Shiko starts couching and suddenly sits up straight, she feels sweaty but rested, she looks around to see she's in her room, it's sunny outside, her clothes are changed and Kuro is sitting on a chair across Shiko's bed, eyes closed. Her eyes open wide as she looks around with confusion; trying to grasp the situation, she checks her phone to see the date
Shiko: "Friday!? And it's 11:00AM!? I slept through half the day... I don't even remember last night..." she holds her head and lightly coughs, Kuro opens his eyes and gets up when he notices Shiko's awake
Kuro: Morning sleepyhead... He puts his palm on Shiko's forehead, she gets a little pink
Thank god your fever is down. You're still a little red but that's probably my fault eh? He smirks a little, Shiko's eyes open wide and she immediately looks away, Kuro giggles and ruffles Shiko's hair, he sits back where he was before
Shiko: W-What happened to me...? She asks and slowly looks back at Kuro
Kuro: You passed out in front of the council room after meeting the YNTK. You had a fever and it was late so I brought you here and looked after you. Shiko looks at her changed clothes and gets a little red
Shiko: D-Did you...? Kuro giggles and shakes his head no
Kuro: I called Aiko here last night so she could change your clothes. She was tired so she didn't stay with you and left with a smirk. I did sleep against your desk though. Don't know if that's okay with you? Shiko lets out a sigh of relief and lightly smiles
Shiko: Of course that's fine. Thank you... for looking after me. Kuro stretches his arms and smiles once again
Kuro: It's the least I could do. I didn't expect you to pass out from meeting the guys but its partly my fault since I was the one who allowed you to meet them in the first place. He cracks his neck a little
Aiko got your key from your bag last night by the way. It's on your desk. I didn't want to go through your stuff. Shiko lightly smiles and nods. She slowly looks down
Shiko: Yesterday was...stressful... Kuro nods
Kuro: It was but the stress is over now. Like they said; they can't do anything to you with me around. So generally what did you think of their personalities? He asks, curious, Shiko looks at him
Shiko: If... I didn't know they were murderers... I'd say they're good people... she says hesitantly and averts her eyes, Kuro sighs
Kuro: Murderer sounds a little harsh. Maybe that works for Nin but even if they've killed some people, I wouldn't consider Tsu and Yami murderers. You met them yourself. I understand Yami but you should know Tsu was mature and kind even to you who he didn't know... Shiko looks at him, kinda blue
Shiko: How are you so comfortable after knowing what they've done..? I asked you this already I know but... I just can't do the same... Kuro rolls his eyes
Kuro: I warned you. I have my reasons. If you leave a small part of their past out of the picture, they're good people generally. The work we do together is important. Shiko gets up and sits on her desk, she turns to Kuro
Shiko: Is your work legal..? Kuro averts his eyes
Kuro: You met the YNTK that is a very big secret. You always wanted to know more about what situation I'm in. However you already know too much and I can't tell you any more than we already have... Shiko sighs and smiles slightly
Shiko: If... I do put their pasts aside... they don't seem half bad... Kuro smiles a little and slowly nods
Yami-San though... Is still very scary... she nervously giggles
Though him being your cousin really does explain a lot about some of your similarities. Kuro shucks his shoulders
Kuro: Not all cousins are alike. Can't say me and Yami are completely different though. In any case; if you look past his aggression and appearance I guess he's fine? He doesn't really express a lot even when it's just us four. Shiko slowly nods, showing she understands
Do you think you dare come practice fighting with us anytime? Or at least come to watch? Shiko thinks and turns to her desk, her back facing Kuro
Shiko: I... don't think my heart is ready for that anytime soon. She opens her diary and notebooks and starts writing
I have oh so much to think about... I can't believe Zen A. Knows Ningyo... and the story was based on someone in real life! Kuro looks at the window from where he's sitting
Kuro: Yea... I thought it was interesting too. Shiko puffs her cheeks as she continues writing
Shiko: You don't sound interested it all though! Kuro gets up and stand behind her, she starts to ruffle Shiko's hair
Kuro: And you don't seem interested in getting out of your room now that your good. Classes are still going on you know. I missed all my favorite classes for you! Literature, Reading and writing! He takes his hand away, Shiko lifts her head from her diary and notes to look at Kuro, she averts her eyes
Shiko: I'm sorry... you really didn't have to stay. But thank you that you did. I am really lost in my thoughts today... you can go to your classes. I'll probably take a shower, change and write my heart out. She says hesitantly
I-Is that okay..? Kuro lightly smiles
Kuro: Sure... Suit yourself. See you later then. He gets his stuff and silently gets out of the room
Shiko writes, she writes a lot. About the past few days and how she feels now. About so many of the things she learned. About this and that. She spends a little over two hours doing so and when she finishes, she tidies up the room a little and makes her bed. She takes a shower and changes, when she looks at the time after everything; she sees that it's almost 4PM and hesitantly texts her mother to ask when she'll be coming over but doesn't get an early reply so she then decides to get out a get some food. After all, she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday's afternoon. Classes are just about ending so she quickly heads to the outer cafeteria to eat there. She sits down after getting her food and drinks, not many students are close by so she once again finds herself in thought
Shiko: "I feel like this week went by so slow yet so fast at the same time..."
After slowly finishing her meal, she sees Aiko and Haru coming in the school cafe, they see Shiko and sit in front of her, looking a little exited
Aiko: Feeling better? She says with a smile, Shiko nods
Haru: I heard you met the Black Yamiza~ Did they drug you? Kuro barely said anything. I mean even I don't know much about them anyway he puffs his cheeks, Shiko averts her eyes
Shiko: I...did drink water there but I doubt it was drugged. They assured me on that. Plus I'm pretty sure I just got too stressed and somehow ended up with a fever. She nervously laughs a little, Haru shucks his shoulders
Haru: In any caaaase! To change the conversation, we have an idea!~ he giggles, Shiko looks at them confused, Aiko smirks
Aiko: We haven't convinced the council yet obviously but we feel like they might allow it... Shiko looks at them both and lightly giggles
Shiko: Mind telling me what you're talking about first? Haru smirks and looks at Aiko, Aiko clears her throat with a light cough
Aiko: WE, want to have a School Karaoke Competition! It's done in many schools already, it would be fun and we would see different sides of many different people! Music isn't seen as important in this school by many but the ones who don't join could just watch and try to enjoy~ Haru giggles
Haru: I'm sure we could convince my brother. After all; it's a chance for people to humiliate themselves and be made fun of later. At least in his eyes. I'd join the competition too~ So would Aiko and so could you! You can show you're strong side to the students! Shiko's eyes open wide and she quickly shakes her head no while making an X with her arms
Shiko: N-No way! I have stage fright... I only just recently started getting used to a few people watching me... Plus Haru... you saying it's a chance to be humiliated really doesn't make it better... she averts her eyes, Aiko holds one of her hands
Aiko: We could practice together! You're strong and I know you can be stronger. We could convince Kuro to join the competition too! I have a perfect song for you to sing. I think if we played our cards right, you could even win! She says excitedly, Shiko hesitantly takes her hand away
Shiko: I...doubt it. Even if miraculously we made the competition happen and I won, I'd just be hated and bullied even more... Haru quickly shakes his head no
Haru: Don't think of it as a simple song! The words of the song would show on screen, if you also find the sound to resonate with you, you could show how you feel to the students and they could second themselves about their opinions of you! If you agree, I'll convince Kuro and he can discuss it with my brother this weekend! If we did the competition; it would be in like a month or so anyway, right after the exams would be perfect!~ Shiko looks as if she's starting to get a little uncomfortable
Shiko: You guys are speaking as if I already agreed... I really don't think I can do this... she says kinda silently
Aiko rolls her eyes and gets her earphones from her pocket. She puts the earphones on Shiko and opens a song, a few seconds into the song, Shiko turns her face to Aiko and Haru, while looking down. The words really do feel close to her. Even though there are a few swears here and there; the meaning actually resonates with Shiko. The vocal range also sounds like it would be comfortable for her. Slowly the song ends.
The song is "Show & Tell" by Melanie Martinez
Haru: The Show & Tell Nagisa and the others did was the thing that untimely "ruined" you. He says with a light smirk
Aiko: Kinda Ironic isn't it?~ she says with a big smirk, Shiko slowly nods
Sooooo...
Aiko & Haru: What do you Think? They say at the same time, Shiko hesitantly opens her moth to reply
Shiko: I... wanna sing this....... but I'm still afraid to be in front of so many people...... she says silently, Aiko's smirk turns into a smile
Aiko: We'll work on that together. So, do you agree? Shiko thinks for a bit and hesitantly nods, Haru and Aiko start giggling and high five. They slowly get up
Haru: Well then~ I gotta do my part and convince Kuro to make this happen!~ See ya on Monday~ he waves and runs off, Aiko giggles and looks at Shiko
Aiko: I'm happy you agreed. We'll talk about this more later. I have to go to swimming practice now. She face palms
I still can't believe I'm saying this... she giggles and runs off
Shiko waves behind them and takes a moment to take in all that happened, just then; her mom messages her back about when she'll be picked up. She gets up from the cafe and heads to her room to get her stuff. In about two hours she's in front of the gate and gets picked up and dropped at her home. She respectfully greats her family, gives Hikari a big hug and silently goes up to her room. She face plants onto her bed
Shiko; My head feels heavy... I feel like I've been in thought all week yet I have so much more to think about... she rolls over on her back
I've never had such an eventful time at school... It hasn't even been that long since school started... I wonder if it's just because I'm not used to this... she rests her arm on her forehead, also covering her eyes
"Before I only worried about keeping my grades in somewhere my family wouldn't get mad and staying alive against my bullies..." she sits up straight
Nagisa didn't mess with me in a while... she glances at her bag at the end of her bed and stretches towards it to get her notebook inside, she gets it and lays her back against her pillow
"I hope she's not planing something again..."
She sighs
"There's the Karaoke competition to think about, everything that happened with the YNTK and Kuro's view of them... as well as Zen A. writing about Ningyo..." She rubs the side of her head
Ugh.... no matter how much I think, nothing feels clear... she sighs and hears a notification on her phone, she cheeks it. It's a message from Kuro
Kuro: "So you're cool with this Karaoke Competition thing?"
Shiko lightly smiles
Shiko: "I was just thinking about it..."
"You know I have stage fright... to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm comfortable enough... I gave the okay to Aiko and Haru. Plus I'd really like to sing the song they showed me... But I don't know..."
Kuro: "You shouldn't feel forced."
"But If you do want to sing that song, we can practice just like they said. We can practice in your music room at your house or at the one at school. I know you're strong enough"
"We can start by first showing it to me, Haru, Aiko, the YNTK and our nurse Haruna-San. If you tackle that hurdle I'm sure you could tackle the school."
Shiko looks at the phone suprised, she gulps and waits a bit before replying
Shiko: "I... think YNTK alone would be scary..."
"(O_O)"
Kuro: "Well I'm with them right now. We're on a break. They say they'd be okay sitting on the back of the room and listening. Nin is trying to convince Yami to smile if they come to watch you."
Shiko lightly giggles after slight suprise, her phone rings, It's Kuro and she quickly opens, it's Ningyo's voice
Over the Phone;
Nin: "Hey kitty, I have an idea~ Why don't we come over to your house to help you practice there~ We can play instruments and Tsu is great at teaching too!~" Kuro tries to snatch his phone back but Nin dodges him, Shiko freezes after hearing Nin's voice. She takes a deep breath.
Shiko: I'm sorry Ningyo but I'm not comfortable letting people I just met into my house under the same roof as my overprotective family. Especially since i know you've all done... she gulps stuff...
Tsubasa snatches the phone from Nin
Tsubasa: "Tsubasa speaking. I deeply apologize for Nin's stupidity. He knows when to be mature but right now he's kind of thinking of you like a toy. Kuro will teach him a lesson soon." Shiko Hears Nin and Kuro arguing and the sound of shirts ruffling and hesitantly smiles very lightly
"I do think practicing with us would help you though. So since we don't have our instruments here, maybe we should practice in the music hall of the school. First you can get used to just the YNTK and then we can add your friends in the mix. If you conquer those two rounds you will surely be okay up on stage." Shiko thinks and sighs
Shiko: Okay... now can I please speak to Kuro...? Tsubasa Hund in agreement and shoves the phone in Kuro's hand
Kuro: "Got the phone. Sorry..." Shiko Hums in agreement
Shiko: We'll work hard over the next few months. Now I'm pretty sure you guys wouldn't take a break for this long... so you better get going to not let work pile up... Yami shouts from the side of the council room
Yami: "Code Yellow. No time for playing. Get to work! Now now now!" He sounds on edge and his deep voice even spreads fear through the phone. Shiko puts her fist next to her heart, stressed
Kuro: "Gotta go. Bye..." he hangs up
Shiko closes her phone and keeps taking deep breaths, she looks at her notebook
Shiko: I don't think I'll write today... a light knock is heard on the door, Hikari hesitantly comes in, Shiko smiles lightly at her
Hikari: W-Was it Kuro?~ she asks hesitantly with glistening eyes and slowly gets closer to Shiko's bed, Shiko nods and patpats next to herself on the bed. Hikari crawls next to her.
Shiko: Want to listen to the story of the Four Princes of Darkness..? She says tiredly with a light smile
Hikari nods in excitement and lays there with smile, anticipating her sisters story. Shiko lightly giggles and lets out a breather
Shiko: The story takes place in a world similar to ours. And happens between Four men on different sides of their country with similar beliefs...
The Dark Blue Prince "Yami..."
The Dark Red Prince "Tsubasa..."
The Dark Green Prince "Ningyo..."
And The Black Prince... "Kuro... not that he's the darkest... but his name... just makes sense..." Hikari slowly nods
Hikari: Is the black prince the meanest...? She asks curiously. Shiko slowly shakes her head no
Shiko: He's the nicest... this is their story...
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