Chapter CII: Firmness
Kota arrives at Akiko's house in the early afternoon, greet by the familiar garden filled with blooming flowers and the faint smell of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen. He adjusts his bag and knocks gently. Within moments, the door opens to reveal Hina, her face lighting up with a welcoming smile.
"Kota! It's so nice to see you again," Hina exclaims, stepping aside to let him in.
"Hana! Grandma! Kota's here!"
Hana peeks out from the kitchen, holding a tray of steaming cookies.
"Oh, Kota! You're just in time for some snacks. Come, sit down!"
Akiko's grandma shuffles into the living room, her warm gaze landing on Kota.
"Kota, it's always a pleasure to have you here. How are you, my boy?"
Kota bows respectfully.
"I'm doing well, thank you. It's always nice to visit. How have you all been?"
As the ladies exchange pleasantries, Akiko's door creaked open. Akiko steps out, her hair slightly disheveled and her expression sleepy. She froze for a moment, her eyes widening as she spots Kota.
"Kota! You're here?" she says, a mix of surprise and joy lighting up her face.
She quickly crosses the room and threw her arms around him.
Kota hugs her back, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Surprise!"
The couple moves to the couch, sitting close together, their hands naturally finding each other's. Hina, Hana, and Akiko's grandma joins them, sitting across the room with expectant looks.
"So, you two," Grandma begins, her voice calm but curious.
"We've heard bits and pieces, but can you tell us about what's been going on with Hanako and Tengen?"
Kota and Akiko exchange a glance. Taking a deep breath, Kota began explaining the strange behaviors of Hanako and Tengen, the incidents they'd experienced, and how their friends Asahi, Enmei, and Natsuki had helped fend off some of their antics.
Hana folds her arms, frowning.
"Those two sound like trouble. Are you sure you're both safe?"
Akiko nods.
"For now, yes. But it's been... exhausting."
"We'll be careful," Kota reassures them.
"It's just... complicated."
After listening attentively, Hina, Hana, and Grandma decide to run errands, leaving the couple alone in the cozy living room. Akiko grabs the remote, and they settle on watching an episode of Agent x Family. The animated chaos on screen brought some much-needed levity, but their worries weren't far from their minds.
"Kota," Akiko says softly during a commercial break.
"Do you think we did something to deserve this?"
Kota looks at her, his brow furrowing.
"What do you mean?"
"Hanako and Tengen used to be our friends," she murmurs.
"Now they're acting like... enemies. Did we miss something? Did we hurt them somehow?"
Kota sighs, leaning back against the couch.
"I've been thinking the same thing. But honestly, it doesn't add up. It's like they're completely different people."
"Do you think they're being... controlled?" Akiko asks hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kota tilts his head, considering the idea.
"It's possible, but we don't have any proof. It could just be a far-fetched theory."
"Still," Akiko says, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her sweater,
"it feels like something bigger is happening."
Kota reaches for her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Let's not overthink this right now. How about we go out? Just you and me. An impromptu date to clear our heads."
Akiko's eyes light up.
"A date? Right now?"
Kota nods.
"Why not? Let's just take a break from all this madness."
Akiko smiles, her shoulders relaxing.
"Okay. Let's do it."
The couple informs Hina, Hana, and Grandma about their plan before leaving.
"Make sure you protect Akiko," Hina says sternly, pointing a finger at Kota.
"And stay safe, both of you," Hana adds with a smile.
Grandma waves them off, her eyes warm.
"Have fun, you two. And don't let those worries ruin your time."
With reassurances exchanged, Kota and Akiko steps out of the house, the weight on their shoulders feeling a little lighter as they walk hand in hand toward a well-deserved escape.
Kota and Akiko step into the mall, their hands intertwined as they navigate the light morning crowd. The hum of chatter and the occasional clink of utensils fills the air, giving the mall a lively yet relaxed atmosphere.
"Let's hit the café first," Kota suggests, glancing at Akiko with a small smile.
"Trying to be fancy this morning, huh?" Akiko teases, nudging him gently.
They arrive at the café, greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries. Kota places their order at the counter.
"Hot choco for me," Kota says.
Akiko raises an eyebrow.
"Hot choco? Why, are you upset or something?" she jokes, leaning on the counter.
Kota chuckles.
"No, it's morning! Coffee's too much right now. What about you?"
"Well, since you mentioned it, I haven't had anything warm yet either. I'll have the same," Akiko says, flashing a grin.
Once their drinks are ready, they settle into a cozy corner booth. Akiko takes a sip and lets out a satisfied sigh.
"This is good. You've got decent taste, Kota."
Kota smirks.
"Only decent? I feel offended."
"Alright, alright, amazing taste, Mr. Morning Hot Choco," she quips, earning a laugh from Kota.
They delve into a lighthearted conversation about the latest trends on YourBook.
"Did you see that post about that guy who wore two left shoes to his interview?" Kota asks, chuckling.
"I did! What's worse is he didn't even realize until halfway through," Akiko says, laughing so hard she almost spills her drink.
They also gossip about Akiko's cousin, who recently had an embarrassing encounter with an electric bike.
"Oh my gosh," Akiko says, covering her face with her hand.
"So, she thought she'd impress everyone by riding without holding the handlebars. And guess what? She slammed right into a lamp post!"
Kota bursts out laughing, nearly choking on his drink.
"Please tell me there's a video of this."
"There is, but you're not seeing it. She'd kill me if I showed you," Akiko says, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
With their drinks finished, they decide to head to the arcade. The neon lights and cheerful sounds of the games greet them as they step inside.
"Alright, where to first?" Kota asks, scanning the rows of machines.
"The coin game," Akiko declares, dragging him toward the machine.
They play for a while, stacking up a modest pile of tickets. Then, they move to the mallet game, where Akiko demonstrates her surprisingly strong arm.
"Remind me never to get on your bad side," Kota jokes as Akiko slams the mallet down with impressive force, earning the high score.
The highlight of their arcade visit comes at the ball-in-a-hole game.
"This one looks interesting," Akiko says, dropping a token into the machine.
She watches intently as the ball rolls down the track, only to land in a hole marked with "5 tickets."
"Wow, what luck," she says, feigning disappointment.
Kota steps up next.
"Watch and learn," he says with a playful smirk. His ball rolls and lands squarely in the "25 tickets" hole.
Akiko gasps.
"Are you serious? How did you do that?"
"Skill," Kota replies, crossing his arms smugly.
Akiko rolls her eyes.
"Sure, Mr. Lucky. But hey, I guess I'm lucky too—for having you."
They take turns at the machine, laughing and cheering each other on. Eventually, they head to the ticket counter to redeem their prizes. They walk away with a couple of plushies and small LEGO sets.
"Look at us," Akiko says, holding up a plush penguin.
"Big kids with toys."
"Speak for yourself. I'm totally mature," Kota says, waving his LEGO set.
As they leave the arcade, they bump into familiar faces.
"Hey!" Enmei waves, flanked by Yui, Asahi, Natsuki, and Gin.
"Fancy meeting you guys here," Akiko says, smiling.
"Looks like you two had fun," Natsuki says, eyeing their prizes.
"Let me guess—Kota won most of those tickets?"
Akiko groans dramatically.
"Don't remind me."
"Care to join us?" Kota asks.
The group exchanges glances and nods.
"Why not?" Gin says.
Together, they head off to explore the mall, ready for more laughter and shared adventures.
Kota and Akiko, joined by Enmei, Yui, Asahi, Natsuki, and Gin, decide to spend the rest of the day hanging out. The group's first stop is a billiards hall, where they divide into teams.
"Alright," Enmei declares, chalking his cue stick.
"Prepare to witness the master at work."
"You mean the master of missing shots?" Yui teases, earning a round of laughter from the group.
Asahi lines up his shot and sinks the ball perfectly.
"Looks like I'm carrying this team again."
Gin grins, leaning against the table.
"Don't get too cocky, Asahi. I'm just warming up."
Meanwhile, Kota tries to show off his skills but accidentally sends the cue ball flying off the table.
"Uh, that was a practice shot," he says sheepishly as Akiko bursts out laughing.
"Sure it was," she replies, handing him the cue ball.
"Try not to aim for the ceiling this time."
The game is filled with laughter, playful banter, and exaggerated reactions to missed shots. By the end, everyone agrees that Enmei's commentary and Kota's "unique" skills were the real highlights of the match.
Their next destination is the cinema, where they choose a thriller with terrifying special effects. As the movie progresses, the atmosphere in the theater becomes tense.
A sudden jump scare sends Enmei screaming and clutching his seat.
"Why did I agree to this?" he whimpers, much to everyone else's amusement.
"Relax, it's just a movie!" Gin says, patting his shoulder while holding back laughter.
"You weren't laughing when that ghost appeared earlier," Enmei shoots back, making the others chuckle harder.
Akiko leans closer to Kota, whispering,
"Remind me to never let Enmei pick the movie again."
Kota grins.
"Noted."
After the movie, the group heads to their favorite café for snacks. The mood shifts slightly as they settle into their booth, the comforting aroma of coffee and pastries providing a welcome contrast to the eerie film they just watched.
As they sip their drinks, the conversation naturally turns toward Akiko and Kota.
"As much as we're having fun," Natsuki begins,
"we can't ignore what's been happening with Tengen and Hanako."
Yui nods, concern evident on her face.
"You two have been through a lot. Are you holding up okay?"
Akiko hesitates before answering.
"It's been… stressful. But we're managing."
Gin, ever the practical one, leans forward.
"The thing is, we don't know what those two are planning next. They've already caused enough trouble."
"They're up to something, that's for sure," Asahi adds, his tone serious.
"We just need to stay vigilant."
The group discusses various theories and suspicions, each trying to piece together the motivations behind Tengen and Hanako's actions. Despite the unease, they all make a point to reassure Akiko and Kota.
"Whatever happens," Enmei says firmly,
"we're here for you both. You're not facing this alone."
Akiko smiles gratefully.
"Thank you. That means a lot."
Kota nods.
"Yeah, we appreciate it."
Elsewhere, in a dimly lit room, a hooded figure stands before Tengen and Hanako. The air is thick with tension as the figure lays out their next move.
"This time, we go all in," the hooded man says, his voice cold and calculating.
"No more subtlety. We'll strike where it hurts the most."
Tengen exchanges a glance with Hanako, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
"How brutal are we talking?"
"Brutal enough to leave a lasting impression," the figure replies.
"No loose ends."
Hanako's lips curl into a smirk.
"I like the sound of that."
The hooded man steps closer, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Then prepare yourselves. The next move will shake their little world to its core."