Hideki agreed on walking home with Zeo. He wanted some answers from him too. Both guys, took their bags, wore them on their shoulders, and left the classroom. After walking some distance through the building hallway, they got out of the front main entrance of the school building.
"I guess, she has left already."
"Yeah, me too."
There was no sign of Akari anywhere. So, they kept on going peacefully and got out of the school gate. But, what they didn't know was that she was waiting outside the school gate. As soon as they got out of the school gate, Zeo saw that, on the left of it, Akari was standing, resting by the wall. Her arms were folded and her eyes were closed. She noticed only Zeo but not Hideki who was standing behind him. She had a frustrated expression on her face.She sighed for a moment.
"So you finally decided to show up, Zeo? Why were you taking so long?"
"I am really sorry, ice princess."
"Would you stop calling me that!? I hate to hear people call me by that name!"
"Well, they are not wrong in a way, because you're so cold to everybody."
"But I am not cold to you, am I!? Then why are you calling me that!?"
"Well yes, that's true but, I am viewing it from people's perspective. Other than that, I just love teasing you."
She puffed her cheeks adorably. She looked very cute. Hideki couldn't believe that it was the same cold Akari that he met earlier. She didn't seemed like the same person at all. Moreover, seeing their interaction, they looked really close.
(They both interact with eachother so frankly, that they totally give a sibling vibe. Why aren't they like this in school? I guess, they may have their reason.)
Hideki sighed for a moment, then returned back to his world of thoughts and questions as they both were still busy in their chatting.
(Maybe, I am just being a third wheel here. I should just leave.)
Hideki came out in front of both of them and bowed, apologizing.
"Sorry Zeo, If I am interrupting your husband-wife talk. You both continue, I am leaving."
"Whaaaat!? What the hell are you, doing here!?"
Akari was flustered after seeing Hideki. She didn't notice him standing there all the time listening to their conversation. On the other hand, Zeo was literally blushing and flustered too.
"N- No Hideki, you've totally got the wrong idea! It's not like that! We're just f-friends! Y-Yeah! Just, childhood friends!"
Hideki turned himself to run away from there but before he could move his legs, Akari put her hand on his shoulder. There was a devil look in her eyes. She seemed like she was going to kill Hideki, right on the spot.
"Where do you think you're going after seeing me like that?"
"Huh? Seeing you like what?"
"What do mean by seeing you like what,huh!? You saw the side of me which you shouldn't have!"
"Well actually, I don't care at all."
"You sounded mean, you mask-wearing, stupid, useless jerk!"
"That's the thing I should be saying to you, you freaking so called ice princess!"
"Just shut up!"
"I'd be really honoured, if you do the same thing!"
They both were busy arguing with eachother. Zeo felt really awkward. He wanted to stop them and cool things up so he interfered.
"Hey guys, would you stop fighting."
They both looked at Zeo fiercely. Zeo was freaked out by their glares but he couldn't just stand there and listen to all that argument.
"You think that I am fighting! He was the one who started it!"
"Oh really! You can't even lie properly!"
"Hey, shut up-."
"Why don't you both just shut up!"
Zeo lost control on himself frustrated by the situation and yelled. Both of them were scared by him. Both of them apologized immediately scared by the deadly expression he had made.
"S-Sorry Zeo."
"Y-Yeah, me too."
Zeo sighed and looked at both of them awkwardly.
"So, as the situation has cooled down, why don't you both move to the next step."
"Huh, what do you mean?"
Both Zeo and Akari talked at the same time.
"I mean that, shake hands and become friends."
After hearing this from him, Hideki thought that is was not a bad idea. So he handed out his hand to her. She stood their quietly looking down for sometime, then reached out to his hand to shake it. She was so close to do it but suddenly, she had a flashback of memories. The memories, she wanted to forget. All those memories, came back to her. How, she was betrayed and assaulted. How, one of the people, she trusted the most, did something that worse with her. She stopped at the very end and pulled her hand back. She didn't wanted to end up like that again so, their was no room for mistake anymore.
"I am sorry Zeo but, I can't trust anyone beside you now. You know why, don't you? Not any guy atleast. Well then, I am going home. If you feel like it, you can join me."
Hideki's hand was left stranded their by itself. He pulled it back to himself too. He didn't understand, what had happened to her so he stayed quiet and waited for Zeo to take a step. She walked away without looking back. Her voice seemed dead. Zeo knew what had happened so he stood there quietly.
"Let's go, Hideki. Maybe, we should give her some private space."
"Y-Yeah, but would you tell me what happened?"
"Oh! It's nothing important!"
The usual smile on his face returned. Hideki was not amazed because he had already seen his true nature. They way he controls his emotions.
(Maaan! This guy sure has twisted emotions. I shouldn't ask him about her because he might get offended-.)
Zeo stopped there and turned to Hideki. He had a serious face. He seemed like, he wanted to tell him something desperately.
"Hey Hideki, you wanna know about what just happened now... you wanna know why I was so glad when you told me to be my friend... you wanna know... all about me?"