" Did you get it ? " Katsuda asked Ryo and the other boy gave him a glare .
" So ... no ? " Katsu asked gently so as not to incur Ryo's wrath .
" I got it ." Ryo said looking around the corridor and Katsu smiled with relief .
Unfortunately he was the only one happy with the situation . Ryo was not happy and that was confusing to him .
.....
He'd arrived at school on his bike , with the sky a lazy grey . The clouds drifted infront of the sun slowly and no breeze blew . He was in a bad mood .
He hadn't slept well last night , his mind had been all over the place . And at the heart of it had been ... he had shaken his head . He didn't want to think about it .
Instead he'd gone on inside and began an average day at school . A bit of mathematics in the morning and later history , afterwards he'd gone to lunch .
That's when Milo had shown up .
He had walked into the cafeteria with a slight limp . He wore a faded blue shirt with black pants and a bandage on his cheek . He hadn't looked good , and clearly needed to lay down . But instead he'd looked inside of the cafeteria until he spotted Ryo sitting by himself , eating an apple .
Milo had limped over to him with a folded envelope in his right hand . Before he sat down Ryo reprimanded him .
" Why are you not at the hospital ? " Ryo had demanded with a look that said he'd probably put him in hospital again .
Milo had given a slight wheezh , his lungs still hurt from his broken ribs . He'd looked at Ryo squarely in the eyes before passing over the envelope .
" Here , you asked for this ." Milo said , " I just wanted to give you it . As a thank you . "
" What is it ? " Ryo had asked opening the envelope and when he saw what was inside he frowned heavily . He'd looked up at Milo with a questioning look .
Was this ... ?
" Yes , it is ." Milo had answered his unspoken question , " It took me awhile to get it but I did . "
" I thought you said you weren't going to . What changed your mind ? " Ryo said and Milo just smiled sadly .
" I lied . I had it on Friday but I didn't want to give it to you ." Milo said and he looked down at the table , " I never wanted to give you any of them . But you always force me to . Just like this time . "
" I didn't ask about this when we ... hung out ." Ryo said , he couldn't say the word ' date ' and from the look in Milo's eyes , the other boy had expected it .
" No , you just wanted me to sign that letter . I could if you want me to ." Milo said looking to the side , " It would be the last thing I did before I ... leave ."
" What do you mean leave ? " Ryo asked with a scowl . Milo , however , was not intimidated . Infact his eyes held a subdued and resolute look .
" I'm transferring to a new school . After I get better . " Milo said slowly , " My parents think it's a bit unsafe for me at this school . They're worried I'm getting ... bullied . "
For a moment Ryo felt like he'd been slapped in the face . Milo was moving because of him ? He'd always picked on him but never had he moved or tried to leave .
" I think I should go . Mom and Dad are waiting for me . " Milo said getting up .
" Okay ." Ryo said looking away and Milo looked sad for moment but he turned around and started walking away .
" Milo ."
Ryo spoke without thinking and Milo turned his head a fraction .
" Yes , Ryo ? " Milo said in soft voice .
Tell him ... Tell him , a voice said in Ryo's head but he couldn't , he wouldn't say it .
" Bye ." Ryo said and he got up and left without turning back . If he had , he would have seen the look of devastation on Milo's face .
But he didn't .
...
" Alright , " The coach said in the locker rooms . " Today's the day we win against Huwakuwa High . I want everyone of you to give me your best , and nothing but the best . Am I understood ? "
" Yes , coach ! " The team yelled and he smiled at all of them .
" Ryomen ! "
Ryo turned to the coach , his face not even masking his boredom . This game didn't matter at all , his watch held only five hours left before he went to ... hell .
Who cared if they won or not ? He'd be gone by then . But he'd better act like he was actually interested in the game . Atleast 2% interested .
" Yes , coach ? " Ryo said nonchalantly .
" You ready ? " The coach asked him and Ryo nodded his head . He was ready alright , and so was Katsuda . They could win the game easily ... all because of Milo .
" Now , let's go wi- " The coach froze mid-shout and Ryo frowned at his face . He looked frozen and turning around he realised that so did everyone else .
" Mina ! " Ryo said annoyed but then a sinister laugh echoed in the room .
The voice wasn't Mina's .
" Hello , Ryo ." A tall girl said walking behind the coach . She was dressed in a black dress and had a scythe in her right hand .
" Who are you ? A friend of Mina's ? " Ryo asked her and she frowned in disgust .
" Mina is an angel ... I , Devi , am a demon . We are far from friends ." She said walking infront of him . She placed a hand on her hip and regarded him .
" What do you want ? " Ryo said angrily and Devi was surprised he wasn't afraid . He was either very bold or a complete fool .
" I want your soul . " Devi said looking at the boys around her , she flicked her finger on the chin of one boy , " I want you in hell . "
" In five hours , your wish will be granted . Now , get out ! " Ryo said crossly and Devi glared at him . A fool , she thought .
" I came to warn you . As a demon , sent on a mission , I always collect . " She pointed at him , " I never leave empty handed . "
" I said I'm coming to hell . " Ryo said through gritted teeth , " I don't have the letter anymore or Mina . So , I'm coming . But first , I have a game to play ."
" And you'll win right ? " Devi said with a smirk and she lifted a piece of paper , " After Milo gave you the teams strategy , how could you fail ? "
" Where did you get that ? " Ryo asked her , he'd thrown it away himself .
" Did you forget ; I'm a demon . " Devi said and crumpled the paper into a ball , " Take this , win the game and afterwards I'll be waiting for you . See you later , Ryomen ."
Ryo felt a chill as she said his name and it was with a thud that he remembered her . She had been the demon at train station , the one standing by the dark staircase .
He didn't have a moment to reflect on this as Devi snapped her fingers and time began to move .
" -in ! Let's go ! " The coach continued and every boy cheered . Except for Ryo , who held the crumpled ball in his hand .
It had started by accident , the cheating . Ryo had never intended to use Milo to be good at sports , he was good already but one thing had made him want to be great . After finishing a game with his team , where they won a trophy , his mother had been proud of him . She'd taken him and his friends to celebrate and he'd never been happier . A few months later , she had left and hadn't come back .
Ryo had wanted to win again , to bring home another trophy and hoped his mother would come to see him . To celebrate with him . He'd tried working harder but he hadn't won another game .
Then one day , whilst picking on Milo , he learnt that Milo was part of an online sports group with other schools . Milo talked mostly with his boring chess players but after some coercion , he admitted that he could do more . He could enter private groups and copy information .
At first Ryo had had reservations , cheating made him feel like he wasn't great on his own . But Katsuda had encouraged him and so Ryo had given in to temptation . On the next soccer match , he'd had the teams strategy memorized and had brought victory .
His mother hadn't come back though .
At the next soccer match , he tried doing it on his own . His team failed to win and Katsuda said he should have cheated . But Ryo refused to give in , he tried harder and won two victories on his own . But neither trophies made his mother come back .
Finally , last week , he'd thought about winning once more , but Huwakuwa High was tough . He'd need their strategy plan to win and that's what he'd been harrassing Milo for . He hated it , it disgusted him and made him hate himself . But he had wanted to see his mother , just once more .
But what did it matter now , he thought as the boys in the locker room got ready . Even when we win , Mother won't be back to see me . I'll be gone by then .
Ryo put the crumpled paper into his pocket , before joining his team . He would throw it away later , but he'd never get over his shame . If only , he thought , I could play for him .
...
Ryo couldn't believe it .
He looked at the scoreboard again , trying to throw his mind around it .
4 : 1
The four was the opposing teams score ... they were losing !
Had Milo given him the wrong strategy on purpose ? He wondered , was this revenge ? Despite himself , Ryo felt amused , Milo had gotten back at him .
" Ryomen ! " The coach yelled , his face was red and veins as thick as sausages were on his neck. He didn't like the score at all , he was furious at how badly they were losing .
" Yes , coach . " Ryo answered with a smile and the coach would have exploded right then and there .
But he froze instead , as did everyone around him .
" Ryo ."
Ryo felt his heart beat shoot up . That was Milo's voice . He turned around , looking for its black haired owner . Then he felt a tap on his shoulder .
" Mina ! " He said angrily when he saw her .
" You love him , don't you ? " Mina said with a smile and she pulled out a tape recorder . She clicked a button and Milo's voice spoke up .
" Ryo . " It said and Mina clicked pause . She'd recoded this earlier , when the two boys had been eating popcorn at the cinema . You could hear the love as Milo called Ryo's name .
" What are you doing ? I have a game to play . " Ryo said angrily but Mina just smiled .
" You love him ." She said again , " I know you love him . You know you love him and so does he . "
" Don't assume things ." Ryo said looking away , " He's an annoying pest and he hates me as much as I dislike him ."
" You are stupid . " Mina said and Ryo felt afronted , " So very stupid . Even after all this , you still don't understand . "
" Understand what ? " Ryo demanded from the angel .
Mina looked up at the sky and then looked back at Ryo. Her eyes held a look of such happiness that it almost blinded Ryo .
" Milo loves you , he's loved you for a very long time . " Mina said softly .
" You're the stupid one . " Ryo said with a glare , " He's moving away because I have been bullying him . He tore the letter I got to pieces and he gave me the wrong paper for the game . "
" It's wrong to cheat ." Mina said flatly , " you know that . And the letter of reconciliation is in your pocket ."
Ryo reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled paper from earlier . Only it wasn't the strategy paper ... It was the letter of reconciliation .
" I have hundreds of those ." Mina said folding her arms .
" He won't sign it . It doesn't matter . I'm going to hell soon . " Ryo said looking at the scoreboard , " Unfortunately I didn't win a game before going . "
" He loves you and you love him . " Mina said and Ryo lost his temper . He turned to the angel , ready to give her a piece of his mind but before he could , Mina smiled and snapped her fingers .
And everything went white .
.....
A car was honking , it's alarm had gone off . Ryo looked around and felt confused , where was he ?
The sky above was bright , and a cool breeze was blowing from the east . He was outside and infront of the school . The scene looked very familiar somehow .
" Look . " Mina said as she appeared next to him . He followed where she was pointing and what he saw drew his breath out of his lungs .
It was himself . Laying flat on the road , blood seeping from his body and a truck stood a ways back . It was with a feeling of disorientation that Ryo realised what this was . It was the day that he had died .
" Why are showing me this ? " Ryo asked her and she pointed behind him . Ryo turned around and saw someone running towards him .
" Milo ? " Ryo asked as the boy drew close . But he passed Ryo like he wasn't even there . Instead he rushed to the side of the dead Ryo on the road .
" Ryomen ? Ryomen !? " Milo said picking the boys head and trying to wake him up , but he didn't respond .
" No , no , no , no , " Milo said pulling him close and turning around , " Help ! Someone help us ! "
People heard the call and those who had been coming to check on the car making noise , turned to their direction . Soon , people began circling them and Milo begged someone to call an ambulance .
" Is he crying ? " Ryo asked Mina and the angel nodded her head .
" Yes , he is . Or he would have been . This only a continuation of something that was but isn't anymore . You didn't die like this now . " Mina said softly , " But , if you had , Milo would still have done this . "
" Why ? " Ryo asked confused , " After everything I've done to him . Since we were children , I've alwayys hurt him . Why would he care about me ? "
" I can't answer that . I don't know why he loves you , but I know he does . " Mina said softly and she snapped her fingers , and in a flash they were back at the soccer match , " If you want to know , you'll have to ask him . "
" But he's probably gone by now . " Ryo said looking miffed .
" If he was , your clock would be zero . " Mina said and she looked at it . " Right now , you have three hours . Instead of playing this game , why don't you find out the truth . Why does Milo love you . Because believe me , it's the truth , he does . "
" But Devi said - "
" She's a spiteful , cold and heartless demoness . " Mina said with a frown , " But she doesn't control you or your choices . Neither do I . We each have a purpose ; to lead you , but you have to choose where you'll go . I can tell you to go after Milo but it's still your choice . Remember that ."
Mina snapped her fingers and disappeared . A moment later , time began to move again .
" Ryomen , I said come here ! " The coach yelled at him and Ryo came off the field . Another striker took his place , " I'm putting you on the bench . You're too distracted . "
" Actually coach . " Ryo turned to him , " I have something I have to do . "
" What ? What about the game ? " The coach asked indignantly and the boys on the bench had the same question in their eyes .
" We already lost . " Ryo said turning around and running away .
He knew that the game was over , they wouldn't win . And he personally didn't care either way , not anymore atleast . Instead only one thought was going through his head ;
Where the hell am I going to find Milo though ?