Chapter 9: The Unknown

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Unknown

Mataguchi’s monologue, POV

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1:29 PM.

The first period had just ended, and students spilled into the open areas of the campus, their energy loud and restless.

I had finished the algorithm test early, barely ten minutes in actually. For a moment, I’d debated texting Oota about Ruby, but the thought faded as the rest of the student body swarmed out into the courtyard. I sat on a bench beneath a tree, watching the leaves drift down. I focused entirely on them, clearing everything else from my mind.

I wasn’t tired or stressed. I felt nothing at all. It was a familiar, neutral state of mind I always slipped into when I was alone with my thoughts. Lately though, there were too many variables to keep track of. Too many things I needed to watch closely.

"H-hello?"

I shifted my gaze to the path. Sakurai was standing near the edge of the bench. A gentle breeze caught her hair, scattering the falling leaves around her like a framed cinematic portrait.

"Sakurai? What’s the matter?" I asked, though I was fairly certain she didn’t have a real reason for being here.

"I just... I saw you while I was walking past," she said, her voice catching slightly. "I thought I should stop by and say hi."

I stared at her for a moment. Then I looked back out at the courtyard. It wouldn’t hurt to let her sit down, if only to see what she wanted to express.

When I looked back, I caught her already staring at me. She instantly dropped her gaze to avoid direct eye contact, her fingers twisting together nervously as she shifted her weight from side to side.

"You can sit down, if you want," I suggested.

Her eyes widened in surprise. Before I wonder if I’d been too direct, she sat so close that her shoulder and hand brushed against mine. She flinched instantly, shrinking back in embarrassment. Her eyes darted between me and the gravel, trying desperately to act like nothing had happened.

"So, how was class?" I asked, keeping my voice entirely neutral.

"Hmm... Well, class is..." She stammered, cutting herself off before she could finish the thought. She quieted down, then added, "I don’t really fit in well in class."

It wasn’t news to me. I’d known her since I first transferred here, and she had always struggled to connect with people. Usually, I wasn’t the type to get invested in someone else’s personal baggage.

"Do you remember the first time we actually talked?" she asked, her voice dropping to a low murmur as she looked at the ground.

"Yeah, I do. It was my first day here."

A brief, soft chuckle escaped her lips. "You were so new, and everyone was talking about you. You were going through the school’s evaluation, but you never once asked any of the upperclassmen for advice." She paused, looking at me sideways. "You seemed lonely."

Lonely.

Loneliness wasn’t a concept I cared about back then. When I first arrived at this school, I was at rock bottom. I didn’t have anything, and I simply refused to let myself been taken advantage of.

"Is that how I looked to you?" I murmured. "I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect you to see right through me like this."

She watched my face closely as I spoke, hanging on every word before looking down again.

"That’s because I felt the same way back then," she replied.

There was a genuine sadness in her eyes. It was an expression I hadn’t seen on her face in a long time. Not since the day I broke her. Back then, I hadn’t felt a single thing about it, it was just a necessity to survive in this school. Now, looking at her, I still wasn’t sure what to feel.

"You see... you saved me from my darkness back then," Sakura said, finally forcing herself to look straight at me. "So I-I feel indebted to you. I want to stay by your side."

I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I turned my face forward, looking at the campus garden. "What do you think of those flowers over there?"

"....."

"Uh... they-" She blinked, utterly confused by the sudden shift in the conversation.

"They only grow with proper care and support," I said, standing up from the bench and smoothing down my uniform. "From pruning to watering. It takes a lot of responsibility to make them grow properly."

"R-right..." she managed to respond.

I turned my head just enough to look back at her over my shoulder. She was still sitting on the bench, looking small.

"I will watch you grow, Sakurai. Supporting you and watering you whenever it’s necessary. Is that okay with you?"

"Mataguchi-kun..." she whispered, her breath catching. "Thank you."

I turned back around and began to walk away. "I should be on my way now. I have other things to take care of."

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I walked through the hallway leading to the staircase that led to the upper floors. I quietly walked passed the other student who all seemed completely indulged in what they were doing, some eyes shifted to me for a moment but it was no other than a natural response of human behaviour.

I reached the stairs about to climb, a sudden beep vibrated from my pocket, I took out my smartphone seeing as it was a message notification on WhatsApp, I clicked on the icon to check seeing a picture had been sent from both Ruby and Oota.

She has gotten ahead of herself again...

I clicked on Oota message to view the image sent. It was Ruby hugging Oota tight while she took the picture, on the side sat Shion glared at both of then with intense hatred.

I want to die from how stupid this look.

Rip Oota

Relationship is not our thing Oota, you would later come to understand that we were built different from others..

I replied immediately to Oota and left Ruby on read.

Mataguchi: Rip, Lee Minho..

I think this should be considered funny....right?..

But as soon as I wanted to put my smartphone back on my pocket. Another notification came up. It was a reply from Oota.

Oota: what do you mean RIP, come help me!!!!

Oota: wait you actually replied, where have you been? I haven’t seen you at all today

I was about to replied, but it seemed Ruby was still with Oota cause she had sent in another message, the notification above showed.

Ruby: so you are ignoring me now? Both you and Oota have the same attitude with the ladies too

What does she mean ’too’?... I wondered.

I ignored her replying Oota instead.

Mataguchi: been busy

Mataguchi: text you later so we can meet up

Oota: right later.

Mataguchi: by the way, you the pic of you is just you. Passport style

Oota: hahahaha sharp tongue as ever

I continued walking up stairs, putting my phone on my pocket.

I had mentioned a couple of time, that I have something to do. I wasn’t lying, from my last calculations the thing I was after should make an appearance now. Within this school.

I stopped by the next hallway on the second floor, the floors above would be good for spotting it up close.

Through the window I could see the girls’ tennis court, members of the female tennis club continued their practice, rackets slicing through the air with sharp precision.

A boy walked past the court, scanning the area as if searching for something.

His hair was white, every visible strand on his body carried the same pale color. His eyes were lemon green. The uniform was a testament to his vibrant energy, a stark contrast to the grim world of sorcery. While it retained the sturdy, midnight-navy fabric common to all traditional Japanese High students, it had been heavily customized. A thick, lemon green hood was sewn directly into the neckline, spilling out over his shoulders like a splash of fresh paint. The jacket was left slightly unzipped, revealing the casual comfort he prioritized, while the signature golden swirl button gleamed under the light, black socks covering his legs, and dark lemon-and-black sneakers. The outfit was improper for a school setting, yet it fit him strangely well.

Despite his unusual appearance, none of the girls on the tennis court, or any nearby students, reacted to his presence.

It was as if he didn’t exist. Or more like I was the only actually seeing him.

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"The unknown is dangerous but far more intriguing than the obvious facts"

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