MISLEADING TRUTHS

Back at Star Awesome, the sky roared. As Ren walked down the hallway, he noticed Sen standing near Yuzuru's body.

“Yuzuru died too?” Ren rushed forward, kneeling to the bleeding body. He clutched Yuzru's hand.

Rain splattered against the glass doors. Lightning flashed, dimly lighting up the lounge, casting eerie shadows. Sen remained silent, his face hidden in the darkness. The ground shook with the growling thunder.

"Toby killed him too…" Sen's voice echoed. "He is getting out of hand; we need to put an end to Toby before he ends us…”

Ren pressed Yuzuru’s hand and slowly stood up. Lightning flared once more, completely illuminating the lounge. Ren squeezed his eyes when suddenly he noticed the blood-drenched floor and Sen's stained clothes. The lounge darkened again.

Ren's heart ached; his breath hitched.

Sen noticed Ren staring at his clothes. “I was with Yuzuru when he died. Come on, let’s…”

"Those wounds seemed familiar, didn't they, Sen?" Yao called out, lingering next to Yuzuru's body.

"Of course not." Sen sighed. "Toby killed Yuzuru with a scythe to make Yuzuru feel the burden of friendship." He narrowed his eyes. "Where did you come from?"

"That makes no sense…… and I was in the kitchen." Yao walked closer to Sen. "Yuzuru was Toby’s main bully… His death can’t be related to your friendship.”

“Yuzuru bullied Toby because Toby tried to steal my girlfriend… So that’s why the death is related to our friendship," Sen's voice hardened.

“It kind of makes sense....” Ren grabbed Yao’s shoulders.

“You should think before you accuse…Besides, you know everything.” Sen turned away. “That stupid Toby is killing everyone, including Yuzuru; we should just kill Toby.”

“Kill h-him?” Ren bit his lip.

Sen shrugged with a smirk creeping over his face. "There is a necklace on Toby, so weapons might work on him now, if Nive's text is true."

“But isn’t this method a little—”

Sen stared at him with cold eyes. “You stupid weakling, can’t you see he killed Yuzuru and the others?”

A shudder went past Ren’s body; blinking, he lowered his gaze.

Silence.

“Ahh, Sen, why do you keep lying?” Yao spoke, cutting the silence with his blatant words; his eyes darted to the kitchen.

The kitchen door creaked open. Nami slowly walked out. Yao glanced at her, reaching for her hand. But she slapped his hand away. She was a mess; her eyes and nose were red.

Sen gasped, pulling out his scythe. He pointed it at Yao. “WHAT DID HE DO TO YOU!?” Blood dripped from the blade. 

Nami touched Sen's hand, pushing the scythe out of Yao’s face. She grabbed his collar and pulled him down. Her hand rose, aiming a slap, but stopped, trembling as she burst into tears.

“What happened, Nami?” Sen cupped her face.

“WHY DID YOU KILL YUZURU!?” She yelled. 

Sen stared at her, pulling her closer. “I didn’t—”

“Dont lie…” She pointed at Yao. "W-we saw...a-and he wouldn't let me come out to help Yuzuru." She knelt down crying.

"Then why were you pretending—" Sen's eyes widened, staring at Yao. He quickly turned to Nami. "I-I was....made to kill Yuzuru..." His hands trembled. "I didnt want to—"

The lights flickered. Ren peered at Sen, whose head was hung low and shoulders quivering. Sen’s fingers slowly opened, letting go of the scythe; with a loud clang, it hit the floor.

Maybe he is accused; maybe he was forced to kill him.

Ren took a few deep breaths. “He must be telling the truth—“

“He isn’t… He is a pathological liar….”

Toby stood at a short distance, mist flowing around his feet. Sen froze and took a glimpse of Toby. Quickly he picked up his scythe, swinging it at him. He missed and leaned in for another attack. 

Something occurred to him, as his eyes widened. And he suddenly shouted. “All of you run away!” 

“Don’t go…listen to my story first…” Toby smiled at everyone and held out his hand.

“He will misguide you all?” Sen yelled.

“I am not like you..”

“SHUT UP…”

“I was bullied…”

“YOU ALL LEAVE!”

“And killed by—”

“LIAR…I NEVER KILLED YOU!”

Silence.

“H-he never said you killed him…” Ren mumbled.

Sen looked at everyone and back at Toby. “It wasn’t me… I-I d-didn’t…”

“It was YOU…” Toby let out a faint giggle. “You plotted the bullying because I confessed to Nami….. You are a great schemer... And you didn’t want anyone to know.”

Sen lowered his lids; his eyes slowly drifted to Ren and back at Toby. He tightened his grip. “Quit your lies; it’s impossible for a person to scheme to such lengths.”

He slowly crouched to take a leap at Toby, but Nami blocked him. Sen sighed. “Get out of my way.”

She shook her head.

Sen’s eye twitched. He looked at the scythe, at Nami, Yao, Ren and Toby. The lighting flashed through the glass door, and he got a glimpse of himself.

A psychopathic glare

Blood-drenched clothes

An oversized scythe.

And a bunch of scared people in front of him.

“Oh, so that’s what I look like now…”