"I'm leaving now, Mom!"
Rei told her mother before going to school. While putting on her shoes, she looked at the shoe rack and found that a particular pair of shoes was not on the shelf.
"He's already left?" Rei asked her mother about the owner of the shoes.
"Yes dear, he already left this morning." Her mother replied with a small smile.
"Really?...why he's in such a rush?"
"I think it's good though, that means he at least is disciplined..."
Rei's mother said, as she glanced at her daughter who tended to wake up late too often.
" ...What!? At least I woke up early today!" Rei protests her mother with a rising blush of embarrassed
"Okay~~~ Whatever say..."
After the mother and daughter teased each other for a while, Rei looked down at her watch and realized that she was really gonna be late for real.
"Oh my gosh!! It's late!! I shouldn't have been talking!! I gotta go now." Rei flustered and quickly ran to the door.
"Take care of yourself!."
"Yeahh ~~~"
Rei shouted back as she ran out.
Rei's mother could only smile faintly at her cheerfulness, but when she looked at the picture on the wall, the smile turned into a worried expression.
"Darling, our daughter won't be like that anymore, will she? ... "
________________________________________
Maharaguchi High
The morning period was history. It seemed like everyone in the class was quieter than usual. That's simply because no one wanted to be called randomly by the teacher to answer questions.
" ...In the late 12th century, the era of the Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai began to rise in power, and later it would be called the Feudal Era....Can anyone tell me which Shogun from which city had the most influence? ..."
Everyone in the room was completely silent. Rei, who had heard and seen the state of the class, tried to raise her hand to answer the question.
"It's the Shogun of Kamakura..."
The answer echoed from the right of the seat. The owner of the answer was none other than Ake himself, Rei therefore put down her half raised hand down.
"Very good Ake!. You have quite a bit of knowledge."
The teacher praised him for his efforts before everyone in the room started talking about Ake in a hush tone.
Amidst the voices talking about him, Ake didn't care about those compliments and could only turn his face out the window.
While Rei, who was sitting next to him, felt a strange pressure, and she clenched her fists tightly as if she was upset about something, these voices praising Ake made her feel uncomfortable...
________________________________________
"Can i sit with you for lunch?"
Rei asked Ake with ever presence smile that she always have when converse with the other classmates. When the break period came, she naturally tried to invite the old friend to try to catch up with him more.
"I'm sorry Rei, maybe some other time, i kinda have to meet with someone..." Ake politely decline her offere, his sounds and demeanor, genuine.
"...Oh...well, can i at least tag along then." Rei still persist.
"Well...i gue--" right before Ake can answer, someone suddenly come up to them, someone Rei herself surprised to see.
"...Are you ready to go?..." A meek question from Fuuko disrupted the conversation.
"Oh! Sarada-san, i didn't know you coming to school today, your fevor getting better?" Rei genuinely surprised and ask about Fuuko well being.
"Ah! ...ya...yes...i think...thank you for asking... Kukihiko-san." Fuuko ever a shy one, still appreciate Rei for asking about her well-being.
"A! Ah! No need to be so formal! Just call me 'Rei' it's fine!" Rei said to Fuuko with a smile.
"Well Fuuko, can Rei join us for lunch?" Ake asking Fuuko, much to Rei surprised.
"Wait...you two already know each other?" Rei asked.
"I met her on the way back home yesterday at the grocery store, we kinda just bumped on to each other by accident...yeah" the way Ake answered her, it seemed kinda strange, but she decided to drop it.
"...i don't mind at all, you're welcome to join us Rei-san" Fuuko said with a gentle smile.
_______________________________________
"Dang it!! I only got one melon bread! How am i supposed to feed my poor stomach nowww?!" Rei dramatically cried due to her unfortunate luck in getting lunch.
"Well...that's kinda your fault for keep talking with us instead of trying to buy what you want." Ake deadpan at her antics.
"Wait...how come you have a bento? And it's that SUSHi!?" Rei perplexed at how Ake got the sushi as a lunch.
"W...well, when me and Ake-kun were walking to school, i actually end up guide him to one of my favorites sushi house." Fuuko gave Rei an answer before Ake could speak up.
"Now... actually.... there something I'm kinda curious for a while. How are you two met each other, in such a short time? I mean...Ake here just learned about you yesterday, too" Rei asked the duo.
"I met here on my way to convenience store last night." Ake answered her with a straight face, before Fuuko could even form her next excuses.
"Wait a minute...you telling me you sneak out of the house last night, because you're hungry and wanna find something to occupy your belly? And you didn't even tell me!?" Rei said, with an exaggerating gesture.
"I just don't wanna bother you..." Ake respond quietly.
"Well mister! When it comes to snack, i wholeheartedly wanna be bother!" She jokingly said.
Fuuko observe the two interact and can't help but wonder to herself...how close are they?
"You two seems really close...." Fuuko meekly said.
"W...well...you can say that, Ake and i, we are going way~~~~ back. He actually live here eight years ago, me and him are neighbor, we got to play with each other most of the time, until he had to move back to his mother home country." Rei recount the past.
Ake seems a bit uncomfortable, when Rei mentioned about his mother, and Fuuko actually catch his grimaced expression, she about to warn Rei about it. But it seems Rei hasn't yet finished her talk.
"Speaking of your mom, what really happened though? Ever since you got back, you didn't mention anything about her at all, aren't you two really close?" Rei ask him, oblivious to the increasing sour moods, Ake have been feeling.
And just like that. Ake just quietly stand up from the bench, and walk towards the exit, without utter a single sentence. Not even when Rei called out to him. And he never looked back towards the two girls, too.
"...ahhh... I mess up. Sorry about that Fuuko -chan, it's seems i ruined the moods, huh?" Rei apologize to the only companions that still sit with her, already disheartening.
"Ah! Please, you don't have to apologize! I'm sure you not really intended to upset him! It just... kinda surprised...."
"...to be honest with you, he seems really different. Like, really REALLY different. He doesn't smile all that much, and seems more apathetic!"
"...well, he was away for eight years right? A lot of things can happen to someone..."
Rei listen to Fuuko's reasoning, and can't help but ponder.
"I think we should finished our lunch, Rei-san. It's almost the bell."
"Yeah...you right...."
________________________________________
And throughout the day, whether it was PE or any other class, Ake showed his potential like no one had ever seen before, which became the talk of the class.
Other classmates came up to him, wanting to interact with him, but he didn't care at all. And the whole day that passed by, Rei didn't get a single chance to make it up to him and apologize, and now after the day come to an end, she found herself standing in front of the entrance of the school, patiently waiting for the subject of her attention to show up, today he staying behind to do a chore, so she used this opportunity to wait for him.
She hope that maybe, after she apologize, thing maybe going back to how they were.
But before she could think any further, when she look back into the school, something catch her eyes....
Ake and Fuuko talking to each other, before the latter guide the boy somewhere behind the building.
She didn't know what to do at that point, her mind already go to places, the sinking feeling in her stomach is getting worse. Her hand instinctively reach toward the cross necklace that she always wear.
She think about going where they goes, but who is she kidding?...if the two of them involved that way, she has no saying in it. To them, she was just an outsider...
Rei take a deep breath, and calming her racing heartbeat down a notch, before she saw a group of her friends walking towards where she was standing, so she quickly ran over to them to ask them to walk home together.
"Hey everyone!, wanna walk home together?"
"Sorry, Rei-chan. Today we're actually got a date with our boyfriend, sorry. Maybe next time!"
The group refused Rei's invitation and walked away, leaving Rei standing alone at the school gate. However, she did not give up just yet. She decided to wait for her other friends and invited them to walk home together.
But no matter how many people she invited, they all rejected her for various reasons, until the school was almost empty. She decided to pick up her phone and scroll down to Chihiro's number. She tried to gather her courage and prayed that Chihiro would have some free time.
Beep...beep...beep...beep
The sound of the phone ringing every now and then without any response from the other party made Rei feel increasingly anxious.
(..Hello?)
"Ah!! Chi-chan!! Today you..."
(Sorry, Rei-chan. I have some important paperwork to do today. I'm really busy. I'm sorry... Oh! That's right. I heard that you and Ake living together right?. Why didn't you invite---)
Before Chihiro could finish speaking, Rei suddenly hung up. Her hand that was holding the phone slowly dropped to her side. Her eyes became gloomy and her face looked resentful...
"Why does it have to be him?.... "
________________________________________
Rei arrived home late, after just wandering around aimlessly, and found that Ake's shoes were already on the shelf. As she was about to call her mother, she heard Ake talking to someone. She decided to tiptoed toward the kitchen, where the sounds of conversation came from. She wanted to know who Ake was talking to and what they were talking about.
She found Ake and her mother talking together. She tried to eavesdrop quietly.
" ...How was school today?"
"It's quite chaotic..." Ake replied with an indifferent face.
"Is that so?... You're really good. Your academic still impressive as ever. Plus, you're disciplined... Unlike my troublesome daughter, her studies have been declining lately...and she likes to wake up late. She have a long way to go..."
Rei, who heard those words, felt hurt that her mother had spoken about her like that. Her tears started to flow down her face and her face became hot. Normally she wouldn't even mind the comments since she has been regularly teasing by her mother everyday, but after so many overwhelming emotional she felt today. The normal remarks that she usually don't mind, now it really hurts, ALOT.
She decided to sneak out of the house. She tried to run as far away as possible so that she wouldn't hear those words from her mother...
Meanwhile, the conversation between Ake and Rei's mother hasn't ended yet...
"...No matter how bad that child is...she are my sunshine that I love with all my heart. Since the day her father passed away in a car accident, I have intended to raise her well...and I will love Rei forever..."
As she spoke, she can't help but cried. These were tears of love that a mother would have for her child.
"Ake... could you do me a favor?"
"?"
________________________________________
Maharaguchi High
22:14 P.M.
Rei ran into the school with a tear-stained face. She stopped at the back of the school. She slowly crouched down before sitting on the floor hugging her knees and letting out tears.
She cried and cried, until she was exhausted. when she started to feel sleepy, she accidentally fell asleep... hoping that maybe after she waking up... things will be better.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Rei slowly opened her eyes, only to find herself in a familiar place. A playground filled with bustling children. But there was one child sitting among them, hugging her knees, and no one paid any attention to her or played with her.
"Hey!! You ugly!, if you dare, come and catch me, hahahahaha!!!"
"Yeah!!, come on. If you dare, come and catch us. Hahahahaha!!!!"
She saw two boys teasing the girl who was hugging her knees and crying.
And when the child looked up, she immediately realized that the child, was her younger self!!
And the event that was unfolding before her, was actually her past, and during that moment, the past about her came pouring out from all directions.
"Yes...this is me...unwanted!!"
03:00 A.M.
The atmosphere in the school changed. From a calming quiet night, a large black smoke gradually seeping seemingly from the thin air and spread out across the school.
As her past image slowly faded away, in front of her appeared the giant peacock that being bitten by hundreds of skeletons, causing blood to spurt out in all directions. The peacock's face was filled with pain.
Its body kept swelling, becoming several times larger than a person's. Its mouth was torn open, hundreds of teeth sprouting. Its once beautiful tail was now covered in bright red blood and rotting flesh. Its wings and feet were swollen muscles that tore apart its outer flesh!!
It suddenly came straight towards Rei!
At that moment Rei didn't think of evading the oncoming danger, she just stood there, waiting for death to come at her without fear.
Suddenly, a bright light appeared from behind her.
When her eyes open up again, she found Ake, who was now using his hand that was glowing with golden light, to grab the beak of the demon peacock to protect her.
"...you!? "
" Haaaaagggghh!!!!"
Ake used his strength to squeeze the demon peacock's mouth and threw it to the other side of the grass field, causing the demon to bounce and hit the surrounding things, causing more damage.
" ...You wait here."
Ake spoke to Rei before slowly walking towards the mysterious demon.
Rei could only stare in fear and surprise that the person she never expected to come to her rescue would actually show up to save her.
"Fuuko, please give me more details about this Fear."
Rei was even more shocked when she heard Ake calling out the name of her classmate!
< Alright, please give me a moment...it's done! This Fear has three eyes. If we can destroy its eyes, we might be able to take it down... >
"Maybe?"
< We just have to try!! > The voice urged Ake to attack the eyes of the demon peacock they called 'Fear'.
"Roger..."
As soon as the response ended, Ake rushed towards Fear with tremendous speed. Fear jumped up and ran away.
Seeing this, Ake used one of his legs, which was covered in golden light, to kick the ground to create the force to launch himself into the air above Fear's body in an instant!!
He punched one of its eyes, causing it to burst. It let out a howl of pain before it spread its tail panel behind it, revealing a panel filled with bone fragments and a red aura, before sparks erupted around him.
< Ake! dodge!! >
"!? "
As soon as Fuuko's warning him, the sparks around him started to explode with fireballs. Ake raised his hand into a guard stance, before a golden light appeared as an aura around him, blocking the fire.
Fear, seeing that the attack was ineffective, threw the sharp, iron-like feathers at Ake instead.
Ake rappelled towards Fear, still raising his hand in guard stance. The iron feathers were unable to pierce his arm because of the golden armor on his arm protecting him.
He raised his fist and punched its head so hard, sending Fear falling to the ground, and leaving it in an exhausted state.
Then, Fear suddenly looked at Rei, who was sitting on the other side of the field. It used it remaining strength to immediately charged at her in the burst of speed that even surprised Ake, as if she had something it wanted.
Rei was so shocked that her body refused to move due to fear.
Ake, who saw this, appear in front of Rei in the speed of light and used both hands to put up a guard to protect himself and Rei. However, Fear's mouth was able to pierce through Ake's arm this time.
" Ack!! "
< Ake!! > Blood spraying out heavily from his arm.
"Why do you..."
"Why!? Do i even need a reason to save my bestfriend's life?!"
Ake shouted before slowly moving his hand forward, trying to resist Fear's force.
"Why? No one wants me...not even my mother..."
"Don't talk nonsense like that!! Your mother loves you more than anyone else. No one cares about you, so what?! Your mother do care!! I DO CARE!!"
"...I'm all alone. No one cares about me...I've been trying...I've been trying to make myself stand out so that I won't be forgotten. But when you came in, everything fell apart!!"
With Rei's words, Fear's strength suddenly increased, and Ake's stab wound became even bigger.
"...Is that so... it's because of me... again..."
"!?"
Rei felt a chilling pressure radiating from Ake for a moment.
"...Rei, I'm sorry for making you sad... But now, no matter what you say, I'll save you...NO MATTER WHAT!!"
"I won't let you be alone anymore!!!"
At the sound of proclamation, Rei felt a warmth coming from her heart, which made Fear suddenly weak enough for Ek to push it back to the ground.
Revealing two large eyes on the underside of the belly.
Ake used his severely wounded arm to attack the target. His face showed the pain from his wound.
It made Rei almost want to cry when she saw it because she thought that all of this was her fault.
However, Ake still tried to attack Fear's vital point even though the wound on his arm was making it more and more painful.
"Enough!! ...Enough already, Ake!! ...I'm sorry!! ...Don't keep doing it...or else you'll die!!"
Rei tried to shout to stop Ake from fighting. She couldn't bear to see the one important to her get seriously injured.
However, Ake, who had heard Rei's words just now, smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth before he turned to face Ray.
"I won't die...because I promised...that I won't let you be alone anymore!!!"
After Ek turned to speak to Ray, the instant he turned back to his enemy, he dodges Fear's attack and uses that moment to punch the eye under its belly. Its eyeball that was punched exploded before Ake ran in and threw his right fist at it with all his remaining strength, causing its body to disintegrate into black vapor that slowly disappeared into mid-air.
Ake stood there, breathing heavily in front of Rei, before her consciousness suddenly went black...
________________________________________
04.54 AM.
Rei, who had opened her eyes once again, and found herself in her room. Sitting next to her was Ake, who had been sitting and watching over her until he fell asleep.
She looked at his arm, which was wrapped in bandages.
Rei's tears flowed again, but this time her face was smiling.
She slowly got up and covered Ake with her blanket. She could feel Ake's warmth. Before she plant a soft kisses against his forehead.
"Thank you..."
"!! "
Rei heard something coming from the doorway before she tried to focus on the bright light shining through the open door.
" Rei!? Your awake!?"
"M... Mom!!" Before she could continue, her mother quickly ran over and hugged her.
"Don't you make me worry again, you hear me!!"
She spoke to her daughter in a trembling voice, as if she was trying to hold back tears, expressing her concern.
Rei paused for a moment before she slowly nodded in response to her mother.
"I'm promised..."