Prologue
"All Right, 3 days from now, it will be the start of midterms. If you failed it, you'll have to take extra lessons! That's all for homeroom!"
With that, the teacher took her leave. The students are determined to pass the midterms, if they failed, they're going to spend their precious weekend, on extra lessons.
It's already July, and it's already 3 months since Kazuya came into this world. Watching the sky, you can see that summer is just around the corner.
Chapter 5
"Kazuya, we should eat at the rooftop, It's been a while since I came there."
Hajime invited Kazuya to eat their lunches at the rooftop, since it's already break time.
"Okay, if that's what you want. Yuu, Hideko, do you want to come?"
"Sorry, I have something to do about the Art Club!"
"Me too, A teacher asked me to help."
Hideko and Yuu refused Kazuya's invitation then headed out.
"I guess, only the two of us can go."
The two have gone to rooftop while having their lunches in tow. Kazuya was just having a sandwich while Hajime has a real typical lunchbox.
They climbed the stairs, and opened the door to enter. They can see the sunlight from above. They took a seat on the ground and started to eat their lunches.
But Kazuya is still not having a bite, he felt something. This sensation is very familiar that there's no way that he has mistook it for something else. There's a Soul Seal nearby!
Two months have passed since Hajime's case, and a Soul Seal cannot be found during that time. But Kazuya has came to the rooftop and felt the Soul Seal.
He swung his head, left and right, to look for the host. After some looking, he saw a girl on the railings of the rooftop, and staring at the bottom. Since Kazuya can only see her back, he can't see her face. But the girl has a short hair and it only ends in the neck.
She has braids too on her hair, and it was wrapped around her head like a crown.
"So that's the host of a Soul Seal, huh?"
Kazuya muttered that, but Hajime heard it too, and immediately looked for the direction Kazuya's gaze hit.
"She was Haruka Tomoe from A-Class, a first year. Like you, she is considered a top student from her class. Is that a wielder of a Soul Seal, Kazuya?"
Hajime's explanation gave some ease to Kazuya.
"For now, we should not do our move here."
"Why?"
"I read in the light novels that if you suddenly approaches a girl, she will be terrified or much worse, she will be disgusted on you."
Although, that approached worked on Hideko, there's no telling what kind of personality is this girl has. So like Kazuya said, it's better to retreat and study her personality, then come with a better plan.
"I see, but your reading too much light novels."
Kazuya doesn't care but Hajime retorted that. The two ate their lunches peacefully without having the girl turn her back.
After they had their lunches, they quietly goes down the stairs and left.
"Then,Kazuya, if I can do something to help, just ask me. Even if you don't ask me, I'll help!"
"Yeah, thanks."
The two came back to their classrooms and started their next subject.
"Haruka Tomoe, huh? A top student of
A-Class, what could be the reason she is depressed?"
As Kazuya mutters to himself, the class became over and everyone was preparing to leave. Kazuya was surprised because of the speed of time. He was too deep in though that he doesn't realized that classes are now over. He's not even listening in the class.
Kazuya immediately came to his shoe locker where the usual group are waiting and opened his locker to change from his outside shoes. After opening it, he saw a letter inside. He read the letter very fast and closed it after it.
"Sorry guys, it looks like you need to go ahead. I have something to do."
"I guess only 3 of us can go home together. Then, see you, Kazuya!"
Hideko waved to Kazuya before leaving. Kazuya watched their backs until it was no longer visible to him.
He walked to the direction of the rooftop. From the way things are going, it seems he was going to the rooftop after all.
"The letter said that I should come to the rooftop, but... is this a trap like the last time? Is it the same group?"
"Fuu~"
Kazuya just let out a heavy sigh, and continued to walk to the direction of the rooftop.
He climbed the stairs and opened it for the second time in this day. Again, he saw the familiar scene he saw earlier and a girl standing in the railings.
"So she's still here, huh? Did she skipped classes?"
Kazuya stared at the existence named Haruka Tomoe, and after some staring, she turned around and Kazuya saw her face. She has a really cute face, a serious eyes, and a white skin.
The girl called Haruka Tomoe slowly approached Kazuya. Kazuya on the other hand, was still staring on the girl. When the distance is close enough. Haruka Tomoe fired a question.
"Are you the one who called me here?"
"Huh?"
Kazuya was confused, he don't know what is she talking about. Even he himself, got called on this rooftop. Kazuya didn't replied because he's thinking who the hell called him here. That's why Haruka Tomoe took it as a "yes".
"Well, if your that sincere enough, it can't be helped, I'm actually beautiful. My grades are high too, it's only natural that you will ask me on a date."
While crossing her arms, Haruka said those words. But one particular word was able to send Kazuya back to reality.
"Wait, date?"
"Yes, isn't that the reason you called me out here? To invite me to a date?"
Kazuya wants to say that "No, I just got dragged here myself!" but he thought that it could be a chance to get close to Haruka and extract the Soul Seal, so he just get along with it.
"Hey, aren't you Kazuya Satoru, the top student of B-Class, I recognize your face."
"Yeah, I am him."
Haruka looked at the ground for a minute then suddenly shouted:
"Forget it! If you want to have a date with me, you have to beat my score in the midterms! Kazuya Satoru, are you up to the task?"
Kazuya was shocked at first, but he smiled at the challenge before him.
"I accept!"
With that, the two goes down the stairs and gone home separately. To get closer to Haruka Tomoe, he needs to beat her score in the midterms, can Kazuya do that?
+++++
"Good morning!"
Kazuya greets his classmates as he enter the classroom. As usual, only the girls, replied to him.
"Still popular, are we?"
"Hehehe"
From Yuu's teasing, Kazuya just let out a chuckle. Still not a minute after Kazuya took a seat, Hajime visited Class-B, and approached Kazuya.
"Kazuya, what happens at the rooftop? Did it fail or not?"
"What? How did you know abou the rooftop incident?"
"Obviously, because I am the one who sent letters to the two of you to come to the rooftop."
Kazuya just let out a heavy sigh on Hajime's words.
"It's not like it failed, it's still in progress."
Kazuya explained all that happened at the rooftop yesterday.
"Then, you need to beat her at the midterms to ask her on a date?"
"Yes, sounds troublesome, but it seems it's the only way."
Kazuya is still wondering, what could be depressing for Haruka Tomoe? Kazuya still can't answer that question. He can just hope that her depression is still not that deep, or else she will explode even before the midterms.
The class started already so Hajime came back to his class.
"Everyone, please quiet, we'll begin the homeroom now."
The homeroom begun and ended, also the other classes ended too. Before they knew it, the whole day is already over. Kazuya and the usual group, have gone home together. They're talking about things, related to school, related to everything.
Time passed, and they already reached their own houses.
"Bye, Kazuya!"
Said Hideko as she waves her hand to him. Kazuya raised his hand too, in return. He immediately opened the door, and talked to his grandfather.
"Hmmm, it seems the only way to get close to her is to beat her scores, huh? Your intelligent enough so I think your more than capable to do that."
"But what if I lost, what kind of approach should I make?"
"Remember, My Disciple, even if you lost, stand up. A true samurai stands up even if his opponent is much greater, you should stand up. Never give up."
With that advice, Kazuya Satoru firmed his resolve. Haruka's life is in his hands. If he fails, she will die.
+++++
The day of the Midterms has finally came. The fact that Kazuya didn't even studies for it is almost admirable. He's not that he's already confident on his skills, he just forgot it.
He did the usual thing he does when preparing for school then headed out like always. While he is walking, he saw Hideko walking on the same path and threw a greeting.
"Good morning, Hideko! Are you prepared for the exam?"
"I'm not that confident on my intelligence and memory so I'm getting a little nervous."
Since they're already here, they walked to school together. Kazuya took a glance at Hideko and saw her usual smiling and face.
"Brighter than before, huh?"
Kazuya remembered those words spoken by his Master. Hideko is still calm as always and it never changed, but Hideko's burden are now gone, that's why you can say that she is brighter now.
"Looks like my effort are really worth it, huh? Looking at Hideko's state now, it really reminds you that this work is worth doing. Hajime's state is good too."
Kazuya remembers the past and said to himself:
"It's not like Haruka Tomoe is different, she's just the same. She's suffering too, that's why I'll free her!"
Kazuya tighten his fists and looked at the sky.
"Kazuya, were going to be late if your slow!"
"Yeah, sorry."
Kazuya and Hideko walks towards the school's direction. A matter of minute was counted and they're already at the school. As Kazuya approach his seat, he was greeted by the girls. His popularity is still not fading.
"There are 5 subjects that this exam has! Science, English, Japanese, Mathematics and Social Studies! The average score is 40 above! A score below that will be considered failed!"
The test paper were distributed at the students are after it was distributed, silence was filled the room. The bell rung, and it was a signal for the students to start answering. Their first subject is Science, then English, after that, Mathematics, next, Japanese, finally, Social Studies.
Kazuya was answering the questions with speed. Will Kazuya beat Haruka?
+++++
"Fuu~"
After the tiring exam, Yuu just let out a sigh of relief.
"You have it easy, Kazuya, I saw you answering the questions with ease."
"Hehehe"
Kazuya thought if what he did is already enough to beat Haruka Tomoe. The results are announced tomorrow so there's no way to confirm if he won or not right now. With no other choice but to wait, Kazuya and his usual group, and gone home together.
The announcement of the results on the midterms exam is on this day. Kazuya woke up early and came to school. When he got there, there's already a crowd forming. He took a look at the bulletin board without having to push anyone. He saw Haruka Tomoe's name on 2nd Place with the score of 450 on all subjects while his name Kazuya Satoru was in 1st Place with the score of 500. A perfect score for Kazuya.
Kazuya won the contest that is formed. He also saw Hideko's name on 3rd Place with the score of 428 on all subjects.
"Not confident on your intelligence and skills, huh? You look fine to me."
Knowing his score, Kazuya went back to his classroom.
"A perfect score, huh? Your very intelligent, Kazuya."
"It's not like that, I just read too many books."
Kazuya took a seat and spent the rest of the day in the class.
"Class is over! Those who failed will take special exams and extra lessons! That's all!"
Kazuya hurriedly climbed the stairs to the rooftop. The moment he reached the top, he saw the girl again on the railings. He thought about approaching her, but on second thought, he didn't did it. There's some deep aura he can feel, it's coming from Haruka Tomoe.
"The depression is starting to deepen! I have to hurry!"
Kazuya was about to approach her when Haruka turned around. The two at each other's eyes for a while, then finally talked:
"Good job, you won. Now you can have the date with me. Meet me on Sunday, 12 o,clock, at the front of the McDonalds. Please don't be late."
Haruka whispered that words to Kazuya's ear. Without anything else to say, Haruka left the rooftop. Kazuya didn't pursue her, and after waiting 5 minutes, he himself left the rooftop.
+++++
I said that I will have the date with him, but It's not like I have any feelings for him. I'm fulfilling the contract we made. I'm a girl who never backs down on her word.
I left the train station and walked to the direction of my house. True, that guy is handsome and he just proved that he was academically excellent. But I think that's all there is to him.
He's just a handsome boy who wants to get attention. As long as I give him the date he wants, I think he will stop for a while. I made the competition to measure who is more intelligent, but in the end, he is more intelligent than me.
I didn't realized that my house is already in front of me because I'm thinking too much. Everytime I go to my house, I'm feeling the darkness enveloped to me, called "fear".
"I'm home!"
The moment I shouted that, my parents came rushing over.
"Haruka, what are your scores? Could you please show me your results?"
I slowly opened my bag and reached out to the test scores on my bag. I took it out and gave it to my mother. My father tagged along and looked at it too.
Soon, my mother's normal face was replaced by an angry face that I always see.
"Why is your score only 450?! You could have scored more higher than that!?"
"I'm sorry, I'll try harder next time."
After the midterms, my parents are always checking my score if they're high or not. If they think that it was not enough, they will scold me over and over.
At first, I thought that I should get better next time! But later on, that soon changed, there are so many talented people on my class at middle school, there's no way I could score higher than them!
That's why to satisfy my parents, I worked harder and harder. I worked hard until there are bags under my eyes. I cling to the only hope that "Talent can't beat hard work!". I'm always repeating to myself that I could do it.
If I show the slightest weakness at my enemies, they will take advantage of it, and defeat me. That's why I have to work hard, I did all of that just to satisfy my parents.
I did that all this time from middle school until now, but... I'm tired already! I want to rest! I want to think about my youth too! I want to have fun too! I want to hang out too! But I want to make my parents happy, that's why I... will keep at it! No matter how hard it is, even if I'm already tired, even if the pressure is going to break me apart, I will not stop!
"You have to spend the Sunday studying, and your going to do nothing else beside that!"
"Do you mean this Sunday? Sorry, but I have an appointment. I'm going to hang out with a friend."
"You have the time to hang out, but you don't have the time to raise your score and study?! I will not take any excuses, you will have to study on Sunday, understand?"
I was speechless, I couldn't defy my mother. I could not stand against her, that's why I still have to do it, because I can't stand against my parents. Kazuya Satoru, sorry, I think I can't meet you on Sunday, you have my sincere apology.
+++++
"It's already summer, huh? It's much hotter than before!"
Kazuya was waiting under the blazing sun and has dripping sweats all over. The fact that he continued to stay here, is almost admirable.
"Still, she's late. It's almost 2:00, yet she's still not here. She's already 2 hours late."
Even though she was very late, Kazuya continued to wait until night. Under the blazing sunlight and the freezing cold night, he continued to wait. The clocked reached 19:00 or 7:00 PM, and he decided to give up and go home.
Kazuya was thinking the reason Haruka wouldn't even show her face. The fact that he doesn't know her house is stopping him from visiting, that's why he has no choice but to wait tomorrow and see her at school.
"Still, she doesn't even showed her face. It's terrible to make me wait in that sun, you know."
Despite his whines, he's not angry about it. He thought that maybe there's a good reason why she didn't showed up. With a peace of mind, he goes to bed and slept.
+++++
"Haruka Tomoe didn't came at your date?"
"Yeah, that seems to be the case."
Kazuya told Hajime the events of what happened at Sunday.
"This is bad, Kazuya, if she hadn't shown at the date, either there's something wrong or she's just playing with you. What do you think? If there's something wrong then..."
The possibility is high that the Soul Seal became even more deeper. Kazuya need to create his move now, or else the Soul Seal will become even more deep!
Knowing that, Kazuya immediately ran to their neighbor, the A-Class. He opened the door and caught the attention of the students of the A-Class, but soon they just shrugged him off.
Kazuya saw Hideko on the chair beside the window. Now that you think about it, Hideko is from Class-A. But Hideko is not Kazuya's reason to come here, he approached Haruka and talked to a tone, that in not angry but not happy either.
"Could we please talk at the rooftop?"
"I see, It's about the date, huh? Then, I agree."
The two goes off at the rooftop. Hideko just stared at the two while wearing her usual face. While thinking along the lines of:
"What could be that two's relationship?"
As far as Hideko knows, she is the first friend Kazuya has. That's why she was sure that Haruka Tomoe is a friend after her. Is the timeline of being friends important at all?
Let's go back to the two Top Students who climbed the stairs to the rooftop.
"Then, Haruka, please start from the very start. Why did you not come at the date?"
Kazuya asked her that with a tone, without angriness nor happiness. He's asking her with a calm tone similar to the tone Hideko uses. With the same calm tone, Haruka gave her reply.
"No reason, I just don't want to waste my time for the likes of you."
"I see, so that's how it is. Then, I won't pursue the matter of the date any longer."
Kazuya temporarily stopped speaking and breathe deeply before that.
"Then, could you please tell all of your troubles? I happen to be an expert on that field."
Unlike Hajime's case, Haruka didn't showed any signs of what could be her depression. Because of that, either ask her directly or gather information from a family member or a friend. Kazuya's move has begun!
+++++
"Problems? I only have my studies to deal with."
In that sentence, she's not lying but at the same time, she's not saying all of it. But Kazuya refused to back down and pursued the matter.
"Surely, you have some problems, youth this days, have so many problems. I could consult you of what you can do."
"I said that I don't have anything except my studies, could you please stop?"
Kazuya became quiet for a while, maybe he's thinking, maybe not. After a while, he continued again.
"Then, let's talk about your studies, shall we? If that's your problem, I'll gladly consult you about that."
"Huh? About my studies, sure, your intelligent. but I don't need you to consult me. I have a skill on my own."
"Then, why did you lost to me? If your really good at it, then you should have won. Don't tell me you don't really have the skills."
Provoking. That's what Kazuya is doing right now. He's provoking Haruka and adding fuel to her depression. By doing this, you can force her to tell you her troubles. Like Hajime, Kazuya predicted his depression by observing the way he moves, but that only worked because his depression is already deep enough.
At the same time, this is dangerous too, if her depression became even more deeper than he calculated, she could explode. But Kazuya is already desperate.
"Kazuya, what are you saying? I'm not feeling well that day, so I lost."
"Then, you have the time to date me when your not feeling well? No wonder you didn't came, your not feeling well, right?"
"That's..."
Haruka was speechless. If she say the reason, why she didn't came, the route of conversation will eventually turn to her parents. She don't want to tell that to Kazuya, a complete stranger.
"No, I just don't feel the way to. Your a worthless man anyway, so why bother coming? Your just flaunting your skills like an idiot. I bet your even laughing at the ones who don't have talent like you. Is that... right?"
Haruka made eye contact with Kazuya. Kazuya just stared at her with eyes similar to a mother. Gentle eyes that want to help. True, Kazuya has talent, not only is he handsome but his sword skills are amazing too. But that very talent is the reason he became a murderer. Kazuya's past is a story at another time, so let's set it aside for now.
When Haruka saw Kazuya's eyes, Haruka realized that Kazuya is not a person she was thinking.
"All right, I'm going to tell you my troubles. Your so persistent, that's why I give up now. Your an expert at counseling, right?"
When Kazuya heards her answer, Kazuya gave a smile, and nodded twice.
+++++
"So that's how it is, huh?"
Haruka told her problems to Kazuya. But she didn't said all of it. She just said that she feels inferior to people who has talent. But she didn't mentioned the very root of all, her parents.
Kazuya gave an advice to Haruka. Haruka seems listening, but deep inside, she's not. As long as she doesn't tell the root of the problem, it will never be solved. After the counseling, the two realized that class for today is over and they skipped class.
The two goes home separately. Kazuya looked at the shoe locker and saw nothing was there.
"It's only natural, it's already night. They wouldn't wait that long."
Saying that to himself, Kazuya picked his shoes and walked at the road.
"Still, is this the right thing to do? I gave my advice, but a Soul Seal didn't came out. It means that she's still depressed. Strange, I don't have any Soul Seals involving anything about inferiority complex. Does that mean that Haruka lied to me? No, Maybe it just means she didn't told me the root of her problems, it's only natural, I'm just a stranger after all."
While he's walking, he saw Hideko waiting for him. Confused, Kazuya asked Hideko why is she going to wait for him?
"Kazuya, it's just... It doesn't feel nice not going home together with you like usual. Lately, your not going home with us, so..."
"I see, then... I'm going home together with all of you starting tomorrow. Is that okay?"
Hideko stared Kazuya with sparkling eyes, then nodded twice. With that, the two walked together to their homes.
"May I ask a question?"
"It's okay, Hideko, what is it?"
Hideko was looking at the ground, her face is not red but it seems she's hesitating to ask about it.
"Now that you think about it, never mind! It's too embarrassing to ask!"
"I see."
After that one word, silence enveloped the whole street they're walking. It's too quiet. Since it's already night, it's only natural. Kazuya asked a question to Hideko to break the silence.
"Hideko, what could be the reason your feeling inferiority complex?"
"Inferiority Complex? Do you have one, Kazuya?"
"No, I don't have one, I'm just asking for a friend."
Kazuya says as he wave his left hand, left and right.
"I see, there's so many reason you can have an inferiority complex. Like, you don't want to lose to someone with a talent or you don't want to lose in a field that you excels."
"It doesn't seem to be the case of Haruka."
Silently mumbled by Kazuya.
"Please continue."
Kazuya urged Hideko to continue, and Hideko did as Kazuya asked.
"Then, maybe they don't want to lose the expectations of someone. That's why they're working hard, but along the lines, he realized that he can't beat something like talent. That's why he gained inferiority complex."
In that explanation, Kazuya now understands it all!
"The dots are now connected! I see! The inferiority complex she talked about is not the root of her problems! The very root is there's someone that has high expectations for her, that's why she wants to work hard but realized that she can't beat talent!"
Kazuya thought to himself. He's right, now that he determined the depression, he saw the Soul Seal too.
"I see, the Soul Seal she is holding is "Berserk."
+++++
Berserk, it is one of Kazuya Satoru or Tiger's Soul Seals. It has the power to push your body to the limit and gain extra power.
Haruka Tomoe uses it to push her body and say to herself "that she can still do it" while in reality, she can't. The only thing that made her stand up in all of those problems she faced is Berserk. So if it was extracted, her strength will go back to normal. In middle school, she endured the pressure, but in high school, the pressure was much higher than before.
The only reason she was able to endure it until now is because of the Berserk, that's why if it was extracted... she will break apart mentally. Not because of the Soul Seal, it was because of the pressure she's receiving.
Knowing that, Kazuya immediately gone back to the school.
"Hideko, go on ahead! I have something to do at school."
After Kazuya had gone, Hideko said to herself.
"So is this related to Haruka Tomoe? Your going to help her, aren't you? Kazuya."
Kazuya was running so fast that he reached the school in no time. There are guards on the watch, so sneaking is going to be hard, not for Kazuya, at least.
"Oh, The Great Tiger, Respond to my call. Those who stand in my way will face the The wrath of a Tiger! Come, Tiger Saber!"
Kazuya summoned the Tiger Saber, and used Presence Erasure to conceal his presence. With this Soul Seal, he could sneak at the school and look at Haruka's address.
With this Soul Seal, he could even sneak at the Girl's Locker Room. But Kazuya has dignity as a man, so he wouldn't do it.
Kazuya used his Presence Erasure to sneak through the faculty room and find out Haruka's address. Kazuya reached the faculty room with some walking, then skimmed the book of records.
"It's here! Haruka Tomoe! So she lives in here, huh? Isn't that far? It's two stations from here."
In reality, it's still close to the school. His house is just too close for him to not ride any trains. Kazuya returned the book to where it was and sneaked again to have his exit at the school.
After that, he rode the the three trains while conducting his plan. There's no way her parents would allow his visit, because no matter how you look at it, it's so suspicious to visit at night.
That's why he's going to sneak in her room and talk to her again. The problem is whether or not she will even listen to him. If Haruka saw Kazuya on her room, she might even call the cops, but Kazuya can't back down here.
Haruka's depression is worsening day by day. Now that Kazuya already know the root of her problems, he has no reason to stop on saving her. That's why Kazuya firmed his resolve and clenched his fists.
After some time, Kazuya reached Haruka's house.
"Let's do this! I'm going to save her, no matter what! I'm not going to let her suffer any longer!"
Whether Haruka Tomoe will be saved or not, will depend on this one night? If Kazuya fails here, it will only lower the chances of her meeting him again, and worst case scenario, she's not going to be saved. Will Kazuya succeed or not?
END OF CHAPTER 5
Author's Note: Thanks for reading this far! Please leave a star if you like the story, it will motivate me more!