Infinity, Taken Literally

Discovery 6

School isn't any better the next day. Langa doesn't talk to Reki and he in turn doesn't acknowledge Langa, watching the reflection in the window instead. They go their separate ways at the bell without saying goodbye. He's glad that it seems as though Neo has left the school at the very least. The silence between him and Langa continues for the rest of the school week. Friday, as he's about to head home, Reki is stopped at the gate on his way home by an angry-looking middle schooler.

"You've been ignoring me." Miya instantly accuses, arms crossed in front of him as usual.

"Why are you here?" Walking past the kid, Reki continues on to take his normal path home, knowing Miya will follow regardless.

"Langa says you two had a fight." Wheels against pavement come up next to him and Reki glances over at the boy. Miya is still glaring but softer this time, as if he's worried, he will scare Reki away. "And you haven't talked to any of us since-." He cuts himself off, unable to bring himself to talk about what happened. The memory of Miya's distraught face makes Reki slow his desperate pace a little.

"Yeah, I've been dealing with some things." Turning down the next street, Reki doesn't elaborate. Miya follows, staying a little behind him and Reki is glad for the space.

"We're here for you, you know?"

"Are you racing in the competition?" Stopping, Reki spins on the boy.

Miya almost trips off the board in his rush to avoid skating into him. "What?"

"Adams competition, are you in it?" Miya blinks at him for a moment, a dozen emotions crossing his face.

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" He admits slowly.

"Because he's a monster who only wants to hurt people. You have to pull out of the race."

"What?" Miya steps back in shock.

"Please Miya, pull out of the race. It isn't worth going up against him." Miya's mouth gapes like a fish. "Racing against Adam is only going to result in you getting hurt, or worse killed. You need to pull out of the competition before he has a chance!"

"Okay!" Miya steps further back, shocked. Realising he'd been moving towards the youngster and raising his voice, Reki steps away.

"Promise me," He begs. "Promise me you won't race against Adam."

"I promise, okay?" The two stare at each other, one searching for honesty and the other something else. Sighing, Reki rubs his eyes and turns back to his path home. He can still feel Miya's wide worried eyes watching him. "Is that what you and Langa were arguing about?" Whatever look Reki glances back with, is confirmation enough for the middle schooler. "Seriously Reki? You find out about a life-changing piece of information about him, about us, and all you're worried about is Adam?"

"Don't go there Miya, not now." He warns.

"Then when? Because you've been ignoring us for the past week. Last I saw you; you were passed out in Langa's arms bleeding." Miya's voice wobbles.

"I don't know okay?" Someone walking past the end of the street turns to look at them in alarm and they both go quiet, waiting for them to pass. "Just leave me alone Miya, I'm not like you or Langa, no matter how much you want me to be."

"Fine." Eyes hard, Miya backs down. "Just stop trying to get through, whatever this is, by yourself." Turning away he steps back onto his board. "I'll back out of the competition, but you should at least come watch it." Reki doesn't respond and turns away when it's clear Miya isn't going to say anything else. The sound of the boy skating away leaves a hollow feeling in his chest. At least the other promised to back out of the competition, Reki tells himself. Maybe he should do something in return, he didn't really want to go to S, but maybe it would help.