Livi sighed. He glanced around and noticed that all of the students that was still in the classroom were glaring at him murderously as though he did something to their precious adorable little Kira.
He looked at Kira and wearily smiled, "Does it really have to be me? The other's wanted to play with you too, and I could be busy too."
Upon hearing his words, Kira loosened her clutch and retracted her hand. "Why?" She mumbled to herself as she hugged Fuffy tightly. "Why? Did I do something wrong? Don't you Livi want me anymore...?" She lifted her head and looked at him with teary eyes as if a puppy pleading its owner not to abandon it.
Everyone became silent, especially Livi who was deeply astounded. Upon noticing his silence, Kira hugged Fuffy even tighter and cried in despair. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I... I'm sorry. I'll be good. I'll be strong, I'll take care of myself, I won't be a burden...So, please don't abandon me...I'm scared..."
Tears relentlessly flowed from her eyes. She was trembling so badly and she looked so sad and pitiful for the first time all of them had seen. Kira may be shy, a crybaby who always sticks closely to her brother. She can be really clumsy and weak, but...this is the very first time they seen her in this state.
Perhaps it's because she was always the cute and sweet little Lolita that everyone loved, did they not notice that was still a weak little girl who seeks love and attention. She was always reserved and only showed this part of her to her dearly loved older brother. Yet now, she felt really lonely and unsure whom to trust and rely on. She tried her best to act strong and not show any weakness towards others did she finally broke apart.
"Why?....am I really that distasteful and pathetic? Is it because I'm sure a weakling must you all abandon me?"
On the verge of panicking, Livi tried to coax her out of it, alas, proved useless. "Kira, no. Listen--"
"NO!! Don't touch me!! What did I do?! I DID NO WRONG!! I HATE ALL OF YOU!!!"
Kira then stormed off the room, leaving everyone in shock. How many times did she lost her temper like this?
Livi turned to look at Airi and said, "You go after her. She's at the secret room behind the werewolf statue in ballroom. With your key's authority, I'm sure you'll have no trouble getting there"
"I know. you don't have to order me around." But before Airi could even pass through him, he looked at Livi with a confused and suspicious expression. "How did you know I could find her there?"
Livi smiled playfully. He pressed his index finger on his rosy lips, tilting his head slightly in an adorable and playful manner, he shrugged. "Hmmm....I wild guess."
Airi glared at him again suspiciously. This fellow in front of him suddenly appeared out of nowhere just a couple of days ago, yet the twins already trust him so much when he, their only cousin took so much time to get. He was really suspicious especially with that cunning and mischievous smile. Hell! There's no way anyone can tell what he was thinking.
Ignoring him, Airi was about to leave when Kishi called out to him. "Airi, I thought you said you'll teach me new games."
Airi smiled at him apologetically and ran off. "Sorry!! I'll teach you next time."
Kishi was clearly unhappy. He wanted to leave too when Livi's head popped in front of his face upside-down. "play with me instead." he excitedly said.
Disgruntled, he glared at him and coldly refused. "No thanks."
"Meanie!!" Livi shot back at him.
"I don't care!"
Left alone, Livi turned to the other students and everyone turned their heads away from him as if silently saying 'no' before he could even say anything.
With their attitude, Livi frowned. He looked around the room and for the first time, he noticed boy with a familiar color of red head.
Red was resting his head on one hand while reading a book, flipping the pages with the other. He did not mind whatever was happening around him as if he did not notice anything at all. But after understanding the differences between elves and dryads, he slammed the book and lifted his head only to see a pair of half blue half yellow eyes staring at him intently.
Startled, he almost jumped up. He was always careful not to attract any unwanted attention that he always kept a low profile, almost unnoticed. But then all of a sudden, the face of the person he least wanted to get involve with, was so close to his! He almost suffered from a heart attack because of it.
"Play with me." Livi was the first to speak, undaunted by the other's surprised face.
"No." Red swiftly refused.
"Why not?"
"I have to study. I don't have time to play silly games with you." Red answered him wisely considering to factors: be polite not to offend him, and don't fall for the trap and have no choice but to be dragged into it anyway. He now realized that the skill he learned when dealing with Airi and the other's mischief in the previous year proved really useful at a situation like this.
Livi who did not know what he was thinking, pondered about it deeply as he stares at him still. "Then I'll accompany you to the library."
Red was on the brink of blowing up and rebuking him angrily when he heard this. Can this lad not be so ignorant and stubborn? It's clear that Red doesn't want to hang around with him, but does he not notice that?
In the end, not wanting to end up like his foolish brother Akamura, Red just decided to let him do what he wants and just ignore him.
The two of them went to the library together. Just like last year, the top classes have their own library apart from the multiple others that can be used by the other students. This year, their library occupied a whole tower with countless number of books placed in big shelves that reaches to the celling, and quite a number of flying ones away from every students' reach.
The place was warm and cozy like always. There was a big lounge in the center of the whole place and a few smaller tables on flat forms levitating from the ground. The warm light mostly comes from the sun passing through the few glass windows, while some of the light was from the decorative chandeliers and light crystal hangings
Like he always used to, Red didn't join the majority in the lounge but went to a small table away from most of the crowd. Livi also followed him and sat at the seat opposite of him after pilling a stack of books.
The two of them sat and read there quietly without starting a conversation. Only when Livi finished his stack of books did he finally take the chance to speak with him.
"So...you're scared of me, are you?"
Shocked, Red couldn't say a word. He sat there quietly with eyes open wide. He tried to open his mouth to reply but no words could come out. It was because what he said was true. He was scared to even talk to him that he tried his best to avoid him. He just did not want to be put into a corner and forced to submit like Akamura, and at the same time, he didn't want to become a pet unwillingly who will obey its master unwillingly, just because it's scared to be punished.
Noting his silence, Livi took that as a yes and sighed. "I see..."
Flabbergasted, Red abruptly jumped up, slamming the table. "No! That's not---"
"No, it's okay. I can't blame you. I mean, who wouldn't be scared after seeing what I have done. I just thought that hanging out with you would solve that problem. But I guess I'm expecting too much. Sorry." Livi stood up. He walked to the edge of the floating flatform and bid him goodbye. "Well, see you later." He then vanished into thin air with no one able to guess where he went or disappeared too.
Red was left there, stunned and guilty. He shouldn't have avoided him when he knew well that he did it because Akamura deserved it.
*
The echoing of the footsteps is the only thing could be heard in that noon at the ballroom. Most students are at the cafeteria eating lunch, if not, at the library skipping their meals and immersing themselves in their studies.
Airi looked around the ballroom, looking for the statue similar to that Livi described. Airi may find him suspicious, but it was not the right time to doubt him when he does not know what might have or might happen to Kira.
Looking around, Airi found himself at the center of that overly spacious and empty place. A statue of a werewolf, he thought. When he found it, it did not look like as he expected it too. The werewolf's form in that statue was not the fierce and beastly like as he imagined it. Instead, the werewolf was in it's human like form but with fluffy tail and ears.
He pulled out his key from his pocket. Claiming the rank two in these past few days like he did last year, his key hold great authority among other keys thus, he could open most of the doors inside the school. It was really beautiful and the magic crystal in its head was carved like rose, a large pink and a little black one.
Using his magical key through the hidden keyhole on the statue, he turned it and the statue moved at once, revealing the dark room behind it.