The Rain Patters Down like Blood

Chapter 9: Blood from Moonlit Skies

TW: SELF HARM. DON'T LIKE DON'T READ!!!

Sanemi was bored. It was 9:00PM and he didn't know what to do.

His room was half-room, half-empty. It was just composed of a bed–the largest one in the room, a desk that wasn't too big, a wardrobe, and another table. Though, there were swords on the wall, along with a small bit of blood. He tried covering the blood on the floor with a carpet, which was a success. Though, the last time he tried hanging a picture, it broke on the floor. He gets a sword from the wall and examined it.

It's his sword. It had a jagged-jade in the middle, along with a pinwheel pattern that had white in the middle with a forest-green outline on the hilt.

He sliced his skin and administered the pain. It wasn't burning with much pain, as it was a slight cut. He sliced it again.

He didn't know the feeling. Was it pain? Was it happiness? He didn't know. Though, adrenaline and happiness overpowered the pain. He knew it was self-harm, but he didn't care. He kept on slashing until he couldn't. One after the other, cut marks were endorsing his arm. He wanted more.

Someone came into the room, opening the door. Sanemi flinched. He had to hide. He saw a flash of a butterfly hairpin. "Sanemi-san? Why are you practicing in the middle of the nig–"

She saw it. Panic flowed through his veins. He should hide, but he was too late. Looking up with her confused and shocked eyes, he cried. Sanemi couldn't take it.

"Sanemi-san?!" She rushed. The only rushed thing that was in Sanemi's mind was his crippling thoughts. "Y-You okay?!"

"Y... I-I don't know..?" Sanemi's voice was just below a whisper. "I'm-I feel fine?.." He paused. "But–But I'm not, Kocho-san."

"You–you're bleeding! You–why are you, out of all people–Why?"

'Why'.

Sanemi was shocked. He couldn't answer that. Her tone was soft, like Shizu's, yet it held so much power like Kyogo's. Maybe it was a mix of it, like Genya's.

Either way, he both loved and hated the comfort. He wasn't a child, yet he wanted to be treated as one. He wanted a simple life, yet Kyogo tore it apart. Maybe, just maybe, it was another thing. Maybe it was love, maybe it was for reputation.

"I'm so, so sorry, Kocho-san–but it felt so good–please, don't tell anyone–" he begged. He did not want anything to do with Kanae, but she's a bit stubborn. Everyone will keep on asking questions–keep on looking at him–keep on whispering..

"No, Sanemi-kun! I have to tell–" she tried tugging at his hand, making him scream from the pain. After a few minutes of consideration, she stopped. "Alright, fine."

He slept.

It felt like a second. Dawn came.

He got ready, as it was Sunday.

"50 students and 2 teachers have been caught having the Obitum Virus. Everyone, retreat to the dorms immediately. Hashiras, go to the dorm lounge. You may go out, but there will be no visitors. You may have visitors on Saturday, but the school is on lockdown."

Sanemi jumped. The man went to the lounge, seeing the others. Iguro was there, leaning onto Mitsuri. Sanemi reached into his pocket, grabbing the ohagi that was inside. He bit into it, chewing the sticky rice and the red bean paste inside. "Hm." He nodded.

"Oya..? S-Sanemi? You–" Sanemi pushed a finger on Shinobu's mouth. Did Kanae tell her..?

"No. Don't." He sat down. Getting his phone out, he searched through past messages.

-•○•○•-

It was 5, an hour after. Sanemi felt quite hungry, so he went to the nearby fridge. It had 6 eggs and other stuff, so he just slapped some bread and half-cooked meat from 30 minutes ago–which was, surprisingly, not too bad. He also ate an egg that wasn't really cooked from the United States. Hopefully, he won't have salmonella. That would've been bad.

Then, 6 people approached him after he ate the half-alright sandwich and the high-risk-of-salmonella egg.

"Sanemi." Gyomei patted Sanemi's shoulder. "Sleeves, out. Show your hands."

Sanemi widened his eyes. The people who were in front were Gyomei, Iguro, Rengoku, Mitsuri, Tengen and Shinobu.

News really did flow quickly. "No."

Gyomei towered over the shorter man, gently holding his hand. "No, no. Shinazugawa-san. We need to see it."

Sanemi shaked his head. He didn't want anyone to see it. He didn't want anyone to see his flaws and everything because they'd smother him with it until there was nobody left to even judge at.

He hesitantly rolled up his sleeves, the cool air brushing at him.

He examined everybody.

There was Gyomei, of course. His blind eyes seemed angry, calm and sad at the same time. He loomed over with disappointment in his eyes. There went a respected soldier,

a respected friend, going to go.

There was Rengoku. He didn't particularly like how loud his tone was, but he liked him overall. He was also a good swordsman, passionate enough. If there was no one, there was him. There went a shoulder to cry on, going to go.

There was Mitsuri. She was so gullible, and happy, and cute. Though, those eyes of hers reflected the opposite; she was sad and shocked. She was a good person in the flesh, but annoying. There went a friend of Iguro's, going to go.

There was Tengen. He'd call him a "brat" at times, maybe even a hot-headed person. Albeit, Sanemi liked his composure and his tone of voice. He was a good man to play video games with, and really good at persuading as long as it was flashy. There went a flamboyant man, going to go.

There was Shinobu. The sister of Kanae. He likes her as an ally. Though, Sanemi's annoyed she can't slice, rip or tear. He sometimes questions how she can inject poison in her body without harm, but he didn't judge. Shinobu was always smiling, and was a good cheerleader. There went an ally, going to go.

Then, most importantly, there was Iguro. His tear-stained eyes and the still rolling tears were evident. He wasn't one to lose his composure. He was the only one that Sanemi trusted and liked the most, the exception was Kanae. Though, if Sanemi chose, Iguro would come first. He has been friends with Sanemi since who-knows-how-long. He'd choose Sanemi for a project and would always go with him to the cafeteria. Though, this time, Iguro would stay.

They were all shocked. "I-I'm sorry, please don't tell Oyakata-sama." He pleaded, but he was too late.

"I've arrived." Ubuyashiki shed a tear. "I think we need to talk, Sanemi-kun."