Chapter 37: Player

*Souta*

Several uneventful days of just going to school and coming home to eat, train, and sleep rapidly passed by. While I was at school, Purpura would stay in my room and occasionally tidy up the place. He was surprisingly clean for a guy who grew up in a dark prison.

"When will I be able to leave?" Purpura asked as he stared at me putting on my tie. "I want to go to school too."

I sighed. "You're staying here. It'll be best if no one knows that you're alive."

He fell back on the bed and let out a groan. "I hate this. It's better than my old prison but not by much."

I ruffled my already messy hair. "Fine, I'll look into having my parents register you for school. But you'll need a new name."

He sat up and looked down at his hands. "Another one?"

I tilted my head as I turned around. "You got another name?"

He nodded. "My real name isn't Purpura. It's Morado. I never use it as it reminds me of my 'father'."

Oh right, Shika had said something about her crazy sister calling him Mora. It must've been short for Morado.

"Sou!" Ava yelled.

Crud. I barged out of the room and closed it behind me. Ava gave me a questioning glare.

"What are you hiding?" she asked.

I grabbed her hand. "Nothing, let's go. We're going to be late for finals."

"Hey, careful there," she snapped.

I slowed down my pace so that she wouldn't trip down the stairs and take me with her.

Something about her felt... oddly familiar. And I don't mean the Ava that I knew. It was as if I knew her from someplace else.

A sharp pain rang through my head, bringing me to a complete halt. Ugh, not again.

Ava patted my back but when she did the pain only intensified. Noticing this, she backed away and walked on ahead.

"Sou, if you're not feeling well then call the school. I'll tell our first-period teacher that you aren't feeling well so that he'll allow you to make up the test."

I reached my hand toward her. "I'm... fine." I forced myself out of my house and rushed toward school. Running always helped calmed down my nerves and alleviated my headaches but today the pain persisted.

"Hey," Sehun said when I arrived.

I sat down in my usual seat and simply smiled.

"Are you alright? You look a bit pale," he said.

"I'm... fine," I responded, hitting my head on the desk.

"Sou!" he yelled.

"Gods, I told the idiot to stay home," Ava snapped as she barged into the class.

"You two worry too much," I said, pouting. "I'm just tired, that's all."

"You look like you got a fever," Kei said. "Maybe it's the same one Sayuri had a few days ago."

"You should know to take care of yourself first," Sekin said, turning around. "What kind of doctor will you be in the future if you can't even monitor your own health?"

"He's right," Sayuri said. "Go home."

"Don't make Sekin worry," Rena snapped.

I looked up and smiled at my friends, including Rena. "Fine." I stood up and started on my way back when, suddenly, my legs gave in. I would've landed face-first on the floor if it weren't for Sekin catching me.

"Teacher, I'm going to take Sou to the infirmary," he announced before lifting me up into his arms.

Our teacher nodded.

I tried to keep my heart from pounding loudly as Sekin carried me. Pressing my head against his chest, I could hear his heart beating fast too. Was it because he was running?

"I got a girlfriend ya know," Sekin blurted out.

I looked up and noticed his face was as red as a fully ripened tomato.

I glanced away. "Not sure why you're saying that all of a sudden. I got someone too."

He slowed to a crawl. "You're dating someone?" he asked.

"Just take me to the infirmary," I snapped.

He chuckled. "It sounds to me like you're feeling better."

"Then unhand me."

He put me down gently. "I guess that you can go the rest of the way. I better get back to class. See ya!"

I waved goodbye as my heart sank. What was wrong with me? How could my heart beat rapidly just by being around four people? The only one should be Sehun. Wait, four? Let's see, there was Sekin, Sehun, Purpura, and... who was the fourth?

I turned around and walked over to the black door with an 'infirmary' sign over it. As I touched the knob, the sharp pain returned. Crumpling to the floor, I blacked out.

*Kizuishō*

"Kizu," Alfonso said as he opened the glass door of the balcony.

I kept my eyes on the glowing crystal below. Our clan's home was within a giant pillar erected upon the tallest mountain on the entire known continent.

"Something bothering you?" my childhood friend asked.

I leaned against the rail and looked up at the moonlight pouring in from the transparent peak of the tower. "It's about this entire sacrifice thing. We're expected to perform some ritual and... to have kids." My face turned bright red.

Alfonso chuckled. "Is that it?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't like the idea of my kids, or anyone else's for that matter, being left orphaned so young."

He stroked his chin. "But if we don't, the world will crumble, devoured by the great evil that is coming."

My head lowered again. I sighed. "What shape and form is this 'evil' taking? Is it a person or a thing? Perhaps some otherworldly creature. I rather fight the evil now than leave it up to my descendants."

He leaned against the rail too and sighed. "As do I."

I turned around and glanced up at the floor above where we were. "Do you think that the princess will accept me?"

Alfonso gave me a toothy smile and nudged me. "Of course!" He said that with a smile, yet there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. Was he also in love with the princess?

"You really think so?" I asked, smiling slightly.

"You're the one she's closest to. Plus she was jealous of that Opal clan girl."

I hugged him tightly. "Awww, thanks, Alf!" I let go of him and noticed that his face was as pink as his hair and eyes. "So, who are you going to marry?"

He scoffed. "I'll probably just get some random girl pregnant."

I narrowed my eyes. "You can't do that! Why do you play with girls' hearts? You're serious in your knightly duties but your love life is a mess!"

He let go of the rail and walked back into my room.

"It's because none of them interest me."

"You'll find someone," I say, optimistically.

He looked down. "There is one person that interests me."

I ran over and slapped his back. "Who? Who? Come on, spill!"

His eyes darted toward the wooden door. "Nah. You'll just make fun of me. Besides, this person likes someone else. Plus, even if my feelings were responded to, no child would be formed from the union."

"She's sterile?" I blurted out. "We can find a treatment for that!"

He grasped the doorknob so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "There is none!" Tears ran down his eyes. "That's because the person who interests me is you! That's right... the one who I love is a guy."

I stood there, speechless as Alfonso ran out of the room. My best friend was in love with me? How? Why?