Chapter 39 - Like the old days

HANZAKI'S POV:

"I'm really confused of the situation back then. I thought they were some random people trying to harass you, but it turned out that they were your classmates all along." Looking at Hiro while we were walking, I said out to him.

"Oh yeah. We just had finished our project, and then that happened." Probably recalling of the conversation during the commotion earlier, Hiro obviously felt down as he lowered his head a bit.

"Forget it already. Don't let it get on you."

"Hmm. Right." Hiro nodded.

*ZOOOOOOOOOOM*

*BEEEEP BEEEEEP!*

Hearing the noises of the passing vehicles, it only took us seconds for the two of us to arrive at the side of the national highway since the plaza was just located adjacent to it.

"Well then, I will be seeing you on Saturday. Watch your back when you're going home, 'kay?" I said.

"Okay. You watch your back too."

"Heh. See you around then."

HIRO's POV:

Before I could take my leave, I decided to see my brother off first.

With not a minute has gone by, there was already a Jeepney fast approaching towards our way.

"See you later."

As soon as the passenger vehicle stopped and as big brother began to move to enter inside, I immediately gave my goodbye to him with a wave, and he as well returned the favour by raising his right hand with his point and middle finger pointed straight up while facing back to me, he was looking cool as hell as he could be.

Jeez, big brother had watched too much anime during these past years. Basing on social media trends, do we call that person an otaku? A weeb? Or a weeblet maybe?

Anyways, I am really not familiar enough with any of these stuffs, but probably due to that, he had somehow developed a weird yet one of a kind, cool personality, and I know also that big brother is a low-key person.

Meanwhile after another several minutes of my travel in my side, I made a few knocks on the door as I entered the house from arriving.

Making my way inside the house and into my room, I couldn't help myself but to skip around while heading up, showing off my energetic and brightened mood.

"Hiro? Is that you?" At the kitchen doing her work, mom noticed my arrival, she tried confirming my presence.

"Yes mom. I'm back" With a cheerful and happy tone, I replied.

But before going up to my room, I almost forgot about the first thing to do and have changed my route to go closer towards my mother who was at the kitchen.

"Ma!" Getting her attention, I grabbed her hand and have put it on my head, her knuckles slightly touching my skin.

"I wonder what happened to him at school." Hearing her usual loud supposed-to-be gossip, mother wondered as I immediately went back to climb up to my room.

HANZAKI'S POV:

After I arrived back at my board place, I made no waste of my time and have headed towards my work.

"Sir." Approaching to my manager, I called out to Mr. Alvarez. He then turned back to face at me.

"Oh! Hey, Hanzaki. Do you need anything?"

"Uhm, this is really not that quite troubling. I just wanted to leave early by 5 tomorrow afternoon."

"Hmmm? Why is that?"

"I am going to my brother's foundation day. The place is quite far so, I have to be early to prepare for my trip in going there."

"Wait, you have a brother?--- Ah well, that is not exactly the point. Okay fine, just leave it to me."

"Thank you sir!" Giving my respect and thanks, I bowed a little to him.

----*-----

It is already 6 pm, and inside the covered courts where Hiro's school's foundation day is currently being held, a lot of preparations were already been set up all over the place.

There were lights above the ceiling and around the stage and as well as sound systems.

The covered courts was also supported by background props that were placed around it, and not to mention security guards were positioned all over the area to safeguard the event and especially to the mass of people that were inside.

The guests and students had taken their seats at their various preferred spot, or mostly to where their sections were assigned, or to where the relatives were assigned to stay as they likely made their presence in the audience's area for the sole reason to show their support with this contest that the school has held.

The sky outside was already dark, and the light systems were a lot more visible when the sun had set. Each of the sections' participants were already as well stationed into their respective areas, and meanwhile at my side, I went along to the audience's seats.

At first, I had gone to find the highest seat available at the sides. I looked and took glances around as I was searching for one.

Over at the opposite side, there I saw Hiro together with his whole section. I then tried waving at Hiro to catch his attention, and luckily, Hiro also went looking around the place and has managed to spot me while I was in the act at the other side of this court along with the sitting audiences.

Right after he confirmed to himself that it was me, he then did some weird hand gestures that I could not somehow decipher, but I was getting the feeling that he was likely trying to say to me to come over to him.

I wonder what it could be; nevertheless, I went down from the seats and have moved towards Hiro's location.

"Brother!" Hiro called me out as he probably saw me first despite the roaring noise that has enveloped the court.

"Yow. You need something?" I then went closer to him as I was seeing him in his blue suit outfit with a cape on his shoulders that ran down through his back, and with a fitting long pants that was paired with shiny black boots.

"Can you please get my stuffs and hold it until this is over?" Hiro asked as he pointed at the direction where he likely had left it.

Good grief. This kid is such a demanding brat.

"Eehh!? Why don't you do it by yourself?"

"Come on bro! It's hard to move while you're already wearing your costume. It might break afterwards if I move excessively."

"Well, I have no complaints about that. Talking about your costume, what is your role and, what was your play again?"

Somehow, Hiro likely has gotten disappointed and a little angry with his pouting face.

"Were you just sleeping back at the meeting?" Hiro shot back.

"That's half wrong." I said with a straight face. Hiro then let out a sigh in front of me.

"We will be imitating 'The beauty and the beast'."

Staring closely at his costume, I studied what is his role in this play of theirs.

"Oh, I think I already saw that movie. So I assume you're Gaston?" I stated confidently.

"Beast." Immediately, Hiro corrected my mistake with a more angry-looking face.

"Oh--- Eeehh!? But where is the make up? There is nothing on your face, you see?" Upon hearing my doubts, Hiro took out a mask in his cape that he had seemingly hid inside the whole time.

"Oh, alright. I won't ask for more questions then."

After leaving and finding Hiro's things, I went back to the audience's seats, specifically to my spot, and gladly no one has ever thought of replacing me from this of mine.

After waiting for another several minutes, the program started, and the number of participants has consumed a lot of time in which it was already somewhere at 9 when it was Hiro's section's turn to play.

"BELL!" Hiro strongly displayed his worried reaction in his acting.

"Pfuuu! Ahahahaha! That character doesn't suit his personality at all! Why does he have to be the beast--- hahaha!"

Meanwhile, I was just laughing secretly at my side, holding myself in order not to irritate the people seated next to and around me.

As soon as the play ended, people began heading out, flooding the pathway, and the both of us, Hiro and I, met each other and have waited in the middle of the rushing out crowd for the place to be empty enough to safely go out.

Finally making ourselves out after several minutes of waiting, I looked up to see the sky that was shining bright at the current night along with the full moon above. At the side of the road, I started to part ways with my little brother as it was already past 10, but this time, I let him go off first as a tri-cab at the opposite side of the road was heading towards Hiro's way home.

"Better be wary of your surroundings. Here, get your stuffs and safely arrive at home."

"Thank you."

With a tired face, Hiro signalled at the incoming vehicle with a waving gesture and have gone inside when it stopped. He then waved his goodbye to me with his head that was showing out inside the vehicle while the driver was preparing to step the gas to move out again.

But on the other hand, I too was very exhausted because of this as well.

Good grief, I really don't like being awake in this kind of time.