Dead Man's Tales: HSOTD

Takashi glanced over at the empty desk, his eyes narrowing as if he could will her into appearing just by staring hard enough. It had been sixty-four days since Rei stopped coming to school. sixty-four days of hearing nothing from her, of watching her friends act like everything was fine, like she hadn't just vanished. She hadn't even answered his last messages—not even a single-word reply.

He'd tried asking a few people about her at first. Mostly the girls who sometimes hung around her, but they just gave him the same useless shrug, all fake sympathy and quick glances away. "I'm sure she's fine, Takashi," they'd say, but he could see the pity in their eyes. It made his skin crawl. They didn't get it. They didn't know her like he did.

Rei's absence felt like a hollow ache, one that gnawed at him in quiet moments, creeping in when he wasn't paying attention. She was supposed to be here, at her desk, with that same half-smile she always gave him when he passed by, even if she tried to act like she didn't care. She was supposed to be here, with him, where he could watch over her. But instead, she was… what? Sitting at home? Hiding from him?

No, he thought, shaking his head. She wasn't hiding. That wasn't like Rei. She was probably sick or hurt, something she'd never admit to because of her pride. She didn't want people to worry about her. But that was the thing—Takashi was different. He was allowed to worry about her. She was his responsibility. She was the promise he'd made a long time ago, back when they were just kids, and he swore to protect her from anything and everything. He'd never break that promise. Not like everyone else in his life.

Takashi clenched his jaw, fingers tightening around the strap of his bag. If she would just talk to him, everything would be fine. He'd remind her of their promise, the one they'd made under that old oak tree on the hill outside town. The memory washed over him, vivid as if it had happened yesterday—her small hand in his, her solemn eyes, her whispered, "You'll always protect me, right, Takashi?"

Always, he'd told her. And he meant it.

But lately, it felt like Rei had forgotten. Like she was slipping through his fingers, drifting into a world where he couldn't reach her. It wasn't fair. He'd been there, watching out for her, always stepping in when she needed him, whether she realized it or not. That time he punched that guy in middle school for talking about her, the countless times he'd "just happened" to walk her home, making sure she got there safely. And she just… pretended not to notice. Like none of it mattered.

A voice interrupted his thoughts, pulling him back to the classroom.

"Takashi. Are you even listening?"

He blinked, realizing the teacher was staring at him, her eyebrows raised in irritation. The rest of the class had turned to look at him, some smirking, others whispering. Takashi forced a polite smile, muttered an apology, and shifted his gaze to the textbook in front of him, pretending to read. But his mind was already drifting back to Rei.

He couldn't stand this. The waiting, the not knowing. Every day she didn't show up was like a slap in the face, like she was deliberately ignoring him, ignoring their promise. The thought made his blood simmer, his hands balling into fists under the desk. She had to have a reason for doing this. Something was keeping her from him, and he would find out what.

Because if there was one thing Takashi knew, it was that she needed him. Whether she understood that or not.

And if someone was keeping her away, if someone was turning her against him—well, he'd deal with that, too.

Takashi leaned back against the rooftop railing, his gaze drifting aimlessly over the city skyline as the muffled sounds of the school filtered up. He had skipped most of his classes today, just like he had for the past few weeks. It wasn't like anything they taught here mattered anyway. The world felt strange and hollow without Rei around. Pointless, even.

He clenched his fists, jaw tightening. Ever since that black bastard had appeared in her life, Rei had changed. She wasn't herself anymore. She used to be so sure, so steady, and now she was slipping away, turning colder, acting distant. And after that night at the theater, when everything exploded? Kozen just disappeared, like the coward he was. Vanished, as if he'd known what was coming. Oh, if he'd seen him the next day, he would've taught him a lesson. That's all Kozen needed—a reminder of where he stood.

He closed his eyes, grinding his teeth. He'd even tried confronting Rei, one last attempt to reach her, to shake some sense into her. But then that fat bastard Kohta had stepped in, dragging his bulk in between them like some kind of shield. That idiot didn't know when to back off either. And the way he'd slammed Takashi with that chair—his back was still sore from it. Just remembering the impact sent a pulse of pain through his spine, a bruise both on his body and his pride.

And Hisashi… that hurt most of all. 

They'd been friends forever, close enough to call each other brothers. But ever since that night, Hisashi had grown quiet, withdrawn, and unresponsive whenever Takashi brought up Rei or the incident. He'd start conversations about sports or grades, anything but what had happened. Takashi could feel him slipping away, avoiding eye contact, keeping his responses short. He knew Hisashi was sick of hearing about Rei, sick of hearing him complain, but it still felt like betrayal. He thought Hisashi would back him up, stand by his side. But now? It was like he'd lost him too, all because of Kozen.

Frankly, it was all that guy's fault. If only he hadn't shown up, everything would still be fine. Rei wouldn't be avoiding him. Hisashi wouldn't be so distant. And Takashi would still feel like he had a purpose.

He yawned, the warm afternoon sun lulling him into a dull haze. Maybe if he slept, he could shake off this gnawing feeling, even if only for a moment. As he closed his eyes, leaning his head against the cool rooftop wall, his mind drifted, replaying memories of him and Rei as kids, laughing, running, promising things that felt so simple and solid back then.

When he finally woke up, he found that school was over, the once-crowded hallways of the school now silent. He blinked, his mind foggy, the weight of the day settling on him as he dragged himself to his feet. He'd missed the whole school day, and for a moment, he thought about going home, but… what was waiting for him there? Just more emptiness.

The halls felt unsettlingly quiet, each step echoing against the walls. Rows of lockers stretched out in shadowed lines, the fluorescent lights casting a dim, lifeless glow on the scuffed tiles beneath his feet. The place had an eerie stillness to it, like it was holding its breath, watching him. It was a strange thing, seeing the school like this, so empty and abandoned, without the noise of classmates or the shuffle of teachers hurrying between rooms. For the first time, it felt… lonely.

And then, as he reached the main corridor, he stopped in his tracks.

There she was.

At first, he wasn't even sure it was her. She was walking down the hall with a confidence he didn't recognize, her shoulders squared, her gaze focused straight ahead. She looked… sharper, somehow. More defined. Her posture was different, her movement more controlled, like each step was calculated, precise. It was as if she'd shed the softness he remembered, replaced by a quiet, almost dangerous strength.

She was dressed simply, but there was something about her presence that felt off, something that told him she wasn't the same Rei who used to sit with him at lunch, laughing about nothing. There was a steely edge to her eyes, a sense of purpose in the way she walked. It almost looked like she had changed physically, her body leaner, her arms and shoulders stronger, her jaw set with a quiet determination that he didn't remember ever seeing before.

Takashi's throat went dry, his heart pounding. He wanted to call out to her, but the words stuck in his throat. She didn't glance his way, didn't even notice him standing there, watching as she moved toward the principal's office, her focus unwavering.

Who was she? This wasn't the Rei he knew, the girl he'd promised to protect.

"What are you doing here, young man?"

Takashi turned, coming face-to-face with the principal, who was somehow looking even larger than he remembered. The man's shirt strained against his belly, his face slightly flushed, as if every breath was an effort. Takashi remembered overhearing rumors that he'd been stress eating. Guess the rumors weren't wrong.

"Oh, uh, I was waiting for my friend," Takashi mumbled, eyes flicking to Rei. She was standing just behind the principal, her expression unreadable. There was nothing in her gaze—no recognition, no warmth. Just an emptiness that sent a chill down his spine.

The principal snorted. "Mrs. Miyamoto, is this boy with you?" 

Rei turned her head slowly, her eyes settling on Takashi. There was no flicker of emotion, no hint of the girl he'd once known. She looked at him as if he were a stranger, a minor inconvenience.

"Some thug who probably slept in the school, principal," she said, her voice as cold and flat as her gaze.

Takashi felt his chest tighten, the words cutting deeper than he'd expected. He wanted to respond, to tell her he wasn't some random "thug," that he'd been waiting for her, that he cared. But the principal cut him off before he could open his mouth.

"Takashi, wasn't it?" The principal sighed, as if this conversation were costing him precious energy. "Go home. School's over, and you've got no business here."

Takashi frowned, trying to understand what was happening. He'd seen Rei come here hundreds of times, but this was different. "But… Why's she here? What's going on?"

"None of your concern," Rei said, her tone clipped, dismissive. 

The principal shot him an irritated glance and waved a pudgy hand, shooing him away. "Come on now, don't make me call security. I need to get Mrs. Miyamoto registered."

"Registered?" Takashi repeated, his confusion growing. "What does that mean?"

The principal rolled his eyes. "That's official business, Boy, which, let me remind you, is not your concern. Now go. Home. Now."

Takashi bit back his questions, glancing once more at Rei. She didn't even glance his way, didn't acknowledge him as anything more than an annoyance. There was a coldness to her, a hardness he hadn't seen before, and it gnawed at him, filled his stomach with a strange, twisting dread.

Reluctantly, he turned and walked down the hallway, glancing back only once. Rei had already turned away, heading into the principal's office without a second look.

Takashi found himself outside, his feet dragging as he lingered by the entrance, leaning against the gate as he waited. He couldn't leave. Not now. Not when she was finally here.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, staring at the front doors, waiting for her to come out.

Takashi found himself lingering in the school parking lot, kicking a loose pebble around as he waited, his patience fraying with each passing minute. The sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows over the near-empty lot. Only two vehicles were left: a single car and a sleek black motorcycle, polished and gleaming like it had been freshly taken off the lot. He barely registered the bike at first—until he saw her.

Rei was moving toward it, helmet in hand, her steps steady, assured. The bike was a beauty—matte black with chrome accents, the kind of ride that looked both stylish and dangerous. He never would have pictured Rei with something like that. She used to barely even glance at motorcycles. Now here she was, moving with practiced ease, like it was just another extension of herself.

"Wow, I didn't know you drove," Takashi called out, putting on a smile as if everything was fine, as if the last few months hadn't happened. To him, it was nothing. He'd convince her. A husband and wife argue sometimes, right? They fight, they forgive. It's what couples do.

Rei didn't even look up as she started unfastening the lock securing the bike. "It's not mine," she said flatly, "it's Kozen's."

Takashi felt his stomach drop. Kozen? Kozen? The bastard had been out of sight for months, and Rei had said nothing about him all this time. She was just… borrowing his bike now? Like they were close?

His mind reeled. Why was she with Kozen? Why was she driving his bike? A bitter taste filled his mouth, bile rising as he tried to piece it all together. The jealousy twisted in his gut, gnawing at him, clouding his thoughts. So that's where she's been? He thought. With him?

And as if she could see right through him, Rei glanced up, eyes cold and assessing. "I've been staying with Kozen for the last three months," she said casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Takashi's jaw dropped. "What? Why?" he managed to stammer out, barely keeping the panic out of his voice.

Rei straightened, meeting his gaze with a look that was almost pitying. "Well, after Kozen and I dealt with that man that tried to run us over," she began, "I got an offer to stay with him. To learn, to grow, to… figure out who I am. And honestly, I've learned a lot. About myself. About what I want." Her eyes flicked over him, dismissive. "Something I see you haven't done."

Takashi's mind scrambled for a response, but all he could feel was a rising wave of helplessness. She's changed, he thought, staring at her as she unlocked the bike. This wasn't the Rei he knew. She was harder, colder, like something inside her had shifted, making her unreachable.

Desperately, he tried a different approach. "I… I'm sorry," he blurted out, his voice cracking with sincerity. Rei froze, her hand pausing on the lock, finally turning to face him with a hint of curiosity.

"Sorry?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Sorry for what?"

Takashi swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the last few months pressing down on him. "For… for what happened. At the police station." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know what came over me, and I know that doesn't make it right. I was out of line. I'm… genuinely sorry, Rei."

She studied him, her expression unreadable. "Well, I'll be damned. Pigs really can fly," she said, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. He blushed, a sliver of hope stirring in his chest. Maybe this was it. Maybe they could move past this.

"So…?" he asked tentatively.

Rei shrugged, her voice casual. "Water under the bridge." She didn't even smile, but the words were enough. For the first time in months, a wave of happiness washed over him, lifting the weight he'd been carrying. She'd forgiven him. They could go back to normal, Finally.

Without thinking, he stepped forward, arms open, going in for a hug. But Rei sidestepped him, fluid and quick, leaving him stumbling forward awkwardly.

"Hold your horses," she said, a hint of irritation creeping into her tone. "I only forgave you because it's been months, and honestly, I'm tired of carrying that grudge. But don't think we're suddenly 'cool' again."

Takashi blinked, thrown off. "We're… we're not?"

"No," she replied sharply, her voice like ice. "We're not."

A pulse of frustration surged through him. He'd apologized. He'd bared his soul, shown her he was sorry. Why wasn't that enough? "Why not?" he demanded, his voice rising in pitch. "I said I was sorry, Rei. I'm trying here. Why are you being so difficult?"

Rei's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms, looking at him like he was a child throwing a tantrum. "You're 'trying'? Really? Do you even hear yourself?" She shook her head, a flicker of disgust in her gaze. "You think saying sorry wipes away everything? That it magically makes you the person I want in my life?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Takashi snapped, the frustration boiling over. "You're acting like I'm some kind of monster. All I ever wanted was to protect you. I was there for you, Rei, always!"

"Always?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "You were there for you, Takashi. You've only ever done what you thought was best for you." She took a step closer, her gaze hardening. "You don't know me. You've built up some fantasy version of me in your head and convinced yourself I'm supposed to fit into it."

"That's not true," he insisted, his voice wavering. "I know you, Rei. Better than anyone."

She scoffed. "You know nothing." Her eyes flashed with anger, a spark he hadn't seen in her before. "I used to think you were just overprotective. Maybe you'd grow out of it, learn to respect boundaries. But no, you've only gotten worse. You want to own me, Takashi. You don't care what I want. You care about keeping me in your little box."

His face twisted, the rage bubbling up. "I only want what's best for you, Rei. You don't know what you're doing. You think Kozen cares about you? He's using you!"

Rei shook her head, letting out a bitter laugh. "You just don't get it, do you? I chose to stay with Kozen. I chose to get out of here, to learn things, to grow." Her voice was fierce now, unyielding. "I'm not the little girl you think you're protecting anymore. I'm done with that. And I'm done with you."

Takashi felt something snap inside him. The words were coming before he could stop them, venomous and desperate. "You don't mean that," he said, stepping forward. "You're just confused. You think you're all grown up, but you're not." His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist, holding on tightly. "I'm the only one who actually cares about you, Rei. I'm the one who's always been there."

The moment his hand closed around her wrist, he saw her expression harden, her jaw clenching. In a blur, she twisted her arm, slipping out of his grasp like water, and then her fist connected with his nose in a swift, brutal motion. Pain exploded across his face, blinding him as he stumbled back, blood pouring from his nose.

He barely had time to process the blow before she followed up with a sharp, practiced movement, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, the impact rattling through his bones, leaving him stunned.

Rei stood over him, her face cold and impassive. "Don't ever touch me again," she said, her voice deadly quiet. "You have no idea who I am anymore, and you're too blind to realize that's your own fault."

Takashi tried to push himself up, blood dripping from his nose, his mind still reeling. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come.

Rei watched him for a moment, her gaze hard and unfeeling. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel, straddled the bike, and started the engine. The roar of it filled the empty parking lot, drowning out the silence that hung between them.

As she pulled away, her figure disappearing into the twilight, Takashi lay there, numb, his vision blurred with pain and disbelief. He felt like something had shattered inside him, something he'd been clinging to for years, slipping through his fingers like sand.

"You win, Kozen," he muttered under his breath, defeated, watching as the last trace of Rei vanished into the streetlights.

Author Note: More chapters on [email protected]/LordCampione.