“ARE you an idiot?!” Kouya roared.
It had been a while since he last got angry at her. Actually, maybe it hadn’t been that long at all. But it was the first time he had ever gotten angry with a desperate expression on his face, which got Azusa giggling in his arms.
“I’m sorry.”
“Your face and words don’t match! Why would you do something like this in front of so many people? Didn’t I tell you not to expose your relationship with me? What are you going to do tomorrow? They’re going to give you the cold shoulder, y’know?”
Azusa grinned at Kouya’s angry yet concerned gaze.
“You probably don’t have to worry about that! Everyone will come to understand you, Kouya! Besides, I don’t mind if they do end up giving me the cold shoulder. If I can only choose between you and everyone else, I choose you. I’m your partner after all!”
“…I don’t want to ask that much of you,” Kouya said with a pained look, letting Azusa feel like she connected deeper with than ever before.
“This is something I want to do. That’s it. I’m sorry for acting arbitrarily. Also, I know it is a bit late for this, but can I stay with you today?”
“There’s nothing fun about what I have to do. Besides, you’ll only get hurt by watching.”
“I know. Also, I want you to do me a favor and capture Youta instead of kill him. Can you do that? I don’t want you to kill Youta, Kouya.”
“Close your eyes then.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to witness you do it—I don’t want you to do it period! Let’s capture Youta without killing him. There may be a way to save him. Once we know for sure there is no other way, we can reconsider our options.”
“I’m repeating myself, but I can’t give special treatment to family—”
“Good idea. Let’s capture your little brother,” Subaru chimed in. Ichi stood beside him holding her katana.
“Sorry for interrupting the nice mood between you. We came flying when we heard from Master Akashi. Are we in the way?”
Kouya and Azusa finally realized they were conversing in each other’s arms the entire time and quickly separated.
Subaru smiled at them and brought the conversation back on topic, “I overheard a bit of what you two were saying and I think I’m on the capture the little brother bandwagon.”
“But—”
“I understand what you want to say too, Kou. Still, do you want all the kids watching from the rooftop to see the tragic scene of you killing your brother? That’s one plan I can’t support.”
“I can imagine the deep trauma it will cause,” Ichi added, backing up Subaru. Kouya frowned.
“How do you plan on capturing him then? You all know that Youta is the Patriarch’s son and has the famous Kisaragi bloodline flowing through him. He’s definitely going to be formidable. Letting him run around too long increases the chances of students getting hurt. Killing him is the best option to keep anyone else from getting hurt.”
“Isn’t that only if you took him on alone? Should it not be more than possible for the three of us to capture him if we take him on together? Do you plan on making me not use my partner which I brought here for this purpose?” Ichi asked, holding up her katana.
“Kou, you heard her. Let’s attempt to capture your brother first. We can kill him later if necessary. I doubt there is anyone the three of us can’t capture. Well, just in case, Azusa, can you give Kou some blood?” Subaru asked with a grin.
Azusa froze.
Blood… I’m pretty sure he drank my blood today. And if I’m not mistaken, something happened before that… The events she had forgotten from the afternoon returned to her. For some reason I don’t understand, Kouya came to school angry and said he wanted my blood… And then his face came close to mine…!
Remembering the soft touch of his lips instantly turned Azusa as red as a lobster. Kouya put his hand to his head. Their behavior perplexed Subaru.
“What? Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”
“…No, don’t worry about it. Anyway, I already got blood from her, so I’m good. Don’t touch on the topic again. I’m begging you,” Kouya pleaded.
Subaru swore he would do whatever it would take to get what happened out of Kouya later.