The Magical Girl Misu Batafurai

18: Darkness Lurking

Back a little bit ago...

During the peek of the concert, Kaede looked around on high alert.

They could be here any minute.... I wish I could bring myself to tell Akari... To keep her safe. But, I'm a coward. I'm selfish. I'm too afraid of revealing my identity than their saftey... I... I don't know how to tell them... I'll just stay close, and keep my eyes open. To protect my friends.

The loud music boomed and echoed around the walls, the crowd occasionally cheering. I walked around the perimeter of the crowd as they screamed and jumped around. My eyes scanned the tops of the buildings. Then, I saw someone. I felt my heart stop, and my skin turned to ice.

It's Kaen... They're here already...

We made eye contact across the feild. His face was blank, he held no emotions.

What? What's wrong with him?... I should try and talk him out of this. I have to stop him!

I grit my teeth, about to bolt. But then I stopped. My decision wavering. I stood back up straight, looking back at Akari dancing on stage, seeing how happy she was... I saw Kura playing the guitar, a smile on his face as he bobed his head to the beat. I saw Fuyuko jumping up and down in the crowd.

I have to stay close. He might be trying to draw me away, so I can't warn them when they're about to strike... They want us alone, and off guard.

I looked back at Kaen. He just turned and walked away, vanishing from the roof.

I'm not going anywhere...

I narrowed my eyes. I pushed back through the crowd of cheering students. I found my place next to Yuko again.

"Hey, where were you? You're missing the concert!" She said excitedly as she continued to dance and sing along.

I held my arms up, holding onto my ribs. My face blank. I saw Akari look down to us from the stage. Yuko cheered and shook my shoulders.

Can I really do this?...

Present time...

Akari was sitting next to Kura on the floor of the stage, they were dangling their legs off the side.

We were talking until we saw Yuko and Kaede come over by us.

"Hey guys, how's it going?" I asked them.

I got up and jumped off the ledge.

Yuko jumped up and down excitedly, she came over and hugged me.

"Oh my gosh girl that was so good, you were so cool. You looked like a professional!" Yuko exclaimed.

Kaede stood back a bit further away, not saying anything.

"Thank you, sorry for messing up your makeup Yuko, I got some nerves before I had to go up." I told her, scratching the back of my head.

She held my hands. "No it's okay, I understand. Nerves get the better of us sometimes. You'll get used to it after a while."

Kura looked back at Kaede.

"Hey, you good bro? You're acting a bit off?" He asked him.

Kaede jumped a bit startled, he crossed his arms.

"I'm fine... Good performance Akari, you danced perfectly out there." He said trying to smile.

Yuko went over and slung her arm around his shoulder.

"Don't worry about him, he was acting weird out in the crowd too. I saw him looking at Kaen. Now he's all depressed, missing his frieeend." Yuko teased.