● ● ●
Well, that’s more or less what happened.
“...The hell is that old bastard thinking...?!”
It was lunch break, and Kyouhei’s exhaustion had reached its peak just as both hands on the clock were pointing straight up.
Honestly, if he’d just picked a few boring classes and slept in those the exhaustion would have abated. Or even if he’d just taken the one day off, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. However, because he aimed for ‘normalcy,’ diligence, and being a model student, he couldn’t do that.
Kyouhei pulled his phone from his pocket and hit his first speed dial slot. The screen changed to display “Old Bastard” and a phone number.
He raised the phone to his ear and waited.
For one minute. Two minutes. Three. Four. Five...
No answer.
“What kind of trader doesn’t answer the phone?!” he yelled out, raising the phone to throw it at the floor before narrowly catching himself.
The phone had rung, but that was all. His father, Shuuhei, showed no sign of answering. He didn’t even direct him to the voicemail.
Kyouhei had actually called every time he’d had a break, but hadn’t been able to get a hold of him at all.
In other words, the situation had not changed a bit.
“So, do I call the police now...?” he mused. “There might be a missing person report. Ah, but I can’t! I’d get connected to his shady business. Transporting a person in a coffin or whatever can’t be legal!”
Even if it had been by mutual consent, it’d be aiding in illegal immigration. If it hadn’t been by mutual consent, then regardless of the legality of the immigration, it was kidnapping—a blatant crime.
If he stepped incautiously, then Kyouhei would end up arrested together with his father.
“Dammit, Dad, if you’re gonna get arrested, do it on your own!!”
“What, your dad’s back?” came a voice from behind him.
He turned around to find that Mizuhito Hibiki had arrived.
On top of his usual nationality-belying color scheme of red hair, green eyes, and tanned skin, he had an electric guitar dangling from his shoulder by its strap. Of course, it wasn’t connected to an amp or any cables, so it was just like his piercings, rings, and bandana: a fashion statement.
Well, he certainly stood out that way. Not only did he have the guitar, but he was also carrying a yakisoba sandwich for lunch or something. Overall, he looked pretty surreal.
“Him not being back’s the issue.”
“Ain’t that normal?”
That certainly was true.
“Yeah, but it’s ’cause he ain’t back that—” Kyouhei started before shutting his mouth.
That was close.
Letting Mizuhito know about Pamil would not be good.
Far from being a good source of advice, he would happily sell out friends and family if it would get him attention. He’d probably even complain that it was only Kyouhei getting the attention after selling him out to the media.
“What, did something happen?”
“No? Not really?” he said, feeling a cold sweat run down from his armpit.
“Hmmm? What’re you hiding?!”
“I’m not!”
“Kyouheiii, why’re you so mean?” he whined as he strummed at the guitar. Well, as mentioned earlier, it wasn’t connected to an amp, so it wasn’t too loud. “You’re always hoarding the interesting stuff to yourself; I don’t remember bringing up such a selfish child!”
“And I don’t remember you bringing me up either!” he retorted.
Mizuhito wasn’t a bad person by any means, it was just that his entire value system was based on whether something would stand out or not, so they were often at odds. Frankly speaking, it was a mystery to Kyouhei himself how they’d even become friends.
“Anyway, nothing happened! Everything’s been completely, utterly normal!! Today’s the same as yesterday, and tomorrow will be the same as today, with me having my fill of a completely routine day!!”
“Man, you’re boring.”
“And hearing that from you puts me at ease,” he retorted again.
At the least, Kyouhei didn’t want to live a life that Mizuhito could call interesting.
“By the way, Kyouhei.”
“What?”
“Lunch’ll be over soon; you eaten?”
“...Ah.”
Now that Mizuhito mentioned it, he realized he’d been too busy trying to call his father and had forgotten to eat. He hadn’t brought lunch with him, so the only option Kyouhei had was to buy something from the cafeteria or school store. Looking at the time, though, it was only five minutes before break would be over.
“Kuh, it’ll have to be the store?!”
Even if he headed there now, there probably wouldn’t be anything good left, but it’d be better than finishing off the day with no lunch.
Well, that’s how it went.
“See you laterrr!”
With Mizuhito’s carefree voice following him, Kyouhei rushed towards the school store.