Wednesday, 04/25/2001, 10:26 a.m.
Criiick!
With a sharp metallic screech, the door leading to the rooftop of Domino High School opened slowly.
Shin Osako and Anzu Mazaki stepped onto the rooftop one after the other. The strong glare of the morning sun briefly dazzled them as they passed.
Then, both teens walked in silence until they stopped near the gray wire fence overlooking the school fields.
Once there, with her gaze lost in the distance, Anzu began to speak. Several tears fell down her face in the process. Her expression looked sad, even though a trembling crooked smile played on her lips. Shin listened silently. His demeanor was calm. His eyes shifted between Anzu's back and the school fields.
"I... I wanted to talk to you... since that day... Since the trial... That time it was my parents who thanked you in my place... I-I just... I just wanted to say... thank you... Thank you for saving me! Thank you, really!"
Shin shifted uncomfortably in place. His face took on a somber shade.
In Shin's mind, the image of a small girl with pigtails and a pink dress briefly overlapped with Anzu's figure.
Shin's right hand rose unconsciously, about to touch Anzu's head. But he didn't complete the action. Though there was a slight redness in his eyes, his expression gradually returned to calm.
At that moment, Yugi's voice rang out on the rooftop with a shout.
"Anzu!"
The sound of several footsteps followed the exclamation. It was Jonouchi and the boy with the military-style haircut. Their expressions showed surprise and fierceness.
As Yugi approached Anzu, Shin stepped back to give them space. Jonouchi and the boy with the military-style haircut moved toward Shin at the same time.
Jonouchi shouted, shoving Shin against the fence.
"You better start explaining all this, bastard! What the hell did you do to Anzu?!"
Meanwhile, the boy with the military-style haircut started circling Shin from the opposite side of Jonouchi, his gaze fierce. Nonetheless, Shin remained unshaken by the actions of both boys. His lips stayed sealed and his face, serious.
Jonouchi raised his voice, teeth clenched.
"So you don't wanna talk, huh? Fine! I'll beat it out of you!"
Jonouchi raised his fists toward Shin. The boy with the military-style haircut did the same, his face dark. Shin silently took a defensive stance.
"Hiroto, Jonouchi, no! Stop it, guys!"
At that moment, Anzu spoke. Her voice came out choked, and her expression showed distress. Jonouchi and Hiroto stopped their actions simultaneously. Then, they turned toward Anzu, who continued.
"I-I... I have something to tell you, guys..."
Confusion took over the expressions of the three boys immediately.
Hiroto and Jonouchi looked at each other, faces puzzled.
Yugi furrowed his brow but remained silent and listened without interrupting.
Shin turned back toward the fence and looked into the horizon, deep in thought.
After a long sigh and a slight shiver, Anzu began to speak. Her cheeks were flushed.
"It all started when..."
As Anzu recounted her recent experience, the expressions of her three friends grew increasingly somber. Their eyes occasionally wandered to Shin's back. Different emotions crossed their faces with each of Anzu's words. Curses whispered out of Jonouchi's and Hiroto's mouths. "Hirutani" was a name mentioned often...
With Anzu's last words, silence lingered for several minutes.
Anzu was no longer crying. The tears had vanished from her face, only a slight redness remained on her features.
The bell marking the end of recess had rung several minutes earlier. None of those present had reacted to it. Everyone was focused on Anzu's account.
"I didn't tell you anything because... because I was scared. I still remember that feeling... so cold... in my stomach... then the smell... and my neck... No... I don't want to remember it again..."
Anzu caressed her neck, trembling. The three boys showed angry expressions on their faces. Jonouchi muttered a silent curse. His fists were clenched.
"Hirutani, bastard..."
Honda lowered his head, teeth clenched, lost in thought, and Yugi walked up to Anzu and hugged her.
Shin watched the scene from the corner of his eye, silent. His expression remained serious and calm...
Shaking her head, Anzu wiped away a lone tear from her face as she stepped back from Yugi's hug. A smile appeared on her lips. Her eyes moved across her three friends with that smile until they finally met Shin's figure by the fence. Shin returned her gaze, serious. Then, Anzu spoke in a firm tone.
"But now everything's fine. I'm not afraid anymore... I had no idea when I'd get to see Osako again to thank him for saving me. It's been almost a month since then... So I took the chance to do it today... I owe you a lot, Osako. Thank you..."
AN/One chapter per day. 100 power stones today means one extra chapter the next day. Each chapter is made up of four acts, plus a prologue and an epilogue, and finally a special act — each ranging from 800 to 2000 words. Leave a comment and report any issues below. You can buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/s/8e7c3d4725