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Chapter 7—Siege of Gold
part II
The school yard felt smaller after Kazuna's words. She hadn't meant for it to sound like an emergency anyway. But the way Itsuki's face shifted told her it did.
"I'm not sure..." Itsuki said. "He's usually with Tanaka—"
"Then let's go find them."
Itsuki hurriedly followed Kazuna behind her after she packed up her bento box.
The afternoon sun was high and unforgiving. Kazuna's shadow stretched behind her as she walked, thin and fragile, like it might snap at any moment.
They walked side by side anyway. Both didn't say anything, they're way too focused on searching for Riku—and probably Tanaka too. Well she hope not.
After a while, they stopped at their classroom first, putting their own lunchbox before continue searching.
Then, they walk to Riku's and Tanaka's classroom. Empty.
Someone said they went to the gymnasium. They go there—empty.
Kazuna said probably they're at the library. And after they go there. None.
It takes a few minutes until they eventually stopped at the hallway for a moment, catching for air. Kazuna leaned on the wall behind her. Hot. Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Not only that, her head feels like being pierced by an arrow straight through her head.
Damn it. Should've taken it slower...
"School tour. Huh." she said sarcastically.
Itsuki—also getting worn out from the whole walk. "...I have no idea where they are—"
Just as they said that.
BAM.
A door slammed open behind him.
And there he is...
Tanaka. Shougo.
With that usual damn smirk on his face.
"Heh—what are you two doing here, huh?" He said with full of pride.
"Looking for you, idiot." Kazuna snapped back.
"Ohoho—" He tugged his hair back. "Looking for this handsome b—"
Kazuna hit him with her elbow.
Double hit. From Riku earlier.
"Tanaka, do you know where Riku is?" Finally, Itsuki asked.
A sharp sigh. "Rooftop,"
"Oh, okay thanks."
The two of them leave Tanaka alone. Left with no words.
Tanaka just standing there, barely. Only a short chuckle escaped his lips.
"...Seems like they had no manner—"
——————————————————————————
Riku was exactly where Tanaka said he'd be.
Leaning against the fence—staring at the sky, with half-empty water bottle dangling from his fingers. He didn't turn when the door opened.
A soft sigh left her mouth, walking past Itsuki without a word.
And she's standing just a few meters from him. Gazing upon him before she stopped beside Riku. Didn't say anything at first.
"You're looking for me?" Riku broke the silence.
Kazuna didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the beads. Then pulling out her necklace too.
Held them in her palm.
Riku looked down.
Froze.
Familiar with the beads
"...The same beads—" Riku fully interested. "Is that Itsuki's?"
"Yeah,"
She held out the beads in front of him. "Where did you get this?"
Riku was quiet for a moment, seemed to be digging through old memories. Then, "Someone gave it to me, a long time ago—"
"Who?"
"I'm not sure." He shakes his head.
Kazuna stared at him for a moment. Looking down at the both beads again.
Riku noticed that.
"When I visited a shrine," He continue. "Someone gave it to me, I don't know the reason. So I just kept it. That's all I know."
The rooftop door creaked open again.
It was Tanaka, stepping through. Squinting against the sun while holding a can of drink.
"There you all—"
He paused. Noticed the tension.
"What's this? You guys talking about something without me?" He continue to walk forward. An arm hooked around Itsuki's shoulder from behind.
"Oi—you're heavy...!" Itsuki protested.
While Kazuna still stayed in silence, turned the charm over in her fingers.
What she saw only the antlers curled so majestically. She couldn't see the face of the deer.
She let out a long, soft breath.
"Maybe just a coincidence..." She murmurs.
Even though she's not fully sure. But that's just a maybe.
Then she put the necklace back on and walked to Itsuki, gave the beads back.
"Thank you," She looks down at the beads one more time. "and the sandwich too."
Itsuki nods.
Then there they are. The four just standing, looking at eachother with no words. As if they're communicating with eyes and their minds.
But at least, the quiet wasn't so bad.
"Are we... going to discuss about yesterday?" Itsuki asked, or suggesting.
Riku nodded in agreement, "But first—Kazuna, is your head feeling better now?"
"A little."
"Don't push yourself if it hurts," Tanaka replied, hands on the pocket. "You can rest in the infirmary, you know?"
Kazuna crossed her arms. "What if I don't want to?"
Tanaka glared at her. Kazuna glares back.
Meanwhile. The two brothers just standing in the middle. Looking at each other.
"Okay, you guys... let's all calm down..." Riku tried.
But it seemed like it was pointless.
And, just right when Tanaka opened his mouth—
The bell rings.
"Awh shucks... I was just about to get a popcorn." Itsuki disappointed.
Riku sighed, "Alright, let's just continue this later, okay?" he suggested.
The three of them nod agree.
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Kazuna is on her way to go to the classroom. But it was irritating of why Tanaka was walking beside her.
She knows that he's following her. Because his classroom was supposed to be at the hallway they've walked passed before.
And if he does walking to his own class, he's supposed to be with Riku, and not her.
Kazuna stiffened. "What are you doing?"
"Walking you to class," he said, grinning like an idiot. "What does it look like?"
"Do I look like need a guard?"
"With that thing on your head? Yeah."
Kazuna clenched her fists until her knuckles almost turned white. "Quit nagging me, go mind your own business."
"Nope, not gonna happening." He leaned his head back, arms crossed behind his back.
"What if someone suddenly throws a ball at you? Who's going to protect you?" He said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Don't make it dramatic."
Tanaka just smirk, that damn smirk again.
"Besides..." He added. "I need to tell you something. Important."
Kazuna stopped. Tanaka also stopped.
She turns her head at him, and he's already looking at her. Serious.
A sigh escaped her mouth. "What is it?"
And for a second. The hallway feels like holding its breath. Went quiet.