PRESENT TIME

SHOUTO

"Not bad. You're improving a lot."

Aoi's lips curved into a bitter smile. Her body was right below me as I pinned both of her hands ontop of her hand using only my left hand. My right hand with ice spikes was right infront of artery in her neck. I could feel the sharp edge on Kuroiwa's word pricking gently on the nape of my neck. The glow of her eyes confirmed that her Quirk is still controlling the sword.

"It's a draw." Aoi moved the sword away from my neck. Her eyes stopped glowing. I released both of her hands. Then she immediately pushed me off of her.

She sat up from the ground. Her pale-blue hair reflected the tangerine color of the sky. Her golden eyes looked a shade darker as well. Her hands patted away the leaves and dust that covered her. I stood up and reached out my hand.

She looked up at me.

Her hand took mine. The sword flew to her other hand as I helped her stand.

We entered the japanese house and started preparing dinner. After preparing, we enjoyed the meal together.

It has been three weeks since we stayed in this place, the third week of July. The calendar is close to turning its page on August. When it successfully turns, it would officially be a year since the incident started.

It would officially be a year during the summer camp incident.

It would officially be a year since she died.

"Shou-kun?"

I looked at Aoi who called my name. I realized that I was in deep thought and haven't touched my food. It also made me realize another thing.

How could I forget such an important day?

She tilted her head to the side.

"What are you thinking about?" Aoi asked.

"Nothing. Just the mission." I answered. When she heard the word 'mission', she immediately nodded her head, showing that it made sense that the mission could cause me to be absent-minded.

However, I was thinking of something else.

The thought about it surged along a wave of regret, making me sigh.

~*~

After taking a shower, I went to Aoi's room where I normally sleep now. When I found out about the nightmares, I decided to place my futon in her room. For the past two weeks, I had put an effort to communicate with her more instead of just observing her. At first she hated it. I became her partner in every routine she does, from sword training to Quirk training. She even hated the idea that I sleep in her room, but as time passed, she got used to me.

I rested my legs on the tatami mat as I dry my hair with a towel. Few moments later, Aoi arrived inside her room, who had just finished taking a shower and changing as well. She was wearing black long sleeve pajamas that was obviously not hers, since its wasn't her size and I saw Kuroiwa wearing it before.

I had also noticed her hair. A year ago, her hair was long but it never passed her waist. Now, her shiny straight hair reached passed her hips.

From her hair, to her choice of clothing, a lot has changed within a year.

"Aoi." She turned to me when I called out her name. "Come sit down. Bring a hair brush with you."

She frowned at my request. Her expression showed that she already guessed my intention.

"You shouldn't sleep with your hair wet."

When her eyes glowed, her hand combed her hair in one swift manner.  The excess water on her hair is now gone.

"Still, your hair is a mess." Her eyes widen at my remark. She sighed in defeat at sat on the space in front of me with her back facing me. Then a hair brush flew within my reach. I took it and started combing her long tangled hair.

It was soft despite being tangled. If it wasn't too long, I would have finished removing the tangles, but that wasn't the case. I was also taking my time, since the fragrance of her shampoo is really pleasant.

"

You guys are completely different," Aoi muttered. "But you do the same things."

My hand that was brushing her hair froze after hearing her comment. There was only one guy inside my head.

"Are you talking about Kuroiwa?"

"Yes."

I felt my chest tighten. It feels like I'm being burned inside out. I shook my head and continued brushing her hair.

"When did you become close?"

Aoi paused for a moment, thinking deeply.

"I don't know. Ever since we met, especially when school year started, we were always together."

The burning feeling rose up from my chest and started strangling my throat.

"You're really careless. Why did you let him get close to you so easily?"

"What?"

"You became too close. No matter how I think about it, you were too fast. You weren't even in a relationship."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"What else had he done to you?"

"Whatever you're thinking right now, that's surely wrong."

"Did you also brush his hair?"

"What's so wrong about that?"

"Did he go to your room?"

"Yes, even at the western house."

"Had you shared a room?"

"Yes"

"How close did you let him get to you?"

"Are you jealous?" Aoi scoffed.

"How close Aoi?"

"You were at the western house, and you saw how close we were! What the hell, Shou-kun?"

The image of Kuroiwa kissing Aoi flooded back into my mind.

My hand grabbed Aoi's shoulder and I twisted her body around to face me. Her eyes went wide in surprise.

"Did you have feelings for him?"

"What are you talking about?" She looked so confused.

"I know you didn't have feelings for him because you only like me back then, so why? Why did you let him do those things to you? Why were you so close? Did you forget how you look? Do you have any idea that your appearance can attract anyone? You should not have gotten too close with a man you don't lik--"

My words stopped when I felt an impact on my cheek.

I had never seen Aoi this angry before.