Chapter 2 - Resolve

It was 5 pm. The sun was setting gradually. I decided to turn in early today after seeing Kurumi and Shin. I took preparation for dinner and went to take a bath. As I was relaxing my body in the hot water of the tub, I decided to think about what happened today. At first, it was the guess who game. If we are to win this game safely, information about the other signs will be very crucial. I was able to determine some things about Pisces and Capricorn by what I saw today. Pisces is a class that has high academic skills. I bet their whole class is going around searching for information right now. Kirigaya came to negotiate with me, and by that, I was able to determine that they have a good academic sense and can have a fair negotiation with anyone.

On the other hand, Capricorn is led solely by Katagiri himself. I was able to ascertain that since Katagiri alone came to search for information. It seems like that the whole Capricorn class is relying on him to lead them to victory. To him, it looks like you can gain information by fighting only. I don't mean to contradict his way of doing things but it doesn't work like that always. Through violence, you will only get on the bad terms of other signs which will get you to create enemies and make your life even harder here.

Both Pisces and Capricorn are hard opponents in their own way. We still have to be aware of the fact that there are still 9 more signs. They are searching for information as well. The cardholders are going to be announced tomorrow. If we are to win in this won safely, we will need more than information...We would need...confirmation.

I got out of the bath and took a cold drink from the fridge. I dried myself and sat down on my bed, drinking the drink, and looking outside the window. This life is not that bad is what I was thinking at the time. I got everything here, a normal high school I wanted. I was extremely introverted in my original and no one paid attention to me either but in this world everything changed for me. I was able to talk to Kurumi, Yukio, Matsumoto, and Shin. I was...able to call them my true friends.

I never thought a day would come, I would say such a thing. For a quiet natured guy like me, this would seem impossible to achieve but as time went by in this world. I felt something within me changing me steadily. I wanted to know what will happen next. I wanted to know how my relationship will develop with Kurumi and the others. I wanted to know if I can or will be able to defeat the other signs. I wanted to go home but...with my friends and classmates. My body grew warm and my heart started beating rapidly. Tears started falling from my eyes in delight. Yes, I was changing for good this time.

It was 7 pm. I had calmed down by then. Before departing, Kurumi told me that she will be visiting me today too so I decided to cook something better but I ended up doing the same except for the fact that I had cooked fish this time as well. I turned on the Tv and started browsing stuff on my phone. I forgot to mention the fact before but yes, we had our phones even in this world. It is kind of strange now that I mention it but even though we had our phones we couldn't contact the persons outside this world.

For example, the only persons I can contact are Kurumi and Shin and my other classmates though I only have Kurumi and Shin's number...The persons I cannot contact are my relatives in the original world. Whenever I try to call them my phone shuts down. So, I decided to give up in the end.

I heard someone ring the bell and went to the intercom. I saw Kurumi smiling through the peephole and opened it. After opening the door she immediately jumped on top of me. In a flustered tone, I said...

"Wah!? Hold on Kurumi! What are you doing jumping on me like that!?"

"Who cares? No one is going to see us in your room anyways fufu"

I did not like how she phrased her words but seeing her happy and smile like that I couldn't say anything. I sighed, smiled at her, and closed the door while having her around my neck. She then went inside and laid down my bed. I let the window open for fresh air to come through and went to the kitchen to finish the dishes.

Kurumi and I talked about a lot of different things while having our dinner. While I finished eating something hit me really hard. It felt very different. Kurumi looked at me in a concerned look in her face and asked me...

"Is something the matter Arata-kun?"

I couldn't answer the question. I felt my body was becoming colder and my eyes were filling with water. Kurumi saw that and sat beside me and said...

"You can tell me anything that is bothering you Arata-kun. If you said that you were going to protect then I would say that I don't want to see you suffer in the process. I want to protect you too."

I looked at her upon hearing those words. The look in her eyes was filled with kindness and care for me. I have never seen those eyes before which made me feel easy a bit. I took a deep breath and continued...

"Kurumi...Do you remember what I said about my parents working overseas?"

"Yes, I do."

"T...That was a lie."

She gasped upon hearing it and took a deep breath. She held my hand hard and continued...

"What is the truth then?"

It was fair that she would want to know the truth. She told me about her so it was also fair that I would say something about my past as well. I took yet another deep breath and continued...

''They died."

She shook a bit. Her eyes widened upon hearing and I hung my head down. But I still continued to explain...

"They were working on something of a huge project. I don't know the details of the project but they said to make it a success they had to travel overseas. Just then, the plain in which they were in...exploded and they died."

Kurumi looked upset at hearing it. Tears were falling from her eyes as well as mine. I already cried before so I was looking like a real tearjerker. But no matter what it was...It was my past. After their death, I was like a living corpse. I had no one to turn to. Since I was an extremely introverted person, none of my relatives wanted to accept me. I was forced to live in an orphanage. There I learned the minimum things needed to survive. Even though I had no desire to survive but I remembered my father's words that told me, no matter what happens Arata, you have to keep living your life in the way you want, something good will truly happen if you keep believing. I wonder this is what he meant at that time.

Now, I don't want to remember my past. I want to look forward to the future. In a very heavy voice, I said...

"I thought that dying would have been for the best for me. But now, I think the latter. Now, I look forward to going home. The before me would have surely wanted to die here but now, I want to keep living. I want to go home, with you Kurumi, and all of my classmates."

Kurumi who was dazzled by words cried loudly and hugged me really hard. I too in return hugged her and patted her head while removing the strains of water from my eyes.

I don't care anymore what the old introverted me would have done or said in this type of situation. I will decide my fate with my own hands now. I will go home safely along with Kurumi and my classmates and no matter what it takes. I looked out of the window while hugging the crying Kurumi and said in mind with a fierce look in my eyes.

Dad & Mom. Thanks for everything you did for me. But now, I finally get what you meant. From now on, I will carve my own path and be proud of it. This is my reason for fighting Dad and Mom. This is my resolve.