[After re-reading this novel for the nth time I came to the realization that it was very confusing. So to make it easier (Hopefully):
"-" Is when the character is thinking about something at the moment
" ' " Is when the character is narrating
"~~~~~" Is for the time skips
"======" Is for flashbacks
"**" Is when the character narrates something irrelevant (Not exactly) to the story's main plot
"^" when a character is thinking about other characters
And just to elaborate it's :
1. Daiken Souichi
2. Shirogane Kousaki
If there are any further confusions please let me know in the comments. Hope you enjoy this chapter :)]
After studying for a while, Shiro stretched before put down the freakishly huge science textbook and reached for his gray smartphone that was charging in the corner of his study table. 'heh, she even put my phone to charge.' He thought smiling. 'It's been a few hours since all the lightings in the house were turned off which means that everyone's asleep.'
**Although spirits don't usually sleep most of the time they go back to their graves and spend time there until they get an alarm to remind them that their master is awake. Spirits are seriously more loyal to their masters than humans.**
"My goodness. It's almost nine!" Shirogane said putting his palm over his right cheek. "Better give Atsushi-Kun a call before it gets late." He continued scrolling down his contact list. "Atsushi-Kun... Atsushi-Ku- ah there it is." He said to himself when as he was searching for the other boy's number.
After a few beeps, a loud voice screamed "Hey, WHat'S uppp?" Tearing the phone away from his left ear Kousaki said "too loud" after lowering the volume of his phone and placing it back to his left ear. "Botan-San. why did you answer my calls? You were only allowed to call your phone." another voice from the other side said to the person who picked up Shiro's call named Botan.
'Some people are lucky enough to get the life and love that they deserve. I in a state of bewilderment on whether to be envious of them or to pity.'
"Hello Shirogane senpai, Atsushi speaking. Apologizes for the way Botan acted." The person named Atsushi said in a calm, soothing manner which made Shiro smile. "How many I will be of assistance to you Senpai?"
"Atsushi-Kun~ Sorry to trouble you this late at night." He replied. Only after Atsushi said that it was fine and that Shiro wasn't troubling him, he continued "You know about the graduation party, right? I don't have a suit fitting enough for the theme." Kousaki said rubbing the back of his neck.
Not wanting to trouble the younger boy this late at night, Shirogane felt very guilty and didn't want the boy to feel obligated to answer him just because he was his senior at school.
"Ahh... To tell you the truth Senpai I too do not have a suit that is fitting for the theme of the graduation party, So I'm borrowing from Kenichi-San. Sorry if I couldn't help you Senpai." Atsushi said in a nervously and apologetic manner. "Maybe you could ask Kenichi-San or Kunimichi Senpai?"
'During elementary school, I used to get loads of confessions from both genders. I used to wonder what was so great about me that so many confess to me. Accepted them because I thought since they had to muster up all their courage to confess might as well give them a chance.'
"Ahh yes now that I think about it I saw Kenichi-Kun wearing a similar suit that matched our school's theme." Shirogane replied in a tone that meant 'It's fine don't need to worry too much about it.' "Well then thank you Atsushi-Kun. Good night sorry again for taking your time to be with Botan."
"Shi-Shirogane S-senpai s-sin-since when....." Atsushi stuttered nervously.
"Since the beginning darling. Don't worry I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to." He said before cutting the call. "They were way too obvious or the others were way too oblivious." He said to himself laughing.
^ Atsushi is one of the lucky ones, he scored a good man. He may be dumb as hell but he's a nice person. I always knew that someday Atsushi will be happy with a caring, loving person, after all, he's been through he deserves it. ^
"Alrighty, now to call Kenichi-Chan." He said to himself as he scrolled down his contact list. As he waited for the call to connect to Kenichi's phone he hummed the lyrics of "The Nights" by Avicii.
He said: "One day you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember"
My father told me when I was just a child
"These are the nights that never dieeee
"Ahh, Avicii I'm familiar with it." A soft, childish voice said from the other side of the phone.
"Eekkk" Shirogane shrieked "I swear to god one of these days one of you guys will give a heart attack!" He said pouting and sat back on his study table's undetachable chair.
"Haha, No Senpai it's cause you are sensitive- ah" Kenichi stopped himself before he said something that he going to regret later. "Forgive me for my rudeness Senpai." He continued in a sad and apologetic tone. "How may I help you?"
Sighing Shirogane said "It's fine. It wasn't intentional." Putting his hand to his chest he continued "I wanted to ask if you have a suit of the colors that match KSA?"
"Hmm... let me seeeeee" Kenichi said. It sounded as if he stood up and was walking. Opening what sounded like a closet he rummaged through. "Found it! Yes, Senpai I do have a suit that might fit you." The earlier sad voice, now sounding more child-like. Cheery and happy. "If you want to you can come over to Kunimichi's house you can try it on."
"Wow, amazing" Shirogane said in relief. "Thank you so very much Kenichi-Chan~ you saved me from spending my money." Although Kenichi could see Shiro was bowing that was a habit that was hard to break.
"Your welcome Senpai. You did a lot for me. This is the least I could do for you." Kenichi said happily. "Ah I gotta go. Good night Senpai. See you tomorrow."
"Good night Kenichi-Chan~"Kousaki replied before cutting the call.
"Oki, now that, that's done I need clothes and something to cover this newly discovered hairstyle. Choosing a plain white t-shirt, ripped jeans, and a cap that goes with the clothes. As he was bothered about his hair he gets a call from his bestie, Okami.
"Hi, Okami. How are yo-" Shirogane froze when he heard sobbing coming from the other side. "Tomoe? Tomoe!" He tried to get the other boy's attention but didn't get through. "Sh-Shi-" the other boy broke down crying. "Izumi that meany. I hate him! Stupid Izumi." He kept saying.
"Tomoe what is it? What's wrong you never use Izumi-San's full name." Kousaki said with real worry and concern.
Ignoring him Okami continued to cry even more.
"Tomoe you dumbass if you don't tell what the hell is going on Imma come bursting into your house and squeeze your neck." He said losing to anger.
Switching onto video call Okami continued.
"Kou-Chan you know I had a crush on Izu-Chan since kindergarten, right? I think I'm going to have to let him go." Letting more whimpering and sobbing escape his thin, pink lips.
"Hey I know it's late but do you want me to come over?" He said rubbing his thumb over Okami's head on the screen.
As Tomoe was quivering the only thing he did was nodding his head.
"Want chocolate ice cream and Michi-Chan as well?" Shirogane said while he got ready to leave.
~~ Okami's house~~
Ringing Okami's doorbell Shirogane waited till he heard the other boy's footsteps coming down the stairs. Kousaki had a big tub of chocolate ice cream that he bought from the 24hr convenience store and a puppy plushie that Okami loves.
Getting more anxious that the Okami was taking longer than usual, Shiro whisks his phone out of his pants pocket and quickly dials Okami's number but the door already opened revealing a pair of red, swollen eyes.
"Tomoe....." Shirogane trailed off.
"Ah! Kou-Chan~" Okami said it weaker than how he usually says it and the way he came to give Shiro a hug was even worse. The boy was practically a walking corpse.
As the two boys walked to Okami's bedroom none of them said anything which made Shirogane feel like crying too. The bubbly, cheery, and loud Tomoe was now depressed, gloomy, and quiet.
"Hey... Tomoe? If you don't feel like answering you don't have to... But what happened?" Kousaki asked without making Okami feel worse.
As they were on Okami's bedroom floor, Shiro took his best friend into his arms, put his chin on top of Tomoe's head, and caressed his hair to calm the trembling Okami.
"Do know what happened during half of my childhood?" Okami asked in a painful voice without looking at Kousaki. Earning a nod from his Okami continued. "Since my parents were separate I always went back and forth between them. But I always spent time at Izumi's house."
"Yeah, I know," Shirogane said in a low voice because he knew how Okami feels about his past. He knew his best friend was so hurt by Izumi that he used his full name.
"In 6th grade, I started having feelings towards Izumi." He continued while sniffling. "I didn't tell you this part though...." Okami trailed off.
"Ok? You never keep secrets from me... Unless it's really necessary.
"A few days later, a red string appeared on my pinky," Tomoe said. "It connected to Izumi... But that meany butt cut the string." Tears started to well up again. "He CUT THE STRING! IT ONLY HAPPENS TO 20% OF THE POPULATION AND HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO DO SOMEthing like that." Now Okami started to cry even more.
"You found your soulmate?" Shirogane asked in shock. "AND HE DID WHAT?!?"
"What's worse is that now the string connected him to another person," Okami said in sadness. "According to legend it only happens after the 15th cut."
So much crying made Okami pass out. Shiro picked up the frail boy and put him on the bed. It was now almost midnight. He sent a quick message to his sister about the situation.
While Okami was sleeping Shiro took a piece of paper and wrote down that he's going to Kenichi's place to check the suit. Although he didn't want to go, he knew that whenever Tomoe got sad, he would like to be alone to recollect his thoughts. Okami is the type of person who goes by the rule 'Cry as much as you but don't cry for the same thing again.' Shiro was proud of him, because of how strong Okami is.
Going down to the kitchen was a depressingly long way that Shiro found it hard to go through. Shiro quickly made all of Okami's favorite dishes for when he wakes up. As a back up, Kousaki sent a text to Okami saying that there is food for him and that he went to Kenichi's house.
~~Morning~~
As an extra measure, Shiro always keeps some of his clothes in Okami's house. Wearing the ones he chose and the cap he wore the night before after taking a bath Shiro set out to Kenichi's house. On the way there he saw a familiar jacket that belonged to a person with an even more familiar back. The person was a bit further in front of him.
"Daiken?" He called out to the guy. Turning around, it was in fact Daiken Souichi. "Shirogane, what's up?" He replied as he walked back towards Shiro.
"Nothing much~ Heading to Kenichi's house. How bout you?" Shirogane said as he took his place walking beside Daiken.
"Oh, Don't think you know but Kenichi's home with Kunimichi. He goes there every weekend." He replied puzzled.
"Really? Didn't know that." Kousaki said in embarrassment. "Mannnn should have asked for the address." He said face-palming himself.
"Don't worry I heading there too you can come with me, Kou" Daiken said with a wide smile.
'Kou? KOU?! DID HE JUST CALL NICKNAME ME BY MY GIVEN NAME??' Shirogane yelled inside his head while trying his best not to show his red-tinted face.
"By the way I-Ichi? what's up with your hair? why's the front part straight?" He asked trying his best to divert his thoughts that he just called Daiken Ichi. Partially he was really confused why Daiken had straight hair in the mix of super curly beautiful locks.
"Nice, you called me Ichi. Also for my hair, it's cause I wanted to try straightening it but it doesn't look that good, I guess?" He replied while rubbing the back of his neck.
'He's lying. He whenever he tells a lie he rubs his neck. I shouldn't bring it up.' Shirogane thought to himself. "Nah it's cool. But I prefer your locks better."