I've been sitting here for a while, on a table by the entrance where the walls are literal glasses.
I can see the moon that's slowly rising from here. A few seconds passed and she called my name.
"Hibiki!" She called while walking towards me, carrying a coffee I ordered and many other foods. I hurried to her and helped her carry the food she brought.
"You shouldn't have." I said.
"No, I definitely should," She said as we put down the food and drinks on my table. She sat down in front of me. "It's been a year since I've put on flyers, I can't believe someone would actually still find it!" She laughed.
"My name is Celene, Celene Puel Luelia," She introduced herself and held out her hand, for a handshake. I was about to accept it when she suddenly put her hand up my head and patted it. "You look a lot like my son."
"Thank you?" I said, confused but let her anyway. "What do I need to do to become your mentee?" I asked and she stopped, taking her hand off my head.
"Oh you don't have to sign anything by the way, that's useless. You do need to know that if you want me as a mentor, you'll have to share my teaching time with another student," She answered. "I guess she's about your age. You'll get along for sure."
"When do we start?"
"Well we start.." She excitedly checked something on her phone. "Next week.." Her voice became sad again, so did her face.
"That's fine." I nodded and took out my phone.
"I'll just text you the time and location that we will meet up on. Ugh, my schedule is full. I-I so like, don't worry, I'll teach you all the basics and we'll perfect it the first day, sorry," She sadly apologized while she added her phone number on my contacts.
"Don't worry, it's fine. I'm not rushing things." I assured her. She didn't mention her age but she looks really young. She looks like she's around twenties.
We just sat there for a while, eating and drinking as we talked more about Figure Skating.
"The moon's already telling us a good night. I guess it's about time you head home," She said. "Youngsters like you shouldn't be out at this hour." Oh she's definitely in her thirties.
"Very well, until we meet again dear mentor." I bid farewell as I stood up.
"No need to be so formal. Just call me Celine," She smiled and looked at the food on the table. "Oh."
I didn't realize it but I already finished more than half of the food, including the coffee.
"Here's the payment." I said.
"Oh no, no need," She replied. "Don't have to pay for being my student too, I see something special on you. And it'll be an honor to make it flourish."
"That's too much."
"It's fine really, after all. If you actually go out on the big stages to perform, you'll basically achieve my dream for me," She smiled but I sensed bitterness and sadness behind it.
I just bowed as I walked out the door, she just smiled as a reply.
⁰-⁰
She seems like a good person. She has a comforting presence that draws you in. Kind of like a motherly aura of some sort.
I'm walking alone again on the streets. I might meet a member of the Yakuza that Kaede and Xyla mentioned. They're very active at night from what I've heard. D.P. short for Death Plunges. A major Yakuza organization. They have pawns, everywhere in this area, this might be the only place they settle in but they're one of the most powerful groups.
If I see someone with a tattoo just the same with what Xyla encountered..
I suddenly sensed someone following me. I can feel their aura as they follow behind, it feels heavy. I'll be alright though.
I met up with Xyla this morning and she gave me a box. I opened it and inside it was a knife. She said that it's just in case I get targeted by them, since I'm very close to Haru.
It's a knife with a letter H engraved on it. She specifically made it for me.
"It's not really meant to kill someone, it's not meant to cause major harm." She said, that's the knife's purpose when she first made it. But she changed her mind and Instead, put poison inside it that can kill a person in a day. It doesn't even have a cure..
I didn't expect that she could make something this extreme, she even said all that with a soft, gentle, innocent looking smile.. but I thank her for it.
I took out the knife as I walked, from its sheath on the inner pocket of my leather jacket. It shines when I put it under the moon's light.
They're still following.
I continued on walking until I turned and entered a dark street. This street isn't being illuminated by the moonlight, it's very dark and streetlights are the only source of light. I walked until I was under one of the street lights and acted like I was checking my phone.
I heard them run towards me and I quickly dodged them. I got a glimpse of their hand, it has the tattoo.
They're holding a knife while the other, a gun. From what I know, all people that have that, risked their lives and ended lives just to join D.P.
"So I should kill them right?" I asked myself. I might have sounded crazy talking to myself but I don't mind.
They pointed the gun at me and I just stood still. My right foot isn't being illuminated by the street light and I noticed that there's a can nearby.
I used it as a distraction and pushed it a little, it rolled away a little making a sound that made the person point their gun somewhere else.
I quickly ran towards my left where I'll be hidden in the dark. They're still under the light, I saw their face and they're not someone I know so I can use this knife right? I looked back at my knife while running towards their back, doubting myself if my decision to stab them with this is right. They've surely killed more than I could think of so.. they deserve to die.. right?
I quickly locked and pulled them close to me, my arm around their neck.
I slashed their right hand, it made them lose their grip on their knife.
They still didn't give up, punching my head with their right hand while the other has the gun pointed at me who's on their back.
I hit their hand with the other end of my knife so as to not slash them further. They also lost grip of their gun. They don't have any weapons now.
I tripped them by kicking down their right leg making me fall down with him, but I quickly got on top of him. Putting both of his hands together behind his back before he's able to move any further.
"Good evening." I greeted them while breathing heavily from exhaustion. It's not really a good evening now because of this situation. "Who are you?" I asked.
"None of your business," They struggled to reply, probably because of the position they're in. It's a boy's voice. I didn't know their gender from what they looked like since they looked androgynous. "Ugh, c'mon boss. You said that he's just a normal student. Why can he-"
I quickly took the thing that was on his left ear and threw it away, he seemed to be using it to talk to someone. Normal student huh? I wish I could be one.
"Hey!" He yelled angrily. "Ugh whatever, what now?"
I looked around and checked if the knife and gun is still in sight but it's not. I calmly stood up, he wouldn't dare attack me since I have a weapon. I made some distance from him.
"Don't try to run, I can just catch up to you." I told him and wiped my knife with the black handkerchief in my pocket.
"What do you want?" He asked the same question. "Are you threatening me?"
"What's Death Plunges?" I asked.
"Wait no, it's not Death Plunjes, it's pronounced Death Plunjey," He corrected me, sounding annoyed.
"Sorry." I bowed. "Tell me about Death Plunges." I said correctly this time. Is this boy really correcting me in this situation?
"Why should I?" His demeanor changed, serious again.
"If you tell me something then, I'll let you go."
"Fine," He quickly answered. He values his life more than the organization huh? "It's just like any yakuza organization. We might have a bad reputation but we definitely don't kill without a reason," I'm not sure if I can trust his words but at least I got something out of him. "So, can I go now?"
"Sure." I agreed with a smile.
"You look scary when you smile," He added, making me drop my fake smile. "Oh well, see you soon," He laughed as he said goodbye, running away until he was out of sight.
I turned back and looked up at the moon that is already starting to go down. I was about to walk away but I suddenly remembered something, I gave him a slash with my knife when I made him lose grip of his knife.
I guess there's no chance of us meeting so 'soon.'
⁰-⁰
I woke up laying in my bed again. Kade sitting at my face, meowing profusely, asking for food. I stood up, gave her what she wanted and looked at the mirror once again. It's another day.
I took a chair and sat down, looking at my face in the mirror while thinking about last night.
Everything happened so fast that I can't remember the details. Thinking about it, I don't really know how and where I learned self defense. Maybe it's just instinct, or maybe it's just because I mimicked Xyla's moves from last time.
Enough of that but about Haru. If Haru's car was blown up and another body was found and not Haru. Then he's still alive. Death Plunges are surely involved because of the letters engraved on the body's forehead.
That boy was definitely sent by D.P. to take my life, but he told me that they don't kill without a reason. Then why kill me?
The only reason I could think of is because because we know too much already.
They've been fighting Xyla that's for sure, based on what happened and what I heard last time. Then they might have seen us with Xyla and targeted us.
I turned my head from the mirror since my face became disfigured again, and looked at the box with the knife on top of the desk beside my bed.
Then that means Me, Kaede and Xyla are already in trouble. I'm sure that their 'boss' already caught wind of what I did because that boy said a little to them before I was able to throw the thing away.
We're too deep in, they started all of this and we just made them more alert about me now. But whatever.. I'm the reason Haru's in this situation. It's my fault.
I'll find Haru and save him now that I know that he's still breathing. That he's still alive.