I did a whole ton of research ha. XD The piece above is my inspiration for this chapter. I recommend listening to it on 0.75 playback speed. Fatal frame 4 is also the game I've been playing for the past few days now. :3

XLI.

Kinomi.

I'm not asthmatic the last time I checked. But why do I feel like I need an inhaler? No shit, I think I fucking need a nebulizer.

Oh bollocks... oh shit... of all the places I could have possibly bring the two tourists. Of course I had to see him again in the most unexpected time. I have forgotten the fact that I am the least favorite person of the world. What the hell is he doing in here? I thought that he's a professional volleyball player now... why is he working in a museum?

"Hi..." I croaked after a few moments of silence.

"It's been so long, huh? I never thought I'd bump into you, Mikazuki-san. How are you?" He asked, keeping that smile intact.

He was no longer the teenage boy I once knew. He's a man now and he had changed a lot. He grew out his blonde hair, revealing the light waves at the tips that looked so fluffy to the touch. He had gotten even taller and lean and he looked very dignified in his semi-formal attire.

"I'm—I'm fine." I forced my features to betray nothing by matching his smile as I talked to him. But as I did so, it made me wonder how effortless he made it seem when I couldn't even stay that way for more than three seconds.

He nodded. "Are you with someone?"

I opened my mouth to reply but before I could do so, someone called my name.

"Mimi!" Noah called out. I averted my gaze to him who was walking towards us with Aria in his arms. "I have used up all of the storage in my phone! Can I borrow yours, love?"

"U-uh..." I glanced at Tsukishima who's still eyeing me, still smiling. "Of course." I fished for my phone in my pocket and gave it to Noah. His forehead creased in surprise and confusion.

"Really? That's it?"

"What?"

"That's strange. You didn't sass me." He chuckled, rewarding him a sharp glare from me.

"Nee-chan..." Aria said in a small voice, her eyes locked on to Tsukishima. She held out her arms, wanting me to carry her. I took her from Noah, while her gaze kept glued to the blonde man in front of us.

"Um, Noah, this is Kei Tsukishima." I said firmly, preventing my voice from shaking. "He's my... classmate back in high school."

"Oh, hi!" Noah beamed and gave him a grin. He held out his hand, offering a handshake. Tsukishima looked down at it then back at him before taking it. "I'm Noah Warner. It's nice to meet another Japanese aside from Mimi's family."

I saw the slight quirk of Tsukishima's eyebrows, glancing at me then back at Noah. "Likewise."

"How about me, Nee-chan? Aren't you going to introduce me?" Aria asked with a slight pout.

I gave her a gentle smile. I struggled to keep my gaze at the male in front of me. "Of course. Tsukishima, this is my sister, Aria."

Aria also held out her hand for a handshake to which Tsukishima accepted.

"Nice to meet you, Aria-san." Tsukishima gave her a small smile.

"You look more handsome than Nee-chan's boyfriend, Kei-chan."

"Boyfriend?" I spluttered, eyes dilating in absolute shock and bewilderment.

"Yes, Noah-niichan is your boyfriend, right?" Aria said innocently.

"Hey guys, English please. I don't understand a word you're saying. I heard my name. Are you guys talking about me?" Noah asked with an innocent tone.

"Where did you learn that?" I narrowed my eyes at her.

"From Nii-chan."

Tetsurou... I'm going to fucking murder you in your sleep!

I heard Noah scoff when he was utterly ignored. "Hmpf, whatever. Excuse me while I just go take some pictures of those dinosaurs. I'm sure they'll appreciate me more."

"Aria-san," Tsukishima interjected, "The term boyfriend and girlfriend are only for those people who are together because they love each other."

Aria slowly nodded. "Like Nii-chan and Eira-neechan?"

Tsukishima nodded in agreement, giving her a small, lazy smile. "And you shouldn't compare people because beauty is subjective. But I'll treat you to some ice cream sometime."

"Really?!" Aria let out a bright smile and her eyes sparkled in delight. "I like you already, Kei-chan."

"Aria, you shouldn't address people like that when you only met them, especially your elders." I explained gently, tucking a loose strand of her straight brown hair behind her ear. "Okay?" She nodded.

"Let's go on a date sometime, Kei-chan!" Aria beamed. I almost face-palmed myself. She didn't understand it.

"Aria!" I scolded. Oh god, Tetsurou, what the hell did you teach to our sister?!

"It's alright, Mikazuki-san." Tsukishima chuckled. I only nodded without sparing him a glance, feeling the awkward yet thick tension between us.

To make things even worse, Aria wanted me to put her down because she wanted to go to Noah. What the hell? They left me all alone with him!

"Your sister kind of reminds me of someone." Tsukishima said.

I let out an awkward laugh. "She's Tetsurou's sister after all..."

There was a sudden and heavy silence that filled us even though this room was loud and packed with so many tourists. But it wasn't enough to keep my anxiety at bay. Here I was, having an internal crisis while he didn't look the slightest bit bothered. It left me with the realization that I'm the only one still affected and him seeing me again for the first time in six years didn't even faze him...

I mean, six years, right? I'm sure he's moved on. We both moved on. I'm just surprised to see him today. We're two mature adults now. It's been six years already. And besides, this is what I wanted, right? I wanted him to move on with his life and be happy. But still, I wanted to apologize for hurting him but that would mean bringing up the past. In the end, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

"How have you been doing for the last six years?" He asked.

I don't know what hurts more, him being so casual or him being so cold to me.

"A lot of things have happened to me over the years. I've earned a degree in culinary arts... baking and pastry arts. I'll pursue a master's degree sometime in the future." I answered.

He nodded his head. "I see. You've done quite a lot in your life."

"How about you?" I asked. "How are you?"

"Oh, well, I took a degree in archaeology. I also played in the V.League in college."

"I know." I blurted out before I could stop myself. Tsukishima looked at me. "I mean, you did?" I asked instead. The corner of his mouth slightly rose.

"So you're staying here for good?"

"Ah, no..." I swallowed, my chest constricting at the question. "I've actually only came home because of Tetsurou's wedding. I'm only staying here... for two weeks."

Tsukishima tilted his head to the side, his lips forming a light smirk. In the course of our conversation, I haven't felt an ounce of emotion from him. I don't have the slightest idea what's going on in his mind; however, I'm also afraid of finding out. I know that I don't mean anything to him anymore but I don't want to hear it from him.

I took in a deep breath. I thought that time heals all wounds? Why do I feel like mine's getting even deeper? It's like the world is telling me, 'Here's the result of your decisions years ago. You left him, remember? It's no one's fault but yours. Come here, let's deepen your wounds even more, Kinomi.'

"Mimi, Mimi, Mimi, Mimi!" Noah came running back to me with a grin plastered on his face. Aria was trailing behind him. "I saw a black armor. It looked so cool!"

"That would be Masamune Date's jet-black suit of armor Gomai-do Gusoku." Tsukishima said, giving a PR smile of his own. "Though that suit of armor on display is only a replica, the original is available for public viewing on a few special occasions. The Sendai Domain was founded by the warlord Masamune Date four hundred years ago. He's also known as the 'One-Eyed Dragon.'"

"Ooh..." Noah looked so interested in Tsukishima's trivia.

"Kei-chan," Aria called out, tugging on his hand. He looked down upon her as she pointed at a dinosaur fossil. "What's that dinosaur called?"

"That's a Plateosaurus, Aria-san." He informed her.

"How about that one?" She pointed at another dinosaur fossil.

"Camptosaurus."

"That one?"

"Albertosaurus."

"How about that one, Mr. Tsukishima?" Noah pointed at another dinosaur fossil.

I wouldn't be surprised that he knows every single detail of this museum, each story it has to tell. He has always been interested in history and archaeology after all. But still, I couldn't help running a palm over my face in dismay at their behavior.

"That's a Stegosaurus." Tsukishima said.

"Wow, you know the name of all the dinosaurs in this museum? You're so cool!" Noah complimented him with wide eyes.

"I work here after all." Tsukishima shrugged with a smile.

"You're a total complete package, aren't ya, mate! Tall, smart and handsome." He chuckled as he patted Tsukishima's shoulder. I'm afraid that he's already getting irritated with Noah and Aria's inquiries.

"Everything that you're not, Noah-nii." Aria said.

"Wow, Aria! You're really Mimi's sister!" Noah said with a frown.

In the end, Tsukishima toured Noah and Aria around different parts of the museum. He explained everything in complete detail. From the impressive artistic and cultural legacy left by the pieces of weaponry, armor, pottery, artifacts and art. I would only stay quiet and just trail behind them, listening to the smooth voice that I haven't heard in years.

"Mimi, you've been quiet for a while. Are you feeling okay?" Noah asked me.

"You also look pale, Nee-chan." Aria added, holding my hand as she looked up at me with a worried look on her face.

I shook my head, forcing a smile her way. "I'm fine. I just feel a little tired, that's all."

"Do you want to leave?" Noah asked.

I flickered a gaze at Tsukishima and he was also looking back at me. Do I want to leave? It would hurt to leave him again but I knew that it would be torture if I stay. I just feel so overwhelmed with what was happening today that I need to take a step back and rest. It was as if Tsukishima had broken the wall in which I had stored up all of my feelings for him so no one could touch it and everything just... collapsed and scattered.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. I nodded my head. Noah immediately obliged. He thanked Tsukishima for the tour and also bid farewell. Noah took Aria's hand in his left hand while he put an arm around the small of my back, then he guides me out of the museum.

I glanced at Tsukishima one more time. His honey brown eyes was void of any emotion as he watched me leave. I was leaving him again... and it didn't fail to convey the same feelings the first time I did.