Elysian's Monogatari

Chapter 108: King's Current Concern

The next day comes as the three members of Elysian meet up in a lesson room they have booked previously. Once they have all arrived they started practicing on the new song Shiro has made and the choreography Ito and Ren did with Shiro as the center.

At first it was going well until Shiro glanced to his side and saw Ren was behind by a little. He decided not to care since he thought Ren would catch up but whenever he has the chance to check on his brother he saw that Ren still has not moved according to the beat and song.

Finally Shiro stopped moving and went to pause the music on his phone causing both Ren and Ito to stop. "Nii-san? What's wrong? Why stop the music?" Ren asked. "Ah? Don't 'what's wrong?' me! You're the reason why I stopped the music in the first place." Shiro said. "Huh?"

"I-I noticed...it too....R-Ren-kun...you were moving....slightly slower...A-Are you okay?" Ito asked concerned. "Eh? Ahh I'm completely fine. I just wasn't able to sleep well last night." Ren said. "...The hell? What were you doing the night before?" Shiro asked, skeptical of Ren's words.

"I was doing nothing I swear! I just came home late after my work was done and I just went to shower!" Ren said. He did not say anything about the talk he had with Sora as he doesn't want to worry his fellow teammates. "...Well whatever. We'll start again from the top. Move slower again and I'll ask you to leave." Shiro said.

"...Haaaaaai...." Ren said with a sweatdrop. Crap. Nii-san is already suspicious of me. Ah mou why must he be good at this? Nii-san were you like a detective in your past life or something? He then thought with a sigh.

...Alright forget about my worries for now. If I think any more Nii-san will find out soon and I don't want that. He then thought as he took deep breaths. "Yosh I'm ready! Nii-san let's continue!" Ren said. "...." Shiro said nothing but still continued with the lesson.

A while later when they're done the three headed back to their dorm since they only had lessons for the schedule today. Then a few minutes later while Ito and Koga are playing with Leon and Tatsumi is reading a book, a knock was heard. "...? Please come in." Tatsumi said.

The door opened and Shiro appeared. Leon sees him and immediately ran towards him. "Woof!" "...Hm? Oh it's you, Leon. Guess you're still as lively as ever." Shiro said as he bends down to pet Leon. "Woof!" Leon replied. "Oya? If it isn't Shiro-san. How rare for you to come all the way to our room. I'm so happy to see you." Tatsumi said with a smile.

"...Shut it you damn priest. I don't have business with you. The person I want to talk to is Ito." Shiro said. "Ah? If it's Takki only can't you like message him instead? Why bother coming all the way here?" Koga asked with a sigh. "...Hmph I just thought it'll be faster if I came down myself even if it means seeing Kazehaya Tatsumi again." Shiro said with a sigh.

"...As always you seem to hate Kazehaya-senpai." Koga said. "..Hmph." Shiro merely said. "...U-Um...King? Are you here to...t-talk about Ren-kun?" Ito asked. "...How did you know?" Shiro asked. "...I-I'm also....worried...after all..." Ito said. "Hmm I don't really understand what's going on but seems like it's going to take a while so Shiro-san please take a seat. I'll prepare tea for you." Tatsumi said.

"...Don't need it. Once I'm done I'll get the hell out." Shiro said. "Oi Kazehaya-senpai quick chatting and wasting Shiron's time. If it's tea we'll get them together so the two can take their time and discuss their stuffs." Koga said. "....Thanks Oogami. That'll help." Shiro said. "Hai that sounds splendid. I will do just that." Tatsumi said.

"Come on Leon let's go." Koga said. "Woof!" Leon replied as he ran towards his owner. The three of them then left the room leaving only Shiro and Ito inside. "....." For a while the two did not say anything. Just stood there in silence. "....About Ren...." Shiro said.

"E-Eh? Ah..H-Hai! Um...R-Ren-kun...today...he doesn't seem to be...in good shape..." Ito said. "...Yeah that much is obvious. In fact he has been acting weird since COMP." Shiro said. "COMP...? Ah...W-When you two...went back to Reimei Academy...?" Ito asked.

"...Yep. It was only for a moment so I didn't think much of it but there's clearly something bothering him. I just don't know what." Shiro said. "....King...D-Do you really...not know?" Ito asked. "...? Yeah that's why I asked." Shiro said. Ito then went silent.

"....?" This confused Shiro even more. "...Umm...King..." "...What is it?" "...I-I think we should leave Ren-kun alone...and wait...till he wants to...tell us..." Ito said. "...Huh? But..." Shiro said still wanting to help his brother. "...King do you remember...? When you...ran away...Ren-kun was the one...who wanted us...to leave you alone...." Ito said remembering the day Shiro went berserk.

"....." "...S-So...I think...we should...do the same...for Ren-kun....I...don't want to...rush him...." He then said. "...."
...Yeah Ito is right. Back then when I left the group after I almost punched the gangster leader to death, no one actually came after me. I wanted to be left alone because I couldn't face the others back then and only came back because Kazehaya Tatsumi and HiMERU dragged me back.

...Fortunately Suou didn't think much of it and in fact I was grateful for the fact no one else came looking for me. Well I did make a lot of people worry because of my actions in the end so I suppose true, the least I could do is do the same when someone else I know is in trouble. Shiro thought with a sigh.

"Honestly if possible I would like to know what's bothering him as quick as possible but I suppose you do have a point." He then said. "...Haaaa. Fine I'll leave him alone for now if that's what's best for him. But if I ever see that he's really reaching his breaking point then I'm going to intervene no matter what. So don't stop me when that time comes, Ito. That includes you too, Shadow." He added.

...Geh. King already knows what I'm going do huh? Shadow said inside Ito's mind. "....H-Hai...." Ito said. "My apologies for waiting. The tea are prepared at last." Someone said. The two turned to the door where the voice came from to see Koga and Tatsumi with Leon coming inside.

"Woof!" Leon said as he ran towards the two. "Ah...Leon...Fufu...W-Welcome back..." Ito said with a smile. "Woof!" Leon replied back. "Here Shiron your tea." Koga said as he holds the tea Tatsumi made. "....Need I remind you I don't need it? I told you I'll leave right after I'm done talking." Shiro said.

"...Ah? Don't complain will you? I get that you hate Kazehaya-senpai but just bear with it for today." Koga said with a sigh. "Hai. It's been a long time since we've had tea together. The last we've done that is during our Reimei Academy days so please sit down and relax with us. At least for now." Tatsumi said with a smile.

"....Kazehaya Tatsumi." Hai Kazehaya Tatsumi here." "...I still hate you. I hate you to the point I want to strangle you to death." "Hai I'm aware." ...Eh?! It's that bad?! Shiron the hell happened back then?! Plus Kazehaya-senpai knew that?! Really what on earth is going on?! Koga thought as he is very shocked.

"...But for the sake of my dormmates who I worried for not relaxing enough I'll be obedient for once and drink your tea." Shiro said. "True Shiron you always work too much. Why do you think I want to put you in the ASOBI Club?" Koga asked with a sigh.

"...Oh shut it. It's my habit by now. Habits don't die easily. But that's precisely why I'll be resting here for now. Once I'm done I'm out." Shiro said. "Feel free. As long as you can relax I'm fine with you going back." Koga said. "Woof?" Leon asked as he goes towards Shiro.

"....?" Shiro tilted his head. "Haha looks like Leon is asking to confirm if you're staying here a while more." Koga said. "...Yeah I'll be staying here for a while more. Just to drink tea though." Shiro said. "Woof!" Leon said as if happy Shiro's staying since he's wagging his tail. "Haha glad to see Leon-san is excited to be with Shiro-san. Well then let's take our time and drink tea while talking." Tatsumi said as the four of them sat down to drink tea.