Chapter(5)

Episode (5): Aoi Nanase (1)

 SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(5)

[Aoi, can I borrow your notebook?]

Afternoon, lunch was still in session and the class was filled with a buzz of noise.

A girl sat down in the noisy atmosphere while she scrolled the net on her phone.

It was Aoi Nanase.

She was a beautiful girl with slim proportions and cute facial features.

Hearing someone suddenly call her, Aoi turned around to face the person. 

Thereupon she locked eyes with her best friend Akane Sasaki.

She was a girl with brown colored short hair reaching her shoulders and pretty green emerald eyes.

Those emerald green eyes filled with hope looked at Aoi and with a pleading expression, Aoi almost mistook Akane for a puppy begging for a meal.

Aoi shook her head at this.

Akane was a busybody so although it wasn't typical for her to leave her homework or just not to do it at all.

Three out of ten times Akane would have to beg her to copy off her own work.

And each time it was at the very last moment.

They had biology next class and the assignment was due that very next class.

Looking at the time Akane only had about fifteen minutes until then, it was unlikely for her to finish before then.

Still, because Akane was her best friend Aoi didn't make a fuss.

On the contrary she was used to this already so she just took out her notebook and handed it over.

[Just make sure you properly do you assignment next time]

She was interested what excuse Akane would tell the teacher later since her excuses were always something comical like the bird ate it or the paper suddenly warped into some other universe.

But she didn't ask.

It was more fun to wait and watch the show.

At the very least Akane could at least get some of the assignment done before then.

Akane saluted with a cheeky smile.

This instantly made Aoi dissatisfied and she pulled her cheeks hard making the arrogant girl suffer.

After a while she stopped with satisfaction leaving Akane to caress her cheeks in pain and with a pout.

Aoi ignored her afterwards and continued to look at her phone while listening music. 

She wasn't worried about Akane at all.

Although Akane looked like this and acted so relax, she was a bright student.

Otherwise how could she be in a class for smart kids?

It was obvious that even those that slacked off in this class still got high grades and Akane was one of those people.

Aoi herself was a student with grades above 90% but even so she was merely seventh in the entire class.

It just went to show how high the qualifications to be in this class were and how extraordinary the kids were.

Ten minutes passed by quickly leaving approximately five minutes until lunch was over and the next class began.

Along with a sigh, a relieved voice came from behind Aoi.

[All done! Ahh, I feel alive suddenly]

Aoi was stunned.

That, even if Akane just copied the entire thing the assignment notes alone should have taken her longer than an hour to complete.

Yet this happened.

There Akane was smiling smugly at Aoi's surprised face making Aoi instantly dissatisfied.

She vowed next time to make this child suffer a bit more the next time this happened. 

The two then put away their books then Akane suddenly asked.

[Aoi. Have you heard of that new Café that just opened?]

[Hm? A café, Which one....]

[The one near my neighborhood. They sell all types of food and pastry there. You should know of it, they even had commercials on the internet. You didn't see it??]

Suddenly Aoi recalled an incident that happened not too longer ago.

Because she bumped into a girl by mistake and made her cry, she ended up finding this new café and not only did she buy something for the girl, she bought something for herself.

To her surprise it was delicious and she couldn't forget the taste even now.

[Now that you mention it, I did happen to go there once. It was great and their crepes were delicious]

If not for the calories Aoi might have gone to buy a whole box of pastries already. Luckily she had self control.

[Right! When I went there with my bro last weekend, the food there was to die for! It was the absolute best! I'm thinking of threatening my bro to take me there again]

Hearing this, Aoi felt sorry for her older brother.

He had it hard entertaining such a little sister.

[You're still holding your brother hostage using his p*rn collection]

To have this viper catch on to her secrets, Aoi could only wish Akane's older brother luck at this point. 

[Hehehe, you'll never understand how a man considers his stash of p*rn to be sacred! It's a secret they'll carry to the grave! If it' such a big secret then how do you think he will react if mom were to find out about his 'late night activities'?]

A victorious smile of elation formed on her face.

To Akane, her brother was nothing but a slave to do as she willed.

If he went against her his life would really be ruined so it wasn't wrong to call him a slave.

[he can't oppose me at all!!!]

She laughed wildly. Aoi shook her head in pity and responded sarcastically.

[You sound like a cartoon villain]

[That's exactly what I'm going for, I nailed it right]

[You're studying the wrong things. You would be better off spending the time you have imitating a cartoon character working out college math]

[Blegh, what am I a third year preparing for college?....it's okay anyway.

My brother doesn't even have a lover and all he does is that online gaming stream thing so he gets a lot of money.

He used to say it a lot that he wants to spoil me, I'm just giving him the chance to do what he wants]

[Ha....if you say so]

Aoi gave up on convincing her.

Akane was just too far gone. Her depravity had already sunk into her flesh and bones and there was no saving her at all.

Aoi wasn't close to her brother but she couldn't help but feel sorry for him at this moment. He was truly pitiful.

[Anyway, Aoi. Are you free for this evening?]

Akane asked.

Aoi was pulled from her thoughts as she squinted her eyes at Akane and replied suspiciously.

[No, not really. Why?]

Aside from club, which she didn't have today, there was nothing else to occupy her time at all.

Akane nodded and continued seriously.

[Aki-chan invited us to karaoke. I'm bored so I wanted to go at first but recalling last time I wanted to ask you first before…]

Last time, the words brought memories back to mind.

The last time they went to karaoke.

Akane and Aoi ended up turning a boy into a woman after he wouldn't stop making advances on them both.

Aoi thought about it and frowned for a bit. She was also reluctant due to that bitter experience.

If it was just her friends she could entertain them for a bit but if there were boys there like last time she would have to pass.

[Still...]

She didn't know, Aoi felt like she was forgetting something important and wanted to refuse.

But the next words made her eyes light up instantly. 

[That so.... well, I guess it's good. I heard that Renji will go and I can't stand him–]

[I'll go!!]

Her eyes were like beams piercing through the already lit classroom.

Without even a second thought she made the decision upon hearing Renji's name.

Akane was flustered that Aoi agreed all of a sudden and stared at her with shock and confusion. But it didn't take long for her to figure out why and she frowned slightly.

[E~hh? All of a sudden? Don't tell me it's because of that bastard]

Akane really didn't have a good impression of Renji.

Unlike other girls she actually knew the type of person he was. It wasn't the good saint he displayed before everyone else at all.

[Don't call him bastard! He's a great guy if you just get to know him]

Aoi was displeased and said angrily.

Renji Aikawa.

He was the most handsome and popular boy in school and every girl including Aoi had feelings for him.

[You talk as if you've been friends with him since childhood. To begin with you've never even had a conversation with him longer than 5 sentences]

Akane poked fun at her.

[That's....not the point! He's my hero]

Akane recalled the time Renji saved her when a group of boys tried to kidnap her all of a sudden.

If not for him who knows what could have happened if he wasn't there to save her.

Although her mind was hazy at the time so she couldn't see well, she was sure it was him since he was there with her when she woke up.

[Ahh, I keep saying this but are you sure you didn't make a mistake? Just because he was there with you when you woke up doesn't mean he was the guy who saved you]

[Hmph! I can tell through the power of love!]

Akane's point wasn't wrong. Aoi couldn't tell properly but she believed that it was him.

No matter what, it had to be him or who else would it be?

[The power of love, is it? Look, I'll support you as a best friend but I really can't accept that guy]

Akane shrugged.

She couldn't accept Renji but for her friend it was alright to overlook a few things right?

[Akane! Thank you!! That's why you're my best friend!]

[Sure sure, just try not to get hurt]

Akane gently patted her friends head with a sigh as she hoped she wouldn't get her heart broken.

As the same time as Akane sighed inwardly, Aoi was grinning happily from ear to ear glad that her best friend accepted this.

Then, it happened.

While everyone was unaware.

Blinding light engulfed the entire class room covering the periphery of everyone's vision making it hard to see.

Yelling and shouting could be heard and before they all knew what was what they were no longer in the classroom.