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Jayden's PoV

Kyoko's dad...is a detective?!?!

AND he's involved in a black market auction?!

I couldn't stop thinking about the incident as I ran down the street to Rin's bar to get the kid.

Nothing made sense. If he's supposed to be a good guy, why's he also the bad guy?

According to Director Sakai's tone while speaking, he seemed like a trustworthy, reliable and totally great detective. If I didn't know better.

Whatever. I'll see what I can find out later.

I remember the scheduled interview Rin gave to me that's at seven. I'll just get the kid back, and then come again for that.

I push open the double glass doors, just in time to see the little boy standing by a pot plant. He probably didn't work up the nerve to do anything else and just stood there.

A good choice, for his part.

At evening, the bar was already semi-crowded, I don't see Rin sitting at her usual spot.

"You alright? Nothing happened?" I kneeled to his eye level and checked his arms and legs for any scratches. Aside from some dust, he was A-okay.

He nodded with a brave smile although tear stains were obvious on his cheeks.

I returned his grin, "Great. Let's get you back."

When I stood up, my field of vision was just high enough to see a girl walking out from the back of the bar. Carrying a white guitar case.

Instantly, the rest of the world zoned out. All I could see was her. It's her.

Her appearance hasn't changed at all. Even her hair is still the same length.

She seems to be rushing to leave, her eyes focused on the ground before her, she doesn't see me.

When she finally looked up, our eyes locked. She nearly dropped her case at her abrupt stop, the ends of her hair swished back at how hard she jerked back.

Is she that surprised to see me?

I couldn't even say anything. What could I possibly say when I don't even know her name?

"Hoshimi, you left your water bottle." A familiar voice breaks into my world. The noisy and alcoholic atmosphere of the bar coming to my senses again. I glanced to the right to Rin holding a glass water bottle with shock written on her face.

So... her name is Hoshimi? Written with 'star' and 'beauty'?

"Y-You're not supposed to be here until seven...." Rin murmured. Oh. Now I get it. Hoshimi's performance probably ends at around six, she scheduled the time so I would miss her.

She lied to me.

"Jayden... you shouldn't be here." Hoshimi says, her voice ever so soft, and ever so cold.

"You know that I'm serious about you, right?" I finally manage to speak as I look into her eyes. She averted her gaze.

"I don't care... I already forgot all about you. There's nothing left between us, Jayden, you should go back to America. Your family is probably worried." She says again, then attempts to walk around me to the exit.

I stand firmly in her way. My bangs fell over my eyes, giving me an unusual serious look.

"Is that so?" I question, then took the water bottle Rin was holding and showed her, "then how come, you remember this?"

At the bottom of the bottle rested a piece of candy. No one else can possibly do this other than me.

I heard her breath hitch. She obviously didn't completely forget about me, what's making her spite me so much?

I set the bottle down on the counter behind her and took her hand that isn't holding the guitar case lightly. When she looked up at me again, she mustered the most distant expression she had. It pained me to see her try to chase me away in every way possible.

I faintly hear the door to the bar being pushed open.

"Hoshimi... were all those times nothing to you? Can you tell me why you left?"

Her eyes didn't waver, "I admit I did have a lot of fun. But I have personal manners to deal with, I can't stay with someone like you. You're too... careless."

I could tell she squeezed those words out despite herself.

"You should just give up on me, there are tons of good girls out there for you. I'm just not one of them." She pulls her hand back, but I grip onto it. She doesn't struggle further.

"Then at least, please, tell me why I should give up." I say sincerely and search her eyes. They were blank.

She then forcefully retrieved her hand and frowned, "It doesn't matter. I'm engaged."

Not leaving any time for me to be confused, she continued, "I left home and went to Santorini to clear my mind and get away from my life for a bit. But my parents found me by tracking my credit card. My mother made a call to me that day."

She was referring to our last agreed meeting spot, where she never arrived at.

"I was actually early that day, but she called before you came. She ordered me to come back, she said my father made arrangements for my future." She swallowed, "I waited until you got there to see you one last time, then headed to the airport."

More emotions started to show in her voice as she continued.

"You see? My life isn't my own. My entire life has been planned out the second I was born. I know it's hard for you to understand, but this is just how different we are, and just how isolated my life really is. I'm not going to disobey my parents, I'm an only child and I have responsibilities as a noble family too."

"Hoshi—" I try to say, but she just shakes her head.

"I know what I need to do for my future, and I want to. Anyways, key point is that I'm already engaged. He's only four years older than me and already shows promise of a successful business man. I really suggest you just forget about me and move on, because I have."

This time, I didn't have any strength in me to stop her from leaving.

Kyoko's PoV

I opened the door to say bar just as Jayden took the hand of an unfamiliar girl. I quickly figured out who this Hoshimi was after they briefly conversed. When it started to get personal, I took the child by his arm.

"We shouldn't listen in." The eight-year-old nodded and followed me out.

I couldn't get rid of my curiosity and returned to the bar after putting the kid safely into his older cousin's care. Well, I wouldn't say safe. But good enough.

"...I really suggest you just forget about me and move on, because I have." I got there just in time to hear the girl conclude, then walk out.

My gaze watched her back for a while, then I turn to Jayden, who seemed to be frozen in space. A lady with a short orange bob-cut—probably the one Jayden mentioned earlier—looked around nervously. I couldn't read the situation, but one thing's for sure.

The guy's definitely heart broken.

His back facing me, I can't tell what he's thinking. I stood there for the longest time.

"Jayden?" I finally call out when I feel like it's time. His head raised from its hanging form and turned around to me. He looked so drained. His entire purpose of being here just vanished away, I wouldn't blame him.

"Ice cream and Netflix?" I suggest, trying to lighten his mood.

He ran his hand through his hair, his expression not changing, "Nah, I'll need a dash of beer."

"Wait, but you're—"

"Underage? Convenience stores will even sell beer to ten year olds, besides, it's not my first time. I'll be fine." He shuffled his hair again.

Is it a tradition for guys to drink when they're upset or what?!

I'm about to lecture him when I see the look on his face. His eyes were half-lidded and no signs of a smile showed. His hair also a mess from the amount of times he ran his hand through it.

He actually...looks...kinda...hot....

"Tell the guys I'll be late today." He says in a monotonic voice as he heads out.

A strange sense of worry overwhelmed me. I had the urge to want to be sure he's alright. I searched my head for an excuse. That's right! He's five months my junior, yup, that's it. I am simply making sure a kouhai is copacetic!

After a while, I found him sitting by the side walk. In the typical I'm-upset-so-I'm-drinking position. Five cans scattered at his feet, while six more unopened ones piled beside him, he had one in hand.

He looked up in shock when I stood in front of him.

"Kyoko... why didn't you go back...?"

I reached out and flicked him on the forehead, "You'll die if you get drunk and just lie by the sidewalk. I'll get in trouble since I was last seen with you. They'd think I did something."

Jayden rubs his forehead and stuck his tongue at me, "You're a bad liar. Just admit you care."

"I don't." I say back in my fastest reaction time and sit down next to him, "Anyways, if you decide to get drunk to the point of counting two as four, at least I'd know."

"Heh." He hummed out once before bringing the can to his lips, and finished off however much was still remained.

Crushing the can in his grip, he then drops it where all the other empty ones were.

Silence enveloped us as he chucked down can after can.

I watched his adam's apple bop as he threw back his head and drank.

Small amounts of alcohol once in a while isn't bad, but he's going too far.

"Okie dokie that's enough for you." I say as he crushed the last can. That was a dozen cans, he should be satisfied now.

"...Five more."

"What? Still?"

"Please." He fished out his wallet between his index and middle finger and handed it to me, "Then I'll definitely stop."

I find myself unable to decline his request. What the hell am I doing? When have I ever found trouble to refuse someone?

Instead, I find my hand accepting his wallet and my legs standing up to head to the store across the street.

I've gone insane.

I set the bag down beside Jayden and he instantly took a can.

"You should try it. For me, it's a good transition for bad news." He tossed one my way so sudden that I barely caught it. He's getting tipsy.

I sighed. I've never drank alcohol before, maybe it's about time I take a sip.

It was extremely bitter, my tongue nearly got burned off.

"I don't like this." I was about to throw it away when he caught my arm.

"Don't let it go to waste...." He swiped the can right out of my hand and emptied it in seconds.

D-Did he just...? Drank from the can I just did...?

It was difficult to get him to stand up after all the cans were emptied and I ended up cleaning the mess of cans.

"Let's get ya back. You're heavy as hell." I struggle to put his arm over my shoulder. I think he's swimming in and out of consciousness.

It started to rain. Shit, we better get back fast.

Wait. Since the school is half-destroyed, students are supposed to go back to their own home as of today and tomorrow. I mentally slap myself for just realizing that.

"Hey, where do you live?"

No answer.

This shithead.

"Jayden! Where do you live?"

He muttered out a random address... in English. Ugh, wrong address.

"It can't be helped, then. As much as I despise having someone else over."

I open the door to my rented apartment that I haven't been in for a bit. I should toss him on the couch for now since he's fricking dead weight.

Before I could make it, though, his strength seem to return to him.

"Eh? You sober already?"

Just when I let loose his arm for a bit, he suddenly crashed into me. My back hit the wall for the first time that's not because of a training session or an attack.

One of his hands was holding onto my wrist while the other stayed at the side of my head. His forehead rested on my shoulder. I can feel him tremble.

"Gosh, she must be your first love if you're acting this emotional." I rubbed his back with my free hand. His shirt was wet from the bitter rain outside.

Just then, he lifted his head and rested his forehead against mine. My eyes widen when I feel our close proximity. His eyes bore into mine and I could faintly feel his breath. My heart rate sped up.

"Jayden, you're dru—"

He cut me off.

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March 28, 2016

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