The Other Ayanokoji

Chapter 73

The days passed, and the tension in the air grew thicker. It was as if an invisible storm was brewing, and none of us could escape its impending fury.

I was boredly sitting on a bench. Karuizawa couldn't contain her anxiety any longer. She stormed toward me, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration.

"Ryo," she began, her eyes locked onto mine, "what in the world are you trying to do?"

I met her gaze with my usual calm demeanor, my glasses reflecting her paranoid face. "I'm not sure what you mean, Karuizawa. I'm simply dealing with a personal matter."

Karuizawa shook her head, her paranoia reaching its peak. "It's more than that. I've seen things, heard things.  Your threats, your actions. It's like you're plotting something."

I leaned forward slightly, my voice low and measured. "Karuizawa, I can assure you that my actions have nothing to do with our classmates. There's no plot, no danger to anyone here."

But my reassurances seemed to have the opposite effect, only fueling Karuizawa's paranoia.

"That's exactly what someone involved in a plot would say! You're too smart, too calculated. I don't know what game you're playing, Ryo, but I won't be your pawn."

"Karuizawa, I understand your concerns, but I can't divulge the details of this matter. It's personal, and it doesn't concern our classmates. Please, trust me on this."

"Ryo," she said finally, her voice firm, "I'll keep an eye on you. If I see anything suspicious, anything that puts us at risk, I won't hesitate to expose it."

I nodded. "That's your prerogative, Karuizawa. I hope, in time, you'll come to understand that there's no threat here." Karuizawa runs away in fear.

Renji, who was sitting next to me, glances at Karuizawa, who was far away.

"Ryo," he began cautiously, "can you tell me what you're trying to do? All of this secrecy, these mysterious actions, they're causing unease among our friends."

I met Renji's gaze, my eyes revealing nothing of my true intentions. "Renji, I appreciate your concern, but there are some matters I can't discuss openly. Rest assured, you're not in any danger."

He sighed, clearly unsatisfied with my response.

"Ryo, I trust you, but it's hard to stand by and watch you go down this path without knowing why. We're friends, aren't we?"

"Yes, we are, Renji. But sometimes, there are things that must be done alone. Trust me, when the time is right, I'll explain everything."

I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Why do you want to follow me until the end?"

My question caught him off guard, and his brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Ryo?"

I leaned in slightly, my voice low and earnest. "Renji, you've been my friend for a long time. You've always supported me, even when I couldn't reveal everything. I want to know, why do you want to stand by me until the end, even if you don't understand what I'm doing?"

Renji looked into my eyes, his gaze unwavering. "Because I believe in you, Ryo. I believe that you have your reasons, and I trust that they're for a good cause. Even when I don't understand, I know you're doing what you think is right. And that's reason enough for me to follow you."

"Thank you, Renji. Your trust means more to me than you can imagine."

~Time skip~

I sat in my chair, thinking about what might happen next. Anddd. My phone beeped.