CHAPTER 38 (PART 2)

It was a full-house. Filled to the brim with contagious energy, the kind that made excitement bubble beneath your skin right down to your bones. Most of the lights were shut off and students and teachers alike were either singing or dancing around to the music blaring from the speakers.

Kouichi had been asked by the News Department to take some photos of the event so he gladly went to do so. Hiro and Yuji had run into an old friend from their middle school and since it left me feeling like an awkward third-wheeler, I slipped away before the tenseness could swallow me whole.

It was by the entrance of the gym that I saw her. She was standing with her sister posted at her side, no means of emotions reflecting on her face. They made sure those entering the gym were wearing a proper attire, and were legitimate students of the academy. Her sister rudely bumped her aside only to feign it off with a sneer, and her twin brother who'd always dogged her like some kind of puppy was sure to echo her. And with their backs turned, Saki tried to swallow down the hurt the best she could, but there was no hiding the scowl she aimed into their backs.

"Bull!" Yuji had snapped, lurching to his feet. "She chose this because of the club's inadequacy. She's at her damn sister's beck and call because our club is..."

Yuji's words from then sure didn't seem like a misconception at all.

When Ikumi and Eita went slithering into the crowd, they left Saki behind with door responsibilities. Saki clenched the fabric of her skirt, smouldering. Regardless, she remained by the entrance, even when the emcee began their speech for the night to initiate the event.

"So you're really not keen on coming back?"

Saki's shoulders stiffened but even without turning her head she could tell I was the one speaking. I leaned against the back walls, pinning my gaze to the large crowd ahead.

"Why does it matter?" she finally responded. "I bet you're relieved I'm not there to cling onto or bother you anymore."

Her words were grating my ears; churning me with guilt. "Is that what you think?"

"Isn't that what you think?" she countered. "You've told me plenty of times how annoying I am to you."

Albeit putting herself out there with much confidence, it was easily slipping from her features. Even beneath the blinking lights and upbeat music, there was no hiding the pain emanating from her at all.

Flattening my lips, I craned my attention onto the flickering lights upon the boisterous stage. I was starting to feel sick to my stomach. "Have you spoken to the others yet?"

"About them," she said, stabilizing her pokerface. "I've made up my mind to stay in the Disciplinary Committee so can you tell them to give up on trying to get me to come back? No matter how many times I tell them they just aren't accepting it. Especially Yuji and Hiro."

"It's because they feel guilty," I pointed out. "That you left to save our club."

Saki cracked a humourless smile and fiddled with the cuffs of her primly crisp uniform. Not even a single wrinkle to be found. Then again, she wasn't wearing her hair up in pigtails either, which only worked to make her more unrecognizable.

"Not only my sister and brother, but my parents have been bugging me to join the Disciplinary Committee since the beginning of our first year," she finally said. "It's been a family tradition since my grandparents' days, and as you can clearly see, I've tried running away from it the best I could. But time caught up to me. Blocking it out has never worked until now, so why should I keep up such a useless struggle? It's better for the both of us with things this way."

"You seemed a lot happier in the HC," I mumbled, fiddling with my bangs. "Besides, who said this is better for us? You left us with a huge handicap when you left."

        Saki removed herself from the wall to properly face me. I couldn't see it there at first; it was another attribute I'd mistaken as apart of this bubbly girl. It was obvious she were used to convincing everybody she was perfectly fine when in reality...

"I was one to you guys to begin with, Mi-chan," she said, the mold of her smile waning. "It's better for the both of us that I'm out of your life now."

After bidding me one last wave, Saki went off to look for her siblings. Standing by the entrance the way I was, a heavy sigh slipped from my mouth despite the crushing emotions that accompanied it. Even as the music blared from the speakers, it only became background noise in my ears.

I stepped outside, into the cool, fall air. But even as I fell on my bottom, wrapping my arms around my knees I'd brung to my chest, useless thoughts seemed to pour in at once.

Sure I'd understood it, but seeing firsthand how much Saki was going through was oddly suffocating. She even admitted how much of a jerk I was to her. And yet she was always so cheerful. All she wanted was to become my friend and I kept pushing her further and further away.

I'd always considered my ability to shrug aside reality as one of my positives, but was I really doing the right thing? Was it okay to continue shrugging Saki aside and not do anything to help her?

But what could I do to change anything? Hiro and Yuji didn't know the answer to that, and they grew up with the girl.

"Kenzou Hibiki!"

"Oh gosh, he's finally up!"

"Ah, Hibiki-kun look this way!"

My thoughts were thwarted as a series of raucous chaos and cheers raided the gymnasium. I dragged myself from the ground and angled my body to peer inside. Just as I did, I got a perfect glimpse of the very guy as he came strolling onto the stage along with Kaishou and Mori. Hibiki ambled across with as much haughtiness as always, blowing kisses into the squealing crowd of girls and groaning guys.

Scanning his wardrobe over, for some reason I couldn't stop my lips from quirking upwards. Was he seriously wearing some kind of rocker outfit? He even gelled up his hair. Typical Hibiki.

"There's where you are!"

"Miyuki, why'd you go and ditch us?"

I shifted my attention to find Hiro and Yuji sauntering toward me. I flashed them a tiny wave once they arrived, brushing it aside with a one-shoulder shrug. "Wanted some fresh air."

"Hibiki-kun!"

"Over here!"

The excitement from the crowd hadn't simmered even after his band had settled themselves on stage.

"I still don't understand how the guy's so popular," grumbled Hiro to no one in particular.

"Well, he isn't grumpy for starters. You should really learn a thing or two."

Hiro swivelled Yuji's way, eyebrow twitching.

"What?" Yuji went on, grinning per usual. "Popular or not, aren't we supposed to be supporting him, not bringing him down?"

Hiro scoffed and folded his arms. His expression clearly portrayed how unimpressed he was. Yuji merely sent a toothy grin my way, the multicoloured lights flickering upon his face and bringing out the blue strands in his hair.

"What are you thinking about, Miyuki?"

"Right now?" I hummed. "Just that I'm really in the mood to go home."

"The event's barely started," Hiro interjected in disbelief.

"Fine," I groaned. "Also how amazing Undead Ban is, dammit. There, you read my deepest thoughts. You satisfied now?"

Hiro deadpanned. An amused Yuji laughed to break the ice.

"Still not a stickler for school events yet I see," Yuji snorted. "So I'm guessing you don't care if Hibiki ends up screwing up right now or not?"

"He's not going to screw up." They both stared at me in confusion but my eyes were already trained in the distance and on that haughty idiot on stage. "He definitely wouldn't outrank IDOLiSH7, but he's talented nonetheless," I went on, resting against the wall and smiling. "Just watch him and be amazed."

Neither Hiro or Yuji received the opportunity to respond, mainly because Hibiki had already tapped the squeaking mic. The gymnasium fell silent, where the only sound was the static from the speakers echoing as Hibiki spoke.

"I'd like to dedicate this song to a special friend."

The audience roared with squeals. Hibiki chuckled, waiting for the mirth to settle down. Hand over his eyes, he gazed into the crowd until he was staring at my section of the room. Then, I could've sworn he winked at me.

"Wait, is he looking this way?" Hiro demanded.

Even I had gone a bit speechless. He'd also said 'special friend.' It was odd. He'd never made a declaration like that before, much less in front of a crowd this big. Who could he be talking about?

"Hiro, I think he's talking about you," Yuji answered the question for me, and prodded my arm. "Wow, to think our shorty is finally getting a song dedicated to him—"

Hiro smacked his arm without a moment's hesitation then grasped him by the collar. "You just shut up already."

Contrary to Yuji's sardonic apology, gleeful shrieks erupted from the giddy girls ahead of me. My smile wavered a bit as I returned my focus to the stage. It seemed impossible, but could it be possible he was referring to me? But of all people in this gymnasium, me? For all I knew, he probably didn't even wink at me; his eyelid had to be having another twitching dilemma again. Moreover, assuming the song was for Hiro would make things a little less problematic.

          As my mind continued to unravel his cryptic words, Hibiki had already begun singing and strumming his guitar. A headstrong beat and smooth voice; it was a little different from his usual rock-image, but it overtook the gymnasium with unbelievable charm nonetheless. Soon, everyone was swaying to the music. Hibiki, Kaishou and even Mori literally glowed on the stage with huge smiles on their faces, and amidst the performance, Hibiki sneaked a couple glances my way, pretending to shoot me through the heart with a fake gun and making the girls around me dreamily sigh and pretend-faint. And the bittersweet lyrics didn't help but hit my already timid self like a smack to the face. Cheeky, captivating and straightforward—it was a mirror of Hibiki himself, and that was what threw me off.

         The song ended after what felt like centuries. While Yuji and Hiro had even shifted to expressions of awe, the girls ahead of me made it clear they'd pushed his initial words to the backs of their minds.

          "They're so good," they squealed, fanning themselves.

          "Hibiki-kun has such a great voice," sighed another.

          "Gosh, and here he comes now!"

          My head snapped to the staircase Hibiki and his bandmates had just descended, politely chattering with the girls that surrounded him. He looked in my direction and I stiffened. Then with a wide smile, he fixed his gaze back onto the girls, dramatically extending his finger in the opposite direction. The girls simultaneously craned their heads and in that moment, Hibiki took that as his opportunity. He bolted straight in our direction, hand tight on his guitar to keep it from slipping.

Yuji and Hiro kept their position in front of me, a wall to separate us. They appeared ready to start talking but Hibiki only handed off his guitar for Hiro to carry.

"I'll explain later," he excused. He quickly manoeuvred his way around them only to be stopped in his tracks again.

"Hibiki-kun, you were amazing!" the girl beside me cried, animated stars swimming in her eyes.

"So I've heard, thank you." Hibiki awkwardly laughed on as he sidestepped away. When he was towering over me, all surrounding eyes on us, he bit his lip—an incurable habit of his—as he scooped up my hand in his.

I flinched. "What are you—"

"But I'm more curious to what you think, Miyuki," he said, that same, convicted twinkle in his eye. "Did it finally reach you this time?"

"Hey!" Hiro had shouted once he came to their senses. "Don't tell me—"

"That special friend was Miyuki?" Yuji demanded, in a more nonchalant voice than Hiro.

"Ah! Hibiki-kun's holding her hand!" screeched the girls with exaggerated gasps.

Hibiki withdrew faster than I believed possible, though he didn't let go of my hand. He weakly smiled and inched backwards. He peered at me from over his shoulder and with another mischievous smile, dashed for the exit, dragging me along with him.

"Hibiki!" I shouted as we practically barrelled out the exit, angry shouts and footsteps resounding after us.

"Keep running!"

He took a quick turn and darted out the school building, fingers tight around mine and leaving me stuck trying to keep up with his strides. He lugged me through the school courtyard where in the distance the sun was setting.

Since it had gotten fairly dark out it was easier to blend into the background. Tugging me against his torso, a reminder of how close the two of us had gotten, Hibiki pressed his back against the tree we'd hidden behind.

My lips curved into a sour frown, and I attempted breaking free of his hold. "You know—"

"Shh."

I deadpanned as the echoing footsteps of the mob of females disappeared. When we were finally in the clear, I waited for Hibiki to release me as he should.

Clearly I did not know this guy well enough.

His breath fanned against my bare neck as he brought his lips to my ear. "Now that we're alone—"

I sprung to my tiptoes, the top of my head making painful contact with his chin. Hibiki sucked in a yelp but I'd succeeded in getting free. Snickering to myself as I drew to the opposite end of the staircase, I watched as he fumbled around and gripped his jaw.

"Now that we're alone?" I echoed.

Hibiki was evidently disgruntled. "That was not what I had in mind."

"Get your mind out of the gutter." I folded my arms across my chest. "Now tell me why you kidnapped me."

Hibiki dropped his hands, and had smiled yet again as he took a step closer. "I told you I was going to, remember?"

"Actually, you said you were gonna find me. If your ulterior motive was to kidnap me, couldn't you have come up with a quieter method?"

"Nope," he responded despite his silly grin.

I rolled my eyes, not sure why I was so surprised anyway. "So?" I asked as he drooped in even closer. His elbow successfully connected with the tree, blocking me off from any means of escape. "What's the meaning of this?"

His amusement hadn't fallen. "Of what?"

"Why you brought me here." I poked into his abdomen, grinning when he retreated with a choked laugh. He was still ticklish. "And why you're getting so close. Tell me already."

          Shielding his stomach, Hibiki's lips tilt up into a smirk. "You mean to tell me you didn't get it even after that song?"

          Staring up into his mesmerizing golden irises, I could feel my stomach begin to clench. "About that, I can't believe you dedicated a song to me. You're so cheesy."

          "Damn." He feigned hurt. "And here I actually poured my heart into that 'cheesy song.'"

         He sucked in a breath from mock-pain. My lips twisted downward. "I mean, I would assume this kind of development would lead to some kind of confession, but I know you only write songs when there's something weighing on your mind. How bad is it this time?"

          Hibiki's didn't move to broaden the distance between us. Instead, he retained that ridiculously smug smirk. "What are you talking about, Miyuki? You're right. I was actually preparing myself to confess my undying love since childhood."

          I cocked a brow. Had I really gotten the wrong idea? Since we were little, whenever there was something Hibiki's found difficult say to someone's face, he would whip out a notebook and write some nonsensical poetry to let the news through easier. But if it had to do with... 'undying love' as he put it, then... My shoulders stiffened in sudden eureka. "Wait... do you mean you..."

Hibiki snorted. He flung the back of his hand to his mouth, but it didn't do much to stifle his oncoming snickers. Confusion washed over me like a wave. Hibiki's laughter only escalated. He backed away from me, wrapping his arms across his abdomen. He waved off my growing mortification with a hand.

"What kind of face is that?" he demanded, and went to wipe a tear from his eyelid. He then reached out and clasped my shoulder with an undeniable wink. "Don't worry, even if you are my best friend, and I like teasing you, I have no interest in flat-chested girls."

"Hey!"

"On that note, you should really wear sexier clothing. Like ripped or see-through. Give me something that'd make my heart race, y'know?"

"Hibiki!"

"Tokyo."

He moved away from me, resting his back against the tree. His laughter stopped all at once, way before I could want to stop myself from wanting to punch him for his misleading words.

"My dad got a job there and him and my mom are already finalizing the details to move," he continued. "He doesn't start for a while so they're still letting me finish the school year. But as of next year I'm gonna have to live there for my third year or even longer."

Considering his words weren't attached to any lightheartedness, I admit, it was difficult to digest. When it finally did sink in, it was that much harder to find my voice. He was leaving?

"You couldn't tell me this sooner?"

"I thought they were kidding," Hibiki replied. "But it's serious, apparently. And if it counts for anything, you're the first person I'm telling this to."

Well that explained the nervousness. "So you won't be around next year?"

"Nope."

I bobbed my head and emitted a large, tentative breath, "Well then."

Hibiki, knitting his brows together, craned his head my way. "Is well then all you have to say? No tears?"

"You're not leaving yet, right?" I nudged his arm and pursed my lips. "And here I was starting to get used to having an idiot like you around again."

A beat of silence passed through.

"It's alright to cry, you know," he said.

"I already said I'm not going to. What kind of person do you take me for?"

He cracked a smile. "True. You're the most heartless girl I know."

I couldn't help the frown that forced down my lips, Saki coming to mind. There was nothing to argue about it. I was heartless.

"What's your intention of bringing us out here?"

"You wanna go or something?"

Both Hibiki and I froze up at once. We simultaneously poked our heads out from behind the tree, peering past the dimly lit trees from the sunset to the three faces a good distance away. One, whom I recognized immediately with his baby face.

My jaw fell to the ground. "Hinat—"

Hibiki covered my mouth, stifling my yell. I struggled against his grip and pushed him away with a scowl. He shushed me and swallowing back my reluctance, I peered forward once again.

Hinata hadn't dropped his guard and scowl. Up against him were the two douches from the other day; lean, mean and tough as they were last time.

I swallowed hard. A brawl? It couldn't be! Not with Hinata!

"You changed quite a lot, Sotarou," said the first delinquent.

"Nice haircut," added the other.

Though maintaining his scowl fairly well before, Hinata's features fell to one of surprise. He rose his hands to his spiked up hair, suddenly sheepish.

"Oh, thank you very much." The delinquents returned matching smirks but that was when Hinata realized he'd done a terrible thing. Freezing up, he mustered his nasty (but really puppy-like) scowl yet again. "I-I mean... What's it to ya'?"

The delinquents broke out into a laugh.

"We're still holding it against you y'know," the brunet spoke up.

The blond ruffled up his hair. "You didn't do our classroom duty for us yesterday. Didn't we already decide you're taking over for us from now on?"

Hinata had his guard raised. "I... have my own things to do," he sputtered out. "Plus, there's no reason for me to have to do your responsibilities. We're in high school. Don't you think you guys should grow up already?"

This flipped a switch inside of them. The blond dropped his arm by his side, an ominous glower crossing his features. The brunet had already started making strides forward. Hinata stiffened like a statue as they approached him, his confidence slipping.

"What'd you say to us?"

The brunet's voice radiated its menace as he and his partner and crime loomed over Hinata. His knees were buckling; complexion pale. He couldn't even muster his voice past a whimper.

"I-I'm w-warning y-y-you," he stammered, holding out his shaky arms. "I-If y-you even t-touch me M-Miyuzilla w-won't stay quiet about it!"

The delinquents, on the other hand, weren't the least bit impressed. Nor happy. Winding back his fist, the blond seized Hinata by the collar, glower even darker than the night sky.

         "The hell? Are you trying pick a fight with us?"

The brunet cracked his knuckles in a painstaking manner. "We try asking you the nicely—"

"Nicely?"

The words slipped from my mouth in disgust. Hibiki had already snagged the brunet back and held him in a choke-hold—a move he'd specialized his viper grip in since we were little from binges of wrestling matches. The brunet struggled against Hibiki's hold, groaning for liberation.

The blond jerked away from Hinata, incredulity consuming his features.

"Who the hell—"

"And what exactly was so nice about the way you cornered and threatened him just now?" I went on. "Not even knowing the difference between asking for a favour or a threat, how stupid are you people?"

He went to punch me but Hibiki fortunately reacted way faster than I ever did trying to dodge. He shifted his weight between his feet and extended his arm. Once clamped in a grip, he threw the lightweight blond easily over his shoulder and hard against the ground.

The delinquent groaned in pain, gripping at his head. I clicked my tongue and glared at the brunet who'd scrambled to his feet, hand to his neck. Clearly disliking that, he tried making a move toward me but being protective as he was, Hibiki once again came to my aid. The brunet faltered in a defensive stance. But Hibiki only loosened his tie, a smirk in place. "Oh, what's with the hesitation? You want to fight, right? Just so you know ahead of time, I'm not exactly forgiving to anyone who gives my companions a hard time."

Hibiki, being the closeted wrestling fan he was, easily squared off against the brunet, taking him down easily and putting him into a hold that wasn't easy to break out of. As the brunet's body bent in ways I doubt his body never would've and yelps of pain erupted from him like a volcano, I shifted my focus onto Hinata who had inched back, bashfully.

"Hinata, are you alright?"

His body became rigid at once. He scuffed his feet, eyes flickering from the dirt then to me. Even in the darkness, it was pretty easy to pinpoint the blush spreading across his cheeks.

"U-um," he said awkwardly, "d-did you... hear what I said?"

"Yup." I grinned, more so when his blush grew tenfold as a result. "I can't believe you called for me. So cutely, too."

Hinata's ducked his head in an attempt to hide his face from me. He couldn't do that great of a job at it, considering his blush even managed to extend the tips of his ears.

"Yo," Hibiki called out. I turned briefly to find that the brunet was nowhere to be seen, as well as the blond he'd flipped. Hibiki gestured over his shoulder with his thumb, easily pointing out those two doofuses sprinting through the forest emitting cries of fear.

I shook my head. "Pathetic."

"And they shouldn't bother you again," Hibiki reassured Hinata, taking strides and halting at my side. "Well, even if they try during class I'll deal with them for you. You're in class 2-4 with me aren't you?"

Though assured he'd once again timidly submit, this time a flip switched from inside Hinata. He clenched his fists tight, lips caving downwards.

"I'm the pathetic one," he said. "I ended up having to rely on you guys."

"So?" I asked.

Clearly not anticipating my response, Hinata rose his head to meet my eyes. "So?" he echoed in disbelief. "I couldn't do a single thing myself! I even got so scared I couldn't move. Because I'm weak you two had to help me."

"And what's so wrong with that?" I responded. "If you're ever in trouble of course we'll help you."

His eyebrows ascended to his forehead, eyes shrinking back.

"I know I told you to grow a backbone but you didn't have to dress up so delinquent-like or put on a terrible act. I mean, you're still fairly good-looking in that attire, but... Well, I'm trying to say you can rely on us a little more. We're friends, right?"

Hinata was definitely astonished by the words that had poured out of my mouth. And honestly, I was as well. Never in my life did I ever anticipate such sentiment to cross my mind, let alone gather the courage to say it out loud.

"Obviously," Hibiki cleared his throat. "This whole 'friend' business doesn't include me, right?"

"Of course it doesn't," I told him. He brightened, causing me to smile as well. "You are my best friend and all."

Hibiki teetered over with a loud exhale. "It's never any fun when you don't blush when I tease you."

"Is that why you say this stupidly cheesy stuff all the time? To make me blush?"

"It's cute when you get all nervous, too."

I rolled my eyes. "Sadist."

Hinata chuckled.

"Hey, don't agree with her remarks, Hinata. I'm pure, I swear!"

But the laughs that left his mouth was back to one fitting of his personality, as if all the stress from everything lately building him up to this point had finally disappeared. I spared the tall idiot beside me still scrambling for an excuse a melancholic smile.

Hibiki wouldn't be around next year, huh?