Papercut | Akutagawa Ryūnosuke; AR [✔]

14 → Oops

• Akutagawa Ryuunosuke •

The exam ended at about 03:30 in the afternoon, which was the exact time when students start to do after school activities. If not involved in one, they just go ahead and go home right away.

In prior to the exams, the results were soon posted on the bulletin board just fifteen minutes after the exams. I wouldn't want to squish myself along with the other students, so I waited for them to leave and went to find Ira. I'm pretty sure that I had asked her to pick up my order yesterday, and she shall give it to me by 4pm.

It is 03:50 in the afternoon and I haven't seen her since the exam ended. I looked around the whole campus but she was nowhere to be found. While I was going back to the place where I began searching, I saw the weretiger and his other female friend.

"Hey."

Atsushi turned around with a shocked expression. "Oh h-hi Akutagawa, what is it?"

"Have you seen Ira around?" I immediately asked.

"She went outside the campus in a hurry," Atsushi replied, looking at Kyouka for affirmation. "Not sure where she is, but she ran out of the training room as fast as she could a while ago. Her face was in great panic like she saw a ghost."

"Alright." I turned my back around them and left, going for the school exit to meet her either somewhere easy to find or somewhere secluded. That girl hates the idea of being late so I expect her to come on time as always -- not unless something happens to her again.

I sent her a message; it was already 03:58 and Ira was nowhere to be found.

Where are you? Meet me at the courtyard.

I kept my phone in hand and walked to the courtyard, expecting that she would instantly reply; she has always done that. But it's already 4pm and I haven't received a reply from Ira, neither that she has come on time to approach me.

I sat on one of the benches and continued to wait for a reply. It was past four, and I wanted to go home early to rest in preparation for tomorrow's last trial for the exams. Gin came afterwards and went to wait with me, as well. While waiting, I scrolled through my gallery and looked at my saved pictures for the nth time.

I do not get tired of seeing these over and over again, even though I already see the real thing like almost everyday.

"Brother," Gin interrupted my thoughts, taking a quick glance at my screen and giving out a teasing smirk. "Have you thought of doing anything on Friday, before the clock strikes midnight?"

"I don't think it's necessary," I retorted. "It wouldn't be remembered, anyway."

A low-toned 'aww' escaped her lips, her eyes staring at me with utmost pity. Gin grabbed her bag and put it on her lap, rummaging through her stuff in there like she's looking for something. After a brief moment of silence, she pulled out a black necklace-like thing with a diamond Aries pendant.

She took my hand and placed it on my palms. "It's a choker; give it to her, so that even if she won't remember that it came from you, it'll be the only thing that she has that symbolizes you."

I said nothing but hesitantly accepted the choker, keeping it at my pocket and finding out a way how to give it without having to cause a scene.

"And it will be the mark that she will carry on forever." Gin added.

If I am able to pass the exams and get to the graduate list, the contract about Ira being my servant will magically be torn apart and we will be parting ways starting Saturday, twelve midnight. Although my memories will retain, hers wouldn't stay at all. Everything but my great name will stay in her memory.