"Me? Against Zachariah?" Seraph echoed, a sudden sickened expression crossing his face. Resting his back against the seat, he scoffed, "I detest him, Kenzo."
Kenzo blinked, surprised.
"He... is worse than enemies," Seraph added apathetically.
Kenzo whispered, "Seraph?" His tone, actions, and words had abruptly changed. For a moment, Kenzo thought Seraph's Cleve persona had activated, but he was still Seraph.
"I've known him since elementary school. I admired him, idolized him, wanted to be like him. In my eyes, he was the kind of senior you look up to with respect. We talked, shared stories, became friends—close enough that he even knew about my split personality. But here's the thing... he didn't just know about it; he knew how to control it. I was thrilled. I thought I could finally step out of the darkness. So, I asked him to tell me how. But when I needed him the most, when my other half was taking over every single day, he abandoned me. Even now, knowing I can't control it on my own, he still won't help me." Seraph told, frustration evident in his tone.
Kenzo was left speechless, struggling to process the revelation. "He knows how to control Seraph's Cleve persona?" the thought hit him like a shockwave.
Seraph kept his arms on the table, instantly burying his face inside. "How can someone be this heartless? Think about it, Kenzo. I am still struggling and in agony. Tell me? He clearly refuses to even recognize me. In my eyes, that's the kind of selfish person he is," he confessed.
Kenzo after hearing him could only whisper, "Sorry..."
Seraph shook his head and pushed his hairs back, looking at him with a smile. "Don't say it. I told you because I wanted you to know. That's the kind of friend you are to me. This is my level of trust in you, Kenzo."
Kenzo nodded wordlessly.
"Kenzo…" Seraph interjected, capturing his attention. "I am well aware what I will say next is going to surprise you but why not give bowling another try?"
Kenzo stared at him, wide-eyed and bewildered, only managing to utter three words, "Nobody knows that…"
Seraph crossed his arms, a playful glint in his eyes. "Let's just say I know a little secret of yours."
Kenzo remained stern, immediately responding, "Forget it, then. From wherever you got to learn about that." Grabbing Will who had managed to get over his head. "And, what is your problem? Can't you take a rest?" he asked him slightly worked up.
Will, however beamed squeaking again and again.
"Hehe, just like Alan. No difference. Both, annoy you like this." Seraph enjoyed.
Kenzo clearly unamused, ruffled Will's fur.
Alan and Isa soon entered the room. "Took you long enough, Isa," Noah quipped, lounging upside down on the bed.
Isa, taking a seat beside him, smiled, "Sorry, I was busy doing the dishes besides making drinks."
"Here you go," Nagi handed him a handheld fan.
Isa switched it on. Heavens~ and so he immersed himself in a world of soothing peace.
"Thank you," Cassiel said, accepting a mug from Alan, who looked around. "Seraph?" he asked.
Gabriel gestured towards the balcony as Alan went over. Seeing Kenzo and Seraph sitting silently, relishing the breeze. "Here you go and a little excuse for being late," he offered.
Seraph shook his head, picking up his drink. "No problem, and thank you."
"And you too," Alan turned to Kenzo, who absentmindedly ruffled Will's fur, lost in thoughts once more. "Hello~ earth to you, Kenzo ShahJahan," he called in disbelief.
Annoyed by his continuous interruption, Kenzo turned to him cross, "Tch! Can't you just keep it?"
"Nope, I can't. My hands are booked," Alan responded curtly, lifting the tray filled with more mugs.
Kenzo glanced at Seraph, his expression questioning, "And what excuse do you have?"
Seraph simply chuckled in response, his hands cupping his cheeks adorably.
Kenzo sighed, as he reached for a mug from the tray. However, the moment he lifted it up, his hand quivered unusually, causing the tea inside to ripple. Alan stared with concern, while Seraph immediately narrowed his gaze. Kenzo quickly placed the mug back on the table, looking away.
"His hand…" Alan thought, swallowing hard.
"What's wrong with your hand?" Seraph inquired.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Kenzo replied, clenching his right hand tightly.
"What… did you say to Zachariah?" Alan simply asked.
Silent hovering for a moment.
"Ah… he is on their side too." Kenzo thought upset however instantly forcing a grin he asked, "What now? Wasn't my humiliation enough the first time that you need me to relive it for you?"
"I'm not joking, Kenzo," Alan replied grave, clasping the tray tightly in his hands.
Tension brewing between them.
Seraph glanced anxiously at the two.
Kenzo gritting his teeth, suddenly stood up and slammed his hand on the table. The mugs rattled and Will jolted, landing on the floor with a hop.
The high schoolers, along with Gabriel, Cassiel, Mikael, and Feng glanced outside, concerned. "What's happening out there?" Orion questioned. Isa, standing up, walked towards the balcony door while Rauf cast a glance behind.
Adjusting himself to Alan's height, Kenzo glared, "Then listen as I repeat, you multi-haired brat, I said if his bowling was that crappy, Seraph had already surpassed him. One day, Seraph will definitely surpass him and when he does, I'll surpass both of them." His blue piercing orbs locked directly with Alan's stony red ones.
Isa frowned while Seraph hid his eyes with his hand, shaking his head. "Kenzo… what are you doing?!" he thought uneasy.
Nagi and Aigou sighed while Orion twitched his brow. Gabriel glanced wordlessly at Adam, who gulped, puzzled.
Alan nodded in a continuous up-and-down motion, "I see. So that's how it was. I just asked, Kenzo. I'm not sure why you responded with such anger," Stepping back, a hint of frustration appeared on his face. "But, I truly wonder sometimes. What did I ever do to you to deserve such behavior in turn? Hmp, now, I don't even need an answer," he grinned disappointedly, heading back inside and shoving the tray towards Orion, who swiftly caught it. "Oops!" he went.
"Alan…" Seraph called however, Alan glanced back, his expression indifferent and cold. With a hint of authority in his voice, he remarked, "Remember middleschoolers, I am your senior, so it would be wise to mind your manners." His gaze then tracing Kenzo, he continued, "And Kenzo ShahJahan, for once you truly deserved it."
As soon as he heard his words, Kenzo stood staggered. His hairs hiding his widened expression.
Seraph who had a plethora of words in mind to defuse the situation, instantly found his mind going blank while Adam, Cassiel, Xavier and Feng glanced at each other surprised.
Alan went outside the room.
"Alan? You won't sleep with us…?" Aigou asked however, "I'll do whatever I want. Nobody should follow me!" Alan snapped slamming the door forcefully behind his back.
Aaron, Elias, Helios and Ryan jolted amid their sleep.
"Oh dear…" Haruf and Haris uttered concerned. Rauf exhaling shut his book, heading to sleep as Will followed him. And with this the dorms went silent.
Alan taking the elevator headed down. Clenching his fist, annoyed, he thought, "That brat! Who the hell does he think he is? Zachariah not only used his Lux Strike but also implemented fear in him. If only I had asked whether he looked in his eyes or not right from the start. Tch, forget it!" He stepped out once the elevator reopened.
Shortly after words, the highschoolers exhaled dispersing. Senri who had entered after the entire ruckus, looked here and there puzzled, "Huh? What happened?"
Kazuna exhaled, "A fight."
"What!? A fight? Who? How?" Senri asked flummoxed.
"Alan and that prestigious king." Orion uttered sarcastically.
"Oh dear, I am going to call him back." Senri headed out.
"Don't. He's awfully furious right now. Just leave him alone and sleep." Rauf stopped him.
"Yeah, let him cool off. We'll talk to him in the morning." Isa concurred.
Senri leaving the door knob, came back and fell straight on his bed in disbelief. "Just what is with those two?" he muttered.
The wind halting altogether, Seraph sighed asking Kenzo, "Now, what was that for?"
"Who knows? I must be going crazy." Kenzo replied going inside.
Kazuna walking towards his bedside switched the side lamp off. Adam, Feng, Mikael, Christopher, and Ezekiel noticing the severity of the atmosphere kept their gaming consoles aside immediately scrabbling into their beds without a single voice. Adam snuggled closer to Ryan who pushed him back in his sleep.
Kenzo glanced at the highschoolers and middleschoolers who had all laid down except for Seraph and Rauf. Lights closing one after another. One by one, Kenzo checked the middleschoolers. Tugging theirs covers, keeping Xavier's book aside, inserting Poseidon's phone to charge, and taking Azazel's gaming console out of his hands, he soon come over to his bed.
Sitting down, he glanced at his queen. Picking it up, his hands trembled once more. Anxiously, he set it aside, daring not to think yet, "What is going on with me?" he thought, nervous. "For once you truly deserved it." Alan's remark repeating in his head, he frowned.