106: Moment of Hell
106: 地獄(じごく)の瞬間(しゅんかん)
'I have a camp to attend for the weekends.' I spoke during dinner. Dad looked up from his food and blinked at me.
'Seriously? How long has it been since you participated in school activities?' he questioned.
I sent a spoonful of rice into my mouth and didn't answer.
'No response from you means it was forced—but it's not like I care... Are you going as well, Seijuurou-kun?' Dad turned to the redhead sitting beside him.
Akashi nodded. 'Yuzuki needs to go because it's compulsory for her class and I'm going because the basketball team was instructed to guide them throughout the training camp.'
'Wow, it'd be rough—good luck staying alive.' Dad winked at me.
I rolled my eyes. 'By the way, why did you put Aidou as the infirmary teacher? I'd be dead embarrassed if people were to find out we know each other outside school.'
'I wanted to assign Dr. Sasaki but he's too handsome and he doesn't know advanced martial arts—Aidou went to a teaching institute after high school so he's perfect for the job. Why would you get embarrassed though?'
'Reasons,' I murmured then stood up. 'Thanks for the food.'
'Maybe she's on her period.' I heard Dad said. Ignoring it, I went straight to the kitchen. 15 minutes later, I had done the dishes for everybody and went straight to bed.
My schoolwork is piling but I couldn't care less, that's the fun of being in the last class—no one would care. The futon was providing warmth and comfort. I almost dozed off when I heard footsteps outside my room. It was faint but I could hear it clearly. The space I resided in was located very near the living room and if someone were to go to the kitchen, they'd have to pass my room. Dad's underlings would be in another part of the house so I was surprised to know that they were going to meet Dad in the kitchen.
I stayed close to the door to listen. 'Lord Miyamura wouldn't be pleased with this.' It was Jin. Why the hell would he call Dad lord?
'I know but what could we do? The Sasaki demanded their young master back.' Another voice replied. I didn't recognize the voice and that was weird because the only underlings allowed to stay in the house would be the 15 men I was familiar with. Then who was that?
'Not too loud, Ken. Yuzuki-sama is sleeping.' Jin hushed the other man and they disappeared. I glanced around and realized that since my room was dark (I haven't lighted the candles yet)(yes candles because Dad wants to live in the past)(I know he's weird) they'd think I was asleep.
'The Sasaki?' I murmured and buried myself under the blanket. 'Dr. Sasaki?'
Before I could pry into it further, drowsiness came in like high tides and I fell asleep.
-
Saturday arrived like lightning. I was clad in the school's PE uniform in the kitchen, making breakfast while being watched by Sano. Aidou had bundled my bag together with his and into the car. It was drizzling that morning so it was really cold.
'Don't burn the breads Sano.' I warned.
'How long does it take to toast the bread?' he queried.
'Until it feels right.'
'What? That's invalid!' he whined.
I sighed loudly. 'I don't care anymore. You can do whatever you like for breakfast. Just don't kill Dad.' And turned away from the stove. Sano fell silent, trailing behind without a sound. He could tell I was in no mood for the day. Everyone ate in peace and I wasn't surprised to see Dad absent. Without further delay, I headed to the car with Aidou.
-
Sano grunted as he washed the dishes in the basin with much difficulty. 'How the hell did Izu do all these things alone?!'
Yamazaki approached him. 'Why was Izu so gloomy this morning?' he asked.
Sano clicked his tongue loudly when a plate slipped from his hand into the water and his face was soaked. 'I think she's on her period—or maybe because she was forced to go to the camp. You know how much she hates staying away from her father. But her natural ability to cope with nature is amazing. I'm sure she'll be fine. Aidou's there too.'
Yamazaki hummed in response. 'Ken came last night.'
Sano's head jerked up. 'Ken? Is he not in Thailand?'
The lad shrugged. 'Takato-sama is not present this morning. I suspect they had found a clue or something.'
'Yeah I think so too but it's not our business. We better stay away from the special operation or we'll end up in a lonely planet like Takahashi.'
Yamazaki walked away.
-
Akashi managed to send a sarcastic smirk to Yuzuki as he passed her. The girl rolled her eyes and remained quiet. A classmate girl approached Yuzuki. 'Do you know him?' she spoke. Yuzuki turned to her right.
'Somehow.' She replied.
'He's bad news,' the girl said. 'I saw him fighting a bunch of delinquents days ago.'
Yuzuki frowned. 'How is that bad news?'
'He called in back-ups. I saw another 15 or so men came to help him. It was a scary fight!'
'What's your name?' Yuzuki asked.
'Reiko.' She answered and held out her hand. Yuzuki nodded and shook her hand.
'So, here's the thing Reiko-san,' she began. 'I really don't think that arrogant bastard could be dangerous. Don't get swayed merely by what you see. Investigate until the end. So then, I'll be going first.'
Yuzuki left Reiko to join the others. 'What an annoying, nosy kid.' She muttered under her breath but someone heard her.
'Reiko? She's a busybody.' The guy behind her spoke and Yuzuki turned around.
'Who?'
'I'm Kenny.' He smiled.
'Oh... hi.' She forced a smile awkwardly.
'Reiko doesn't have much friends in the class since she's weird and all. I bet you don't know that since you don't pay attention to your surrounding.' He continued.
You're weirder than her, Yuzuki thought silently.
'Yeah you're right.' She replied hastily and turned back in front.
Akashi was babbling some things she couldn't hear from the beginning so what she was able to hear was just, 'We'll start training after lunch and be having 2 laps around the campsite with my instructions. Dismissed. Please break into 5 people one group and set up your tents.'
Yuzuki rolled her eyes particularly at Akashi but he didn't see her. She turned to find friends but everyone was already bundling with their kinds. Sadly and unfortunately there were only five girls in the class excluding her so Yuzuki walked to Akashi.
'Anything wrong, Yuzuki?' he raised an eyebrow, calling her by her first name since there wasn't anyone near them.
'Everything's wrong,' she squinted her eyes then shook her head as if cancelling something in her mind. 'There are only 5 girls in my class. I can't fit in with the boys, it's wrong. So... where do I sleep?'
'I'll try asking if there's an extra tent.' He said.
'Okay, cool,' she turned around to walk away then stopped. 'By the way, Akashi, a classmate of mine saw you and Dad's people sparring with the Yukimura brats. Is that okay or should I cover for you? I'm good at lying.'
He nodded in understanding. 'I don't mind if you'd want to cover for me but if you don't want to, I can defend for myself.'
'Just say you want to.' Yuzuki waved her hand, chuckling.
'It's not like that.' He replied.
'Oh! Sure it is—'
'Akashi!' a voice called out. It was a male's. Both Akashi and Yuzuki turned their head. 'About the extra tent...!'
Yuzuki looked at Akashi, frowning. 'I only told you about that just now—how did you—w-wait, did you predict this?'
Akashi smirked.
Toshiyuki Hayato approached the two. 'Thankfully, they have one extra. What are you going to do with it? Storage tent?' he didn't seem to realize Yuzuki's presence yet.
'Of course not, she's going to use it.' Akashi pointed at Yuzuki.
'Oh,' Toshiyuki blinked at the girl. 'It's you.'
'You two met?' Akashi queried.
'Yeah, a few times,' Yuzuki shrugged. 'Hayayuki is a nice man. Glad he's the vice.'
'It's Toshiyuki Hayato.' He corrected but she paid him no attention.
'Can I go set my tent now?' Yuzuki held out her hands to receive the extra tent. Toshiyuki nodded quickly and handed her the tent and she went away.
'Hayayuki is a nice name too.' Akashi commented and walked away. Toshiyuki's lips pursed into a thin line and he sighed.
-
My breathing was becoming unsteady towards the end of the second lap of run around the forest. The other girls were behind the group, exhausted, as they weren't used to running. The boys kept up though. I was at the front, right behind the basketball team. Of course, Akashi was leading the team. Hayayuki stayed at the base camp due to asthma.
'We're entering the obstacles course.' Someone in front of me spoke up.
Obstacles course? I sighed and ran faster.
We stopped in front of a gate. 'Is everyone okay?' Reo, introduced as the vice-captain of the basketball team asked out loud.
A weak "yes" spread through the crowd but it seemed like Reo wasn't satisfied with the answer. 'I can't hear your voice! IS EVERYONE OKAY?!'
'YES!'
I yawned and picked a leaf of a random plant beside me and ate it. From the corner of my eyes I could see the guy beside me had his eyes and mouth wide open. Don't worry, dude. I won't die. I'm just hungry.
I clicked my tongue at the horrible taste but proceeded to pluck another leaf out. 'As you can see, we'll be coursing through some obstacles in this area and if anyone is injured, please inform any of us so we can bring you to Aidou-sensei.' Reo continued.
I munched on the third leaf.
'I don't give a damn if you're afraid of heights, ants, cockroaches, lizards, snakes, crocodiles or anything because you might be facing them all in here.'
Seventh leaf.
'The first thing we'll go through is the river. Before, it was closed due to some complications but now it's okay so we'll just go through the river I have no idea why. Maybe to get your clothes wet. I'm not really sure.' Reo shrugged.
Tenth leaf.
'I'll tell you other details along the way so as to not waste anymore time.' Reo checked his wristwatch, nodded at Akashi and turned around to lead the way.
-
W-Were the leaves sprayed with pesticides?!
I bent down a little and clutched my stomach in pain but followed through the river with the others in one line nevertheless.
Ah damn... a bad habit I have since small to munch on leaves... but the leaves at home weren't sprayed with pesticides. I forgot... ugh...
'Err...' I poked someone in front of me. The basketball player turned around. 'How long do we have to go?'
He shrugged in response.
I sighed and kept on walking. My grip around my shirt tightened and I tried to calm down and breathe properly. But something was running down my nose. I sniffed and wiped my nose but there was blood. I rolled my eyes and covered my nose with my free hand.
'Can I go up and to the toilet?' I questioned the person in front of me again.
He glanced at me then shook his head. 'I don't think there's a toilet nearby. Are you okay?'
'Yes, yes, I'm fine. Don't worry.' I waved my hand and he turned his head back. I coughed and straightened myself. A sharp pain on my stomach made me hold my breath. I sniffed again to obviate the blood from flowing out.
We walked for a long time, probably 10 minutes until we were asked to climb a steep hill to get off the river. A rope was thrown down so Hayayuki would be helping other on top and those who have come up would help those who were still down. Akashi climbed first and his movement was so swift I was sure Dad would hire him as an underling. Next was Reo, followed by Koutarou and the other basketball team players. When it was my turn, which was right after the last player of the team, Reo extended a hand and I removed my hand from my stomach and grabbed his hand tightly.
'I'll only step once so pull me with all your might and step back quickly.' I told him, voice kind of muffled.
'What?'
I repeated my words louder. He nodded hesitantly. I released his hand and grabbed again it as strong as I could. My right leg stepped on the highest part I could reach. 'PULL!' I yelled and he did. My other leg immediately stepped on the upper ground as he pulled back.
'That was good.' I commented, giving him a thumb-up then went to search for Akashi. He was waiting by a tree, watching silently, hands folded but when I approached him, he straightened his back and stared at me.
'Where's Aidou?' I asked urgently.
'Back at the base camp, why?'
I sighed. 'Can I go to him now?'
'What's wrong?'
I removed my hand covering my nose to let him see the blood smeared all over the lower half of my face then covered it back. 'Things like this happen a lot in the past. Don't worry. If I can't go back now, it's fine; I can go on like this. Just give me a tissue or two so it's a bit comfortable to do the obstacles.' I said.
He shook his head. 'I'll escort you back there. What happened?'
We started walking after Akashi told Hayayuki he was going to the base camp. I waved my hand in reassurance. 'I munched on some leaves in front of the gate. Forgot the existence of pesticides for a moment there.' I answered.
'You munched on leaves?' he frowned. 'Why would you do that?'
I giggled. 'I was hungry, really. The leaves back at home were fresh and edible, no pesticides. I forgot I wasn't at home.'
'I forgot you're weird.' He muttered.
'That's mean.'
'Does it hurt?'
'Sometimes yeah.' I nodded.
'Are you sure it was pesticides?'
'Nope. I have no confirmation on what I've swallowed. I'll assume it's pesticides.'
'Okay, we better move faster. Can you?'
''Course I can.' I shrugged and we began to run. My stomach felt like falling off from the pain and running but I was able to contain myself from screaming in agony.
We arrived at the base camp but no one was there except for Aidou's torn shirt.
'Did they get him?' I turned to Akashi.
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