Chapter 13

"Welcome!"

After walking a safe distance away from the burning warehouse, the three of them had decided to take a stop on a nearby coffee shop. There were not many people inside, a perfect place to rest. Chess had also gone to the restroom, washing the dirt off his face and hands.

When he came back, he joined Aoi who was sitting alone in a four-chaired table. As soon as he sat down, a waitress had appeared, placing their orders on top of the table.

"Please enjoy your order."

The lady who served them had her cheeks flushed as she steals glances at the two beautiful people in front of her. With Aoi's cheeky smile and Chess's innocent smile, the lady's heart had clenched with excitement.

"Thank you." Aoi politely glanced at the lady before focusing his whole attention on Chess.

Now that Mr. Gibo is believed to be dead, his mission is finally over. He had gone back to his cheerful personality, looking very much like a happy doll, glancing at Chess with his big round eyes.

"Is your hand okay?" he asked while examining Chess's wrists.

Chess gave him a reassuring smile before caressing the bruise he got. The right one had a light bruise while the left wrist had already swollen. He, himself, knew that it would take him few days to completely heal the wound.

"It's alright. It doesn't hurt that much." Yes, it doesn't hurt that much because his entire left arm had already turned numb.

Aoi, who was watching him, stretched his hand and reached out for his wrist. He gently lifted the bruised part and placed it near his face. Then, he slightly parted his lips and softly blew air, trying to ease the pain.

Kane, who stepped outside for a short smoke, had walked in to that sight. He stilled for a split second before slightly lifting the corner of his lips.

"Is everything alright?" he spoke, disturbing the two who was looking so intimate.

Kane had settled down beside Aoi who gave no attention to his presence, totally focused on Chess's wrist. That very action made Kane grin.

'I should take a picture of this and send it to Reis', he thought.

Picturing Reis's irritated and dumbfounded look on his head made him chuckle lightly. Chess who was sitting across him had tilted his head in confusion.

"Is everything alright?" He repeated the very same question that Kane had asked.

Kane just nodded at him before going for the serious talk. He placed his elbows on top of the table and rested his chin on the back of his palms.

"So? What really happened?" His eyes secretly observing Chess.

Chess had immediately noticed the meaning behind his look. Kane had always been observing him ever since they met in front of their room. His eyes had never once changed in front of him, it was always on guard. So, it's no surprise that he's keen on observing him now.

Well, that's completely fine. The feeling is mutual. Chess, himself, had never lowered his guard around them too. He's just really good at hiding it.

"Mr. Gibo is supposed to be our professor for our first class. He was not stable earlier and had caused quite a ruckus, so we decided to report him. Then, someone came to help and took him away." Chess had purposely left the identity of that someone who came to help.

He's not yet clear of the system in the university, so he can't just blabber about everything. These people of Section – 0 have no intentions of telling him anything, so he also wouldn't tell them anything aside from the necessary information.

"Then, after the class, I decided to take a walk outside to kill some time before going to the Pawns. After that, everything just happened. I woke up in an unfamiliar place, tied in a chair, with Mr. Gibo in front of me."

He doesn't look like he's lying, Kane thought. His eyes were still fixed on Chess, not letting any small movement go unnoticed. If only Mr. Gibo had been this vigilant earlier, it would've been impossible for Chess to escape.

After discussing for a little while longer, they decided to finally leave.

The waitress who had been watching them the entire time had lowered her shoulders. It looks like their beautiful customers are finally leaving. But because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, she had gathered her courage to go and personally bid them goodbye.

She even applied light tint on her lips before walking towards their table.

When she was almost there, the three beautiful people had already prepared to leave. She hastened her pace and was about to open her mouth to speak, when suddenly, the chimes on the door went ringing together with the strong gush of wind.

The lady's eyes had widened while looking at a certain spot.

Chess, who had just barely stand up, had the ends of his coat blown by the wind. It exposed his long and flawless legs which caught the waitress's attention.

The lady's eyes had widened in awe, making her forget that she's currently walking in a very fast pace. When she lifted her head to look at the front, it was already too late to dodge the person ahead.

But upon seeing that person's face, it was impossible for her to dodge even if she had the chance to. She can't let this chance slip away!

This is it… this is the beginning of her love story!

Isn't it always like this in books? The female protagonist would bump into his male lead and their love story would begin. They might face hardships and conflicts but, in the end, they would still end up on a happily ever after with their children at home.

And now, it's happening to her! All she had to do is to wait for her to fall into that person's arms!

However, while the lady had those weird thoughts running inside her head, Kane had already sensed the approaching incident. Upon seeing the lady's approaching figure, he had swiftly dodged her with a simple side step.

"Ah?" it was already too late when the lady realized that her supposed to be male lead had dodged her falling body.

She ended up lying flat on the floor, face-first. It looks like today isn't her lucky day.

"Let's go." Kane ignored the lady on the floor and pretended not to see anything. Aoi did the same, both of them looking so heartless.

Chess, on the contrary, was still considerate. He stretched his hand out and offered help to the lady. The waitress's eyes had begun to twinkle again as she stared at Chess's outstretched arm.

This is it. This is the real start of her love story! Even though this person is a woman, she can just easily switch gender! She can't let this beautiful chance end up in vain!

Once again, a person had mistaken Chess as a woman. That person was even willing to switch gender for him. How pretty could he be to be able to instantly bend a person's gender? It was simply astounding.

The waitress had even bit her lip as she raised her hand. Just a little bit more and she can finally touch him… but before she could do that, someone else's hand had already grabbed the extended hand.

"You can't strain your wrist. Let's go."

Right before her eyes, she watched her dreams crumble down. The love story that she was looking forward to… never happened in the end.

Aoi, on the other hand, had no ill intentions. He really just doesn't want Chess to strain his wrist. He saw the lady on the floor, but does it matter? It doesn't concern him. She is just a stranger and surely, someone else would come and help her later. It doesn't have to be them.

His thoughts are evil, but his intentions are not… probably.

They left that shop in no time and had started to look for a cab. A second later, a fire truck siren had floated over the entire place. Kane had pocketed his hands while watching that fire engine disappear from his sight.

"Should we go to a hospital?" Kane had shifted his eyes from the road to Aoi.

Even though Chess was the one who was hurt, that question seemed more directed to Aoi. Kane also had something on his eyes. It's like, he's looking at Aoi with concern.

Chess had knotted his forehead.

He glanced at Kane, then he glanced at Aoi. He repeated that for a few more times before glancing at his bruised wrist.

He was the one who's hurt, right? Why does it feel like Kane is even more worried for Aoi? Hm… Is it possible that…

"No. Hospital is just a waste of money." Aoi answered, falling deep into his thoughts.

Kane still had his eyes on him, not even bothering to glance at Chess who is silently following behind. His eyes had turned into a darker shade as he watched him longer.

"Reis is a better choice… Let's just go back to the room and let him treat Chess." Aoi added lowly.

Kane silently agreed before finally tilting his head to take a glance at Chess. He also had slowed his steps down, walking side by side with Chess.

Chess had that weird look on his face, making Kane arch his brow. Based on that expression, looks like Chess had misunderstood something. Kane immediately realized what he's thinking, but he had no intentions of correcting him. The only thing he did is grin.

But that grin immediately disappeared when he glanced back at Aoi. Kane had observed him from behind.

The way he walks, the way he holds onto Chess, the way he fidgets his fingers and the slight sweating on his forehead was alarming. This is the third time that he witnessed Aoi acting this way. He looked restless and uncomfortable.

Even Chess had noticed that something was wrong with him. Aoi's grip on his hand had been tighter than before, and every second, it tightens even more.

He said nothing but his thoughts had cleared.

Earlier, when he saw how Kane looked at Aoi, he thought something was going on between the two of them. It would've been okay even if that was the case. But now… After observing Aoi just like how Kane did, it didn't seem like that.

Right now, all he could see is the unstable look of their class doll.