Stop It Shinnosuke!

Chapter 42

The Audio-Visual room was darker than Kazama has anticipated it to be. Only a few streaks of sunlight could make their way inside, not helping much in the pitch black area where he and Ai were. It felt awkward to be there, not to mention that such a place was a hot spot for couples to spend their time together.

"Pardon me," Ai's voice brought him back to her ever so prominent presence, "I wasn't able to find a more comfortable private place on such a short notice. I'm afraid we'll have to work with... this." She gave the room another disappointed look.

"I don't mind, just tell me whatever you were going to tell me.", Kazama mumbled as he crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. He could now see Ai's face a bit clearer, owing to some of the sunlight hitting that exact spot. Her expressions were not exactly perceptible, but he could sense that she was trying to go over where to start in her mind.

"I know what happened between Hikari and you, Kazama-san.", she began, her voice low but not compassionate, "I'm in no position to be saying this, but..."

Kazama wasn't too surprised, having already figured out that Ai would know that much, part of the reason why she must've approached him in the first place.

"... will you be willing to reconsider your relationship with him?", Ai said a little louder, shifting her gaze to look directly at Kazama.

"I'm sorry, what?", Kazama was over surprises at this point, his voice clearly evident in it's lack of amusement. He just sounded irritated, not at all in disbelief. It appeared as though everyone wanted him to forget everything and make space for a new start. First his friends, unbeknownst to his past interactions with Hikari, and now Ai, who supposedly knew what had happened. He could feel himself slowly forgiving Hikari, accepting his own mistakes and moving forward. But being pushed to do so didn't help him at all.

Ai held her stare for a few more seconds and then proceeded to look out into the darker space.

"I can see why this is a hard thing for you.", she finally said, her tone sounding more compassionate. Probably the most genuine emotion-filled voice he had ever heard from her. Apart from when she spoke to and around Shinnosuke.

"If you know that then why are you here in the first place?", Kazama couldn't resist not speaking the next words, "Did he tell you to come here?"

"Believe me. I'm here to talk to you by myself and only by myself.", Ai replied just as immediately, "The issue is the fact that we are related. And I feel obliged to talk this matter over with you."

Kazama could believe her, so he declared, "I don't want to make amends or whatever it is that you're suggesting. Please don't try to fix something you can't."

"But-"

"I'm requesting you, Soutome-san. I don't want to talk about this with you or anyone. You cannot possibly fix this."

"I can.", Ai stated resolutely.

For the first time in a while, Kazama felt a hot pit forming in his stomach. An anxious form of what one may call hope. But he fairly doubted if Ai just said so for the sake of it.

"I can, and that's why I want your help.", she continued, "Without your support, it cannot happen, Kazama-san."

"What do you plan to do?", Kazama probed cautiously, constantly observing if he could see a hint of dishonesty, but he found none.

"My answer depends on your words. Will you help?"

After seeing a new sign of things getting better, a hope forming in his mind, Kazama thought for a little while before nodding.

"Okay."

.

As lunch break was almost about to end, Shinnosuke stood by the wall with his hands in his pocket. Besides him sat Hikari, with a juice box that was already empty.

"So, it's already decided.", Shinnosuke asked, side-eyeing Hikari who looked back at him.

"Pretty much. Can't go against them.", Hikari sighed, crushing the juice box. He looked away and aimed for the trash can far away, only to miss it by a few centimeters, "See? Can't go against them."

Shinnosuke wasn't smiling but the other was.

"How can I possibly believe you when all you did was make things up?", he sounded sarcastic, turning to face Hikari.

"I can't give you assurance for something that's already been decided. When I am not here, you'll see for yourself." Hikari replied and stood up to face Shinnosuke as well, "That would be a guarantee in itself, I guess."

"And can't you tell him that by yourself? You sound confident enough to me.", Shinnosuke walked to the crushed juice box.

"I need you to do it for me.", Hikari followed after him. As Shinnosuke bent down to pick the box up, Hikari whipered from behind, "Because from what I've seen, he listens to you better, Airhead."

"Don't call me that."

Hikari backed off when Shinnosuke stood straight up again.

"I really wish you would see it the way I do. He really does see you. And I mean, actually see you.", he said.

Shinnosuke looked at the ground, thinking as he spoke, "Kazama-kun understands everyone the same. He is kind like that."

He suppressed a jump when he felt Hikari's arm snake around his shoulder.

"I suppose it might be something more than that with you." He mumbled, "After all, you don't see him the way I see him when he's with you. He is happy."

The arm was swatted off when Shinnosuke felt overwhelmed with certain thoughts.

"You don't know anything about us."

Hikari looked a good while at Shinnosuke before shrugging, "Let's say I don't. But you don't know anything about you guys too. Or is it that you're running away from something?"

Shinnosuke stayed silent. He didn't know why he struggled to speak in that moment and he really hated himself for not shutting Hikari up, but what the other guy was saying resonated with him somewhere.

"I trust you with this one. Please do me this favour.", Hikari suddenly changed the topic and started walking away.

When Shinnosuke matched his pace he paused and spoke, "One more thing. I don't see him the way you do. So you don't need to worry about me."

Hikari grinning made Shinnosuke flush. He didn't know, however, if it was the anger that was causing it, or something else. Before he could say or do anything, Hikari was out of sight.

Shinnosuke looked around him, and then palmed his face, letting out a big sigh. He was to be supposedly 'mad' at Kazama because of what happened at his place. But he couldn't do it anymore. A day was enough. He couldn't bear to go around all day ignoring Kazama who had that look on his face. The look that made all his pointless jealousy-induced anger melt away in an instant.

So now he not only had to find Kazama and sort things out with him, he also had to do the favour Hikari asked him for.