Rewind (Erityian Tribes Novella, #2)

04 - Change

"Naomi?" Akira woke up and she looked at me, confused. "Hindi ka natulog? Aba, nahahawa ka na kay Akemi—wait, nasaan si Akemi?"

"She didn't come back," I said while scribbling symbols on the paper. Nagdecode na lang ako buong magdamag dahil hindi ako makatulog.

Dahil may klase pa kami ay nagprepare na kami ni Akira at tinigilan ko muna ang pagdedecode, though malapit na akong matapos sa first chapter. Nung paalis na kami ay saka lang bumalik si Akemi at sinabihan niya kami na mauna na lang kami.

"I heard you last night," biglang sabi ni Akira kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. I maintained my calm expression and she eyed me with suspicion. "Why did you go to that place? After that, I can't hear anything anymore. Alam mo namang restricted place 'yun."

"I didn't notice," sabi ko naman. "I was just following him."

"Him?" A taunting smile formed on her lips.

"Yeah. Him. He and Akemi are acting suspiciously. Don't you think?"

"Well, yeah. Pero for sure ay binabantayan din naman sila ng higher ups. Baka nga maging Council of Elders ay tinitignan ang kilos nila."

Hearing the Council of Elders made my skin crawl. They are a group of advisers and counselors who help the leaders with their decisions and rules. Their loyalty to the tribe is absolute but that's also the reason why they are perceived as cold and heartless. They will do anything to protect the Senshins and this place, even if it poses harm and danger to others.

"They are hiding their background," dagdag ko. "And they must have a reason for doing that. I want to know those reasons."

"You sound like Hideo," sabi naman ni Akira. "Habang tumatagal, nagiging pareho na kayo ng takbo ng utak. Baka sa susunod niyan, hindi na namin kayo naiintindihan ha?"

Kumunot lang ang noo ko sa kanya at nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa klase ni Sir Kyo. Pagdating namin ay nandoon na rin sina Hideo at Mitsuo. Tumingin ako kay Mitsio pero agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin at nagsanay na lang siya sa gilid.

"Mitsuo," tawag ni Sir Kyo sa kanya at nagulat na lang ako nang bigla siya nitong sinugod.

I have learned fighting and self-defense during my childhood and in addition, Sir Kyo is training us in this class but when I saw their movements, it felt like all the lessons I took before was useless. The way they wield their weapons and how fast they change from offensive to defensive attacks weren't normal. Of course, Sir Kyo's abilities would be this good but for Mitsuo, it was surprising.

Suddenly, they stopped fighting and when I saw their final position, Sir Kyo's short blade was pointed to Mitsuo's neck.

"Just like your grandfather," Sir Kyo said with a smirk on his face. "Though you're still far below his level."

Winidthraw ni Sir Kyo ang short blade niya at kita naman sa mukha ni Mitsuo ang inis. Did he really expect to win over Sir Kyo? And who is his grandfather?

Bigla ko namang naalala ang nakita ko sa isip niya before. He was with an old man and a child. Hindi kaya 'yun ang sinasabing grandfather ni Sir Kyo? So ibig sabihin, may connection sina Sir Kyo at Mitsuo? Wait, hindi kaya dahil sa kanya kaya nakapasok dito si Mitsuo?

A Senshin can only be allowed to enter this place if he or she is born here, or through transferral. The administration will send letter to the guardians and school, or someone from Tantei High will recommend the Senshin to be transferred here.

"Naomi."

Bumalik naman sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko nung narinig kong may tumawag sa akin. Doon ko lang narealize na nandito na rin si Akemi at tinuruan kami ni Sir Kyo ng ilang self-defense moves pati na rin sa pag-corner sa criminals kapag nakatakas sila.