Chapter Text
It smelled like oranges.
The room had a faint smell of oranges.
Which was strange, because he never brought this scent with him to school.
And as he noticed this, it only just hit him that everything that had happened was weird, in a sense.
He didn't remember having dialed Akane's phone number. He didn't even remember if he said anything on the phone, which led him to his next point.
How in the world was Akane able to find him ?
And…why come out at this hour ?
Akane's neighborhood was well lit, and a little bit familiar. Teru passed by the convenience store here on his later night shifts. Coming to think of it, he crossed Aoi's path once here too. When they reached the modest two-story house, Akane jumped the small gate without a sound. Teru never really paid attention to it, but the other boy was quite fit.
As he followed his guide's footsteps, they took a detour through the garden, and ended up at the back of the house. Seemed he sneaked out, but the window was at a distance double his height.
" Let me go first, I'll help you get up from there. "
He breathed in, and jumped from the wall of his house to the neighbors', in a two step cadence, letting out a small "hup". In less than three seconds, he reached his window.
Teru whistled and clapped admiratively.
" Wow, Aoi, that is some serious skill you got there ~"
" Idiot ! Why don't you wake up everyone while you're at it ?" He seethed, all the while keeping his voice in a high whisper.
In an attempt to annoy him some more, Teru continued cheering even louder.
" Okay, okay, I get it. Stop that now. Here," Akane stretched out his hand once inside his room. The other one looked at him, and he took a step back for what seemed to be momentum. Only, he jumped with such strength he reached the window all alone, lending on his two feet at the border of it. The ginger stared at him in disbelief, his hand still outside. Not only did he make a show of himself with his zig zagging, but Teru ridiculed him by not accepting his hand. It would have been better to outright say that he could climb on his own, rather than do this. Cursed be those exorcist genes… With a gentle smile, he stepped inside the bedroom, while Akane frowned in annoyance.
" What the hell…"
The moonlight perfectly set a mood in the host's room. Next to the window was a desk, with a night lamp already lit and papers and pens scattered on top of it. The chair was not tucked in, as in left behind in a sudden rush.
" You were studying…? At this hour ?"
" Yes, I was. I am always up studying at this time. "
" Ooh…"
Scratching his head, the owner of the room sighed and offered his desk chair to his guest. "Stay here, I'm coming back," He phrased, taking the plastic bag from the store with him and closing the door with the utmost care.
That was when Teru's mind started wandering.
Maybe he already knew his office buddy was up and awake at this moment of the night. Maybe he just needed confirmation with that phone call.
He started analyzing the room. At first, he spotted the book shelf that Akane showed the picture of once — the One where all the books had a character named "Aoi" in them — but he saw that the last row was full of CDs and DVDs. At random, he picked one. On the black cover laid some godly imagery and the title in white " The Note of Death ". It looked like a horror movie. He put it back and took out another case : " Alice of the Border " This one looked like it had a bit of action. This surprised him. Akane watched shows and movies, too? He didn't take him for that type of guy. The top corner of the shelf had headphones hanging. On the first row were some trophies and a framed picture. As he looked closely, he saw a younger Aoi and a younger Akane, smiling together and wearing gold and silver medals respectively at what looked like a piano competition. So he did piano as well? Huh.
Next to the shelf, by the window, he saw a TV on a stand of dark wood. There was a row of other cases and a strange looking remote. This must be the video games he had so much heard of amongst his peers at school. He noticed a big poster of a band he did not know by his bed. Teru had to admit to his inner voice that he did not expect his host's room to look like this. He had the mental image of him optimizing his space, using it only to study and to sleep. He hadn't expected this much personality. Somehow, he found that everything as is fit the serious teen very well too. He had a random DVD in his hands by the time Akane came back, holding a tray with plates of snacks on top.
" My space is not even the size of yours, is it? "
" It's still quite spacious for…" Teru found himself starting, before stopping himself. He didn't mean to sound condescending.
" For a common household, yeah. "
Akane set the plates on his carpet before giving a cushion to Teru to sit down. Teru glanced at the digital clock by Akane's desk.
2 : 07 am.
" Is it alright to eat at this time?"
" Oh please, don't act like a young master now. Plus, I know you didn't eat anything since noon so stop your whining and get your butt to sit down !" He ordered harshly, and just then, Teru's stomach rumbled.
" See ? Even your stomach agrees with me. "
He installed himself by the younger one's side. Akane saw that he was holding one of his DVDs.
" You know that one ? " He tried to engage.
" Oh, I didn't… no, I don't. I mean, I picked this hazardously. I have no idea what's its about, " Teru waved his hands as he talked to show some kind of complacency. He turned his gaze onto the cover one more time. This one read, " The Greatest Pretender ," Teru raised his voice as he noticed a pattern. Everything he had randomly picked put turned out to have a title written and read in English. He scoffed at the realization.
"Huh ? What's amusing you ?"
" Seriously, Aoi ? Would it kill you to do one thing at a time ? " Teru's laugh started picking up, " You're studying English with these ? "
" Of course…I can't allow myself that. My time is precious. Everything I do has a purpose, " Akane crossed his arms, drawing his signature ticked off expression on his face, then continued, " Why only be entertained and study later when I can do both ? These shows are entertaining and educational. Two birds, one stone. " He gestured two with is fingers, followed by one .
Teru could barely contain himself. It would be rude to wake anyone else up, and he did his best, but one would have to listen to and see Akane to understand why Teru found him hilarious : the delivery, the tone of his voice ; everything stated so matter-of-factly without a hint of humor, tickled his throat.
" Oh yeah ? What's so good about The Greatest Pretender ? "
As if he had waited for this question his whole life, Akane made the words flow out of his mouth with no hesitation.
" It has a huge cast of people from different countries; it allows me to hear different accents of the same language, which is a big factor when learning for practice, not for academics. " Teru made a note of this. So he studies it on his own will, and not just for the exams. " And the setting is also changing, which is a great interest asset compared to other series. "
" Mhmm. Does it have a character named Aoi in it too ?"
" I…I don't look for an 'Aoi' in for everything …! " He coughed, as he defended himself, " But speaking of which, there is a character that reminds me of you. " Akane pointed to Teru with his index finger, who in turn placed a hand on his chest in a way of (exaggeratingly) displaying his flattery. " Me ? How so ? "
" Simple. He's the biggest jerk around. He plays everyone like a fiddle, especially the main character, by not telling him any of his plans, even though they are supposedly partners. " Teru had an irked look on his face. Did he just insinuate that he was a jerk ? That was quite hurtful. Moreso, that relationship sounded surprisingly, uncomfortably familiar…and Akane didn't seem to be aware of that, because he rambled on like he knew this all too well, but without alluding to the main character as someone he could relate to (or, more obviously, as himself) : " All he's got are his looks and connections and money. " Eek, I've got those too, the exorcist thought in disbelief. " Granted, that amounts for a lot in his cockiness, but still ! A Frenchman. He's even got the blue eyes, blond hair and everything …"
" Mmm ? But I'm not French, though…"
" You…You aren't?" He blinked twice, taken aback by his assumption. " Huh…? What the hell ? I wonder where I got that from… " There was a short pause. Then, he went on, while struggling with the formulation of his question, " I don't want to sound rude or anything, but, uh, what…what are you…I mean, what type of ancestry do you have ? " He managed to finish. Teru lied down, then stared at the sealing. " Oh, you know, I haven't asked. I'm not exactly interested in my family history…"
Especially since his mother wasn't around anymore to answer that question for him.
And all he was left with was that not good enough excuse of a father, whom he avoided to pain himself with.
Having this blood in his veins did not mean sunshine and rainbows. He didn't consider his life easy by any means. Even if he had the looks, the connections, the money. He was just suffering in luxury. But one thing he liked to tell himself was that he exchanged that luxury of suffering so that the residents of the city could have the luxury of peace. The commonly cited "Greater good". Even when the selfish pricks that shoved the responsibility of this greater good on him liked to sit back and do nothing, blamed him for when things turned sour : lynched him at any mistake and any failure; even when he saw through their hypocrisy in mentioning good will only when they were the first to be protected…even when they shamed him and his siblings for the loss of their mother, and even when he saw his father kneeling down to them, kissing their sandals and treating them like superior beings; still, even then, he caressed his bruises with the ideal of the greater good, and he was willing to go through the humiliation. " Endure it, Endure it, for you won't have to see them when you've purged the world of all evils." Though, being around them, he regretted that the clan was not among the evil he was allowed to purge. The way they acted, he could only wish they weren't human.
This suffering was one he was willing to bear alone — no, that he had to.
But sometimes, just sometimes, that weight was too much to carry by himself.
Sometimes he felt like stopping, dropping everything and running away.
Sometimes he felt like hitting anything in his way.
Sometimes he felt like screaming and shouting, insulting the heavens for this cursed blood of his.
And sometimes he wanted to be saved.
But he had no true will. He couldn't do as he wished. He couldn't take a break, he couldn't breathe. He could only wait until his mind and body crumbled, until they stopped obeying the will of the Minamoto clan. He was only doing what others wanted of him. He was alive,
But he wasn't living.
At least not for himself.
How was he any different from the powerful ghost he so much hated ?
Maybe the only reason he couldn't stand that child was because he clinged on to everything that breathed life, even though he breathed death.
Your turn is over already.
Won't you let it go ?
His biggest fear, one he refused to acknowledge to himself, was that he would end up like the school mystery number seven, trying to get a second shot at life while crying, " Wait, no ! I didn't get to do anything I wanted. I didn't get to live ! "
It was all so suffocating.
He wanted to share what he felt. To let it out. To get listened to. But who would ? Who would understand?
" What's with your family anyway ? You seem to really only get along with your siblings."
He sprang up, suddenly remembering Akane's presence. He was completely lost in thought. How long had it been ?
" I'm sorry…did I say something?"
" Oh yeah. You were muttering something along the lines of 'Those damned bastards. I wish I could exorcize them. I'm just so tired of their faces…I want it to all end.' You told me a similar thing on the phone. "
Teru sat there, bashful. He rambled on to someone who had nothing to do with him. And as if Akane read his mind, he reassured,
" Don't sweat it. You've been like that with me before, remember? At the temple last time. You were rolling and complaining about the old man, and I had to endure it. " He made big gestures with his hands, making his furrowed face somehow exasperated. " I've never heard you complain about anything else, or seeing you so fed up with things other than the supernatural. They must really suck."
"...Yeah." Teru found himself admitting. " I don't really interact with them anyways," He shrugged. " I have a cousin, though. On my father's side. She's de~sperately annoying," He accented on the "de". After having ignored the pangs his stomach sent him, he finally reached for a snack, that was neither sweet nor sour. Pretty good. He reached for more.
" Heck, if you find her annoying, I have to make sure to never meet her, " Akane slightly chuckled, " Does she hate the supernatural too ? "
" I'd say even more than me. If she were to witness how tolerant I have been at school, I'd never hear the end of it. She has an insanely strong power, for someone from the side of the family that didn't get the genes. "
" How strong are we talking ? Stronger than you ? " Akane opened a can of soda as he asked. Teru kept quiet, before admitting in a mumbled defeat, his head raised down, " …Well, she does have the seniority between us…"
A laugh was heard after that. A mocking, strong laugh, that seemed to have crawled out from the pits of the throat. He almost spilled the contents of the soda can he held.
" So she's stronger, huh ? Who would have thought that someone would surpass you ? Haha !"
Embarrassed, Teru raised his voice in annoyance. But at the same time, he found himself thinking, "Why am I sharing all of this with him ? What's happening to me?"
" Hey ! This is no laughing matter. If she were to meet you, she would kill you, you know !" He wanted to stop, but the dam was already opened. There was no stopping it until every drop of water spilled out.
" Haha…she would kill me ? You're not serious, are you? I'm still human…" His laugh gradually went down, until a heavy silence befell the bedroom. He kept waiting for the president to admit he joked, but the confirmation never came. Was he serious ? He couldn't be…right ? The curtains fluttered, and a sudden chill swept the room.
" Let's not talk about my family anymore, " The exorcist suggested with a smile.
" Agreed, " The clock keeper accepted almost immediately. The thought of even meeting this person now seemed like a terrifying nightmare, one that might top the one he had about Teru multiplying.
In an attempt to change the subject, Teru started recalling the recent events.
The severance. Aoi's sacrifice by Number Seven. Her rescue mission, and the encounter with the more dangerous school mystery, Number Six. Then restoration of the boundaries and their supernatural. The small gathering at his house. So much happened, in such little time. And now, the festival… there wasn't any break between all the events, after all. No wonder he was more tired these days, and it wasn't just physically.
" Have you talked things out with Akane-san ?"
" Even if I have, what's it to you ? Why would I tell you this valuable information?"
" I just confided in you…I… I thought we weren't there anymore. "
He said with a sulk. Worst thing, he suprisingly thought he meant those words, too. Akane sighed and reached for the last snacks.
" What did you mean when you asked me to take care of your brother? " he tried to start as well. "... I'm not telling you that. Why would I give you this valuable information?"
Hurt by his own words, Akane groaned and scratched his head before standing up again and taking the plates out of the room. Teru stayed there, feeling a pang in his throat. He sounded like a child in need of attention, which was a huge bruise to his ego. The fatigue must have gotten to his head. He had to regain control of himself, before he spewed something too personal. Before he let it get too real.
Akane came back and observed his upperclassman. The way he acted today was messy and inconceivable, unrecognizable and far from the kept together image of Minamoto Teru. Even if the only bits if joy he found in his days related to him getting electrocuted and roped, Akane could not find the strength to hate this guy (at the moment). He didn't look like the all cruel demon he was used to see, he looked like a discarded puppy. He radiated pity and sadness.
He headed to the TV stand, grabbed a controller and handed it to him. Just like the cube earlier that afternoon, he gave it a strange look before taking it and examining it.
" You've no idea how it works, right ? You nobles don't have this kinda stuff at home, I presume. I'll teach you how to play. "
He turned on the game station and inserted a fighting game inside. As it loaded, Akane announced, in the serious voice that only he bore ;
" Co-workers don't casually run outside their house at two in the morning just because you gave them an incohesive call, and they certainly don't take you back to their place to serve you snacks while hearing you complain. "
A sea of surprise flushed over Teru. He was astounded.
" What I'm saying is, if you need an ear, I'll lend mine. But I absolutely refuse to call you my friend, you hear me ? I don't consider you as one. You're not an acquaintance anymore, unfortunately...You're more like a classmate by extension than a friend. " He looked at the screen, pressed some buttons of the controller to set up the game. He mumbled then, " And if you call me at this time again, I'll just ignore you."
" Whatever we are, whoever we are to each other right now…just know that you've got me. I'm not going anywhere for now, " He thought, but he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. It was too cheesy, too embarrassing. Too comfortable.
"Aoi…"
Teru pinched Akane's arm. He flinched, confused. " You are too casual with me, aren't you ? You should learn respect towards your elders. "
" You little…isn't it to late for that ?"
Naturally, conversations started, and ended, mixed and faded in the night. At one point, they stopped playing (after several crushing defeats Teru suffered, [un]surprisingly) and told stories of their own, accosted by the frame of the host's bed. They talked about some treasured childhood moments ( "Do you not have any memory excluding Akane-San? " "What right do I have to live a life of my own without her?"), they talked about what they liked the most in a person, about why the president was so popular, talked about their classmates and their class ambience; they discussed the upcoming festival and what to do of the School Mysteries ("I was surprise by how powerful Number Six was. " " Well, yeah but you gotta remeber that Honorable Number Seven is even more powerful, he just has been weakened by that seal on his cheek." "Why do you call him honorable?"), and at one point, where it was all nonsensical, whimsy and barely hanging by a thread of consciousness, at the point where anything barely made sense, since Teru started getting caressed by the sweet feeling of oranges and sleep…at that point, Akane sat on his bed and reflected of what had become of his night. He planned on studying, like he always did, then sleeping and waking up the next morning, planing a day with his neighbor. Nothing, absolutely nothing was planned. It was not as if he abided and swore by the Kunikida Doppo saying, "Look, you can't eat ideals !" But he was starting to understand why ideals were an obsession for that man. They gave a feeling of being in control of the uncontrollable, and he agreed that no feeling could top the sense of comfort that ideals brought.
But then, he regrettedly — admittedly — recognized how fun this had all been. He huffed, smiling at how soft he felt he had become towards the one he allegedly — or, again, admittedly — loathed.
Loud beeps echoed throughout. Akane sprang up, recognizing what it meant. As if snapped out of a dream and brought to the sudden realization of the reality, he let out a sound of disbelief. Teru woke up to the sound, sleepy as he had been in the earlier afternoon — well, now yesterday's afternoon.
" Huh ?" He rubbed his eyes and stretched, akin to a cat. It took him some seconds to realize he hadn't gone home. "Aoi ?"
Akane chuckled in bitterness and disbelief. Teru followed his silhouette perched by his window, and glanced at the clock.
7:03 am.
What originally was a thirty minute stay at max became a full five hours.
Five hours of talking, arguing, discussing, and… getting to know each other.
Five hours where they dropped their identities of Minamoto and Aoi of the student council, and where they could just be Teru and Akane, not-friends-but-not-ennemies-either.
" Get outta here, you scum," Akane kicked Teru into standing up. He dialed a number on his phone, while Teru lazily went to the window. He was insisting on staying a little longer, that he shouldn't leave a delicate person such as him out on the street, that if he was still asleep enough it could cost him his life on the way home, that he didn't know the way home anyway and that he should at least accompany him there. Just as he was half out, the curtains of the opposing balcony opened, showing a small silhouette. The call had connected.
" Come on, Akane-kun, admit you had a good time with me ~"
" Who are you calling Akane-kun, you bastard ?!"
" Aww, don't be shy, Akane-kun. We're not just acquaintances anymore, are we ?"
" Akane-kun."
A dry voice called from the smartphone. Akane mechanically turned his gaze to the balcony, his mouth wide open. A dissatisfied Aoi was standing there, her phone in her hand, eyes as dead as a fish.
" Is that Minamoto-senpai sneaking out from your room ?"
Teru leaned back in the bedroom to say hi, as the call had been on speaker mode since the beginning. But to her, it almost looked like a kiss. Her heart dropped.
" A-A-Ao-chan… I-"
"You had fun together…?" She said in a tone that insinuated something totally different. Nene had definitely an influence in her flow of thoughts. If she were here, she would be gushing at the sight of what looked like a scene straight out from a popular drama. It reminded her of that time he confessed to Yamabuki (although in her name). Could it be that he also… swang the other way as well ?
Akane tried to explain the situation, but he couldn't even say anything besides Aoi's name. She cut the call dry and closed her curtains.
Teru jumped down, waving goodbye as the insults toward him become louder and louder. Then, a moment of last night flashed by in his mind.
As Teru faced the screen, he wished really hard that the moonlight and the lamp hadn't made his face visible. He didn't want to get caught smiling — really, truly, genuinely smiling — for something as trivial as being heard.
He didn't want to meet his gaze again.
Because he felt he would have declared right there and then, with the fatigue and tiredness and the feelings and the thoughts all jumbled up and making a mix of what seemed to be presented as 'emotion'; with how he magically found and appeared before him in the dead of the night right as he wished to leave the oxidizing world ; he would have declared,
"You are my savior. Thank you."