52. Rain
"Will you be here for the Rain Battle tonight?"
Reborn spoke me to on my way home from school. I was just at the crosswalk, and found him, standing on top of a wall.
Why he was there, I will not ask.
"I-" my smile was on, but I had to turn away. I clutched the sling of my bag, swallowing my words. "I'm not sure. Maybe not."
"Well," Reborn mused, "Would you come if I threaten you to?"
That made me chuckle. My nerves loosening, I turned to the infant. "No, Reborn. Tsuna-kun scolded me for it before. I'm better off staying at home."
"Dame-Tsuna and Yamamoto scolded you for lying, Rei." Reborn was clarifying-- was he assuring me? He was blank and stoic-- it could've been both. "He wasn't angry at you for being there."
"Still," I tried, "I really don't think they'd want me there."
"Aren't you close with Yamamoto?" Reborn spoke up with another plan this time, "Don't you want to see him act cool? I'm sure Yamamoto would prefer to act cool for you too."
Hearing that, I dipped my head solemnly. "Takeshi and I..." I fiddled with my fingers awkwardly, " Wee aren't exactly in the best of moods right now."
Almost as in an impulsive reaction, Reborn kicked me in the face.
"Ow!"
"Just go already. I'll shoot you, y'know?" Reborn threatened, raising a gun at my face.
In the end, I was threatened to go.
-
"Why are you here??" Tsuna freaked out the moment he saw me.
"I told him to come." Reborn responded easily.
"I didn't want to come." I added simply.
To my surprise, Takeshi, upon catching sight of me, stepped toward me. I jumped as his eyes met mine-- and I took a hurried step back in a panic.
He stopped a step before me, and gave me one of his signature smiles.
"Here to watch, Rei?" he asked me.
He had asked, so casually, so normally-- so entirely naturally-- as if nothing had ever gone on in between us. As if he had never gotten angry at me for lying to him. As if he had completely forgotten it all. Or pretended to forget.
I bit my lip to hold back the burning at the back of my throat, and gave him a nod.
He's always like this, I told myself regretfully, Being the idiot that forgives and forgets in an instant, no matter the one at fault.
Takeshi patted me on the head.
"Ta-" I spoke up quickly, "Takeshi--"
He looked at me. "Hm?"
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ALiVE (KHR Fanfic)
Fanfiction『 Dying of Asphyxiation was seriously not my goal in life. 』 Neither was meeting a Governor of the Afterlife and getting sent to another world for a second chance at life. Drew was assaulted by a group of men for reasons she didn't understand. Drown...