Camp Criminal (NSFW) (BxBxBxBxB)

Chapter 5

A couple days go by. Something in the card game with Yuuma triggered me. Maybe I took his words the wrong way. Maybe the memories of my parents bother me more than I expected. But at least now I can be like how I wanted to be at this camp; cold and cut off from everyone else. That way everyone will definitely leave me alone. My earlier attitude could be fixed too easily. Now this one feels like it can last. It has to last...

(July 3)
I come to the cafeteria like usual in the morning. I sit down at my usual table. Everyone has taken their seats too. There's Hisashi, two tables in front of me. There's Gin across from Hisashi on the other side of the room. There's Kentaro at the table behind Gin. And then— huh? Matsu isn't where he usually is, at the table behind Kentaro.

Yuuma looks at the clock and back at Matsu's table. He's now late. That's strange... Matsu is always here. By the time I arrive at the cafeteria, Hisashi, Gin, and Matsu are always there. Usually Kentaro runs in, just in time. But Matsu is at least always here before me. He's always smiling happily and moving around restlessly in his seat. But he's late for the first time. Something is wrong...

Yuuma starts the day as usual like he doesn't care. We get our breakfast from Ana. It looks and smells good as always. But oddly enough, I don't have an appetite. I stand up and slowly raise my hand.

"Um... Counselor Yuuma? What about Matsu?" I ask.

"It looks like he's decided to not come on time this morning. We'll wait a little longer to see if he finally arrives. I'll check on him if he still isn't here after breakfast," he says.

But isn't that strange...? Is what I wanted to say, but instead I sat back down. What am I doing? This cold and distant personality can't hold up either? What's wrong with me? I shouldn't care about Matsu. Maybe he decided to sleep in today. Yeah, that's it. That must be it. What else can it be...?

The food in front of me still doesn't look that appetizing to my stomach. I start to bounce my leg and glance over at the empty table. I look back at the door. Matsu is nowhere to be seen. No, stop thinking about him... I don't care... I really don't care about anything...

But Matsu's carefree smile comes to mind. His cute stutter. When he said the frogs were a couple and looked at me. His shining yellow eyes. My relief at seeing his cheeks looking fuller than when he first arrived at the camp. How...How can I not care...?

I stand up again. I step over the bench and head for the door.

"Akiara? Where are you going?" Yuuma asks.

I pause at the door. Yeah. Where am I going? Didn't Yuuma say he'd check on Matsu after breakfast? Why do I have to go? I clench my hands into fists at my sides. But my uneasiness is crushing my heart. It won't stop until I confirm that Matsu really is just sleeping in with my own eyes. I have to...make sure he's alright...

"...I'm going to check on Matsu," I say. Then I open the door and walk out into the bright light of day. A cloud covers the sun almost immediately, making it darker. That isn't a bad omen...is it...?

"Akiara, wait," I hear Yuuma call me.

I can't wait. I hurry forward. I hurry past my cabin and to Matsu's. Is the sky getting darker or is it just me? I hesitate at the door. Why am I trembling? Matsu will just be sleeping in his bed beyond the door. What am I afraid of? There can't be anything really wrong. This isn't a murder mystery. This is just a drama about criminals with a rating of 18+. Nothing horrifying is supposed to happen.

With that, I grab the doorknob and swing it open. The cabin is dark. Blinds cover the windows. It's especially dark with the clouds overhead. I can't see anything... I take a few steps inside the cabin. I see what looks like a body under the blankets on the bed on the left. That's Matsu. He's just sleeping. Right? It's odd for him to sleep in though. He didn't get a summer cold, did he? I'll just check if he's alright and I'll leave. I can get rid of the uneasiness that's now suffocating me.