Amatsuyu held a very complicated face as he stood by those rails Kaharu knew of so well, although Amatsuyu didn't hold his back against Kaharu. He faced him directly, displaying that face clearly for Kaharu to witness. An awkward silence took place as both just stood at each other. Kaharu waiting for him to start speaking, and Amatsuyu waiting for a response from Kaharu.

After a couple of seconds, Kaharu decided to just start walking towards the railing. As he reached it, he started speaking

"… So?

You're not gonna speak?

There was a lot that happened just a couple of minutes ago, including your whole charade. What happened to that?"

Amatsuyu, with a now very flat hairstyle, brushed his hair to the side as he said

"I'm not entirely sure myself of what happened, and I'm not sure what I'm feeling right now…

This… heavy feeling weighing on my heart. But I also feel calm, weirdly so."

Like the center of a storm, an odd calm stood. Despite everything around it raging on and destroying what comes across it, the middle of it stays calm and silent.

Amatsuyu expected his heart to be on that outside, but he had been given access to the middle, like getting into a luxury airline's lounge room for free. He felt guilty for it, but still appreciated the opportunity. Staying completely silent, Kaharu just looked at Amatsuyu as he decided to continue

"Kaharu, was your childhood, like, calm?"

There wasn't that much energy left in him to resist everything that came his way, so he responded

"I suppose so."

Amatsuyu smiled as he said

"Mine was too… or it was supposed to.

My parents are popular models, with stunning figures that people in the industry want for their covers and such. We were pretty rich because of that, and I never had to worry about getting proper food. But I guess that the flip-side of that was that since I always had to look at my parents, and the people that chased them, I always compared myself to others. My physique's never been like them, after all.

They always reassured me that it was fine, but it wasn't really. There was no way I'd be able to live up to the expectations put on me, in any way.

Maybe that's where it was born…

An insecurity"

Amatsuyu went on to tell a story about his childhood, leading up to the moment where he witnessed his love get torn away from him. Despite himself being a reason for it happening. The bitterness of that event truly made Amatsuyu unintentionally desire everything that was out of his hands, and envy those that even got a glimpse of that fantasy.

Kaharu also felt calm. He wasn't sure of what to think about anything. Ever since he saw what Amatsuyu did with the principal, there was a line of thought that pierced his mind:

- Amatsuyu is a good guy -

He wanted to purge that thought, as it clearly contradicted everything he'd battled against the past couple of days. The person he saw make moves, with honest intentions of killing him, couldn't possibly be good. That's what Kaharu reassured himself off, but the feeling prevailed. Resulting in a mixed state where he was also trapped in the middle of a storm, calm but with deadly undertones. Maybe there was something else that twisted Kaharu's hand into thinking that certain way.

His own sense of purpose.

If the person he'd been battling against for so much time, requiring so many resources from Kaharu, turned out to be a good person in the end. What was the point?

It felt meaningless, like he'd fought against a changing tide to just end up at the exact same point as before. Kaharu's forced thoughts of duty prevented him from appreciating or entertaining the thought. But he wasn't sure of the claim either way.

Amatsuyu looked down at the ground with a very somber look, the actions he had taken for the past couple of days flooded his mind. Delving so deep into his delusions that he desired to take control of every person he could to rid himself of his opponent. The thought of that pinged that heavy feeling, they seemed connected.

The question Kaharu had wanted to hear the least was uttered from Amatsuyu

"Am I perhaps a bad pers-------"

To prevent his own brain from having to consider the question, Kaharu quickly threw up his hand against Amatsuyu's and said

"Don't… say that right now."

As Amatsuyu remained quiet, Kaharu sighed in relief as he didn't have to think about the question. Amatsuyu thought to himself

- Kaharu, you…

You didn't want me to say it that much because you… care? -

Kaharu was about to open his mouth again to talk as the door behind him flung open, introducing a very upset-looking delinquent who stormed in with a hunched-over silhouette and a clear frown.

Kosuto Kokoru changed his pose completely and pointed with a very straight finger at the somber face of Amatsuyu Kougaku. He exclaimed loudly

"Amatsuyu, you pig…!

I've heard from students that you, at night in the middle of the city, picked up a bunch of girls and took them to love hotels and such!

How could you!?"

Amatsuyu got a temporary shock as he was reminded of his test runs, the ability-tests he'd do to try out his ability. They were always on cute girls he'd find at night in the busy center of town, to brag to his friends and fill his hollow heart.

Kaharu was instantly intrigued as he looked over at Amatsuyu quickly, as Kosuto continued speaking

"What'd you do when you brought them to the hotel? Have sex with them? Rape them? You not only dare to control this school, but also people in the public. What've you done to the people here at school!? The same!?"

The barrage of attacks hit Amatsuyu repeatedly as he sat on his knees with a sunken head, thinking through the stuff Kosuto had said.

Tensions built up as Kaharu found something negative to pin his conflicting thoughts against. A scapegoat that could solve his own problems, so he looked over at Amatsuyu with a judging face. Although he still stayed silent, not feeling any reason to raise his voice too much.

Amatsuyu grabbed the railing, and gripped it hard as distress washed over his mind. The luck he had with being in the center was over as the actual storm drew over him, making him confess loudly

"I'M WEAK!"

*Silence*

"I didn't do anything to them at all, I lacked any courage to do so.

I was too scared to actually do anything, so I just ended up sleeping at the hotel by myself…

I never had the will or strength to do anything to the girls here either…! Compared to her, it felt cheap to approach them..."

Tears were slowly draining down Amatsuyu's face, it was clear that it was something important to him. Kaharu was thrown into a loop again as the actual storm drew over him, no longer being able to rest blissfully in that middle-ground. Kosuto just adjusted his sleeve as he approached Amatsuyu, saying

"Like I believe that…!

You definitely did something!"

Amatsuyu closed his eyes again as Kosuto prepared to throw a punch, but Kaharu stopped his arm and looked into the eyes of Kosuto, saying

"Stop. He's telling the truth, these tears are real.

If you don't believe what he's saying, that tells me something of what you would do in his position, doesn't it Kosuto!? Think of your siblings."

Kaharu flashed a smirk as he said it, making Kosuto mildly irritated as he said

"Whatever, if you insist that much. Also, don't bring up my family again, or else"

As he started walking back to the box that brought him down, he said

"Oh yeah, our temporary alliance is now over as the enemy has been defeated. So expect no more mercy from now on, 'you ass'."

Kaharu clicked his tongue in disapproval as he whispered to himself

"bastard..."

Turning around to face the silent high school delinquent, Kaharu said

"You have it good, don't you?"

Amatsuyu looked up at Kaharu with an estranged face, his tears flooding down slowly. That Kaharu would label his suffering as a good thing struck him as more than odd. Could that be considered an assault on his character? But perhaps he deserved that hostility after what he'd done.

"Wha---"

"You may see what you've been unable to do as a weakness, because you constantly have the idea that you need to be bigger than life. That you need to follow the exact footsteps of your superstar parents. But Amatsuyu, your parents are together, aren't they? They aren't out chasing different partners every day, are they? So why do you?

The fact that you don't have that courage should be a good thing.

You're just compensating for not being able to be with that girl, whatever her name was.

Maybe that behavior is just here because of our colorful spring of youth is making everything around us blossom.

But Amatsuyu..."

Unable to breathe, Amatsuyu stared completely silently at Kaharu as he looked right into Amatsuyu's eyes with a slight smile. Kaharu's mind was occupied by thoughts of that previous conversation with the principal. The subtle mist that dragged over him, the stacks of paper, the desk he sat at, the chair; Everything.

Everything was so colorless.

Kaharu smiled once again as he said

"The Adult world is gray, so let's shine bright as long as we can.

Or let's just paint this colorless society with our colors."

Amatsuyu's eyes were filled with a strange hope as he looked at Kaharu, he realized that Kaharu actually cared about him in the end, thinking

- Kaharu, you really cared after all. You listened to my whole story, and the reason I'm in this state right now… is you…!

My brother…! -

Amatsuyu suddenly leaped forth as he screamed

"Brother Kaharu, you're my savior! You truly care about me!"

Kaharu stepped several steps back in surprise as he furrowed his brows, and said

"Whoa, what!?

Don't touch my uniform!"

Amatsuyu stood still, giving a salute, as he said

"Understood!"

Kaharu gave a deadpan frown as he thought to himself

- …?

What did I do…?

This could be meddlesome… -

Amatsuyu wore a bright smile as he said

"So, where are we going?"

Kaharu sighed as he said briefly

"To class. But if you wanna do something after school, wait by the gates then."

"I'll wait anywhere anytime for you, my brother"

"Shut up"

…

~ Friday, the eighteenth of October, 15:34 ~

"Naomi!"

Naomi Shirazawa turned around quickly as she heard the voice of Kaharu Kahari from behind her, her hair floating in the air as she did. With her hands around her bag, she looked into the distance, just behind those school gates, and caught sight of the sprinting delinquent.

Beside him was the student of Melliacci Tratto, forced along by Kaharu's forceful grip, he was wearing a confused and tired facial expression as he was brought forth.

"Yes…?"

Naomi answered as they approached her, Kaharu having a guilt-struck face as he looked over. As he looked at her, memories of that evening filled up his mind. He hadn't done anything, yet the very real intention he had to do it made his heart turn around in guilt. That was what he was going to fix that moment as they stood there, just outside of the gates that had defined his life the past couple of days. He looked over at Melliacci and asked

"You have free time right now, right?"

Melliacci scratched his cheek as he said

"Well, technically yeah, but----"

"Great."

Kaharu had only brought Melliacci along to fulfill the conditions he'd read in that notebook before, although he didn't mind it too much bringing him along.

He continued

"So, Naomi"

Naomi woke up from spacing out, staring at her two friends, and answered

"Ah, yes?"

Kaharu continued

"Let's go to that arcade, with Melliacci"

Naomi displayed a surprised but pleased face as she realized the situation. Being able to satisfy her own desires, she responded

"Yes, let's do it! I can clear that misunderstanding too!"

She displayed an expression of true joy as Kaharu smirked slightly. Not going back on his word from before, he looked over at the gates and caught the sight of another delinquent, and shouted out

"Amatsuyu! We're going to the arcade now, wanna come?"

The enemy that Kaharu had battled against so desperately, the enemy that had defined his past couple of days. The person who'd brought conflict to Kaharu's plate was now approaching them in a very friendly way. The ominous tangible feeling that hung over the school was gone, everything was normal.

Perhaps that wasn't the best, everything had returned to its previous state again. With Kaharu's normal peeves returned to display, but to change something for the better, it first needed to be in a neutral and stable state.

Kaharu thought to himself

- I guess it's fine like this -

He then said, as he brought out his wallet

"I'll pay for this thing"

Melliacci eyed the money as he commented

"How'd you get ahold of that money? Illegal stuff?"

"You--- This is legitimately earned money…! Legitimate!"

Amatsuyu approached them as they started walking towards their destination, Melliacci commenting

"Another delinquent?"

Kaharu sighed as he presented him

"Kinda. This is Amatsuyu, he's my… I don't know, it's kinda compli---"

"Brother!"

"Not that..."

Melliacci ignored that as he continued with

"Anyway, you sure this is fine? What about the shrine?"

Kaharu waved his hand in the air as he commented

"It's fine, the old man there told me yesterday that I could have today off."

Both Naomi and Amatsuyu suddenly commented

"You work at a shrine…!?"

"Well, yeah..."

Amatsuyu's mind filled up with ideas as they continued walking in the setting sun. Behind them laid Akumu High School, the center-stage of what had been a sudden coup d'etat. A conquest of power to fulfill one goal, controlling every student there. But with the surrender of that power, a normal had been established once again on the school grounds.

Kaharu looked back quickly as he smiled to his own accomplishments.

…