Her thumb froze caressing her lips, and smile turned upside down into a huge frown...no pout? Wait, how do you distinguish between the two?
Brows knit together, creating a crease between them, enough for elementary little ones to play slide.
That's a bit awkward....
Head jerking side to side, long hair swishing, how does she even manage? I want to say they are touching my face, it's like something is walking on my cheeks.
I want to rub those ants in deep red.
"Ne~Ne~Are you sure?"
"Yes, in fact. I would prefer if you make a ponytail or two. See, on my right...you are causing it."
"How could this be? Don't you boys like big boobs, round butt with lo---"
Ichinose said, looking very unhappy, grasping my palm with both of her hands dejectedly.
I was so shocked by this sudden gesture, I almost screamed, "What kind of books are you reading? Don't assume everything on your own."
But this girl made such a whine that she is in denial herself.
"Ichinose, just hear me out. I won't judge, I really won't, are you perhaps into...older men?"
She tried to dug her nails into my palm, fortunately I was wearing gloves. In Summer that is.
Reflexes are truly terrifying.
"Yagami-kun."
Ichinose seemed to be very good at socializing, speaking of which, the sentence she just said was really a bit misleading.
Does she not realize that combination of the way she said it and the way she act would make pretty much any normal boy feel like she's trying to confess?
"Not anything you do will change my mind. Two reque----bus has stopped. Are we there....?"
"Follow me."
She told me to "follow her..." I also want to do that, of course because she is my credit at the moment. But.
"Can you give my palm back?"
"Excuse me---we are coming through. Opening ceremony should be abo---"
Whatever she is talking about, it's going way over my head. At least, I didn't step on anyone this time around, because I was paying focus downwards, while just matching my steps in her direction.
That woman really has purple eyes....
"Wait, wai---why are we going down? You promised to pay for both of us. Ichinose, this is not right. You can't go back on you----!"
Khross! Gate Closed.
"We are really here....."
"Conductor. He...He let us pass through? What's going on---son of a bitch. It's too bright."
"It was a public bus. I wanted to tell you. But I realised you actually didn't know. So, I kept quiet....kya ha ha!"
"It's no time to laugh."
Instantly covered my eyes with entire left arm to block the onslaught of morning rays ...no it wasn't any sun involvement, but just too white suddenly almost burnt me!
They are sensitive, okay?
"Try peeking a bit. Then try to see. It should help Yagami-kun."
"You tricked me. Couldn't you have said it before?"
Peek...Blink. Blink.
"I did no such thing. Please don't make me sound like a villain."
It stung like hell, all this cloudiness is turning my world black and white.
My right eye was fucking useless, black void on that side, and now this....I squinted hard.

"Too many flowers. It's like I am eating two portion of sweets....."
"Hehe~~! Do you perhaps like pancakes?"
This girl....she is still giggling.
"Cherry blossoms right? Or Sakura?"
"....Are you kidding me? They bloom on Sakura trees. How can you not know this?"
"Excuse me, for not being an expert in a flowery Herbologist."
Air brushed my cheek with a cool breeze, when I tried to breathe, it felt like the quality of oxygen has severely improved and I could live longer.
It's so tasty. I took an invisible bite.
"I think we should go, Yagami-kun. We can order something to eat for you inside....Oh, and let a nurse definitely check you out."
"Is that allowed. Won't it be a problem? I really don't have any money."
"No, it's a government school remember. They should have all the faculties inside."
"I can see something bluish over there, and it's a lot. Is it a building?"
"Yes, it's probably for opening ceremony. For that, we will have to pass through school gates."
I couldn't make out grid of panes, just a reflective glow that bounced the sun right back at me.
A sign on the right was a white blur with black smudges-letters I couldn't recognis-"Make way for the elderly."
Beep! Beep!
"Come on, just watch your steps."
"I think you should leave my hand."
"No, you will definitely fall down."
"That will be on me. I can manage."

"Yagami-kun, let's go to school together, okay?"
Did I say it before? Her voice is so enchanting.
Steps led up to her high school's entrance, their edges fuzzy, it's concrete. What an old style.
To the left, a row of tall, skinny trees stood behind the wall. Carefully, passing another step, getting close enough I noticed they look like Christmas trees.
"Aesthetic. It's really cool."
"High school. My first day of high school. Let's go and pass security check! Yagami-kun."
Guess, she is too excited.
Well, I don't want her to feel left out. I passed my schooling last couple of years without even realising due to the pandemic, staying home.
Uni---I wasn't much into it. Because I was given wrong advice by those family "cousins" and my course didn't have any job value.
That's why, I plastered my face all over placement camps in different branches, and then after five or six interviews, secured Letter of intent.
Hence, giving exam for a professional course after a lot of back and forth, self-discovery on what I want to do.
There was a sound of mechanical beep, apparently I was lost in my thoughts, not realising a guard in black uniform is already doing checks.
"Show me your ID."
Boom....I froze on my spot, it's obvious, because I don't have any. I can't go inside.
Just noticed the eye interaction between two people now staring at me, it was Ichinose whose voice broke through, "Yagami-kun, please check your pockets."
That's the first thing I did, realising there was no cash, no ID on me.
It looks like I will be stranded he---
"What are you doing?"
I could feel her hands probing inside my jacket, what do you think you will find there? Besides, how can you not feel embarrassed by touching some boy's chest, doesn't matter if it's direct or indirect.
In fact, I just tried to manipulate her into pay me money. Is she an M?
"Found it. Yes, he's definitely you in photo. Here, Sir. Please check it out."
Wa---Pause---Pause. What ID is she giving? I don't even carry anything inside my work jacket. Besides, even if there was...I wear black, not red which is currently on me.
"No, wai---let me see first."
"It's matched. I will ask you two with final confirmation? If pass right now through gates, you won't be able to leave for three years."
Whistle! Alarm! That's right, I want to make such a sound, but I don't know how to do it. What do you mean three years, I won't be able to come back.
What kind of place is this? Ichinose, where on earth did you bring me to....
Inhale Exhale.
"I accept."
Two seconds later.
"I refuse."
I definitely won't be entering any kind of shady place, that just told me you won't be able to leave for three years!
Do you even know how much it is? Fuck no, hell no, I am out of here.
I can feel them staring at me. No they really are drilling holes into me, in fact even if you put me on gunpoint, I won't enter.
That's right, Fuck you.
Fuck you two.
I thought I knew her better, it turned out to be some kind of trafficking. Let's get out as soon as possible.
"Where are those passengers going on bus? This is last station, but no one even attempted to move."
"You noticed that....."
"Yagami-kun, what ar---No, wait, he is right. This is the only path taking us here, bridge connecting Tokyo mainland to island. Even that old lady is still sitting on her seat....Sir, what's going on?"
"I....I am not authorised to answer that question. But please be reassured there is nothing wrong."
"Tokyo mainland....Island? Japan."
"Is there anyone else with you on bus?"
"No. It's just us two."
"I see. Please make your decision, next ones are waiting for my clearance. Otherwise your application will be rejected."
"Hey! Yes, yes, I accept. Yagami-kun does too. He is probably confused about the passengers not leaving."
"But he didn't say ye----"
"Yagami-kun is my boyfriend. I know him better, his answer is yes. So, can we please go through?"
"A-Alright."
"Great! Great! Let's hurry up, before something bad happens. I don't want any more protests."
I am being dragged.
No, you...you are not understanding.
My body is not responding, my legs are numb. It usually happens when I stay in one position for too long.
But that's definitely not the case here. Why is it happening? I was okay at bus, no sign of hyperventilating.
Did I set a red flag? I thought I was managing quite a lot better. I can't hear what she is saying, her lips are parting, talking something.
Step! Step! Step!
Her footsteps are too loud. I want to cover my ears.
....It's just, my palm is clutched by Ichinose Honami in a tight grip, with probably no intention of letting go anytime soon.
It's Japan. Tokyo. Japan!
Motherfuck------
xxxxxx
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