Kokoro no X (I) ~EDITING~

Seventeen

It had been nearly five months since we rescued Sayuri. Koichi still refused to talk to me, for whatever reason. Takumi wouldn't say why either. At least he and Sayuri still spoke to me.

It had been a normal day. Sure, Sayuri was gone, but Takumi had told me that she said she was sick. And... apparently Miyuki was, too? They were living in the same house, so it made sense that both of them would be sick. And then during lunch, Fuji turned the news on.

And what do you know.

"Students Sayuri and Miyuki Yukimura were reported missing this morning."

The entire class went silent, then erupted into turmoil and chaos. Even with Fuji and I both trying to quiet the class down, it wasn't very effective. Once the class finally did calm down a bit, we had already missed all the important details. It didn't matter, though. I already knew who had done it.

But why go after Sayuri again?

Because you're too weak.

Well, there goes an already ruined day. I won't miss you.

Aw, I'm not that bad, am I?

What do you think? Everything you've said to "help" me has just made everything that much more confusing.

That's because I don't know much more than you.

OH REALLY? BECAUSE IT SURE FUCKING SEEMS LIKE YOU DO!

How rude... I just wanted to talk.

About what?

The reason Hitoshi went after Sayuri again is because it worked. You took the bait last time, no doubt after losing you he'd try again. I don't know why you're surprised. It was bound to happen, and you know it.

Then why Miyuki?

Hm... give me some time, and I can figure that out.

"Tamotsu?" Kokoa's face appeared inches away from mine.

"K-KOKOA!!" I jumped back, startled from the sudden appearance. "What the hell are you doing here?

"My teacher sent me from next door to find out what all the noise was about. But..." She looked away, attempting to be cute. It obviously wasn't working. "I guess it's taken care of."

"Yes. You came over here for no reason. So now you can leave."

"Tamotsu, I'm sorry, but I have to leave..." She leaned a little closer to me.

"Yeah, okay, go, now," I tried to back away, but of course I was up against the wall.

Lucky me.

"Tamotsu..." GET AWAY FROM ME YOU LITTLE-

And then, of course, because the author hates me so, Kokoa leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine.

So I shoved her away.

She sort of half-fell, half dropped away from me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Fuji covering her mouth, snickering. Kokoa hit the desk across from me, a hurtful expression on her face.

"T-Tamotsu...?" She blushed and stood up. "O-Oh. I, er, seem to have fallen. I'm sorry. Uh... I think I'll, um, I'll just go now." She ran out of the room before I could even process her words. As she ran out, I heard her thoughts;

omigodomigodomigodomigodhelikesmeheobviouslylovesmetodeathomigodillaskhimoutsoonYESOMLONVALENTINE'SDAYYES

That's right. Valentine's Day was coming up. Not that I cared, but it did mean something to me. That is, having to endure tons of romantical culture shoved in my face. I wasn't interested in being in a relationship in the slightest, so I didn't understand how everyone could jump on love like that. ((A/N: oh god they're playing cupid shuffle EXCUSE YOU THIS IS A LIBRARY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO WORK AHURMHURM))