↳ CHAPTER THREE :

ORDINARY LIFE ↲

TUESDAY, 12 APRIL | MORNING

IT WAS ANOTHER RAINY MORNING IN SHIBUYA. Kaori sat quietly in the subway again, listening to music, while being squished in between multiple people, and watching said random people going on about their daily lives.

She hugged her bag close to her, as her eyes seemed to travel back to one specific person this early morning.

Ren Amamiya

He was standing in front of her again, also being squished by multiple people, forcing him to also hug his bag close to him.

And again like yesterday, he didn't look off or out of the ordinary, on the contrary, he looked like a regular high school student making his way to school.

There was just something mysterious about him, like the fact that he showed up in fourth period yesterday or the fact he and Ryuji seem to be getting along more than just fine.

The troublemaker of the school and the transfer student with the shady past, an interesting pair. Could the two of them be possibly planning something?

Scratch that, they're definitely planning something, why else would they be this late? The better question is what are they planning?

Wouldn't be a surprise if it was something illegal, considering he has a criminal record attached to his name.

But it isn't exactly Ryuji's style to do something without a good reason, so it would have to be something for a good cause.

Kaori frowned, she couldn't help but wonder if Ren really did assault someone without a good reason.

Like Ryuji, he didn't seem like that kind of person who'd just attack someone without some kind of reason, but maybe a first impression isn't a good point to judge someone of off.

Kaori sighed and shifted in her seat, hugging her bag even closer, as more people entered the subway.

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"The Greek philosopher Plato divided the human soul into three parts," Mr. Ushimaru, their social studies teacher said to the class.

Kaori sat quietly hunched over in her seat, doodling in her journal. She never was a big fan of social studies. But what can she do about it?

"A soul is composed of appetite, spirit, and what else?"

Kaori looked up for a moment and was almost startled as she saw Ren sitting in front of her. Apparently she still had to get used to someone sitting in front of her. It was weird for that seat to be filled, when it was empty for so long.

She looked around the class. Like always, no one seemed to be interested in answering the question, even if most of them probably knew the answer.

Mr. Ushimaru sighed quietly and like always picked out a random student to answer the question, "Do you know the answer, Amamiya-san?", Mr. Ushimaru asked with his usual stern face.

Kaori watched curiously, as Ren shifted in his seat, surprised to be suddenly called out. 

He thought for a moment before answering, "Logic, sir."

"Correct."

Kaori smiled to herself and turned back to her doodles. The transfer students becomes more and more interesting as the days go by.

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TUESDAY, 12 APRIL |AFTER SCHOOL

Classes have ended for the day and Kaori calmly and slowly exited her classroom.

She planned on going to the school library to do some homework. She did that often, considering that she can't really concentrate back home.

She went into the direction of the stairs, only to find Kamoshida talking to Ann again, blocking the way.

Kaori huffed in annoyance and had no other option but to wait for them to go. She went to stand beside some lockers and looked at her phone, pretending not to listen to their conversation.

"Hey there, Takamaki," Kamoshida greeted, "You looking for a ride home? Things have been pretty dangerous lately with all those accidents."

As if, it's probably just an excuse for something else he wants, Kaori thought annoyed while scrolling through her phone.

"Sorry, I have a photoshoot today. It's for the special summer issue, so I can't afford to miss it..." Takamaki replied.

"Hey, now being a model's fine and dandy, but don't work your pretty little self to the bone. You mentioned you weren't feeling well, right? Something about appendicitis?"

"Yes, I keep planning to go to the hospital, but I've been too busy... sorry to worry you," Takamaki spoke.

"You must be lonely too. I feel bad for keeping your best friend at practice so often. That's why I asked you out in the first place," he took a short pause, "Oh, and... be careful around that transfer student. He's got a criminal record, after all. If something were to happen to you..."

"...Thank you. Please excuse me."

Kaori took this as her sign to looked up from her phone.

Just in time, she saw Ann leaving the scene, while Kamoshida looked pretty angry probably not happy by the outcome of the conversation.

It didn't take long before he left himself, passing Kaori and glaring at her in the process.

The small brunette immediately looked on to the floor, not wanting to engage in a conversation with him. Lucky for her though he quickly left the hallway.

Kaori looked up again and around the hallway. To her surprise, she saw Ren also standing around, someone who also probably heard the conversation between Takamaki and Kamoshida.

She flashed him a smile and gave him a small wave of her hand before leaving for the library.

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After Ren had heard the conversation between Takamaki and Kamoshida and accidentally encounter Kaori again, he headed out of the school.

It was weird that the two always seem to run into each other by sheer coincidence. But she seems kinda cool, so he doesn't really mind. Maybe he should make an effort to get to know her?

She seems like the kind of person people like to be around, friendly and considerate. Sure, she doesn't talk a lot but maybe that's just because she's shy around random people.

But if what he thinks is true, then why is she always alone when he sees her?

Maybe she prefers be alone? Or maybe he got a wrong first impression of her, maybe she's a really unfriendly person?

He shook his head, he can't imagine that she seems so sweet all the time,  Well, the times that he saw and talked to her.

Ren, immersed in his thoughts exited the school grounds and was immediately greeted by Ryuji, who threw him out of them.

"Yo," Ryuji greeted with a friendly smile.

"What's up ?" he returned.

"I wanna talk about that castle from yesterday," Ryuji started, "I tried tellin' myself it was all just a dream... but I couldn't do it. I can't act as nothing happened. It's all connected to that bastard Kamoshida after, all."

Ren nodded along, listening intently to the blond.

"I wanna find out what's up with that place, no matter what. And y'know, you're the only person I can rely on for this stuff. So, you're in?" Ryuji asked.

Ren gave Ryuji one final determined nod, "Sure. What's next?"

Ryuji smiled excitedly, satisfied by the answer, "Ooh... looks like I managed to talk some sense into you. I think we should just try and retrace our steps from yesterday."

"In the meantime, you're walkin' to the station, right? Let's go together. Lemme know if you notice any other weird buildings on the way,"

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In the meantime Kaori sat in the library trying to do her homework.

She repeatedly hits her textbook with her pink pen, that she is -per usual twirling in her hand and even though her eyes are trained on the heavy book in front of her, her mind seemed to be somewhere else completely.

Her previous encounter with Kamoshida, and his conversation with Ann, brought back a thought that has been in the back of her head for a while now.

The school was a mess, Kamoshida can simply do what he wants and the school and everyone around him just push it under the rug.

She desperately wants to do something about it, but the last time she tried she almost got expelled.

Kaori stopped twirling the pen in her hand and gripped it firmly.

Just because of him all of her friends abandoned her, no one trusts her anymore, they think she's a liar. She got thrown out of the newspaper club and suspended for a week.

If she tried something like that again she would have to suffer consequences, consequences she wasn't too eager to face.

It was bad enough he got her once, she doesn't have to provoke a second time. 

Kaori sighed, she slammed shut her textbook and packed up her things.

It was useless to try and learn now if she can't concentrate at all.

She swung her heavy bag over her shoulder and quietly walked out.

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Ryuji and Ren were walking along the street, looking out for the huge castle from yesterday.

"If a huge castle like that really exists, I'm sure we'll find it in no time," Ryuji said, "When'd they build something like that though?"

The two boys stopped, Ryuji looked around, trying to remember what they did the previous day, "We walked that way from here, right?" He asked pointing to a nearby alleyway.

"Maybe," Ren replied unsure himself.

"...All right, this way. Lemme know if you notice something."

And with that Ryuji walked into the nearby alleyway, with Ren reluctantly following him.

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