Help from Hidden Writers

Memories and Bonds, Part 3

The door to the Agency 'office' opened at around 10 a.m. that very same day. 

Touma and Akinori, who had been discussing Soranaki, looked up to see Keisuke stumble into the room, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He also had his hoodie up, which raised alarms in both of their heads as Keisuke didn't do that unless he was really depressed. 

"What happened?!" Touma was beside him in 5 seconds flat. 

"T-Touma, A-Akinori..." the poor boy looked devastated as he collapsed on the floor. "N-Neechan..." 

"What about Natsume?!" Akinori was super worried now. 

"S-She... I think you should see for yourself," Keisuke shivered. "I-I can't bring myself to say it." 

Then Touma noticed the wound on Keisuke's head, "Keisuke, how did you get that wound?" 

Keisuke was silent. Akinori and Touma looked at each other.

What happened to Natsume to the point that Keisuke's this speechless and got hurt so badly?

"...All right then. Where is she?" Akinori asked him. 

"S-She's at home," Their eyes widened hearing that.

"She came back?!" Touma smiled. 

"Y-Yeah..." Keisuke nodded. The youngest male refused to make eye contact with the other 2, but they didn't really think about it. 

"Let's go then. Come on, Touma, Keisuke," Akinori stood up and gestured to the door. 

"Oh!" Touma grinned, but Keisuke could only look down.

The 3 of them walked to the Amano residence, with Keisuke leading. Akinori was ready to scold Natsume for making them worry, while Touma was smiling in relief.

When they arrived at the house, they entered to silence. Touma blinked.

"Where's Natsume?" Akinori asked Keisuke.

"She-" "I'm right here," a voice echoed out from the stairs, making them turn to see her standing at the foot, having just arrived.

"Natsume!" Touma smiled.

"You're safe!" Akinori grinned.

Then, to their shock, she walked over to Touma, and slapped him hard on the cheek.

Touma fell to the ground. Akinori's eyes widened.

"What on Earth is wrong with you, Natsume?!" he demanded as he tried to help Touma up, but Natsume pushed him, so he ended up falling on top of Touma.

"Touma! Akinori!" Keisuke rushed over and helped them up.

"N-Natsume?" Touma felt completely stunned and heartbroken.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Akinori felt angry and worried for Touma.

"Isn't it obvious?" Natsume gave them a cold glare.

Her next words gave them the shock of their lives.

"I hate you 3. I don't even want to be associated with you anymore."

Akinori's jaw dropped. Touma looked as if he had just been slapped 10 times by her.

"W-What?" Touma looked so shocked.

"N-Natsume-" "Natsume, you okay?" Another voice made them all turn to see Haruya walk down the stairs.

"Yeah, I am. I'm just telling these two-" she jabbed a finger. "-the truth about themselves."

"Well then," A small smile curled up on his face, and he gracefully went down the stairs. He then hugged Natsume. "I love you so much, Tsume."

"Love you too, Ruya," Natsume replied with a smile. 

Touma looked like the world had come to an end. Shakily, he got up and ran out of the house.

"Touma, wait up!" Akinori and Keisuke both followed him out. 

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Touma shouted to them before he rushed home, where he curled up into a ball on his bed and cried his heart out.