**
"Akari..?"
To Akari's right, Koji was subject to the bright synthetic light which blasted him with artificial rays. Just as always, it was Akari who came from the left, and Koji who came from the right, as the two met in the middle of the courts. Except, Akari was on a bench while her counterpart was yet to reach the middle.
Koji was holding his phone, whilst wearing a slightly perturbed expression. His eyes seemed to be filled with worry, while his face was more so dead-panned.
Behind him, of course, were the stars consumed by the black void known as space. Every single star had shone brightly before, but now that Koji was standing amongst them, they seemed more dull.
Since Akari was just sitting there, not responding, Koji grew a bit more worried and confused.
"…Akari?.."
This time, Akari responded by putting her salt infested right hand into her face, burying it once more.
If she pretended Koji wasn't there, then maybe he wasn't?
Although, it's not that she didn't want Koji there. It was more so that she needed to continue holding herself to these ludicrous standards- as she had been.
And to qualify for these standards, Koji- and anyone else -would have to leave her alone.
After about 15 seconds of silence, Akari thought she had done well enough to drive Koji away. While it was a bit of a bitter feeling to think a dear friend of hers would leave upon seeing her in such turmoil; it was the response she had wanted.
At least on surface level…
Suddenly, Akari felt something cold press against her shoulder. It rested on her bare skin, until it started patting her.
The cold touch momentarily sent shivers down her spine, causing her to flinch, and then peek through a small gap in her fingers.
To her right, Koji sat stalwartly, simply staring ahead in a nonchalant manner.
Of course, this was very contrary to how he felt in his mind, but Akari didn't need to know that…
His hand continued patting her shoulder, until she shifted to her left, away from Koji.
She couldn't let her guard down now. Not after all these years.
Thankfully(?), Koji complied- staying stationary and not making any sudden movements to try and console her again.
Koji didn't really know what to do. He looked up to the stars, as if asking for their grandiose advice.
Keeping eye contact with the innumerable bundles of gas in the sky, Koji parted his lips as he began to speak.
"Why are you crying..?"
Koji didn't know what to say- so he kept it straightforward. He suddenly felt that being genuine was the best way to handle things in regards to consolation.
But instead of answering, Akari just sniffled. Her knees were hunched up to her stomach, while her hands concealed her crying face.
There really wasn't anything Koji could do with this…
Even if he was a trained therapist- she clearly had expressed her desire to be left alone already.
'Maybe I should just go…'
However, as Koji was about to get up, Akari finally spoke out.
"I'm…"
Her voice was somber… but soft. It was soft, yet angry. Angry, yet completely innocent.
But most of all…
'Cute…'
Koji immediately felt guilty for the unnecessary comment to himself…
"…I'm not *sniffle* crying…"
'Huh?'
The hell was she talking about??? Not even under bright black skies could such a lie be told and go undetected. It was akin to saying that you're not pregnant, while you have a bulging stomach saying otherwise.
Although, on that note, said pregnant person in question could just be fat…
'So, maybe her eyes were just watery..?'
Koji pondered for a second, then really focused in on Akari.
'What the hell am I thinking about???'
Indeed. That was quite the odd tangent and conclusion to come to…
"Uhm… not to be insensitive… but you're definitely crying…"
Immediately, Akari jumped. She had been caught in her lie…
Who would have thought?
"Nuh-uh…"
Again, what she was saying was really cute. At least her voice was. Of course, the connotation behind her words were a bit more morbid- and therefore made Koji feel guilty once again.
"C'mon Akari… Just tell me why you're crying…"
"No reason… *sniffle*…"
'What is wrong with her..?'
"I don't think you would cry for "no reason"…"
"Well, *sniffle*… you thought wrong…"
Now she was being sassy???
Again, Koji found himself staring at the stars- attempting to find inspiration towards his next sentence.
One thing led to another, and he found himself thinking back towards his train ride home.
Then, he had seen a couple- both leaning on each other. Interestingly enough, this made Koji want to suddenly call Akari. He had simply wanted to ask her if there was something he could do.
Anything he could do. He wanted to help her, just as she was helping him.
But was he succeeding in that?
That was when her mom had picked up, exclaiming that she had left the house crying. Her mothers voice sounded terribly worried… and so, he was too.
Though, even if not for her mother's trembling tone, he would have been worried regardless.
Eventually, he ended up at the courts- after searching for a good while, that is. That was when he had heard someone crying, and had called out to her. He had dreadfully hoped it was Akari.
And now, here he was.
So why was he in this situation? Why had he come in the first place..?
Koji glanced at Akari, who was leaning in on her own knee's.
Was he really contributing towards his original purpose?
Was he really helping her..?
"Why won't you lean on anyone besides yourself?.."
Suddenly, Akari stopped her constant sniffling, and side-eyed Koji…
Ignoring it, Koji continued;
"Why not let someone help you..?"
He found himself looking up at the stars for a third time. He thought back to when he had given up on his dreams in the presence of adversity.
He had sincerely hoped Akari wasn't the same.
"There's nothing for anyone to help with…"
That was her response.
Koji knew this wasn't the first time she had said something like that…
"Why?"
"No reason…"
"Clearly there is a reason…"
Koji looked back at Akari, who was back to concealing her face in her own embrace.
"…A substantial one, at that…"
"…"
Akari didn't respond.
"I don't believe that you have no aspirations… Someone as great as Akari Anzai with no greater ambitions?..
…It doesn't suit you…"
"And what would you know???"
"That's exactly my point. I don't know. I don't know your reasons. I don't understand your actions…"
Koji looked back towards the stars for a second, then swiftly back towards Akari, who now peered at him from a small slit between her fingers- her one visible eye clearly watering.
"…So help me understand..! Help me know…"
Koji was throwing all his cards on the table. He hadn't expressed such pure emotion in a very long time.
Akari still sat silently, prompting Koji for one final push.
"Let us help each other. Your help should be mutual to my help. Whether it's for something small or something big, we should be mutually helping each other…"
"But that's not what I need…"
Her voice was full of sadness, as she nearly choked on her tears. And yet, there were still hints of relief in it.
"Fine…" Koji's voice turned sorrowful.
"If that's what you want, then I'll abide by it…"
And with that, they both turned away from each other. Koji peered into the stars, as Akari buried her face.
"But..!"
And then, they found one another staring at the other.
"Mark my words Akari! I will find out why you're crying… and I will find a way to help you…
…Then, I will finally be able to help you achieve what you want. We will mutually achieve our dreams, whatever they might be, and however hard they might become…"
"…"
Koji couldn't help but blush among the silence. What he had just spouted out was very cringey, after all…
"Fine…"
Suddenly, Koji was overcome by shock as opposed to embarrassment.
"…You do that. And I'll continue making your dream come true…"
Akari stood herself up the more she talked.
Her elegant figure was by no means massacred by the tears which continuously flowed down her face. She stood proudly in front of the stars, as she looked down to Koji.
On her face was a weak smile- but not one that had lost all its heart. Instead, it was one that had recently come back to life. One which was filled anew.
Her eyes locked onto Koji through the watery lenses which blurred them. Even so, she could clearly make out the familiar face which she had gotten closer to day-by-day.
She continued to speak, as it sounded like even her voice was crying. Though, it was a cry of happiness as opposed to one of sorrow.
"…Until then…
…I'll count on you…"
With that, she headed off towards her house.
Opposingly, Koji sat in shock- confused as to what just happened.
'Did I help..?'
**
End Chapter 11:
Silent Calls Were Received