Elysian's Monogatari

Chapter 49: Sharing the Burden

A while later they reached the dorms as Tatsumi is still dragging Shiro. Just then they heard a voice. "Huh? Himeru-han?" The three of them turned to see a guy with short pink hair cut slightly above his shoulders with his bangs swept to the side and lavender eyes.

"Welcome back ya two great work on your work!" He said. "We're back Oukawa." Himeru said. "Hm? Who's the guy with ya?" The guy known as Oukawa asked. "This person is Himeru's acquaintance, Hanagaki Shiro." Himeru said.

"Is that so? Nice to meet ya I'm from Crazy:B Oukawa Kohaku!" Kohaku said. Shiro didn't say anything in response. "Hm? Did I say something wrong?" Kohaku asked. "No it's just that Older Hanagaki doesn't feel like talking to anyone at the moment." Himeru said.

"Older Hanagaki?" "Shiro-san has a younger brother called Hanagaki Ren-san." Tatsumi explained. "Ahhh that's why it's Older Hanagaki?" Kohaku asked as Tatsumi nodded in response. "Kohakun~! Who are you talking to?" A voice can be heard saying.

Immediately Kohaku gave a "geh" face. The person is revealed to be Tsukasa. "Oya? Himeru-senpai and Kazehaya-senpai? And-" Upon seeing the third person Tsukasa became shocked. "S-S-Shiro-senpai! Where have you been?! Everyone has been worried for you you know?!"

"Calm down Bon what are ya even saying?" Kohaku said with a sigh. "S-Sorry...but really where were you Shiro-senpai? We were 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 something bad happened to you." Tsukasa said with a worried expression.

Still Shiro said nothing. "Bon ya know who he is?" Kohaku asked. "Yes I do. Shiro-senpai is part of a 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 called Elysian that debuted a while back. And quite recently we became 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀!" Tsukasa said. "Oh I see." Kohaku said.

"By the way Kohaku-san's family serves Tsukasa-san's family which is why Kohaku-san calls him Bon." Tatsumi said. "...I didn't ask." Shiro finally said. "Ahaha thought I should let you know." Tatsumi said.

"Um Shiro-senpai are you okay? You're not hurt while outside were you?" Tsukasa asked. "....Do I look like I'm fine being dragged by Kazehaya Tatsumi?" Shiro asked. "Guess not." Tsukasa said with a sweatdrop.

"Oh I should call Ren-kun and Takasaki-senpai! I should let them know you're back." He then said as he reached out for his phone. "....Don't." "Huh?" "...Right now I don't have the rights to see their faces." "Shiro-senpai..." Tsukasa said with a sad face.

"...Are you perhaps still thinking about what happened yesterday?" He asked. "....You do know they're not blaming you for it right?" He then said. "....Maybe. But that's for them." Shiro said. "....They may think it's not my fault for going all berserk but not for me." He added.

"Because you feel guilty for doing the same thing you did when you saved Ren years ago?" Tsukasa said shocking Shiro. "How do you know about that?!" Shiro asked. "Ren-kun told us about it. About how he got kidnapped and how you went berserk to just save him. Plus how it took a week for you to calm down because of his scar." Tsukasa said.

"...I see. Ren told you about it huh?" Shiro asked. "Hai he did." Tsukasa said. "....But well if you don't want to see them right now I'll respect that decision. But at the very least please come back to our room. Shinobu-kun and Kanzaki-senpai want to see you as well." He added.

"Listen to your junior for once Older Hanagaki. Sometimes it's best to do that." Himeru said "...Shut it Himeru. Don't tell me what to do. But well I suppose I'll do that." Shiro said with a sigh as he scratched his hair.

"Thank you very much! In that case let's head back now!" Tsukasa said as he and Shiro head back. "Sorry for letting you see that Oukawa you must have felt uncomfortable." Himeru said.

"Ah no it's fine but...Himeru-han what happened? I'm kinda curious on what Bon said." Kohaku said. "Himeru apologies but you must ask Older Hanagaki himself. After all even we don't know the full situation." Himeru said.

"Is that so?" Kohaku said. "Well in any case Himeru shall head back to his room as well for a bit before heading out again for another job." Himeru said. "I shall do that too." Tatsumi said as he and Himeru head to their rooms.

In the meantime Ren, Ito, Subaru and Hokuto were still searching for Shiro. "How was it? Did you find him?" Hokuto asked. "N-Nope..." Ito said. "We've searched almost everywhere and couldn't find him." Hokuto said.

As they were taking a little break Ito's phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Tatsumi. "What's wrong Itorin?" Subaru asked. "I-It's from Kazehaya-san..." Ito said. "Huh? From Kazehaya-senpai? What did he say?" Hokuto asked.

"U-Um...he said that...he and Himeru-san found King and that King is at his dorm right now..." Ito said. "For real?! Then let's get back now!" Hokuto said. "...You guys can go ahead without me." "Renchin?" "...I just remembered I've got something to do. Help Nii-san for me yeah?"

"...Alright then leave it to us." Hokuto said as he Subaru and Ito left. "...Now then time to get to work." Ren said as he walked away in the other direction. In the meantime in Shiro's room, Shiro is being questioned by his three roommates on what happened yesterday and how worried they were.

"I-I get it! I get it already so stop overwhelming me with questions! Even I can't answer all of them at once!" Shiro said. "B-But...you didn't come back for a day so we were worried-degozaru!" Shinobu said.

"T-That's because..." "But I'm glad you came back safely even though you had to be dragged." Souma said. "...I hate being pulled by that damn priest but I suppose it's for the best since I didn't have the courage to come back." Shiro said.

"....Shiro-dono. Someone else may have said this to you already but I'll said it anyways. Please don't blame yourself for yesterday's incident. I can understand that you feel guilty because you did the same thing you did a few years ago but I want you to know. That it's always better to share your burden with someone else."

"I've said this before but if anything is troubling you feel free to let me know. I will do anything I can to help you." "Kanzaki..." "That goes for me too! I would like to have half of your 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 so please don't hesitate to tell us what's on your mind!" Tsukasa said.

"Suou..." "Me too! I would like to help you as well-degozaru! Besides helping others is a hero's job-degozaru!" "...Sengoku." "Hai what is it Shiro-senpai? Calling us like that?" Tsukasa asked.

For a few seconds Shiro was quiet but after that he spoke. "....I'm...scared..." "Shiro-dono?" Souma asked. "....You already know but what happened to Ito yesterday made me remember what happened to Ren in the past. I almost lost him back then so I don't want the same thing to happened to Ito. The fear of losing my family..."

...I don't want to ever experience it again. Shiro thought. He kept that to himself as saying it can expose him letting the others know he lost his family before. "...It's alright Shiro-dono." "....? Kanzaki...?" Shiro asked. "Fufu I may be rude for thinking this but I'm glad." Souma said.

"...You're glad?" Shiro asked. "Indeed. After all it relieves me as even someone like Shiro-dono has his own fears." Souma said. "True. The usual Shiro-senpai is cold and has never let anyone in on his 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀. He's the type to do everything himself and not rely on others. That's why I'm happy to get to see a 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲 side of Shiro-senpai." Tsukasa said.

"I've not known Shiro-dono for long but I feel lucky to be one of the person whom he could talk his problems with-degozaru! Shiro-dono thank you for trusting us-degozaru!" Shinobu said.

...Trust? ...The reason I decided to tell them is because I've started to trust them...? Have I fallen to the point I needed to rely on others? Shiro thought. "Shiro-senpai?" "...No it's nothing."

...But I guess I do feel a little better after saying it out. Thank you, Tsukasa, Shinobu, Souma. For being patient and resilient. Shiro thought with a smile while no one is looking. Just then they heard a knock on the door. "Hai who is it?" Tsukasa asked. The door opened and Hokuto, Subaru and Ito was there.