Even so, we are living in the present

Chapter 37 – Surprise Attack

The following morning.

Both Kyosuke and Yuu went to school like any other day. However, before entering the classroom, Kyosuke came to a stop.

“Let’s stop by first year class, okay?”

“Eh?”

When Yuu paused in time with his partner, the words were met with a questioning tone.

“I just wondered how things are progressing.”

The corner of his mouth lifted subtly for reassurance, and he turned his toes in the direction of the first year class and proceeded on his way. Although Yuu had an expression of trying to convey that this was bothersome, he followed suit.

“… Ah!”

Peering through the door of the first year class, Ayana spotted them early on, raised her voice, and approached them.

“Yuka isn’t here yet.”

When they heard the words being before they could state their purpose, the two shared a look. Then there was no point in checking on her.

“I see, sorry for the disturbance.”

Kyosuke turned on his heel with Yuu following his lead. At this point, he figured that it would be awkward if Yuka came to school and they bumped into each other.

However, even if he would have waited, Yuka would not have shown up at school──

After school, while Kyosuke was striving for his club activities, Yuu was watching him.

No matter what, today’s school life was coming to an end, as it normally would.

Despite his anguish at the lingering mystery surrounding the letter, he was relieved to find nothing had occurred.

After club activities, the two of them returned home together.

In preparation for the sports festival, many students have been practicing for their participation in competitions during after-school club hours, leading to a spike in the number of students heading home at this time of the day.

Speaking of which, even Kyosuke is…

Yuu gazed at the profile of his dignified partner walking next to him. Even under the dim light, one can discern the neat features of his face.

“… Ah!”

His eyes made contact with his partner, who noticed his gaze, prompting him to reflexively avert his eyes forward. But that reaction would draw the other person’s pursuit.

“What’s wrong?”

As expected, the question was asked. Yuu paused for a moment with his glance ahead before beginning to utter his internal thoughts.

“Kyosuke… don’t you have to practice?”

“Eh? Ah, it doesn’t really matter.”

Kyosuke responded with a smile of composure, as if he could get his message across in the absence of the subject line.

“…”

No matter how athletically inclined he may be, how would he manage to do it in a spur-of-the-moment fashion? These doubts clouded Yuu’s expression.

“… Well, I’ll practice a little next week or so.”

Kyosuke answer, which Yuu judged to be unconvincing to the wordless appeal, followed as if to retract his prior statement. Occasionally, the streaming headlights would illuminate them both. Neither conversing nor needing to do so, they headed home in silence. As they entered the apartment building, Kyosuke finally spoke up.

“Ah, I’m starving.”

“Cook something then.”

Hearing the words returned with no pause, only a laugh escaped in the form of an exhaled breath.

“Sometimes, you can cook for me, Yuu.”

“Eh?”

Jokingly informing him, a listless, full-blown rebuttal resonated to Kyosuke, albeit verbally unspoken.

“Hahaha, you don’t have to be so averse to it.”

Yuu’s tone of voice and expression displayed such a stern refusal that he laughed aloud and returned the remark, searching his pockets for the front door key. However, he swiftly pulled his empty hands out of his pockets, his smile fading, and glanced back.

“…?”

Yuu, who was right behind him, stared at him in wonder and tilted his head. And from behind him, Kyosuke heard the sound of stepping on gravel, causing him to reflexively grip the other man’s shoulder.

“Uah…”

With a sudden grasp on his shoulder and a vigorous thrust of his back against the front door, a small moan emitted from Yuu’s mouth. Kyosuke stood in front of Yuha to confront the presence he felt by himself. His judgment proved to be correct, for a hooded figure rushed forward, carrying a knife in their grasp that reflected in the exterior light.

“─ ─ ─!”

There was a short, sickening sound that ripped through the flesh.

“Kyosuke!”

As if to persist, a scream-like cry rose up from Yuu.

“… Ku!”

The blade was aimed aggressively, and Kyosuke’s left arm caught it. While clenching his back teeth and enduring the pain, he still glared at the hooded figure, his expression contorted in bitterness from the unfamiliar searing sensation he was experiencing, with the knife still stuck in place and not moving an inch. Although the knife was small, measuring only about ten centimeters across, it was as acute as any other blade. It was deeply pierced, and seemed to be unlikely to be easily dealt with.

The long hair was sticking out from the hood. From the difference in height between the two of them, he recognized the assailant.

“… Okino… huh…”

When he asked her name in a distressed voice, her shoulders jerked up. However, she never took her hands away from the knife.

“…”

Her hands, gripping the knife, were trembling. As if the palm of her hands were glued to it, or shall it be said, “refusing to detach from it?”

“… What the hell are you thinking… Get your hands off me.”

As Kyosuke felt Yuu’s breathing disrupted behind him, he called out to Yuka again.

Yet, there was no response.

No good…

“Call the police, Yuu.”

“Ahh… I, I know.”

It was obvious even without looking back; Yuha was on the verge of tears. Against the enduring pain behind him, he frantically pulled out his smartphone and dialed the police. Amidst the tension, terror, and apprehension, Yuhu answered in a wavering voice to what the other end of the phone was inquiring him.

“… Yuu, you did a great job…”

Once the call ended, Kyosuke was extremely calm and exerted some words of encouragement.

Another cherished person was hurt.

Yuha no doubt must be thinking that.

While still not releasing her hands from the knife, he glared at the other party who remained silent, hoping that she would not draw the knife.

At the moment the edge was retracted, he would bleed profusely.

Beyond that, he didn’t even want to ponder.

Although he was able to protect Yuu, he did not want to die in exchange for it.

He would not want to give his partner any more sorrowful experiences.

Despite his desire to rest his body, the slightest movement of his arm caused him severe agony, rendering him incapable of moving.

Fortunately, only Yuu’s voice echoed, and the other residents were unaware of it.

No commotion was created.

That alone was a relief.

Please hurry up and arrive…

With the fresh warmth of his shirt soaked by blood, they waited for the arrival of the police vehicle for an awfully long time, a few minutes that were both quiet and unsettling for each of them.