Chapter 61: Partner
Chapter 61: Partner
ALL the students across campus gathered on the rooftop in a tumult of noise. Some students were excited about the sudden upset to their normal routine, while others were apprehensive about what was about to happen. Among them, Azusa sat at the best spot to see the entire campus with her face buried in her knees over the tragic end that was to come. Kii stood beside her, concerned about her behavior. Yuu, who was always with Kii, went home early after her little fainting incident when she met Kouya before school.
“What’s wrong, Azusa? You look down,” Kii said looking across the campus from the rooftop. She sat beside Azusa.
A depressed Azusa showed no signs of responding or lifting her face even when others spoke to her. Kii sighed at her friend and scooted closer to her as she continued to talk even though she didn’t answer back.
“I wonder what’s going on today. Why did we have to evacuate to the rooftop? Do you know what’s up, Azusa?”
“……”
“So you do know. Does it have something to do with your partner? Is something about to start?”
“……”
“A.ZU.SA! Stop being depressed and say something.” Kii head-butted Azusa. She still didn’t react. Kii gave up and stretched, popping her back. She looked at the campus again and jumped.
“Ah! Hey, isn’t that Kouya?”
Azusa’s head snapped up and she dropped her gaze on the campus. The others had yet to notice Kouya hiding in the shadow of a large tree waiting for Youta. She sharply sucked in her breath.
“Did something happen with your partner?”
“Not exactly,” Azusa answered for the first time.
“I see,” Kii said. “Why are you here if you guys aren’t fighting?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Your partner is about to do something, right? Is it okay for you to stay here?”
“I can’t do anything even if I go. I’m a normal human, you know?”
“Did Kouya tell you that?”
“……”
Azusa was at a loss for words. The fact was, he didn’t tell her that. Even if she went with him, she had neither the power to kill Youta in Kouya’s place nor the power to do something about Youta. Within the scope of human girls, she was confident she was stronger than most, but it was a different matter altogether when it came to vampires. She couldn’t even begin to compare herself to their innate strength.
She was powerless. Helplessly and hopelessly powerless.
“Then isn’t it the same whether you’re with us or not, Azusa?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, isn’t that basically how it is? Logically speaking, staying here to talk to me and watching over things from the sidelines with us won’t help you save anyone. Is it the same to you whether you were here or not?”
“That’s—”
“That’s not how it is, right? I know that.” Azusa was physically older than Kii, but Kii slowly pat her on the head like she was comforting a younger sister. “You might not understand how things work here because you were raised in a human city, but a ‘contractor’ is like a ‘partner’ to us. Whether you develop a romantic relationship or not, you share your lot in life. Which is why you would never establish a contract with someone you don’t get along with. And even if you did, it’d be a contract in name only.”
“……”
“The truth is, should one side of the contract fall to F rank, the other side is responsible for removing them. But there are many people who become romantically involved, and even for those who don’t, contract partners develop an emotional attachment to each other. There will always be those who can’t kill their partner. The one who takes over for them is the Akaoni…Kouya.
“That’s why I was honestly amazed when I first learned you were Kouya’s contract partner. It’s not like he wanted to take on the role, it’s one we forced on him—and when I think you are bearing that burden by his side, I’m awestruck. It would be too heavy and painful for me to shoulder. I would surely be crushed by it.”
“……”
“But, looking at you now, you simply didn’t know what you were getting into, huh? You knew nothing of the weight and anguish that comes with becoming a vampire’s contractor… If that’s true, give up while you can. Even if you continue your contract with him, you better quit calling yourself his contractor. You can’t stand by Kouya’s side as you are, Azusa.”
Azusa gasped, clenched her fists, and bit down on her lower lip. She was mortified. Mortified by her inability to counter what was said and by the way Kii’s words were said out of consideration for her. Everything she said was true. As things stood, she could never stand beside him. She had to change—change from her powerless self.
“Do you think I can still make it in time?”
“…You can probably make it if you hurry,” Kii smiled wryly at the newly determined light in Azusa’s eyes when she lifted her face from her knees. She hadn’t intended to stir her up so much, but it appeared her words were more motivating than she imagined.
“Kii, thanks! I’m going to him!”
“Okay… Wait, whaat?! What’re you doing, Azusa?”
“I need to take the fastest route to him!” Azusa exclaimed, climbing over the fence separating the rooftop from the ledge. She safely climbed down the other side of the fence while listening to the teachers’ panicked voices behind her.
No way. She can’t be! No way she would do that! Thought everyone present.
But Azusa flashed her usual grin and shouted to Kouya hiding in shadows, “KOUYA! I’m coming! Please catch me!”
Azusa’s eyes locked onto Kouya’s outrageously surprised face. She dove off the rooftop ledge.
***
“ARE you an idiot?!” Kouya roared.
It had been a while since he last got angry at her. Actually, maybe it hadn’t been that long at all. But it was the first time he had ever gotten angry with a desperate expression on his face, which got Azusa giggling in his arms.
“I’m sorry.”
“Your face and words don’t match! Why would you do something like this in front of so many people? Didn’t I tell you not to expose your relationship with me? What are you going to do tomorrow? They’re going to give you the cold shoulder, y’know?”
Azusa grinned at Kouya’s angry yet concerned gaze.
“You probably don’t have to worry about that! Everyone will come to understand you, Kouya! Besides, I don’t mind if they do end up giving me the cold shoulder. If I can only choose between you and everyone else, I choose you. I’m your partner after all!”
“…I don’t want to ask that much of you,” Kouya said with a pained look, letting Azusa feel like she connected deeper with than ever before.
“This is something I want to do. That’s it. I’m sorry for acting arbitrarily. Also, I know it is a bit late for this, but can I stay with you today?”
“There’s nothing fun about what I have to do. Besides, you’ll only get hurt by watching.”
“I know. Also, I want you to do me a favor and capture Youta instead of kill him. Can you do that? I don’t want you to kill Youta, Kouya.”
“Close your eyes then.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to witness you do it—I don’t want you to do it period! Let’s capture Youta without killing him. There may be a way to save him. Once we know for sure there is no other way, we can reconsider our options.”
“I’m repeating myself, but I can’t give special treatment to family—”
“Good idea. Let’s capture your little brother,” Subaru chimed in. Ichi stood beside him holding her katana.
“Sorry for interrupting the nice mood between you. We came flying when we heard from Master Akashi. Are we in the way?”
Kouya and Azusa finally realized they were conversing in each other’s arms the entire time and quickly separated.
Subaru smiled at them and brought the conversation back on topic, “I overheard a bit of what you two were saying and I think I’m on the capture the little brother bandwagon.”
“But—”
“I understand what you want to say too, Kou. Still, do you want all the kids watching from the rooftop to see the tragic scene of you killing your brother? That’s one plan I can’t support.”
“I can imagine the deep trauma it will cause,” Ichi added, backing up Subaru. Kouya frowned.
“How do you plan on capturing him then? You all know that Youta is the Patriarch’s son and has the famous Kisaragi bloodline flowing through him. He’s definitely going to be formidable. Letting him run around too long increases the chances of students getting hurt. Killing him is the best option to keep anyone else from getting hurt.”
“Isn’t that only if you took him on alone? Should it not be more than possible for the three of us to capture him if we take him on together? Do you plan on making me not use my partner which I brought here for this purpose?” Ichi asked, holding up her katana.
“Kou, you heard her. Let’s attempt to capture your brother first. We can kill him later if necessary. I doubt there is anyone the three of us can’t capture. Well, just in case, Azusa, can you give Kou some blood?” Subaru asked with a grin.
Azusa froze.
Blood… I’m pretty sure he drank my blood today. And if I’m not mistaken, something happened before that… The events she had forgotten from the afternoon returned to her. For some reason I don’t understand, Kouya came to school angry and said he wanted my blood… And then his face came close to mine…!
Remembering the soft touch of his lips instantly turned Azusa as red as a lobster. Kouya put his hand to his head. Their behavior perplexed Subaru.
“What? Did I ask something I shouldn’t have?”
“…No, don’t worry about it. Anyway, I already got blood from her, so I’m good. Don’t touch on the topic again. I’m begging you,” Kouya pleaded.
Subaru swore he would do whatever it would take to get what happened out of Kouya later.