Akito POV
As Toya and I were exiting the train station, I saw a blonde hologram flash from my phone, which was peeking out of my pocket. "Len?!" I whispered. "Now's not the time. Someone is going to see you!" We were in close quarters with the train-goers, since the station was very crowded at this time of day.
"Aww. . . Are you okay though?"
"I'm fine. Now please go, Len."
"Okay . . ." The hologram disappears in disappointment.
Phew. I exhale a sigh of relief. Hopefully no one saw. Sifting through the crowd, I catch up to a periwinkle and midnight blue blob peeking out of the crowd.
In the open air, I make my way out of the suffocating throng and out into the open. The chill Japanese winter air hits me like a hammer. Man, even with my jacket on, it's fucking cold.
I tilt my head upwards.
The sky is oddly blue and cloudless for winter though . . . .
The sun even shines weakly over the congested city.
It feels . . . good.
I feel good.
Maybe, in a slightly ironic sort of way, it's because Father might go to jail.
I'm free now . . . .
My chest feels lighter and my head is clearer than it has been in ages.
So this is what it's like to be happy.
I smile.
At the intersection, I turn right. Someone grabs my arm.
"The police station's that way, Akito."
Toya points in the opposite direction. "Oh. Oops."
"Um . . . excuse me. You're Aoyagi-san, right?"
There's a girl about my age with dusty rose hair coiled in a cute little side pony.
Beside her is another girl with deep blue eyes and white, bluish-tinted hair that goes down past her knees. The former is holding brown paper bag with a darker, circular logo on it.
They're both standing in front of an apple pie shop that I haven't seen before . . . . Didn't they used to sell ice cream here or something?
"How did you know who I am?" my partner asks.
The pinkish-haired one replies. "Hi. I'm Mochizuki Honami. Nice to meet you! I'm in a band called Leo/need with Saki. You know her, right?" "Yes, I do. Do you need anything?"
The girl is suddenly flustered and shy, fidgeting with her hands.
"No . . . I just thought I recognized you and wanted to meet you. Saki and Tsukasa mention you sometimes. I'm so sorry for bothering you, Aoyagi-san." "It's okay."
Mochizuki gestures to me. "Who's this?" "I'm Shinonome Akito. Nice to meet you." "Nice to meet you too."
The white-haired girl finally
speaks up. "Hello. My name is Yoisaki Kanade."
She gestures to the bag in Mochizuki's hands.
"Would you like an apple pie?"
"No, thank you." Toya and I say in unison.
"Honami!! Over here!"
Another two girls emerge from the train station. One has dark black hair and the other had light blonde twin-tails that faded to strawberry pink at the ends.
"Oh . . . who are they?" asks the dark-haired girl waving at Toya and I.
"Toyaaa!!" the one with the pig tails dashes forward with energetic exuberance and tackle-hugs the said guy.
"Saki . . ." Saki steps back and turns to me, asking who I am. I introduce myself yet again.
Saki's companion turns out to be Hoshino Ichika; the both of them are members of Honami's band. "Hello, Aoyagi-san, Shinonome-san. Heyy, Kanade." Ichika waves to the Yoisaki.
I don't know, but I think Kanade just blushed.
"Where's Shiho?" asks Honami.
"She said, and I quote, "Shizuku onee-san dragged the whole family on an outing to Phoenix Wonderland. Ugh. I hate family outings. You guys better go practice today without me."" supplies Ichika. "We're going to go now! Bye, Toya!" exclaims Saki. "Goodbye, Shinonome-san!"
All three head off the band practice, while Yoisaki heads towards the trains.
I exhale a visible puff of air into the cold.
We're just going to the police station to give statements for the trial.
Why the heck am I nervous?
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