CHAPTER 13

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The moment Michi walked away, something in Kei changed. His usual presence—gentle yet reserved—shifted into something uneasy, something off. Kerin had been watching him the whole time, sensing the weight pressing down on him, the way his hands fidgeted when they normally wouldn't. He wasn't just lost in thought—he was battling something inside.

Yoshi and Rina were near, unaware at first, caught in casual conversation. But Kerin wasn't about to let it slide. Without hesitation, she reached for Kei's wrist, firm yet careful, and began pulling him away from the crowd.

"Kei—"

"What's going on?" Yoshi's voice was quiet, concerned. He and Rina followed without question, the shift in atmosphere undeniable.

The four of them stopped in a secluded corner, the distant hum of voices fading. Kei stood still, looking down, his jaw clenched as if bracing himself.

Yoshi stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "What's wrong ?" he asked, misunderstanding at first.

Kerin exhaled sharply. "Not Me. Him. Something's wrong with Him" His voice carried no accusation, only concern, the kind only someone who knew Kei well could voice.

Kei flinched but said nothing.

Rina's brows furrowed. "Kei…" She was hesitant but firm. "You were fine earlier. Now you look like you've seen a ghost."

Kei let out a slow breath, but it wasn't steady—it was forced, like he was trying to keep something locked inside. His fingers curled slightly at his sides.

Then Kerin, ever perceptive, narrowed his eyes. "Tell me about the pendant."

Kei's entire body stiffened.

Rina and Yoshi exchanged glances. "Pendant?" Rina echoed.

Kerin didn't waver. "You mentioned it when Michi was talking to you." Her voice was quiet but unwavering. "Why?"

Kei's throat tightened. The pendant. That pendant. The one that had been hidden—by him—for years. The one no one else should have known about. It had been buried after his grandparents' death, after the accident that had left him broken, left him unable to remember everything clearly. A childhood scar. A locked-away secret.

And yet… here it was.

Rina took a careful step closer, her voice softer now. "Kei… what's going on?"

Yoshi studied him intently, as if searching for something in Kei's face that could explain everything.

The air felt heavier, thick with tension. Kei swallowed hard, his hands cold. The weight of years of silence, of guilt, pressed into him.

He had forgotten so much about that day. But his body remembered. The tremble in his fingers. The tightness in his chest.

And now the past was clawing its way back.

His friends were here. Their eyes, full of worry, stayed locked on him. No one was rushing him. No one was demanding answers.

But the silence couldn't last forever.

Because the pendant had surfaced. And with it, the ghost of everything he had tried to forget.

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As Kei, Kerin, Yoshi, and Rina spoke in hushed voices, a shadow lingered nearby, hidden just out of sight. Someone was listening. Their presence was silent, their breath steady, taking in every word.

When Kerin mentioned the pendant, the figure's interest sharpened.

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Suddenly Yoshi phone started ringing he lifted the call after seeing the ID who was my other than his mom

"Yoshi where are you guys are, come to the Hall, it's time to go home"

"Okay Mom we will be there"

Then after cutting the call he he turned toward Kei , kerin, Rina.

"I know something is wrong but right now Harumi need us, I guess me to stop this conversation here"

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The wedding came to an end with laughter, warm wishes, and the lingering scent of fresh flowers. Guests slowly departed, voices fading into the night as the celebration settled into memories.

Kei, Kerin, Yoshi, and Rina returned to their own lives, but the weight of their earlier conversation remained. As they stepped away from the joyous occasion, an unspoken feeling of unease followed them—one that had nothing to do with the wedding itself.

And somewhere, in the shadows, someone else had taken an interest in their words.

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--3rd Day after wedding

The morning was cold, and Wasuki was in no mood for school. Wrapped in his red jumper, he pouted, arms crossed as his mother scolded him.

"You've had enough holidays because of the wedding! No more excuses—go to school!" she ordered, practically shoving him out the door.

Grumbling under his breath, Wasuki stepped outside, kicking a small pebble in frustration. But just as he reached the gate, he froze.

Leaning casually against the wall, hands tucked into his pockets, was none other than Tojo. He had been waiting—waiting for him.

A smirk played on Tojo's lips. "Oi, Teddy. You coming to school, or are you planning to make me late with your laziness?"

Wasuki scowled. "Who asked you to wait for me?" His voice was sharp, defensive. "I didn't."

Tojo chuckled, unfazed. "Sure, sure," he said lazily, pushing himself off the wall. "Let's go."

The two walked side by side, their usual banter filling the air. Their bond was undeniable, but neither of them ever said it out loud.

At school, the atmosphere shifted. Tojo, handsome and athletic, was immediately surrounded by girls. Wasuki hated it.

Not that he would ever admit it.

So, as Tojo got pulled into conversations and playful teasing, Wasuki scoffed, turned on his heel, and walked straight to his classroom, acting as if he didn't care. But deep down, something burned inside him—a feeling he couldn't name.

Just then, a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Seriously? You see him every day, yet you still won't say a word about it?"

His best friend, Renji, leaned against his desk, smirking.

"You're so obvious, Wasuki," Renji teased, shaking his head. "You act all cold, but the moment he's busy with someone else, you look like you've lost your puppy."

Wasuki scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Shut up."

But Renji only grinned, seeing right through him.

Because no matter how much Wasuki denied it, there was something between him and Tojo—something unspoken, something waiting to be understood.

As Wasuki stormed off to class, acting as if Tojo's popularity didn't bother him, the other side of the school had its own scene unfolding.

Leaning against a locker, Tojo sighed as yet another group of girls giggled around him, asking about the next football match. He responded with the usual politeness, but his eyes, involuntarily, kept darting toward Wasuki's retreating figure.

"You've got it bad, man."

A voice interrupted his thoughts. Shun, his closest friend and teammate, stood beside him, arms crossed, wearing a knowing smirk.

"What are you talking about?" Tojo frowned, pretending not to understand.

"Oh, please," Shun rolled his eyes. "You act all cool, but the moment that little red-jumper gremlin walks away, you look like a kicked puppy."

Tojo clicked his tongue. "Shut up, Shun."

"I'm just saying," Shun teased, slapping Tojo on the back. "For someone who always waits for him in the morning, watches him from across the hallway, and gets annoyed when he ignores you… you sure act like you don't care."

Tojo looked away, running a hand through his hair. "He's just a kid," he muttered.

"Uh-huh. And yet, that kid is the only person who can make you drop your usual cool-guy act."

Tojo didn't reply. He just exhaled slowly, watching as Wasuki disappeared into his classroom.

Yeah. Maybe Shun had a point.