[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: Awkward Marina – Stepping stone]
Aybel saw the familiar, bespotted face of a massive boy falling directly above him.
...That's...
His brain shut down for a moment as he stared up at the chubby boy's face with disbelief. Then, frightening instinct kicked in.
As the large body collided with him, he held tightly to the edge of the boy's t-shirt and climbed him like a makeshift ladder.
In a few seconds, Aybel found himself perched on their broad back as if it were meant to be.
"There we go."
The boy, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly jolted back to life at Aybel's words.
"You... what are you-"
"Don't worry, you're far more useful like this."
He, whom Aybel had so eloquently referred to as 'far more useful like this', was none other than the Year 1 student known as Koki Aketarou.
Koki froze for a moment, recognition now obvious on his face.
"Y-You're... her brother?"
"Oh? And here I thought you wouldn't recognize me."
As he spoke, Aybel's expression was unfeeling as if this turn of events were of no significant importance.
Meanwhile, Koki began to sob uncontrollably as he desperately tried to shake him off, but the latter's grip was like iron.
"Look I... Are..." He was now choking on his words. "Is this your way of... getting back at me? B-B-because we never even-"
"I can imagine your mind must be racing at a million miles an hour, but..."
Aybel's eyes roamed the scene below, the only thing on his mind now, the chandelier.
"I have no interest in hurting you."
Despite the reassurance, Koki squirmed in discomfort at the eerie disposition of his senior.
"Well, that might be a bit of a lie." Aybel looked down at him. "I will hurt you if you keep moving excessively like that, so please stay still."
"Ngh!?"
Koki's face was one of confusion as he processed the situation. His eyes darted between Aybel and the fast-falling chandelier.
At last the gears began to turn.
The young boy's eyes went wide with fear as he tried to shake himself free.
"You're going to use me?!"
"Exactly what it looks like."
As if to add finality to his words...
Aybel wrenched the poor soul's trembling body downwards, channeling the force of their combined weight.
"G-Gahh!! Wait... Stop!!!!" In midair, Koki panicked as he yelled at Aybel, who refused to listen.
The two fell at an astonishing speed, the air whistling past their ears as they dropped.
"Wa-Wait!"
"What?" Aybel asked, his voice cutting through the rushing winds. "I warned you, didn't I?"
"N-No... This is..." Koki was at a complete loss for words, eyes darting around as he was being jerked downwards by Aybel.
An unfeeling look remained on Aybel's face as he stared at the serpentine eyes of destiny below.
"We're almost at the end anyway, so why don't you just enjoy the ride?"
"D-Don't say it like that! You... you'll kill me!"
He fought to escape, thrashing his body left and right.
Aybel's fatigue ridden muscles tensed, all too ready to step on this stone at the exact moment.
"Almost there..."
As they got closer, the unforgiving glow of the creature's eyes burned into his retinas.
Hm?
Aybel suddenly glanced down at the overweight boy.
His entire body was limp, eyes unblinking, he had stopped fighting back.
"Giving up so easily?"
The boy stared straight ahead, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I-I don't think I even want to live anymore..."
What? What's with this guy? One moment, he's fighting to live, and then the next he wants to die.
Accepting his fate, Koki let out a heavy breath, closing his eyes before opening them once more.
"The amount of hellish crap I've lived through... I had very little and what little I did have was taken, even my own humanity. I hope I can just die and get it over with. I'll try... not... to bother you anymore. I-"
Before he could continue, the chandelier was almost within arm's reach...
"Don't be so hasty." Aybel interrupted. The statement sounded like an apology and he did not want to hear it.
I need to stay focused and find Aria. In other words, I'll worry about him later.
"This may come as a shock to you." Aybel continued. "But I don't want you to die. At least not yet."
Koki, still dropping through the air, stared at Aybel with surprise.
"W-What?"
"If you survive this... Well, I'm not sure if I'm going to live or not either. Perhaps I'll die... But if we both do survive this, let's meet up some time. We have a few things to discuss."
"Of course. I..." Koki's entire body trembled, as if he was at the mercy of Aybel's every word.
"N-Not like I can refuse... I-I would like to see her ag-again too, but it's not what you..." He could not finish his sentence. Fear had returned to his mind.
"Wait... What exactly do you plan on doing to me?"
Staring at the boy, Aybel didn't hesitate to respond.
"It's like you think. You're going to be my final stepping stone."
To Be Continued...