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𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗: 𝚄𝚗𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝙵𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚢

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1214

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

Chapter Seven: Unknown Familiarity

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

"Are you okay?" The little lady beside Tsukasa attempted to grip your shoulders. However, it never worked as it just slid through. "I'm fine for now." You breathed out in desperation. It's been such a long time since you had a good run.

Anticipatingly, your eyes never left the corner of the hallway you came from. Any second now that terrifying girl would appear... except she didn't. Nothing came out even though it was thirty seconds past. "I swear she was behind me." Now it makes you look like a liar.

Were you just imagining it because it was so eerie being alone? It can't be. You know by heart that what you saw was not a pigment of your playful mind. There really was a woman... who apparently decided to ditch after making you run a long way. "Don't worry, we'll make sure she's not gonna hurt you." The girl with light blonde hair fading into the shade of green near the end, reassure you. She's too nice... she reminds you of Ai.

"Hanako-kun, can you check?"

"No, she ran away already."

"Really?" Your head raised, finally sighing in relief.

"..." But something feels off...

Your eyes followed through a strange feeling of being watched. Tsukasa had his eyes on you for a long time. He was stiffer and more awkward than earlier. Was it because of what you two talked about? You knew he was the type to be ignorant. It took you a few seconds to pull yourself together. You took a few steps, finally analyzing your situation.

Just to be clear, you never had any thoughts running, but Tsukasa grabbed onto you as if you'd disappear quickly. "Where are you going?" You couldn't answer immediately as you found his behavior completely odd. You just took a step, and he mistook it for an escape plan. "I don't know..?" You're not sure if that was the right answer to his question. "Hanako-kun, do you know her?"

Silence. The atmosphere was even more suffocating than the former. You felt like you got yourself into a situation you never intended to be in. He never signaled nor cleared anything up to you. All he did was loosen the grip on your wrist. "Hey, radish legs. You should go home now before the gate closes." That was how he responded. You thought she'd be completely pissed off, but she walked out as he told her to do. Still, the girl kept looking back, wondering what was really going on.. even you're curious about what's happening. Is this man even Tsukasa?

You broke your hand free from him and scanned your eyes from his head down to the soles of his shoes. Except for having the exact facial structure as Tsukasa, this man wore different clothing, and most importantly, his fangs were non-existent. "You're not Tsukasa?" You snapped, realizing you asked for help on a complete stranger. Why are you even questioning him? It's obvious! "Chiyo.." He called. It was another indication that one more being knows you. This time, it didn't surprise you too much, knowing that he must be related to Tsukasa in some form or way. But instead, what shocked you was tears.. "This isn't fair.."

Unlike other interactions... none of those people cried when they met you for the first time. He was the first, and you wished for this to be the last. Your hand instinctively reached forward to wipe the tears off of his face. "Did you miss me that much?" You have no idea why you just said that.

The male made a cautious step as he wrapped his arms and locked you into his embrace. "I knew you'd do this. But aren't you crossing the line?" He kept saying things that you don't understand. It seems like he's mentioning something from the past that you can't remember. "I wouldn't have minded-..."

"-Hold on..." Your arms raised up to his shoulders to attempt to free yourself from the hug. "No." But, he retaliated. "I know you'll run again."

"I won't run. It's just that-"

"I'm not letting go whatever you say."

"I promise-"

"No."

On that short conversation, you're not gonna deny that Tsukasa's blood is running through this guy's veins. You sighed, admitting defeat and just letting yourself get comfortable in his embrace while thinking of a way to tell that whatever happened between the two of you is completely wiped out of your brain. Why is it so hard to address that you lost your memories? To Tsukasa and Tsuchigomori, maybe it'll be easier to tell them, but... to this guy. Your heart throbbed in pain as if something inside reacted to his presence. You're not a hundred percent certain. However, something's telling you to stay away from him.

You picked up strength, trying to resist his touch. It's rude to turn down someone's way of being affectionate, but who is this anyway? You don't even know him, nor does your mind want anything to do with him. Finally, you got a chance to free yourself, and you immediately took it. "Hey-"

"You didn't even try to find me back then.." Again, he cuts you off. "..Why?" Though you wanted to answer, you can't speak for yourself. "Look, don't cut me off." You raised your index finger to him, creating a safe distance between the two of you. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I also don't know what I did to you. But, I'm sure I was sorry." You started off with making sure that he's not going to be offended. Though he might be more confused rather than offended. "What?"

"I can't remember you.. or anyone. It's just that there's a long history that I'm also working out on understanding."

"You can't... remember me?" He repeated, bearing an expression you never expected. He wasn't devastated or saddened about it. He was just shocked.

"Yeah.." Just knowing how he might obviously be related to Tsukasa, you keep stepping back without even noticing it. You kept pinpointing your wariness to this guy because of Tsukasa. But in truth, you yourself were wary of him. Your body reacted to be on guard eversince you realized he was a different person. "But, I can try if you tell me exactly what I've done-"

"No, it's okay." Without a warning, he took your hand with his head low.

You can describe this guy as someone emotional and loyal to a companion. He seemed calm when you two were talking. There was an eerie aura that he was giving off, but you thought it's just your bad judgment. However, in a flash.. his smile changed and completely fit in with his aura. "We can always start over again."

Your body shuddered, directly staring into his eyes. There was something so sinister as soon as you met him. Unlike Tsuchigomori and Tsukasa.. you never had any severe sense of familiarity. But, this guy is the complete opposite. Every part of you can definitely remember that gaze. Yet, oddly enough.. they only remember it for the worst.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

A/n

Ahhh!!! Happy 100 reads!! ( '͈ ᵕ '͈ )◞♡