The Ultimate Unknown

Seven

Ena's POV

Today I was finally able to make it to school. My fever has gone down tremendously and my stomach is feeling much better even though I still had to take some medicine before school this morning. Hajime and I walked to school as usual together but today he seemed kinda off. Whenever I tried talking to him, he seemed distracted and he was half listening to me.

"Hajime are you okay?" I asked thoughtfully.

"Uh- sorry yeah...I'm just a little tired today that's all"

"You didn't get a lot of sleep last night?" I asked.

Hajime's face was light pink and he avoided eye contact with me. "Yeah I had a lot of homework last night so I ended up staying up a bit."

I've known Hajime long enough to know whenever he was lying. He was clearly hiding something from me, but then again I always feel as if he's hiding something. He puts on this fake smile but I can really see some kind of emptiness in his eyes. Hajime, talk to me. Talk to me how I talk to you.

We still had a few minutes to spare before class, so I decided to take Hajime's hand and said "Come on idiot"

His eyes widened, but before he could respond, I was already running towards the side entrance of the reserve course building - all the while pulling Hajime behind me.

"H-Hey Ena what are you doing? You know Ultimate's aren't allowed in this area right?"

I giggled and lead him to a side of the schools corridor where there wasn't many students. I let go of his hand and laughed before turning towards him and smiling.

"I want to know more about you Hajime. Show me where you learn....please."

Hajime seemed troubled then looked towards the ground.

"Why? There's nothing here for me to show. Just regular classrooms and..."

"I don't care. Hajime, our worlds may be different but that makes you all the more interesting. Are you ashamed of being from the reserve?"

This statement got Hajime's attention. His eyes widened then narrowed. "No, I'm not."

Instinctively, I found myself placing my hand on Hajime's cheek. His lips parted and he looked at me surprised. "Hajime, I'm glad to have met you. Seriously."

Hajime looked at me with shock. His lips looked as if they wanted to move, but I guess he couldn't find the right words to say.

I can't force Hajime to tell me anything - but I want him to know that I'm here for him no matter what.

Instead of saying anything, Hajime wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a gentle hug. My heart was racing but I was so glad to feel his embrace after so many days of being bed ridden.

We stayed like this for a bit before finally pulling away, both of our faces burning with heat.

Before we could think of what to say next, we were startled by the sound of campus security shouting at some students to stay back. Hajime and I looked at each other before silently agreeing to see what the commotion was about.

I followed Hajime through the halls and we ended up running across a group of students that was standing in front of some yellow tape that read "keep out". Not only was campus security there but I also saw multiple policemen guarding the area.

"Did something happen?" Hajime asked one of the reserve students.

"I heard it was a murder." replied the student. "Natsumi Kuzuyu. I heard she was killed by some suspicious person."

Hajime face turned pale and his eyes were wide. We both looked towards the music room door. Several detectives were inside surveying the body of a girl I've never seen before. I couldn't see too well from where we were standing, but from the looks of it - the girls blonde hair was covered with blood and her lifeless body was propped up against a wall.

I've never seen an actual dead body before. My hands were trembling and I found myself tugging on Hajime's school jacket. "Let's go" I said anxiously.

Hajime and I both stood outside the front of the school building in shock but slowly calming down the more we consumed fresh air.

"I can't believe it, I just had a conversation with her not long ago..." Hajime's voice was low, he clearly couldn't believe what we just discovered.

"Did you know her?" I asked.

Hajime briefly described his relations with Natsumi and the conversations he's  had with her.

"I met Natsumi in class. She spoke to me first...I wouldn't say we were close but we definitely had similar views regarding our school life"

"I see..." I said softly "I'm sorry Hajime."

There was a small silence. Hajime then asked "Did you know her brother Fuyuhiko?"

"I-" I hesitated slightly "Fuyuhiko was her brother?" I guess that makes sense considering their last names, I never thought about it until now. "He's in my class but we've never talked"

"Yeah, she really loved her brother. She wanted to get into the main course for him....I guess that can no longer happen. I can't imagine how her brother must be feeling right now"

"I wonder what happened and why someone would want to kill her." I asked curiously.

Hajime thought for a second then said "I'm not sure. But if I hear anything about this then I'll definitely let you know."

I nodded my head "Yes and maybe some people from my class might know something as well" I looked at Hajime with determination, but really I was a bit scared. I don't really talk to anyone in my class so I really wouldn't know who to ask first. "Anyways I really should get going, if I find out anything then I'll tell you during lunch"

Hajime agreed on the plan then he looked at me carefully and replied,

"See you at lunch Ena"

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Authors Note:

I'm really trying to not make these chapters super long. I cut this chapter short otherwise it would've been about 15 pages long. Sorry if lengthy chapters bother anyone! ♥︎