Chapter Six - Rash Decisions.

“Test something?” Cassandra asked. Hiro nodded,

“Yeah… That’s what he ended with then left…” Hiro said. Cassandra scoffed,

“That damn bastard… Still being conspicuous as always…” Cassandra said. Hiro then walked toward the exit.

“Where are you going?” Cassandra asked. Hiro looked back at her,

“Going home…?” Hiro said. Cassandra shook her head,

“No can do, if the assassin follows you and watches you leave by yourself, they’ll know this is where Lyra is being hid.” Cassandra said.

“So I’m just supposed to stay here until school tomorrow morning?” Hiro asked. Cassandra nodded,

“You can leave in the morning… Lyra and Jin-Ho will be staying here.” Cassandra said.

“If I may intervene, that’s a horrible decision.” Jin-Ho said.

“How so?” Cassandra asked.

“Let's say perhaps this is Cyrus…”

“… And that our assassin is someone who goes to school with us and Lyra.” Jin-Ho said. Hiro looked over at Jin-Ho in surprise.

“Go on?” Cassandra said.

“Wouldn’t they very obviously notice Lyra being absent for so many days wouldn’t that make you think she’s hiding?”

“They could just end up calling for backup and the situation will become more desperate…” Jin-Ho explained. Cassandra sighed, putting her hands on the table and looking down.

“Alright… Lyra, you’ll keep going to school normally…”

“… Jin-Ho, if you run into the assassin again, notify me… Immediately.” Cassandra said. Jin-Ho nodded,

“And Hiro… You stay here for the night, tell your father you’re staying at a friend's house.” Cassandra said. Hiro nodded, grabbing his phone out of his pocket,

“Alright..” Hiro said, typing on his phone. Cassandra nodded, still looking at the table. She was breathing heavily but quietly. Lyra and Jin-Ho would be talking, so they didn’t seem to notice. Hiro looked at Cassandra, raising a brow. She then cleared her throat,

“I’ll be right back…” Cassandra said. She walked off, toward a door and walked in. Hiro walked toward the door she walked into slowly. He looked in the doorway, seeing another hallway. He walked down the hallways slowly, seeing dozens of doors on the sides. He would see a door with light shining down the bottom of it. He would put his ear against the door, listening.

“A god damn assassin…” Cassandra said, talking to herself. Hiro looked down at the ground, listening.

“This isn’t good… How have they already found her…” Cassandra began stressing. Hiro raised a brow,

“They?” Hiro internalized. He continued to listen, intrigued on what she had to say in private about the matter.

“The boy… He’s a liability…” Hiro looked slightly surprised,

“Cyrus is keeping an eye on him, which keeps Lyra in danger…”

“… Wait a second…”

“… Maybe I can use him as bait…” Cassandra said. Hiro looked shocked,

“… Yeah, I can make Cyrus come for Hiro and then surprise attack Cyrus.” Cassandra said. Hiro grit his teeth in anger, his bangs covering his eyes with a shadow. He then ran out of the hallway back to the main room.

“This is how Lyra feels…” Hiro internalized. He ran into the main room, grabbing his bag. He walked over to the exit.

“H-Hiro, where are you going?” Lyra asked. Hiro looked back at her, the anger in his face extremely apparent.

“Away!”

“I didn’t come here to be used as some kind of worm on a hook.” Hiro said. Jin-Ho looked at the ground with his arms crossed, listening.

“You were listening in on Cassandra…?” Jin-Ho asked. Hiro scoffed,

“Yeah, you two never thought of me as an ally… You only wanted to use me cause I’m the vessel of Ryuji or whatever the fuck…” Hiro said. Lyra looked shocked, looking between the two boys.

“You said you wanted to be a part of this, no?” Jin-Ho asked, raising a curious brow.

“I did… But I said I wanted to help protect Lyra… Not be used to sniff out the enemy.” Hiro said.

“Then protect her-”

“- I don’t want to hear any more empty promises…” He put his bag on his back, walking backward toward the door.

“I’m out of here… Don’t speak to me about this in school… I don’t want to hear a word of it…” Hiro said. Lyra was crying, tears rolling down the side of her face.

“Hiro… Please, don’t go.” Lyra said. Hiro looked at her, his face still enraged.

“Then you can come with me.” Hiro said. Lyra looked back at Jin-Ho worriedly. He scoffed, turning and walking over to the table, facing his back to Hiro.

“Well?” Hiro asked, looking at Lyra with a raised brow. Lyra opened her mouth, though the words didn’t come out. Hiro scoffed,

“I’m out of here…” Hiro said. He turned, walking down the hallway. Lyra fell to her knees, crying more. Jin-Ho walked over,

“It was his choice…” Jin-Ho said.

“It wasn’t though!”

“It was Cassandra!” Lyra said. Jin-Ho sighed,

“She has bad PTSD… Same with you, you two just deal with it in different ways…” Jin-Ho said. Meanwhile, Hiro walked down the street. It was eerily quiet, minus the sounds of the flapping birds and the wind. Hiro exhaled, turning around and seeing the cloaked assassin. Hiro’s eyes widened,

“It’s you…” Hiro said. Hiro put down his bag, rolling up his sleeves.

“This was a really bad time to show up… Cause I’m pissed off and somewhat betrayed…” Hiro said, clenching his fists. He then ran toward the assassin, throwing a punch at the assassin’s jaw. The assassin dodged, opening their palm and a cross bow formed. Hiro’s eyes widened, noticing this. He jumped backward, running behind a building. He looked around, seeing if the assassin was anywhere. He then felt a weird vibration in his hand. He looked up, seeing the assassin aim their crossbow at him from the roof. Hiro jumped out of the way, grabbing a rock the size of his fist and threw it at the incoming arrow. The arrow exploded and the rock shattered into dust.

“Of course they have a weapon, they’re an assassin…” Hiro internalized. He would run down the street, the assassin following him close behind.

“Wait…” His eyes widened,

“The assassin is after Lyra, no?” Hiro thought to himself. Another arrow shot past Hiro, cutting a slash on the side of his face. He stopped, sliding and turning around. He touched the cut on his face, wiping it off.

“No… They’re after Ryuji…”

“So this can’t be Cyrus…”

“Who do you work for?!” Hiro asked. The assassin opened their palms, forming daggers out of blood in their hands. Hiro sighed,

“I know Cassandra said she didn’t want me using mana… But screw it…” Hiro internalied. He opened one of his palms and Ryuji’s sword began to form in his hand. Hiro ran toward the assassin, winding back his sword. The assassin’s eyes widened. Hiro then slashed his sword vertically. The assassin blocked Hiro’s slash with their two dagger’s, pushing him back. Hiro then kicked the assassin in the abdomen. They somewhat flew into someone’s fence gate, breaking it. The assassin sat there, their head down, breathing heavily. Hiro walked over, standing over the assassin. The assassin looked up at Hiro. Hiro grabbed their mask, pulling it off. Hiro’s eyes widened,

“N-No way… It can’t be… Aria?” Hiro asked. Aria looked up at him with a scoff,

“Hello, Uyehiro Yukihara…” Aria said, spitting blood on his face. Hiro wiped it off, looking at her in surprise.

“Also… My name isn’t Aria… It was just an alias…” She said, Hiro raised a brow,

“Then what’s your name?” Hiro asked. She looked at him, raising a brow.

“Isn’t that irrelevant information based on the fact you’re about to kill me?” She asked. Hiro looked confused,

“Who said I was going to kill you?” Hiro asked. She looked confused as well.

“You’re not… Going to kill me…?” She asked. Hiro shook his head,

“Nope, I never planned on it.” Hiro said. She raised a brow,

“Then I’m leaving…” She said, He pointed his blade at her,

“Hold on… What’s your name?” Hiro asked. She blinked,

“Uh… Juliana Solas…” Juliana said. Hiro scratched the side of his head,

“Hm… Juliana huh?… I think I’ll call you Julie.” Hiro said. Juliana looked surprised, blushing.

“Don’t call me Julie!” She stood up, running away. Hiro grabbed her wrist,

“Hold on.” Hiro said. She looked back at Hiro in shock.

“H-Hey, let go of me!” Juliana said. Hiro looked at her, his face had a look of slight worry.

“Who sent you, was it Cyrus?” Hiro asked.

“I’ll uhm, never tell you!” She said, Hiro sighed.

“Come on.” Hiro said. She tried pulling away, but Hiro’s grip wouldn’t budge.

“He’s strong…” Juliana internalized.

“Who sent you Julie?” Hiro asked. She blushed, looking away.

“My boss…” Juliana said. Hiro smiled,

“Cyrus?” Hiro asked. Juliana shook her head,

“My boss has a deep hatred for Cyrus Perseon.” Juliana said. The back of her head is still facing Hiro.

“Now that’s all I'm telling you, can I leave now?” Juliana asked. Hiro still had the same smile on his face,

“Yeah, see you later.” Hiro said. Juliana looked back at him raising a brow,

“What do you mean later?” Juliana asked. Hiro shrugged,

“You go to my school right?” Hiro asked. Juliana scoffed,

“Not anymore since you’ve found me out… I was there to get more info on you and Princess Fournier.” Juliana said. Hiro’s face had a look of realization,

“Oh, okay then. See you later, Julie.” Hiro said. Juliana looked annoyed,

“Shut up, stop calling me Julie…” Juliana said. Hiro let go of Juliana’s wrist.

“Uh.. I don’t feel like it, it's easier.” Hiro said. Juliana scoffed,

“Idiot…” She walked off and turned the corner around a building. Hiro sighed, walking back over to his bag and putting it back on. He opened his palm and the sword vanished. He would start walking in the direction back toward his house. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking at the text he sent to his dad. He had received no response, which was slightly out of the usual.

“Weird… Maybe the store is busy…” Hiro said. He continued walking back toward the house, looking at his phone while doing so. He continued walking until a girl with blonde hair and brown eyes walked with friends. She looked at Hiro, seeing a scratch on his upper delt. She raised a brow,

“H-Hold on, give me a second…” She said to her friends. She jogged over to Hiro,

“Hey, Uyehara.” She said, Hiro looked up from his phone, looking over in surprise.

“Hana…” Hiro said, looking at her. She was nearly as tall as Hiro. She had long blonde hair and brown eyes and wore the school uniform.

“What's going on…?” Hana asked. Hiro looked around, scratching the back of his head.

“I was just headed back home…” Hiro said. Hana raised a brow,

“With your arm in that state?” Hana asked. Hiro looked confused,

“What state…?” Hiro asked in confusion. He looked at his arm, slightly surprised.

“Weird…” Hiro said. Hana grabbed her bag, grabbing a bandage out of it.

“That looks like a deep cut, what happened?” Hana asked. Hiro looked at the ground for a few seconds, not responding.

“Uhm… I got into a fight…” Hiro said. Hana sighed,

“I suppose that’s nothing new… You were always getting into fights in elementary school.

“Roll up your sleeve…” Hana said.

“Hana, I’m fine…” Hiro said. She sighed,

“Again, something not new, being completely stubborn for no reason.” Hana said. She pulled out medical disinfecting wipes from her bag,

“How do you have so much medical stuff in your bag?” Hiro asked.

“My mom’s a doctor… She wants her daughter to be safe during volleyball.” Hana said. Hiro’s face had a look of realization.

“I forgot, how’s your team doing?” Hiro asked. She shrugged,

“Fine… I mean, we’re good, but I feel like somethings off… My teammates are getting more angry, we’re not working as well together as we used to.”

“Honestly, I feel like quitting sometimes…” Hana said. Hiro looked surprised, but worried.

“H-Hey, don’t do that, you’re the best player on our team,” Hiro said. Hana chuckled,

“Thanks…”

“Sorry, this is going to sting…” Hana said. She grabbed a wipe, wiping off the scratch.

“Ow-” Hiro said in pain.

“I warned you…” Hana said. Hiro chuckled,

“I guess so.” Hiro said. She placed some kind of cotton pad on the cut.

“Replace this every one to two days so it doesn’t get infected.” Hana said.

“You’re good at this stuff…” Hiro said. Hana chuckled,

“My mom taught me…” Hana said. Hiro nodded,

“Have you ever thought about following in her footsteps?” Hiro asked. Hana shook her head,

“She’s smart and I’m well…”

“… Mediocre.” Hana said. Hiro sighed,

“You’re too hard on yourself.” Hiro said. Hana shrugged,

“I’m just being realistic.” She finished wrapping the bandage on Hiro’s arm. It was really well done and made him feel a lot better, even though he never realized he had the cut in the first place.

“Well… I oughta get going…” Hana said. Hiro smiled,

“Hey- Don’t keep being hard on yourself, you’re amazing.” Hiro said. Hana smiled, nodding.

“Thank you Hiro… You’ve always been a good friend, never understood why you keep getting into fights.” Hana said. Hiro smiled,

“Thank you.” Hiro said. She jogged back over to her friends, and they began talking to her. Her eyes widened as one of them said something. She blushed, shaking her head quickly. Hiro watched this, chuckling. He then looked back at his phone, sighing. He then looked at the bandage on his arm,

“Weird… Why didn’t Ryuji heal it…?” Hiro internalized. He sighed, walking back toward his house.

“That was weird…” Hiro said.