Chereads / The lion on the golden path / Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: Carrot and Stick

Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: Carrot and Stick

"So~ Top of the world, huh? Mind telling the audience why the high spirits Mineta-san~" An angelic voice asked. As the ever energetic pink towards with her hand grasped as if she held her mic, her shirt stressed by the weight of those heavenly melons to his delight. Didn't hurt that she smelt wonderful today, is the world still smiling on him?

"Yeah, you looked like you found some real saucy stuff, man. Ain't you gonna hook the sauce, dear sauce god" Denki said. A smile that could only be described as thirst incarnate on his face, pity was all he could muster. A chance to regale the masses was always welcome.

"Well-"

"SHUT THE F-HELL UP, NPC AND ON THE GODDAMN TRAIN!" an voice that could only be called violence incarnate said. His blessed self jumping out the way the result. N-not out of fear mind you, well maybe a little but out of a deep sense of pity, envy often followed after a blessing.

"Still so goddamned loud. It's like the caps lock broke or something" he muttered. His hands massaging his ears attentively as he stared at the shrinking back of the explosive boy.

"Pot calling the cattle black, don't ya think?" Denki said. A flat stare all that levelled towards him.

"Kaminari got a point, you're just as loud, like loud~loud" She said.

"Oi, shut it traitor. Also such an elegant way to put it, Ashido-dono. Brings tears to my eyes" he said. Sarcasm dripping.

"Add just as much of an ass" she spat back. A playful glare.

"And your butts will all be in detention if don't get moving, also Ashido language" Aisawa-sensei said. A glare that could only be described as bone chilling prickling his skin.

"Yes, sir!" "Sorry, sir!" they said. Quickly moving to get on board. However, that bone chilling gaze still lingered on the small dynamite package that was him...he'd forget he'd ever referred to himself as that.

"Mineta, a word" a cold voice said. It's icy chill stopped him in his tracks, his eyes met with that gaze yet again, yet a certain calm softness emanated from it. Curiosity natural took course as he stared at his teacher, the man merely moving on board as he stuttered out "Y-yes, sensei?" the urge to curse his lapse in search for an answer.

"Didn't know you two had the last sir name, wanna chip in?" he asked. His eyes shoot past an towards the two sneaking a peek from behind the sides of the train doors. The duo of idiots about to spout an excuse before his eyes narrowed, the duo simply wallowing inside. A secret meeting? he gulped, the sudden isolation caused a variety of different scenarios to sprout in his head, did he do something, had he been sniffed out, did he figure out it was for the boobs?! Was he...was he gonna be subject to an internship Aisawa-sensei himself?! he couldn't do that, could he?!...could he? The mere thought caused shivers down his spine.

The torturous long track towards the end of the train not helping his nervous self, the thinning of the crowded carts not helping matters, on unrelated matters this train seem really snazzy with those lush cushioned seats. Added to that all he could see were UA students excitedly speaking about various things, chief among them, the internships causing his stress addled brain to wonder. Had UA rented out a whole damn train or was this just the schools personal train? He thought before his black trailed back toward his teacher, the nerves returned with a vengeance. Maybe he had been over reacting but could he really help it, he hadn't ever been in trouble at school before.

"Mineta..." the cold detached voice called. The sudden break of his train of thoughts caused him to jump, the moment of reckoning here not at last.

"Whatever it is, I'm sorry sensei! Please don't take away the boobs!" he said. His body folded in a perfect dogeza, the silence that followed deafening.

"...Disregarding that last statement, this is were you'll be seated. Now get settled, the train will be departing soon and a certain someone delayed me enough already" he said. His hands running through his dishevelled bangs, a single eye baring down on him.

"S-s-sorr-" "Save it, good grief" Aisawa-sensei cuts him off before a sigh escapes him. The distinct feeling that he somehow did something wrong never leaving him, the question on his tongue before he decided against it, unwilling to anger the man further. Dragging his luggage towards the room in silence, the chilling gaze still lingering.

"...Mineta" he said. The silence broken and the inevitable scolding would take place.

"A teachers job is to hear out his students trouble, y'know?" the usual stern man said. An unmistakable ting of empathy could be heard from his voice, the question catching off guard. Why the sympath-he thought before a sudden flash towards that horrifying night caused his bones to shake and his jaw to ache.

That...that image yet to loose it's effect, the sickening churn of his stomach taking effect a few certain word repeated briefly, a swift shake his head helping ground him as he thought 'It's real' ad-nauseum before a shaky breath left him. He was fine, he was fine, there was no need to keep speak about, there was no need to keep thinking about it, there was no..."Can you keep a secret" those repeated once more, his heart skipping a beat at thinly veiled threat. A secret? That's not what he was doing, he was not acknowledging a lie, a falsehood, a fictious malicious tale. He simply refused to acknowledge that lie, there was nothing wrong with that.

"Mineta?" Aisawa-sensei asked. A rare look of concern painting his face, he was shocked, the thought of the man showing any concern specifically for him of all people shocked him, it didn't help that a certain pit of warmth fill his stomach. He really did care about his students.

"Well, there is something that's been troubling for a while..." he began. The question irking him for a long period of time.

"...That is?" Aisawa asked. A look of surprise passed his face for moment before he breathed, an attempt at a comforting look on his face, emphasis on attempt.

"Well..." he paused, a deep breath. "How much hot babes have you pulled, huh?!" he exclaimed. Curiosity a flame burning too bright, causing the to splatter, the question not what he was expecting.

"That's none of your business"

"No hesitation?!"

"What'd you expect a laundry list of names or something?"

"Well, I expected my teacher to keep to his word"

"Don't know why, it was just a logical deception"

"Logical deception, right. Shoulda know it was Aisawa-sensei I was speaking to, still lame!"

"Well, a man doesn't kiss and tell"

"Any, this should be enough, already don't like this but what can you do"

"Pardon" he responded to the mutter. For a second, the slothful man stood silent, his thoughts on the edge of his tongue before he shook his head, the thought forever lost to him. What stuck out to him was the sense of powerlessness that wafted from the man. A question on his tongue, the scenario not much to his liking either but in essence what kind of person would he be to deny a blessing?

"Oh and one last thing..." the forever fatigued man began. The sympathy gone, cause him to straighten involuntarily. Yes, out of fear this time, who could blame, that glare was spine-chilling.

"Ye-yes?" he asked. Something telling him that, it wouldn't be so kind.

"You'll be on your best behaviour, okay. I don't wanna hear of any of your...antics, are we clear" he said. His tone leaving now room for discussion. However...

"So don't get caught, gotcha" he said. Half joking, his plans never that direct in the first place.

"Are. We. Clear" he announced. Authority oozing for each of his words.

"Y-es, sur" he said. His tongue the unfortunate victim of his fear.

And with that, the hero eraser-head had began on his trail of the train, his black locked on the shrinking back of the man. He wondered what he wanted to say as he spoke earlier, somehow despite his relatively short time with the man, it was remarkably out of character for him to hold back in any way, shape or form. It was something he still struggled with despite his best attempts at leaving up to them, but if Aisawa-sensei had things he held back to then...was it needed to always be open about everything?

"Enough of that, let's check this place out" he said. Shaking his head of the thought, maybe it had been his denial, maybe it had been simply unwilling to acknowledge the implication or simply difference in how his Jiji and Aisawa-sensei saw things, but even if that was the case, what would be right? It would be undoubtable Jiji's right? It would be...right?

"Urgh! Could you quit it for like five fucking minutes!" he shouted. The furnished cabin walls absorbing the shock of his shout, his black scanning the spacious room. The soft fur of the couch caressing his skin softly, as if he was touching clouds, the table while a little high for him, it was in the comfortable range of his reach. The floor furnished the same way, the room seemed tailor made to comfort him, the soft hues of blue and green that blended well throughout the room only adding it.

It reminded him of that little apartment back in Tokyo, he remembered the warmth of his mothers reluctant embrace as she came home from a truly long days of work, however he couldn't help but feel this sense of...melancholy, the silence just as reminiscent, the empty space just as reminiscent, the hollowness of the warmth...

"The hell does that even mean, gonna stop with the shitty attempts at poetics author-san" he muttered. The uncomfortable churn of uneffected by the attempt smashing the fourth wall, nor did the silence. It was moments like these maybe those blessings were nothing more than a carrot he was chased, forever out his reach, the stick just a few seconds away, just a few seconds aw-

"Well, got a nice ass cabin all to yourself, mind some gue..I really end up catching you in some weird times dude" a voice said. He froze for a second, his black turning swift to the entrance, dull yellow the first contact made. He blinked before a sighing a breath of relief, a wit rebuttal on the tip of his tongue before he paused, something warm running down his face, was he, was he really...again?

"Damnit" he said. As he tried whipping the tears off, his stomach churning with a variety of emotions, embarrassment, frustration, lament and a host of other things however the most confusing had to be a huge sense of relief he felt, beyond just getting over the shock, he felt beyond relieved as if a dark cloud was chased away.

"Wow, you that glad to see me. I might get the wrong idea, y'know?" Kaminari said. A light smile on his face as he did. It made him wonder what did he do to deserve an amazing friend like this.

"O-oi, save that for Jirou, mister bitchless, you just caught me at the wrong time" he said. Moving to stand, his back faced away from him, unwilling to show weakness more then necessary. People could stand weakness were it can not be helped, were one was powerless, however ranting, revving and complaining endlessly as if you don't have a choice, soon enough one find themselves alone, the world sure to swallow.

"You could say it that way but..." he began. Uncertainty filling his words with unseen weight. His hand finding the back of his head naturally.

"Woah~ So unfair, what you do to get...eh, eh, did I interrupt something, a lovers spat mayhaps~" A voice said. Blowing away the awkward energy of the with pink brilliants, the uncertainty forgotten with her entrance.

"Hey, don't insult my taste Mina, I'm firm only look at those with two xx building em" he said.

"Y'know Mina-chan, the more I get to know you the more I worry about that mind of yours, is mayhaps even a word" Minoru said. The mix of gold and black banishing the remnants of that...feeling as it locked with his black, a small smile gracing his face.

"Hey~ Hey~ Mayhaps IS totally a word, you dumbass. Use the dictionary before you try to bully with those word nun-chucks" she said, pouting. Her arms crossing under her trance-inducing bosom making them near hypnotic, he was truly getting blessed.

"Uh, Mina there is no words such as mayhaps, c'mon that's like believing that santa's real" he said incredulous.

"Boo~On the side of evil on are, you bring shame to hero in training worldwide I say, worldwide~!" she said. Indignation filling her tone.

"Oi, why am I the evil side?! This handsome face is too good for evil beside I find it funny that that's the example you use mister I believed in santa until I was 13" he said. As he pointed at himself with bravado before snickering, the opportunity too good to pass up.

"Eh~?! Really~ Kaminari, 13?" she said. Amusement plain on her face.

"I was 12, 12! And handsome? I've seen trolls better-looking mister forever alone!" he shouted. Huffing in irritation. His irritation burning away as he heard those last words, the audience finally gathered again.

" "Forever alone" huh? Forever alone, say that to the girl who number I got" he said. His tiny chest with the pride as he waited for gobsmacked sighs of wonder to fill the room, however, they never came.

"Hee~" "For real" they said. Not an ounce of belief to be found in their words or expression.

"Oi, the hell's that look for!? And those replies!?" he said. Incredulous.

"I mean that death cult conspiracy is more believable dude, c'mon" he said.

"And Santa is more believable" she said.

"Oi, yo-" "Let's~ stop right here~. We can't belief what the other is saying right. Then how about a little game." his shout of indignation was cut by this proposal. The suddenness of the proposal made him almost reject it outright, however as he thought about it, if he beat them in the game and then showed them the proof, they would have no choice but to bow to his feet.

"What'd this game be" "I'm listening" they said respectively. Her smile turning down right sinister, it didn't help that his heart skipped a beat when she did.

"Then~ how, about a game of take two" she said. The gauntlet had been thrown and the spirit of competition filled the air. Praise sure to taste sweet.

"You're on" they said in unison. And so the mission to have them at his feet, began.

"Okay, okay. So, when did you wake up? Take two" Denki said. Tone dripping in sarcasm as sat down a 2 of hearts on the disorganized stack of cards atop the wooden table between them, his cards close to his chest

"See a little green in your eyes, Santa believer. You might wanna get that checked" he spit back. He smug smile wide on his face as he put an ace of spades, denying the extras. The grimace on his face on made his grin widen.

"Can't you see~, Kaminari. It's the light of a crush, so what if it's an imaginary girl, it's still love!" Mina proclaimed as she slammed her second last card down. Her teasing grin plain to see.

"Oi, she is real damnit! Real! and you're getting a strike for that" he said. Handing half the deck the deck in righteous fury. Look of her face all the more satisfying.

"Wha- No fair! That has to be illegal" she said. She gasped before refusing her punishment.

"The house heard no ticket and what did the house say in the beginning?" he asked. A rebuttal on the tip of her tongue, however the house spoke.

"Did tell you, you had say ticket and two cards, Ashido" Denki said. Causing the girl to seethe and pout. C-cute…

"Boo~ Traitor. But it's alright, just watch. Hehe, just watch" she said. An ominous smile on her face as she said. Too bad, too bad indeed.

"Hey, it's on you if you forget the rules. The house is loyal to nobody. Two cards" he said. As he sat down 9 of spades. A smirk appearing on Mineta's face.

"Unfortunately, dear Ashido. You revolution will not be televised. Cause, keep on. Keep on. Keep on, ticket…Game" he said. Setting down three kings and gently setting the final card face down. The game over.

"Damn it" he said. Setting down his three cards in defeat.

"Gah! No fair, no fair~!" she shouted.

"Huhuhu, of course this was the only outcome possible. No shame in a loss against one such as I" he said. A chuckle leaving as he watched the losers, serves them right for questioning him about her.

"At least I'm not still on planet earth, Mr wonderland" he said. Quipping defensively, a look of pity was all he could give him. A little salt in the wound wouldn't hurt.

"…Y'know what Kaminari, maybe that girl isn't from wonderland," she began, her black and gold covered by the shadow of bangs. A mysterious smirk on her face "…But I know something that is, so dear Mineta, would you look at, this~?" she asked. A simple smile on her face as she held up his last card towards him, a 4 of spades. He stared before shaking his head amused.

"C'mon Mina-chan, there a little thing known as taking your losses gracefully. It's just a game after all" he said. Shrugging his shoulders before crossing his arms and leaning back, his legs firm on the table in a relaxed manner or at least that should've been the case if not for his legs not being long enough…He would forget that happened.

"That so? So, you'd be able to take it on chin too, right?" he said. His daring tone drawing some unease, but he wouldn't back down. After all he wasn't a hypocrite.

"Of course, Mineta Minoru is a mannered man, after all" he said. His words causing snigger, he ignored it after all it was his job as the mannered man to be the bigger man.

"Well, well, you heard that Ashido" Denki asked. His words filled with unplaceable amusement.

"Yeah, you know what that means, right? Kaminari~?" she said. Barely holding back, a giggle.

"Here are your cards, sir?" They said in unison. Denki sliding the over half of the deck before collect and reshuffle the stack of cards, leaving on a king of clover on the table. His rebuff dying in his throat as he stared.

"Well, let's continue Mr Wonderland" she said. An irritatingly smug smile graced her face.

"DAMNIT!" he shouted in sore defeat.

"Here…" he grumbled. Returning to the cabin with a can of okra juice for Mina, orange juice for Denki and grape for him.

"Thank you~ I am dying over here" she said. Her slumped figure instantly sitting up before she reached for her drink and chugged it vigorously. His silent figure directly across from her, a nod his only response.

"Thanks" he said. Grasping his orange juice gently, his dull yellow gaze catching the silking Mineta's figure. The silence pervading as the three drinks their respective drinks. In utter silence until

"…Still sulking dude?" he asked. Attentively drinking his orange juice, a bit of triumph still plain on his face, but that smile would soon be gone for the next time he would be merciless, he thought as he stared out of the window, the seemingly rushing landscaping drawing his gaze.

"Mannered man, huh~" she said. Taking sips slowly as she tugged at her shirt as a fan, the heat of the cabin a bit too much for her to handle, never has he been more grateful to a broken air conditioner, the world rewarding him for his earlier loss.

"But how'd you get a hole cabin to yourself, huh~? The school was the one who arranged this trip, yet little lion is riding in style, suspicious~" she said. Her black and gold narrowing into a playful glare, the ridiculously long sip she took only adding to the silliness.

"Don't know just got dumped here unceremoniously like an onahole, though I think..." he began. A certain workaholic appeared in his mind, the question was how...Rin.

"First off, Eww~! Second, maybe it has to do with what you went through a few days ago?" she said. Her theory only lending credence to what was kicking about in his mind already. She went out of her way to make sure he was comfortable and save, surely this was love, a showing that she cared but...that uncomfortable churn.

"You know about that Ashido? Huh, so he did end up speaking to you but that still leaves the question on how?...Urgh, all this think makes me want a scooby snack" he began. Before sighing indifferent, the how not much to his interest. To his neither as the pieces clicked a second ago.

"C'mon Kami, you can do it! Can on kami, this your co-gummy!" she said. Imitating a cheerleader as she brought out a gummy worm out of breast pocket, that might have been a good incentive had it been not covered in lit and a week old, the blank look on his face told that tale. However to him...

"Well, it's dear Watson-" he began, as he moved to snatch the gummy out of her hands like a seagull catching his prey. The sour and dusty texture, the least of his worries as he savoured the favour as it was in her breast pocket which meant...He was indirectly licking her boobs! The carrot too alluring to give on.

"It might have been my mom's pull" he said. Whipping of the drool of his mouth in the coolest way he could to play off the reason.

"You... actually went for it" Kaminari said. His face contoured between a mix of amusement and disgust.

"For some reason... I feel like I've been violated in a way...but~ what makes you thinks so mister lonely?" she asked. After shifting away from him, eh? Could she tell what he was think, wait, wait, wait did he actually do that...Kami, Budda, God, however I humble ask you turn back the clock cause if not, the cringe will kill him! he thought as he crouched in on himself

"W-well, she one of the biggest contributors to the maintenance of the school, so they'd like wish to appease her " he said. Coughing off that... thing he just did.

"HUH?!" the two shouted in unison. His ears or rather his soul victim to the rather disastrous roar.

"W-wait, don't t-tell me you're the son of THE Mineta Asami?! " Mina said. Her brain seeming in the verge of collapse. He knew his mom was a big deal but to inspire this kind of reaction, she really was something.

"Ashido-sensei, I'm kinda lost as why this a big deal outside of her pull on the school" he asked sheepish. He also wondered what the fuss was about.

"Are. You. Serious?! She is the head of the fastest growing conglomerate in japan to date, her hero supply branch only second to Detnetrat! And she's unrivalled pervert?!" she said. Shock filling each word.

"Unrivalled? Aw, you're making me blush" he said. The amount of fluttery he felt, the churning become more vigorous, she was amazing as he knew the amount of hard work it took to create such a terrifying woman, he could never disrespect that, he could never not recognize the sacrifice she endured for his comfort. This had to be something else, yes something else indeed.

"Damn, really? Talk about amazing, your mom is something else, huh?" he said. The amazement clear on his face.

"I mean she got the school, UA of all places to agree to her proporsition, she really must be something huh?" she said. Her black and gold sparkling amazement.

"She's something alright…" he said. His face uncomfortable warm, the beating his heart irritable, why?... Must be from the loss. The room stood silent as the last words, an uncomfortable air running through it, he wondered why?

"R-right, so about Ms. Imaginary, did she poop rainbows and cry sunshine or was she a six-foot-tall goddess shining on my little buddy" Denki said. Eager to change the subject, he began to tease the short boy but instead on indignation, a smug smile was the response.

"Well, wouldn't you want know mister I can't get a number" he spit back. A look of indignation spread on the blonde's face.

"Shut up! And what proof do you have that she's real, let alone if the number she gave you is real" he said. The trap catching his prey, hook, line and sinker.

"Well, didn't feel like rubbing it your envious face but since you asked" he said. Tone full of irony as he passed his phone to the blonde, the ever-energetic pink hovering over the blonde's shoulder in curiosity, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Satisfied?" he asked. His inflated ego growing too big for the room to contain.

"Wow~ So, you were telling the truth and here I was thinking you'd die alone. Life's sure~ full of surprises" she said. A benevolent grin on her face.

"Yeah, didn't think you had it in you, congrats lil bud" he said. A shocked yet proud look on his face.

"Of course, of course one such…Wait, the hell you mean you thought I'd die alone?! And why are you looking at me like a proud dad seeing his neet of to work?! As if you'd do any better!" he screamed indignation. The inflation popped like a balloon.

Two pitying smile was the response to his statement as if to ask "Are you sure about that" causing him to seethe, he'd show them, he thought as he grabbed his phone before heading out of the cabin. The two sat quietly as their peer stormed out angrily. A moment of silence passing between them.

"You think we overdid it?" he asked.

"Nah" she said simply.

Rushing down the aisle as he huffed, he ignored any calls to him as he rushed to the bathroom. Couldn't they just praise like peasants would praise kings, was that too much to ask. Well, then he had no choice but to show them the absolute beauty of his Athena, then they'd have no choice but to acknowledge his charisma, so what if he kid's half his age where mostly taller than him, so what if he had eyes as wide as goddamned diner plate, so what if his nose was more of a stump then an actual nose. So what if he was just an afterthought in her mind!?

So what?! He just had to bring out his true self, his strongest self and toss away the weakness that wouldn't let it shine, if he did that like moths to a flame, more buxom babes will come, he got that some would hate his true self but what of it, he wasn't for them at the end, right? You can't live your life trying to please other, it's those who understood this, those that remained true to who they always where that would be acknowledged, it was them…so the hate, he'd just have to endure, the scorn he'd just have to endure, the disgust he'd just have to endure, endure it like a man would cause that was better, right? Jiji, it was better…the carrots allure far mighter than the fear of the stick.

Solemnly, he closed the door behind him, his phone open and the chat right in front of him. Those fateful word of "Can't wait" teasing his eyes as he stared, a few simple words would probably gain the evidence he needed to wipe those smug smiles off their faces. It was simply and with how eager she was about him; she'd probably do it but, his stomach sunk a bit at the thought. It was simply but would she, do it? Would she send a picture so he could rub some salt in the wound of those two? Would she listen to his request, would she still go out with him, would she still even like him. Those thoughts ran through his head as he contemplated, unease of his decided course of action.

He just wanted to fuck, to feel the warm embrace of a women that much was sure, so all his actions need to serve that purpose at the end and texting after a few hours of meeting her would that just signify his desperation? Wouldn't that just lay bare his earnest wants but being upfront had been his whole M.O but in that weird and tangled world of love and intimacy would that approach work, he prided himself on always speaking his truth, always speaking from the heart for he held back those words but is that was needed here?

Those words filled his eyes yet again as their earlier interaction played in his mind. Her shy smile, her adorable yet slight annoying stutter, her demure demeanour and her out-stretched hand to help him. Would his normal way of being, be able to entice her?...

"Damn it" he thought as moved out of the chat his confliction still brewing. How quaint, his weakness began to question his means of strength, to question one of the most important teaching his ever received, how very quaint, he thought heavy in irony as he sighed, his eyes drawn back to the luminescent screen, his various chats on full display. Idly he began to scroll, a few unread messages moving by his mom would be in Okinawa for a month, no shock there, there was new midnight merch coming out, he knew that already…What?

With a heavy hand his idly scrolling stopped on an unknown chat, just then the memory of the morning played in his mind. The very same chat the cause of some unease, he stared silent for a second hoping it was just a trick his mind was playing on as he forceful blinked, his eyes still taking in the unknown chat, even odder was that on the chat's display the first thing was only one single solitary word…answer.

It may have been the word, it have been the fact that it came from an unknown chat but something was telling him that, he shouldn't open it. Sitting silently and menacingly, it remained untouched, however it was there, he thought for a moment he should just delete it and move on with his day but that very word, answer seemed to be a warning of what was to happen if he were to ignore it. A flash of very unpleasant scene flooded his mind and a wave of nausea followed. 'No way' he thought, this and that couldn't be related, that had been a lie, a sick delusion some sick piece of shit forced onto him, that was it but…maybe it was morbid curiosity, maybe it was intuition that told him as such, but finger moved towards the chat nonetheless.

As he moved toward time seemed to slow or maybe it was his very being reluctant to open it, yet he moved all too slowly, his heart imitating a jack-hammer barely able to hold the phone steady. He shook his head vigorous, the notion ridiculous, there's no possible way that this and that were linked, he assured himself as he finally, finally, finally opened the chat and there…

"!" he dropped his phone too shook to even scream as the simple words had heart thrown his heart into disarray. "Mineta Minoru, found you…" it said, plain and simple yet those words revealed a much more sinister truth…Someone was look for him.

"N-no way, no way, no way, no way, no way-" he muttered repeatedly. His breathe heavy as if a car had been laid perfectly on his chest, the intake of air a monumental task. No way, no way, who was looking for, why were they looking, why did they want him, why, why, why, why and without mercy a silhouette attacked his focus with a being more meat than man. He gagged, the visceral image too much for his stomach as the memory of the miasma force the release of his stomach's contents, quickly he rushed to the toilet pot as everything came out, that night's events replaying ceaselessly. No way…it can't be him.

The murder, the psychopath, the butcher, that man, no, that thing had come to redeem it's mistake.

Why? He thought at first, the reason too hard to grasp in his frantic state. He didn't say anything, he went with the story that it was a robbery and said nothing of what he actually saw that, he kept a secret like the man asked yet, here he was looking for him…No, he had found him, his phone have been idly for long enough and having returned to same place enough times that he probably knew…

"Breathe, Mineta, breathe. You're not thinking clearly" he said between breaths. His stomach completely emptied of its contents as he splashed some water on his overheated face. His legs too weak to carry him that fell to the floor, without a care, he breathed deep, rhythmically tapping his balls yet again as he tried to understand the nature of his text.

First, there had been not a single thing which indicated that that…thing was involved whatsoever, just an ominous text with little to no context. Second, if it had been it then with how long he'd been idly wouldn't it have come to kill him in his sleep, the chance ripe for the taking yet he didn't. Third, it was all an illusion as much as he hated admitting it, Rin had been the first to put forth the mind-altering hypothesis so this could be an elaborate ruse to get more money out of him, now that they realized, he hadn't gone to the cops.

Slapping his forehead rather roughly he sighed as he leaned against the wall under the window. Throwing himself into a panic over a thin veiled threat, the depth of his weakness never ceased to amaze him. Through it was somewhat warranted having found him and all…found…him?

"!" Swiftly he rushed to his phone in panic, a single objective in mind as he grasped his phone tightly in his hand, make sure Rin doesn't go home. He needed to call her, he needed to make sure she knew the danger, he needed to sure she was safe, he had enough tragedy for a lifetime.

Swiftly, he dialled her number that was burned to memory. The phone ringing, ringing, ringing and ringing some more before finally…

[Now, who are you trying to call, Dear Minoru] …A voice spoke. However instead of the ever-frank rasp of Rin, a unplaceable voice answered playful, a chill running up his spine…Wha-

[Dear, dear Minoru…you don't mind if I call you that. Hate to be rude after all this the first, second…the how manyeth time that we've spoken but…It was really speaking on your part] the voice said. Malice lacing each word as it spoke pleasantly, an allusion he wouldn't miss but…but that c-couldn't…be.

[A bit too silent on your part but it can't be helped right? After all, dear little Minoru knows how keep his mouth shut, the best at keeping secrets, I've heard?] the voice said. That single word causing his being to tremble his already wide eyes widening, uneased, no unease was too light of a word to describe what he had been feeling at that point, no to put it plain and simple terms an otherworldly terror filled as if he was facing that utter horrid abstract concept that was death yet again. The words failed him, breaths failed him, and warmth of life fled away in the presence that seemed to project pure and utter malice, he could feel it's sardonic smile from over the line.

[Now, now, don't be alarmed I'm not who you think I am though make no mistake that man…no that thing as you call him is...what am I doing ruining the suspense, the unknown will become sooner than thought, I wish to...Tto see that day. I just came to pass a warning… a warning of…something …] he trailed off. His speech odd as if waiting for the boy to take the bait, he hated how he played into it nonetheless.

"W-warning ab-about?" he asked. For once not cursing his stutter after all simply speaking to this being would render all before it speechless, it was a miracle that he could even speak.

[Such a flatter ap..praisal, I might gift you with the blessed sight of my darling Emerald city but enough of that…Hmm, warning, war…ning…What was I a…bout to warn you on?] the voice asked. The sound of static become prominent as its train of though was lost for a moment, its usual playful voice gone as sunk deep into contemplation before-

[UGH! It SeEmS My TiME iS up BuT… WhAT Was IT…iT wAs, It wAAAS…SUN…shine? wAtCh ouT foR DeAd… sUn…RISe …AD SUN.. . SUnRise…] it said before the connection broke, the last indecipherable in meaning, you could barely call it a coherent language that exist in this world. However, there was one thing he took away from the exchange, dead sunrise. The meaning of these two words really threw him for a loop, danger behind it the focus of his ponder, what could be…no…why was he even pondering those words.

Wordless, he lowered his phone from his ear sluggish, his body still full of tension from the scare. His breaths rushed and rugged, the expression 'Heart beating out of chest' all too really for him now. It honestly irritated him to no end. He'd felt the pants shitting terror that was near death not just a few days ago and no just a random call and a ominous text sends his heart into disarray yet again. The weakness's glare all the more irritating, the world's cruelty far from letting off it's new favourite toy. What a joke.

Why him, why did he have to be subject to that visceral image, why'd he have to feel that pain of near death, why did he have to be feed shock upon shock, his heart ready to keel over. Why… he thought as a black narrowered into a ferocious glare. His ragged breaths growing more unrefined. Funny wasn't it, that just a random call knew of the one word that would trigger him, funny how it wasn't apart of those events just give him friendly advice, funny how someone had found him wasn't it? Funny, Funny, FUNNY! The allure of the carrot was might, it was enough to forget why he feared the stick in the first place but it seemed the cruel mistress that was this world felt it needed to remind him, why the stick; should be FEARED.

"Ha" A single dry laugh left him as he sat on the restroom floor. His legs slowly tensing as he brought it back before he kicked towards the adjacent wall nearest to him to him, wasn't it so funny…at his lowest his back here again. Stomp, wasn't it enough that he didn't say anything, stomp, wasn't enough that they took everything he had that day, sTomp. Wasn't it enough, sToMP, Wasn't it enough it, StOMP, Wasn't it enough!

"AHHHH!" he shouted as he kicked the walk vigorous. 'Leave me alone! Enough already! I just want peace! I didn't see anything' he thought repeated as if pleading towards his tormentors silently as tears fell from his hate filled eyes. The pressure to much for him to bare. What did he have to do? what could he do?! What could he give?! he thought as the energy drained from him

"What do I do" he muttered softly to no one, as if asking the world itself for answer.

"What do I do" he asked again. Collapsing in on himself as he whispered out once again.

"Jiji?" he muttered the man's name as he often did, seeking his guidance once again in his despair. Wishing for his healing words to once again save safe him, however…

*Ring* his discarded phone rang once again and on it read.

(14:56) Unknown: Keeping those secrets, now aren't we?

It said merciless, his pleas forever unheard by the cruel, cruel world. The winding the stick now plain.