Chapter 15 – Is the Fiction in His Mind Real?
(ATTENTION! ATTENTION! THE WORD "BLOOD" APPEARS A FEW TIMES HERE. I AM WARNING JASSA KISIELRI, BUT THE WORD "BLOOD" ONLY APPEARS TWICE.)
The person sitting there was Yue.
Yue: Ah, good morning, gentlemen.
Kaito nods in greeting.
Kaito: I hope the kids won't wake up until breakfast. They were really tired last night.
Haruto looks surprised, then laughs, scratching his head.
Haruto: Hehe, alright then. Let me explain. Though I wish there were some of Taro's mochi—
Kaito cuts him off.
Kaito: Oh shut up, idiot. Don't start acting stupid.
Yue chuckles.
Eventually, they sit down on the bench. Haruto straightens his sweater and becomes serious.
Haruto: Do you remember? I went to Lady Akira's office yesterday.
Kaito crosses his arms, stretches his legs onto the table in front of the bench, and laughs.
Kaito: Yeah, so? Did you two get cozy with her or something?
(Yue tries not to laugh.)
Haruto ignores him.
Haruto: There was a bloodstain on a small part of Akira's skirt. And a dark, almost black mark near the hem.
Kaito bursts out laughing.
Kaito: Hahaha! Come on, Haruto. She's a woman—makeup, stuff like that!
Haruto snaps.
Haruto: IDIOT, SHUT UP AND LISTEN! I KNOW THAT!
(Yue interrupts.)
Yue: That explanation doesn't really make sense. I don't think so.
(Pulls his hood forward.)
Haruto: And Tatsuya calling you "Hunter No. 183" even though he doesn't have your number. Or the case with Lady Yoona.
Kaito's expression changes. He lowers his legs and places his hand on the table. Yue thinks.
Flashback
San and Yoona stand in front of the meeting room.
San: Lady Yoona, there seems to be a stain on you. Probably from food. You might want to wipe it.
Yoona: Ah, thank you, Sir San.
Present
Kaito speaks seriously.
Kaito: Those brown-black drops couldn't have been food. Taro She cut her hand deeply and couldn't do much. A few assistants and Mitsuni were helping her.
Yue speaks, clearly shaken even beneath his hood.
Yue: Yes… What we ate was plain and chocolate-flavored, but there was no extra chocolate sauce. Only leftover banana and strawberry cream from the previous day, plus liquid sauce.
Haruto clasps his hands together.
Haruto: Exactly. Just like we thought… it's complicated.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoes behind them.
"HEYYYY GUYS!"
As it gets closer, a thin but sweet child's voice follows.
"Haru biiig brooo!"
They all turn around. Sora and Yuki are running toward them.
Haruto smiles and raises his hand, but then notices something.
Dark veins appear on Yuki's face, yet Yuki calmly rubs his eyes, half-asleep.
Haruto rushes forward. Kaito and Yue follow.
Yue: Good morning, little man. Looking cool today.
Sora coughs, and Kaito accidentally bumps into Yue's shoulder.
Kaito's gaze says it clearly: "Don't, Yue."
Yue notices Sora's eyes too and freezes. They're mysterious.
Sora's gaze: "Yes, Yue. Don't."
Yuki looks at Sora.
Yuki: Sister Sora, are you okay?
Sora: Yes, sweetie. I'm fine.
A breeze blows. As Sora adjusts her skirt, Haruto and Kaito look away, faces slightly red.
Yuki doesn't understand.
Yuki: Haruto, why are you blushing? And Sora sis… are you really okay?
Yue: Seasonal winds, Yuki. Sora gets like this sometimes.
Yuki touches his chin.
Yuki: Hmm… I don't really get it, but I'm glad you're okay, Sora.
Sora smiles. Haruto lifts Yuki into his arms.
Yuki: Aaaah— Haru bro?!
Haruto: Don't worry.
He places Yuki on his shoulder.
Sora calls out from behind.
Sora: Don't worry, Yuki. He won't abandon you. Neither will Kaito.
Kaito smirks slightly.
Yue smiles.
Yue: Ah, Haruto…
Then looks at Kaito.
Why did you look at me like that?
Kaito: He's a sacrifice, Yue.
Yue freezes.
Yue: Wh—WHAT?
Sora lowers her head sadly.
Sora: It seems his family abandoned him.
Yue clenches his teeth.
Yue: I really don't understand… Why would anyone sacrifice such a pure, innocent child?
Kaito looks up at the sky.
Kaito: I don't know, Yue. But to predict the weather… you need knowledge, or long observation.