Because Of Love (Guilty Crown) [Book 1 of the Secret Garden Trilogy]

❤️Chapter 14❤️ Missing Part

When you lose your special one, you feel that a part of you died
-Aiko Suzuki

AIKO'S POV

16 September 2039

I opened my eyes to find myself in another room.

"I see, you are awake," came a voice.

I got up slowly and asked, "Kido?..."

"I'm not Kido, I am Tsugumi," she replied.

I looked at her and asked, "Where's... Kido?..."

She looked away and replied, "I am not quite sure... We couldn't find him... We think... We think that he is..."

"Dead." I looked up. It was Ayase.

Kido is... DEAD?! What is this I am feeling? It feels terrible. Is it loneliness? Again? Where are you Kido? I know that you aren't dead. Right? You left me again... You broke the promise again...

I looked down in fear and kept silent, trying to hold back the tears.

"You can cry if you want... The whole Funeral Parlour is feeling rather down. We've lost almost everyone during the attack two weeks ago..."

"I... See..."

"Um, Ayase, maybe we should tell her about the news later," Tsugumi suggested.

"Nah, it's okay, tell me now if you want," I replied.

"Well, since Funeral Parlour is down... We are going to go in disguise as normal students."

"Normal students? We are going school?"

"Yeah... Wells~" Tsugumi took out my uniform from the cupboard, "Cute huh?"

I took a look at it, it did look really cute.

I wish Kido could go to school with me...

I looked around and asked, "Where are we?"

"The school infirmary," came a voice. A girl with blonde hair walked in, "Hello, I am Arisa Kuhouin, student body president. You're Aiko Suzuki, right?"

"Yes- Tsugumi is she?" I asked.

"Yeah, she is our ally," she replied, then a bunch of other people walked in, "here comes the rest."

"Hello! Are you feeling better?" A brown-haired girl asked, "I am Hare Menjou."

"I am Kanon Kusama," a bespectacled black-haired girl said.

"I'm Yahiro Samukawa," a brown-haired boy said.

"And I am Souta Tamadate," a dark-haired boy said. I recognized him as the boy who almost confessed to Inori.

"Hi... I am Aiko Suzuki," I replied and turned to Shu, teasing him, "Hey Shu! Inori's my everything, you jerk!" I stuck out my tongue and pointed at Souta.

"Just stop that already! It has been about a month!" Shu complained.

We all started laughing, while Souta seemed rather confused.

All I wished was that Kido could be here with us.

"Oh yeah! Aren't we supposed to be helping out with the festival preparations?" Hare asked.

"Huh? Oh right! Want to join us, Aiko?" Kanon asked.

"Eh? Okay then..." I replied and got up.

"Wait!" Arisa called. I looked up at her. She took out the uniform I had to wear. "Uniform?"

"Oh right. Haha," I laughed and took it, "I will go change now."

+++

Once I changed, I went down and I walked around the grounds, looking for something interesting. Sigh. I didn't feel like talking to anyone. Especially without him... I bumped into someone.

"Ah! Sorry!" I apologized immediately and looked at the person I bumped into.

He turned around with an angry face, "How dare you bump into me like that, don't you know who we are?"

"Uh no?" I replied.

"Well then, I am Hirohide Namba, little miss-uninformed and let's see how sorry you really are..." he said and moved closer to me.

My heart started to beep really quickly. I wanted to used my void but I know I shouldn't. It would blow my cover. I cowered back and walked back slowly.

Then I heard running steps behind me.

Tsugumi?

I immediately moved away.

"MISSILE KICK!" She said and attacked him.

"What the- You again?!?"

"Stop harassing my friends you retarded bastard!" Tsugumi shouted.

Friend? We are... Friends?

"Why you! I shall not forget this too," he said and walked away.

"Why guess what I have already forgotten about you loser!" Tsugumi shouted back.

"Thanks... Tsugumi..."

"No problem, we are friends after all," she replied and smiled, "Come on! I got the perfect costume for you!"

"Huh?"

"Follow me!" She walked towards a cafe and I followed her. She took out a maid uniform and cat ears and passed them to me. "Here!"

"Huh?"

"You are working at the animal cafe with me!"

"Oh."

I looked at the cat ears and put them on. "Meow~"

"Aw You look so kawaii!" Tsugumi squealed, "No wonder Kido likes you..." She looks away and smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah~ Nevermind,"she replied.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

17 September 2039

Aiko walked past the festival grounds. Deep in thought.

Kido. I miss you... You aren't dead right? If you are... It's all my fault! I should have waited until the operation was over before looking for you... I should have died! Kido...

She didn't even see Shu walking over.

"Hey Aiko!" Shu said. "Enjoying the festival?"

"Um yeah..." she replied.

"Hey... What's wrong?"

"I miss him..."

"Kido?"

Aiko nodded her head.

"I know what you mean. Ayase hasn't been the same since Gai died..."

"Oh."

"Hey... The main thing is that we are all together right. You still got us. We are your friends too, you know?"

"Yup..." Aiko replied.

"I am going to look for Ayase. We will be at the stage if you need us."

"Okay..."