The last veil before...

Part 1 - Dream 

-Hikaru, what do you think about what Asuna said? 

-That, if her theory is true, it's the best news we've heard since then... no I really want it to be true because we would be together again, I mean together, of being able to touch each other, and the things that boyfriends usually do. 

She laughed sweetly at me. 

-I wish I was right too, but it's all too perfect to be true, it's almost as if.... 

-I know what really happened to you, yes Akari, it went through my head too, I told you I was a little suspicious of her since she wasn't surprised that we were a couple. 

-At what point did we go from being boyfriends to couples... I think I like it. 

I hadn't thought about what I said, which made me feel a bit embarrassed. 

-I meant it as a synonym for boyfriend, sorry if I made you uncomfortable. 

-No, actually, I feel like I like the sound of Hikaru. 

She was silent for a while until she spoke. 

-We're a couple, if that sounds good, Akari Nishimura. 

I went from cold to hot in a second. 

Hikaru, there's steam coming out of your body. 

-It's your fault. 

-My fault? 

She turned her head like a puppy does when she doesn't understand something, it was too cute. 

-Let's get back to the main topic, like I said I distrust her, but I don't think it has anything to do with your death, but maybe she knows something else for some reason. 

-I don't want to distrust her when she's been good to me, but you're right, she's hiding something from us, that bothers me. 

Akari for the moment let's trust her, she's totally willing to help us, but let's be careful. 

-Doesn't it bother you to distrust your friend, Hikaru? 

-Of course it bothers me, she was the first female friend I made, I've found the ghost thing interesting, although I was scared of them, but now I know that there can be very attractive ghosts. 

-I don't know what you find attractive about this aspect? 

-First of all, you are beautiful, you just hide your beauty, I don't mean just with those glasses, now it looks like you have no breasts because you bandage them and squeeze them so that what you do have doesn't stick out, you even wear an unattractive long skirt all because of the bet with Akimoto, secondly I fell in love with what's inside you and thirdly you are the only one apart from Emi to accept me as I am. 

-I'm glad that you know how to cheer me up, you make me value myself, you make me happy that and more, that's why I wish that what Asuna tells us is true so we can have a normal life together, I adore you Hikaru Nishimura, you're what I want to protect the most. 

I never thought that the same person could steal my heart twice, God knows how much I want to kiss her. 

-Akari I adore you too, you don't know how much... so I guess it's decided we're going to meet Asuna tonight. 

-If we're going... there's one more thing that bothers me too much. 

-Tell me. 

-The insinuations Asuna makes, she makes them very directly to you, she moves her chest because she knows you're looking at her, you pervert. 

The word pervert hurt me more than ever when it came out of Akari's mouth. 

-How can I not notice them, have you seen the size of those things, it's like they have a life of their own, but I don't see them because I like them, I told you once, I don't like breasts that big, in fact, I'm delighted with yours. 

I made as if I were touching them with my index finger. 

She startled, immediately covering her breasts with her arms. 

-Re-re-really you're a pervert, help, help my boyfriend is a pervert, no what a horror, he's a hungry wolf obsessed with breasts. 

She said all in jest, she ran off at turtle speed, she wanted me to run after her, which I did, as I was about to 'catch' her, she intentionally ran through the gatehouse that leads into the school. 

-That's not fair. 

-Hikaru rounded the gatehouse. 

I listened to her and I was there, I hugged her around the waist, I took a little bit of time to adjust myself so I wouldn't go through her, she did the same, she let her head rest on mine without going through me, even if we didn't feel physical contact I was happy with that. 

We heard that someone opened the door of the roof, it was strange that someone came here especially for the low temperatures that are usually in Arekkaido. 

-Who could it be? 

-Let's take a look Hikaru? 

Yui Akimoto was heading straight for the restraining bar, she kicked it. 

-Damn Nishimura, I'm sure the bastard knows my secret, I swear I'm going to make your life miserable. 

What is she talking about, I don't know anything, I felt bad for spying on her. 

She kept hitting the bar several times, until she ended up crying from impotence. 

I was going to go talk to her, Akimoto didn't like me, she made me lose my friend and damaged all of Akari's trust, even so, I felt bad for her, when I was about to come out of hiding, Akari interrupted me. 

-Don't do it, when a woman wants to be alone, sometimes it's better to leave her. 

I decided to listen to Akari, I didn't know if she didn't want me to help her because she resented the idea of me paying attention to her, or if she really believed in what she was telling me. 

We both sat there listening to Akimoto's crying, it bothered me to know that for some reason I was to blame for that crying, Akari noticed it and she tried to make funny faces so I wouldn't pay attention to her, we stayed there until Akimoto left. 

Part 2 - Escape 

After class we went back home, it was the first time I was going out at night without my family, without considering when I used to run away as a kid to the square, and if I was sure of something it was that my parents wouldn't give me permission, if Emi was there,,,,, no, really, with how overprotective she is with me I don't think she would cover for me either, besides today she's going to be late for work. 

-Hikaru...Hikaru.... Hikaru!!! 

-Akari, I'm sorry, I was in my head. 

-The water is ready. 

-Oh, you're right, I'm sorry I'm anxious about today. 

-Don't scare me, I thought you couldn't hear me, I don't want to feel anxious about it again. 

-Who are you talking to son, there is no one here but the two of us. 

My father was in the living room, I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't even realise he was at home. 

-What are you doing here at this hour? 

It's so strange that I'm in my own house. 

-No, but you're usually late, you're hardly ever home. 

My father stroked his beard, looked at the chair and sat down as if he had given up on something. 

-Hikaru, we haven't spoken since the outburst the other day, I apologize I have failed both you and Emilia, I think, no, I'm a bad father, all that said, you were a bit out of line with the vase. 

-Yes, I apologise for that, I shouldn't have acted like that, instead of the vase I should have hit Emi back. 

I felt furious just remembering that my father hit him. 

-Listen to me well, I don't want, nor do I want your apologies, but you should do it with Emi who you hit, you don't even spend time with Camila, I mean my mother, don't neglect her like you did with me, she doesn't deserve it. 

He was silent and crestfallen for a while. 

I went to prepare a hot chocolate, the afternoon was very cold, and I needed something sweet to cheer me up a little after the talk with my father, once ready I went to the stairs to go to my room. 

-Hikaru, do you hate me? 

-Hate you, no, I don't hate you, if I did it would mean I have feelings for you, and I don't have feelings for you. 

My father made a forced smile, he didn't make eye contact with me. 

-I see... 

-Hikaru, that was cruel. 

For a moment I had forgotten that Akari was witnessing the conversation. 

-Maybe I'm someone cruel. 

I ran up the stairs, slamming my door shut without waiting for Akari to come up. 

She didn't take long to pass through the door without opening it. 

-What was that all about? 

I was unpacking my backpack to pack some things to take with me on the trip to the city. 

It was nothing, I said what I meant. 

-Hikaru look at me when I'm talking to you. 

-I don't want to... I'll take some torches just in case. 

I grabbed a couple of torches I had on my desk, put some chocolate I had saved, and packed both a woolen hat, gloves and a scarf. 

Akari reached across the bed to make me look at her, she saw that I was trying not to cry. 

-Silly, you don't have to hide these things from me. 

-How do you do it by hiding the problem with your parents from me... sorry, sorry, I'm being an idiot, 

I didn't even need to look at Akari to know that what I said affected her. 

Akari I don't want to stay in the house, do you mind if we leave now? 

She didn't answer me, her silence made a knot in my chest. 

Akari... 

-It hurts, doesn't it? 

I looked at her face, she had an expressionless expression. 

-To be ignored by the person who loves you. 

-Yes it hurts, it hurts a lot Akari. 

-Well, I wanted you to understand, regarding my parents, I don't even know where to start. 

I decided to interrupt her, I knew she was forcing herself to talk about something she didn't want to because of me. 

-Akari, I know what I said, but don't strain yourself, tell me when you feel ready, when you tell me I promise I'll tell you everything about my parents too. 

She felt relieved, she was afraid of something, I know that their parents are strict, but the few times she has talked about them she always does it with love, so it was difficult for me to understand her concern. 

-Then let's go, silly boyfriend. 

We had left our little discussion unfinished, but it was something we knew we would have to face our problems in the future. 

I escaped through the first floor window of my room, the window facing a thick branch of a tree that I used to climb down without hurting myself. 

-Akari, I'll catch you. 

She jumped as if it was nothing, she fell like a feather. 

-Tell me how you were planning to catch me Hikaru. 

-I don't usually think about what I'm talking about. 

-Yes I noticed that recently with the argument with your father and how you treated me a while ago. 

-That's a cheap shot, but I deserve it. 

She let out a giggle. 

We rushed out of the courtyard of my house to go to the centre of Arekkaido, but I was unlucky enough to run into Emi within two minutes of leaving my house. 

-And where do you think you are going? 

Save me if I'm in trouble.