Chapter XXXVI - The Weight of Promises We Make (V)

The afternoon stretched before me like an endless plain as I struggled to focus on lessons.

Fifth period Biology, sixth period World History—the teachers' voices washed over me in meaningless waves while my mind circled back to the hospital room, to Sairenji's knowing smile... and her promise.

"Let me see how strong I am when I return."

Three members secured, one more to find. The odds were suddenly, improbably, in our favor.

As the final bell rang, students erupted into motion around me, eager to escape into the rainy November afternoon. I moved more slowly, gathering my books with deliberate care, tracing the edge of my gauze with one finger. The swelling had gone down considerably, leaving only a dull ache and a fading yellowish stain across my cheekbone.

"Yo, Kagami."

I looked up to find Kanzaki hovering near my desk.

"What's up?" I asked, surprised by this rare direct address.

He shifted, hands deep in his pockets.

"Are you working today?"

"Not until tomorrow. Why?"

"Just curious."

His eyes, half-hidden behind those perpetually overlong bangs, held mine for a beat longer than comfort allowed.

"Take the east exit when you leave."

Before I could ask what he meant, he melted back into the crowd of departing students like he just threw on an invisibility cloak from Parry Hotter.

Curious.

I finished gathering my things, deciding to humor his cryptic suggestion. The east exit led through the smaller courtyard, a less popular route due to its lack of vending machines and covered walkways—especially undesirable on a rainy day like today. As I descended the stairs to the ground floor, I spotted Minazuki-san at the shoe lockers, exchanging her indoor slippers for her black heels that constantly violated dress code. She looked up as I approached.

"How did it go?" she asked without preamble.

I blinked, surprised by her interest.

"With Sairenji? Better than expected."

She nodded, apparently satisfied with this minimal response.

"Good."

We stood in awkward silence for a moment.

"Are you heading home?" I ventured finally.

"Eventually." She slipped on her second heel, straightening to her full height. "I have some things to take care of first."

"Like what?"

"Are you my keeper now, Kagami? Ah, but I shouldn't be surprised... considering how much of a stalker you are."

"Only part-time. Full-time stalking pays too little and comes with dental."

She snorted at that.

"Idiota. Well... if you must know, I need cigarettes. And maybe food."

"Do you want company?"

The offer escaped me before I could rethink it.

Minazuki-san raised an eyebrow, looking at me with those piercing eyes. But it was all a ruse. I saw wariness, concern... the hesitation of knowing that closeness could lead to pain.

"Another time. I have some thinking to do." She shouldered her bag, turning toward the exit.

"About the club?"

She paused, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

"Among other things."

She whipped her hair around once more as she...

"See you tomorrow, Kagami."

Said goodbye?

I stared after her retreating form, at the swing of her model-like hips and the sway of her scarlet hair as she pushed through the glass doors into the gray afternoon. I wondered what "other things" occupied her thoughts.

Whether any of them involved me.

I shook my head, dismissing the selfish speculation, and turned toward the east exit as Kanzaki had suggested. The courtyard beyond was nearly empty, most students having opted for the covered walkways of the main entrance.

I had barely taken three steps into the courtyard when I heard them—footsteps behind me, too deliberate to be casual, and far too numerous to be innocent.

"Kagami."

I turned to find Midou emerging from beneath the covered walkway, Honda and Takagi flanking him like royal guards. Their expressions held that particular blend of anticipation and malice that accompanies boys who believe they're about to dispense justice.

"Midou-san, something wrong?" I acknowledged, keeping my voice neutral despite the warning bells clanging in my head.

He approached with measured steps, the rain beading on his shoulders like decorative insignia on some military uniform.

"Just checking if the rumors are true," he said, eyes flicking to my face, to the gauze still covering the worst of my father's handiwork. "About you and Minazuki."

"There's nothing to the rumors," I replied, though the lie felt hollow even to me.

There was something between us—I would hate to call it romance, certainly, but a connection that defied easy categorization.

"We're just classmates."

Midou's mouth twisted.

"Come on, Kagami. Do you think I'm stupid? You reek of cigarettes. The only person in our class who smokes is Minazuki."

Damn it.

I hadn't realized I'd picked up the scent. Or that Midou would notice.

"I don't smoke," I said, which at least was true.

"Sure you don't." Midou took another step forward, invading my personal space. "Just like you weren't sitting with her at some convenience store the other day. Just like you didn't walk her home last week."

I had never walked her home—that detail was pure fabrication—but the observation about Sunrise Mart still always gave me pause.

"I warned you what would happen if you got too close to her, didn't I?" he continued, tone dropping to the decibel called "violence."

I should have stepped back. I should have apologized, placated, defused. That was what Kagami Shouma, class representative, would have done.

Instead, I held my ground.

"You don't own her, Midou."

His eyes widened a fraction, astonishment flashing across his features before darkening into something uglier.

"The hell did you say to me?"

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Minazuki-san is NOT yours to touch. You do not own her. No one does."

Midou suddenly latched on to my shirt collar, his face mere inches from mine.

I braced myself for the pain.

"You've got some nerve, Kagami. After everything I've let slide—"

And then, suddenly, another hand caught his wrist in mid-air.

"That's enough."

Calm, measured, containing neither anger nor fear, merely resolve. Midou's head snapped up, grip momentarily loosening as he registered the newcomer.

"Takami... Sosuke..." Midou snarled; it sounded like he was speaking a curse.