This And That
"....."
He pointed his thumb at himself as he said those very thing with such enthusiasm! Though his expression cannot be seen, he's very much feeling smug! But there it is...
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Silence… though it doesn't last long, it still felt so awkward…
"...What in the hell…? That's so lame! Whatever it is, you freak boy...!"
Hearing what the thug had said so brazenly to Jeff made him twitch a little, though—then Jeff thought,
This guy… it's not even lame! Was it lame? How is that lame?!
"... It's not lame..."
Saying so weakly, Jeff felt kind of down, and there the thug rummaged in his own pocket as he took out something. It was… a pocketknife?!
"... You think doing that thing to my buddy, you're going to get let off easy now? I'm going to make it hard now...!"
Now the pocketknife that he holds was then being skillfully played around his hand just to show how skilled he is with a knife! Which was bad news for Jeff…!
"...Y-you know how to use that knife well, huh...?!.." said Jeff as he also thought.
This is bad. Why do you have to be skilled with that unnecessarily?! It's weapon combat now... I have to be careful; this is no joke.
Thinking so, Jeff then reached for his bat yet again, but this time there was no problem at all, taking out the bat just as easily as putting it in. And there he readied the bat in front—now locked in, he was focused in front…!
Wahwahwah... As if it's the Wild West, a standoff… though both are having melee combat, not guns. Still, it's tense around here. Looking at Jeff, the thug grinned.
"…? Huh? What? Are you scared now? There's no backing off now; you better be ready to be shanked...!!! Hyahhh!!"
There he lunged with a dangerous glint in his eyes. This guy is serious! He doesn't care about what will happen next, and countless thoughts fell into Jeff's mind.
... I should have expected this. What should I do? That martial art is not going to work if they're cautious now…? Should I just face him head-on? That risks me getting injured...
--!!!.. I hope this works... No, please work...!!
"...Ighhh.! Hiiyahhh..! "
Jeff also lunged! Holding his bat with both hands, there he draws back as he hovers it close to his right shoulder as if to strike…! But…!
"...Hahaha... Are you foolish? I'm faster than you—AGHHH—what...?!"
The thug, who had his hand that was holding the pocketknife extended to stab!! Missed close as it passed Jeff's head because Jeff dodged down below?!
In that moment, Jeff kicked his legs, making him stumble forward—face-palming on the ground!
"... Shi- that worked…!? "
Though Jeff was in a half-kneeling position, he didn't hesitate—as he sprung upward and went toward the thug who was still lying…! And found the knife, which dropped after the thug stumbled not far from him.
"... Ahhh… my nose… dammit…"
The thug was still lying on the ground holding his nose, which was bleeding after falling face-first on the ground. Though not caring about him, Jeff took the pocketknife that had been dropped by the thug to confiscate it.
Feeling glad that it all happened without him getting injured and such, but still this was dangerous, and now Jeff was looking at the man...
"Well, you're done now… Your buddy was out cold there."
Saying so and then having his bat pointed at the other, who was lying on the ground—unconscious.
... Did he really lose consciousness? Yikes, I'm too cruel with that. I felt bad kinda. Jeff thought as he then said,
"You losers have to rethink your life choices. You don't want to end up like this, right?"
"... Shut the hell up, you've been playing dirty, you lame brat. Who the heck even fights like that?"
Irritating as ever, this guy, well, he's asking for it.
"... Huh, what are you doing—GYAHHH...!!"
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The thug also ends up getting done in by Jeff; it can't be helped—he was asking for it really badly. There the guy also lay, kind of unconscious too—after getting a sweet beating from Jeff with his bat.
"... This bat is a little bloody… ehhh…"
Jeff looked at his bat, then shifted his gaze to the thug lying in front of him. Without a word, he wiped the bat clean--using the thug's shirt... It looked wrong, but it is what it is.
Standing up again, after doing so, he finally relaxed as he then finally refocused—back to the whole reason this all started!
"Are you okay, miss?—Huhh…?"
There, as he motions to look toward the girl, there it is.
Back then it wasn't visible enough to see because he can't see much in this dark alley unless one looked closer, but now as he was closer than before, he was finally able to see this girl face—a little bit surprised since he didn't expect it.
Oh, he knew her; they're in the same class, after all… and then she spoke…
"…I-I'm fine… Thank you for coming and stopping them."
She said those, albeit as if scared—of course she is; she even stuttered—and there Jeff thought,
She can even stutter? Well, I thought she couldn't do that...
Though her expression was showing that of calmness, there was the flicker of worry in her eyes—looking at Jeff as she then readjusted her glasses. Sydney is the one that Jeff had saved.
"....."
"... Uhmm… is there something wrong with my face...?"
"... Ah, it's nothing… Uhh, so miss? What are you doing here late at night? You know it's dangerous, right?"
Jeff, who only looked at her through the mask, made her feel a little uncomfortable since who liked to be stared at? There she spoke as Jeff also snapped back.
"… I was on my way home from my friend's house…"
"… it's really dangerous, miss, as you can see…"
"Yes, it's that I'm not usually this late," she said softly. "I guess, it's my own fault."
... Though nothing much can be said after that, she looked very regretful. Though Jeff stayed silent, he couldn't help it, as he then thought to himself.
... What should I do? Uhmm… it's like super late now; maybe I should walk her back home? I mean, look at her face… She looks calm, but the eyes… they say otherwise. Ah jeez…! Whatever, let me try it…!
"... If you don't mind, I can walk you back home. I mean, I'm worried that something like this will happen again."
After finishing his inner monologue, Jeff finally said it after having a little turmoil going on in his very mind...
Though she, who listened to what Jeff said, had her expression stay the same, and even though the silence felt like an eternity—she finally spoke back.
"... Please do…"
Saying so, it looks like her expression softens a little bit after having Jeff walk her back home, which felt safer than going alone, and there Jeff responded,
"Ok, so lead the way. I'm just going to follow you right behind…"
"...Okay... it was just around this neighborhood... but we need to exit this alley first…"
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Ohhio City, although not exactly close to the heart of the city, can still be seen even from the outskirts of it, though the neighborhood around it was pretty dense with houses lining both sides of the streets. And here they are walking toward their destination.
After exiting the alley, they're now walking in the left direction of the street as they pass by houses and now, looking around there, Jeff thought.
This neighborhood looks pretty nice, but apparently it wasn't that safe, though... now we're just walking, and it's pretty… awkward.
Though the walk isn't exactly that long, they're just walking without talking nonetheless; they don't have to, but yeah.
Jeff, who just felt so—just minded his own business as he looked around him, well there wasn't much to see… and then finally.
"… This is it, we've arrived."
Finally, she spoke—as they now arrived at their destination, looking at the house, which looked pretty modern-looking. There, he said in response to her.
"... Alright then, miss. You... should be careful from now on—since there's not always going to be someone around to save you."
"... Yes, I know…"
She said, then looked at Jeff—though he was wearing the mask, she still looked straight into his eyes.
"…I can't thank you enough… for saving me back then…so thank you again for saving me… Vigilante Boy…"
As she said that, Jeff seemed taken aback. It couldn't be seen through the mask, but he definitely was. Jeff then replied back to her.
"… Ah yes... It's nothing; it was just that I'm in the right place at the right time…! Anyone will do the same as I did… if they're brave enough."
Though he paused for a second there—then continued as he said.
"… Okay, miss, I will be going now, so… see you around…? Just… not in another bad situation."
Hearing what Jeff said, she was still looking at Jeff there, though it's not much; she looked like she smiled a little.
"...Okay then, you take care too…"
After finally saying what they wanted, Jeff saluted to her as he then turned back to where they came from… and thankfully—Jeff's place is not that far off from here either, since they're pretty close apparently.
"..."
... Looking at Vigilante Boy's back, who is walking away. There, she mumbled to herself.
"... His voice… why does it sound kind of familiar…?"
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And here we are again, back in an alley. As Jeff traverses this alley, his expression cannot be seen through the mask. But behind the mask, he was smiling like his mask did too!
"... Hehe...! Things are going great and doing these kinds of things is pumping me up!"
Jeff threw both hands in the air, grinning through the mask as he said it with excitement…! He felt a rush of joy as he walked through the alley. But then—.
"...?! What the…? Why did I feel... cold suddenly...?"
Stopping in the alley, Jeff crossed his arms over his shoulders as a sudden chill ran through him—was now also looking around him, though the darkness of this alley made it hard to see much,which made it more daunting.
"... I should hurry to my place…"
There he continued walking but with a faster stride—whatever he felt in the alley just doesn't feel right, as Jeff moved away from there—there was something…
An alley that Jeff previously looked at, which was covered in darkness as no light could reach, and the buildings standing tall around there... added more to it...
Something was looking at Jeff moving away...
Black eyes… Pure black… watching him…
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"Hah, so tiring…! It's 10:00 PM already, and I have school tomorrow!"
Jeff, who was now at his apartment unit, was also lying on his bed in his sleeping clothes.
After coming home, he just went as usual, and here we are now.
Jeff, with his eyes closed for a moment as he relaxed there-- finally opened his eyes as he looked at a book on the desk beside his bed along with the nightlight as it glowed softly in the dark. With no hesitation, he took the book upon himself.
as he readied to read it again…
"Well… I've almost finished the book, and I'm so hooked—like, truly. I might just finish it all today."
For the past few days, he, Jeff, had been reading the book. It kind of changed him somehow?
Like, how come he's been doing things that he never thought of doing—like, it just felt different?
Oh, maybe because the book truly resonated with him. But to be able to influence him to this point? This book had to be magical… right…?
Flipping through the pages, he skimmed over the parts that he had gone through-- until he reached where he last stopped.
"Hmm… around 15 pages left…? Easy. Let's do this...!"
Jeff locked in, reading through the pages like there was no tomorrow—Oh, and it looks like he forgot something. Again.
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*KAWKAWKAW*
Waking up from his slumber, just sitting straight up by raising his upper body, he looks pretty drowsy…! But that isn't important…!
"...Agh... What time is it…? No way…"
With heavy eyes he looked for his phone, finding it as he checked the time, and it showed.
"... 7:40 AM....?! AGHHHHHH…! I'M GOING TO BE LATE AGAIN...!"
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"Jeff, you know what's going to happen—same as usual, detention."
Saying so, as she writes something in the record book in her hand, just jotting away…
"...Aeewaaeeeeee... Sydney… can't you just please do me a favor... This time around, like, I'm only late by 3 minutes that have to pass."
Jeff, who lay on the ground, said it while panting. He even looks rough, probably because he ran so hard to come here.
"Nope, can't do. You should go on first to the classroom."
She moved to close the school gate and there was Jeff, still lying on the ground, thinking to himself.
Yikes… I saved you last night… Oh yeah, she didn't know it was me. Gahh, whatever…
And there he lay, just like back then—but he didn't noticed it...
Sydney who was glancing at him for a moment as she closed the gate... spoke under her breath, quiet enough for no one to hear but herself:
"... I must be imagining things, his voice was just familiar and that's all..."
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After some time, Jeff was now in front of his classroom. Though the lecturer wasn't here yet, there were about 5 more minutes before they came and stuff like that, so without further ado—Jeff just went inside the classroom.
Are they looking? Well, yeah... but Jeff just couldn't care less and went straight to his desk—his classmates, who only glanced at him for a moment or so, went back to what they had been doing before right after.
Though he should have cared a bit about it, does he have to? He's been different these past few days. And that-- was not bad at all.
Now sitting at his own desk, there he relaxed, his deskmate beside him—Whitney sleeping as usual.
Dayum, sleeping again? Well, it's your life… who am I to care? Thinking so as he then yawned.
Before finally the classroom was entered by none other than the lecturer, there—the lecturer yapped about this and that before finally starting the lecture.
Listening to the lecture attentively, as he should, Jeff just skimmed over the whole period as recess finally came.
As usual, too, going toward the cafeteria…! Since he was starving like crazy…! Buying the same stuff he did back then—and this time he isn't eating at the rooftop; just the classroom is fine and safer.
Thus, he went ahead with two buns on both of his hands. Now, walking upstairs—he thought to himself.
Uhm... Wait…? I think I forgot something…?
"...Meh, who cares? It probably isn't that important."
Now at the floor his classroom was at—he then makes his way to turn toward the direction of it, and there, because of being blindsided by the edge—he bumped into someone, and they stumbled backward, landing on their rear.
"Oh dang…! My bad!! Are you okay...?!"
That surprised him; he didn't see the person coming and only noticed after bumping into them. The person he bumped into was...
"... Ouch… that hurt…"
"… Sarah…? Dang, I'm sorry. I didn't see you coming."
"... Oh no… I wasn't looking ahead too… so it's partially my fault…"
The person that Jeff bumped into was none other than Sarah. Jeff, who felt he was at fault, then offered his hand to help Sarah stand.
"... Here, let me give you a hand… Jeez, I'm really sorry though…"
Looking at his offered hand for a moment, Sarah then took hold of it as Jeff then helped her stand. She spoke as he brushed off dust—.
"No… it's fine. I'm not mad at all…"
Now looking at each other, as Sarah looked at Jeff--making eye contact--Jeff, who still felt bad, then decided.
"... Here, take one of these. I got two of them."
He then offered one of the buns that he bought to Sarah. She looked at it—waving her hands side to side as she said—.
"Oh no! You don't have to!"
"No, please—take it… It's a token of my apology."
"... Okay…"
She refused it at first, but when Jeff pushed a little, she ended up taking it anyways, though her expression looked complicated at first, but it softened right after as she responded:
"But you really don't have to do this…"
"Well, I want to, so it's fine. Anyways, let's be careful!"
"…Okay then…"
Jeff bowed to Sarah as he then continued moving toward the classroom. But he stopped—as he thought himself.
...Hmmm... I never asked her this… Does she still remember me? In the classroom I never tried to communicate with her or anything. Maybe she already forgot? Thinking so, he then turned around as he asked:
"... Wait… Sarah, don't you remember me?"
Sarah, who was still standing still—was suddenly posed with a question that had been asked by Jeff, she who was now looking at Jeff the moment he asked it—wore the expression of confusion as she responded:
"... Remember you…? What do you mean by that...?"
"... Ahh… did you forget? Back then when we were much younger, we were close, weren't we?"
"... We do...?"
Sarah, hearing what Jeff had said, still wearing the same expression—furrowed her eyebrows.
Seeing how Sarah reacted to what had been said by him, Jeff then tried to explain himself:
"Ahhh… it's nothing much. I figured as much; you won't remember me since it's been a long time or so… Ahh! Anyways...! I'm going to the classroom first...!"
Leaving the confused Sarah alone in the corridor—Jeff continued walking as he quickened his pace to the classroom. Sarah, who was left standing there, asked, toward no one but herself, quietly...
"... You know me…? But why can't I remember you...?"
Throb.
"Agh.... A headache... All of a sudden...?"
She winced, bringing a hand to her head as a sharp pain pulsed through her skull. For a moment, she remained frozen in place, steadying herself.
When the pain finally faded, she straightened up. Her gaze looking forward, although it looks faint and unfocused-- In that moment, she said to herself,
"...I need to ask him about it…"
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"...Is my face that easy to forget, or what? Looking at her back then, not much changed about her, that is. Apart from getting taller, I think…? I also got taller and... handsome now, I think...?"
He said while eating the bun that he had bought—nearly finished, as he then continued.
"Well, it can't be helped. It's worth asking, though, I think.? Dayum, it hurts; she was like the only friend I had."
Burp.
Though he burped, he looked at the wrapper as he tucked it away to throw it away later and said to himself.
"... Well, one bun will not be enough for me, but it is what it is." paused for a moment, as he then thought to himself:
...well, it is what it is, huh? Not that I mind—it's not like I care that much; I prefer being alone. But... it would be nice if she still... remembered me.
Though he said he didn't care, he in fact cared about it... For a moment, as he dazed off before he shook his head breaking free from the daze.
He then just goes idly by doing his business—looking out the window, it looks very relaxing, he thought… the winds whooshing by and the faint and soft sunlight seeping in the classroom…
There were about 3 more minutes before the recess ended. And now his classmates were going about their day and entering the classroom since the due time.
And there he was, looking around the classroom as he thought to himself.
Well… I just like it like this… and this girl… she just sleeps all the time, seriously? Even last week too…
Looking at the girl beside his desk as she rested her head on the desk with her arms covering her, it was Whitney.
"I can feel you're looking. Stop looking at me."
"...Huh, what...? I didn't...?"
When the girl who still had her head resting on the desk buried in her arms beside him suddenly said those words, he was shocked—he didn't expect she could feel when people looked at them. Like, can you even feel someone looking at you when you can't see them and they actually do?!
Sigh.
The moment she sighed, that was also when she sat upright as she looked at Jeff, cold. With her blue eyes.
Gulp.
Jeff gulped as he locked in, facing straight ahead—his face stayed natural, but he was sweating profusely. He thought to himself,
Dayum, this isn't good at all…!
"....."
She, who was still staring at the side of sweating Jeff's face, then finally relocated her gaze in front; though it only lasted a few seconds, it felt like an eternity.
Jeff was saved! The lecturer came into the classroom as the lecture was about to start and recess had finally ended. Students suddenly came flooding into the room, and among them was Sarah—who seemed to be looking at Jeff…?
"...Why is she looking at me...?"
Though it only lasted for a moment, she then went on toward her desk—and then, as the lecturer was saying this and that, the lecture finally started. And there, Jeff said to himself as he facepalmed,
"... She's still upset! Dayum…! I should have given her both of my buns!"
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The last period finally ended—as the lecturer spoke about this and that before exiting—leaving students who also prepared to leave, and Jeff should too, but! He won't be leaving anytime soon; he had detention, after all.
As he packed his stuff back into his schoolbag, someone came.
"... Jeff...?"
"...huh...? Oh hey, Sarah…? Is something wrong?"
Jeff, who was in the midst of putting his stuff back into his bag, suddenly was interrupted by Sarah, who came to him. Jeff thought to himself,
Ahhh… yep, she's still upset. I'll just tell her that I'm going to buy her two buns tomorrow.
"… I was wondering…"
"... Look, I'm really sorry about earlier. I'm going to buy you two buns next time. How about that?"
"…If we could exchange contact information…? Huh...?"
Both of them spoke at the same time, and both were confused at each other.
"...You what...?"
"…Oh no! This wasn't about back then!" said Sarah, as she waved her hands side to side, denying it.
"...Oh, okay... So why do you want my contact?"
"...Well... back then, you said you knew me, right? But I can't remember it... If you don't mind, maybe we can exchange contact—so we can reconnect and get to know each other again. Is that fine with you?"
She said to Jeff—as her fingers fidgeted around, her expression showed that she was pretty nervous about this, and she waited for Jeff's response:
"... Ahh… ehh… okay…? Yeah, sure...!"
Stammering a little bit as he said those words, Jeff finally responded.
Hearing that, Sarah's expression beamed a little as she smiled and then pulled out her phone and began typing before showing it in front of Jeff.
"Okay…! So what was it?"
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Walking down the hallway as he was heading toward detention—was none other than Jeff, and here he was looking at his phone. Well, at his contacts, to be exact.
Jeff, who was still looking at his contacts, which only had five at first—now had six! and one of the contacts is from Sarah…! He didn't know how to feel about this--he should be happy, right? Well, of course he is…!
"LET'S GO...!"
Pumping his fists into the air, feeling kind of good--after all, in the contacts of his phone for the remaining five were—Dave, the landlord of his apartment—and then 'Mother,' 'Father,' and 'Sister' in his contacts.
He looked at the three contacts briefly, contemplated it for a moment, then brushed it off with a shake of his head and a smile. As he also then recalled what Sarah said to him:
"Wants to reconnect and get to know each other again, huh? She really forgot! Well then, I'll help jog her memory!"
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After calming himself and such, there he was now in front of the detention classroom—he stood there for a few good seconds, then entered it. And as usual.
The lecturer was also sleeping this time around.
And the familiar faces from back then were also there.
Marie, who was looking out the window with the side of her face showing as she rested her jaw on her palm—the sunlight shone on her, making her look like something straight out of a movie. It was majestic.
Whitney was also there—sleeping, as usual. But when she heard the door open. Marie, who looked toward the source, her red eyes which looked like it was gleaming as she stared straight into Jeff's eyes and said,
"Ah... you're finally here."
There he stood, just at the entrance, as if entranced, before snapping back as he then said,
"...Yeah..."
Jeff, now walking toward the desk in the center between the two girls seated at their respective spots, sat down, placing his bag beside the desk... before finally taking out a book from his bag.
Marie, who was looking at him doing all that, spoke yet again:
"So, what's your progress reading the book?"
"Well…"
Putting the book on the desk, he then looked in the direction of Marie, meeting her red eyes as he said,
"I finished it…"
"… Huh…? You finished it...?!"
"... Uh, yeah...? Why are you so shocked?"
"Eh—Uhmm… it's nothing… Ahem…"
Marie, who suddenly yelped upon hearing what Jeff said, made him question it too—though he didn't think much about it afterwards. As Marie looked away for a second before looking back with a refined expression, she did a fake cough and then spoke:
"So, how was it?"
"...Well, to be honest—the book was a masterpiece… I was seriously hooked, though."
Upon hearing what Jeff had said, Marie simply nodded as she acknowledged his words.
Jeff then took hold of the book and offered the book back to its rightful owner while saying,
"Thanks for lending me the book, Marie. I mean it—it helped me somehow—like, seriously."
Looking at the book, she then took it and set the book down on the desk in front of her—before asking as she rested her hands on it:
"... So have you felt it...?"
"...Huh, feel... what?"
"...Did something change for you after reading the book? Has it made you... do something you weren't keen on doing... so suddenly?"
Throb.
Hearing what she said, his heart skips a beat as also Jeff can't help but think to himself:
Huh…? What… why is this girl asking something like that? Does she really know…? I meant it really did somehow… like yesterday…
Marie, who was looking at Jeff, pressuring him for answer—Jeff, who felt pressured by her gaze, looked away for a brief moments— before looking back at the girl and answering:
"… Well… apparently nothing like that…"
"....."
Though she was still staring for a moment, she finally brokeaway as she looked away, redirecting her gaze on the book.
Jeff, who felt relieved inwardly as the pressure from the girl was gone—now can relax for a bit. But not for long.
"So it didn't give you the spark... or the idea to start or become something?"
Uh-oh... How does this girl even know...? That actually happened.
Though he doesn't show it, how could he? This girl looks like she can see right through him. Which kind of frightens Jeff himself— but he is still somehow able to keep his composure before saying,
"Yeah... None of that too… Like, how can reading a book—influence so much? Haha…"
"..... Yeah, that's true…"
Finally the girl stopped asking things as she looked at the clock in front—it showed 5:45 PM. 15 minutes away from 6:00 PM. But upon looking at the clock, she then started packing her stuff… well, that's early?
"Oh, you're going now?"
"Yep, I've got something to do back home. So I can't stay much longer."
"…Well, alright…"
Done with what she had been doing, she stood-- but she didn't just get out like that, looking at Jeff— she then said to him,
"...Y'know, Jeff, I think it's pretty inconvenient—if we're going to meet here only, so I think we should…" saying so as she then took out her smartphone…
"Exchange our contact information, Is it fine with you?"
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And then Marie left the room.
Leaving the room, after exchanging their contact information and bidding farewell to him, left three people in the classroom. There was still little time before 6:00 PM, and the lecturer wasn't even disciplining them or anything—and thus Jeff also rested his head on the desk as he faced the window.
"Man, this day's been crazy good for me. Two girls wanted my contact…? Dang! I must be dreaming." In the middle of it, a little smile formed on his lips as he continued.
"Yep, coming back home, I'm going to train straight away."
And with that, he lazed the rest of the time away...
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A girl was walking away from the school she had just left—and that girl was Marie.
With a book pressed to her chest, she mumbled to herself:
"He was a pretty terrible liar... that Jeff."
She said it with an amused expression, her red eyes gleaming—shining with that mysterious yet dazzling glint, as if fiery flame dancing in them...