AZUSA and Kouya took a detour from their normal school route to walk through a deserted park. They always left early for school because of how much Kouya hated to be in the public eye. Today they left thirty minutes earlier than their usual time, which led to the concern the school gates wouldn’t even be open yet if they headed straight there; hence the detour.
Kouya rambled on about something during their walk, but it went through one ear and out the other for Azusa who sighed upon looking at his face.
Upon closer inspection, Kouya is—actually without even needing to take a close look—very handsome and suave. I wonder why I never noticed until now…
“…That’s why you need to be cautious with people from the Red Coven as well as the Blue Coven. Are you even listening to me?”
“Pardon?”
“I thought we were having an important conversation. Was I mistaken?” Kouya sighed, learning Azusa had zoned him out. He wasn’t particularly angry, but his exasperation got a flustered apology out of her.
“I’m so sorry! It’s okay! I was somewhat listening! We were discussing how the Red Coven’s nobles are suspicious, right?”
“Yeah. That covers about all of it. Anyway, are you really okay? Are you sure you aren’t sick?”
“I’m okay! A-okay!” Azusa blushed and evaded Kouya as he leaned in to get a better look at her face. She rapidly fanned her face with her hand to bring down the heat. Her behavior perplexed Kouya, but he continued on in his usual tone.
“From now on, even if you show any new changes, I don’t plan on reporting more than the bare necessity to get by without suspicion. I intend to continue doing so until we learn who the third party Tsukiharu mentioned is.”
“What? You won’t report more to Mr. Akashi either then?”
“Yeah. I have no intentions of reporting more to the Patriarch than what is necessary to avoid arousing his suspicion.”
Surprised, Azusa turned to look at Kouya. She knew full-well that Kouya reported back about her status on a weekly basis. But she was at a loss for words when she learned he felt even Akashi—his own father—wasn’t trustworthy.
“For now, only put your trust in us and doubt everyone else. The Patriarch included.”
“Is it okay to be doing this? Won’t they say something or punish you guys for it later?”
“This is only until we learn who the third enemy is. Once we know, I’ll gather all the information I held back into one report and submit it. From the start, the only reason we thought the Blue Coven attacked you was because of firm orders from the top declaring it was them. Plus, the information about your kidnapping came from the top-ranked nobles as well. They had no information on you before, yet they suddenly knew about your kidnapping. Isn’t it only natural to doubt them?”
“But you don’t have to go as far as doubting your father! Aren’t the Patriarch’s opinions and orders basically the law in this town? Will you be okay? What about your position?”
“I’m not saying the Patriarch is behind it. I’m simply keeping a tight lock on the information because we don’t know where it will leak from. As for the last part, I’m no longer in a position I need to worry about. I’m merely the Patriarch’s son and someone with enough ability to be forced with the job of disposing Fs. There won’t be much issue if I’m gone,” Kouya stated with his usual indifference.
Azusa was speechless. She clenched her fists at the way he seemed to feel nothing about it.
“Forgive me, Kouya!” Azusa said, following up the comment with a slap to his cheek. A dull smack resounded through the quiet park.
“…!”
“I’ve thought this for a long time now, but you bad talk yourself way too much, Kouya! I said before that I don’t want you to die, didn’t I? I don’t want you to disappear either. I also don’t want you to feel sad or be pained by anything! And yet you never care about yourself! Please think a little about the people who care about you!” Azusa shouted. She breathed heavily from saying it all with one breath.
A few seconds passed before she returned to reality and the color drained from her face. She timidly looked up to find Kouya’s eyes as wide as saucers with sheer amazement.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaah! I am so sorry! Did it hurt?!”
“No, I’m fine. I’m the one at fault here.”
“But! But still! I hit you!”
“Subaru often tells me not to say this kind of stuff too. It’s my fault for not being more careful with my words. Must have been uncomfortable for you,” Kouya said, forcing a smile. Azusa grabbed a fist full of his shirt and yanked him toward her.
“That is not the issue here! You have got the wrong idea! Neither of us are saying we don’t want to hear you say that because it makes us uncomfortable! We don’t want you to think like that! We want you to think more about yourself! So…um…you see…”
Kouya looked down at her as she struggled to find what to say next, and smiled. His large hand plopped onto her head.
“Thank you.”
Azusa looked up. Her eyes met Kouya’s. Her vision filled with his troubled yet happy expression—her face instantly turned bright-red. She released her grip on his shirt and tried to take a step back from him, but his hand shifted from patting her head to wrapping behind it to stop her from leaving.
“Azu—”
“Azusa!” Someone called out from behind them, cutting off whatever Kouya was about to say. He let go of Azusa and took a step back to put a little distance between them. They looked in the direction of the voice to find two female students. The girls were running toward them in their school uniforms.
“Oh, I knew it was you, Azusa! Why are you so early?”
“Yuu! Kii! Are you on class duty today?” Azusa asked.
“Yup! You got that right! To make matters worse, we have an experiment to do in first period today of all days, you know? So I thought I should get the equipment ready.”
“I’m just tagging along with Yuu. Our houses are absurdly close after all. Couldn’t let her go alone.”
“You two have it rough today.”
Kouya slowly turned his back on the three girls.
“Kou—”
“Go the rest of the way with your classmates. You should be safe this close to the school. Don’t worry, I’ll come running to your side again if anything happens,” Kouya said, placing his index finger to his lips to stop her from saying his name.
He patted her on the head several times with his other hand. The girls hadn’t figured out the man beside her was the Akaoni. Azusa could easily see his apprehension over the unnecessary fuss if they recognized him.
But, Azusa thought, why is he the only one who has to constantly endure everything? Why must he live out of sight? No one ever told Kouya he had to live that way. He chose this path. But his circumstances forced him to pick this road. I agree it’s a bad idea to frighten them for no reason. I understand what he’s trying to do, but it’s a different story to ask me to just let it slip.
Azusa practically lunged at Kouya’s arm to grab hold of it before he could leave, and turned to face her classmates who were talking nearby.
“Um, let me introduce you. This is Kouya, the person who contracted with me!”
“Hey!”
“What?” the girls said in unison.
“He escorts me to and from school every day out of worry! He is a very kind person!”
Azusa wrapped her arm even tighter around Kouya’s and dragged him with her to her classmates who were paralyzed with fear.