[A/N: To be frank with you, I am a highschool student and it's the end of the year on my side. So here's the bad news: I won't be able to release for a month but no more than that.
The good news is, when all is said and done I will release more Chapters. Probably 3-4 Chapters... maybe more. It depends on my ability.
So what I can ask of you is your support. I've said the real reason behind my inconsistency, one that I wasn't necessarily supposed to be a concern.]
As usual, his classmates scattered into their close-knit groups. Their bonds grew stronger, and friendships still went untested.
Kaien looked out the window, finding no glimpse of warmth in the overcast sky.
'It's a bit gloomy today, but...'
"C'mon guys! I'm telling you, High Note beats most bands you could ever know! Have you ever listened to Highest?!"
He turned back toward the classroom, pitying the one student radiating with energy — Ai Hoshino.
No one else thought much of it, but he was impressed that she hadn't burned out yet.
'It's clear she can't be the life of the room on her own.'
With this thought, he gazed at the desk in front of him — untouched and empty.
That desk inclined him to glance at another in the far corner ahead of the rest.
Muffled taps echoed nearby — too soft to place. Kaien's eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed.
Shouko was just minding her own business.
Delicate fingers brushed away her hair as her gaze left her beloved notebook to meet Naoka's. That's when Kaien noticed something on Shouko's ear.
"So, you could hear us all this time?"
"Now that you mention it, I was wondering the same thing."
A cold glint shined in Naoka's dark blue eyes. Everyone present shared the same indifferent spirit.
There was no source of sympathy within the class.
Shouko smiled, but Kaien knew she couldn't melt an ice cap. His heart clenched in silence.
'Looks like it can't be helped.'
"Hey, Naoka! Toss it over here!"
Shouya's voice broke the depressing atmosphere. Naoka turned to him, giving the device a dull glance. With a shrug, she tossed the earpiece to him without a second thought.
'Wait!'
Shouko hopped toward her, desperate to regain the medium that helped her understand others.
It was already too late. She watched as it flipped midair — every eye following it.
Shouya caught it.
"Gross, what is this thing?! Is this earwax?!"
He scrunched his nose, but the playful smirk irked Kaien even more. Like a professional pitcher, his hand whipped with terrifying force.
"Whoops!"
Kaien watched as the device flew out the window, his eyes snapping back to the culprit.
Shouya's black eyes met his grey ones.
As the lone person in the room, the grey haired boy stood at the center of its focus.
The more those mischievous eyes searched his depths, the more Kaien could see...
There was neither fury nor amusement — only a stillness that inspired unease, an overwhelming emptiness.
He looked away, berating himself for doing so, yet unwilling to dive in again.
'Freak...'
...
Kaien stopped beside Shouko, her head bowed as if refusing to face the world.
He waved his hand in front of her, sighing in relief when he caught her attention.
She gave him a strained smile, her joints locked.
He shook his head, and she dropped her facade without resistance.
'I'm sorry, Kaien. I didn't want you to worry...'
His shadow stretched over her, leaving Shouko in the dark.
She noticed faint light glimmering through the windows of his soul — the only warmth she needed.
At least it was better to face a blizzard with a match than with nothing at all.
The gossip had to go on.
Some of their classmates gave amused looks.
Where some offered passing glances, others didn't bother at all.
A few girls he recognized sneered, but he ignored them despite the budding relationship.
"Does this guy like her or something?"
"Man, he's got terrible taste."
"I know right? He could do better."
Their words were imperceptible to her, but each one hurled toward Shouko like a rock.
In seconds, she found herself buried beneath every syllable uttered.
To make matters worse, she didn't even understand what they meant.
'This is worse than the original works.'
Kaien raised a hand over his outstretched palm, pressing his thumb and index finger together, gesturing in small movements.
Every eye zeroed in on them, lips stretching wider than politeness allowed.
'Does he want... my notebook?'
Shouko hesitated, then moved. He smiled. She handed him the notebook and a pen.
The light faded from his eyes with each stroke of her pen. He stood there for a moment, exhaling deeply before turning the page toward her.
She smiled again, but this time her eyes glistened.
'Shouko, I'm going to get your earpiece back. Maybe it can still be repaired...'
She wanted to hold onto those words.
They were the only comfort anyone in this school had ever genuinely offered her.
Her heart almost burst through her chest — but an ache followed. It was faint at first — until it wasn't.
'But... this might be the last time we ever interact for now.'
---
Kaien walked through a corridor too chaotic for his liking.
The noise engulfed him, the floor his only tether to both his inner and outer worlds.
He was more worried about his next steps than his surroundings.
'For this to work, Shouko needs to stay out of it. She'd just slow me down.'
Black dress shoes stopped in his path. He craned his head up.
Two girls were walking his way.
He studied both individually.
His heart skipped a beat at the sight of ashen-blonde hair tied in twin braids. Her matching eyes gleamed like a vibrant flame. She wore a white, buttoned shirt beneath a blue jacket. Her pale-blue skirt brushed against her knees.
'Miki's in a good mood today.'
His heart stilled when he shifted focus to her companion.
Dark blue eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint. Her smirk suggested she knew him all too well.
His feet stayed rooted. Thoughts cycled rapidly, searching for the best course of action.
"Naoka! I see everything went well."
The wider his smirk became, the more they slowed down.
Naoka shook her head, breaking from her chain of thoughts.
"As promised, I brought Miki with me."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?! And where are you going, Naoka?!"
His eyes darkened as he watched her back vanish into the crowd.
'It's best I start right away.'
He scratched his head with a small chuckle before pivoting on both feet. The two of them strode down the hallway.
"So, how's your day been, Miki?"
Kaien stretched his arms, feeling a satisfying pop in his joints.
Miki hunched her head, tearing her gaze away from his abdomen. Her face flushed when she recalled what was under his shirt.
"It's great... so far." She looked up, her heart still in disarray.
"Though, I'm surprised you broke your friendship with Shouko."
"Oh, that? Poor girl already had enough negative attention because of me. I didn't want to make things worse."
Each time he smiled, her eyes strayed from his own.
His eyes were a grey abyss through which light could not penetrate.
"I really didn't want all that to happen."
"What do you mean?"
His voice cut through the noise with ease — soft yet low, with a mature ring to it.
"I can't bear seeing other people get hurt. That's why I don't want to be the cause of someone else's suffering."
"I see... I can relate. It's nice to do whatever you can to help others."
Kaien gave her a curt nod. His eyes grew a shade darker as he matched her gaze.
She held his stare this time — beads of innocence locked on his.
Kaien slipped a hand into his pocket, feeling the warm embrace of fabric.
"You're right. We all should help one another."
Miki's delicate hand brushed against her cheek, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Her voice was light, yet it carried a heavy melody that weighed on his mind.
Sadly, he had to shatter the fragile illusion he had built.
"Listen," Kaien whispered under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear.
"I saw someone walking to the principal's office today. She's from our class, and it's pretty obvious what it's about."
Miki nodded solemnly.
"As she left, I asked what was going to happen. Well, let's just say... we're in danger."
Her chest tightened, her breaths growing shallow at his words.
"Everyone who stayed idle when Shouko was harassed will be punished without discrimination. Our parents will probably be involved — yours included."
Her hands trembled. Her hair stood on end. Her eyes shot open, landing on Kaien, who maintained his serene expression.
"I wonder what our parents will say... now that we stood by and ignored all those assaults."
Kaien rested his elbow on the palm of his left hand, shrugging slightly.
He stroked his chin in silence, as if each motion might bring an answer.
Her lips parted — but he turned to her before a single word escaped.
The Kaien she had grown comfortable with was gone, replaced by a stranger she barely recognized.
His eyes sent chills down her spine — not angry, not cold, but dissecting.
"I wonder if your parents will see you the same way again."
Kaien took a turn. She followed.
The corridor seemed to watch them.
Silence crept in for a moment before swallowing all noise.
Miki's feet lost the little bounce they had left. Her ashen-blonde eyes furrowed into a heated glare.
His lips twitched — a slight, knowing tilt of his head.
Her voice was no longer soft; it was sharp and desperate.
Kaien was the only thing within her sights.
"How is that wrong?! I'm not the one bullying her! Who reported this anyway?!"
"I can't tell..."
"How am I supposed to know you're not the one who sold us out?"
Kaien felt something stir within him — raw, controlled, yet dangerous.
His pulse slowed to a calm, steady rhythm.
His face emptied of emotion, replaced by a calculating glint.
Emotionless would've been accurate, if not for the faint crease between his brows.
His grey eyes stayed fixed on her — unblinking.
"If we play the blame game, it could be anyone."
"Yeah, but you're her friend, right?!"
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
"Wow... that's cruel of you. So you're fine watching others suffer? I thought you were a kind person."
"I—I..."
She tore her gaze away, her heart stalling for a full second.
She stepped back — not from fear, but from the sheer disbelief of what she saw.
The walls stretched endlessly. The corridor grew painfully still.
Not even a peep from another student came through.
They were the only ones there.
"If you really are a good person," Kaien murmured,
"then spread the word. I'd advise you to tell Shouya about this predicament — but this should stay our little secret."
"Why?"
"Because everyone gets twice the punishment... if he knows."