“BY the way, Azusa, how do you feel about the Akaoni?” Tsukiharu asked on the rooftop after the bell rang. His gaze wasn’t stern, but it insinuated no lies would get past him.
“H-How do I feel about him in what sense?” Azusa asked flustered, her face bright-red.
“Do you like him?”
“He’s a great man, isn’t he? I like him! Obviously, I do!”
“I’m not asking if you like him as a person. I’m asking what you think of him as a man.”
“U-Um, well…” Azusa choked out and took a step back.
She still couldn’t determine whether her feelings for him were in the romantic sense or not. It was a fact she liked him, but she didn’t know if that was romantic affection or just platonic.
“Okay, then do you mind going to the classroom without me?” Tsukiharu asked with an exasperated half-smile at her reaction.
“Why? We’re in the same class. What’s wrong with going back together?”
“I’ve got a real bad feeling right now, so I rather not. I planned on protecting you if you had no feelings for him, but seeing as you might, I’ll return to class alone.”
“You’ve lost me. What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to get dragged into this one. I believe it’s your fault on all sides of the matter this time.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll get it eventually. Also, I’m taking the rest of the day off from school.”
“Why?”
“Go on. You will be late for class if you don’t hurry!” Tsukiharu pushed Azusa until she was on the other side of the rooftop door. He firmly locked it behind her.
✦ ✦ ✦
“WHAT was Tsukiharu trying to say? I don’t get him,” Azusa said to herself as she walked through the courtyard to get to her next class. She could have taken the bridge across to the other building, but with little time left until her next class, she took a shortcut through the courtyard. With the majority of students already in their classrooms, she was the only person briskly walking across the empty courtyard.
Azusa only needed to turn the next corner and enter the school building, when someone suddenly grabbed her arm. The yank on her arm was powerful enough for the momentum to make her stumble back in the same direction.
“Ow!” she squeaked as her nose impacted something sturdy.
“…..”
The sturdy thing appeared to be a chest. She cautiously looked up to see a familiar face glaring down at her with an air of immense irritation.
“K-Kouya, what are you doing here?”
“I came to get you.”
“I have afternoon classes today.”
“I know.”
“U-Um…are you angry about something?”
“Not really.”
“That’s a sign you are really angry, you know?”
Kouya grabbed hold of Azusa’s arm and briskly pulled her along with him. Realizing they were headed for the school gate, she quickly stopped him.
“H-Hang on a minute, Kouya! I told you I have afternoon class!”
“And I said I know you do.”
“Then why are we leaving?”
“…Can’t we leave?”
“Excuse me?”
What does he mean? Is it just my imagination that he wants me to return home with him? Azusa hesitantly tilted her head. Is there a reason for him to want to take me home early?
“Ah!” Azusa exclaimed like a light bulb lit over her head. “Do you need blood?”
“……”
Or maybe not?
Kouya’s scowl only deepened at her question. He seemed to be contemplating something, but Azusa couldn’t pick up on what he was thinking.
“Am I wrong? Then—”
“Can I have some blood?”
“Pardon?”
“…I’ll have some.”
“Wait! K-Kouya?”
Kouya abruptly pulled Azusa into his arms. Embarrassed, she struggled to escape his embrace, but the more she struggled the more he tightened his grip.
“Don’t struggle.”
“But we are at school!”
“You just did the same thing earlier.”
“When?”
“Doing it with Tsukiharu is fine, but not with me?”
“Ah…um? Were you watching us, Kouya?”
“……”
His silence confirmed it. He tightly embraced Azusa. She couldn’t see his face, but he gave off an extremely unhappy aura. She gingerly wrapped her arms around his back—he jumped.
“Um, I’m sorry. You are mad because I let my guard down around Tsukiharu, right?”
“……”
“I feel bad for you and the others about this, but you see, I don’t view Tsukiharu as an enemy anymore… Um, I decided to become his family.”
Azusa heard Kouya’s sharp intake of breath. His arms tightened on her back to the point it was getting painful.
“Screw that.”
“Eh?”
“I didn’t hold myself back just so you could be taken away by that guy.”
“What—”
Kouya dropped his arms, freeing Azusa. Immediately after letting go, he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her toward him again. She endured the pain of his fingers digging into her shoulders. He gazed down at her with ruby eyes glowing a far darker red than ever before.
“Kouya, um, Tsukiha—”
“Shut up already.” Kouya’s words weren’t the only thing that cut Azusa off. Her body trembled as he pushed his lips against hers. It wasn’t a gentle peck on the lips. He didn’t go as far as a French kiss, but still roughly smothered her lips with his. Azusa pounded on his chest in resistance. Nevertheless, Kouya showed no signs of letting her go.