ᑎOT ᗩᑎYOᑎE || 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗼

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗: 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1154

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

Chapter Eleven: Constellation

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

"Goddamn sh*t!" Never in your entire existence have you ever felt pain and humiliation at the same time. You fell beside Hanako, rolling in pain after your arms took all the impact of your fall. Who said it was a good idea to use your arm? You kept mouthing all the cursed words Ai taught you until you're satisfied.

"Fushigina-san!" Yashiro heaved reaching out to you, but she looked like she needed the help due to her unsteady breathing. Even Hanako rose up from dozing off and called you as you tried to surpress your agoning pain. "Chiyo, are you okay?" You shook your head, obviously.

He tried to carry you up, but you slipped away and stood on your own. All while still bearing that pained expression, you felt a little humiliated to realize your failed attempt at a simple escape. "Does it still hurt?" With Hanako's efforts of reaching in and trying to comfort you. It would always be rejected.

"I'm good." As the throbbing pain died down, you took a sigh of relief. Though it wasn't the end of the misery. "What if you've seriously gotten hurt? You know it's dangerous out here for you." Hanako stated. His expression hardened while saying those words. And as he kept going on with his statement, the more his face distorted. It reminds you of a certain someone.

"..." You really want to accept and believe that his kindness and sincerity are with no malice, but how can you be so sure? You've met the guy for a few days. He may know things about you, yet strangely.. he doesn't mention anything about him. "I was just trying to escape." Your gaze landed onto him directly and watched as he reacted negatively. "Escape from what?" Hanako blinked, raising his index finger to his lips with a curious expression.

Your mouth opened and was about to give a whole paragraph, so you can proudly walk out— but "Agh..!" Something echoed right beside the two of you.

And just like that.. place where Yashiro stood was empty and left with nothing but air. "Yashiro?" Hanako, who was dumbfounded, called her name as if she would respond.

You approached that empty spot where she once stood and tried to analyze what just happened in front of your eyes. "What the hell.." You breathed out in shock. You're not even ten minutes out, and something bad had already happened. Hanako reached for your wrist and pulled you back to his side. "You go back while I find her."

"What do you mean? I'm not going back. I'm going to search for her too." You insisted shaking him off.

"Then keep close." His hands locked with yours as he began dragging you. Now, it feels offensive to be carried like this. Hanako summoned his ball friends that he calls hakujoudai for some odd reason.

"What is that for?" You couldn't help but ask in curiousity.

"Just my emotionless apprentices. They'll help me track Yashiro." He snickered in delight, happy to see you following him even though the purpose was to find a missing person.

The both of you strolled the halls aimlessly. You suggested changing paths to make sure you cleared every corner of this place. At this point, you even found new places that you've never come across. You knew this place was huge, but to think that there were more than what you expected. It gets you unnecessarily distracted.

"Chiyo, do you have any hobbies right now?" He asked in such a weird timing.

"I really like viewing constellation." That was one of the only things that you enjoyed.

There was so much good memory with Ai. Oddly enough, it also felt like you've done it hundreds of times with the most important person.

Hanako turned to you, a little taken aback by your answer. It seems like he's also  interested, so you decided to continue. "Ai draws imitation of stars, and she'd challenge me to spot every single one." Your eyes soften at the thought of her.

"And now that I saw the real deal, I liked looking out of the window and  spotting each one of them." These sincere thoughts never came out of your mouth.. Maybe that's why you had an old feeling of nostalgia. "That's nice to hear." Hanako replied, looking away in a hurry. It's more like wanting to hide the expression he's making. It was a pained and overwhelmed kind of look.

The moments after was a little awkward after a silent stroll while your hands were intertwined. You never paid attention to it, but now that you realized your hand, it began feeling itchy. However, it didn't last long as you found the hallway a little bit more familiar than the rest.

"Hold on." You broke free from him and wandered your eyes.

This hallway feels like you've walked here a million times before. And it was not just a memory from a few days ago.

Maybe the door from the right could answer your burning question. You knew you'd been a student here from how many years ago, but the familiarity now makes sense after seeing Tsuchigomori come out of one room with boxes in his hands.

He looked a little different from before. He looks like he completely blends in with the crowd. As you locked eye contact, he had the same expression as when he first saw you. Horrified but not surprised.

"Tsuchigomori!" You said in relief, after countless times of forgetting to find him. "What are you two doing here?" With his eyes raised, he already looked like he's had enough of it. You were about to answer, but Hanako was faster. "We're looking for Yashiro together." He said, emphasizing the word "together" and embracing your arms like a bride. "Have you seen her, Tsuchigomori?"

"No." He flatly replied. What did you expect?

There was a lot to say, but you're just at a loss of word in this moment. "Alright, we'll continue looking." Hanako bid his goodbyes, dragging you along with him. But it made his expression even more scrunched.

What does Hanako mean by that?... Tsuchigomori thought to himself.

The lanky male looked back at the both of you, slowly getting further away.

Why would that kid waste time to walk around when he can track Yashiro's location in a matter of seconds?

"There he goes again." He muttered, just shrugging it off and continued to walk.

He's sure that Yashiro won't be in trouble since Hanako seems so laid back while he drags you around in an endless walk.

☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎☾︎☀︎︎☽︎

A/n

Just got abducted by C.AI these past few weeks.... totally normal.