The End of Akira
Chapter 11: I Hope That's True

"Thank you for the food" said Sou smilingly looking at Akira.

"Thank you for the food as well" said Akira who also smiled looking at Sou.

"As usual, Akira's cooking is always good" Sou said.

"Don't lie Sou, I still have a lot to practice again" Akira said as he cleared his lunchbox. "Oh, I forgot to bring a drink."

"really? I bring a drink, we share it again" Sou pointed out the bottle.

"No need for Sou. I brought him a bottle, just left in class" Akira smiled.

"It doesn't matter Akira, your throat will drag if you don't drink now. This is drink" Sou said, giving Akira his bottle.

"Is it okay if I drink first? This will have Sou" Akira asked as she received a drinking bottle from Sou.

"No problem. After all it's my bottle so I'm free to drink it when" Sou smiled.

"Alright, thank you Sou" Akira said then drank the water. "This, thank you very much Sou" said Akira giving back the bottle.

"Together." Sou then received the bottle and drank it because his throat was a little drag.

"Ohok!!" Sou chokes. (Me and Akira drink in the same bottle, this means.. Indirect kiss??!!!)

"Sou's pants, you're choking" said Akira in a slight panic.

"Ah, hmm" Sou nodded then slowly sipped back into the water. (What am I really thinking? Geez) Inner Sou glanced at Akira.

"As long as there's still time, I want to take a look at the activities below from here" said Akira then walked closer to the guardrail.

"Well, I can really see everyone here" Akira said in awe.

"What do you see?" Tanya Sou approached Akira.

"People."

Sou looked at Akira, he then chuckled. "I think I'm asking the wrong question?" Said Sou staring at Akira and Akira then looked at Sou and smiled.

They enjoyed the view downstairs long enough for the break bell to ring.

"Bel break has rung, let's go back. We've been here too long" Sou asked.

"Yes, Ayano will also definitely be looking for us."

Then they went back to class. Although the break bell rang, Akira did not see anyone who passed them.

"Sou, why don't I see anyone else but us here? Isn't this a break?" Akira asked as he walked down the stairs.

"Other disciples rarely go to the rooftop, so we're the only ones here" Sou explained.

"Ah I understand" said Akira nodded in understanding.

"What do you do when you get home?" Tanya Sou opened the conversation.

"I have to go practice" Akira replied smiling.

"Ah right, I forgot that you are a member of Platnas" said Sou whom Akira was pleased with.

"Sou himself? What do you do after school?" Ask Akira.

"I need to get back to learning" Sou replied calmly.

(Should? Was Sou told to go back to study by his parents?) Akira said in his heart.

"My parents were pretty loud, so I had to do what they said" Sou explained.

Akira looked at Sou. "That-"

"But it doesn't matter. I'm not a smart person either, so I have to learn" Sou said smilingly cutting off Akira's conversation.

"Sorry Sou, does Sou's parents require Sou to always study?" Ask Akira again.

Sou shook his head. "No, they let me do whatever I wanted to do but my academic grades should always be good. Of course I don't want to get a bad grade either" Sou smiled.

"Then get good grades for Mom and Dad Sou and also for Sou himself. Believe me they did that because they care so much for you" Akira smiled.

"You're right, I don't hate him too much either because I'm still allowed to do the things I love" Sou smiled.

Akira smiles. "Thank God, don't forget to enjoy your precious time, Sou."

"Of course, I can't waste it" Sou smiled.

In class...

"Where have you been, Akira? I was looking for you from earlier" said Ayano who greeted Akira and Sou at the entrance.

"We're from the rooftop, what's the matter?" Ask Akira.

"Let's eat together" said Ayano again.

"Ah, that's sorry Ayano, my supply is up. I was very hungry so I ate first, I'm sorry" Akira said regretfully.

"Did you eat together at the rooftop?" Ask Ayano again.

Akira looked at Sou for a while then nodded.

"Why don't you guys take me?" Ayano was upset.

"You were with your friends earlier so we ate alone" said Akira, who was taken by Sou.

"It's a pity, it's okay" Ayano said.

"If you'll excuse Ayano, I'm going in" Sou said.

"Ah right, sorry. Go ahead" said Ayano giving way to Sou.

They then sat on their own benches.

"About, are you that close to Sou?" Ayano asked on the sidelines of her meal.

"Near that how?" Akira asked confusedly.

"I always see the two of you together, even today you eat together with him, just the two again" Ayano explained.

"Ah right, in hindsight it seems like we are too close huh" said Akira, who was embraced by Ayano. "But I couldn't refuse Sou's invitation just now. I had no activities and I was hungry so I agreed" Akira said.

"But Sou is very brave yes invite a girl first" said Ayano staring at Sou who was sitting on his stool.

"Something's wrong, Ayano?" Ask Akira.

"Hem.no, it's just that I feel that he really is a man" said Ayano who was still staring at Sou.

"Huh? How's that supposed? Did you think Sou was a girl all this time, did you?" Akira was confused.

Ayano looked at Akira with a surprised look. "Ah right, like that roughly" Ayano nodded.

"Geez, how could it be? It's obvious that he's a man, Ayano" said Akira, not believing what Ayano had just said.

Ayano laughs. "Forget Akira, we're just going around in circles talking about this. Forget it yeah" Ayano smiled.

"But.."

"No but-but."

"Alright" said Akira resigned.

When I go home to school...

"I thought I was first, I promised my friend" said Ayano.

"Yes, be careful" Akira smiled. Ayano then leaves Akira.

"You want to go home together?" Tanya Sou approached Akira.

"Can" said Akira smiling.

The two of them then walked together leaving the classroom.

"Tasks for tomorrow are quite a lot" Sou said.

"Sou's right, maybe I'll stay up tonight" Akira smiled.

"Ah right, I've always been curious about the way you divide your time. We go to school from morning to evening, then Akira has to go to practice. Do you always stay up late to study and do assignments?" Ask Sou.

Akira smiles. "About like that Sou."

"Are you not tired?" Ask Sou again.

"Hmm. if you're tired, of course, but I have to do it, right? Actually I could not have participated in badminton training, but I really want to be an athlete anyway and maybe already used to like this" said Akira smiled.

"You're great, you did it why am I proud?" Said Sou smiling.

"You could be Sou, I'm not that great. Many people are taller than me and even better" Akira smiled.

Sou then smiled hearing Akira's words.

"Good God, he's smiling! Souta smile!" said a student screaming.

Sou and Akira then turned to look at the student and he looked very surprised.

(About admitting, Sou is very handsome especially when smiling but is Sou smiling is something that is very surprising?) Inner Akira looked at the student who looked very surprised.

"Sou, what a ka-"

"Just let him, let's go home" Sou said coldly. He then walked ahead of Akira.

Akira smiled faintly at the schoolgirl and walked after Sou.

"Sou wait" call Akira. 

(It seems Sou doesn't like it) Inner Akira saw Sou's cold gaze.

Feeling that he was being stared at, Sou then looked at Akira.

"What's Akira?" Ask.

Akira quickly threw away his gaze then shook his head. "Nothing."

"I don't like people like that, they make me uncomfortable" Sou said looking straight ahead.

"Hmm. If I were treated like that, I wouldn't like it either. But I admit Sou is indeed a tam-" Akira paused her words. He went back down without continuing what he wanted to say.

"Tam what?" Said Sou staring at Akira.

"That's. hmm.. (Sou must be angry if I say it now)"

"Tam what's Akira?" Said Sou again while bringing his face closer to the lowered Akira.

"I just found out that Akira is a forgetful person even when saying something" Sou smiled.

"Sorry" said Akira.

"You are adorable Akira" said Sou who was still smiling at her.

"Ap-" Akira did not continue his words again after getting a sweet smile from Sou's face.

"Thank you" Akira said in a very small voice while looking down again.

"You said something?" Ask Sou again.

"No, I didn't say anything Sou."

"All right."

"about!!" Call Ayano. He then approached Akira and Sou.

"Ayano, I thought you were home" Akira said.

"I want to go home with you, can I?" tanyakanya.

"Sure, come on" Akira said smilingly.

"Ah right, did you guys enter the school club?" Ask Ayano.

"I've decided but haven't submitted the registration form yet" Akira smiled.

"What about Sou?" Ask Ayano again.

Sou nodded. "I'm coming along." 

"Sou was even accepted before entering, right?" Akira asked with a small laugh.

Sou smiled. "I'm afraid of being someone else's talk."

"What club is Sou?" Ask Ayano again.

"Basketball" replied Sou briefly.

"There is a club like that as well as it turns out" said Ayano understood.

"Ayano doesn't know?" Ask Akira.

"Yesterday I just surrounded the club in this building" explained Ayano.

"just fine. Even though the basketball club is cool, I'm sure Ayano would like it" said Akira smiling.

"How did Akira know?" Ayano said again.

"I saw the basketball game at the introduction of the club yesterday" Akira explained.

"What are you guys"

"Right, we saw the game yesterday" said Sou who seemed to know what Ayano was going to say.

"You're so mean, why don't you take me?" Ayano Protests.

"You said you promised your friends, didn't you? Don't protest to us" Sou said without staring at Ayano.

"True, it's my fault" said Ayano sadly.

"Next time let's see a sports club together, Ayano didn't see any of the sports clubs did she?" Take Akira who is possessed by Ayano. "It's decided" Akira smiled.

From a distance Akira can see his brother who is waiting in front, but this time it is not Yuki who picks up, but Shinji.

"Tumben once Shin's brother picks up" murmured Akira who then waved his hand at Shinji.

"Is that your brother Akira too?" Ask Ayano.

"Yes, it's Brother Shin, my second brother" explained Akira. "Sister, have you been waiting a long time?" Akira said after arriving in Shinji's presence.

"It's quite a while" said Shinji smiling.

Shinji then looked towards Sou and Sou who were in Shinji's eyes and then smiled.

(Ah so he's a guy named Sou. More handsome when looking at him directly though still more handsome I am) Inner Shinji smiled at Sou and Ayano.

"This is Shinji's sister, my brother" Akira said, introducing Shinji.

"It's Sou and Ayano, they're Akira's friends" Akira smiled.

"Greetings yes. I know it's hard to be friends with him, but please be his friend?" shinji said with a smile that made Akira ashamed.

"Greetings to you, too, Brother. Akira didn't bother us brother, he's a good boy. We can definitely make good friends" Ayano smiled.

"We are not in trouble Brother, I am happy to be friends with Akira" Sou smiled.

"About here for a minute" said Shinji, pulling Akira's hand slowly.

"What's up, brother?"

"It turns out he's very handsome up close" whispered Shinji.

"Is that the reason Big Brother picked up Akira today?" Ask Akira.

Shinji nodded. "True" he said smiling.

"Sister!" Rengek Akira's.

Sou and Ayano just stared at the confused manner of the 2 brothers in front of them.

"Ah, sorry yes. Do you want to come home with us?" Shinji asked with a smile.

"No brother thank you, I'll go home alone" Sou smiled.

"Ayano will also go home alone, brother, thank you" said Ayano smiling.

"Alright then" said Shinji who also smiled.

"We're Akira first, Shinji's sister" said Ayano.

"Be careful" said Shinji.

"Be careful friends, see you tomorrow" Akira said, waving his hand.

"I say goodbye, Akira. See you" said Sou smiling. "Bye-bye" murmured Sou who then went with Ayano.

(Looks like she's getting used to it) Akira smiled. "Bye-bye."

As they walked a few steps, Shinji called Sou which made Akira, Sou, and Ayano confused.

"Sou wait!" Call Shinji.

Ayano and Sou then stopped his steps. Sou then returns to Shinji and Akira.

(Why did Big Brother call Sou back?) "What's up, brother?" Akira asked confusedly.

"Sister called me?" Ask Sou.

"Yes, come with me for a while" said Shinji, taking Sou a little away from Akira.

"Akira's feelings are not good now" Akira murmured at her brother's behavior.

"What's up, brother?" Sou asked confusedly.

"This is our first meeting and it was very sudden, but come to our house later" Shinji smiled.

Sou looked surprised and confused. "(I didn't hear wrong, did I? Why so suddenly?) Wait, brother, that's.."

"It would be nice if you played home" Shinji smiled.

(Wait, Akira? Why?)

"I'm serious, Akira would be so happy if you played home. So come sometime" said Shinji who seemed to know what Sou was thinking.

"I-iya Brother" said Sou nervously.

"That's great, thank you Sou" Shinji smiled.

"Ah, yes Brother" said Sou smiling awkwardly.

"I'm sorry I've taken your time, Ayano is waiting" Shinji said.

"It's okay Brother, well I go home first" Sou said slightly bowed.

"Be careful" said Shinji patting Sou on the back.

Sou then smilingly looked at Akira for a while then passed away.

(Sister must have done something bad to Sou) Inner Akira saw Sou's behavior from a distance.

"What did you say to Sou? Why is he being so weird?" Ask Akira to investigate.

"Nothing" said Shinji staring at Sou's departure.

"Sister lied. What did Brother say to Sou? If Big Brother threatens him, Akira will apologize right now" Akira said.

"Silver can't possibly do such a nasty thing - Shinji looked at Akira - Brother meant it, Brother did nothing. Brother just told him to play at home, that's all" Shinji explained.

"But Brother and Sou just met" said Akira again.

"It doesn't matter, does it? After all he is a friend of Akira" Shinji said.

"Right-natured brother. All right let's go home brother, Akira has to practice" said Akira smiling.

"All right, come on."

The other...

"Is there a problem, Sou?" Ask Ayano.

"No, there's no. You should have gone home first, you were waiting for me" Sou said staring at Ayano.

"It's okay. Thank goodness there are no problems. I thought Shinji's sister didn't like you and would scold you earlier" Ayano smiled.

"Actually I was also very scared earlier. But it's not a big deal. Okay, I'm first" said Sou.

"Yes, see you soon Sou" Ayano smiled. They then split up at a fork in the road.

(Did Shinji tell you the truth? Is it true that Akira would be happy if I played to his house? I'm not being bullied, am I?)

"Geez, my head is dizzy just because of this. Let's just think about it later" said Sou ruffling his own hair.

"But I hope it's true" he said with a smile.