Quest - Part 7...

~ Sekai's Pov, 1 day later... ~

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Beep~

Beep~

Beep~

Click!

"Hai... S-Setsuna-Chan? No... I'm done. I'm no longer involved with Makoto anymore..."

Beep~

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I hung up on her. A part of me felt awful treating her like this, but I needed to get away from all this, drama. I just couldn't deal with it anymore...

I stared at my phone for a moment, the screen dimming before finally going black... My fingers trembled slightly, gripping the device tighter as if that would somehow make me feel any less guilty for what I did.

I could tell that Setsuna had sounded surprised. Maybe even relieved. But I knew deep down, this wasn't just about Makoto. It was about everything... The lies. The heartbreak. The endless cycle of pain that I let myself get caught up in...

'I was so stupid... Why did I have to fall for him? Give all my firsts to him!' It infuriates me that it had to come to this.

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I exhaled, setting my phone down on the small table beside me. Being so alone in my own room, I realized just how quiet it was—too quiet. It almost felt suffocating, yet also comforting. The silence...

No more Makoto... No more tangled emotions. No more pretending things could go back to how they used to be, and definitely no more hurt...

But, why did it still feel like a part of me was breaking, hurting still? Yet, another part of me was beginning a new...

'I... I don't even know what to do with myself at this point...'

Thinking back, If... If Ayano didn't show up that day... Would I have ruined my entire life over someone like, him? The fact that I almost went through with that thought was already terrifying enough as is.

I hugged my knees to my chest, my thoughts were spiraling into complete circles at this point. Ayano...

That boy had walked right into my life like a calm storm, tearing through everything I thought I knew. He didn't hesitate either. He didn't judge me. He just—acted. And for what?

What did he see in me that made him even bother? We hadn't even spoke... I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push the questions away, but they stuck to me like my own shadows.

'Was... Was it pity?'

The idea alone made my stomach twist. I didn't want to be pitied. I didn't want to be some helpless girl that needed saving.

And yet… It felt like I had been.

I exhaled shakily, my fingers curling into the fabric of my sleeves... That night, I had been standing on the edge of something terrible, something I couldn't take back. If he hadn't been there—I shook my head. I didn't even want to think about it.

But no matter how much I tried to ignore it, one truth remained.

Ayano had saved not just me, but Makoto. And I didn't even know why.

"Sekai! Breakfast is ready!"

I wiped my tears, "C-Coming!" I couldn't let my mother see me in this sorry state... She already has enough on her plate as is...

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~ Katsura's Pov ~

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"Mom, are you planning to take today off as well?"

She nodded, "Yes... I'm still a bit... Yes, I am."

I could tell she was still fearful... My mother, I considered her to be a very strong person, and when she told me that she had almost been assaulted, must have been quite heavy, even for someone like her...

"Mom... Is it okay if I ask who might have saved you?"

I could see her hesitating, her fingers tightening around the teacup she held. For a moment, I thought she wouldn't answer, but then—

"It was a boy," she finally said, her voice soft, almost uncertain. "He was young. Maybe your age… or a year or so older. I don't know his name... He never told me."

A, boy?

Frowning slightly, I asked. "Did you make out what he had looked like, or what he even wore that day?"

She closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was actively trying to recall... "He had black, and slightly unkept hair. Somewhat sharp, navy blue eyes too... He hadn't spoken to me all that much, but I could tell he was a very considerate type of person.… And now that you've brought it to my remembrance... I think he goes to the same school you do, since he wore the uniform."

'Dark unkept hair, dark blue eyes and somewhat sharp eyes...? He even wears the same uniform as the boys of our school does...?' Her description sounded eerily similar to someone I already knew.

"Mom, how tall would you say he was?"

She closed her eyes, then opened them, "I would say he is around my height, maybe one or two centimeters taller, why?"

There's only person that comes to mind, "Because... I think I might know the person who saved you."

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~ Ayano's Pov ~

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"Morning Renji."

"Morning."

I sat beside him, yawning since I woke up pretty badly today... I looked around the class, not seeing either Katsura or Sekai, which was pretty unusual since those two are usually quite early, more so than myself...

"Hey, Keiji. I think I see katsura-san, and someone else beside her...?"

I turned my head toward where Renji was looking. Sure enough, Katsura was standing near the school gates, but she wasn't alone. Beside her stood a woman—tall, refined, with short dark hair. She looked familiar, though I couldn't quite place from where.

At first, I didn't think much of her... Since, she was so far away to begin with... She looked vaguely familiar, sure, but I figured she was just another parent. Nothing too unusual.

But then—when she had gotten a bit closer, she turned slightly, the light hitting her face at just right, it all came back to me.

'T-That, woman… She was the same lady from that evening. The one I'd helped.'

I felt my body tensing up for a fraction of a second.

Gosh! I hadn't even recognized her at first—maybe because she wasn't trembling in fear, or because she wasn't backed into a damn alley with some lowlifes trying to ruin her life... But now that I saw her clearly… there was no doubt it in my mind.

Still, 'So, she's Katsura's mother…?' That certainly explained why Katsura was probably looking around like that. I could tell that she was searching for me... At least I think she was, the woman had no other reasonable option to be here as a parent.

I sighed quietly, rubbing my temple. 'Well… this might be a bit awkward.' I hoped that encounter would've been a one time thing. But still, no wonder I felt she looked so similar to Katsura, she was her mom. And, even then, the lady didn't look a single day over 30.

Then, I felt Renji nudging me. "Hey, you alright man? You spaced out there."

"Yeah..." I answered, standing up. "I just realized who that person is."

Before he could even ask his question, Katsura's eyes suddenly landed right on me. And from the way she suddenly tensed, I could tell—she knew I knew...

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Of course, It didn't take long for Katsura to show up at the front door of the class... When I glanced at the entrance of the classroom, her eyes instantly turned towards me. She signaled for me to come down.

Figured it's best I got this over with...

I exhaled through my nose, adjusting my bag as I stood. Renji shot me a look, one eyebrow raised in silent question. I didn't answer, just gave him a slight nod before making my way toward the door.

Katsura was waiting just outside, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Standing beside her was her mother—the same woman from that night. Her gaze was calm, but there was something knowing in the way she studied me, like she had already confirmed everything in her mind...

For a moment, none of us spoke.

Then Katsura took a slow breath. "…It was you, wasn't it?"

I met her eyes evenly. "Yeah..." No point in fighting it either.

Katsura's fingers gripping her bag tightly, and I could tell she was holding back a flood of emotions. Anger? Frustration? Gratitude? Maybe a bit of all three.

"You never said anything," she muttered.

"I didn't think it really mattered. Plus, I wasn't entirely sure who she even was, so~ mind cutting me a little slack here and forgiving me?"

She inhaled, looking like she was about to argue with me, but her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder...

"You should let him explain first, dear," she said lightly.

Katsura pressed her lips together but stayed quiet. Her mother turned to me, and for a brief moment, I felt the sheer weight of her gaze. Then, to my surprise, she bowed slightly. "Thank you."

I stiffened. "Uh, m-ma'am—There's no need for that." It still feels extremely awkward for someone to bow to me still. I wasn't Japanese by birth after all.

She gracefully straightened, a small smile on her face. "Perhaps not. But, I'm still very grateful to you. You had stepped in when no one else did, and for that, I owe you a debt of gratitude."

I glanced away, rubbing the back of my neck. "I just did what any half-decent person would do." 

She chuckled softly. "And yet, I can count on one hand how many 'half-decent' people actually would do so."

Before I could figure out how to respond to that appropriately, she tilted her head slightly, studying me. "And please, don't call me 'ma'am.' It makes me feel far older than I'd like..."

I blinked. "…Then, what should I call you?"

She smiled. "Just, Manami-san is fine."

Katsura rolled her eyes, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a pang of envy... "Oka... You're being too nice to him."

Miss Manami simply smiled. "He's earned it, hasn't he?"

I exhaled, still feeling a little out of my depth with this whole situation. "Alright, Manami-san. Like I mentioned, I just think I did what any decent person should've done in that moment."

Katsura scoffed quietly. "Do you really think that?"

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I blinked at her a few times... I barely heard her, but I still heard it all.

She shook her head, exhaling through her nose, upset at me. "Do you still genuinely believe, and think that 'anyone' would throw themselves into something like that? Against multiple people, on their own grounds, without hesitation? Much less to actually come out on top as well?"

When she puts it like that. I had no good response to it, so I said nothing. Nothing at all could be said to be honest...

Katsura sighed and laughed, rubbing her temple. "You're, unbelievable…"

I shrugged at that, "Hehe~ So I've been told."

For a moment, she just stared at me, as if trying to figure out what to do with me. Then, finally, she muttered, a small grateful set of words, being, "…Thank you."

I tilted my head, "Huh?"

She sighed again, this time far more controlled. "For helping my mom."

I shrugged. "Like I said, It's not really a big deal." She gave me a look that said she absolutely thought it was a big deal... I don't think I'll ever be able to change her mind about that one.

I heard her mother chuckling from the side. "Fu~Fu~ He's very humble, at least."

I saw Katsura relaxing her arms, yet still looking at me like I was some strange anomaly she couldn't quite figure out. "…I still have some questions though." I didn't think I'd see this side of her before, strangely, it was quite cute.

Still, I had a feeling I wasn't getting out of this conversation or situation anytime soon.

"…Figures."

"Well, for now. I think it would be best for me to go... Class will start in..." She checked her watch, "A few minutes. I wouldn't want to keep you both waiting..."

She glanced at Katsura. "I'll leave the rest to you." With that, she gave me one last look—something warm, yet knowing—before turning to leave... Am I crazy? Why does it feel like she... Nah, that isn't possible. A woman as stunning as her wouldn't look at a twerp like me that way, right?

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END