《The Forgotten Fool》 Prolog Fuck¡­ how can someone massacre a child like this? Instinctively, I covered my mouth with my hand, feeling my stomach lurch. The body lay on its back, discarded like a used doll. No¡­ worse than discarded. Broken in a way that seemed almost deliberate. As if someone wanted us to see it in this exact position. Its skin was slashed with long, irregular cuts. Some were shallow, barely breaking the surface, as if someone had played with the blade, prolonging the agony. Others were deep, almost to the bone. The boy''s fingernails were broken, as if he had fought, clawed, tried to grasp something in a final, desperate attempt. But what stood out the most was carved into his chest. "Find me" The words were etched deep into his flesh, uneven, as if the perpetrator had taken their time. The lines were jagged, irregular, some so deep that the blood had congealed into dark, crusted scabs. It must have hurt. The boy''s face¡­ Whatever they had done to him had left it barely recognizable. It was swollen, marred with dark patches of decay, one eyelid torn as if something had tried to rip his eye out. His lips were slightly parted, filled with wriggling larvae slowly crawling out from within. He had screamed at the moment of his death. I was sure of it. A familiar pressure settled deep in my lungs. It was just a child. I felt my throat tighten. ¡ª How¡­ how could someone¡­? ¡ª I whispered, but the words stuck in my mouth. ¡ªThe clothes match. The height, the hair color too¡­ ¡ª Alice spoke as if she didn''t see it. Cold. Detached. She crouched next to the body, her silver eyes scanning it with almost scientific precision. No. No, damn it! Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡ª It''s just a child! ¡ª I spat out, feeling something hot and wild rise inside me. My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. ¡ª Someone used him! Someone treated him like¡­ a bargaining chip! Like a fucking object and then threw him away when he was no longer needed! I was breathing hard, my heart pounding in my chest. ¡ª Maybe he even thought we would save him. That if he held on just a little longer¡­ that if he endured just one more day¡­ ¡ª I trailed off, my voice breaking. Alice turned her head towards me. ¡ª Raphael. I wasn''t listening. ¡ª Maybe he begged. Maybe he asked why this was happening. Maybe he called for his mother before that bastard¡­ ¡ª I took a sharp breath. ¡ª Raphael! Her voice hit me like a slap. Firm. Commanding. I looked at her, and in her eyes, there was no anger. There was something else. Understanding? ¡ª I know you''re furious ¡ª she said calmly. ¡ª I am too. But if you fall apart now, we won''t find the son of a bitch who did this. I breathed heavily, clenching my hands on my thighs. I couldn''t let this take over. Not now. Not here. I took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Alice nodded and looked back at the body. ¡ª Now we can start thinking. She narrowed her eyes and inhaled through her nose. ¡ª Something''s off here¡­ I swallowed hard, still feeling my pulse pounding in my temples. ¡ª What do you mean? Alice crouched, running her fingers over the ground. ¡ª The forest is full of animals. Wolves, foxes, even boars¡­ If this body had been here since yesterday, there should be signs. Torn flesh, bitten limbs¡­ something. She looked at me. ¡ª But he''s untouched. I bit my lip. ¡ª As if something kept the animals away ¡ª she said quietly. ¡ª As if¡­ they were afraid. And then I felt it. Something¡­ different. It wasn''t just the usual stench of a decomposing body. Death had a smell¡ªmetallic, sickly sweet, sticky like dried blood. But this was something else. Something metallic, like blood mixed with ash, like smoke from burned wood and damp earth. A scent that scraped the throat and left a strange bitterness on the tongue, as if something old and forgotten was stirring beneath the surface. Alice paled. ¡ª This air¡­ I''ve smelled it before. ¡ª Where? She swallowed hard and looked at me. ¡ª The ruins in the far north. When we found them, the air smelled the same. The same¡­ heaviness. Back then, the animals wouldn''t go near, and the air tasted like ash. I didn''t like this. ¡ª And what was there? Her eyes glinted in the firelight. A ritual. We set up camp nearby, far enough that the fire''s glow wouldn''t fall on the corpse. Alice sat across from me, leaning against a fallen log. Her gloves lay beside her, and she turned them over in her fingers as if trying to remember something. ¡ª You''ve been making quite the noise throughout the kingdom lately ¡ª she said. I looked up. ¡ª What exactly have you heard? ¡ª Different things. Some quite¡­ intriguing. She raised a flask to her lips and took a long swig of amber-colored ale. ¡ª I''m curious if they''re true. ¡ªWhat? She met my gaze, her silver eyes unreadable. ¡ª Did you really rape that girl? I froze. ¡ª Do you think I would? Turtle vs Vixen Megumi waved a hand in front of my face, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. ¨C Arata, are you even listening to me? I blinked and looked up at her. ¨C Hm? ¨C I murmured, raising an eyebrow. ¨C You said something? She let out a dramatic sigh, as if the fate of the world rested on my shoulders, and I had simply decided not to save it. ¨C I asked if you had any plans today, but I see I might as well be talking to a wall. ¨C She crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head as if debating whether this conversation was even worth continuing. The sunlight pouring through the classroom window reflected in her caramel-colored eyes, giving them warmth and depth. The freckles on her pale skin looked like cinnamon sprinkled over porcelain, and her fiery red hair seemed to burn in the late afternoon light. I leaned back in my chair and stretched lazily, deliberately delaying my response. ¨C Well, you know¡­ ¨C I began slowly. ¨C Maybe your question was just so insignificant that my subconscious decided to ignore it? Megumi tilted her head to the side, then slowly nodded as if analyzing my words. ¨C Or maybe you just have the reflexes of a turtle? ¨C she shot back immediately, resting her elbows on the desk and piercing me with a look as if she had just seen right through me. I leaned back slightly, placing a finger on my chin as if seriously considering her words. ¨C Turtles are wise and long-lived. I''ll take that as a compliment. Megumi rolled her eyes, then leaned slightly closer to me, her voice taking on a falsely polite tone. ¨C Oh sure, it''s just a shame you don''t fit into either category. ¨C She sighed, smiling sweetly. I crossed my arms behind my head and leaned back in my chair. ¨C Well, not everyone can have reflexes like you. She raised an eyebrow. ¨C Are you implying that my reflexes are slow? ¨C I''m afraid in your case, it''s more of a congenital condition. Megumi narrowed her eyes, but her lips curled into a slight smile. ¨C Alright, Arata, where were you planning to take me? I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. ¨C And why exactly do you assume I had plans at all? Megumi sighed and shook her head, as if genuinely disappointed. ¨C Because I know you too well. If you have a free day, you''ll waste it in the most spectacularly useless way imaginable. So¡­ since you had no plans anyway, you might as well take me somewhere. I frowned. Okay. Another day, another jab. Not exactly surprising¡ªMegumi had a talent for this. But wait¡­ is she trying to set me up for something? I raised a finger and adopted the most mentor-like tone I could muster. ¨C May I remind you that YOU were the one who first asked me about my plans? ¨C I countered. ¨C So, technically, YOU were the one without an idea. Megumi put on a thoughtful expression, tapping a finger against her chin. ¨C You know, you''re actually right¡­ ¨C she admitted, and just as my lips curled into a triumphant smile, she continued: ¨C But since I had no plans, and you had no plans, and now we''re discussing going out, that means¡­ ¨C She trailed off, waiting for me to finish her sentence. Oh no. Something''s off. Megumi never gives in this easily. I squinted, realizing I was stepping onto enemy territory without any defense. ¨C That means¡­? Megumi smiled sweetly. ¨C That it''s only logical that you invite me somewhere, since you have nothing better to do. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. AHA! I KNEW IT! This was a setup from the start! She built the trap and just snapped it shut. But no. Not this time. I opened my mouth to counter, but Megumi was already speaking. ¨C In that case, I accept your invitation. How thoughtful of you, Arata. Oh no. No, no, no, no. This is really happening? This wasn''t my plan. How did this happen? Just a moment ago, I was the one pointing out that she had no plans! I blinked. ¨C What...? Megumi nodded with mock seriousness. ¨C Well, you could have invited someone else, but you chose me, so it''s pretty obvious. This isn''t a conversation anymore. This is a full-scale attack on my free will! This is manipulation in its purest form! I narrowed my eyes. ¨C I don''t recall inviting you. Megumi waved a hand dismissively. ¨C Oh, don''t be so modest. I already accepted. It would be a shame if you backed out now. Backed out? BACKED OUT?! To back out, I would have had to AGREE to something in the first place! And last I checked, I wasn''t even CLOSE to making that decision! ¨C I''m not backing out because I never agreed to anything! Megumi rolled her eyes. ¨C Arata, please, you don''t have to make this so official. It''s not a masquerade ball. Or maybe it is? Because if this is a masquerade, then I''m the clown who just got played like a fool. Megumi gestured toward herself. ¨C I''m not expecting flowers or poetry. I pressed my hands together like I was about to start praying. I needed divine intervention. I analyzed the situation again. Step by step.She asks if I have plans. I say no. Suddenly, I''m the one inviting her out. No. This doesn''t add up. There''s a logical gap somewhere. I looked up at her. ¨C You just played me like an amateur. Megumi grinned. ¨C Well, if you don''t want to invite me, then oh well¡­ She took two steps back as if about to walk away, but hesitated, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. Alright. If she really didn''t care, she could just leave. But she wasn''t leaving. She was waiting. Waiting for my confirmation. But this time, I said nothing. And that was the moment her entire plan fell apart. First, confusion flickered in her eyes. She blinked once. Then twice.Then came the frown, like she couldn''t believe I wasn''t answering.Next, the expression that screamed: No, no, this isn''t how it was supposed to go. ¨C ARATA!! ¨C she exploded, stomping forward, waving her arms wildly as if she wanted to strangle me on the spot. I leaned back in my chair, trying not to laugh because her face was absolutely priceless. She let out an exasperated sigh. ¨C You are IMPOSSIBLE! I shrugged. ¨C And yet, here we are. Megumi groaned, dramatically burying her face in her hands before letting them drop to her sides. Then¡­ she straightened up. Something in her gaze shifted. ¨C You know what? ¨C she began, voice unnervingly calm. ¨C If you won''t invite me¡­ A bad feeling curled in my stomach. ¨C ¡­then I''ll invite YOU. What. WHAT?! Megumi clasped her hands together in mock delight. ¨C Yes! That''s it! I officially invite you for a walk! I squinted. ¨C This is the exact same situation, just reversed. She batted her eyelashes at me. ¨C Oh no, not at all. ¨C She placed a hand on her chest, her tone turning dramatically sincere. ¨C You see, I am officially inviting you. And you¡­ well, you''d look really rude if you refused now, wouldn''t you? She. Never. Plays. Fair. ¨C Megumi ¨C I started slowly, focusing all my attention on her eyes, searching for even the smallest crack in this devilish plan. There was none.The whole situation was a trap.If I said no, suddenly I would be the one rejecting her invitation.If I said yes, I''d lose anyway, because in the end, she would still win. This was a beautiful and perfect checkmate. Megumi clenched her fists and looked at me with excitement. ¨C So? Arata? ¨C she asked, flashing an absolutely innocent smile that could fool anyone who didn''t know her. No, this isn''t happening. Again?! HOW DID IT COME TO THIS?! I scratched the back of my head. ¨C You know what, Megumi? ¨C Hm? I sighed. ¨C Sometimes I wonder what it''s like to have a normal friendship without all the manipulation. Megumi let out a soft giggle, but this time, she didn''t answer immediately. Instead, she took a few steps forward, her movements fluid, natural¡ªlike she was walking in rhythm with a melody only she could hear. ¨C Probably boring. ¨C She finally said, her voice light and melodic, almost like a quiet, amused hum. I sighed and shook my head. ¨C You know what? Since I have to go with you, that means it''s actually you who gets to have my company. Do you feel honored? Megumi stopped for a moment, turning her head slightly over her shoulder. ¨C Oh yes, Arata. Absolutely honored. ¨C she replied, but there was something different in her voice this time. No irony, just something lighter, warmer. She took another step, and the hem of her dress rippled gently. Then, as if she had just remembered something important, she paused for a second and turned her head slightly toward me. ¨C You know¡­ ¨C she began slowly, playing with the fabric of her dress for a moment. ¨C Sometimes I get the feeling you should be thanking me for dragging you into this... Before I could answer, she lightly ran her fingers along the back of her neck, then started walking again, as if she had just said something completely insignificant. I let out a heavy sigh. ¨C I''m never falling for this again. Megumi chuckled softly and glanced back at me over her shoulder. ¨C Arata¡­ ¨C She narrowed her eyes slightly, a familiar, far-too-confident smirk dancing on her lips. ¨C How many times have you said that already? Before I could respond, she raised a hand and ruffled my hair slightly, as if we were about to scheme something brilliant together. ¨C I''ll see you at the school entrance. She turned and walked toward the door, her steps nearly silent. Just before leaving, she paused for a moment and looked at me over her shoulder. ¨C Hey, turtle, don''t doze off! ¨C she called lightly before disappearing through the door, leaving behind the echo of her laughter. I was left alone in the empty classroom. For a few seconds, my gaze lingered on the door, as if I half-expected her to come back. I propped my chin on my hand and exhaled, not entirely sure why. Stretching in my chair, I absentmindedly ran a hand through my hair¡ªright where I had felt her touch just moments ago. Warmth. A small gesture, something that shouldn''t be analyzed. I didn''t analyze it. I only just realized how oddly quiet the classroom was. Two Cokes One smile I zipped up my bag and stood up in a quick motion, dragging myself lazily. My back shot quietly, and I sighed. A long day. Just need to get to the locker room and I can get out of here. On the way, I stopped at the vending machine. I pressed the button and the machine spit out two bottles of cola zero. I tossed them into my backpack and continued on my way. It was seemingly getting cooler, but after an hour of extended math, I felt like my neurons were begging for mercy. The chill of the corridor was strangely noticeable. Maybe it was the silence - most of the students had already left, and the echo of footsteps bounced against the walls, as if the building was breathing at its own sleepy pace. I approached the stairs leading to the locker room. crackle. At the very first step, the planks made a protracted, ominous creaking sound. I stopped for a moment, and my fingers tightened on the strap of my backpack by themselves. The school was not old. But those stairs? Mother those stairs were awful. They looked like someone had once died here. If anyone ever filmed a horror movie, this is where the scene where the protagonist realizes he is not alone would start. That is, me. I felt an unpleasant sensation right on the back of my neck - something I couldn''t name. Maybe just cold air. Maybe... Squeak, like the rustling of claws. Something ran through my mind - if I turned around now, would I see a shadow that shouldn''t be there? Imagination is a funny thing. It can make something out of empty space that seems alive. My imagination told me that someone was standing at the top of the stairs, looking down. I couldn''t see him, but after all, that didn''t mean anything, did it? I didn''t want to turn my head. Okay, okay, it''s just wood. The wood creaks. No phantom holding a hand on my shoulder. Right?... My brain cued up the image of something crawling up the stairs, gliding silently through the wood, with empty eyes fixed on me. For a split second, I was sure something had touched my ankle. No, no, no. I swallowed my saliva and quickly climbed the last steps. I wasn''t a coward, but... I don''t know what I felt myself. The men''s locker room was the same mess as usual - shoes thrown under the benches, some abandoned sweatshirts. I changed my clothes and went back along the same route. On the stairs I sped up a bit. Not that there was anything, but... when I got halfway up the stairs, I felt the cold air brush my neck. I looked over, but no one was there. Whether it was the fault of math, I have no idea. When I walked out the main door of the school, the first thing I saw was Megumi. She was standing leaning against a low wall at the entrance, with her arms crossed over her chest and a slight, almost triumphant smile. She looked like someone who had been created by fate just to test my patience - and worse, she did it with the precision of an artist who had honed her craft to perfection. She had fiery red hair, as if flames were dancing on her head, always falling gently to her shoulders and framing her face in the shape of a heart. In the sunlight, they seemed to live a life of their own, vibrating in the air like the rippling light of a candle. Eyes... Warm, caramel-colored, like melted honey in the light of the setting sun. And always alert, as if ready at any moment to catch my slightest weakness and take advantage of it immediately. There was intelligence in them and something else - something that made a person feel as if he was participating in a game whose rules he would never fully grasp. What made her stand out were her freckles - scattered like cinnamon on pale ivory, adding something slightly girly, something that created the illusion of innocence. And a smile. Full, pinkish-peach lips that arranged themselves into an expression that always preceded trouble. He was never straight. Nor did it ever appear without reason. In Megumi''s case, a smile was like a harbinger of a thunderstorm - you never knew if it was about to pour down rain or if it was just going to play a person like a pawn on a chessboard. And the dress... It was already a blatant cheat. White, reaching before the knees, with colorful embroidered flowers, giving the impression that Megumi was a living illustration of spring. A V-shaped neckline that fell from the collarbone, revealing a piece of creamy skin, seemingly by accident, but in a way that left no illusion that it was no accident. And the lace - intricately crocheted, encircling her shoulders and hips like a delicate ornament, adding a subtle, almost ethereal charm to the whole. The fabric moved with her - it didn''t weigh her down, didn''t restrict her movements, it was like an extension of herself, as if it matched her every step, every movement of her hands, every twist of her head. She raised an eyebrow as soon as she noticed me, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly in a satisfied smile. - You are free, and you still procrastinate? I stopped a few steps away from her and shrugged my shoulders, feeling the first signs of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. My hands involuntarily slid into my pants pockets. - Am I procrastinating? After all, I am punctual. Megumi tilted her head slightly and squinted, as if she couldn''t believe what I had just said. After a moment, she sighed, rolling her eyes as if I was trying to sell her the world''s most absurd excuse. - Technically, maybe so... but I arrived first. So... for me you are late. Aha - Megumi logic. - I didn''t know we had our own absolute clock here. - Oh, Arata, Arata... - she shook her head, looking at me with pity, as if she considered me a hopeless case. - You still have so much to learn. Instead of any retort, Megumi raked her eyes over me from top to bottom, crossing her arms on her chest. Her gaze stopped on my backpack. She didn''t speak up immediately, but squinted slightly, as if analyzing something I hadn''t figured out yet. She continued in this strange silence for a few seconds, and I began to wonder if by chance I had something on my face. - Okay...? - I finally chuckled, raising my eyebrows in a questioning gesture. Megumi smiled as if in front of herself and reached into her bag. Without a word, she pulled out a bottle of cola zero and handed it to me. I furrowed my eyebrows, taking it from her and looking at it curiously. - And that''s interesting. Megumi looked at me carefully, tilting her head slightly. - What do you think? I didn''t answer right away. Instead, I deliberately dragged out the moment, tilting the bottle slightly in my hand, twisting it in my fingers as if I were looking at it. - Just... an intriguing situation. Megumi raised an eyebrow, and her hand involuntarily tightened on the strap of her bag. - Because? - Because... I reached into the bag and took out the identical bottle I had bought earlier. I lifted it to Megumi''s eye level, looking at her with a mysterious smile and lifting the corners of my mouth. - Look what I have here. Megumi just stared for a moment, and then looked at her hand, in which she still held the bottle she wanted to give me. Her eyes widened with slight surprise. She wrinkled her eyebrows, and her mouth formed a narrow line. - Hey, what''s up? This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. - Well, that''s what. - I replied calmly, with a slight smile and a shrug of my shoulders. She glanced at one bottle, then at the other, then at me, as if checking to see if I was making fun of her. Her gaze pierced me to the core. - Wait... Her head tilted slightly to the side, and her index finger went to her lips in thought. - Did you buy me a Coke? - She asked slowly. - Mhm. - I lifted the bottle to eye level. - Did you? Megumi glanced at her other hand, in which she held an identical bottle, then back at me. - Well... I bought you one, too. There was silence. We looked at each other, each with two bottles of cola in our hands. Finally Megumi squinted her eyes suspiciously. - So... - she began. - It came out to zero. - I finished. We measured each other''s eyes for a while longer, until Megumi sighed and unscrewed her bottle. - I guess that means we think alike - she said, taking a sip. - Or that we both don''t believe that the other will buy something for herself. Megumi rolled her eyes. - Or this. We both reached for our drinks simultaneously, as if in silent agreement. Well. It came out as a draw. For a moment we stood in absolute silence. Megumi was the first to look away, and her shoulders slumped along her body. - Well, nothing. - She chuckled lightly, opening the bottle and taking a sip. - At least we both have something to drink. Before I could say anything more, Megumi took another drink, turned around and moved ahead as if nothing had happened. Her arms swung freely along her body. When we stepped outside the school grounds, the air brought with it the faint smell of hot chocolate. I stopped for a moment, taking in the scent. Hot chocolate? It was more suited to winter evenings than the beginning of autumn. I looked down. The gray cobblestones covered with fallen leaves looked like a picture painted by some nostalgic artist. - Finally, semester break, and with the leaves flying beautifully. - I said, holding the strap of my backpack over my shoulder. - Arata, since when are you such a fan of autumn? - Megumi looked at me with mild amusement. - I didn''t know the leaves would make such an impression on you. I didn''t comment on that. In fact... maybe that''s why I said that. Sometimes something just looks pretty. We walked on, and Megumi seemed exceptionally pleased with herself. She was sipping her Coke, her gaze fixed somewhere in front of her, as if she was analyzing something. I, on the other hand, couldn''t shake the feeling that something wasn''t right here. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. - Megumi? She turned her head, looking at me curiously, and her eyebrows raised slightly in a questioning gesture. - Hm? - There is something I should mention to you. She raised her eyebrow slightly, but remained silent, waiting for the next part of the sentence. Her posture became slightly more tense and her gaze more attentive. She clearly did not know what to expect. - You know, there are times when one has to fight a battle with one''s instincts. Megumi looked at me suspiciously, squinting slightly, and her hand involuntarily tightened on the strap of her purse. Still, she waited for me to finish, though her expression suggested growing impatience. I moved my gaze lower, toward her dress, letting her discover for herself what I was getting at. - I mean... I sighed theatrically, shrugging my shoulders, and the corners of my mouth twitched slightly in an ironic smile - Sometimes you have to show a strong will, overcome temptation, control your inner animal. -Arata - she spoke up more cautiously, in a tone that said that any moment she might strangle me if I didn''t get my point across. Her arms crossed over her chest, and her gaze became piercing. - To the shore. - The wind will blow your dress a little.... I didn''t even have time to finish the sentence when Megumi abruptly pressed her backpack against her hips, draping herself as quickly as possible. Her cheeks were momentarily covered with a carmine blush. - Arata! - she hissed, and her eyes narrowed in an angry look. - You couldn''t have communicated this to me earlier! I raised my hands in a defensive gesture, spreading them wide. - Well, that''s what I was trying to do! - No, you tried to dress it up as a philosophy of life! - her voice trembled in exasperation, and her arms raised in a gesture of helplessness. - I thought it would be more subtle - I shrugged my shoulders, and my eyebrows raised in an innocent gesture. - After all, I won''t shout it to you in the middle of the street. Megumi looked at me sternly, still clutching her backpack. Her lips formed a narrow line, and her body tensed. After a moment, she sighed heavily, lowering her shoulders, as if this conversation had drained her energy reserves. - I already thought you had grown weaker, and yet I was wrong. - And it is supposedly me who does not meet your expectations? - I raised an eyebrow, and a spark of contrariness flashed in my eyes. Megumi rolled her eyes, but I could see that she was slowly relaxing. Her shoulders slumped along her body, and the tension in her posture eased. She took a few steps, and her gaze wandered off into the distance, then she sighed. - Never mind anymore. I squinted my eyes, and my body involuntarily tense up. - Don''t say it like that. She looked at me out of the corner of her eye, tilting her head slightly, and her lips formed a gentle smile. - Why? - Because when you say it like that, you start plotting something in a moment, and I always come out poorly on it. - I crossed my arms over my chest, and my eyebrows raised in a warning gesture. Megumi stopped and was silent for a moment, as if she was calculating something. Her gaze wandered over my face, and her hand went to my chin in thoughtfulness. Then she looked at me, tilting her head slightly, and her eyes shone with a playful gleam. - You know what - she chuckled lightly, almost with amusement, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a mischievous smile. - You''re right. I squinted, and my body involuntarily tensed up. - I don''t like it when you say that. - And why? - she looked at me innocently, tilting her head slightly, and her lips formed a gentle smile. - Because when you say that, in a moment you start plotting something, and I always come out poorly on it. - I crossed my arms over my chest, and my eyebrows raised in a warning gesture. - Arata. - She pronounced my name with a draggy, almost melodic tone that made me feel a shiver of anxiety. I took a step back, and my hands involuntarily rose in a defensive gesture. - What? - I think you should make it up to me somehow. - she said with feigned seriousness, and her gaze became piercing. Oho, I don''t like it. My body tensed up, and worst-case scenarios began to form in my head. - Compensate? - I asked cautiously, and my eyebrows raised in surprise. - Yes. - She nodded her head with feigned seriousness, and her lips formed a narrow line. - Because of you, I had to experience unimaginable humiliation. - She added with a theatrical sigh. - It was your backpack. I had nothing to do with it. - I replied, and my hands involuntarily clenched into fists. - Never mind. - She waved her hand, and her gaze became dismissive. - My honor was put to the test. - She said with a dramatic tone. - She sounds serious. -I replied sarcastically, and a spark of contrariness flashed in my eyes. - Very. - she stated with conviction, and her attitude became even more confident. - And what about this? - I asked, and my body tensed in anticipation of her answer. Megumi thought for a moment, and her gaze wandered off into the distance, as if searching for the right words. Then her eyes flashed with something suspicious, and a devious smile appeared on her face. - You are to buy me something sweet. - She said with a triumphant tone. I furrowed my eyebrows, and my lips formed a narrow line. - Was this just emotional manipulation? - I asked, and disbelief could be heard in my voice. - No, it was compensation for moral wrongs. - She corrected me with seriousness, and her eyes shone with a playful gleam. I wiped my face with my hand, and my body involuntarily tense up. - What if I refuse? - I asked, and a challenge could be heard in my voice. Megumi smiled, and her lips formed a confident smile. - You won''t refuse. - she said with conviction, and her gaze became piercing. I sighed, and my shoulders slumped along my body. Of course I won''t refuse. - What do you want? - I asked, and resignation could be heard in my voice. Megumi made a thoughtful face, and her gaze wandered off into the distance, as if she were really considering options. Then her eyes shone with a playful gleam, and a devious smile appeared on her face. - Something chocolate. - She said with a triumphant tone. I looked at her, and my eyebrows raised in surprise. Then at the smell of hot chocolate wafting through the air, which suddenly became more intense. ... - Hey, Arata? She was at it again. I knew that glint in her eyes, heralding a series of bizarre questions and equally bizarre theories. I squinted, and my body involuntarily tensed, preparing for the coming avalanche of absurdities. - What? - Let''s say you have to choose: you eat only one food for a whole week, or you speak only one sentence for a whole week. Which do you choose? I croaked, and my eyebrows raised in surprise. - What kind of idiotic question is this? Is this some new kind of mental torture? - Answer. - She threw with feigned seriousness, and her gaze became piercing. - I don''t choose anything. - I replied firmly, and my arms crossed over my chest. - This is senseless. Megumi sighed theatrically, rolling her eyes as if I had failed her on some absurd level. Her hand went to her forehead in a gesture of resignation. - You are terrible material for an experimental participant. - She said with a dramatic tone. - And you for a scientist. - I replied, and a spark of contrariness flashed in my eyes. - Maybe you should do research on the effect of absurd questions on the level of irritation in people? - These are not absurd questions. - She replied indignantly, and her cheeks reddened slightly. - These are questions that force you to reflect on your priorities and choices! - Yeah, right. - I muttered under my breath, and my lips formed a narrow line. - Or maybe you just like to see people suffer? - Don''t be so dramatic. - She waved her hand, and her gaze became dismissive. - This is just innocent fun. - Innocent fun? - I raised an eyebrow, and disbelief could be heard in my voice. - Recently, your innocent fun consisted of trying to convince me that aliens control the weather. - It was not an attempt! - she protested indignantly, and her shoulders raised in a gesture of helplessness. - It was a hypothesis! I sighed heavily, and my body involuntarily tensed up, forgetting that Megumi is a foil. - All right, all right. - I said, trying to alleviate the situation. - Maybe I''m just not in the mood for your experiments. - That''s too bad. - She replied with feigned sadness, and her lips formed a mischievous smile. -Because I have a few more questions. - Oh no. - I muttered under my breath, and my body tensed in anticipation of more absurdities. - Let''s say... she began, her eyes twinkling with amusement, - you could have any superpower, but every time you use it, you sneeze uncontrollably for five minutes. Which superpower would you choose? I stared at her, my mind struggling to process the absurdity of the question. - Are you serious? - Dead serious. - She nodded, her smile widening. - Think about it. Imagine, you can fly, but every time you take off, achoo!... five minutes of sneezing. Or you can read minds, but achoo!... every thought you hear triggers a sneezing fit. I rubbed my temples, trying to ward off an impending headache. - This is ridiculous. - But fun, right? - She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling. - Come on, Arata. Just pick one. I hesitated, knowing that any answer would only encourage her. - Fine - I grumbled. - If I had to choose, I''d pick teleportation. At least I could teleport away from the sneezing. Megumi clapped her hands together, a triumphant grin on her face. - Excellent choice! But imagine, you teleport into a crowded room, achoo!... and everyone stares at you. Priceless. - You''re enjoying this way too much. - I sighed, feeling the last vestiges of my patience slipping away. - Maybe a little - she admitted, her smile never faltering. - Okay, one more. If you could have a conversation with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them? - This is still an experiment? - I asked, my voice laced with skepticism. Gender War We stopped at a red light, which gave us a moment to catch our breath. I wasn''t fond of standing idly, but this time was different - I felt calm, and Megumi didn''t look impatient either. When the light turned green, we moved slowly, and our steps synchronized at an even pace. My gaze was drawn to an older man sitting by the supermarket. He was wearing long jean bells and a worn green jacket. His face was marked with the weariness of life, and his attempts to strike up a conversation with the two boys caught my attention. The boys listened to his words for a while, nodded and gestured, until finally they helped him up and together they moved toward the nearby blocks. I smiled slightly under my breath and turned my gaze toward the nearest tree on my left. The wind gently picked up, moving the branches as if to attract my attention. - Megumi? - I asked quietly, and my eyebrows raised slightly. - Yes? - she looked at me questioningly, tilting her head slightly, and her eyes shone with curiosity. Megumi was silent for a moment, and her gaze went to the distant silhouettes. I expected some comment, perhaps some reflection, but she simply reached into her pocket and pulled out two lollipops. Without a word she handed me one, and I accepted it with a slight smile, lifting the corners of my mouth. When we reached the park, the silence began to weigh us down, like an invisible weight, so I decided to break it, and my words hung in the air, like smoke. - Megumi... if I were homeless, would you pass by me indifferently? Surprised, she stopped, and her eyebrows gently raised in surprise. Her eyes widened, and her hand involuntarily went to her mouth. She paused for a moment, and in her brown eyes I saw something deep and serious, as if she was considering the weight of my words. She did not answer immediately, instead she looked at me carefully, as if analyzing my every word, trying to read my intentions. - Listen, Arata - she finally announced in a calm, warm voice, taking a step toward me and placing her hand on my shoulder. - Even if we were to have a serious quarrel one day and say words that we would later regret, I promise you that I would never pass by you indifferently. It doesn''t matter what would happen. I looked straight into her eyes and noticed a gentle but firm smile, which immediately put my mind at ease and dispelled any doubts. Her gaze was full of concern and sincerity. - Would you help me because you know me? Or because I have also helped you many times? - I asked, carefully watching her reaction. My gaze rested on her face, trying to read her thoughts. Silence reigned for a while, broken only by rustling leaves, and the sun quietly gliding through the treetops. Megumi sighed quietly and crossed her arms over her chest, putting the lollipop back in her mouth. Her eyes squinted slightly, feigning indignation after another ambush set by me. - I think I already know what you''re getting at - she replied, avoiding my gaze and looking ahead, where leaves swayed in the air like miniature parachutes. Her lips formed a narrow line. - That''s what I''m talking about - I continued softly, and my hands spread out in an open gesture. - How am I different from this person, then? Only that you know me. Every person is a human being, not an outcast left to die. We should help each other, whether we know each other or not. With a gesture, I pointed Megumi to a bench standing under a spreading oak tree, whose branches seemed to reach toward the sky, full of golden leaves. - So do we sit where we always sit? - She asked, heading in that direction with a slight smile on her lips, apparently wanting to end this serious topic. Her shoulders slumped along her body, and her posture became more casual. The park stretched around us like a living painting, a canvas of nature painted with extreme precision. Leaves, like miniature ships, slowly fell onto the grass, set into a dance by a gentle, cool breeze. The slowed-down movements of the leaves resembled a dance that went on indefinitely. Like a chameleon, the grass gradually changed colors, moving from deep green to yellow-green, further enhancing the autumn atmosphere of the place. The colors of the grass moved seamlessly from one shade to another. The benches, snow-white and wooden, cut away from the natural colors of the surroundings, creating a contrast that at first seemed out of place, but over time I grew accustomed to them. The porcelain benches contrasted with their surroundings. Although I only visited here a few times a month, I always felt that this place had something special about it, some intangible magic that drew me back. The place had a unique charm about it. I was glad that Megumi let the conversation move to a lighter track. I was only hoping for a short answer, and she unexpectedly pulled my tongue more than I wanted. When we reached the bench, I took off my backpack and stretched with a quiet sigh, relaxing my tense muscles, sitting down casually. Megumi carefully grabbed the hem of her dress and checked that the bench was definitely clean before deciding to sit next to me, correcting the material of her dress and placing her hands in her lap. - Arata, have you noticed anything new with me today? - Megumi asked, leaning slightly toward me. Her arm brushed mine, and the warmth of her skin touched mine for a split second. The intense look in her caramel eyes betrayed anticipation. I rolled my eyes in thought. Oh no. She''s doing it again. Not to give her the satisfaction. I looked ahead, as if deep in thought, and slowly furrowed my brow. - Hm... - I began, pretending to think. - Weight...??? The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. For a second, Megumi looked as if she was actually processing my words. Then her smile disappeared. Her eyes narrowed and her lips tightened into a thin line. - What did you say? - Her tone was like a blade put to her throat. Before I had time to answer, Megumi crossed her arms and looked at me with the icy precision of a murderer who wonders if a quick death is really the best option. - Scales? Really, Arata? - she repeated slowly, as if I were a particularly reluctant student. For a split second I considered a desperate escape, but her fingers just tightened on my sleeve. - Are you... blushing? - she whispered, leaning even closer, and her breath brushed my ear. - It''s warm - I replied immediately, straightening up like a string. - Definitely too warm. Megumi smiled in a way that said it all - she was enjoying herself. Her hand muscled my breast, then just as quickly retreated. - Can you finally let me go? - I asked, trying to remain serious. Megumi looked at me for a moment, and then did something I didn''t expect. Instead of letting me go, she leaned in even further, reducing the distance to an absolute minimum. Her arm pressed against mine. Oh, no. My thoughts hovered in a vacuum. She knew perfectly well what she was doing. - But why? - She asked sweetly, tilting her head to the side. - Don''t you like it? Her eyes sparkled. She was hunting. I took a deeper breath, trying to look unimpressed, but my body had other plans. I felt the heat begin to creep up the back of my neck. A real man should be able to remain calm in any situation - on the battlefield, in the heat of battle, and when a woman viciously invades his personal space in an effort to humiliate him. Meanwhile, I? I sat there, totally frozen, feeling my cheeks take on a color that absolutely should not be there. - Megumi... - I said slowly, carefully, as if I were trying to calm a wild animal. - Yes? - Her tone was too innocent. - You know that this... - I took a breath. - It falls under harassment. Instead of letting me go, she leaned in even further, reducing the distance to a level that should have been illegal. Her arm pressed against mine, and then.... A subtle, almost imperceptible touch. Was it a coincidence? Or a precisely planned sabotage operation with the sole purpose of dismantling me on a fundamental level? Because if it was a coincidence - then the universe betrayed me. And if not... I have just been the victim of an attack aimed at my dignity, pride and emotional stability. And the worst part? It was working. It was a betrayal on a biological level. My own body decided to go over to the side of the enemy, triggering reactions that I ABSOLUTELY did not need right now. My heart sped up. The blood rushed to my face. I couldn''t show that it changed anything. Because if I did... It will be a slaughter. And Megumi? Of course she noticed it. - Oh, Arata... - she sighed dramatically. - Are you sure? Because you look more like someone who is afraid of something. I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to regain control of the situation. I couldn''t let myself be dominated. Not in this game. - I''m not afraid - I said slowly. - No? - She raised her eyebrow. Her arm pressed even tighter. She knew. She knew and tested the limits. My body screamed to move away, but if I did, I lost. This was a moment of testing. Was I a man who could go through this like a stoic, or was I a boy who would lash out because a girl decided to wipe her ego on him? It was the perfect crime. When she finally let me go, I felt like a man who barely escaped with his life. I waited a moment, as if nothing had happened. I reached into my backpack for a bottle of Coke, unscrewed it slowly and took a sip, as if I were just getting ready to make an important speech. I began with a theatrical sigh. - And to think... - I shook my head with feigned nostalgia. - There was a time when women were delicate, quiet, graceful. I took a short pause and looked at Megumi with feigned resignation. - Surrounded by an aura of mystery and subtle charm... And now? I took another sip of cola and then slowly put the bottle down, looking off into the distance, as if I had just contemplated the fate of humanity. - Now they throw themselves at men without warning, violate personal space, touch without asking... - I shook my head with false disapproval. - How did the male part of the population let this happen? Megumi looked at me with an expression on her face that could be described as pure confusion combined with a little rage. But it wasn''t enough. I sighed again and raised my gaze to the sky, as if contemplating the great mysteries of the world. - You know, Megumi... I''m beginning to understand why women had limited rights in the Middle Ages. She froze. She looked at me as if I were the living embodiment of the problem of patriarchy. - Because if you allow full freedom... - I shrugged my shoulders with absolute calm. - The world will fall into chaos. Silence. Megumi blinked. Once. The second. I saw her hand tighten on the material of her dress, as if she was fighting the inner need to murder me on the spot. - You... - she finally choked out, but she lacked words. I took another sip of cola, as if the subject was already closed to me. - Don''t thank me for this history lesson. - I nodded to her with complete courtesy. - I''m always happy to help broaden your horizons. Megumi blinked once more. And then... BOOM. Her fist slammed into my shoulder Damn, I almost spilled my Coke. - ARATA!!! - Her scream echoed throughout the room. Megumi took a deep breath, as if she had to count to ten to keep from killing me on the spot. But I knew perfectly well what I was doing. - Anyway... - I chuckled some more, raising an eyebrow. - If it comforts you, in this theory, you are the one who represents chaos. Megumi raised her fist, and I instantly covered up. I waited for a second blow. But instead... She sighed. There was no fury. There was no screaming. There were not even further attempts at domination. This was suspicious. Megumi slowly raised her hand, turned her wrist, and a silver chain flashed in the light. The bracelet. And then I understood everything. This wasn''t just a woman''s game. This was revenge. Not for my words. Not for my jokes. For my ignorance. This, is the real problem of our society. When a woman doesn''t notice a guy''s new haircut - nothing happens. When a woman doesn''t compliment her friend''s new sweatshirt - the world still goes on. But if a guy doesn''t notice a woman''s new bracelet - nothing happens.... He ends up stranded, pushed to the wall, as a victim of socially acceptable harassment. Where is the justice in this? Where is the equality? I looked at Megumi. She was looking at me. She knew that I knew. And she was waiting. She waited for a confession. She waited for words of remorse. She waited for me to say "Yes, Megumi. You have a new bracelet. I should have noticed it. It''s all my fault." For a split second I considered this option. And then I decided to be myself. I raised an eyebrow, looking at her thoughtfully. - So? - She asked sweetly, as if giving me one last chance to save my dignity. - Do you still not see? I took a deep breath. It''s now or never. Be a man, Arata. - You shaved your hands big time. - I chuckled innocently. Megumi did not even blink. ¡ú ??(Megumi honest reaction) - ARATA!!! Suddenly, her fist impetuously slammed into my arm, and the pain pierced me like a blade. - Ow! - I groaned, massaging my shoulder. - Violence! Did you see that! And then I remembered something important. Case study: Megumi And then I was reminded of something important. Something that hadn''t so much escaped my attention as it had been deliberately pushed to the background. I mean... I knew it all along. Today I was supposed to meet with Leo. It wasn''t a forgotten plan, there was no surprise here, no "Oh shit, I made an appointment and now everything went to hell." No. I knew. And yet... I sat here with Megumi. Not because I forgot. Not because something fell out with me. I just... didn''t want her to feel bad. I didn''t tell her that. She didn''t need to know. Because what would it have changed? She wouldn''t be offended. She wouldn''t have made a fuss about me. She wouldn''t have said anything to suggest to me that anything was wrong with her. But... she would feel it. And I would feel it too. Not in words, not in looks. In those micro-gestures, in the subtle changes in tone, in the brief moments of silence that would not be silence in themselves, but something more. Megumi wasn''t the kind of person who said something hurt her. She didn''t show it. But that didn''t mean it couldn''t be seen. Because the truth is... it could always be seen. If one wanted to. And whether I wanted it or not, I could see it. She wouldn''t be sad. She wouldn''t be upset. But it would be something there. Intangible, not fully visible, but present. She would make that delicate movement of her hand, as if she were tweaking something inadvertently. She would blink a little longer than usual. She would laugh a second too late. No one but me would notice. But I would notice. And it would annoy me. So instead of meeting Leo right away... I went out with her. Because Megumi is... Megumi. She''s always been there. She was by my side before I even learned what it meant to have someone by my side. She was the person who always found me, even when I didn''t feel like being found. She was the one who wouldn''t give me a break when I tried to pretend I didn''t care about anything myself. She didn''t ask if she could appear in my life. She just did. And over time... it became normal. I didn''t think about it. It was like air - you don''t think about it until it starts to run out. Just like it was normal that she never told me directly that she wanted me to notice something. Instead... she waited. She gave me space, but at the same time she was always close. It was this strange balance - she gave me room to breathe, but never allowed me to move completely away. And yes, she was sometimes persistent. Sometimes she tested my patience to the limit. Sometimes she put me in situations where I had no chance of winning. Sometimes she entered my life so brazenly that I didn''t even notice when I stopped defending myself against it. Sometimes she would have conversations with me that I couldn''t win, because even if I was right, she was right - and that was the more important one. Sometimes she would get me into situations I didn''t understand, but before I knew it, I was already in them and had no way out. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Sometimes she would hurt me with her elbow, and then blame me for standing in the wrong place. Sometimes she would take my things without asking and give them back with such conviction as if I was the problem for even asking. Sometimes she commented on my life with such certainty as if she had full license of it and the right to control every aspect. Sometimes she would deeply analyze my life and my choices, then conclude that "I''ll do it my way anyway, but it was good to talk." And sometimes... If I ever write an autobiography, I''ll give her a chapter under the title "Socially accepted violence against men - a case study." Or not. She would still take it as a compliment. And then she would take it as motivation. No, thank you. Anyway... she always was. And maybe that''s why... today, without thinking about it, I just went out with her... And now I''m thinking to myself... is this some intangible, non-verbal commitment that I never made, but which, it turns out, I nevertheless abide by? Or is it simply an instinct of self-preservation? Because if it''s the latter, I''ve done damn poorly. Because here I am. Beaten down. Humiliated. Harassed. And I don''t even know if it was worth it. When the last echo of her cry of "ARATA!!!" reverberated through the air, I decided it was probably a good time to change the subject. I slowly unscrewed the bottle of Coke, pretending to analyze the label as if I had just processed something extremely complicated, and took a sip. - In truth, I had plans today. - I glanced at my phone, as if I had only now remembered something. - I''m meeting Leo. She froze. Of course she froze. Her eyes widened gently and her shoulders tensed slightly. For a second, her fingers hovered over the bracelet she had unconsciously touched until then. A minimal, barely noticeable moment of hesitation. Her breathing became shallower. She didn''t say anything immediately. That in itself was suspicious. Her lips tightened slightly and her eyebrows raised gently. Eventually, however, her face returned to normal, but the expression in her eyes remained alert. - Ooo? - She raised an eyebrow, as if she had just heard something irrelevant. - Leo? We haven''t seen him in a long time. I leaned more comfortably on the bench, crossing my legs and pulling out my phone. Tapping the screen, I pretended to be engrossed in writing a message. - Well, that''s it - I said, tapping out a short message. - I texted him that we were sitting in the park. He''s going to stop by here. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. Mina: neutral. But her fingers... She touched the bracelet again. Gently. Barely noticeable. But she did it. Her fingers gently brushed the silver chain, as if seeking comfort in it. And then it hit me. She hadn''t done this before. From the moment she reminded me of her unfortunate accessory, she stopped touching it. Only now, when I mentioned that Leo would be joining us, her fingers returned to the thin silver chain. Funny. If it had been anyone else, I wouldn''t have even noticed. But it was Megumi. And I knew her all too well. She didn''t say anything, but her body betrayed her faster than she had time to realize it. Which is to say, though. She liked to spend time only with me. Not in a pushy way. Not in a way that was obvious. But still. And now that our little private chaos was about to be enriched by a third person... She reflexively grabbed something that was related to me. I twisted my head, looking at her with a slight smile. - Something wrong? She blinked. Her hand immediately moved away from the bracelet, as if burned by fire. - Hm? - Her fingers immediately let go of the bracelet, as if nothing had happened. And yet... it happened. I did not respond immediately. Instead, I took note of it. I wrote this little detail down in my mind, as if I had just discovered something I didn''t already know. Would I do something about it? No. Should I? Sure. But that would be too easy. Instead... I just smiled. - Nothing. And I took a sip of cola again. Because sometimes some things are too interesting to spoil. Lion vs Vixen From a distance I heard a familiar voice. - Arata, brother! I didn''t even have to glance. Everyone within a fifty-meter radius already knew that Leo was just coming. His voice sounded loud, and his footsteps were brisk and loud. Before I could even respond, someone put his arm around me and squeezed me with as much force as if he wanted to check whether my ribs were still in place. His embrace was strong, even clinging. - I knew I would find you in the same place, in the same position and with the same expression on your face. Leo sat down on the bench like a king, spread his hands on the backrest and flashed me that broad smile of his - slightly hooked, a little provocative, but without a shadow of ill intent. His gaze was full of energy and his movements were casual and confident. - So? Are you still sitting here pretending not to like life? - Leo leaned slightly toward me, and sparks of amusement shone in his eyes. Raising one eyebrow, he looked at me expectantly. - Just because I don''t jump for joy every time I see a tree... doesn''t mean I don''t appreciate life, Leo. - I looked at him with a slight smile, but without enthusiasm. My shoulders remained casually lowered and my posture was relaxed, though not effusive. Leo confirmed his head with feigned seriousness. - So are you still the type to look at the sunset and say "meh"? - He raised his eyebrows and looked at me with anticipation. - And are you still the type who sees a puddle and MUST run into it? I looked at him with a slight smile, knowing what the answer would be. Leo smiled wider. - Because you can''t walk past a puddle and not find out how much it splashes. - Leo spread his arms as if to embrace the whole world emphasizing his enthusiasm, and joy shone in his eyes. I sighed. - And that''s exactly your problem, Leo. - I sighed with a slight smile, shaking my head in disbelief. Leo poked me on the shoulder and bared his teeth in a wide, confident smile. - It''s not a problem, it''s a lifestyle! - He announced enthusiastically, raising his hands in a triumphant gesture Next to us, Megumi grunted. Of course. Of course she wouldn''t let us enjoy the moment. But this time... she didn''t attack right away. Instead, she watched Leo in silence. As if she was analyzing him. As if she was trying to find the answer to a question she herself was afraid to ask. Leo, of course, ignored her gaze, as if it was natural for her to attract attention. Unhurriedly, he stretched comfortably, stretched and sighed theatrically, as if he had just returned from a long, tiring trip. - Oh, Arata. - He patted me on the shoulder. - It''s good to see you, but it''s even better to feel that everything is back in place. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Megumi continued to remain silent. But her gaze was getting more and more meaningful. Finally, she looked away and shook her head. She took a slow breath. - I don''t believe it. Leo turned to her with an expression on his face suggesting that he had just received the greatest compliment of his life. - I know, my aura is impressive. - It doesn''t. - She rolled her eyes, then raised her hand and rubbed her temple, as if she already felt a headache coming on. - I don''t believe what you are doing. - It''s hard to believe that someone can shine for so long? - He raised his hands in an innocent gesture, spreading his arms like someone who had just been accused of something absurd. - No. - Megumi put her hands on her hips and looked at him in disbelief. - It''s hard to believe that no one has turned off that light yet. Leo laughed quietly under his breath, then theatrically moved his hand over his shoulder as if shaking off invisible dust. - So you say I shine like a lighthouse? That''s good to hear. Megumi squinted and crossed her arms, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her forearm. - No. Like a neon sign on a cheap motel. Too bright, too annoying and you can be seen from a mile away. - Ouch. And yet, despite everything, you still look at me. - He pressed his hand to his chest and wobbled slightly in place, as if he had just received a blow straight to the heart. - Just because I can''t believe that you really exist. - she breathed deeply, then turned her gaze sideways, as if trying to find something in her surroundings that would help her regain the remnants of her patience. Leo raised an eyebrow, then dragged his hand across his chin, pretending to analyze her words like an eminent philosopher. - Well, genius is rarely appreciated by contemporaries. Megumi slowly closed her eyes, as if counting to ten in her mind, then lifted her chin and looked at him with pity. - It''s not genius, it''s a disaster. Leo smiled wider, tilting his head and glancing at her with a flash of amusement in his eyes. Then he shrugged his shoulders, as if he really didn''t see the difference. - And like any good disaster, it''s hard to take your eyes off me. - No. It''s hard to take your eyes off as one tries to comprehend the scale of the destruction. - She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly, there was a note of amusement mixed with pure frustration in her eyes. Leo scratched the back of his neck, as if he was actually thinking about it, and then sighed and spread his hands. - So you''re saying that I evoke emotions? Great. Megumi sighed heavily and dragged her hand across her face, as if she was really starting to consider running away to a secluded place where Leo would never find her. - Leo, you only evoke one kind of emotion - frustration. Leo sighed deeply, raising his hands and dramatically looking up at the sky, as if begging fate for a little more understanding. - Some people just can''t appreciate uniqueness. Megumi furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head slightly as if she was really analyzing his words only to let out a second later with pure disapproval. - Some people are simply a mistake of evolution. Leo nodded his head slowly, squinting his eyes slightly, as if he was actually calculating something in his mind. - So you''re saying I''m one of a kind? Megumi opened her mouth, ready to drop another retort... but suddenly something inside her snapped. She hung her gaze on Leo. Then she looked at the ground. Then at him again. Leo was standing there with that perpetually amused smile of his, nonchalantly slipping his hands into his pockets, as if he had just broken the world record for annoying people. And that''s when she realized that the argument no longer made sense. Leo had won. Not because he had better arguments.Not because Megumi had given up. But because she had reached the point where continuing this exchange of words was like pouring water on a stone - Leo would have absorbed it anyway, smiled wider and found a way to use it against her. Megumi closed her eyes and let the air out through her nose, as if trying to flush out all the meaninglessness of the situation. After a moment she opened them and her shoulders slumped slightly she looked at me and in her eyes there was something I hadn''t seen in a long time. A pure, crystalline, authentic HELPLESSNESS. It was not defeat. It was a full acceptance of the fact that Leo is not subject to any rules of logic. Megumi tilted her head and looked up at the sky, as if trying to find answers to existential questions there and then she looked at me again. As if she were the only person who could understand her pain at that moment. It was a look that said "Arata. I beg." The art of survival among idiots Forgive me, Megumi¡­ Should I help you? The answer was simple. No. Many people think that friendship is about support. That''s a mistake. True friendship is about balance. When two people clash, someone should stand back and observe. Not to intervene. Not to save the situation. Just to make sure the argument reaches the proper level of absurdity. That was a fundamental rule of the universe: If two people are undermining each other''s authority, you do not interfere. It''s like in nature. You don''t intervene when two deer fight for dominance in a herd. You don''t throw yourself between sharks during their own negotiations. You don''t reach out to save a moth flying towards the light, because maybe that''s exactly where it''s meant to go. And in the same way, you don''t step in when Leo and Megumi start their usual exchange of blows. This was a spectacle. And I was the audience. The best one they could ask for. But now, there was something new. That look. Megumi would deny it. She would say it was an accident. That it didn''t mean anything. But I knew better. And that was my advantage. I looked up at the sky, as if suddenly fascinated by the placement of the clouds. I couldn''t comment on it. Because sometimes, some things are too interesting to ruin. After a moment, Leo stretched lazily, like he had just finished the biggest battle of his life. - Alright. I''ll say this once, so listen up. - He looked at me, then at Megumi, and suddenly¡­ dropped his usual tone. - If you''re about to say something stupid, I swear I... - Megumi narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing him with suspicion. - I missed you guys, okay? - Leo waved a hand, as if shooing away an annoying fly. The words hung in the air. Not because it was some grand confession. But because he said it completely seriously. No irony. No joke. Just that. He missed us. Megumi and I exchanged glances. This wasn''t something you heard often from Leo. Usually, he hid his true thoughts behind layers of sarcasm and nonchalance. But this time¡­ he said it straight from the heart. - Is this some kind of trap? - Megumi raised an eyebrow, still expecting a trick. - No. It''s just¡­ it''s been a while. And damn, I missed this dynamic. - Leo chuckled and shook his head, running a hand over his neck, as if a little embarrassed that he even had to explain. He swung his arm lightly and patted me on the shoulder, leaving behind that familiar warmth that couldn''t just be ignored. Then, he shifted his gaze to Megumi, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a mischievous grin. - I even missed your endless complaining. Yeah, Leo. Nothing screams ''I missed you'' more than implying I''m annoying. - Megumi rolled her eyes, but something in her posture relaxed, just a little, barely noticeable, but still. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. - Everyone expresses feelings in their own way. - Leo''s grin widened as he shrugged. She chuckled under her breath but quickly returned to her neutral expression. - So, where have you even been? Silence. For a split second, Leo hesitated. Just a split second. Then, he shrugged. But he did it just a little too casually, like his body was trying to sell a carefreeness that wasn''t really there. -Here and there. - What kind of answer is that? - Megumi frowned, leaning slightly forward as if trying to read more from his face. - An answer you get when you''re asking too much. - Leo smiled slightly, but something else flickered in his eyes. The tension in the air lingered for a second too long. Not long enough for anyone to comment on it, but enough for it to be noticed. Megumi glanced at me, as if expecting me to say something. But I just watched Leo. And I saw what Megumi might not have. There are things that don''t need to be said to be heard. Sometimes, silence is louder than any confession. Sometimes, a smile reveals more than a thousand words. And sometimes, lightness in a voice carries more weight than the heaviest words. Leo was not the kind of person who needed time to come up with a version of events. And yet¡­ he did now. Not because he didn''t have an answer, but because he had too many. And in moments like this, you don''t ask. You don''t rush. You don''t try to pull on an invisible rope that isn''t yours to hold. You just wait. Because if someone doesn''t want to talk, it doesn''t mean they never will. It only means they''re not ready yet. And I was never someone who forced things out of people. Not because I didn''t care. But because people always talk when their moment comes. And his moment wasn''t now. Not with her here. Leo didn''t want to talk because Megumi was here. Because if something is difficult to say, it only gets harder when too many people are listening. And that was normal. It wasn''t about trust. It wasn''t about Megumi being "outside" of something. It was just that¡­ Some words or actions weighed too much to be carried on someone else''s shoulders. Some things are only meant to be said to the right person. And that didn''t mean we were better friends. It just meant¡­ This was meant to be a conversation between men. So I waited. Not because I had to. But because I knew that eventually, he''d start talking on his own. Leo looked at me, just me. Not for long. Not intensely. But long enough for me to understand. We need to talk. But not now. Not with her here. Megumi didn''t hear it. But she saw it. She saw how Leo didn''t look at her. She saw how his posture shifted, as if preparing for something more serious. She saw my subtle raised eyebrow. She saw more than she heard. For a moment, she looked at Leo, as if trying to decipher him. But Leo had already looked away. The tension in the air shifted. Not drastically. Not enough for a stranger to notice. But if you knew Leo well enough¡­ It was obvious. This was no longer the same conversation. Megumi narrowed her eyes but didn''t say anything. Instead, she suddenly seemed more aware of her own movements. She adjusted her hair. Crossed her arms. Watched. Not for long. Just enough. Then, she sighed, as if convincing herself of a decision she had already made. - Will you walk me home? - She turned to me and looked into my eyes. She didn''t ask Leo. She didn''t need approval. She just accepted the fact that this moment didn''t belong to her. And she stood up. Leo reacted only after a moment. He lifted his gaze to her, as if only now realizing she had moved. - Leaving already? - He dropped his foot from his knee, as if genuinely surprised by this information. Megumi rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement in her smile. - Oh, come on, Leo. - She tilted her head slightly, giving him a mockingly patient look. - I wouldn''t want to interrupt all this romantic tension. Leo raised an eyebrow as if she had just said something requiring deep analysis. - Romantic tension? - What? You two are looking at each other like you''re about to kiss. Leo tilted his head, his lips curling into a slow, almost thoughtful smile. Then, he shifted his gaze to me. I said nothing. But Leo was already grinning wider. I don''t like this¡­ - Thanks, Megumi. After that comment, I really appreciate you leaving. - What? ¨C She narrowed her eyes. Leo shrugged in the most innocent gesture he could muster. His gaze slid over her, as if analyzing every detail. And then a short, but meaningful glance. At her waist. A second. Nothing more. But that was enough. Megumi stiffened, as if a cold wind had just brushed against her skin. - A walk will do you good. ¨C he said¡­ Silence. Just a second. Long enough for it to sink in. Long enough for the spark of pure fury to ignite in her eyes. Leo¡­ my friend, you were truly dear to me. You were like a brother to me. And then¡­ - LEO, YOU¡­!!! Leo was already laughing before she even finished her sentence. But Megumi was already lunging at him. Not playfully. Not in mock anger. She was about to murder him. I caught her at the last moment. Literally. Her hands were already reaching for his throat, but mine wrapped around her wrists just in time. Leo simply leaned back, effortlessly balancing on his heels, still grinning in complete satisfaction. - See, Arata? I was right. - LET ME GO! HIS DEATH IS NECESSARY! ¨C Megumi struggled violently, trying to break free. - Megumi, breathe. ¨C My tone was calm. But I didn''t let her go. Leo placed a hand over his heart, furrowing his brows slightly, as if he was genuinely concerned. - I really care about your health. These outbursts aren''t good for you. Megumi''s fury only grew stronger. Leo, brother, you''re not helping! - HOW ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?! Leo winked at her, leaning forward slightly. - Good diet. That was close. Very close. I felt Megumi tense up. Stronger than usual. Did she start working out? I swear, I was wrestling with a small, enraged battle pig. I sighed and gently pulled her back, turning her towards the exit. - Come on, Megumi. - I sighed heavily, tugging her back slightly. - It''s not worth going to jail for something so uncreative. But she didn''t move right away. She glanced at Leo one last time, as if weighing her murder options. Leo, of course, only grinned wider. But in the end, she lowered her hands and turned toward me. Leo still called after her. - Enjoy your walk! And you could use more of them! He shouldn''t have said that. But he did.