Chapter LXIII: A Raven in a Murder, Part 2
One night, Akiko scrolls up YourBook in her room, looking up some posts. One post reads,
"Put it in mind:
Whatever happens, don't beg attention from people who doesn't give you importance"
Steps hurriedly run up the stairs and opens her door. It's turns out to be his brother. He says,
"So, I've got a call from mom, she says that we need to go again to Tokyo since there is another family problem" (Akiko's Brother)
"Bro, I've been missing much of the lessons at school, and I'm afraid of losing my grades at school" (Akiko)
"Nah, don't worry about that, mom talked to the principal about it. Grades provide a deeper understanding of what our learning capacity exceeds. Though I suspect that some schooldays, you don't have any teachers" (Akiko's Brother)
"But I'm really worried now" (Akiko)
"No, No, No. Don't be worried now sis, it will only be one day. Besides, we're gonna get there very fast now, I assure you" (Akiko's Brother)
"Oh, alright then" (Akiko)
They then pack up their stuff and get ready to be over with it quickly. Akiko then notifies Kota about this. Kota then texts her to be safe on the journey, and he'll relay to her the lessons they've learned within her absence.
As the sun begins to triumph over the night, Kota gets ready for school as he is ready, he rides on his motorcycle, driving himself to school. After a while, Enmei, Hanako, Asahi, and Gin shows up. When he tries to approach them, a cold shoulder goes off to him. The group goes away. Tengen then arrives, as he sees the situation,
"Hey, what is going on here?"
To this, Kota only knows but a dead air passes by. The classroom door opens and Katsu shows up together with Toshiro.
"What happened here ma bro?" (Katsu)
"They ditched him again ma bro" (Tengen)
"Yeah, I don't even know what's wrong with them" (Katsu)
"What can you say about this Kota?" (Toshiro)
"To be honest, I don't know what is it with them. Akiko is not here, and I think they think I only know a few trendy stuff, which makes me think why they left me here" (Kota)
"Do you think it'sbecause of Akiko?" (Tengen)
"I don't think so, they are so nice to me when she's around. However at this rate, they just avoided me for no reason" (Kota)
"Bruh, I think those people don't value you" (Toshiro)
"I second that" (Katsu)
"Bro, listen. Those people don't really give you value" (Tengen)
"You know, I don't know why but I explained this also to Enmei a long time ago before I spending more time with Akiko in summer" (Kota)
"What did he say?" (Toshiro)
"You only need to join and join until they will recognize your presence" (Kota)
"That's just preposterous! Tsk tsk tsk. Real friends know how you feel, fake friends are those who only communicate with you when they needed something. Real friends are heavier than the ton of gold in a bank, real friends weigh less than a plastic sheet. That's why, we observed you, it's ok for you to join us. You know, go to Akiko, she'll surely help. Have you told her?" (Tengen)
"Actually, not yet" (Kota)
"It's ok to open up, for words and feelings we do not exhume can consume us from within and will come out as a result of darkness" (Toshiro)
Kota agrees to them, and says,
"For the people who value one's feelings are greater than those who doesn't know to give value towards others, like a piece of history of which has been lost its cost"
He then gets up from his seat and goes out, and stands at the balcony. Out of the blues, a voice erupts,
"Kota onii-chan!" (Megumi)
"Oh hey Megumi, what brings you here?" (Kota)
"Just passing by onii-chan, are you ok?" (M)
"Yeah, I'vejust got out for some fresh air" (K)
"Aww, btw, gotta go now, I need to go for break" (M)
"Ok bye, happy break!" (K)
During lunch, Kota stays in the classroom with Katsu, Toshiro, and Tengen.
"Guys, want to go to the convenience store?" (Toshiro)
"Heck yeah!" (Tengen)
"What should we buy?" (Katsu)
"Yk, I saw those neon protections—"(Tengen)
"Nah bro, we'restill young to do that, and illegal too, haha" (Katsu)
"Just the refreshments and Slurpees" (Toshiro)
They ask Kota but the latter refuse and wants to stay in the classroom to write something. The trio then goes away. While they are away and Kota is writing on his paper with his ear-pods plugged into his ears, the door opens and slams into the entrance as the piano have fell to the ground. Out a glaring aura, Gin approaches him. At first, Kota doesn't notice. When he looks right of his desk, he finds Gin looking down at him.
"For a man that did no harm or offense, why is he like this?"
Gin tells him to stand up by hand gesture. As he gets up from his seat, Gin then pushes him on the board and backs him up there. With such an intense and grotesque stature and aura emanating from him, he stares at Kota, like he is staring at his whole soul. The trio gets back and intervene. Gin stops them as they approach them.
"Nah, I'm just kidding with you man", he says as he pat his shoulder.
In the afternoon, Kota goes to the dike alone, listening to some songs.
"For the melody arises and comforts the disturbed and shall it be ensconced or projected to anyone who rebuke to such expression", he says it in his mind.
From afar, a girl with a beret and scarf approaches him. As she touches him,
"Ah pls don't hurt me! Take all you want! *trembles*" (Kota)
"Bro, chillax it's me", the girl says and when he takes off his beret and scarf, it turns out to be Akiko the whole time.
They then hug one another as they see each other again.
"That's so fast" (K)
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot" (A)
Akiko pulls out a plushie and keychain from her bag, and says,
"I got it from my mom whom she said that I give it to you" (A)
"That's so thoughtful, Thank you so much" (K)
"Is there anything wrong?" (A)
"Uhm"
As Akiko gets more closer, Kota tells her everything and what happened on that day.
"That's so immature of them"
"I don't know what to do, that is why I'm in a bad mood. I'm really sorry if I made you see my depressive side"
"It's ok, it's ok, I'm here for you my Ai. Because of what have done, thus the people who had lowered such esteem shall be tackled as the blue flame will consume them"
Akiko then texts Hanako if where they are. In response, she texts back that they are in the café. In doing so, Akiko feedbacks to her that they needto go the dike at this very instant.
Upon reaching the dike, Akiko goes ahead and confronts them.
"Listen guys, I don't know what is wrong with you all, but y'all have been avoiding Kota for some reason" (Akiko)
"Avoiding? Us? We couldn't have done such a thing!" (Enmei)
"If who's the one avoiding is him, he doesn't approach us" (Hanako)
"True, however we are just testing him to be more extroverted" (Asahi)
"Hey, don't look at me, I'm just following what they said, since I think it's the best for him" (Gin)
From afar, Kota sighs and as a melodramatic aura passes by as the sun dims along the horizon.
"Giving people a hard time is not a sense of mockery. YES, it may be the real world for him to be more open, but that's just violating someone's privacy. You cannot just expect to force a turtle or crab to go out of its shell. The mimicry of these events needs to be more over, look at Kota. He may be introverted for a while, that's why on the behalf of Kota, I feel his remorse. The feeling of being left-out, and he feels of going into another group. Value one's feelings if they feel like they're important. He was the leader of this group and rising you all for academic importance, but he doesn't feel like he belongs anymore since you're not inviting him anyways" (Akiko)
"Well, if he want to be recognized more often in the group, he need to join and join on various occasions" (Hanako)
"That's what Enmei said, which is somehow a mis-concept. If someone is happy with their life, just let them be as long they are not doing anything wrong" (Akiko)
"Tbh, he is a little bit preoccupied on academics, and we're afraid to call him because he only knows a bit of gaming, and a little bit awkward" (Enmei)
"Do you think gaming is the only thing connecting this group together? And how dare do y'all think he is very awkward? People's skills are varied and makes them unique. Haven't you guys watched those reels on YourBook? You guys need to think the overcomplicated situation he's having. Forcing him doing the things y'all want to do can lead to insecurity. He now feels insecure because of what y'all have done to him. For even if I wasn't there, there is always the overseeing eye. A truth for a truth, when one's eyes are filled with tears and expression. That is the essence of the soul" (Akiko)
Dead air arises in the atmosphere as the squad is astound until,
"You know, even though I was with them, I have to come clean that I adhere to your statement Akiko. Nice philosophy. And I was really blinded by their lies and mockeries" (Gin)
"You guys have something to say for yourselves?" (Akiko)
"We are so sorry" (Enmei, Hanako, and Asahi)
"Why are y'all telling it to me? Go to Kota bishes"
The trio goes to Kota and apologize. Kota accepts them, and the trio as well promise that they won't do it again. After saying those, shooting stars passes through the night sky.