I was too stunned to answer him, and his body fell to mine, which caught me completely off-guard. ’What is going on? Why is Night wounded? And did he just lose consciousness?’ There were too many questions inside my head until Rika opened the door, and Kenji arrived. "P-Please help me." Kenji grabbed Night away from me.
"I apologize for that, milady," Kenji said as he pulled Night away. "Please get a hold of yourself, waka." I heard him talking to Night.
What just happened? "Are you alright, young miss?" No, why is Rika asking me? It was Night who was covered with blood and wounds.
"I-I’m fine, but what about Night? Why is he covered with blood?" Was it because he failed to kill someone today, and he’s the one who got in trouble instead?
Rika pretended like she didn’t know. "Let me help you tidy up." With that, I took another bath and ate before going to sleep, but all I could think about was the expression on Night’s face. It was fear, but I don’t understand what he feared. It was also the first time I saw an emotion in his eyes, but it wasn’t a good emotion. Sadness and longing, that’s what I saw.
"Hey, Ellie? Are you paying attention?" El snapped his finger in front of me, making me return to reality. "I’ve been talking to you for like 30 minutes now, but you’re not responding." Ah, that’s right. I’m already at school, and El arrived on time, so we’re already studying in the library.
"I-I’m sorry, what were you saying again?"
El sighed. "I said this equation is easier than the one you’re learning." He said. "What got you distracted like that? Did something happen?"
Something? I saw Night yesterday covered up with blood, and his forehead was bleeding. I can’t remove his face in my head and his sad eyes. He’s like a puzzle, but I don’t know how to solve him. Maybe I’m not the one who’s supposed to solve him. "It’s nothing." Let’s just focus on what’s in front of us right now.
"See, you need to put this over here to get the answer," El explained. How come it’s easier than when Night taught me? "Do you understand it? I’m not good at explaining, so you might get confused—"
I shook my head. "Nope. Surprisingly, I understand it so quickly." This makes me doubt my capabilities. Do I really get it? "Can you make me answer something to ensure I’m really learning this properly?"
El ruffled my hair, but Kaoru immediately took his hand off my head. Right, I forgot that Kaoru’s here with us. He told me he couldn’t let me be alone with this guy, and I didn’t want him to be scolded by Night, so I let him stay with us. He’s not saying anything, so he’s not disturbing us. "Calm down, Kaoru," I told him and made Kaoru return to his seat. "Please prevent being all touchy and clingy with me."
"Oh, I’m sorry if it offended you." El quickly apologized. "I won’t do it again without your permission." He said. Even though I was doubtful of his words, I didn’t have any more time to keep reminding him. We continued, and I’m really enjoying this. Never have I ever thought that I’ll enjoy mathematics one day.
"You’re smiling."
I looked at El’s face after he said that. "What do you mean?"
"I finally saw you smiling." My forehead creased. "Since this morning, you have this frown, and I can’t talk to you much, but now you’re smiling. Although you frowned again."
I shook my head as I smiled. "It’s because I always hated this subject since I was a kid, but now I’m enjoying it little by little." El giggled because of that. "Maybe you’re really good at teaching. Do you teach your sisters?"
El nodded. "Before, when I used to live with them." His mouth curved into a smile. "I’m glad that you’re enjoying this."
With that, El really helped me learn all the past lessons I missed because I was absent. The three days I spent studying with El were worth it. He even helped me with the other subjects, he’s excellent in everything! "I think you should focus on this part since the lessons revolve around this." He said as he pointed to the marked part in my notes. It was that part marked by Ace too.
It’s the last day of the sports festival, and I think they’ll celebrate later with a dance, but I can’t attend since I’m still studying with El. "I’m sorry for taking too much of your time, and thank you for spending three whole days with me," I said as I sat down on my chair. I told Kaoru that he could enjoy the last day of the sports festival to the fullest since he won’t be experiencing such things anymore after he graduates.
Despite knowing he shouldn’t leave me alone, Kaoru went to the field with a massive smile. He’s still a child, no matter how much I look at him. "Is it really okay for your friend to leave us?" El asked, which made me look at him. Doesn’t he feel awkward whenever Kaoru’s with us?
"Yeah. Kaoru should enjoy himself too sometimes."
El chuckled. "What about you? Shouldn’t you enjoy yourself too?"
"I don’t have the luxury to enjoy right now." Even the way I speak has changed ever since I started living inside the Yamaguchi household. "By the way, I still haven’t learned your full name despite you knowing mine."
I heard El’s chuckle again, and it made my forehead crease. We exchanged contact information the other day, but I still put his name as El. "Is it too much for you to tell me your real name?" I asked while highlighting the parts he told me to focus on.
"It’s Aziel."
I turned to him. "Come again?"
He smiled. "My name. It’s Aziel."
Silence took over after he said that. "Whoa, that’s harder to pronounce than your nickname, so I’ll stick with El." He laughed so much that he almost bumped his knee on the table. What’s with him? Did I say something wrong? He’s laughing too much.
"You’re really adorable, Ellie."
That’s when we heard a loud sound coming from the door. "What’s going on?" El stood up from his seat, but a masked man with long hair appeared in front of him. "Who are you?" He asked, but the masked man suddenly aimed a gun at his head, causing me to flinch as I stood up.
It’s a masquerade mask with pink paint on the eyes and a butterfly design on the forehead.
W-What is going on? Who are these people? "Don’t move, or I’ll shoot you in the head." The masked man told El, which made El raise both of his hands in compliance. "You, get over here." I flinched after the masked man pointed at me. ’W-What is going on? How did this guy get in here?’
I sauntered toward the masked man with my legs trembling in fear. ’Are these people the one after me?’ I gulped after reaching the masked man. "What do you want?" El asked with his hands still raised in the air. My breathing grew heavier as my vision got fuzzy. "Don’t hurt her." I hear El trying to make a deal with the masked man and his companions, but they aren’t listening to him. I-Is this why Kenji won’t allow me to leave Kaoru’s side at all times?
How did these people get into our school? The school guard won’t let such suspicious people inside. What if they already hurt other people, and I’m not their only target? "P-Please don’t hurt El." My voice cracked as I pleaded.
My knees are getting weak, and I can’t breathe well. I walked towards the masked man, but El grabbed my arm, making me look at him. He shook his head and mouthed, "Trust me." After the masked man turned his back on us.
El pulled me towards him. "We can escape." He whispered to my ear. I can see sweat coming out of his temples. Is he nervous? Of course! Who wouldn’t feel nervous after being aimed a gun at? "Just trust me. I won’t let you get hurt." It makes me want to cry hearing that. I already went through something like this, but I’m not alone this time.
The masked man talked with his companions, also wearing white masks. "As soon as those guys go outside, let’s go through the window," El said. This library is located on the first floor so it’ll be easier for us to escape outside. Since many people are outside, they won’t be able to hurt us with too many people.
’But what if they hurt those people too?’ My mind won’t stop overthinking this situation. What if they’re only after me, yet I keep bringing trouble to other people?
"W-What if they shoot at us?"
El smiled as he took a deep breath. "Trust me."