Chapter 50: forget you

Kazumi chases the car where Hitoshi is in. "Hitoshi!!" He didn't noticed that there is a car following on the back so he was hit by it. "Brooootheeer!!" shouts Kurumi as she ran going to her brother. "Kaaaaazumiiiiii!!" shouts her mother who just came out of their house. "Kazumiii", she cries as she hug him then people are starting to gather around them. "Can we stop?" said Hitoshi who just saw what happened to Kazumi. "No, we are in a rush. There is no time for that" "But you just saw my friend who got hit by the car" "Hitoshi, even you back there. You won't be any of help. That won't save your friend" He knows that, Hitoshi know that he will just going to slow them down but he want to at least make sure that he is alive before going. He just watched the people gather around as the ambulance arrive on the window at the back of the car until they are out of sight.

Kazumi has been fall into comatose for almost a couple of years. When he woke up, he can't remember that much. He knows his family and friends but he forget about Hitoshi. The doctor said that Hitoshi might cause something to him before the incident that makes him forget him.

He took the exam and passed that is why he moved directly to high school even he stopped school because of what happened. Kazumi is a smart guy so no wonder that he overcome that kind of situation into his life.

"Kazumi?!" whispered Hitoshi when he first saw him after a long time inside the campus. He was about to approach him when his classmates called him to help on their activity. A school is only a small place so Hitoshi kept on seeing him even they are in different class. He knows that Kazumi also saw him around so he wonders why he is not noticing him.

"How have you been? I didn't saw you for ages. I heard that you are the top again this year" he said as he sit in front of him in the library. From the book, he look at Hitoshi in front of him. "Do I know you?" "Awww that hurts Kazumi" he said as he hold his chest like he was really hurt. "Stop playing with me, I really don't know you" Kazumi said as he closed the book and went to the bookshelf carrying it. Hitoshi followed him. "You are not a good liar Kazumi. I know that you know who I am" Hitoshi startled a little when Kazumi suddenly faced him. "Okay, you…Mister or whoever you are. Look, I am not in the mood to joke with you", he is just whispering yet you can notice in his voice that he is annoyed. That time, Hitoshi knows that Kazumi is not kidding around so he stopped bothering him and get out of the library. He don't talk to him ever even he saw him on corridors or somewhere else.

"Hitoshi?!" When he turned around, he saw Kurumi behind him. "Kurumi!! How are you?" "I didn't know that you are studying here too" "Hmm…I just transferred here too" "So you see brother around?" "I always saw him but he don't see me. He doesn't know me" "It's your turn" That is when he noticed that he is already the first in line. They are getting in line with the other students to buy a snack.

"You saw him got hit by the car on the day you leave right?" as they both seated on one of the vacant table. Hitoshi nodded. Because of that incident, he comatose for almost two years. Mom was about to give him up because he don't show any signs and his medication don't progress when he woke up. Even the doctors can't believe on the miracle that just happened. We are so glad that he finally woke up when it seems hopeless. However, something had changed. Brother is changed. He remembers all of us including Yumi but when I talked about you when he was still on the hospital bed, he asked me who Hitoshi is" "So he remembers everyone except me? How is that happened?" "The doctor says that maybe because you caused so much pain to him" "Maybe he was really hurt when I leave" "You are like a brother to him. Maybe it is hard for him to see you leave when you just become so close to each other and Yumi also left us so it is painful to know that you will also" "I'm sorry. I thought that we are going to stay there for good. I already imagining us growing old together" "It is not your fault. Even you didn't saw that coming. Even Yumi, it is not his fault that he has to leave us. We all didn't want what happened" "Don't worry, even Kazumi doesn't know me. I will still take care of him because he is still my friend, he is still Kazumi"

"Argh… school is so tiring. I will go straight to bed when I get home and sleep until noon tomorrow" Hitoshi said to himself walking home alone. When he heard in the corner about what the group of guys at his back is talking about. "Isn't that Kazumi?" He turned to where is the guy pointing and it is the Kazumi he knows. "Kazumi? The smartest guy in school? I heard he don't let anyone copies his homework and cover his paper during exams" "Why don't we ask him to do our home works and project" "There is no way Kazumi will do that" "He will do it for us whether he like it or not" "What do you mean?" "If I give him a punch that he will never forget or threaten him then there is no way that he will not accept our offer" He skip a beat after hearing that and stopped that makes one of them bumped in his back. "Hey...are you nuts?" He turned to them slowly with a different look on his eyes. A look that kills. "Did I just hear it right? You are going to punch and threaten Kazumi to do your home works and projects? Are you…talking about Kazumi, Kazumi Yano? Ah…well of course, no one will have the same name as him that is also smarter as him" "So what? What is it to you man. If you don't want to get hurt, move away" "If I were you guys, I shouldn't do that. Lay a hand on him and you'll dead" "Are you gay?" "Huh?!" "Do you like Kazumi?" "I like him but it is not a like you think…" "Aaaaaahhhhh", they said in chorus like they don't believe him. "I am straight you know, I am fully a man" "Then maybe Kazumi is the gay", then they all laugh together. "Say again another word and I will burn you using a cigarette lighter", he said in a serious tone staring straight at the guy who just talked. "Kazumi is my friend, try to hurt him and you'll die" He said then start walking away. "You are not his friend! I never saw the two of you together!" shouts one of them. "Mine your own business!!" he shouts back. He already know that so they don't have to remind him.

Hitoshi is already enough watching from a distance building another friendship to the other guys. That should be him, he should be the one on that position. He is the one who used to sit on the throne and wear the crown with a sash of Kazumi's best friend. He is supposed to be that man. Yet he got contented to know that at least Kazumi is happy now, also that he learns how to like a girl and build a relationship.

"I hate Kazumi. He always end up on the top, I can't even get over him" said the girl who is came first in the line and Hitoshi is at her back. "Maybe because you are not going on top is that you are not on his level. You are not as smart as him, or even trying to reach him" "What?!" turning to him. At first, she got her jaw dropped when she saw him. After a while, she composed herself and answered back. "What did you say? I am not smart enough, that I am stupid compared to him?" "Why? Isn't so?" The girl become really pissed yet she's just controlling herself. "Are you his fan? Are you the president of his fan club?" "I am just stating the fact" The crowd suddenly went "Woah" when she slaps him. "You don't know anything", she whispered looking up on him. "Then don't act like you know him really well too" he whispers back.

"Hitoshi?! Are you Hitoshi?!" says the girl looking at him when he is sleeping on the rooftop. He immediately take a sit when he noticed the girl. "Aare you Kazumi's girlfriend?" "Do you know me?" "I always saw the two of you together" "I heard what happened on the store with the girls" "I just can't stand people like that. They are hating the people higher than them because they can't reach them" "Do you know Kazumi?" "He is my childhood best friend" "He don't talk about you" "Something happened and maybe because of that he hates me" "Do you want that I will talk to him?" "No. it's okay. I am already fine" Then the bell rang, it means it is already time for the afternoon class. "I should get going", said the girl as she ran out of the place. "I finally met her. I am not expecting that though" he says then continue his sleep.

Hitoshi ran entering the train before it closes. His alarm didn't function so he woke up late and sure that when he moves more slowly, he will be late at school. He is gasping for breath when he enters and saw Kazumi riding the same train as him not so far from where he is standing. He is watching him the whole trip be wedged in with the other people so he also saw the guy on his back slowly getting his wallet on his back. When the train stops and everyone gets off. He look instantly for the man who pick pockets Kazumi. "Is this your wallet? You dropped it", he said as he give him his wallet then ran off. He didn't even wait Kazumi to thank him, he just watched Hitoshi running away.

When he heard the news, Hitoshi is standing in front of Kazumi's house walking back and forth thinking if he would comfort him, he really want to. The next thing he knew is that Kazumi transferred school and living on an apartment. It takes him a couple of weeks to follow and find him where he just transferred and living. He is not stalking him or anything, he just feel that he has a responsibility to look after him. After all what happened, he know that Kazumi needs him even he don't know him.

Luckily, they end up in the same class and the next day he will transfer to the apartment next to him. However, the deaths of their classmates one by one is not included in the plan, especially that Kazumi looks at him as the culprit who did all the killing. It is just thank goodness that he became friend with Fuyumi who is close to Kazumi and because of that, they end up always being together. He is now happier more than ever that came to the point that he helps Fuyumi realized her feelings to Kazumi. Now, he can stay with him whenever he wants without asking questions.

From where they are now, Kazumi struggles too much. He already saw enough deaths on his young life. But Hitoshi is always there for him.

It looks like they came back from kids plus one when Yumi went home after how many years and they spend their time together on a hot spring. Yumi is still the same, he is still the kid they used to know. It's been a dream that the three of them is sharing a bath together while the two other girls are on the other side. So when they learned that someone died on the hot spring, the two automatically vanished without saying a word. He knew that those two are on the crime scene playing detective like what they always do. They like mysteries, horrors or anything scary. He would never forget the time they sleep together and telling scary stuffs to each other covered with blanket and one flashlight as their only light. Kurumi and Fuyumi are already worried where those two have been waiting on their room that they can't even sleep. After a couple of hours or so, the two came back. Hitoshi knows that the case is already solved. "Who is the killer?" he whispered to Yumi when the three of them left in the room and the two girls go back on their own. "It is her best friend and she killed her because of jealousy" Yumi whispered back. "Eeeehhhh…her reason is too shallow. Can't she just be happy of what her friend achieved? Did she need to kill her? She just show how low she is. Even her friend died she won't go higher, she just proved that she deserve to stay low" "You should have come with us and told that to the culprit" Then they laughed together before going to sleep. "What is Kazumi telling me that I shouldn't trust you because you are a bad guy" "Kazumi has issues, don't mind him, let him think what he want to think" "You are used to be so close to each other, what happened?" "I know, I wish that time would go back" "You are becoming sentimental already. Are you gay?", then he laughed and hide on his blanket as Hitoshi hit him but not so hard. "Hmmmm" Kazumi. "Ssshhh" signed Yumi who is in their center then they laughed again.

That time was like a dream. Now they have to say goodbye again for Yumi is going back to the abroad and Kurumi also on the province. After the fun, they all have to go back on the real world.

He didn't talked back nor complain when Kazumi is pointing his finger at him and saying that he is the one who killed their classmates. They leave him alone on that forest after the house they stayed were burned. "Goodbye, Kazumi" he whispered to himself. After they gone out of his sight, he make a propped burial to his classmate and start walking on his way.

Kazumi suddenly woke from his sleep catching his breath and his head is wet with his sweats. "Fuyumi", he whispered. He poured a water from the pitcher to the glass that was on the table beside his bed. After drinking it, he took a deep breath then go back to sleep yet his mind is still filled with Fuyumi.

Hitoshi can't hardly breathe and failing while trying to walk. He was in a pit for a long time. That time, when he was hit by the truck of Aunt Mabel's husband. He just lost his consciousness that time but he is still alive. He just woke up after a while then he learned that he is in the pit already like a dead person. He found a car in front of where he was buried. Even the car is covered with dust, dry leaves and branches, he still found it familiar. He looked inside and found a woman's dead body. He almost throw up upon seeing her situation. "A…Aunt Mabel? Did your husband did this to you?" He went to cover her up with a cloth that he found at the back of the car. "Condolences Aunt Mabel, I'm sorry this happened to you" Then he continue his journey. When he got out of the forest, he first saw the mansion where Aunt Mabel lives. The gate is unlocked so he entered the house. It seems that the husband is not present. He first went to the kitchen because he was very hungry, then went to the room where he used to stay to get a change of clothes. He saw the motorcycle parked on the garage, he used it to drive his way home.

When he reached his apartment, without thinking twice he knocked on the door next door. "Who…Who are you" "You…Who are you?" said a woman in her twenties that opened the door. "Is Kazumi leaves here" he asked with a doubt. "There is no Kazumi living in here" The woman was about to close the door but he stopped it. "No…I am living in here (pointing his apartment) and know who lives next to mine. Where is Kazumi?" "So there is someone really living on that apartment, I have never seen you before. Maybe the Kazumi guy you are talking about are the last tenant here. I transferred here a week ago, that time he just leave. Is he your friend? Why don't you call him?" she said then closed the door. "Kazumi transferred into another apartment? Where did he go? Waaaarghhh Why didn't I think about" He looks like a crazy man shouting and pulling his own hair on the corridor of the apartment. "There is no time to rest. I have to find him", then ran off the building. He first went to Fuyumi's house but no one is answering. "Ah! They might be at school" So using again the motorbike, he rushed to their school.