YOUR NASTY CUTENESS | (ENG) Kakegurui Fanfic [Mary Saotome x Ryota Suzui]

•× 01 ו

The boy who tripped over the same stone

Hyakkāou Academy
Tuesday 14 | 04:40 p.m.

The south area of the academy was undoubtedly Ryota's favorite.  It was the place with the most green areas of the institute, surrounded by small pools, streams that ran under the suspended paths and joined to the wooden pergolas that covered the sun that already dared to hide, not to mention the shishi-odoshi, whose sound could relax even the most obnoxious student.

   Leaning against one of the low walls of that covered path, Ryota watched a small trough, where a trio of sparrows entertained themselves, wetting their wings with their wet beaks and shuddering at the feel of the humidity.

   Truth be told, he was calm. A couple of months ago he probably would have lost his sanity. He would have made his intentions come true the first time he became a pochi, to leave Hyakkāou.  But now he felt everything different.

   The running of the water through the bamboo tubes gave him tranquility.  They reminded him of the holidays at the family estate in Kurashiki, when members of his humble family gathered to celebrate each recurring holiday. Thinking about it may not have been of much use. He clasped his hands and changed his serene countenance to one slightly affected.
He thought of his hardworking parents.  He what he would tell them when he came home.  The first time it was so difficult to hide Kiwatari's blows that he did not want to imagine what he would have to invent this time, especially because of the debt.

   "So you were here."

   Her voice was easy for his ears to recognize.  Despite this, it was always a surprise to hear him. Ryota turned his head slightly to meet the incomprehensible woman.

   "Yumeko ..." he murmured, offering a slight smile to her friend. She was standing right behind him. The warm orange glow of the setting sun illuminated her face, while little by little -with both hands on her briefcase showing that she was about to leave- her lonely friend approached. "I'm sorry I didn't look for you in the betting hall."

   Yumeko advanced slowly and undid the childish smile from her.

   "Well, I heard rumors that you had a good reason for not to go." She placed herself next to her and took him by the chin, turning her face to allow herself to see the lesions on her skin.

   "Hey...!  Yumeko!" But Jabami ignored it. Her gaze turned slightly serious as she saw the marks that ran from the temple to the eyelid of his faithful companion. Suzui took a few steps back and covered that side with his right hand. "I'm fine! Really, Yumeko!  This is nothing..."

   It was not common to see her so worried, or well, with such a serious face.  Of course Suzui already knew how Yumeko acted when she was angry –moments with Ikishima were a good example– but this sensitivity of hers was unusual.

   "I wish I could believe you Suzui, but the truth is that they have given you a terrible beating." The only hand that was holding her briefcase left it on the ground and attached to the wall. "Also, I heard that that wasn't the only thing they did."

   There was no doubt that she had heard everything that had happened to him. The truth is that Suzui didn't wanted to involve Yumeko in his serious matters, but she cared so much that it was impossible to refuse.  It would be too rude of his part.
Discouraged, he rested his arms on the wall and spoke as he stared at the trough.

   "I ... became a pet again, Yumeko."

   "Well, it's true then," Yumeko sighed, mimicking his action. "I'm really sorry, Suzui."