_Chapter 55~ Friend and Foe_

          His neon pink hair was nowhere to be found. Mousy brown tufts stuck out from the sides of his head, contrasting his pale and thin complexion from beneath his breathing mask and also the idling IV bag from the posterior side of his bed. Brown strands identical to the male I'd always known. Even boney and thin, Mamoru Koshiro definitely shared similarities with Miyabi Koshiro.

            A heavy silence hung in the air for a long period of time. Ryu beside me, Aki lingering by the entrance with a frown pinned onto his face; no means of words could describe the melancholy sifting within the room as we stared at the vivid truth before us.

            Ryu had taken my hand. Despite usually being overwhelmed by butterflies as a result, this time was different. I wanted to give him a reassuring squeeze, especially if the story of what I'd heard had been true. Though, with my state of mind in the torrent that it was, I found it difficult to. The reason he had always been so scared for my well-being; why he'd pushed his past behind him and attempted to channel it out by staying within his isolated barrier—all the efforts of him moving on from that and gaining hope had just come crashing down in less than a year. By people like Daichi, Miyabi and I....

"Nearly three years," Aki murmured after what seemed like forever. "And yet he still has no signs of waking up."

             "Who's been..." The words left my mouth before I could consider them.

"His dad usually stops by," Aki replied, traces of woe breaching his once impassive features. "But I talked to the receptionist. Besides us two and occasionally Raidon, apparently his other family member—which we now know as Miyabi—frequently visits him, too."

           "Why were you out right now, Miyabi?" I found myself asking.

           "Me?" Miyabi hummed. "Oh, I had plans."

           "Plans?" I asked with a quirked brow.

"I came back from seeing my brother," he responded.

The weight in my chest only inclined. As much as I wanted to thwart the formulating idea from my mind about Miyabi, I couldn't find it in me too.

That cheerful dork I'd always known; Daichi... They were involved in Ryu and Aki's past? Miyabi held a grudge against Ryu for his brother's state? I couldn't see it. Not from him, anyway. Were appearances really that deceiving?

"You were so stubborn about it in the beginning but throughout everything you started to loosen up about the most important thing: that Akelius Academy is a school of delinquents. That the students attending aren't so misunderstood and nice; that we all ended up there for a reason. Some, worse than others, but still a reason. It was hard to get you to loosen up, but I'm glad you let down your walls. You don't understand how grateful both Koshiro and I are for allowing this all to play out better than we would've thought."

"Miyabi's been a delinquent leader all throughout middle school at Heilin Middle," Aki went on, surfacing whatever information he had gathered from the day before. "Mamoru attended there for his first year, too, but switched to Hyou when he was in his second year. It doesn't add up yet, but this has to be a reason why he never brought him up around us. Oh, and that 'Sugiyama' guy also attended Heilin."

            Ryu's features scrunched up at his words. Aki scuffed his feet as a result.

            "Aniki," he eventually forced out, faint-hearted, "sorry... about what I said back then. About Koshiro's situation being your fault...."

"Why?" Ryu murmured, his eyes never leaving the hospital bed. "You weren't wrong. If I hadn't called him and went looking for you myself...."

I compressed my hold around his hand. Ryu guiltily dropped his gaze after he met my eyes, but he didn't say anything else.

Regardless, Aki didn't take his words well. For as long as I knew him, I'd never seen him look so conflicted—so guilty. "I..." he sputtered for words, "was the one being immature and irrational...."

             "It doesn't matter who we put the blame on," Ryu told him. "Mamoru's situation won't change."

            "Then why do you keep holding it against yourself like this?" Aki demanded, unable to help himself. "If you just moved on from it, then—"

            "How do you expect somebody to move on from something like this?"

            "Look... I get it!" Aki snapped, his voice withholding a tremor. "Delinquency isn't so bright, but... We still had good times. We should be focusing on that stuff, not.... We even dragged Kikuchi-senpai into this all."

            I bit the inside of my cheek at the mention of my name. Swallowing back whatever reluctance forming inside of me, I did what I knew I should—slipped my hand out of Ryu's, extended out my arms and crushed the both of them into a sideways hug. Almost instantly, both of them had gone stock-still, eyes growing as wide as saucers. Their heads jerked downwards at me and I only pulled my attention towards the male before me.

             "I... know I don't have the right to say anything," I carefully started. "But even from hearing that story, I know you two shouldn't be quarrelling like this. If Mamoru hated seeing you two fighting from way before, how would he feel knowing that because of him you two were at each other's throats for nearly three years?"

              Words had flooded out of my mouth before I could make sense of them, but despite that, I did my best not to waver. Aki and Ryu were both quiet for a couple moments making my skin crawl. Neither of them made the gesture of slipping out of my hold though, as if they couldn't find it in them to.

              "As soon as he wakes up paralyzed," Aki eventually murmured, his trembly voice barely escaping a whisper, "he's going to hate us anyway."

             "And even if he doesn't hate us..." Ryu continued in agreement, "that'd just make us hate ourselves more."

              My heart hammered against my ribcage, eyelids elevating in disbelief. "Didn't the doctors say there's a chance—"

"He's been asleep for a long time, Reina," Ryu cut me off, his left ear collapsing onto the top of my head. "Even if he does wake up, there's the likelihood he'll suffer amnesia. Difficulty moving and recovering... He'll be in a wheelchair. There's... no hope going back to how it was. That's why Miyabi wants to get back at me. Going so far as to use you...."

Aki produced a wry snort—dejection oozing into his tone, "And us idiots noticed this ploy a little too late."

It was as if all the strength in my body had left me, similar to when I'd gotten hit by the truck and felt physically scarred all over—but this time the pain was internally. Though, if those delinquents that chased me that day were referring to Miyabi when they said 'Koshiro' did that mean when I ran into him... Did he make me stumble onto the road on purpose?

Miyabi rested his chin on his free palm, his other hand tightening around my wrist. "You look fine. You're not hurt. Why are you not hurt and bleeding again?"

Did he... dream of me getting hurt on purpose? That, fun-loving Miyabi? Many thoughts swirled around my head, only causing me to feel weaker than I'd ever felt. The daisies Daichi insisted he'd given me by accident; those random bruises that appeared on his skin from 'accidents'; the phone calls his younger sister had informed me she'd heard him mentioning me— to Miyabi at that... Those continuous bombardment of questions about Ryu and I; why Daichi and Miyabi were 'so close'; the bowling alley when I'd gotten drunk....

  They were a misconception of the peaceful times between us when instead it were all a plan? To bring us together? But, how? How could....

              "I came here to ask if you had a partner."

              My eyelids rose considerably. After a period of blankly staring at one another, I peered over my shoulder, but nobody was there that he could've been conversing with. Carefully, I returned my gaze back to a bemused Daichi. Wait, was he talking to me?

              "Partner?" I repeated dumbly.

              "Yeah," he replied in an oddly cheery tone. "If not, want to work on this project together?"

The day he first approached me and swore to have my back... was that all a charade?

            "Just so you know, Reina, Miyabi and I worked together to bring you and him together. Miyabi approached Satoru solo for a year but when things weren't working out, he told me to approach a random student in our second year so I decided to choose you. It didn't necessarily have to be you so you can consider yourself lucky. Who I allowed you to fall for—now you have my condolences for that."

            Daichi's words were like oil to an already heated fire. Even the reason Ryu and I ended up getting close... All of that... All of that was....

            It felt as if I were losing my mind. Everything— was all the things that led up to now just a sham by the both of them? To get back at Ryu? They sincerely didn't think anything of our relationship in the first place? How did... anybody expect me to believe something as dubious as this? As unbelievable....

"Iwasaki"—I didn't even recognize it was me who was speaking due to how choked I sounded—"I want to talk to Daichi and Miyabi."

"No!" Both Aki and Ryu shouted simultaneously, drawing away from me.

They looked at me and it was probably due to the look on my face that immediate regret seemed to flash amongst their faces. They shared an awkward look before Ryu went on to speak, more carefully, "Reina, you know that's ridiculous. Did you hear what Sugiyama said? What he tried doing? Even those delinquent who—just the other day—were so attached to you—"

"I... It's just hard for me to picture this all!" I hadn't meant to raise my voice but I ended up doing just that. Chewing on my lower lip, I picked up my gaze to look them in the eye. "You're right. Just the other day, everything was normal. Just a little while ago, when I spoke with Miyabi—Daichi—they were still on good terms with us—they were our friends. And now they're suddenly our enemies? Maybe we're just reaching the wrong conclusion about this all. Maybe they're being threatened, and—"

             "I know this is incredulous, Senpai," Aki stated brusquely. "But betrayal happens. You think you know someone—"

            "We didn't even find proof!" I snapped. "With just a few words—with a few, misleading words—you can't overwrite...."

             "Daichi was in his gang back in middle school," Aki responded.

              Although I covered my ears to deny his words, they only succeeded in piercing through me. "Miyabi can't have a gang. H-he's such a nice person—"

               "Reina," Ryu whispered. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close, gently. Despite the heaviness in my stomach, it tingled at the feeling of my body pressed against his. I sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture. It'd calmed me down somehow—the words of Aki seeming a little less bleak.

                "Those two got in trouble all the time, Senpai." His voice boomed in my ears no matter how hard I tried to block them out. "I did my research, I know. And since day one I'm pretty sure you damn know my research is reliable."

               "St-still...." I stammered, my arms falling by my sides in defeat.

               "Just because they were Class President or apart of the Student Council, that doesn't change anything," Aki spat. "They most likely only needed a higher position to use against us or something—have a larger reign of the school."

"Then," I started.

Aki shook his head, as if already knowing my thoughts. "And the thing is, Senpai: they can go after us. We can't retaliate against them or rat them out... at least not yet. Not without proper proof like you said."

My lips quivered but I couldn't find it in me to refute any longer. I leaned against Ryu who only intertwined our fingers for reassurance. Aki's eyebrows shot upwards as he stared at our hands, hurt slapped across his face before immediately replacing itself with frustration.

Aki clicked his tongue, spinning on his heels as he left the room. "I'll go look into this some more."

The room returned to its heavy state as soon as he exited the room. After a minute, Ryu retreated and lead me outside of the room, most likely because we were being too loud and bothering Mamoru as he slept. Once we fell into the outside seats of the waiting rooms and Ryu had gotten me a warm drink, I sniffled as I stared at it, slumping against his arm.

"I'm sorry," I finally mustered out. "This must be hurting you more than me, too."

"Well," Ryu replied, dropping his hand on top of my head, "I'm the one that's sorry. It's my fault you have to go through something like this. I even ruined our first date."

I drew away with widened eyes, turning up my head. "That's not—"

"It's...not so much the fact that Mamoru's condition is making it tough for me," Ryu went on, avoiding my gaze. "Ever since I was a kid, it's just been hard and lonely. I've always sacrificed for Aki, since I'm his family and he needed me. Even if my mom was gone and my dad—whatever that ass if doing right now... I wanted to stay positive; not hold a grudge and have it blind me. And even if Aki doesn't see it yet, my step-mom's been like a friend to me since she came into my life. No matter what her job gets to, she always makes sure to come home for dinner, and even if Aki doesn't show up at home half the time, she always makes sure to leave him a plate in case he does.

"Even though my dad hasn't come home in years, she still promised to stay with us. She even got us a bigger place to stay at since our old apartment was getting cramped. I can't even begin to thank her. I owe Saori Iwasaki so much."

It was the first time I'd ever heard Ryu's voice crack so much. He dropped his face onto my shoulder and my heart ached.

"That's the main reason why I'm so angry with Aki. Even though he realizes he's immature and that he's been taking her kindness the wrong way all this time...he still doesn't want to accept anything to do with her.

"For high school, when I wanted to drop my delinquency and be referred to as Ryu Iwasaki—I know, so creative—Aki even altered his last name to Mitsoyu as if to spite me. Ever since Koshiro's incident, we always seemed to disagree more. But you're right—I do know Mamoru would scold us for this. Still, everything had just taken a huge turn I couldn't keep up with. That's why I thought that maybe if I stayed away from everybody my life would be easier that way. That if I just had my step-mom....

"But when I was in my second year... I met someone I came to care for very much." My eyelids shot upwards as Ryu properly rose his head and met my eyes. Though we were both teary-eyed, that still didn't wipe away the warm smile that framed his lips as he squeezed my hand. "I wasn't really thinking and threw her off my lap and hurt her—which I can tell you I really, really regret I did right now—but I'm also glad it happened because I never would've came to know such an amazing girl existed. One who'd stick with me no matter how much I pushed her away; that still cared for me no matter how much I put her through and continue to do so; but most of all, for seeing me like an equal human being—something I couldn't quite see myself as anymore.

"I don't think I told you, but I really am grateful I met you, Reina," he confessed. Momentary guilt flickered across his countenance. "I wouldn't blame it if you came to hate me for causing this all, and, the idea alone is painful to imagine—"

I cut him off with an abrupt kiss on the cheek. Ryu stiffened like a board, bug-eyed, and I backed away, rubbing at my eyelids.

"I can't hate you, Iwasaki," I said. "Ever. But... it's just, this is making me utterly confused. Because if what Daichi said was true, then we ended up together on purpose. I'm... scared that we don't even like each other because we want to, but because of that manipulation—"

"No way!" Ryu's instant objection caught me off guard. Now it was my turn to recoil, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. He lessened the proximity between our faces and I reluctantly met his eyes— his grey coloured irises that continued to melt my very core. "Even without them I would've came to like you," he assured me despite the colour dusting his cheeks. "Maybe it might've taken awhile longer, but... at least now, I can't imagine my life without you."

My heart went against me by constricting. I couldn't halt the tears overwhelming my eyes as he once again enveloped into a hug. Just like earlier, his embrace was warm, protective—firm arms wrapped around my frail body. The world around me melted away as I squeezed him back, burying my face into the crook of his neck.

Were emotions that easy to play a trick on the mind? Could it be possible I was avoiding the obvious since the very beginning or was this all really only a misconception?

Even if it wasn't, there was no doubt in my mind that I liked Ryu; that I didn't want this to end.

Regardless of if I were to push him aside for whatever puzzling mess tumbling down upon us or not, I knew that wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't give me anything in return. At least, not now.

Those who I'd call my friends and those who I'd refer to as my foes had somehow turned out to be the people I least expected them to be.

And this entire time at Akelius... maybe I was provoked to fearing and hating the wrong people after all.

______________________________

Gah. So emotional.

Although I wanted to come to this part of the story I didn't anticipate it hurting this much. Sigh.

Do you guys believe Ryu and Reina's relationship will persevere? :-( What about Daichi and Miyabi? Do you really accept they're the bad guys after all?

-Misty