Love and Hate ‒ ʰᶦᵗᵒˢʰᶦ ˢ.

twenty five

Chapter Twenty Five:
The Talk

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ON THE LAST DAY OF THE RETREAT, SHOTA HAD ANNOUNCED TO THE WHOLE SCHOOL THAT HE HAD PROPOSED TO NAOMI. Not only that, he also told what most of the third years wanted to know about what happened those weeks you disappeared. Many people were surprised but a lot were also not. For a moment, it felt nice to hear your father apologizing to you in public but at the same time, you felt the secondhand embarrassment from it. Hitoshi, who had been listening beside you the whole time, held in his chuckles as he saw you cringe a few times here and there. The closing ceremony lasted for about an hour before they decided to finally give the students the chance to take one last glimpse of their one week paradise.

"It's sad we have to leave." You pouted as you wore the straps of your backpack. "This part of the city is amazing and I would do anything to be back here again..." Hitoshi hummed in approval, his eyes scanning the view one more time before he stretched his own arms. "Why don't we come back here? You know, the two of us on a vacation?"

"Are you suggesting something?"

"No, not really." Hitoshi smirked as a small chuckle echoed in your ears as you stared at him quite wide eyed from the suggestion. "No way..." You squinted your eyes at him before threatening to poke his sides. He stared for a while, your finger raised, his eyes scanning for any hint of sarcasm from the tickle threat. "You do know I'm not ticklish, right?"

"It won't hurt to try!" As you poked his side, Hitoshi had shown no visible response and only raised his brows, trying his hardest not to laugh at your failed attempt of a tickle. "Well, if you really want to know..." The pout that was once on your face disappeared as you looked up to him with a small smile of victory. The breeze blowing made a few of your hair strands cover your face as Hitoshi admired your features. At least, you had been happier than you were a few weeks ago. "Ms. Yshi wanted to give each member of the student council personalized gifts for doing a job well done on the previous events. And as motivation for the upcoming cultural festival."

"Ah, wait, I'm not a part of the student council yet or anymore. Why would you want-," you stopped talking once Hitoshi stared at you, squishing your cheeks with the palm of his hands. "That's where you're wrong. Ms. Yshi actually wants you to get something as well."

"You're bluffing!" You pushed Hitoshi slightly on his shoulder while he shook his head, the corners of his mouth placed into a smile. "No, I'm not!" He responded, sticking his tongue out. "And if you don't believe me, you can always ask the other members," he shrugged, whipping his head to one of his classmates calling him to get to the bus. "I'll see you later!" You gestured your head to the side to tell him to go. The violet haired male dashed while you turned around to see Naomi standing near you.

"Gee, mom. You scared me." You placed a hand on your chest, breathing out slowly in relief. The woman let out a small laugh as she walked closer to you. "Did you have fun this week?" She smiled as she tucked some of your black hair strands behind your ear. Nodding, you looked up at your mom, biting your lower lip. "So, you're alright with dad now?" Naomi's eyes widened, her hands resting on your shoulders, their grip on you was soft but you could feel their heaviness. "I am but I'm worried. How about you?"

You were staring at your mother, wondering if she knew what was running in your mind--or maybe she was hoping she did. The way the silence enveloped the two of you was not awkward but it wasn't comforting either; it was just silence. The two of you could only hear the waves crashing the shore in the distance and the chattering of some of the school faculty in the background. Your eyes wandered there for a moment and you saw your dad, smiling and talking, and you wondered if he really meant what he said about wanting to fix your relations.