A Birthday Wish

After hearing the endless knocks on my door, I sigh.

“He’s finally here, huh?”

It is about time he faces me. For a month have I been waiting for his arrival, and he couldn't have come at a better time.

I open the door, “Yes?”

“Please! Forgive me, Ayanokoji!” he screams.

This is the man that broke the peace in my and Suzune's relationship. The man who kindled this troublesome mess.

Sudo arrives at my door, with his hands and knees on the ground whilst crying aloud.

“Sudo...” I look at his pitiful state, “Come in. It will be noisy out here.”

2 minutes later

After calming himself down, he sat on the bed with a cup of tea in his hands. I stand in front of him after filling my share of tea into the cup.

“Hey, Ayanokoji. Are you mad at me?”

“Hm? Why would I be mad at you, I wonder.”

“I mean, you already know, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well... I don't wanna say it...”

“Then why did you crash into my room with tears on cheeks?”

“I thought you knew about it already, that's why I thought I'd better get out of hidin'...”

“But Sudo,” I crouch down in front of his eyes, “Can you really brush it off without atoning? Whatever it is you done, are you going to deceive me and live life as if nothing had happened?”

He narrows his eyes, “Then... I'll tell you. I... asked Koenji to beat you.”

“I can't hear you.”

“I said, I asked Koenji to beat you! Because of that, he went as far as setting the 3rd year dormitory on fire!”

“Hoh?”

He lowers his head.

“It's my fault for injuring the president’s leg! It's my fault Horikita was depressed! And it's my fault I caused you so much trouble!”

His eyes are brimming with guilt, as if it's not forgiveness he wants, but punishment. I’m sure the past me would inflict some sort of punishment, however, I’ll let him off the hook... with a favour.

“Sudo, you made Suzune cry several times...”

“I know...”

“She cried because you injured her brother...”

“I know...”

“And she was alone because I couldn't be there for her, because I was obliged to attend school.”

“I know...”

“Yet you want to be forgiven?”

“Yes... I’ll do anything...”

He wants the burden of guilt removed from his chest. The number of absences he's accumulated in the last month was because of this burden. I’m sure he came here for an answer that can free him of carrying this guilt.

And so, here's my answer:

“I forgive you,” I say, “But under one condition.”

“Huh?”

I look into his eyes.

“Protect Suzune.”

Sunday 20th October

The raindrops race down the window. I watch every single one as it falls into their death. Some raindrops merge and form a bigger raindrop, however, that resulted in a significantly painful death. Every raindrop on this window is a loser at the end.

"What am I doing?"

It's my first birthday whilst in this school, yet I am all alone?

I've never celebrated a birthday before. I never had friends that can give me presents, nor a family that can wish me a happy birthday. Just a bland childhood, filled with petty friends and a plastic father whom is the only person I can call family.

But maybe things will change. Now that Suzune will be here to be by my side, I wonder how things will turn out. Maybe we'll buy a cake, and some candles perhaps. And I heard the birthday boy blows the candles. Maybe I'll blow it with Suzune.

Then the birthday boy makes a wish.

Since I am in desperate need for it, I will make my wish right now.

"Please, now and forever, let me be with her-"

Suddenly, my phone vibrates. It is 6 AM in the morning when I receive this call.

"Hello?" I say.

[Kiyotaka, are you up?]

“I wouldn't have picked up the phone call if I were still asleep...”

It was Suzune on the other side of the phone.

[So? Have you completed what you left unfinished?]

“Yes. Just as I had hoped so, Sudo came back to me. I ordered him to deliver a letter to a certain person, and he did so successfully. Thanks to him, in more ways than I thought, I can proceed with the plan.”

[Oh? That's good to hear. Anyway, more importantly. Kiyotaka, Happy Birthday. Are you sure you don’t want a birthday kiss before you depart?]

“Thanks and, I'll be just about fine without it.”

[Then, I'll save it for later]

“Thank you.”

[But promise me you won't do anything reckless, right now. Otherwise, I won't let you go]

I had a feeling I was to find myself in this situation. In my eyes, I don't see anything reckless in this plan. However, there are those who view things differently than me, and one may conclude my forthcoming actions to be somewhat reckless. But that answer is not enough to please Suzune.

“It's not reckless, I promise you.”

I’ll just face the consequences, if there will be, in the future.

[Then, I believe you, Kiyotaka. Whatever it is you're doing, I trust you will be unscathed at the end]

I haven't told Suzune about the specifics of the plan. Only of what will happen at the end...

And that is, I will exclude Koenji...

I hang up after instructing her on what to do.

40 minutes later

I leave the house, surrounded by men from afar. One of the men walk up to me.

“Koenji is waiting on the rooftop. We will leave you two alone as you wanted, however, we will accompany Horikita in case of an illegal play or misconduct from your side, and we will do whatever Koenji orders us to do to her. Is that fine?”

Accompany Suzune in case I do anything daring, eh?

I would never disobey the rules set out for me, because I am not one who cheats.

“So are you saying you will crash into her room in case of my act of misconduct?”

“No, she is not in her room as of now. She seems to be out, shopping, most likely to buy something for you as it is your special day. However, we won't tolerate abuse of the trust and will act even if in public.”

“I see, I get it. Then, I’ll be off. Do not worry, if I do something, Koenji will surely notify you.”

“We were never worried, after all, we both know, since the start, that Koenji will win whatever it is you will do with him.”

Interesting.

20 minutes later

I open the door to the school rooftop, unseen by anyone. The gust of wind blows my face, with the gritty dust entering my eyes. Though, this won't affect anything that will happen in a few minutes.

After rubbing my eyes, I open them to see the figure of a man, posing himself to his enemy.

“Ayanokoji-boy! I've been waiting!”

I close the door behind me and lock it with the keys.

“No one saw me past my dorms, so we should be safe. Furthermore, the security cameras have been blocked off. As long as they hear that nothing has happened up here, they won't check it. Concealing our meeting on this rooftop will prevent any leak of our actions. Only your men know of this, other than that, we are fine.”

“Hoho! Impressive, Ayanokoji-boy!”

“I merely did what I wrote on the letter, that's all.”

Koenji walks toward me.

“Then, what will we be doing up here? I know I was the one who set this up, but I was also the one who gave you the choice to decide what we will do. So? Have you made up your mind, Koenji?”

He laughs, “Haha! Of course I have, and I’m sure you know what it is that I have decided!”

“Mind telling me to reassure myself?”

“Then, I’ll tell you.” He punches the palm of his opposite hand, “We will fight until one of us surrenders!”

"Figures..."

A fight, eh?

Still, I mustn't let my guard down.

Though the outcome is decided, the process is what will hurt the most.

Main account: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Diefeel

Another fight, huh? Urghhh this will be annoying. Fight scenes are hard to write out, because you need both the vision and the right description to make it come to life. Anyway, enough of that. This chapter was just a build-up for next chapter, which will be (hopefully) the last of the Koenji-saga. It may be around 2500 words, which is a lot. Or I might cut it down to around 1000 words, and split the chapter into a few. Either way, I doubt I will disappoint. Needless to say, I hope you enjoy the next few chapters of this fanfic :)

Thanks for reading!