Chapter 7:Building her trust

It was 9:00 pm. Hideki was lying on his bed looking for any texts from Ren in his phone.

"I think Ren would be sleeping right now. I wanted to scold her about morning but I guess that won't happen. You lucky girl... But I think, that makes her cute in her own way."

Hideki smiled, turned his phone off and put it beside his pillow. He closed his eyes with his arm on his forehead and sighed.

"Today was a dramatic day. Lot of things happened. I made my first friend here. Or you can say that, the first ever best friend. Thinking about it now, I really am worried about Hirano. I want to help her somehow. But it doesn't seem like she would let me. I bet, she won't even talk with me tomorrow. Well... Can't blame her."

Hideki yawned and went to sleep without any further thinking. The next day, he went to school without any hope of talking to her. He sat on his seat looking outside the window. Akari was in her usual seat too. They noticed eachother but didn't even looked.

(I think, it's for the best. Seems like, she want some private space. I shouldn't talk to her too.)

Zeo came in the classroom and saw the atmosphere. He knew, but he was helpless. He greeted both them separately, and sat on his usual seat with awkwardness.

(It really feels awkward sitting between both of them like this.)

All of them stayed quiet for some time. Soon Mrs.Mafuyu came, and the homeroom lecture started. The whole day went like this, with Zeo talking to both of them separately. Yesterday, was the same thing too. But it felt different this time. Soon the school was off and yet, both Hideki and Akari didn't say a single word to eachother. Well, there was also no point in talking after all, because they weren't friends to begin with. The strange thing was that, it didn't felt normal for once. Hideki went home alone, asking Zeo to go with her. It was the least that he could do to help her because, the only guy she trusted, was Zeo. One week passed like this. Now things were starting to get normal with them not talking to eachother and Zeo standing in the mid line, being friends with both of them. One day, two hours after school was off, Hideki was at the convenience store near his apartment. He was buying cup noodles for dinner. Standing in the store, he looked outside and saw Akari passing by in her school uniform.

(Huh? Where is she coming from this late? Oh yeah, I remember. She must be in the student council. The members were asked to stay late because of a meeting. She must be going home.)

He turned his face to the cashier and paid the money.

"Well, not my problem."

He got out of the store with his noodles. He was just trying to give a quick glance at her and go home that he saw a man following her. The man was about thirty and he looked suspicious. Hideki started following him. The man was looking for a chance to grab her. She didn't even notice that he was following her. When the coast was clear for him, he rushed and seized her covering her mouth so she wouldn't be able to scream. He took her into a narrow street beside the road and ripped her shirt open.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah! What are you doing!?"

"Shut your mouth! Bitch! If you won't, I would rip that head of yours!"

Her memories from the past flashed before her eyes again. She couldn't help it. Tears were running down her face. She was extremely terrified and was out of her senses.

(Men are nothing else than perverted monsters! They always look at women sexually! Why do they have to be like this!? Why!?)

The man was moving his hand towards her body that suddenly, Hideki stepped in. He was standing in the street with his hands in his pants' pocket, staring at the man with dead eyes.

"Hey bastard! Get your hands off her!"

His voice sounded so terrifying that it even scared the man for a moment.

"Oh? Then what the hell are you gonna do, If I don't?"

Hideki smiled like a psychopath. His eyes were still dead. Akari was shocked by his face expression. She was a bit afraid of it too.

"Me? I won't do anything but rip every single organ of your body! Hehehe, hehehe!"

By looking at him and listening to his words the man became extremely frustated. He pushed Akari to the side. She hit her back in the wall and fell down.

"Let me finish this bastard off first! We'll complete our unfinished business later bitch!"

Hideki started laughing strangely like he wasn't feeling any emotions.

"We're going for a fight then!? Bring it on! I would love to beat that ugly face of yours! It's really pissing me off!"

He ran towards Hideki and gave him a hard punch. Hideki blocked it and punched his face so hard that his nose started bleeding. Then he kept on going nonstop. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. He wasn't even letting him stand up. The man was soon lying on the ground dripping in blood. He was begging for mercy.

"Please! Spare my life! I promise! I won't do anything like this ever again! Please! I beg you!"

Hideki was standing there staring at him deadly. He slowly came close to him and stomped his feet on his chest.

"Aaaaaaaaaaagh!"

"Well, well, well. Look who's begging for mercy now. I am really surprised that you had the guts to try raping a girl but, despite being a big strong man, you are kneeling down in front of 17 year old highschool student!? How fascinating!"

"P-Please! Forgive me! I promise! I'll behave from now on! Please sir!"

The police officers came running into the street.

"We are not late, are we!?"

"Nah! You're right on time. Well then, looks like you won't get another chance. Farewell, my friend. Oh, and about the police. Just so you know, I called them ahead of time because you seemed fishy to me."

The man was shocked.

"You call yourself a 17 year old, highschool kid!? You are not a normal human! You are a complete monster!"

Hideki took his foot off him and diverted his attention to Akari who was shivering with fear. His facial expressions shifted in an instant like it was a mundane task for him. On the other hand, the man was arrested and the police took him into their custody appreciating Hideki. He went to Akari, took off his hoodie and covered her with it. She pressed her head against his chest and cried for sometime. Hideki caressed her head gently giving off a pleasant smile.

"It's okay. I am here, so don't worry. I may not be reliable like Zeo. He is truly an amazing person. But I really want you to trust me."

"I-I am really sorry!"

She looked at him with her brightly shining eyes filled with tears. Hideki smiled back at her gently.

"It's pretty late. Maybe, I should walk you home. Come on... get up."

Hideki gave her his hand smiling. She accepted it without any hesitation and got up. Her face was full of sorrow and guilt. She was holding his hand and didn't let it go for sometime.

"Are you okay?"

Hideki seemed confused. He didn't know what was going on in her mind. He was just about to say something when she started speaking in a low tone.

"Hey. Tell me. Can I really trust you?"

"Huh? Well, If you want to."

"What if I do want to? Then?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if I really do want to trust you!? You wouldn't break my trust, would you!?"

Hideki smiled at her once again holding her hand tightly.

"I promise, I would never break your trust! Never! Even if it costs my life!"

"You promise, you won't betray me like he did!?"

"Yes, I promise!"

"Do you really mean it!?"

"Yes!"

"And will you protect me like this in the future!?"

"Yeah! I promise I would proctect you at any cost!"

After hearing this, she instantly gave a cute smile. Hideki literally blushed after seeing that.

"Why are you turning all red, Hideki?"

"H-Hideki!?"

"Oh yeah! You've gained my trust so I can consider you my close friend. That's why, I think there shouldn't be any formality between us."

"Oh, I see. Then, I can call you Akari as well, right?"

"Hmm."

She kept on smiling, looking at him. They didn't even notice that they both were still holding hands.

"You are acting so differently now. Like when you are with Zeo. That means, you have fully opened up to me!"

She seemed a bit embarrassed.

"Y-Yeah you can say that."

Hideki smiled at her again.

"Then I am truly honoured."

They both realized that they've been holding hands the entire time. They pulled their hands back instantly. They both seemed flustered. Their faces were red. But Hideki got hold of himself.

"Let's go now, Akari."

"Y-Yeah! Hideki!"

They started walking on the road. Akari was leading the way while they were talking to eachother.

"Hey Hideki. I was really surprised by your combat skills. You are an exceptional fighter. And that expression that you had earlier on your face really scared the hell out of him! Well, it seemed like I was scared too."

"O-Oh, I-Is that so? I am really sorry for freaking you out like this."

"No. Don't be. By the way, you weren't even scared in the slightest from that big strong man. And you really beat the hell out of him without holding back anything. How did you-."

"Oh look, Akari! I think that is your house! Isn't it!?"

"Well yes dummy. You can clearly see the sign board from here."

"Well then, I am off now! Bye! See you tomorrow!"

"W-Wait!"

Hideki ran away leaving Akari in total confusion. She was staring at him as he left.

(Well Hideki, looks like I've trusted you. I really don't want to hide anything from you. And I hope that you won't hide anything from me either.)

"I thought for a second that my cover would be blown. But is it really okay to keep her in the dark? Sooner or later, I'd have to tell her. I think I should just wait for the right time then."