Hibiki

Chapter 10 | Desire To Be Looked At

I've been sitting here for a while, on a table by the entrance where the walls are literal glasses.
          I can see the moon that's slowly rising from here. A few seconds passed and she called my name.

          "Hibiki!" She called while walking towards me, carrying a coffee I ordered and many other foods. I hurried to her and helped her carry the food she brought.
          "You shouldn't have." I said.
          "No, I definitely should," She said as we put down the food and drinks on my table. She sat down in front of me. "It's been a year since I've put on flyers, I can't believe someone would actually still find it!" She laughed.
          "My name is Celene, Celene Puel Luelia," She introduced herself and held out her hand, for a handshake. I was about to accept it when she suddenly put her hand up my head and patted it. "You look a lot like my son."
          "Thank you?" I said, confused but let her anyway. "What do I need to do to become your mentee?" I asked and she stopped, taking her hand off my head.
          "Oh you don't have to sign anything by the way, that's useless. You do need to know that if you want me as a mentor, you'll have to share my teaching time with another student," She answered. "I guess she's about your age. You'll get along for sure."
          "When do we start?"
          "Well we start.." She excitedly checked something on her phone. "Next week.." Her voice became sad again, so did her face.
          "That's fine." I nodded and took out my phone.
          "I'll just text you the time and location that we will meet up on. Ugh, my schedule is full. I-I so like, don't worry, I'll teach you all the basics and we'll perfect it the first day, sorry," She sadly apologized while she added her phone number on my contacts.
          "Don't worry, it's fine. I'm not rushing things." I assured her. She didn't mention her age but she looks really young. She looks like she's around twenties.

          We just sat there for a while, eating and drinking as we talked more about Figure Skating.

          "The moon's already telling us a good night. I guess it's about time you head home," She said. "Youngsters like you shouldn't be out at this hour." Oh she's definitely in her thirties.
          "Very well, until we meet again dear mentor." I bid farewell as I stood up.
          "No need to be so formal. Just call me Celine," She smiled and looked at the food on the table. "Oh."
          I didn't realize it but I already finished more than half of the food, including the coffee.
          "Here's the payment." I said.
          "Oh no, no need," She replied. "Don't have to pay for being my student too, I see something special on you. And it'll be an honor to make it flourish."
          "That's too much."
          "It's fine really, after all. If you actually go out on the big stages to perform, you'll basically achieve my dream for me," She smiled but I sensed bitterness and sadness behind it.
          I just bowed as I walked out the door, she just smiled as a reply.

⁰-⁰

        She seems like a good person. She has a comforting presence that draws you in. Kind of like a motherly aura of some sort.

          I'm walking alone again on the streets. I might meet a member of the Yakuza that Kaede and Xyla mentioned. They're very active at night from what I've heard. D.P. short for Death Plunges. A major Yakuza organization. They have pawns, everywhere in this area, this might be the only place they settle in but they're one of the most powerful groups.
If I see someone with a tattoo just the same with what Xyla encountered..

          I suddenly sensed someone following me. I can feel their aura as they follow behind, it feels heavy. I'll be alright though.
          I met up with Xyla this morning and she gave me a box. I opened it and inside it was a knife. She said that it's just in case I get targeted by them, since I'm very close to Haru.
          It's a knife with a letter H engraved on it. She specifically made it for me.
          "It's not really meant to kill someone, it's not meant to cause major harm." She said, that's the knife's purpose when she first made it. But she changed her mind and Instead, put poison inside it that can kill a person in a day. It doesn't even have a cure..
          I didn't expect that she could make something this extreme, she even said all that with a soft, gentle, innocent looking smile.. but I thank her for it.