Chapter 27 - Ch. 25: Struggle

4:30 a.m., Chiyo woke up soaked in cold sweat. She dreamt of him again, Laughing at her futile struggles. Mocking her. Chiyo rubbed her face with her hands in frustration. Why give her another life if it's going to be like this? What sin did she commit to deserve this? And even if she did manage to survive living in this world, How can she truly live if she sees everyone she knows fall prey to this absurd world? She failed to save Kenta from his Hell, barely helped Aki-nii... Now, this! A new student that she barely even know! It's like playing hide and seek with no place to hide. The anxiety is slowly wearing her down. 'Please, Somebody... Please save me!'

Kenta saw Chiyo entered the classroom looking glum. He nudged her shoulder with his pen, and when Chiyo looked up she saw Kenta handing her a iced coffee from the vending machine. It was the brand she liked, "Don't worry about Kobayashi-san, Chi. She'll be fine." Kenta smiled at Chiyo. Chiyo accepted the coffee and drink it before class begins. The bittersweet taste of the coffee lifted up her mood a bit. Then, the class started after the announcement that a few boys will be called in the faculty office later in the day. Chiyo was surprised by the announcement, but decided to ask Kenta and Yura about it later.

After the last class finished, The teacher declared the last class as a self-study and called the boys to the faculty. The teacher didn't mention any names but they seemed to know who they're talking about.

The room was a bit tense because of the announcement. Some of the people that are clueless, waited for whoever it is that got called in the faculty and wondering what trouble are they in. The ones involved however... Some are silently gritting their teeth while waiting who will stand up to go to the faculty first. Kai Satori, the class rep, stood up with his pale face, curly hair and thick glasses, no one expect him to be one of the boys being called. Kai, ashamed, kept his head low and only look the floor in front of him as he made his way out of the classroom and on his way to the faculty. The rest soon followed with their head low like Kai. Five boys went out of the room causing a lot of whispers and gossiping all around. There are also boys that got called from the other classrooms causing the rumors to spread like wild fire. Chisato's name was never mentioned but the students knew that a scandalous thing happened in school, involving a beautiful female student and the group of boys that got called by the teachers. There was only Twelve boys that got called. But soon, rumors grew from twelve to fifty guys doing 'something' to the poor girl.

After school, Kenta told Chiyo that he can't walk her home because he got an important appointment somewhere. Yura also told Chiyo that she got club today. Chiyo was suppose to go to the Art Club today as well, but she's too emotionally tired to deal with it. Plus, she didn't want to see or know the two Peeping Tom they saw peeping at Chisato's misfortune that day. Dejectedly, Chiyo packed her stuff and went home.

Outside, She saw Akihiko waiting for her at the school gate. Chiyo's mood slightly improves and a smile bloomed in her face. "Aki-nii!" She called, Akihiko waved at her and signaled her to hurry up.And when Chiyo got closer she noticed a small bag in Akihiko's hand. It was from her favorite café near Akihiko's school! She loved the cake and cookies there. But most of all, She love the chocolates they sell that the store owner made herself. Seeing the bag, Chiyo's smile can't help but turn into a grin. Akihiko laughed at Chiyo's change of expression just because of a simple chocolate. "Why are you smiling like that? Anything good happened to my Hime?" He can't help teasing. Chiyo already guessed that Akihiko is trying to teas her. "Ehh... Me? Smiling? I'm not." Chiyo tried to control her expression but she can't help looking at 'that bag'. Chiyo's mind is fully convinced it's for her because Akihiko always buy her stuff like this specially during Valentines and white days. It was always the constant mood killer for Yoshi to hear that Chiyo recieved these things from Akihiko.

"What are you looking at? Oh, this? I got this for Ryu, He said he wanted to buy some of these but he got called by their coach." Chiyo pouted hearing this. 'Lies! It's my food, How can you lie like that?' Annoyed Chiyo stomped her feet and walked away from Akihiko. Akihiko laughed again, He liked Chiyo acting like a kid around him like this. It was something rare when most of the time she's guarded and paranoid about everything. The food was indeed for Chiyo, It was a small thing he could do to try lift-up her spirit. He really hated that this school is making his Hime uncomfortable just at the start of the semester. "okay, okay... I'm sorry. I lied. It's for you." He gave her the bag if chocolates that she loves. Chiyo's eyes quickly sparkled and her pout disappeared like magic. Chiyo took the bag from Akihiko with a childish smile that Akihiko loved. It reminds him of something warm and memorable from his past. He wanted her to stay this way. And He doesn't feel comfortable knowing Chiyo might be suffering without his knowledge. He really want her to moved to his old school. It's a private school that his family is a part of. He's been trying to whisper ideas to Yumi-san about it and even 'accidentally' left a brochure of the school at Chiyo's home for them to see. He doesn't want to appear controlling in front of Chiyo, but It gave him a sense of relief if Chiyo stayed where he could see her.

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At the hospital, A nurse visited Chisato's room and checked if she needed anything and checked her bandage and all the basic stuff. But Chisato just kept on looking out of the window. Her mind was racing million miles away from that small room, thinking of many things that happened and she wished happened. Then, her eyes caught a crow perched on the branch of the tree Infront of her window. The Crow's eye was ominously red, almost glowing or so she thought. She wasn't sure if it did glow. But the weirdest thing is how the crow keep on looking right back at her. Almost like it's waiting. But waiting for what?