Chapter 3

Taketo, Mina and Nikita sat at one of the tables close to the bar. They ordered several dishes that can be considered as finger foods. While waiting for their order, Nikita initiated a discussion by asking Mina, "How did you know Taketo?"

"It was during senior high school years. I thought he was one of those jerks who's only interest at the female members of the club."

"You've really thought I was like that?" sounding a bit annoyed, Taketo asked after he heard what Mina said.

"Well, you were looking at me during our first race. I believe you're peering at my body." as Mina proudly justify her answer earlier.

"So you two had been closed to each other ever since?" Nikita still being curious about the relationship between the two.

"Let me hold you on your question first Nikita. I was just wondering at how you would be able to beat me during that time. That's the reason why I was looking at you, Mina."

"Don't bother saving your butt. You're also one of those perverts. Hahahaha. I haven't been connected with Taketo after senior high so I believe you can't really say that we're too close. It's more like we just know each other during senior high school years. I think Taketo had changed a lot over the past few years. I just hope he's not a pervert anymore. Hahaha."

Taketo scratched his head while looking at Mina.

Mina then stopped laughing, "By the way, what happened to you after all those years Taketo?"

"Not that much. I didn't really excel in academics and I don't have any other sources of fundings to enter college since I've been living alone since I was young."

Mine then looked more serious this time as she asked Taketo, "But there are offers for scholarship since you excelled in the track and field club right?"

"Let's just say I'm not interested in sprinting since I won't be running with you and the others anymore." Taketo just laughed it off with a half-serious answer.

Still not satisfied with Taketo's answer, Mina continuedly asked, "Why didn't you tried getting a scholarship on the same college that I've applied for. You can just reach out to me during that time. We can easily get you a full scholarship if you wanted to."

"I just don't want to trouble you anymore. I know you're also busy with college preparation. I thought to myself that it would be fine if I just look for a part-time job during that time."

"You're had been always like that Taketo. Even before, you don't bother to ask others for help even though you really need it." This time, Mina sounded a bit drunk.

Mina remembered that Taketo had always been independent. That might be due to the fact that he has been living alone since his parents died due to a car accident when he was 2 years old. Mina thought that might be one of the reasons she liked him, a dependable guy.

Nikita sounding a bit drunk raised her glass awaiting for a toast, "Oh just forget about it. We are now about to take a big leap in our career. Both Taketo and I had started working on the same company where you are working. We are just thankful on getting hired and that's the reason why we are celebrating right now."

Mina then raised her glass, "Then let's have a cheer for that. For starting your new career. Kampai!"

Taketo filled his cup to the brim. He also looks a bit drink while he raises his glass "Kampai!"

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4 hours had already past. Several empty bottles of sake can be seen at the table where Nikita, Mina, and Taketo has been sitting. Their faces can already be seen flushing. A sign of being drunk. They talk louder now. Everyone has been feeling comfortable with each other. Out of the blue, Mina suddenly asked, "Why didn't you talked to me after graduation Taketo?"

Still not giving the chance to Taketo to reply, "You know, I tried looking for you after graduation day. You suddenly disappeared without a trace. I tried asking your ex-classmates about you. But they just simply said that they don't know much about you or what happened to you."

Taketo raised his hand as if stopping Mina to asked further questions. "I tried to search for myself. I'm a bit lost during that time. I kept wondering why all those things happened to me. Losing my parents at an early age. Not experiencing how to live a normal life. It also puts me on the stage where I'm asking myself where I should be going after senior high school."

"You know I wanted to tell you something during that time. I kept wondering if I might ever see you again. I wanted to say that..." Mina suddenly stopped in the middle of her statement. She felt a bit awkward on what she's about to say. She just shook her head. She knows they might be already drunk and it wouldn't make sense to Taketo anymore.

Mina rose up from her seat, "I'll go to the washroom for a bit. Please excuse me.".

Nikita who sits at the corner listening to Mina and Taketo talking asked again with curiosity, "Are you sure you two don't really have any affair going on?".

Taketo's face suddenly turned redder. Not due to being drunk but rather because of the question that Nikita had thrown at him. He can't really answer the question. He just wished that there was really an affair between him and Mina but he knows it won't be possible. Mina is someone every guy wished to have as a love partner and he believed that he's not capable of being that someone. He's no one and he has nothing to offer. They are walking in a different league. That's what he thought.

Nikita then moved closer to Taketo as if provoking him in a sexy way as she whispered, "Would there be a chance that you would be interested in me?". She clings on Taketo's arm now.

A frank question that is hard to answer. Taketo looked at Nikita with his head tilted away as if surprised with the question asked. He wondered if it's just because of the alcohol running on their system that made her asked.

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Mina arrived at the washroom and locked the door. She looked at the mirror in front of her. She asked as if talking at the person in front of her, "Why can't you be more frank with how your feeling right now? Aren't you happy that you can finally be with Taketo again? Do you want to miss the opportunity of saying what you feel just like during graduation?". She just shrugs her shoulder as she thought to herself, "Let's not miss this opportunity. I have to tell him or this won't make me sleep tonight. But what would I do if he reacts negatively?".

She fixed her hair and reapplied some lipstick. She has to say what she's been keeping in her heart after all those years. She's sure that somehow she felt that Taketo has also feelings for her. He just doesn't know how to say or show it. It's been long due, that's what she thought.

She then unlocked the washroom door and opened it. She walked slowly as she turned on the corner of the bar.

She saw something. Something that she didn't expect to see. Something that shatters all the courage that she mustered while she was at the washroom. All those things that she believes to be right, now disappear one by one. Her vision started becoming clouded. She felt something warm ran on her cheeks. She doesn't know what to do anymore. The scene had left her speechless and broken.

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Taketo still looking at Nikita wonders what is happening right now. He was surprised at what Nikita did next. Nikita then leaned towards Taketo and sealed his lips. It felt warm. Somehow it felt good for a moment but after he recollected his thoughts, he jerked as he moves away from Nikita. That was the time when he saw someone familiar move past them. He knows that person. He felt as if the person was important to him. That urge him to stand up and chased that person. A silhouette of a girl was running ahead of her as she descends down the stairs. He can't find the courage to call her. He knows the reason. He knows the reason why that important person was running away from him. The woman then turned left as she sprinted away. He has to run faster. Faster than his first race during the track and field club application. Faster than he could ever do or he would lose someone very important to him.

Finally, the woman stopped for a bit at an intersection where a small shrine is located. That is his chance. He knows now who that person is. It was Mina and she's crying. It pains him to see her at that state. He has to explain everything.

At the spur of the moment, Mina seeing Taketo getting closer to her suddenly run across the road. Not caring for whatever might be coming.

Taketo getting closer noticed something isn't right. He saw a flash of light heading on the direction of the intersection and it is getting closer fast. He knows that has to do something. He pumped up some air and started whispering to himself, "Please give me the strength I need to save someone I love.". He then sprints toward the intersection as if his life is at stake. The moment he managed to reach Mina, he knows that there's nothing he can do anymore. With the last of his strength, he pushed Mina towards the other side of the road.

A flash of light hit him. Suddenly everything turned dark. His body felt cold. The chilling feeling of not seeing or hearing anything. It just felt blank. As if his life turned to a black empty slate. Not sure if he is still alive he then thought to himself, "Would this be the last of me? At least my life is worth the life of someone I love. I'm already happy that I can be worth something at the last minute to her.". He then just acted as if closing his eyes even though he can't really see anything in the darkness. He suddenly heard someone say, "In tenebris nos eduxit in lucem, in mortem nos tenuit vita.". He is then assaulted by blinding light. After a short while, the light slowly dissipates. He now sees someone. Its as if he's watching at a 180 degrees tv screen. Someone not human. Standing at a pile of bodies. Bodies that are not also of human nature. He looked on his right and he sees chariots. A lot of chariots. There may be at least several hundred thousand of them. A figure wearing gleaming armor is raising his shining sword as that creature shouted something. Taketo can't hear what that person shouted but he's seeing everything. He then looked on his left, creatures that can only be seen on horror stories are running towards the figure that is standing at the pile of bodies in the middle. The running creatures emit black auras. Auras swirling across their bodies making them look more horrifying. As the horrifying creatures approach the center, the figure at the middle then pointed towards where the chariots at as if commanding for an assault. After a short while, both the chariots and the horrifying creatures clashed. Suddenly everything again turns dark again. Taketo now felt cold at his back. It's as if he was lying at something. Then a coin suddenly rang on his ear.