Trouble 7-part 1(Mutou Hikaru)

Ren is standing in front of the gate that separated the school backyard from the hillside of the mountain.

The signboard stated, "Forbidden Area. No Entry." The words written on the signboard emphasized its warning perfectly, delivered in a bold and red color.

Yet, that warning was worth nothing more than a useless decoration as Ren disregarded it. He sideglanced it as his fingers skimmed over the padlock and started to fiddle with it.

Ren's profound gazes swept over his surroundings. For a while, he is doing nothing but standing there. As he confirmed that no other person lurked within the area, he swiftly unlocked the padlock and quickly entered through the slightly ajar gate.

Ren boldly trespassed the forbidden area. Furthermore, the president already permitted him. Hence, if he got caught later, he could toss the blame onto Seichirou's without feeling guilty.

As he wanted to close the gate, a hand shot out and stopped the steel gate from closing. Ren lifted his head and clicked his tongue. Someone adamantly held it as Ren forced the gate to close. They played tug of war at that place. One person pushed it open while the other pulled it out.

They were at a stalemate as both refused to back down. Ren's eyes hooked with Makoto Hikaru. He frowned, and unconcealed displeasure marred across his face.

"Can you release your hand?" He politely asked. Even so, his voice is laden with a dangerous tone. He is getting angry.

Hikaru replied in a contemptuous tone, "Don't want to."

A flash of realization occurred to Ren as he sized up the teenager up and down. Something is bothering his mind. Since when did this kid follow him here? How come he couldn't sense his presence? Was he that careless? He didn't even hear this kid's footsteps despite the quietness of the surrounding. Was Hikaru an expert martial artist with overwhelming talent that he could even conceal the sound of his breathing and his footsteps?

Both are still engaged in a staring contest. It doesn't look like anyone is willing to let go.

Ren narrowed his eyes. He finally let go of the steel gate, turned his back, and walked away, completely ignoring Hikaru's presence. Ren scoffed and mumbled something under his breath.

Hikaru is flabbergasted. He was expecting Ren to lash out at him, yet the teenager decided to ignore him and unconcernedly walk away.

His watchful eyes darted to the left and the right. After a moment, he bolted inside and followed Ren in an inconspicuous distance. Hikaru leisurely trotted behind Ren in silence.

Ren threw a disdainful look at the oblivious stalker.

"Who said you can follow me? Go back, stupid." He growled.

Hikaru's lips twitched. He rolled his eyes. Not everyone had the gut to call him stupid straight at his face. They knew how bad his temper was and never intentionally provoked him.

"You have a sharp tongue. Come on. I felt uneasy letting you go alone. If something happens, I could protect you. You should appreciate my rare act of kindness."

"Your brain circuit is having a serious problem. I didn't ask for your help, nor did I need one in the first place. Shouldn't you ask me first the reason I trespassed the forbidden area?"

Hikaru snorted.

"Since you had the key, Sei probably knew you are here. Hence, you didn't illegally enter this place. Who cares about the reason? I tagged along with you since I felt curious. You can treat me as a bodyguard. Don't feel burdened. Despite looking like this, I'm very good at fighting. Of course, I will not charge you. It is free of charge."

"If your enemy is not human?" Ren resentfully asked. He is making a double-jerked eyebrow at him. "The question is can you fight them?"

"It is possible. Ghosts and spirits are supposed to have bodies. I think everything consists of atoms, right? As long as my fist could connect with their body, I'm sure I can pulverize them. If not, we can choose to run away. A tactical retreat."

"Hahaha. You think this situation is funny?"

"You are the one who laughs." Hikaru shrugged his shoulder.

"Shut up." Ren snapped.

Hikaru shook his head helplessly.

"Ren-Kun, you have a bad temper. Even though you're all smiley, and flowers seemed to bloom when you smiled. But you have a temperament issue, huh? Like a fierce kitten."

Ren glared at him. He stopped walking, huffed out a breath of anger before resuming his pace.

'See?' Hikaru mentally said.

---------

Ren is looking for something. He aimlessly walked without a proper direction. After being done with one place, Ren then moved to another. But, what is the thing he is looking for; this is the question that had circulated inside Hikaru's mind since a moment ago.

He tried to incite a conversation with Ren. Yet, Ren rolled his eyes and went out of his way. He kept ignoring him again and again. Ren didn't ask for his help, nor he'll pay attention to him, who was consciously standing close to Ren as the uneasy feeling in his heart intensified.

Hikaru's instinct sensed something. Something dangerous was lurking around them, hiding behind the thick and lush forest. A predator's eyes inexplicably lingered on them. The gazes filled with maliciousness, and it followed them everywhere from the moment their legs crossed the first ten perimeters of the black forest.

The dimly lit forest gave out a sense of crisis to Hikaru. As they went further into the spiral and confusing forest pathways, Hikaru felt his legs heavy and his shoulder slouched down. He is unwilling to venture further, but he cannot turn his back and leave Ren alone. So, he decided to continue and stayed at an appropriate distance from him.

The sunlight couldn't penetrate the thickness of the forest; the fallen leaves covered the ground, and the surrounding area was humid and intolerably chilly.

The wind is slowly breezing towards them, dispersing the smoky incense scent that condenses in the area. Whiteness is everywhere. Either it is a fog or something else, who could answer it? However, as sunlight is unreachable while darkness stretches its fang toward them, Hikaru's feeling is entangled with various emotions. To stop looking around and take off first or insist on following Ren. Both had ventured further than necessary. He felt ashamed to suggest turning back at this point. However, if something indeed happens, they might encounter difficulty while attempting to run away later.

Hikaru felt suffocated. On top of the strange incense scent, there was also an unknown odor assimilated within it. The thick and moldy smell lingered was inherently different from the ordinary fragrance people usually used.

Why incense? Hikaru dubiously mulled over this question as he glanced toward the unconcerned Ren. Ren was unaffected by it and continuously observed every nook and cranny of the bushes.

He had a foreboding premonition. A terrible thing is bound to happen. The sooner they leave, the better. Many times he wanted to speak and asked Ren to stop. Perhaps Ren will then stop, and they both could return faster. However, his attention distracted as Hikaru couldn't stop shuddering, his teeth chattering and lips trembling, whether it was because of coldness or something else. He, himself, doesn't know the answer.

Hikaru felt extremely uncomfortable, like thousand of ants crawling on his bare skin. Goosebumps erupted, his scalp was numb, and Hikaru unconsciously grabbed Ren's sleeve.

Ren timely stopped walking.

"Hey, let's stop..." Hikaru croaked his words amidst the antsy and embarrassing feeling. His cold face felt warm, and the tints of red shades appeared on both of his cheeks.

Ren turned his head. His taut eyebrows seemed to relax, and he smirked.

"Why? Are you scared?"

Hikaru gritted his teeth. Fine. He admits defeat. He is a little bit scared. No, he is terrified.

"...Yes..."

"Alright. I will not tease you anymore." Ren gloatingly smiled. "Really." He firmly promised as the fierceness in Hikaru's glare intensified.

Damn it. That smile infuriated Hikaru very much.

"Can you tell me what kind of thing you're searching for in this ominous forest?"

"A trace of something. Anything that can prove that humans had entered this forest. Precisely, an aura. A living person's aura."

"Aura? How can you detect the aura?"

"Every aura had its color. Black aura is for evil spirits, demonic beings, and malicious creatures. Orange aura is for living humans. White aura is for the pure soul. And, grey is for the death. Also, the red aura is for vengeful energy produced by negative emotions. It can come from humans or non-humans. The thicker the color, it's contained more dangerous and enormous hatred. I could see the color, and mainly, this dense forest is thick with black auras. Everywhere is painted with blackness. And, there seemed traceable grey auras. Judging by the color thickness, recently, someone did die here."

"Someone died here?!" Hikaru repeated the words in horror. "You're joking. Right?"

Ren dejectedly stared at Hikaru. He visually expressed, "Are you trying to call me a liar or what?"

Hikaru's pale face became paler. Of all things in the world that could coexist with him, he detested supernatural things very much. He never believed such a thing, but due to the seriousness on Ren's face, his courage from before wilted like a fallen flower.

"Please tell me that you're joking?" He sincerely hoped that Ren would say the thing he wished him to say.

Ren only clicked his tongue impatiently and patted Hikaru's shoulder, expressing condolences towards him.

"What's with that expression? No. Who, who died here? Are they, I mean, the dead were the mysteriously vanished student?" Hikaru's asked in a hushed voice. Afraid to speak loudly and bluntly blurt out a taboo subject.

"Could be." Ren nonchalantly replied.

Hikaru painfully swallowed his saliva.

"You mean, those twenty-first students already died...?"

"Nope. Not all of them. Only a handful of them. Probably two or three persons met their demise in this forest. And their hatred, confusion, and restlessness are brewing together, incessantly painted half of the forest in crimson. They didn't understand the reason for their sudden death, and they felt aggrieved by their misfortunes."

Harsh wind assaulted them out of nowhere and almost toppled them backward. Hikaru hugged Ren's thin waist and stood behind a big tree, barricading themselves from the onslaught of the furious wind.

Ren squinted his eyes.

The wind is bringing along the specters of crimson particles. The dark forest had multiple spots of red color, sporadically emerged like mushrooms.

From underneath the crimson color, multiple figures staggeringly climbed out of the soil. Their faces were beyond recognition as the skin melted like molten iron. The rotten stench wafted from every direction, almost suffocating them to death.

Hikaru scrunched his nose in disgust.

What an awful smell! He leaned his body on the tree's tough bark and covered his nose with his other free hand. My nose will get rotten!

Ren didn't bother to cover his nose. He is affected by the smell, but there's no change of expression on his face. Only the twitching of his nose indicated that it is indeed a bit unbearable even for him.

"Ugh. So smelly. What kind of rotten odor is this?!" Hikaru felt his stomach churn with acidic content. He wanted to vomit but restrained himself.

"Oh, this smell? The decay stench of the corpses." Ren casually remarked. "It is indeed a bit smelly."

Hikaru subserviently observed Ren's composed expression. There's no ripple beneath those transparent eyes. As for Hikaru? He is on the verge of throwing up. Hikaru toppled over his knees, gasping for fresh air. The rim of his eyes was wet with unshed tears.

I saluted you, Ren Hazama. You deserved my respect.

---------

Mutou Hikaru is the heir of the Mutou Yakuza Family.

Unlike his other friends with a clean reputation, Hikaru had a terrible image in the school due to his violent nature and his love for fighting. Hikaru also had a short fuse. Once provoked, he will blow up, and the effect is tremendous.

Hikaru had a pair of exquisite amber eyes with flamboyant red hair. He had tan skin with a healthy complexion.

Hikaru is the tallest person in his school, standing at a towering height of 1.98 cm. His upper body is buff, with a sturdy chest and impressive abdominal muscles. His legs are long and slender, with strong and thick calves. Even as a teenager, his physical state is on par or even better than the adult man. His joints are flexible with imposing muscles.

Hikaru's appearance is pleasant to the eyes. The unruliness depicted on his whole persona gave out a sense of oppressive and unrestrained temperament like a wild wolf. Despite that, people couldn't help but feel attracted to him. After all, he is one of the handsome boys in the school with note-worthy family background.

Hikaru had practiced martial arts since childhood. It's not an overstatement to say that he is an expert in them.

He could do Karate, judo, boxing, and even Muay Tai. He could fully utilize his martial arts skill during a fight. And, he never lost and had proudly stacked his winning achievement earned him a reputation;

The king of fighters.

Hikaru seemed like a slow-witted person, but he had a keen instinct and sharp insight assisting him while fighting. Furthermore, he owed an explosive kicking talent and just one kick from him, the opponent down instantly. That peculiar talent that had polished over the year could effortlessly help him out. He rarely loses, especially in the fight he incited himself.

You could say Hikaru is obsessed with fighting. And every day, the boy will challenge a new person and spar with them only to squelch his thirst for a fight.

He also is a man of a few words. He adheres to a simple principle. There's a saying that immaculate his simple line of thought, that is, action speaks louder than the word. If he is dissatisfied with someone or if a person intentionally or unintentionally provoked him, he brazenly fights for his right while mostly ignoring the consequences of his action.

It's no wonder he spent his time numerously in the detention class and almost got kicked out of school had it not for the interference of his friend, Sei. Indeed, he is lucky that his friend is the president of the student committee.