31|| I Miss You

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--Kaoru POV--

Riiiiiing!

The bell finally rings for first period as I stare at the door. The teacher walks in.

"Good morning c-"

I look over at her desk and sigh.

Again?

It's Tuesday and Kako hasn't been coming to school. It's been a week. I haven't seen her since the whole incident at the train station.

"Hitachiin! Kaoru!" I hear the teacher say, keeping my head rested on the table.

"Present!" Hikaru says for me.

"Kisaki! Kako Kisaki!" I pick my head up and see the teacher sighing as he looks at Kako's desk.

"Again? The way I see it, her scholarship will be terminated if she keeps not showing up..." He says out loud and the class starts murmuring.

I gasp.

Terminated...?

I've tried calling her mum but she never answered. The host club and I visited her house and knocked several times... No one answered.

I wonder if something happened?

Her regulars at the host club have been asking for her too...

I bite my nails nervously.

Riiiing.

The last period bell rang and I enter the limousine with Hikaru and Miya.

Silence.

I look over at Hikaru who is on his phone.

"Come back home... Can you come back home? Aye..."

Miya who is listening to music, singing quietly and looking out the window.

It's weird. They're usually so loud.

"Kaoru." Miya suddenly turns around. "Let's go to the cafe."

Hikaru looks at her, then at me.

"Okay."

We step out of the limousine and enter the cafe.

"Oh! Oh my god! It's been so long!" Ger comes out from behind the counter and gives us a hug. "How are you?!"

"Good." The three of us answer at the same time.

"Um... Is Luna...?" Miya starts and Ger cuts her off.

"Luna? Are you looking for Luna?"

We nod.

"She just left a few minutes ago. She seems to be in a hurry these days... She looked so tired..." Ger sighs and sits in the table nearby.

"She just left?"

"Yeah." Ger nods and I run out.

"Kaoru!" I hear Miya and Hikaru call out.

Maybe she's on her way home? I just want to see her... Kako... I miss you.

I run to her house and just as I reach the front of her apartment, the door opens and she comes out.

"Oh!" Startled, she takes a step back just as she was about to put her bag on her shoulder. "Kaoru... What're you..." She trails off and looks down at her watch. "I'm gonna be late!" She slips past me and runs down the stairs, jumping off the fourth last step.

"Kako!" I follow after her.

She ignores me and throws her skateboard down.

"Kako wait!"

Just as she gets on, I grab her arm.

"Let go!" She turns around and tries to pull her arm away.

"Why are you in such a rush?! Where are you going?!"

She pulls her arm away and rides off.

"Kako!"

I look around spot a bicycle.

"Oh!" I get on the bike and follow after her.

She's so fast..!

I pedal faster, trying to stay close behind.

After a while, she stops, picks up her skateboard and enters a bar.

"A bar?"

Outside the bar were several women in skimpy outfits.

Maybe I should stay here? No... Should I go in?

After a while, I peek my head out and see Kako exit the bar with a uniform on.

"Here." She holds up a tray of drinks for the women.

"Thanks Kako!"

They all thank her.

"Thanks." A tall woman with short red hair ruffles Kako's hair as she takes a cup.

"No worries."

The woman places her cup back down after finishing her drink and takes out a packet of cigarettes.

"Want one?" The woman holds out a cigarette to her.

"No." Kako shakes her head.

"Ugh... I'm exhausted... It's so fucking hard out here." The woman lights her cigarette and sighs.

Kako looks down.

Just then, a car stops in front of them and a man holds out something. Another woman nearby opens the door and gets into the car before they drive off.

Kako seemed disgusted by it and frowns. The woman called Red notices this. "We're not sluts... We're here because we need the money... To survive."

"People see us and they instantly label us as sluts... Whores... Sleazy women... But no. That's not it. The world is... Disgusting... The only way women will get noticed is sexually... As if we're objects..." Red exhales. "Men are disgusting... They're the cancer of this world... Motherfuckers... Hate them all... They're all the fucking same." She throws her cigarette and steps on it as if it were a man. "No?" She looks at Kako and Kako looks up.

She says something but I couldn't hear.

"Speak up, hon." Red says.

"N-Not all of them..." She says and Red tilts her head.

"Oh? You have a boyfriend?"

"N-No..." She shakes her head. "There's... A guy... I like."

A guy...

"Oh? Is he nice?"

"Hm." Kako nods with a small smile.

Red smirks. "So where is he?"

Kako frowns and gulps.

"Where is he when you need him?"

Kako stares at her blankly and then looks away.

Red then seems a little guilty and throws an arm over her shoulder. "Tired?"

"Hm." Kako nods.

"Here." Red takes something out from her pocket and holds it out to Kako.

"Oh! N-No no! Keep it!" Kako pushes her hand away.

"Aish! Take it!" Red shoves the money into Kako's shirt.

"R-Red!"

Beep!

A car stops in front of them.

"Hey ladies! Wh-"

I couldn't hear what the man was saying. Suddenly, Red hides Kako behind her back.

"She's underage mate..." Red says, glaring at the man. "I said no. Fuck off, potbelly." Red kicks his car and the man gets out.

"Bitch! If I find out my paint scratched off, I'll break your leg!" The man walks around to them.

I jump out from hiding and run to Kako.

"Kako!" I grab her hand and pull her away.

"Kaoru!"

I start running and look back to see Red stepping on the man's face.

"Kaoru! Did you follow me?!" She stops and pulls her hand away.

"Kako why are you being like this?!" I turn around and yell frustratedly.

She grits her teeth and turns around.

Not being able to hold back, I hug her from behind.

"Kako..."

She tenses up.

"Come back... I miss you..."

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Ugh!! Another late update! *slaps self*

Sorry! It was a little rushed. Just wanted to post something before I go to camp!

It's been quite hectic for me, sorry for the late updates guys.

- Luca