Bokutachi wa Akuma: Chapter Thirty-Five

“You know, I don't remember the last time we all hung out like this.”

“We see each other all the time.”

“Not outside.”

“Come to think of it, neither do i.” he took a slurping sip from the white mug.

“I can remember.” His thought was cut off.

“Of course you do Hai. You remember everything.” Being cocky again.

“Nino.” Haikara shot him a glare. “Don't start.”

Nino leaned back in his hair with one arm folded across his chest, the other mimed a zipper being pulled closed across his lips.

“So, Hon. Any news n the pop culture world lately?” Once again, the pretty boy had changed jobs again.

“Mm.” He placed the mug on the table, leaning over it slowly. “No, not really. But I have heard something.”

Haikara nodded slowly.

“Akira has been following a group around lately.” He knitted his fingers together. “That group I showed you earlier this year.”

Haikara remembered them, he had been following them since Hongo had told him about them. Haikara even owned both of their singles, “Too Shy” and “Time”.

Haikara knew that Akira was looking for them, and he refused to help him, knowing what he had done to others.

“What does Akira need with those kids?” He picked at his nails, holding back any snarky attitude he could have in his tone.. “The last people Akira looked for ended up dead.”

Most of Akira’s cohorts were fellow idols, made something as complex as murder, very difficult. There was always a way for Akira.

Haikara looked down to the table, averting the secret in his eyes away.

“Oh! They did didn't they?” He picked up his mug again, taking another slurping sip of the hot liquid.

Haikara rose his gaze out the window, seeing a familiar face; one that he had never seen in person before.

“Speak of the devil.” He mumbled to himself. “I’ll be right back guys.” Haikara slipped out of the booth that they all sat in, leaving his coffee to steam on the table.

They looked.

“Where is he going?”

The other shrugged.

Haikara ran out of the coffee shop, scanning the streets to find the familiar face again. The face popped out of the crowd again, standing at the corner waiting to cross the street. Standing on the opposite corner at the light, he waited for the other person to come his way.

The light turned green, prompting pedestrians to walk.

The cute faced boy who hid his face under a hat made his way towards Haikara, alone.

The boy walked right passed him, his face dropped as if he expected the boy to recognize him. He followed him a few meters, where there was a doorway to an empty business lot. Haikara grabbed the boy by the shoulders from behind and pulled him into the small, concrete shelter.

“Shh, shh, shh.” Haikara placed his finger to his own lips, shushing the boy before he was to scream for help. “Ryuu kun. Please listen to me.”

Ryuu relaxed at the calming voice of the stranger. He kept his face hidden from the rest of the street just in case they thought he was in trouble.

“My name is Kamekaze Haikara, I am an acquaintance of Akira from..”

“H2O?”

“Yes, H2O.” He popped his collar up, hiding himself form the street as well. “You obviously know of him.”

“Of course I do.” He innocently brought his hands into and ‘attention’ stance. “He left H2O did he not?”

“Yeah he did.”

He furrowed his brows.

“But why though?”

“Because.” He paused, shaking his head quickly. “Stop distracting me!”

“Oh?”

“You have to watch out for him. He is after one of your friends.”

“Strange information from a stranger.

“Oh? What do you mean?”

“He has been looking for your friend Kaore kun.”

His face dropped.

“Why?”

“I don't know.” He placed a hand on his cheek. “But beware. H2O is not who you think they are. They are not nice or idealistic like you would think.”

“He tilted his head to the side.

“Why, why are you telling ‘me’ this?”

“Because. I, I idolize you. And.” He leaned in. “I want you and all of your friends to be safe. You don't know what you're up against.”

Ryuu shifted his gaze to the other side.

“Up against?” He looked up at the man. “What are we at war?” He chuckled softly.

Haikara's face dropped. “It could possibly well be.”

“A war?” he tilted his head the other way. “An idol war?”

An idol war sounded strange, but it was exactly what it would be.

“Just be careful Ryuu kun.” He placed a hand on Ryuu’s shoulder. “I don't want to see any of you hurt.”

Ryuu looked to the man’s hand and up to the man slowly, nodding slightly.

“We’ll be careful.”

“If you ever need anything,” he pulled out a business card for the boy. “Just call me.”

He had a backup defense now, from what? That would come soon enough to all ten members.

“Go now. Akira has ne watched. Go.” He pushed the boy away slightly.

“Arigatou.” He slipped the business card in his pocket and smiled sweetly. “Jaa.”

Ryuu dropped his head again and continued on his way to his destination, pretending nothing happened.

Haikara did the same, leaving as if he did nothing out of the ordinary.

He returned to the café and sat in the booth as if nothing had happened, taking a sip of his coffee casually.

“And?” He held his mug near his lips, staring at him through the steam.

“Hm?” he smiled from behind the mug. “What?” he dropped his mug, looking at the both of them as if he did nothing wrong.

“Where’d you go?”

A pause.

“The bathroom?”

“Oh. “He paused. “Okei.”

They both shrugged.

“So, about Akira.”

“What about him?”

He shrugged, leaning back in his seat.
“I don't know.”

“Then why ask?” He snapped.

“Whoa Nino!” He placed his hands gently down on the table. “How many coffees did you have?”

“Four! What's it to you?”

“Hongo snickered.

“You've had too much caffeine.”

“Don't tell me what I can and cannot have!”

Others in the café were looking now.

“Okei Nino. Just,” he took a breath. “Finish your coffee.”

he leaned back in his seat, tipping his cup back far. He finished his cup quickly.

“That's right.”

Hongo flinched as Nino slammed his cup down on the table.

Leaning over to Hongo, he whispered quietly.
“Well at least it’s not as bas as when he's drunk.”

He nodded.

“We should go Hon. People are staring.”

“Yeah.” He looked to Nino. “C’mon Nino. We’re going.”

“Fine, fine.” He stood up slowly. “Let’s go.”