36 Loathe

"What... are you talking about? Why did you... do this? WHY!?" Haru collapsed to the ground, asking in disbelief. He wished to reject the reality unfolding before him, but the pain and bleeding from the bolt in his chest made the truth of his friend stabbing him undeniable, like the clear dark sky above. 

"Oh? You still have the energy to shout? Despite being on your deathbed, you sure are a tough guy, Haru." Akio chuckled and said, "Wait, are you perhaps asking for the reason behind my actions? Isn't it quite simple? I just simply hate you, and it's not something that I recently started doing, but ever since we became friends."

"W-What--!!" Haru opened his bloodied mouth in shock, not believing what he was hearing. But before he could ask, Akio twisted the bolt within his chest, causing excruciating pain to Haru until it broke in half. 

[4 HP Remaining] Haru's system pointed out his remaining health but his emotion and body were badly hurt to notice it. It was a wonder how he was still able to speak.

"Oh, it broke." Seeing one broken half within his hand, while the other still stuck in Haru's chest, he threw the one in his hand and went in front of Haru. 

As he crouched in front of Haru, maintaining eye level with him, he continued, "You know how long I have been waiting for such an opportunity like this? For three damn years, we have been together, and there wasn't a time where I did not loathe you. Why? I just hated your existence that was completely opposite of me - carefree, easygoing, relaxed, no stress about life. Nothing! Why? Because you always had it easy, Haru, as you were born into wealth, charm dripping from every pore, and everyone hanging on to your every word just because of your last name, Fujiwara. It sickened me."

"The hell are you saying.... Was there a time where I once treated you or anyone differently just because I was well-off!?" Haru asked despite feeling energy leaving his body.

"You didn't, but you never thought about how much your background would still affect others either. Your father's money paved your way while I struggled just to keep up with school studies, worry about university, part-time jobs, then after-school lessons and everything. Ah! And don't get me started on Miami. You know, I liked her a lot, yet she was always there stuck to your side, laughing at your jokes, sharing your spotlight despite knowing about you and your stupid girlfriend."

Akio then shifted his gaze to Aki, who was encased within the chains, and said mockingly, "Hah. Looks like you weren't able to save her. Pathetic, aren't you?"

"Don't bring her into this!!!" Haru shouted, fearing that Akio might do something to her. 

"See, this is what I also dislike about you. Aki this, Aki that. I was sick and tired of you always blabbering about her, not to mention how weird you two are together." As he spoke about Aki, Akio's lips curved into a devilish grin, and he continued, "You know, your father once asked for my opinion regarding the relationship between you two, and guess what, I was the one who told him that you treated Aki like a sister and wanted one like her." 

"Wha--?"

Akio laughed as he continued, "Guess I was the reason why your parents remarried without any worry about you two and they even thought of surprising you two by not informing earlier. Even though they were mostly out of the city and not with you both, I still can't believe how dumb your parents were by not knowing what their own family likes. Anyways, Hahah... I was the main reason behind the separation of you two." 

"What the hell are you saying!?"

"Oh, yeah, I even forgot to mention it. Remember the time when suddenly your reputation amongst the students dropped when you started ignoring Aki? I was the one behind spreading bad rumors about you, which you never considered because of your lack of interest in things like that." Akio chuckled as he questioned, "But who knew it would be so easy to manipulate people and spread rumors behind their backs? Being student council president had its own perks."

Each word that Akio said stabbed like a sword and hurt more than the bolt in his heart. He couldn't believe the person whom he considered a good friend would do such a thing behind his back.

Haru, ignoring the pain, asked with emotions as if his heart was being crushed, "If you just hated or loathed me, then why didn't you just separate yourself from me!? Why did you become close with me!?... And now, why the hell are you... killing me!? Did all those time we spent together were nothing to you!?"

But Akio looked as if Haru had told a joke and laughed as he said, "As I said, I just wanted to have my own fun slowly destroying the things you cherished. And my dearest friend, do you still think that there is something wrong with what I am doing?"

He then pointed toward their surroundings and continued, "The world we knew is gone, and now a new age has started where I don't have to be chained with moral, social, and legal or any sort of values anymore. I can do what I want. And besides, I did not want to kill you so soon and wanted to fool you more before killing you, but my System, or rather a Devil named Momo whom I made a contract with, is a bit special than what you all got, and he gave me a quest whose reward I can't deny wasn't a juicy one."

'What? System--!?' Hearing the word 'System,' Haru's mind immediately went toward Mimi, but before he could think further, Akio spilled another shocking truth. 

"For the extravagant reward, the quest was quite simple – Stab you in the back with the very bolt that you gave to that dumb-head Kuga."

"W-What are you saying?" Haru's eyes widened as he realized something hidden behind his words.

"The very same thing you are imagining, Haru." Akio let out a good laugh as he continued cherishing the dread on Haru's face, "Despite the threat of that monster, I was literally laughing inwardly when I showed you Kuga's crossbow earlier. Ha-ha. You did not show even a slight doubt about it. And, oh yeah, I lied about not meeting Kuga and others." 

"What have you done!?" Anger surged within Haru as he realized the intention behind Akio's words, and he couldn't help but panic about Kuga and the others well-being. 

"The same thing I have been doing till now - manipulating people." Akio then placed his hand on Haru's shoulder and brought his mouth to his ear as he continued, "You have no idea how much I enjoyed and cherished their screams when not just Kuga but the other fools too who came to the auditorium, thinking it would be their shelter with food, only to restart their worst nightmare of being encaged and be eaten alive." 

"AAAKKIOOOOO!!!!!!!"