Someday {Akashi Seijūrō}

d a y s i x t e e n

"Things aren't going back to how they were."

"Believing is key."

~~

"I would be gentlemanly and offer you a ride," Akashi said as his driver opened the car -- limousine -- door for him, "but it seems that you have somewhere else you need to be."

I nodded, and backed my bicycle off the rack. Akashi got in the vehicle without so much as a goodbye, and the car drove off. I started back towards Kazuno's house, moving fast. When I got there, I saw Mom and Dad's car already parked on the side. My gut dropped.

They were at Kazuno's front door, and I decided to call out to them. There was no way I'd be able to make it in anyway. Mom turned around first, then told Dad something, and both began walking back. I held my breath.

"Okay, [First Name]-chan, let's go back," Mom said cheerfully.

I stood there confused as they got back into the car. Finally, I started moving, pedaling to my house.

~+~+~

"Um... Mom, Dad?" I spoke up in the middle of dinner.

"Yes?" Mom answered.

"Can... I stay home by myself from now on?"

Mom and Dad looked at each other and started laughing. "What? What is it?" I asked.

"You didn't have to wait until now to ask us. You know, we were starting to suspect something last year, but you never said anything," Mom answered.

I dropped my chopsticks. "Are you kidding me."

(rip reader-san)

~+~+~

I sighed as I entered my room, and pulled my phone out of my pocket. The notification was still there from the afternoon. I opened my messages.

From: [Full Name]
To: Me

Life is like a book. Everyday is a new chapter, so make that positive.

....

I tensed. This was too coincidental to be considered an accident. Why else would they talk about book when I was just at the library earlier that day. From there, my suspicion that this unknown person could be Akashi was gaining more and more evidence. Even if that was the case, I wouldn't be able to accept it. It just wasn't... Akashi.

Not even a second after I had placed my phone down on the the table, it dinged with another message. I picked it up again, surprised with the response.

From: [Full Name]
To: Me

If you want to meet me, come to the park.

I stared at the message. Was this finally happening?

Why now?

I have a policy where I only show myself to you when you really need it.

And from the looks of it, you're probably going to need it real soon.

What was that supposed to mean? Something bad happening? I shook my head. I was going to meet this person, no second guesses. If I got kidnapped or worse..... that was on me.

I took one step out of my room and halted. Surely, my parents won't let their sixteen year old daughter go out at night alone. Especially at night. Taking a deep breath, I headed downstairs. "Mom?" I called.

"Yes?" I heard her voice from the living room.

"Can I go to Kazuno-chan's? I need to get something from her," I lied. There was no way I would be able to leave otherwise. Even if I did feel guilty. That seemed to be happening more often lately.

"As long as you come back, soon," she answered. "I don't want you staying outside at night for too long."

"I'll take my bike, so it'll be quicker," I added and stepped out into the night. It was cool in contrast to the summer heat during the day when the sun beat down on anyone daring to go outside. The ride to the park shouldn't take too long. There weren't a lot of cars out at night, so the trip should be smoother.

I was merely guided my the dim streetlights and the even dimmer glow of the moon. When the park finally came into view, I jumped off my bicycle before it stopped moving, tripping a little on the process. I grabbed ahold of the handlebars to slow it down, and then dropped the bike on the pavement as I ran ahead. The message didn't specify a place I should wait, so I slowed to a stop and looked around.

It was eerily quiet with no one around. One person shouldn't be hard to miss. It was starting to get chillier as I pulled out my phone.

From: Me
To: [Full Name]

Where are you?

Right when I had looked up after typing the message, I spotted a figure walking towards me. The darkness made it nearly impossible to tell who it was, and the streetlights didn't help at all. As the figure walked closer, I could tell it was a boy....

He stood in front of me.

My eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

~~