Chapter 6
"Why do I feel so irritated?" I asked my self while trying to calm down. "I don't know the reason but I'm started to feel this way when I encounter that stalker, as if he is involved in something troublesome..."
The students that surrounded me earlier with the intent of getting closer to Diane, starts to back off. I wait in my seat and back into thinking how to deal with third party. The natural grumpy expression on my face becomes real due to irritation.
[Inside the women's bathroom, two people have gathered to start a chat about what happened yesterday. Diane and Amane were facing each other.]
"Why did you call me here?" After confirming that no one is around, Amane begin to question Diane's purpose. However, she didn't give her an answer and only glare sharply at her.
Being feel a little threatened, Amane unconsciously take a step back and wring her hands. "What are you planning...? She asked her a question while her body slightly tremble along with her voice.
Diane raise her hands and grab her shoulders. "Hayama told me what happened yesterday... So in his place I'm going to apologize. I'm sorry, he is the kind of person who always does stupid things for stupid reason, so please be understandable and forgive him." She apologized in Hayama's place. Amane notices that there is a sadness in her eyes. As if she is referring to Hayama as someone pitiful or rather hopeless.
"No way! If you wanted me to forgive him, he should apologize to me first properly and take responsibility! Besides what are you to him anyway? You keep calling him "Hayama"! Are you guys that close!?" She yelled at Diane's face after rejecting her apology. Instead of setting the things between them it appears that the situation becomes worse.
Diane didn't answer her questions. She let go of her shoulders and only tell her. "I'm going to talk with Hayama later and make sure that he will apologize to you properly. If that solves things between you then I'm leaving now." She starts to take a step to get outside of the bathroom.
Noticing her leaving, Amane grab her forearm and ask a question. "Why are you helping him? Are you two... Lovers or something?" She couldn't asked her properly due to embarrassment.
However, Diane doesn't seem to care about it. She turn around and stare blankly at her face. "We are neither friends nor enemies... The reason why I'm helping him is because he seems to be affected by what happened to you... I don't know if his reason for groping your "flat chest" but I'm sure it's something stupid that involves another stupid reason... I wanted to resolve it, so that I can fight and defeat Hayama in his best condition... You asked for our relationship right? Hayama exist only for me to defeat him... That's all." After stating her motive for fixing their relationship, she get outside of the bathroom and head back to the classroom.
[She is certainly mistaken about one thing. It's true that Hayama was bothered by Amane but he is more irritated to the unknown third party following him.]
Amane stay still in the bathroom. "Hayama exist only for her?" After asking herself question out loud, she grind her teeth in frustration and punch the wall. "Don't play with me, Hayama is mine alone!" She shouted her true feelings and the pain in her hand starts to spread. "Ow..." She get outside of the bathroom while gently rubbing her palm to ease the pain.
Chapter 6.1
[The lunch break comes faster than anyone could imagine. Perhaps for someone who's looking forward to interesting things time goes faster.]
"Hey Hayama, come with us for a moment." I was planning to eat the sandwich I made for lunch but interrupted by my seatmate Diane. She asked me if I have a spare time.
Even if I don't have, she won't probably accept it and force me to come with her. "I guess..." I put back my sandwich and respond to her.
"Follow us..." Without explaining what she needs. Diane suddenly grab my right forearm and drag me outside of the classroom. Amane is walking beside her, I could easily break free here but I think Diane won't stop bothering me unless I do what she says.
I tagged along with them to the entrance of female restroom. Male and female restroom were separated from one another, the female was on right side of hallway and the male was on left side.
Since no one is around, Diane starts to explain her reason for dragging me here. "Hey Hayama... Your girlfriend here, wanted an apology from you... She wouldn't accept apology in my place and wants you to take responsibility... So do it." Diane is being forceful.
"Girlfriend? She isn't my girlfriend. We are classmates..." I'd like to clarify things at first. However, Diane is so stubborn. Once she set her mind on something she will pursue it until the matter was resolved.
"Huh? You are denying your relationship? She confessed her feelings to you right? You are going to accept her anyway so it will ended up in you two going out together." She shrugged both of her arms after explaining the outcome of our relationship, predicting the relationship two of us.
"Anyway, that's only happening inside your head... And we have a different outcome here don't force your way in." I tried to push her away but it doesn't seem to be effective. She comes up with splendid rebuttals that put me at disadvantage position.
"Hayama, we meet each other back in middle school, approximately 2 years ago. Even though we are only together for half year I know lots of things about you." Diane move her face closer to me after cutting her own words. Then her eyes glare intensely and ask a question. "You are interested in Amane right?"
As expected, she will aim for my weakness. I averted my gaze away from her looking at left direction to avoid eye contact and answer her question. "I'm not interested..." My voice remains fine as I speak, it's natural and there's no trace of disturbance.
"You are lying!" Diane shouted and point her index finger towards me. "I knew it! Hayama, when you are lying you always look away! You are also interested in Amane right?" After asking me a question, she turn her gaze to Amane who is silently listening to us for a while now. "I don't know why you molested her but personally, I think you aren't the type of person who have pervert mind. I guess you are simply pushing her away from you by doing that, huh?" Woman's perception cannot be underestimated. She manages to pinpoint the reason behind my actions or perhaps I'm like transparent book to people around me.
I didn't give Diane response and remain silent. I also didn't make an eye contact and keep my eyes at the ceiling.
"Too obvious... Too obvious..." She closes her eyes as if she thinks I'm so easy to read and wave her index finger which pointing at me. After a few moments, she turn her gaze to Amane and ask her question. "What are you going to do now? It appears that the person you like, is also interested in you?"
"Hayama is interested in me?" Amane mumbles. I keep my eyes away from her hoping that I can still turn down the situation but it seems I have no way out.
"I don't know his reason for pushing you away... But considering Hayama's personality, I can only guess that he doesn't want you to get hurt." Diane now turn her gaze at me and continue speaking. "Speaking by experience, Hayama always avoid doing things that will hurt the person he cared about..."
I'm still thinking how to get out, I can probably turn the situation if I use violence but that would violates my principles.
"Give it up Hayama... You may be undefeated when it comes to fight but your huge weakness is you cannot lie... You aren't someone who can lie." Diane talk to me and put her hand on my shoulder. "Just apologize and everything will be over."
Having no choice and being at fault, I decided to apologize to Amane. I take a deep breath and approaches her. This time I look at her eyes directly and express my apology. "I'm sorry for harassing you yesterday... What Diane stated is true... I'm interested in you but due to some circumstances I pushes you away." I made some follow to what Diane stated earlier and face the consequences of my actions. "I don't know what you meant when you say take responsibility but if you want to cut my arms or even take my life, I will do it for you." I express my resolved towards her, I don't know what she meant when she says take responsibility but this what comes to my mind after hearing those. For me "to take responsibility means to die for my own actions."
Few minutes have passed, I didn't get any response from Amane so I raised my head and glance at her face. Amane is looking at my eyes as if she is trying to analyze me.
Diane on the other hand take a deep breath and break the moment of silence between us. "See... He does stupid things for stupid reasons... You might think that he got few screw loose but he is normal in his own way." After hearing Diane's explanation, Amane shake her head while rubbing her eyebrows. "You don't have to take your life... When I say take responsibility I want you to feel responsible for your own actions... In other words, you are going to marry me!" She fixed her head and glare at me intensely, her frustrated eyes remind me of fear I felt back in the day.
"I understand... If that's what you wanted I will do it..." I respond to her without showing any sign of disagreement.
Then, Diane suddenly move between us. She raised her face and it's close to mine, just a little bit, and we are going to kiss.
"Hey what are you doing?" Amane didn't like her behavior and immediately drag her back but she couldn't make Diane move an inch.
"Now, now Hayama... Since I help you resolve your issue with your girlfriend... You owe me a big one right?"
Here it goes, back in middle school, she always does that to me. Sometimes she asked my opinion about the drink she has and make me drink it then, she will say that I owe her one for indirect kiss and drink, and will demand a match against me. There was a time when she sit down next to me and stated that I should be grateful to her for being with a beautiful girl and then she will suddenly grab my hand, and force it into her chest. It was stressful days, Diane always does whatever she wanted just for a rematch. However, she didn't manage to win a single match which make her urge for more.
I raised both of my hands indicating that I surrender. "Fine then... I owe you one for helping me get along with my girlfriend and will do one thing you asked me..." I told her I'm willing to do her demands in exchange for helping us together which is unnecessary.
Diane smiles proudly and take a step back. When she does, Amane rushes into me and cling into my arm.
"Hayama you already know what I wanted right? So where are we going to fight? I heard the school here was strict towards trouble makers." She is ready to fight me but didn't know where. Since things won't be resolved unless I fulfill her demands, I recommend a place.
"We can do it at my house..." It was the perfect environment to fight since the town is isolated and no one can see what's happening inside.
"Your house? Are you still living with that woman?" She asked me a question from the past.
"No, I live by myself now... I have my own house even though it's small." I told her that I didn't live with that woman anymore and become independent.
Diane smile and look at me. "What a coincidence, I live by myself too... Your house might be too small but it should probably enough for the two of us?" She averted her gaze away from me and focus it at the ceiling. I can tell what's going on insider her head, she thinks that if we live together then she can challenge me anytime.
While looking at her, I could feel Amane gripping my arm tightly. I turn my gaze at her and notices that she is glaring sharply at me. "Living together huh... Sounds like a couple thing to do..." Despite smiling I could tell she was frustrated but don't know the reason why. "Hayama... I'm coming too, I'm going to your house..." Amane put up a follow up and called me by my first name, I don't mind it though it's my name anyway.
"I guess..." I responded to them indicating my agreement and prepare myself for another stressful day.
Chapter 6.2
When the class is over, the three of us head back home together. Amane is walking on my right side and Diane is on left. Amane inform me in advance that she get her mother's approval about staying late.
The connection bothers me, if things keep progressing this way I might move to a different house to avoid troubles. I'd like to avoid them (third party) coming after me because of what happened. The unknown third party might be an enemy from the outside but I can't say for sure. He suddenly show up wearing chainmail on his body as if he knows what type of weapon I have.
I clear my thoughts and focus on walking. Diane and Amane were having a conversation about me from behind, Amane keeps asking Diane things she knows about me. I couldn't hear them properly since Diane move few distance far away from me along with Amane and they were speaking in low voice. Anyway, I take a deep sigh and slightly speed up my pace and they followed me while chatting.
After walking for almost half hour, we reaches my house and immediately head inside. I was on alert the whole time and didn't detect any presence at all. "He is probably taking his time to prepare an attack. If that's the case then I will too, make my move..."
Amane and Diane remove their shoes and put down their bags on the corner. "Hey, Hayama serve us tea. You got beautiful girl like me visiting your house. You should be honoured and serve me well."
"What a narcissistic woman..." I muttered to myself and turn my back on her. "Where she keep pulling her confidence and call herself beautiful...? I don't know about other people but I never seen her that way." I talk myself while preparing tea. There is only one pack remaining from what elderly gave me, so I need to restock it tomorrow.
Once I'm done with the tea, I prepared some sandwich as snack for them. "I wanted to make salad but I don't have ingredients, so I settled with it. I doubt they will complain anyway."
I head into the Kotatsu and serve them the food. Diane immediately grab one of the sandwiches and roam around my house, she started by checking my closet. Diane is acting like she is looking for something specific but when she couldn't find it, she sit down on kotatsu and talk to me. "Hayama I know you aren't the kind of person who browse through porn magazine, so I couldn't find what kind of women you like..." She cut her words and stare at Amane. "If that's the case, I will settle with your girlfriend here." She looks at her body and avert her gaze into her face. After looking at Amane for few seconds, she let out a smug face and confidently declare. "Looks like, I won."
I turn my gaze to Amane and notices that she is looking at Diane's chest. She clicks her tongue and cross her arms, acting like irritated child.
"What's up with these two?" I asked myself while eating sandwich. I was holding the triangular slice of sandwich with both of my hands and slowly chew it.
Amane turn her gaze at me and immediately look away. I caught her face in fraction of second and realized that she is holding back her laughter.
"What's wrong?" I asked her question while eating. However, she didn't say a word and raised her hand asking me to stop. She was still holding back her laughter for some reason. I don't know it though. I decided not to pry any longer and focus on eating. Diane also do the same thing but she is acting like some woman using drugs, daydreaming about her wins against Amane thinking it was me.
[The reason why her girlfriend laugh because the way he eat sandwich seems like a cute frustrated child. The natural grumpy expression and girlish face says it all. He is chewing and holding the sandwich in girlish way which is hard to believe that he is a man. Amane found it hilarious, the thing that makes it funnier is Ameguri doesn't aware of his own actions.]
The current time is 3:36 pm, more than half hour have passed since they visited my house. We are currently eating together, and I suddenly heard the sound of door bell.
The three of us look at the door almost the same time. " I thought you live by yourself. Did you invite someone Hayama? Or perhaps it's..."
I'm actually impressed that Diane can easily grasp the situation. She knows that I'm living at isolated town and doesn't have any neighbors, so she found it odd that someone pays a visit.
I turn my gaze at Diane and give her a nod. She understands what I'm trying to say. "Come here..." She grab Amane's head and cover her mouth. The two of them rushes inside the closet and hide themselves.
I stand up from the kotatsu and approaches the door. "There are number of people who knows I live here. Most of them doesn't come to visit me other than Ramirez but she should inform me first hand if she is going to visit." I muttered to myself. I reaches the handle and slowly unlock the door. "Then the person that visiting my house is an enemy..." I continue and prepare to attack. After unlocking the door, I pull the door knob aggressively and stomp the person standing outside.
"Oh shit!" She sighted my foot incoming at her head and manages to block it by raising both of her forearm close to her chest and cross it. She blocked my attack. however, she fall on the corridor due to strong force. In that moment, I closes the door and lock it again.
"Who are you? Why did you come here?" I asked her consecutive questions. Even though I didn't get to see her face, I recognize her jacket, it's the same as the man I met in six division. The moment my foot made a contact, I felt a metal. A jacket with chain mail inside. No normal human would be wearing that kind of thing other than military members or someone supported by organizations.
She didn't give me proper response but I could tell that she is trying to get up from the ground. "What a troublesome brother... Attacking his sister just like that. Did your mother didn't teach you a lesson...? Oh that's right you grew up without them on your side."
"Brother? Sister? What are you talking about..." I don't remember having any older sister. I have a younger sister but we aren't blood related, so what she stated confuse me. However, it appears that she has a knowledge of my past.
"Open the door now... I will explain everything to you... You have two girls inside right? Which one of them is your girlfriend or perhaps are they both yours?"
I didn't notice any presence when we are going here, so she probably use scope to watch us from a distance where I won't be able to detect them. I slightly open the door after finding out that she brings no harm towards us. If her goal is to assassinate m they could have done it earlier, it's pointless for her to made a contact. I'm also curious how did I ended up having an older sister.
"It took me few days to get this cake done and it only take you a second to crush it..." She speak to me while picking up the box of cake. She probably dropped it after blocking my kick. "I even asked them to handle it with care..." She take a deep sigh and throws the box on my bin outside.
I averted my gaze to her face and notices a resemblance. She has a long blonde hair and blue eyes just like my father. I could tell it's natural and not dye. Based on genetics the chances of her being my actual sister is high. As for her clothes, she is wearing a black jacket and skinny jeans, along with fit boots with high heels.
I open the door for her and she take a step inside. "What a small house you live in... Why did you settle with this place when you have a better house?" She asked me a question while looking around the house.
Diane and Amane get outside of the closet and stare at her. "Hayama, we overheard your conversation. I didn't think that you actually have a sister (setting his younger sister aside)". Diane speak to me and starts to analyze my sister.
She remove her boots and sit down on kotatsu. "My place becomes crowded lately..." I muttered to myself and close the door. "Anyway, explain the situation to me." I told her to start talking and sit down on the floor. On my request she sit down properly and begin her explanation.
"My name is Kosaka Azusa or should I say Ameguri Azusa." She introduced herself and glance at me. "I'm Hayama's older sister... We are half blood siblings." Azusa stated proudly.
"I see..." I didn't consider the possibility that we are actually half blood since my father isn't the type of person who would cheat on my mother. Their relationship is solid, the two of them actually love each other that in years of relationship they never had a fight.
Asuza turn her gaze at me after hearing my response. "I'm 4 years older than you Hayama, so be respectful!" She reaches both of her hands on my cheeks and pinch it lightly.
After playing around with my face, she let me go and continue speaking. "My mother and your father meet each other five years before he engaged into relationship with your mother. It's actually one sided love..." She cut her own words and smile bitterly. "My mother is adopted child, her foster parents were incredibly rich because of that she didn't have any troubles during labor..." Azusa focus her gaze on me and smile genuinely. "I learnt about your existence a year ago and I'm looking forward to meet you since then. At first I'm going go after our father but... " She look down on Kotatsu with saddened face.
I could understand her feelings, my mother feels the same way. Around two years ago, my father died while working overseas when the country he was working at got hit by magnitude 10 earthquake.
"My life is kind of lonely... My mother dies after giving birth to me. I'm surrounded by people that's not consider as family and spoiled me. When I reaches the age of 10 they told me about our father. Since then, I'm looking forward to see him but due to his work and my circumstances, it was difficult." Azusa stand up from her seat and get closer to me. I'm within her reach, she sit down next to me and continue. "When my grandfather and grandmother dies. The people around me who's after our wealth starts to get closer. I'm not happy about it because I don't really need money or anything. I simply wanted to meet the people I can consider as real family." She give me a warm hug. I didn't say a word because I understand her the best. Asuza wanted only one thing in life which is "happiness".
After hugging me for more than five minutes, she let me go, and I ask her question. "What are you planning to do now that you meet me?" She smiles at me and pinch my cheeks again. "Isn't it obvious? I'm going to stay with you."