Chapter 53: The Victor and the Vanquished

My heart is a... thing.

It's not mine anymore. It's loud. It's stupid. It's in my throat.

Fuji is still smiling.

That *soft, *annoying, dazzling smile.

It's his 'I won' smile. The one he uses when he beats me in an exam.

But this time... I don't want to punch him.

I am so confused.

The school bell is still ringing.

We are still standing too close.

He is still touching my hair.

I am still letting him.

"So..." I mutter, my face still hot. "We are... 'a mess'."

"A comprehensively beautiful mess," he corrects.

Oh, God. He is a 'poet' now? This is the worst.

I step back. Just a little. I need 'air'.

"I... I should go," I stammer. "I have... things. To punch."

"No," he says. Not a 'command'. Just... a 'fact'.

"What 'no'?"

He starts gathering his papers. The ones I scattered.

His hands are a little shaky.

I broke the 'Ice Prince'. I really did.

"I... will walk you home," he says.

He doesn't look at me. He is too busy straightening his papers. He is blushing.

FUJI KENJI. IS BLUSHING.

"You... what?"

"I will walk you home," he repeats, clearing his throat. He stacks the papers. Perfectly. "I believe... that is what 'people' do. In this 'situation'."

"What 'situation'?" I ask. I am 'stupid'. My brain is 'mush'.

He stops. He looks at me.

That warm look is back.

"The 'situation'," he says softly, "where 'Bloody Twilight' cries and confesses she 'likes' me."

"I TAKE IT BACK!" I hiss.

"No 'take-backs'," he smirks. He grabs his bag. "Come on, Aoi."

He walks past me.

He is holding the door. For me.

This is so weird.

I am so awkward.

I stiffly walk out the door.

The school is empty. It's late.

We walk down the hall. In silence.

It's not the 'Ice Age' silence.

It's a new silence. A *'terrified, what-do-we-do-now' silence.

It's kind of nice.

We get to the school gates.

I am bracing myself. For 'what'? 'Holding hands'? My brain shuts down.

And then I see him.

Oh, no.

Daiki.

He is still here.

He is sitting on the curb. Like a lost puppy.

His stupid black roses are on the ground next to him. They are wilted.

He looks up.

He sees me. His face lights up.

"Twilight! I waited! I... I am sorry! I..."

He stops.

He sees Fuji.

Walking right next to me.

Daiki stands up.

He looks at me. He sees my face.

My face is... 'red'. My eyes are 'puffy'. (From 'crying' my 'confession'.)

Daiki's 'hopeful' face... crumbles.

It goes from 'hope'... to 'confusion'... to 'dread'.

"Twilight... what... what happened?" he asks. His voice is small.

He looks at Fuji.

His eyes narrow.

"What did you do to her?!" he snarls, all 'King' again. "Did you make her cry?"

He steps forward. Like he's 'protecting' me.

This is so awkward.

And Fuji...

Fuji just does one small thing.

He steps to the side.

He steps 'in front' of me. Just a little.

A *tiny, *polite, 'move'.

It is a 'declaration of war'.

"She is fine, Hanata-san," Fuji says. His voice is polite. And cold. "We were just... talking."

Daiki looks at Fuji. He looks at me.

I am still 'hiding' behind him.

I am not 'hiding'. I am just... 'standing'.

Daiki sees it.

"No... way," Daiki whispers.

He looks at me. Desperate.

"Twilight? No. Not him. You ... you 'hate' him. He's the 'Ice Prince'. He's... 'boring'!"

I step out from behind Fuji.

I have to 'end this'.

"He didn't lie to me, Daiki," I say. My voice is tired.

That's it. That's all I say.

It hits Daiki like a physical punch.

He stumbles back. Like I 'flipped' him again.

He looks at Fuji. The 'Victor'.

He looks at me. The 'Fool' who 'chose'.

He looks at his *stupid, wilted flowers.

His face is... 'broken'.

He drops the roses.

He doesn't say anything.

He just turns. He puts his hood up.

And he walks away.

He's 'running'.

I watch him go.

I feel... a tiny bit bad.

But mostly... I just feel 'relieved'.

I look at Fuji.

He is looking at me.

His face is soft again.

"Let's go home, Aoi," he says.

He starts walking.

And I... I walk with him.

This is my life.

This is so weird.