Chapter 74

“To hell with it.”

@NanZiRAven: Re: Let’s Collab

Meet me later @ Guada station mcdonalds 8pm. Let’s talk details and sched. Promise it’s final

@NanZiRAven: Re: Re: Let’s Collab

Hey Raven! It’s Cas sending this email to confirm my involvement with your agency plans and to set a schedule with our collab. Tell me when you are available. I’m feeling excited about this!

Casper exhales as he finally pressed the send button on his computer after hours of writing and rewriting his response to Raven. He’d been putting the task off ever since he and Julian had the “talk”, which was something that bothered him, both from what Julian did, and from how he had handled it. He knew it was wrong for him to act repulsed to his confession but the thought never came to him till after a few days had passed, which by then it was too late as Julian never returned to his abode ever since the incident.

‘Oh… oh well… whatever.’ He muttered to himself as his eyes wandered to the clock on the wall before him telling him he’ll be late for classes. Casper sluggishly gets up from his chair as he goes and prepares himself for school. As far as his teachers were concerned this would be the third time this week that he will be late. But in Casper’s mind the reprimands don’t even matter, since he isn’t even in the mood to attend any classes, not that Julian also appears in any of them either.

In the first class following the confession Casper was having the jitters knowing that Julian would be there and he didn’t know what to say or how to act, but was bitterly surprised to not see him, which continued for all of the classes they had together that day, and the day after.

Finally he realized that the damage was to such an extent that Julian would actively sabotage himself to avoid being in class with him, but thankfully it was not the case.

‘I wonder if he’s gonna be there again…’ He thought as he rushed to the kitchen to prepare lunch for himself. He usually would never do so as he would just go to the cafeteria to buy lunch and eat it there but it was yesterday where he found out where Julian had been spending their classes when he found him alone talking to someone in the cafeteria. He wasn’t sure if he saw him back but right at the moment he caught a clear glimpse of his figure, he immediately turned away to someplace else.

A move that in hindsight, had terrified him. As far as he knew He didn’t think to avoid him but it was by instinct that his body had moved on its own that at just the sight of him standing there was enough for his feet to turn away.

He didn’t even consciously realize it was Julian, until he was seated at the teacher’s cafeteria. A full two buildings away from where he initially would’ve been.

Now he had figured that if he was going to avoid him actively this time around, he would just make his own lunch and eat it someplace secluded. As he hopes that by doing so it would lower the chances of him and Julian having a chance meeting.

He knew it was wrong to actively run away but the fear he felt when he saw him made an impression. That Julian didn’t want to talk. That Julian DID saw him and drove him away by sheer will alone. That he wasn’t wanted.

That he wasn’t his friend.

At least, not anymore.

And as he decides to make an omelet for his meal, breaking the eggs on the heated pan. His tears started flowing.

For the more he thinks of everything he and Julian had been through, the more he questioned everything between them.

-Was he really there as his friend?

-Or was he just there because he wanted something more?

And the more he thought, the more it poisoned him.

Before he knew it, the eggs were past done.

As packs his simple, but slightly burnt, lunch in his lunch box, along with some drinks and a cup of rice, an idea spurs from the recesses of his mind.

‘I wonder if I should have Pai over?’ He said, thinking aloud, as his eyes wander around the house seeing all the free space with nobody to occupy them. Hoping that Pai would at least be interested in hanging out with him knowing that Julian was and might not ever be present anymore.

‘But what do I say when he asks?’ He thought. ‘Baahhh! Whatever… If it happens it happens.’ He said to himself as he got ready to leave for school.

He picks up his bag and takes one final look at the mirror to check if his uniform was put on correctly and if his hair was presentable.

‘Do I look alri-- oh yeah…’ He caught himself blabbering. He was alone now, no one was going to answer. But he felt sad since old habits die hard as he takes a step out of his doorway, looking back at the empty house and knowing he’d be taking a walk alone towards the school for the nth time that week.

‘Yeah… I’ll ask Pai after school. Hopefully he’s fine with today.’ He thought as he left his abode.

Heavy panting coupled with heavy footsteps echoes through the school grounds as a single boy runs across the dullness of the cold gray concrete. In his eyes the sight of worry is clearly chiseled into his expression as he ran and ran as fast as his legs could take him. Transporting himself towards a small unassuming door with a cross hanging above it, and a small sign at the side that says: Chapel of Saint Edward.

Thankfully he spots the door already open as he thought that he didn’t need to slam it as he barges into the sacred space.

‘CAS!’ Pai shouts upon arriving inside the chapel’s walls, scanning the area for any sign of his friends as he hears Casper shouting back at him from the center hall, his voice, hiding below the sea of pews.

‘Pai over here!’ He shouts as Pai shimmies across one of the pews to get to them where he was greeted to a gruesome sight. Casper held Julian’s unconscious body in his arms with a large kitchen knife sticking out of his abdomen and his blood dyeing his white uniform into red. Pai kneels down in shock and awe as it was the first time he had seen such an injury up close and personal. He never dreamed nightmares of seeing such a thing and only in video games where he’d only experienced such gore.

He looks at Casper’s hands and sees it stained with Julian’s blood along with the handkerchief he was using to stop it from spewing out. Thankfully the amount wasn’t enough for him to leave a pool of blood on the floor but still it was more than enough for Pai to even fathom as the scene in front of him was starting to make his head spin.

‘Pai?? Pai??? What should we do?’ Casper asks but Pai was just kneeling there with eyes wide open as his mind was having a difficult time processing how real everything had become. He thought he’d be ready to swoop into action like the heroes he’s watched during saturday morning cartoons, but the gruesomeness of it all and the urgency of a life slowly fading was starting to overwhelm him.

It was also not that long ago when he and Denzo had their confrontation and his mind was fatigued from going through two difficult experiences at the same time, as Casper was trying his best to get an answer from him.

‘Pai? Pai can you hear me? Should we get him to the clinic? Hospital? Pai? Please Pai… Help me here…’

The smell of sauteed garlic permeates the air coupled by the sound of vigorous chopping of ingredients were the staple soundtrack for anyone working inside the open confines of the school’s cafeteria. Located snuggly in between the football field and the swimming pool, it is the ideal place to efficiently serve famished students who have just finished their gym classes. But after all the hustle and bustle of the school day has settled and the kitchen helpers have all hung up their aprons, it is quite strange that one could still hear the kitchen still alive and burning, but with no students to serve.

‘Still working Madam Kathrine?’ A seemingly dismembered voice had somehow sneaked up behind the old woman's ears, but years of sudden and explosive cooking incidents had numbed her senses from being startled that the charming old woman with salt and peppered hair simply raised an eyebrow and gave an answer.

‘Because I knew you were coming for seconds. Isn’t that right? Julian?’ She said with a smirk on her face, raising an eyebrow as she caught a glimpse of him from the side of her eye, standing smugly by the door frame as he’d been watching her all this time.

‘Seconds?’ Julian answered as he unbinds himself from the door frame to stand closer to the kind old woman, who was occupied in cooking a hearty meal for someone he doesn’t know. ‘I’d love to get some more of your cooking Madam Kathrine but… I’m on a diet.’ He continued.

‘Oh nonsense! You don’t come strolling in my kitchen without wanting something to eat.’ She answered as Julian smiles meekly watching her closely doing what she does best. The Madam sees him lurking around the table behind her and smiles to herself as she grabs one of the soup ladles nearby and takes a scoop from the dish she was cooking.

‘Here, have a taste and tell me what you think.’ She said as Julian came over to take a full sip of the soup she was making.

‘A bit more salt.’ He comments as she nods and takes a huge pinch of salt from one of the containers near her, surprising Julian at how much she had put into the soup all at once.

‘What? That’s what you call a cook’s teaspoon.’ She defends as Julian tries to rack his head together with what he’d just seen.’

‘Wow… if you’re having tea sometime can I be invited to it?’ He remarked as the old woman chuckled at his reply. She stirs the pot again with her spatula and takes another sample of soup from the pot for Julian to taste. ‘Check it again.’ She said, immediately Julian takes up the offer and tastes it, just as he does, the reaction that was painted in his eyes already gave her an answer.

‘Perfect?’ She said, as Julian speechlessly nods to confirm, feeling the urge not to swallow the umami that permeated his senses, trying his best to prolong the taste in existence. However once he had finished tasting the dish, Madam Kathrine still saw something she'd thought, she just fixed.

‘Uhuh… Is it really perfect?’ She skeptically asked the boy as he looked at her, confused.

‘I mean yeah I love it. I can taste the tomato and the beef clearly now.’ Julian responds but the Madam placed her hand on his cheek.

‘No… Not the soup my child…’

‘...’

‘...’

‘You don’t come to my kitchen without wanting something to eat.’ She said with a gentle smile as Julian tried his best to keep his tears at bay.

‘Sit down! I’ll whip you up something, my child. I don’t want my daughter worrying and giving me an earful at home. Come! Sit! Sit!’ Madam Kathrine invites him as Julian looked unsure as to whether he should comply or not, eyeing something from afar.

‘I’ll just finish this for the mansion. They have a banquette tonight, a small one but they wanted a nice meal as their center so I was tasked to prepare it.

Anyways I’m almost--’

‘Wait Nana-- I mean… Madam Kat… I have someplace to be today so… and you’re still working--’

‘Nonesense! It’s fine. Unless… is it urgent?’ Madam Kathrine asked.

‘Ummm… it is… I’m sorry.’ Julian said with a tight lip. The old woman looked at him with marshmallow eyes and softly took him in her arms for a warm and hearty embrace.

‘You know you can always talk to me about anything, my child. I’m always here. Always ready to listen. Okay?’ She said as Julian melts in her arms. He knew he only planned to have a quick chat with her and be on his way, amongst other things he went there for, but the warmth and the flowery scent of her embrace had urged him to keep still for longer. Trying to savor every extra second he could get before finally, as he feels the burden of his tears almost falling, he breaks away and issues a confident looking smile towards the Madam.

‘I have to go.’ He said as he lingered his touch on her arm savoring everything he could.

‘I know. As I said… the door is always open.’

Julian backed away and kept his gaze towards the old lady as he exits the way he entered, keeping his gaze on the diligent cook as she masterfully handles the ingredients and the heat of the fire, making sure that her eyes were where they should be as his eyes wandered, looking for something before he left.

‘That boy… oh goodness…’ Madam Kathrine muttered as she cooked. Thinking about how he had acted had made her feel worried that something unsavory has happened to him again as she feared that his mother might have to transfer him somewhere, which wouldn’t be good as it would be the fourth time this had happened already.

But she steeled herself in her convictions that she would help the child no matter what, as it was her main motivation as to why she offered to have him study at St. Rita’s. So she could keep an eye on him, keep him close and keep him safe.

At the very least, have a shoulder to cry on.

But despite all this and despite keeping herself ready and accommodating whenever he’s around for a chat. Something about this particular meeting had left her with a pit in her stomach. Though she couldn’t pinpoint on where she had felt this nor how, nonetheless it was there and it was unsettling her. She looked towards the door to see if he was still there and watching, but there was none.

She sighs, knowing if she tried to do more to settle the unsettling feeling, she might make it worse and the only thing she could do for the moment was to pump herself up and keep on working, for she knew there would always be another day to make things right. And with her mind back in the game she stretches her arms and gets ready to chop the next batch of onions.

‘Now where did I place that darn knife?’

-----------------------------------------’That. You missed That.’---------------------------------------------

The thoughts and actions replayed in his mind over and over as the day went by without him realizing it. Just like that. Another day of school had gone by and as always, as dull as it would ever be.

But there was one thing he could feel happy about, for the first time in months all of their teachers have abstained from giving them any homework for the night, which meant that he could freely stream right after he had gone home as he wouldn’t be bothered by school work. And yet, despite feeling this wave of jubilant emotions, he could not enjoy it.

He felt shallow. Empty.

Angry.

Happy turned to numb turned to blame.

As he started muttering curses under his breath. Curses towards a certain person whom he blames his lack of enjoyment for this rare occurrence of “no homework” that had befallen him.

-SLAM!-

Casper slams his fists on his desk in frustration, only to be awakened by the fact that he was still inside their classroom as all of his classmates snapped their gaze towards him with a look of concern.

‘Oh… ahehehe… sorry I just remembered something important. Bye!’ Casper excused himself as he quickly made his exit out of the room and far into the hallway. Swiftly carried by his feet towards the gates of the school he breathes a sigh of relief at the moment he steps foot outside of the premises of St. Rita’s, finally feeling the weight off of his shoulders the more the distance between him and the school grows.

He spots the bus stop where he and Julian would always use to get home to his place, making him curl his hands into a ball as the urge to punch someone engulfs him.

‘I need to fucking escape this… No homework, happy day, playing games, play all day, play all night, play play play play play play play--’

His thoughts ramble on inside his head to keep his mind occupied from thinking anything unnecessary besides the fact that he doesn’t have any homework and that he gets to play all night tonight undisturbed, intentionally walking past the bus stop for the next and keeping his mind on the target for today which was to stream and play while he waits for Raven’s reply.

He walked another two blocks before reaching the next bus stop and by this time all of the annoyances of the school were far from sight and he could just focus his mind on what games he should play for the night, knowing that he’d be able to stream constantly for longer as there was nothing else to do and no one else to entertain.

Since he was primarily a racing game streamer he thought about all of the racing games in his arsenal and what would be the most suitable for him to play in a long term setting. Something he could grind non stop without his audience, and himself, getting bored of watching. But then again he had been streaming those kinds of games for months now and since there are no new racing games in the market, he felt that it was getting too stale.

‘Hmm… maybe I should start playing an RPG instead…’ He thought of the chance for a change of pace as the bus finally arrived at his stop.

‘Maybe Pai could suggest some games for me when I get back… Yeah i’ll just ask him--’

He had already made his first step into the carriage when an important thought surged through his brain, making him stop and slowly pivot around to exit the bus.

‘FUCK!’

He shouts just as he gets off, not caring if the passengers could still hear him from outside as he breaks into a sprint away from the bus and away from the bus stop.

Charging back towards the school.

He didn’t need to.

He could’ve just called Pai, asked him what games he should play.

There are many more days where he could just call him to hang out.

It didn’t need to happen today.

In fact it would’ve been better if he just went with the flow.

Let the bus take him home. Have him shrug his shoulders and say:

“Oh well I guess that’s that.”

But the moment he remembered he planned to invite Pai back.

The moment he remembered his decision to ask him. To accompany him.

His heart sank and urged his body to move.

As if it was the most important thing in the world to do.

Even now as he was running, with all the thoughts of why and how soaring past his mind; he asked himself why he was doing this.

Why was he running?

What was so important about having Pai with him on this particular day?

His legs were on a sprint and his body was making all the moves to weave and dodge past the people on the sidewalk. But his mind;

His mind was deep within his consciousness.

And his sight, a tunnel.

As if he was looking at himself from the third person, like he was watching a movie.

Criticizing, analyzing the why, and as he does.

No answer was coming up.

He just ran.

He ran back to the bus stop where he and Julian always waited. He ran back into the gates that he successfully escaped a few minutes ago and he ran back through the halls that were now empty as he stopped to catch his breath thinking he was too late to catch him.

At this moment, he forgot he could just call him or give him a text.

But he didn’t remember, nor did he care to.

His mind was operating on analog in that he needed to see the person in order to communicate with them.

A weird and backwards kind of thinking, but also an outdated animalistic kind. The kind that happens when a person’s feelings have been brought to its absolute state of rawness.

Maybe due to trauma.

Sometimes due to stress.

But rarely when someone is happy.

And as he stood there clutching the balcony to support himself from collapsing after running a full sprint for five minutes straight. He thought to himself.

‘Where are you?’

Immediately his mind went into overdrive in trying to scan all of the other places where Pai could appear.

And one image stood above everything else.

‘The council office.’

He takes a few huge gulps of air into his lungs and launches himself back into a sprint. Charging down the winding steps of the school’s eastern stairwell as he arrives at the common grounds where he sets his eyes towards the gates of Little Edgar’s, unobstructed by anything or anyone.

He runs past under the first building block and makes his way across the assembly grounds where the flag ceremony usually takes place in the morning. He sprints towards and passes under the second building where the senior high students have their classes above and into the modest courtyard that mediates the student buildings and the offices of the clergy that runs the school.

And just as he runs past the offices of the clergymen. A cold shiver runs up his spine.

He can see a few yards away, the gates going to the rear of the school, towards Little Edgar’s. He could just run for a little more to see if Pai was in there. If he could ask him to hang out.

But his body slowed.

His breath had run out.

And strangely enough, there was something strong pulling him somewhere. Like there was an echo calling out to his soul. His desire to run was being overwritten by something he couldn’t explain. Something ominous, something terrifying.

All of these feelings were urging him towards a single point. A single door. A door that he had never thought to touch nor open in all the days he had spent as a student of St. Rita’s.

A door towards a quaint little chapel, used by the clergy as a place for confession.

A chapel bearing the name of Saint Edward.

Out of sheer curiosity he decides to give in. Slowly as he walked towards the door the ominous feeling in his chest was growing stronger the nearer he approached. The overwhelming fear makes him hesitate, taking a few steps back as he re-evaluates that he might disturb whatever it is that was beyond the door.

But as soon as he stopped the pull of the door became stronger as the fear of missing his chance swelled up in his chest and through it a revelation spurred into his mind.

‘Maybe… maybe Pai is in there.’ He thought. Justifying for himself to push through with the uncertainty of the situation. Soon enough he finds himself standing right by it, ready to open with his hand on the door knob.

He takes a little peek through the small peeking window on the door to make sure he wasn’t intruding on anyone and as he does, a familiar silhouette appears holding something shiny in front of them. With the feeling of uncertainty gone and his curiosity peaked, he opens the door and as he does;

The figure strikes itself down.

‘...’

‘...’

‘Julian?’ Casper spoke, breaking the silence as the figure hunched down with a pained groan, slowly turning around, becoming aware of his presence.

‘Oh.’ Julian said. Before looking down at his stomach, and collapses.

-SLAP-

‘PAI!’

Casper gives an almighty slap to Pai’s left cheek as he wakes up from being fazed by the moment, once again coming to terms with the reality of what has happened. He curls his hands into a ball and bites his lip, gathering the strength to do something, hoping there is still something he could do to save the situation.

Time is of the essence so he went with the first thing that came to his mind.

‘Clinic! We take him to the clinic!’ He shouts as Pai urges Casper to carefully lift Julian up, lending his assistance by taking his legs by his arms to lessen the load.

The two carried him as swiftly as they could to the school infirmary across the courtyard making a beeline towards it, cutting across the school’s common areas to get there. Thankfully it was already late enough that the number of students roaming around were close to none with a lone janitor witnessing their passage and lending his help to carry Julian, which allowed Pai to run ahead to alert the nurses inside the infirmary.

‘Patient coming through!’ The janitor shouts as the nurses already have the double doors opened for them thanks to Pai’s advance allowing them to save precious seconds in getting Julian to safety. They set his body on top of the operating table that had been prepared beforehand as they carefully removed Julian’s clothing, getting a full accurate view of his wound.

‘Phew… okay it seems to be a standard eight inch chef’s knife.’ The Doctor assessed as the nurses cleaned around the wound to get a better view on the object. ‘From the looks of it you did a good job of driving it in deep. About three of the eight inches “approximately” is left exposed and is lodged firmly in the abdomen. Seemingly stabilized in place by the abdominal muscles.

I’m not in a position to judge but son… whatever it is you were trying to do, you certainly succeeded.’ The doctor said to Julian, who was now in a delirious state, groaning in pain but unable to speak as his eyes lazily wandered around the room while the nurses treated him. Meanwhile he gets a glimpse of both Casper and Pai looking over his shoulder to see how their friend was doing.

‘You guys must be his friends?’ The doctor confronts them.

‘Yes!’ They both respond.

‘Well he’s in good hands now. You did a good job getting him here quickly and you, for alerting us beforehand. But for now I must ask you to leave as we are about to do a procedure on him. Please…’ The doctor kindly asked.

‘Will he be okay? Is it not fatal?’ Casper asked.

‘From the looks of it it won’t be but we still need to assess the extent of the damage. But for now… Please. Time is of the essence.’ The doctor sternly said as the two nodded as the janitor escorted them out of the infirmary and had them seated outside in waiting.

‘You kids gon be alright?’ The janitor asked. Seemingly robbed of their speech the two just nod as the Janitor says his farewells, leaving them to be on their own.

The two of them just sat there for the next hour and a half in stunned silence.

Surprisingly enough their worries were not the main culprit for this. Their minds, having been relieved to the sudden trauma, were empty. Any thoughts or reactions they have after seeing what they saw are gone.

A sudden relaxation after a suddenly stressful situation.

And as their minds, blank and relieved from all stimuli, lay dormant as they sat, the slow lengthy minutes passed by without account. Soon enough the door opens, and a feeling of annoyance flooded their senses, much to their surprise.

‘You can come in now.’ The nurse said.

At first they felt a bit ashamed as they both felt like they’ve been awakened from a pleasant dream. A dream of nothingness and no worries to be suddenly pulled back into their worrisome existence felt like a curse. A minor curse.

A negligible curse.

The kind of feeling one feels when your mother wakes you up early for school.

On a monday.

Thankfully they remember why they were there in the first place as they quickly stood up and rushed in. Eager to determine the fate of their friend.

‘Is he okay?’ Pai asked while Casper rushed in without any questions asked. The nurse answered Pai but it didn’t matter as Casper tore open the curtains that shielded Julian’s bed as he greets him with a warm cuddly remark.

‘YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!’

He shouts.

‘What the hell were you thinking???!!’

Julian smirks but stays silent as the doctor raised his hand with a serious look in his eyes, making Casper back off his aggression.

‘He’s under my orders to not speak.’ The doctor remarked. ‘He has a torn diaphragm so his breathing is limited. We advise that you not talk to him too much as he heals for the next coming weeks. But for now, I can guarantee that he is stable and far from any danger.’

The doctor spoke as Casper breathed a sigh of relief but quickly stared daggers at Julian who responded with a meek smile upon seeing him upset.

‘You’re despicable, you know that?’ Casper declared before walking away, in his stead, Pai rushes in to check on Julian as Julian gives him a reassuring smile, which is the only action he could do at the moment and after hearing what the doctor had explained to Casper. Pai nods his head in relief at seeing Julian still with them after witnessing his state back at the chapel just a few hours ago.

‘That fucking selfish asshole!’ Casper complains as he storms out of the infirmary with Pai in tow.

‘Wait! Wait! What happened back there??’ Pai demands as he pulls on Casper’s shoulder. Trying to get some answers.

‘He’s Gay!’

‘...’

‘Umm… Do you not li--’

‘NO!’

‘...’

‘I mean yes but…

Ugh… not in that manner.’

‘I… I don’t--’

‘He did this because I rejected him!’

‘Uh-- I still don’t--’

Pai airs his confusion as both he and Casper’s conversation was cut off by the sudden arrival of an elderly woman who was calling for Julian. But what made the scene more intimidating was that she was immediately followed by the Principal of the school and the Student council President herself, Yukino Loran, who immediately took notice of Pai.

‘Pai! What happened?’ She asks.

‘Julian… he… he stabbed himself.’ He answered. For a second he thought of trying to phrase things in a more gentle manner but knowing Yukino he knew well such a thing was not needed.

‘But he’s fine now, Yes?’

‘Y-Yeah. He’s stable. But the doctor said he’s got a torn diaphragm so he’s not allowed to speak… At least for a few weeks.’ Pai said as Yukino kept a sour look on her face.

‘B-But… How about the meeting? Aren’t you--’ She stops him mid sentence.

‘It’s fine. Duty first.’ She answered as she looked behind him to see Casper with a sulking look.

‘You’re Casper right? I believe we met at the Champworld party.’ She asked, getting his attention.’

‘Yea.’ He replied, deliberately conserving his words.

‘Forgive me for prying but as Council President this has to be done.’ She declares as Casper sharply inhales, knowing what was up.

‘I know you two are close. May I ask you what happened that drove him--’

‘I know! --- I know what happened…’ Casper admits as he takes another deep breath.

‘Look… I don’t have any hard evidence but… ugh… I just… It-- guh… Can we talk about this in private?’ He pleads as Yukino looks at him in pity, knowing both he and Pai had gotten through a traumatic event.

‘Sure… let’s talk about it in the SC office. Would that be okay for you?’ Yukino suggests as Casper nods, prompting the group to walk back towards the parochial to talk.

On the way, the group encounters the rest of the student council with Denzo and Nica in tow, having just left the office right as Yukino’s group arrived.

‘Wh- why are you guys out? What’s up?’ Yukino asked.

‘The AC broke so we’re transferring someplace else.’ Pete said, looking annoyed that their meeting keeps getting disturbed.

‘Oh… uhh… dammit.’ Yukino mutters in frustration after hearing the news. Meanwhile Denzo reads the sorry look on both Casper and Pai’s faces and decides that the best action to take was to comfort them and see how they were doing.

‘What’s up with your sorry faces?’

‘Denzo!’ Yukino shouts. Denzo stares at her expression for a moment and finally gets a read on the situation.

‘Ohh shit… you’re babysitting their feelings now eh?’

‘Denzo what the fuck?!’ Nica interjects as she, alongside Yukino, were the only ones who received news about the incident.

‘Oh so it’s true then?’

‘DENZO!’

‘What?! It’s nothing why are--’

‘JULIAN JUST TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF YOU ASSHOLE!!!’

Pai was the one who shouted.

And everyone was silent.

But still it didn't faze him.

‘You know… You’re starting to get in the habit of shouting the plot. It’s getti--’

‘DENZO!’

Another shout. This time it was Aida.

Finally he was silenced. Begrudgingly.

‘When?’ Aida asks.

‘Just before we got here I got a call from the principal that a student had injured himself. And since Nica was with me. She knew.’ Yukino replied.

‘Why not tell us?’ Tisha asked. Feeling a bit left out since she is also a Council officer.

‘It’s a sensitive issue, Tish. I judged that having too many eyes on this would just create more problems but… well…’ Yukino responds, shrugging her shoulders as the group realized that they were now all dragged into this through sheer chance of being there.

‘Sorry Cas. I know you’d like to keep this private.’ Yukino apologized.

‘It’s okay.’ He replies, followed by a cursing stare towards Denzo.

‘But still…’ Yukino sounded conflicted as she wanted to push for a way where they could talk in private. Casper somehow sensed her thoughts and decided to lend her a hand.

‘You know… my house might be a bit far but… I think it can be a nice place to talk? Pai?’ Casper proposes as he turns to Pai for support.

‘Umm… yea. I can come with you two if that’s--’

‘Cool! Ms. President?’

Yukino looks unsure about the idea but since it was Casper who proposed it then she figured it would be the best course of action if she wants to learn of what happened.

‘Ok… if it’s alright then yea.’

‘Wait!’ Pete interjects. ‘This is an official Student Council investigation. I believe we might have to be present to put the meeting on record.’ He said as Yukino looked appalled, knowing what his intentions were.

‘It’s okay. I don’t have any problems with the council.’ Casper responds whilst Yukino glares at Pete for his actions. Tisha on the other hand can only roll her eyes but she herself decides to stay out of it, knowing if she did, she would have to deal with his frustration with the constantly delayed meetings.

‘Guess we’re going then.’ Denzo responds after hearing everything. But upon doing so, attracting the ire of Casper.

‘Excuse me? I don’t think you’re part of the council.’

‘I am not.’

‘Then why are you coming?’

‘I have no choice. Aida’s coming with you guys.’

‘So? After all that shit you said about us, You think you’re welcome?’

‘No. But I'm coming and you have no choice. So just turn a blind eye and I’ll just fade in the background.’

‘Fuck you! You’re not coming.’ Casper sternly said, making Denzo grit his teeth. He looks around to see if he could get any support.

Aida gives him a worried look.

Yukino rolls her eyes.

Tisha dismisses his gaze.

And Pete gave him a look that said: “You dug your own grave you idiot”

‘How useless you people…’ He thought as he now focused his gaze towards Pai.

‘Pai?’ Denzo asked, and with it, the whole weight of their secret group was forced upon him.

‘I’m sorry Casper but Denzo needs to come with us…’ He reluctantly said.

‘But why???’ Casper asked as Pai started to feel the eyes of everyone bearing down upon him like a huge truckload of grenades trying to crush him and blow him up at the same time.

He takes a deep breath.

‘I’ll tell you once we get to your place.’

‘What do you mean tell--’

‘Everything. Now let’s go.’