The ocean's waves were growing formidable, crushing upon each other in a rush. Restlessly conveying the scream of the souls lost in his inside deep. As the moon heard their pleadings, it knew that "summer" was taking its leave.
"Have some." Said Aoi, then opened her little bucket bag. "It's the almond white crystal cakes. My mom gave it to the silly name, but it's actually my favourite."
Mamoru's hand reached one cake. "Thank you, Aoi-san!" Then, he bit it. he swallowed it hard like he was swallowing his sorrow with it, holding hard his tears.
Aoi felt that Mamoru wasn't feeling right. So she asked eventually:
"Mamoru-kun, is something bothering you? I know that we barely know each other. But you can trust me."
"Ah, it's... it's just some problems at home." He faked a smile, nodding at once.
"I see! Well then, don't bottle it in! say it! I'm all ears!"
Mamoru leaned his head down between his knees and buried his mouth to his clothes. He looked like a little puppy longing for attention:
"...Crying is for losers."
"A A!" Said Aoi, then gently hit Mamoru's shoulder as if to scold him.
"Crying is not! But the one who told you this is the loser! Trust me! Cry to your heart's content! I'm here!! And I'll stay with you until you're all fine! If you don't cry, you'll explode!!"
Finally, Mamoru cried his Tears nonstop as if he really was about to explode.
He said between his weeping:
"It's just... hunk.... the more I fail trying hard, the more I become disappointed. Sometimes I wonder i there's any point in this...."
Aoi was patting on his back. Every word he said felt like they were stabbing his throat.
"I'm tired of father ignoring my hard work. I'm tired of waiting for him to see me."
Aoi's eyes darkened, hearing what Mamoru had just said. She then responded while gently stroking his hair:
Mamoru-kun! You don't need anybody's approval to feel good about your life. Work hard for your own satisfaction, and don't listen to them even if they stress you out for the person they want you to become."
Mamoru lifted his head, surprised, seeing how Aoi's eyes were sparkling through the fragile veil of rain separating the two of them. He felt like she had seen right through him.
All of a sudden, Aoi took off her gloves and raised her hands to the air for a while. Mamoru did nothing but follow every little detail of her movements. He noticed late how he's finally calmed down and his breathing became stable.
"Ah~! I like it~! The breeze feels refreshing! The rain tickling my hands drop by drop!"
Mamoru was completely stunned. He didn't notice it until Aoi's hands had already reached his cheeks. She then started patting under his eyes as softly with her thumbs.
He felt like melting into her wet, cold hands. Now that he finally calmed down, his heart started beating fast again with no single break.
Aoi smiled wide and said with her most beautiful cheerful voice:
"Hehe! silly! your eyes are all swollen! We may as well cool them down!"
"Um!..." said Mamoru, closing his eyes, relaxing his body and completely giving up to her touches.
***
It's 9:00 p.m. Aoi and Mamoru finally decided to go back home.
"Get in Mamoru-kun, I'll drive you home."
"Ah! Um... thank you!"
They took their seats, and Mamoru's eyes still hooked to Aoi's hands, as he was putting the bucket bag on the back seats. Until it grabbed his attention the fact that Aoi put on her gloves again.
"Aoi-san, I was meant to ask. Why do you put gloves on? I thought you had misophobia. But tonight you..." Mamoru blushed. "Touched me... Just fine...so..."
"Ah! Misophobia? no way, how funny! it is just that I feel uncomfortable touching people. Their hands feeling warm as they touch me wherever it may be makes me crazy uncomfortable. Indeed, these gloves don't really do me anything special. They are just a sign for people who don't know me to beware of touching me for whatever reason they may think it is for."
"Oh! So now... you touching me was..."
"Ah! No, no! Touching Mamoru-kun today didn't feel bad, I didn't hate it."
<
Mamoru felt an enormous joy that he thought he'd pass out.
"My heart can't just take break."
"Um?"
"No, no! Nothing!!"
Then quickly, he turned to the closest window, holding his mouth and hiding how crazy his face was blushing.
*****
"Don't worry, Megumi-kun, I memorised them."
"Yes, well, I hope you understand me Amane-san. Our devices have been highly supervised since the moment that case came to our section.
The higher-ups are suspiciously warning us not to take any further action considering this case. I'm super curious as well. It's been 6 years since it has been closed. The section leaders seem extremely cautious about us bringing it up."
"I see. Again, thank you, Megumi-kun, I know how dangerous it is for you to be doing this just for me. I will never forget your cooperation."
"No, don't mention it, I'm glad I can help. I guess? But are you still investigating your mother's death?"
"Yes."
"I understand that. Maybe it is convenient to open this case again. Since many cases of people consuming another anonymous drug, have become active again. The different thing is that people consuming it don't die. They just go mad permanently and have no chance for them to regain their consciousness. It may not be the same drug you're looking for, though. However, what I'm trying to say is that... trying so hard to look for it... I know you've gone through a lot, I know you suffered so much because of that accident. But now you're living your life just fine, you have work, you have friends and a peaceful life. Shouldn't you just let go of the past? Maybe your mother consumed drugs willingly? You just don't know, and Amane-san, you don't need to know. Just live your life for you and for the sake of your sister."
Amane went silent for a moment, then responded with a dead serious look:
"Whether my mother consumed it or was forced to it, her dying because of that Anonymous material is undeniable and I, Amane Minase, won't stop investigating until I either get revenge or die trying!"
Seeing how determinate Amane was, Megumi knew that it was futile to try to stop her.
"Hum, there's no stopping you then. Go for it and I'll do my best!"
"Thank you, Megumi-kun."
"About your father, you still want to disown him?"
"Yes, the court papers are yet to be ready. I just need to find him."
"I see. Fine then, I wish you luck!"
Then Amane bowed to express her gratitude and secretly left the dark hidden ruins of and the old abandoned house behind the police station she and Megumi usually meet in.
*****
tired, Usui woke up at 6:00 a.m., thinking about skipping school.
<
Suddenly, Aoi knocked the door.
"Oi, wake up, Sleeping Beauty. You have classes today."
"Leave me alone! just 5 minutes more."
"5 minutes, my ass. Go shower before I shower you myself."
Usui jumped out of surprise and covered himself with his blanket.
"What?! pervert!"
"I AM a pervert, so beware. especially with that body of yours."
"Ohh shit!! Just screw off so I can go shower!"
"Kid from now on, I'll prepare your lunch box.
"Lunch Box? No way, where am I? Kindergarten?
"Cases have been raised lately. Of students being drugged suspiciously. So you can't trust anything you eat outside. Don't you ever eat anything besides what I give you."
"Jeez! k! But how do you know? Who told you that?"
"Amane did. I guess she did some investigations to protect you since you're my husband."
"Husband my foot! All right! Get out and lemme shower."
"Quick."
***
Getting out of the shower, Usui remembered that he had waited all night to apologize to Aoi. Without thinking so much, he went straight to the kitchen.
"Aoi!" He screamed.
"Just what the hell?" Said Aoi looking through Usui's body. Naturally, she couldn't resist. She made the cold look for not to make it obvious. She liked it.
"Kid, you think I'm a cow in this house?"
"What? Why?"
"At least cover yourself with something."
Out of shock, Usui used his hands to cover his abs and nipples.
"D... don't look!"
"Why not?"
"You're really...!!"
However, suddenly, his towel fell off. Seeing his big mushroom, Aoi turned away quickly, and Usui lowered his hands to hide it and headed to the bedroom thunder fast.
*****
"Aoi, I... I needa tell you something." said Usui while looking away through the car's window so he couldn't meet Aoi's gaze.
"I... I am.... am sorry..."
"Yeah, well, you need to be. Seeing that, I completely lost my appetite."
"Wait, what? No! Not that! Geez, am sorry for yelling at you yesterday!"
"Yesterday? Oh, that. Don't bother with it. You did what you could. It's not your fault."
Usui stayed silent all the way to the school front. He then got out:
"I'll be nice to you, old lady. from now."
Hearing that, Aoi's expression moved a little. She smiled briefly and said:
"You better be kiddo."
Finally, he closed the door.
However, just when Aoi' car started to disappear, Tachibana sneaked behind Usui as quickly as the devil's snake and held his shoulder before he could even notice her. She whispered to him behind his back:
"Darling~, how are you today? Fine? I've got a surprise for you~! follow me."