A Second Chance

Chapter 61

Tsukiyomi's P.O.V

"Yes. Let me confess. I like you, Tsukiyomi."

"...... Eh?"

Kei's face changed from its straight determined expression to a panic-stricken one. His arms flailed about by his sides as he waved them around him. "Ah—ah w-what was I—" he choked on his words, stuttering on and off. His face turned red like an apple.

Within the moments that he was all flustered, I could only stare wide-eyed at him without any word nor sound leaving my throat.

I couldn't say anything. No. I didn't know what to say. His confession was sudden; out of the blue. First, he said that he disliked me and lost all his respect towards me, but then he gained a sudden affection to fall for me? I couldn't comprehend his intention or fathom how he got to like me despite the hatred he had shown and acknowledged.

Words and questions poured out of my mind, but I only asked him simple ones. "Why though? How?"

Kei stopped waving his arms around him and settled to rest them on the countertop after he turned to face the bar's long table. His face was still slightly reddish, but it had settled down and lightened to a light rosy pink.

I stared at his face for a little while longer before asking him a question to have him answer me. "I thought you hated me. I'm not thinking negatively about you, but I don't think that is how liking someone works—from hating the person, to falling for her the next time."

Kei's head snapped to my direction and we made eye contact. He wore an unreadable expression; eyes were shimmering and reflecting light—something I don't see much often even when we were close friends or teammates in the Execution Group.

"Well," he broke the eye contact and scratched the back of his neck, this time wearing an expression between bashfulness and shame, "it's true that I hated you."

I dead-panned at him. "I don't understand."

"Wait wait, give me some time to explain."

"And I'm giving you them now."

"Relax a bit more, can you??"

"How can I relax when you just confessed to me, and yet admit that you hated me. So, do you hate me or...?"

"Ah wakata wakata." Kei breathed out loudly. "I didn't hate you at first. From the start where we were taken into the Port Mafia, even before we were part of the Execution Group and you became the Captain, I admire you because of your strengths. You were able to go through the intense trainings given and smile through them. You were always the one helping me get back onto my feet. That was one of the reasons why I am able to help you get through your depression as well when you fell down your dark hole.

"Once we all got through everything, we were chosen to be part of the Execution Group within months and you were the Captain." Kei smiled. "You were my pillar of support and strength. As time went by, that feeling... Guess it changed into something more." He laughed sheepishly. It dropped from his character a few seconds later.

"But when you left, it was like I had explained. I lost my respect and only felt anger.

"When you returned to the Port Mafia—"

"I was forced to join back." I corrected him.

Kei opened his mouth to shoot back, but he stopped himself short when he made eye contact with me.