Chapter 23: One Melancholy Aftermath

"Is there something wrong, Helveticus-san?", I asked her as softly as possible.

"Those words...did you really mean it?", she uttered, her eyes reflecting a sense of remorse. I found myself grappling with the words I could offer her, ones that wouldn't betray her feelings or let her down. Even though a simple "yes" or "no" would suffice as an answer to her question, I was determined to provide the most suitable response I could conjure.

My mind goes in and out, searching and seeking for the correct combination of words, of tones, of styles, all knowledge that I could muster at the time, all of it only just for her to not misunderstand my intention. To which all of those process, bear fruit to the most perfect sentence that I, a girl that never thought of having a single real friend before, can give to someone I genuinely wanted to protect and guide.

"Yes, I really meant it"

The reply was succinct, yet I sensed it was the most fitting response I could extend. Her reaction upon hearing my words spoke volumes:

"That was...a really short reply, I...thought you were a person that has a convoluted thought process so...I..."

For a brief moment, the hint of a relieved smile graced her face, but she quickly averted her gaze to the ground. Then, in an instant,

𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤

The sound of a lone raindrop reverberated, and I glanced upward to find the sky already shrouded in darkness. In an act of hurry, I tried to pull Helveticus so that both of us could take shelter at Aoki's house Yet, before I could even begin to exert force, she seized my jacket, her grip resolute. As I turned to regard her, I was met with an unexpected sight...

Tears—each drop a testament to her emotions—descended, merging with the raindrops that grew in intensity with every passing moment. In that instance, something clicked within me, a sensation that had remained silent for far too long, suppressed by layers of anger and animosity. It was an emotion meant to be shared by all, yet experienced authentically by only a select few who could express it freely.

"It's...been so long...since someone wanted to protect me...since someone cared for me, since someone actually understand me and cared for m-"

"Ssssh...I understand now, Hel-san...I understand," I interjected with a gentleness in my voice, my arm enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "You don't need to say another word. I understand"

"Why...did you..." Her words trailed off as she began to query the nature of the embrace. eventually decided it was best to leave the question unanswered, her feeble attempt at reciprocating the hug faltering due to her mental and physical exhaustion. Her eyelids close shut, and she surrendered herself to my embrace, as the rain cascading gently around us, a soothing sound and ambience of droplets splashed upon the ground ever so softly.

***

"Talk about reckless", Aoki chided, handing over a fresh towel for us to dry ourselves. "Didn't I say that don't go outside unless I'm present at my house?", His tone was surprisingly kind for his usually cold expression as he spoke.

Helveticus and I exchanged glances, our words withheld. We both knew that half the reason why we were attacked in the first place was because of our own fault, well almost all of it was my fault. That's what we thought as we sniffled our noses, irritated by the cold and flu that the rain gave us.

"Achoo", Helveticus sneezed, with the calm ambience in the room shattered with it.

"Just wait there for a while, I'll go buy a drug that I hope can soothe out both of your flu", Aoki sighed, his gaze shifting swiftly as he navigated an online marketplace for the necessary drugs.

"T-Thank you, Hitoshi-san," Helveticus murmured, her tone a mixture of guilt and gratitude.

"You're tending to our health genuinely and not nurturing a harem, right?" I teased, a smug grin tracing my lips.

For a beat, Aoki remained silent, his focus steadfastly on the search for flu remedies. The ensuing silence prompted me to press on.

"I see, no reply means it's true, right?"

"If entertaining your fantasies brings you joy, why crush them?" Aoki's response was delivered with a calculated, almost icy demeanor, his eyes fixated on his holographic screen.

As I heard this, I could feel the weight of his words. After considering my response for a moment, I crossed my arms and feigned annoyance.

"Thank you for your kindness, I guess!"

***

Having taken my leave from Aoki's house after a time of eating, bathing, and resting there, I stepped into the outdoor expanse, my gaze fixated on the radiant stars illuminating against the dark expanse. A distinct ambiance embraced the night, one that elicited a unique sensation. The night lamps cast fleeting flickers of light, casting an eerie serenity upon the silent streets. The wind stirred the tree branches, the rustling mingling with the gentle breeze that sent a shiver through me, a reminder that my attire—limited to a jeans jacket and a black top, accompanied by a pair of denim shorts—offered minimal protection against the chilly night. The memory of a certain guy that had provided me with this outfit crossed my mind; as the previous set of clothes that I had was torned by the are around my stomach.

"Kazuto-san, I wonder what you're up to now?" I mused aloud, my thoughts circling around the enigma of his absence. Though I'd come to understand his reasons for why he left me to fight alone, a part of me found myself missing his presence. "I don't know what he is up to but who cares anyway", I continued, my arm extending in a stretch that reached behind my back.

"Why is it that everyone around me seems to be a psychopathic cold maniac? Talk about unlucky", I vented, continuing my stretches, this time raising my arms above my head, the motion working to relieve some of the pent-up tension.

"I guess I couldn't really waste any time here considering that I might be in a severe amount of danger for only just walking on the streets in the middle of the nigh-" My words abruptly halted. In an instant, my senses heightened, every nerve tingling as I braced myself, my gaze scanning every house, every tree, every bush within my line of sight.

I think it was the third time since I dropped my sweat today, to which all of them were for the same reason. An inexplicable sensation of being watched, as if an unseen observer observing my every move, every expression, even my most passive inhalation. While I was aware that these perceptions might be mere figments of my imagination, the feelings of being observed remained unwavered.

"Come out! I knew you're somewhere behind one of these trees!", I shouted, trying to provoke the stalker to come out from his hiding spot.

"Are you a coward or som-"

𝐓𝐀𝐏

The abrupt sound of a landing reached my ears, indicating a descent from a considerable height. However, given from the clues that the sound presents me, I know that the one who landed right behind me, was someone who was trained to become a stalker, no, maybe even a stealth body guard from someone importa-

"What a splendid evening, wouldn't you say, Kiyoko-san?" The voice that resonated was light, infused with an air of tranquility.

Recognition dawned slowly, my mind grappling with the familiarity of that elusive yet mannered voice. It was a voice that held the power to enchant hearts, whether they be those of girls or boys. The voice that could even settle a heated argument if used correctly. My eyes turned towards the source of the sound.

The moonlight cast an ethereal glow upon her hair, a cascade of shimmering blue. I stood transfixed, my gaze locked onto her figure as she gazed contemplatively at the stars above.

"Isn't the night sky a sight to behold? A canopy adorned with shimmering gems, each star a testament to the beauty of the cosmos. Though separated by light years, they grace us with their brilliance," she enthused, her right hand extending toward the heavens. "I've often wished to be reborn as luminous as those celestial bodies," she confessed, her hand withdrawing from the sky's metaphorical embrace. "Wouldn't you wish the same?" Her gaze shifted to mine, a bittersweet smile curving her lips. Whilst I myself got a bit weirded out by her excessive use of poetic words.

But before I could frame a response, she continued, her words flowing seamlessly.

"Well, once you've taken countless lives, boredom starts to sets in, doesn't it?" She said as her eyes were closed with her face forming a faint smile. "Though that statement was kinda wrong if you worded it out of context, let's just pretend I never said it, shall we?"

Baffled by her unique choice of wording and behaviour, I asked her.

"You're Fuyuki-san's bodyguard, right?"

"Correct", She replied, followed by a slight nod.

"Right, then what are you even doing here?"

"Stargazing of course...And also kill you", she declared nonchalantly, her words dripping with such casualness that it beautifully obscured the underlying weight they held.

I paused, pondered about the very word that she just said to me.

"Are you serious?" I laughed nervously as I looked her in the eyes.

"Should I shoot you to prove that I really am serious?", In an instant, an otherworldly gust of wind erupted, an eerie howl punctuating the atmosphere. Her once-innocent eyes transformed into pools of coldness, a touch of malevolence creeping into her gaze. Struck by the gravity of the situation, I involuntarily took a step back, sweat tracing a path down my skin, my distress palpable in the face of her words.

But then, within a blink, she vanished from my line of sight. I searched frantically, my gaze sweeping the surroundings, but it's like she has turned completely to dust. And then, without warning, I sensed a presence close to my ear, the sensation of warm breath. My widened eyes shifted to the side, where her wicked grin greeted me, her azure gaze saturated with madness. In a voice filled with maligned intention, she whispered,

"I'm sorry Kiyoko-san, even though I already thought you as a friend, looks like my dear Fuyuki-san can't tolerate even a piece of your existence, more so after you defeated him. So if I wanted to keep my promise to him, 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦"