𝔅𝔩𝔬𝔬𝔡𝔶 || Minamoto T. || JSHK

18.0 consternation

"I fucked up."

These words were not words Kou ever thought he would hear his older sister say. Her voice cracking and shaky. Through her sobs, he could only understand her giving an apology. Frankly it was something worth worrying about. He had never seen Yumeko cry much less actually show any kind of sadness; save for the sad smiles she'd give when she thought no one was looking.

His brows crunched upward as he took the call, a little ways away from a certain ghost and his senpai who were both curiously gazing in his direction.

He was talking quietly with whoever was in the other end but his face had gone from confusion to concern in the span of two seconds. Honestly, to Hanako it was hilarious. Yashiro didn't think the same. "Nee-chan?" She heard him question his older sister, or called out to her rather.

Kou liked to believe he knew his siblings well enough, but lately... Maybe he was thinking too much about it. Yeah, maybe he had been thinking too much about it. However, this call with Yumeko made him believe otherwise.

If he thought about it, he rarely saw her eat anything and what she did eat, she never genuinely looked to like it; it brought a damper to his mood but he never commented on it. Even when she was at home, all she ever did was read books but not once had he seen the same cover. He never saw her talking with friends at school, though he supposed he could say the same about his brother. In fact, if Kou really thought about it, did he ever truly know Yumeko? Did the things he know not even scratch the surface about Yumeko as a person who he thought he knew well enough...?

"Kou-kun?" "Kid?" Both Yashiro and Hanako blinked in surprise, watching as Kou left the bathroom with a hurried step. Hanako had a good idea of what had the younger boy worried but there'd only be one way to truly find out.

"Yashiro, let's follow!" With a cheery yell, Hanako floated off after Kou. Yashiro whined quietly about how they shouldn't intrude but followed after Hanako regardless.

Kou had worry etched all over his face. After no longer hearing any sensible words, the call was cut. He checked her classroom, only finding a couple students loitering back but no Yumeko. He also checked the student council room, where usually he could find his siblings but again, no avail.

By now, Hanako and Yashiro had caught up to him. Hanako was a bit more cautious as he didn't want to accidentally run into Teru. Yashiro paused by the door frame, hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath.

"Hey Hanako, when Yumeko stayed here awhile back, where did she stay?" Hanako placed his hand under his chin, thinking. Yashiro peaked inside the student council room, only to find empty chairs inside. How weird, usually there was at least one person inside.

"Um," she began only to be cut off by Hanako snapping his fingers.

"She stayed in the infirmary overnight but I'm not sure if--" Kou ran off as soon as he had a location, escaping away before hearing Hanako finish his thought. He only had one thought in mind and that was to save Yumeko from whatever had made her cry.

"Oi, what are you guys doing here? The president hasn't seen you, has he?" A new voice spoke, startling the ghost and first year girl. Hanako flinched at the thought of Teru. He shuddered at the thought of having to see him so suddenly.

"Er, Akane-kun, there's no one inside the room though. Isn't there always one officer except during class time?"

Akane pushed his glasses back and was about to comment they could have just gone inside but froze at Yashiro's comment. "Eh? That's strange. The president's supposed to be here already."