"See you two tomorrow."
I waved my hand as soon as i stepped out of the train.
"See you tomorrow, Morikawa."
"Bye bye, Morikawa-kun~"
Hayashi and Tobiyama waved me off as we took the same train together. Now that they know that i take the same train as them, they will make sure that we bump into each other more often.
'Haaa....so tiresome.'
As always, Hayashi had club activities so it was quite late and the sky became darker.
Tobiyama and me weren't in any club however, he invited me to go to the arcade with Hatanabe and Arisu to spend time over there until his girlfriend's club activities are over.
That's a pretty adorable gesture to be honest but it would have been better if i was not included in the equation.
The amount of pestering that Tobiyama made me endured to accompany him to the arcade was abnormal. So i had no choice but to give in to his tantrums.
'He really is a baby when it comes to Hayashi.'
Grow up!
Don't make me feel embarrassed in your stead whenever you act so childish towards her!
'Haaa...'
I sighed as i proceeded to exit the station.
During midday, the stairs that i was taking would be accompanied with the glowing rays of sunlight. But now, only the dim lights of the electric bulb showcased the path upwards.
"Ah"
I stopped momentarily as i noticed a familiar silhouette.
A girl turned around upon noticing my presence and my sudden utter.
She squinted her eyes when she saw who it was. To that, she indifferently resumed her walk.
'This girl.'
She was alone but her confident walk through the crowd was unyielding. I took off also and followed her.
"Wait Aoi!"
She didn't turn around.
"Aoi!"
Again, she did not heed to my call outs.
"This girl...I have something to tell you!"
Whether the bustling crowd was muffling my voice or she outright ignored me, i was most definitely certain that it was the latter.
*Tsk!*
I sped up and caught up to her. I extended my arm in hope of grabbing her shoulder to put a halt to this pursuit.
"Wait!"
"Don't touch me!"
She slapped my hand away which surprised me so i was speechless for a second.
Was being a part of that delinquent group made her hate me that much?
Well, i think that is a dumb question that i asked myself here.
Of course she would.
Who wouldn't.
The people near us were glancing in our direction so i quickly de-escalated the situation.
"Calm down Aoi. Let's just walk home. It's dangerous at night after all."
"No. I don't want anyone to see us together."
That's a good point. But, i needed to relay some information to her.
"Don't worry, i'll keep an eye around. Moreover, i need to tell you something important."
"..."
A silent reconsideration loomed her furious face. After a bit of lamenting, her facial expression softened and she started walking at a normal pace.
I took that as an affirmation and proceeded to walk alongside her.
"Don't stay too close to me."
"It's okay Aoi, no one is going to think of us as a couple."
A vein popped on her forehead.
"Calm down! Chill out! It was a joke."
"Tsk!"
My attempt to lightened the atmosphere around us failed, so i retracted the idea of doing it another way.
We moved to a lesser crowded area. It was becoming more rural so we subcounciously knew that our house was getting closer.
"Do you know about Hayashi Rika?"
"....That girl from your group?"
"My group? That's not my group, let's be clear. I am in no one's group."
"You sure about that?, " Aoi looked at me dumbfounded as if i was making her look like a fool, "The way you act around them and vice versa does not seem like the case. Don't lie to me."
"I'm not. Okay, think about this. Am i involved in any of their wicked actions?"
".....No but you helped them the last time."
"That....i dont know what you are talking about. I was just enjoying the chilly breeze when i heard the commotion below. I did not want to be involved so i stayed quiet."
She glared at me, not accepting the fact that she misunderstood about the dynamics between me and Tobiyama's crew.
'She is not buying it huh..'
Anyway, i diverted the topic back to its track and came back to the main thing i wanted to talk about.
"Set that aside. I just wanted to warn you to stay a bit away from them. They are taking you into account and are on the verge of doing something that can trouble you. Especially that Hayashi."
"....Are you worried me?"
Does everything i say sounds like a lie to her?
Even when i voiced my concern for her, she is blatantly showing a distrustful side eye to me as we were walking down a small local road.
"Yes, i am worried about you."
"Did i ask you to?"
*Tsk* This girl is not grasping a single thing i said.
"Aoi, that is not the point. I am telling you to be careful around them. You are already poking enough at them. Any more and they will start to make some actions."
"As a disciplinary committe member, i will confront them and take care of that matter efficiently. So you don-"
"Aoi."
I grabbed her arm briskly, to which she adopted the same reaction as earlier.
"Hey! I told you to-"
Suddenly, cat got her tongue.
"It is dangerous. Please be careful."
Her face met with my unhinged expression. Her constant nagging about bringing those guys to their knees with her sense of justice was frustrating me.
Obviously, that was pissing me off too.
So i couldn't help but let my seeping anger slip out a tad bit.
*Slap*
She slapped my hand away and fidgeted backwards before regaining her composure.
I lowered my voice than usual and assumed a calm tone as i spoke.
"You don't know them that much compared to how i know them."
There was a momentary pause between us.
I remained as my usual self plus a minor concern for Aoi's safety.
For Aoi...., i think i surprised her a bit with my abrupt warning.
Welllll..., i say 'surprised' but that may be a little bit of an understatement.
To break the ice between us, i continued to let my worries be known to her.
"We may not be blood related but we still live under the same roof. I am just looking out for you. Even if you do not want my aid, i just can't help and think that my father and your mother would be happy if they heard you were in trouble and i didn't make an effort to help you."
I wryly smiled at her in an attempt to just accept the way i think about her.
In this dimly lit street, a girl and a boy with the same school uniform remained motionless.
Until one of them spoke.
And it was the girl's sentient voice.
"...All right. I will tread carefully. I do not want to worry Daichi-san and Mother after all."
'Phew, at least she knows the consequences of being hot blooded and straightforward.'
I equipped a faint but happy grin, "Thank you," and congratulated her for being understanding.
"....."
She slowly resumed her walk, allowing me to walk beside her.
That is an improvement i would say.
It has been approximately 3 months since i lived with Aoi and i can confidently say that this is a step forward.
'All for the better, right Dad?'
I looked at the stars and couldn't help but feel genuinely delighted that i spoke up and brought this matter up to her.
'Hm?'
I noticed at the corner of my eye, Aoi was staring at me. So i inquired.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing..."
She looked forward again with a blank expression.
Was there something on my face?
"Say.."
"..Yeah?"
"How did you end up being friends with those delinquents even though it is not what you wanted."
"..Ahh that? Haha." I akwardly scratched my head as i wasn't sure on how to tell her.
Hmmmmmm, now that i think about it, no one knows how I became close to Tobiyama and Hayashi or even the others.
"It is just that i was really unlucky."
".....How so?"
"Ahhhh...about that...."
.............
2 months earlier :-
"Tsk! That piece of shit Beni! Dumping me in the middle of the city just like that. Atleast get me closer to a station so i can take the train home!"
My frustrations are breaking all kind of levels.
I was stomping my way in the direction of the nearest station with the help of my phone.
Thank fuck for the invention of navigation or else i would have been roaming in the middle of the dazzling lights of Atsugi City.
"That guy left in a hurry after getting a phone call. I have never seen him flustered like this."
Something definitely happened.
Or...someone?
Do i think what i think it is?
Does that blockhead has a girlfriend or something like that?
Ah. Let's calm down and not get tangled in miracles that absolutely have no chance of happening.
Yeah let's calm down.
*inhaaaaaleeee*
*exhaaaaaaleee*
Yeah.
No i cannot fucking calm down!
I already am pissed off about the fact that he dropped me off in a hurry and now i am not going to turn my head into a pressure cooker by thinking about the reason why he did it in the first place.
No thank you.
I am going to go home and that is my sole purpose right now.
It is getting late now that i look at the sky. The orangish rays was starting to die down as the sun hid behind the tall buildings.
I snuck a peek at my phone and guided myself to the nearest station that it pinpointed at.
This day could have gone smoother.
Me and Beni were having a great time after spending our time in that shitty hole. It was like our compensation for surviving that hellish place.
Beni bought himself a scooter. Well more specifically, his father gifted him one as a welcome home gift.
He invited me to spend time together with me as fellow friends that dwelled in that place together.
Now, oh well, let bygones be bygones.
I am sure that that piece of shit has its own piece of mind to think about these days.
"Hmph."
I snickered, reminiscing about the time we became acquainted the first time.
"Seriously....now let's see. I should take the next left right...here? Huh? W-Wait. I didn't notice that my phone was this low on battery!!!"
The worst possible outcome yet.
Stuck in an unknown region
+
Phone battery about to die
=
Panic attack start.
"Dammit!!!"
I started to run.
Before my battery depleted completely and my phone's screen would turn black, i rapidly dashed towards the direction of the station.
2%!!
'Shit! Not good!'
The crowded area was not making this easy. I couldn't reach my maximum speed as i had to constantly weave in and out of people's way.
1%!
'So annoying!'
*Bump*
I suddenly came in contact with an adult that abruptly came into my path.
We both fell. The man i bumped into looked tensed. His expressions ragged and he was holding a purse that was ladylike.
'Quite....the choice i would say.'
However, as soon as the man got his bearing, he got up quickly and tried to flee.
"Huh?"
"You fucking thief!!! Get back here!!"
I took a gander at the one who made that loud order. A boy with black hair, furious expression accompanied with his blue jeans and stylish white shirt was running.
Closely behind him was a girl who dressed more chic. She had long pale brownish pants and a blue shirt with a whitish-grey sun hat.
'A thief huh. Well good luck to you two.'
I got up, and patted my clothes to get rid of the dust. Then glanced at my phone for the next direction.
0%.
My screen was all black and cracked.
A vein popped in my head.
It was all that man's fault. If it wasn't for him, not only would i have reached the station but my phone would have still been intact.
That man....just pissed me off big time.
Swiftly, i veered my head to the fleeing man and my rage influenced my decision making skills.
"You fucking thief!!!!"
I gripped my broken phone hard and threw it fast at the running thief.
*Bam!*
"GAHH!!?"
He tripped and fell to the ground. I ran to him and kicked him in the stomach.
Because of him, my phone is in this state!
"Fucking piece of shit!"
I gave him one more kick before i picked up my phone.
I brooded over the condition of my phone. It was more broken than before.
Obviously....Hehe.
I laughed helplessly as i snuck a peek at the man groaning in pain.
"Hey! Thank you!"
The boy who was running after the now collapsed thief came over to me.
"Ah...yeah....don't mention it." I didn't pay much attention to his gratitude as i did it for my selfish intentions.
He proceeded to snatch the purse from the thief's grasp and returned it to the now approaching girl.
"T-Thank you very much!"
"Yes, no worries."
My rage has died down because i knew what kind of situation i was in. I lamented on what to do now.
"Gah!"
*Kick*
"Aag!?!"
*Kick*
"Hagh!"
The boy was not finished with the thief. He continued to hit him as the onlookers spectated the whole scene.
I thought the girl would stop him but she stayed silent. Instead, she wanted to talk to me.
"We cannot thank you enough mister. Is there something that we can do for you?"
"Ah."
Ignoring the precarious situation happening just beside me, an idea came to my mind.
I lightly sneered at her and recommended.
"Then..can you two help me walk to the station?"