisuke is strong. I am sorry, but I cannot say.”

Yuki-san stands up from her chair.

“Please stay away from us Kazuki-kun. I do not want to hurt you anymore. Be careful out there.”

She heads towards the exit, despite my pleas. I lower my head, defeated. Yuki-san didn’t even take a bite of the cake.

I failed again.

But why did she say to be careful? Was there an ulterior motive that I wasn’t aware of? Daisuke and Yuki-san had been missing in and out of school for the past couple of days, so maybe it had something to do with that.

My friends need me.

I ran away again.

I cannot put Kazuki into danger. It is a selfish request, but please stay away from me.

Where is Daisuke today…?

I was the only one who showed up to see Yui today. Even though I met up with Kazuki for a bit, which should have been plenty of time for Daisuke to arrive early. When I spoke with her, she said he never came. He has never missed a visit ever. He did not respond to my messages either.

So where is he today?

I reach into my pocket for my phone, and decide to quickly message him again. Before I knew it, I see someone lightly jogging towards my direction.

“I-I’m sorry.” Daisuke tries to catch his breath.

“Where were you?” I ask him with concern.

Daisuke wipes the sweat off his brow.

“Is Yui okay?” he asks me.

He ignored me.

“She’s fine.” I say to him coldly. “Now where were you? How come you did not reply back to my messages? Do you know how worried Yui was?”

“That’s a relief.” he sighs.

Daisuke averts his gaze, looking away from me towards the night sky. Like usual, we were the only people around this time of evening.

“I just had to take care of some business.” he says reluctantly.

“Business?” I cross my arms. “Is it with the Dominos?”

Deep down I already knew the answer as I had my suspicions on his whereabouts. I just wanted to confirm the truth. We did promise to tell each other everything did we not? We are partners correct?

“Yeah…” he pauses. “I don’t have a choice.”

“You do have a choice.” I grab his hands. “We can work together; you do not have to burden everything on your own.”

I look deeply into Daisuke’s tired eyes. The young man in front of me was done with life, his misery only surmounting over time. He was just too stubborn to allow a helping hand in his life. But maybe Daisuke never thought that I would belong in his world.

“No.” Daisuke shrugs off my hands. “I can’t let you get involved with me any further. I’ve already gone past the point of no return. There’s no point running away from my destiny anymore. Nothing you or anyone would say will change that.”

“I am already involved! I know too much for my own sake Daisuke. I am telling you, you do not have to-“

“Stop it Akane!” he interrupts me.

“I’ve already sacrificed everything…please just stay away from me.” he says with baited breath. “I don’t want to sacrifice you too.”

Daisuke turns his back on me. I am too stunned to say anything back to him. I am powerless, unable to convince him otherwise.

I cannot do anything alone…

No. I cannot get them involved as well. But I have no other choice. I need to reach out to his best friend – Kazuki Kaneshiro.

Please save him.