Chapter Text
“Tell me something? Like what?”
Tasuku asked while staring at Izumi with a confused look. Hearing Tasuku's words, Izumi suddenly felt doubtful, why? Why is she hesitating now? She already said that she want to tell something to Tasuku, but now she feels doubtful? “I ... I ...” again, something like this happened. Not a single word came out from her lips, cold sweat poured down from Izumi's forehead. Damn, why at a time like this she feel doubtful? She had felt very confident before, but now she couldn't even say a word.
Why?
Why I can't say anything?
It's hard to say, and, why? Izumi's throat was choked, as if something was holding her back, she even felt like she could no longer make a sound. However, Tasuku stared at her with a look that demanded an explanation, if Izumi stayed silent for too long, Tasuku might be suspicious and Izumi didn't know what to do if that happened. Hesitantly putting on an awkward smile, Izumi glanced at Tasuku and then said.
“I… thought… I love you, Takatoo-san. Haha.”
Izumi could see Tasuku dropping the pen he was holding at first. 'Damn, I said something that even more weird.' Izumi cursed herself, how could she say something so reckless and absurd like that! Look, now Tasuku is looking at her with disgust. It kind of irritated Izumi, irritated her a bit, to be honest. “What?!” He didn't shout, but the tone of his words sounded angry. Izumi then laughed awkwardly. “J-Just kidding! It’s just a joke, Ahaha..., please forget about that, please. " Izumi said with an awkward tone, if possible, Izumi wanted to disappear right now. Tasuku then took his pen that had fallen from the floor and then looked at Izumi with a sharp gaze. "Your joke isn't funny!" good, now it looks like Tasuku is angry at Izumi's behavior. That man then left Izumi's room in a hurry, Izumi briefly heard that Tasuku seemed to be cursing her.
Izumi could only sighed restlessly. Again, she failed to tell Tasuku about the things that had been haunting her. Shaking her head slowly, Izumi then decided to finish her food which was starting to get cold.
Tasuku walked into a small cafe with hurried steps, he then immediately grabbed the knob of the cafe's entrance, opened it and walked straight in. Leaving the sound generated by the bell, is located above the cafe entrance. Tasuku's gaze then looked at a dark blue-haired man with bright blue irises, the man seemed to be cleaning something before finally turning his gaze towards Tasuku while putting on a cute smile.
“Tacchan?” called him, calling Tasuku by his first name. The name he used to say when they were kids. Tasuku replied with a faint smile. “Hey, Tsumu.” Tasuku greeted him while walking towards one of the round tables where there was an empty chair, then took a sitting position right on the chair. That man, Tsukioka Tsumugi, then did the same thing as Tasuku. “What’s wrong? It's still your working hours, right? You don't usually come here.” Tsumugi said while giving Tasuku a glass of warm tea, Tasuku accepted the glass happily before finally looking at Tsumugi with an annoyed face.
“Something pissed me off at the hospital.”
Tsumugi chuckled softly. “Oh, really? What is that?” Tsumugi asked while looking at Tasuku with a sweet smile. Tasuku who heard that sighed restlessly, he then drank the hot tea in a hurry, slightly slamming the glass on the table. Luckily it didn't break. Then put on a face that showed an expression of disgust. “There's someone who confessed her feelings to me.” Tsumugi fell silent, looked at Tasuku with a surprised look, then chuckled. “Someone confessed to you? Isn't that a good thing?” Tsumugi imagined that Tasuku would put on a shy face, but the Dark Green-haired man instead had a strange expression, like an expression of hatred for something. Tasuku did not answer Tsumugi's words.
“What do you think, if someone says 'I love you' and then she says it's just a joke?”
To be honest, Tsumugi was a little confused by what Tasuku said, but as much as possible Tsumugi tried to answer him. “Maybe she was actually telling the truth, but because she felt embarrassed, she said it was just a joke.” Tsumugi replied with a sweet smile, he then looked at Tasuku, but all he saw was Tasuku who had an expression like someone who wanted to vomit.
Tsumugi laughed awkwardly. “W-What's with that expression, Tacchan?”
She sighed.
How many times has she done that? There have been many, many.
Izumi really didn't understand what caused her to be speechless, unable to tell the things that had been haunting her mind to Tasuku. Even though last night she was very confident, but when she wanted to do it, she failed. Not a word came out of her mouth, but a word that was even more weird. “I hope he's not angry.” Angry? Is he mad, huh? It was clear that Tasuku's expression had shown a feeling of anger, moreover, he was looking at Izumi with a look of disgust. That, slightly offended Izumi to be honest, but that doesn't mean Izumi doesn't understand Tasuku's feelings.
It is reasonable.
That's natural, right?
Or not? Whatever. Izumi didn't want to care, there were more important things now. She can apologize to Tasuku later when she has time, the woman is now in the back garden of the hospital, sitting on a wooden chair near a shady tree, breathing the cool air while feeling the gentle breeze. Until, someone's existence caught Izumi's attention. Not so far from her existence, Izumi could see Homare who seemed to be talking to one of the patients who had an old face, an old woman to be more precise.
Izumi looked silently at the man with dark purple magenta hair, then thought, ‘Why don't I just try telling Homare? Maybe he could help me.’ To be honest that wasn't a bad idea, indeed, Izumi actually felt a little strange about Homare's character, even more so the words that guy put out for her, but still, doesn't mean he's a bad person right? He's just attracted to her, it's not like he's going to hurt her or anything, he just has a slightly weird personality, and maybe it's not a bad thing if she tries to tell Homare about the thing that's been haunting her all this time.
Izumi's gaze then found Homare who was staring at her with a big smile while waving his hand, Izumi just replied with a small smile as she got up from the wooden bench she was sitting on then walked closer to Homare. That man, greeted her with a friendly smile. “I thought you were going to avoid me.” He said, in a tone half joking, Izumi chuckled softly. “Because of what you said to me? Or is it because you are attracted to me? Ah, of course both. But, take it easy. I'm not the type to stay away from someone just because he said something weird.” Izumi explained, while looking at Homare with a gentle gaze. “Honestly, thanks to your words, I got a little answer. You might be right, maybe I haven't been sick so far.” She continued.
Izumi shortened her distance from Homare slightly, it seemed that the man didn't take a step back. Just silent. “If that's true, then something happened to me. You're also curious about that, aren't you?” Hearing Izumi's words, Homare looked at her with an amazed look, a cute smile clearly visible on his face. That man then laughed loudly, then looked at Izumi with a look that was difficult to decipher.
It's not cold, nor gentle.
That's just a casual sight, but it implied a hidden emotion there.
“You're really smart, I'm even more fascinated with you.” Homare said while placing his right hand on his chest, he bowed slightly, as if giving a respectful greeting politely. However, Izumi was just staring at him with a casual look, there was no feeling of confusion or interest in Homare's actions. “Is there something you want to say to me?” Homare then asked, and Izumi nodded. She then gestured for Homare to bring his face closer to her. Although a little confused, Homare still does it.
Izumi then brought her face closer to Homare's left ear, then whispered softly. “Please, when you hear this don't let your surprised expression show clearly.” Her tone sounded serious, hearing that, Homare just nodded. “A few days before, I actually received some papers, no, letters might be more appropriate. Letter...., strange letter. Because it contains a threat. Threats, yes, threats, for me.” Izumi was silent for a moment, Homare who heard that was naturally surprised. But as much as possible he didn't show it clearly. The man didn't answer anything, not intending to interrupt Izumi's words. So, Izumi continued.
“I can't show you the letter, I already tore it up because I was annoyed about it. But, it looks like I was threatened. Can you help me, Homare-san?” Her tone sounded very pleading, a little desperate. “Maybe, this has something to do with the Aconite flower.” Izumi then took her face away from Homare, then looked at the man with dark purple magenta hair with a pleading look. However, Homare was instead staring at Izumi with a worried look, there was also a hint of panic to be honest.
Weird.
However, Izumi decided to ignore it. Slowly, Homare then said. “Why didn't you tell me this sooner?!” His tone sounded angry, and Izumi then looked at Homare with a confused look. When the woman was about to answer, Homare's words made Izumi stop her intentions. “Now go back to your room, please. Let me take care of this matter.” After saying that, Homare immediately walked away leaving Izumi who was staring at him with a confused look.
However, to be honest, Izumi also felt a little strange about herself. It was so easy for him to tell this to Homare, but why was it so difficult when he tried to tell this to Tasuku? It was as if something was holding her back, and Izumi was a little clueless about that.
Whether this was good or not, Izumi didn't know.
Most importantly, Izumi hoped that Homare could really help her.