Blood-Holic || Chapter 1: The Banquet [Part 1]
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Chapter 1:
The Banquet [Part 1]
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He lounged lazily on the concrete ground of the school’s rooftop, watching the white feathery clouds hovering above him in the vivid azure sky. He sighed as the sun’s rays hit his delicate yet pale skin. His eyes lidded as the bright sun shone down on his iris. He quickly brought an arm up to cover his façade. He let out a soft sigh as he sat up and grabbed a cigarette stick from his pocket, lighting it before placing it in between his full lips and taking a long drag from it. He shifted towards the covered area on the rooftop and rested his back on the concrete holding the shade over; this is one of the reasons why he prefers snowy and rainy seasons than normal and sunny ones. He and his family are just never good under the sun.
He took the burning stick in between his fingers before exhaling the grey smoke out of his nicotine abused lungs and into the air, watching the vague tendrils of smoke fade out of sight completely as the warm afternoon breeze waft it away with it. He pressed the back of his head on the hard concrete behind him, resting the half burnt cigarette in between his full lips yet again before closing his restless eyes shut with a soft sigh escaping his mouth.
“Isn’t the weather just perfect today?” a tall man with black locks who seemed to be around the age of 28 suddenly appeared beside him. The man was wearing a lab gown, fake eyeglasses and a stethoscope dangling around his neck. The man smiled genuinely at the small brunette before squatting down on the same level as him.
“Smoking is definitely prohibited in our school, Hiroto. Not because the school chairman and the other school stuff are your relatives doesn’t mean you can go off against the school rules and regulation without being punished. Besides, as the school’s doctor, I’ll remind you once again that smoking is very dangerous for your health.” The taller man scolded as he snatched the cancer stick away from the small brunette’s lips before placing it on his.
Hiroto glared at the older man and let out a small groan as he scratched the back of his head irritated. He finally stood up and tucked both of his hands inside his pants pockets.
“That’s my cigarette, jiji1!” Hiroto rolled his eyes and sighed.
“And I know that already! You keep repeating that to me every time we meet.” He retorted as he pursed his lips together.
“Well that’s because you keep doing it, Hiroto-kun and its oji-san2, not jiji.” Shinji chuckled and ruffled the smaller man’s hair.
“Oi, stop it! You’re messing up my hair.” Hiroto hissed as he gently swat Shinji’s hand away from his hair and fixing it back.
Shinji chuckled and tucked his hands in his pockets as well, “I’m just here to remind you about the occasion later tonight.”
Hiroto glanced over him and sucked on his lower lip, “I know. The banquet.” He replied.
Shinji nodded and smiled, “Well, you’re always the late one to arrive so Takanori told me to remind you.” He chuckled gently.
“Fine, I know already. I won’t be late.” Hiroto sighed.
“And- Takanori also said to tell you to make Tora attend the banquet this time. Ever since his wife passed away, he never attended any single get together of our family.” Shinji frowned.
Hiroto bit his lower lip a little and leaned his back on the concrete behind them again, “I’ll try- but I can’t assure you I’d be able to succeed in persuading him to come.”
Shinji nodded and smiled, “Ask help from your cousins.” He smiled.
“-Do whatever it takes to make Tora come!-” Shinji quoted as he imitated the way Takanori said those words and laughed.
“You don’t have to imitate the way Ruki-jisan had said it, I get the image.” Hiroto groaned.
Shinji pouted a little and chuckled, leaning his back on the concrete as well. “Well, that’s good but no need to be so grumpy about it.” He whined childishly as he poked a finger on Hiroto’s cheek.
Hiroto hissed and jerked his face away from Shinji’s finger, “Come on, you act like a kid jiji. I get it already.” He whined back.
Shinji smiled and nodded, “Okay then, oh…how is your little girlfriend by the way?” he asked.
Hiroto quirked an eyebrow up at him, “Little girlfriend?” he asked back trying desperately to understand what Shinji meant.
“You know…that girl named- Murai…uh- Murai Tsukino?” Shinji replied.
Hiroto twitched at the name Shinji gave him as an answer. He smirked and gave him a deadly glared. His eyes burning with irritation and Shinji knew then that he have to leave or else he’ll be in great trouble. Hiroto’s glare gave him a feeling that he just dug his own grave.
“Ah! Look what time it is already!” Shinji exclaimed, laughing nervously as he glance at his wristwatch.
“Time does pass by so quickly now days, huh? Well lunch break is over; I got to run back to the infirmary now. See you later~” he quickly patter Hiroto on the head and scurried away.
Hiroto sighed and shook his head. “Do whatever it takes to make Tora come, huh?” he muttered under his breath as he brushed a hand across his brunette locks with his other hand still in his pockets.
“Why is Shinji-jisan scampering away like that?” Reita wondered as he walked over Hiroto.
The brunette shrugged, “Mm, he said he has to go back to the infirmary.” Hiroto replied lazily with a small yawn.
Reita nodded and settled himself under the shade as well. Aoi walked in after and waved at Hiroto.
“Tonight’s the banquet right?” Aoi asked as he joined Hiroto and Reita under the shade.
Hiroto nodded and let out a troubled sigh.
“What’s up?” Reita hummed.
“Is something the matter, Pon?” Aoi wondered, glancing over the younger man.
“Well Ruki-jisan wanted me to persuade Tora-kun to attend the banquet tonight.” Hiroto replied with a frown.
“Tora. He wouldn’t listen to anyone-” Aoi hummed.
Reita sighed and looked up at the sky, “I think it would be impossible. You’re the youngest in our clan; he will never listen to you.”
Hiroto chuckled and glanced over them, “Who said I’m doing it alone?” a sly smile painted across his cute face.
Aoi and Reita eyed him with confusion painted across their faces, “What do you mean, Pon?” Aoi then asked.
Hiroto pulled himself away from the concrete he was once leaning onto and stepped out under the heat of the sun. He leaned over the metal railings surrounding the rooftop and felt the breeze blow on his face. Aoi and Reita kept themselves safe from the burning sun under the shades as they watched Hiroto with a confused look painted on their faces.
“Well, Ruki-jisan said to do whatever it takes to make Tora-kun come to the gathering…and Shinji-jiji said I should ask help from you guys~ so, that makes the two of you involved in here too.” Hiroto chuckled and faced them with a wide grin plastered on his face.
“Ugh, I knew it.” Reita sighed and leaned his head back on the concrete.
Aoi laughed and patted Reita’s head lightly, “It’ll be fun ne? It means we can use our powers on Tora-kun.” He chuckled.
Reita grinned at the thought, “Yosh! Count us in, Pon.” He exclaimed excitedly.
Hiroto chuckled and nodded, “We should go visit Saga-kun later after school, he’ll be a big help.” He smiled. Aoi and Reita nodded in agreement.
“Well, we should all go back to our classes for now. Let’s meet by the school gate once the classes are over.” Aoi smiled back at Hiroto and waved at him before walking off.
“See yah later Pon~” Reita waved as well and trailed off after Aoi.
“See yah~” Hiroto smiled and waved at them, he lifted his chin up and smiled at the bright sky.
“For some reasons…I feel…happy-“he hummed and tucked his hands into his pockets before deciding to go back to his classroom as well. He walked down the hallway, scratching the back of his head lazily as he let out a small yawn while watching the other students run just to get in class before their teachers could. He shook his head as he slid the door at the back of their classroom open.
As he took a step in, he noticed everyone looking at him and so he looked back at them as well, confused before looking up to see someone standing in front of the classroom.
“You’re late again, Ogata-kun~” a man with golden brown locks and slender figure standing on the flat form in front of the class greeted him with a warm smile.
He looked down embarrassedly and bowed deeply at the man, “I’m sorry Yamaguchi-sensei. I lost track of the time.” He apologized.
“Again? Can’t you think of a new excuse?” a girl with a black stylish, shoulder length hair with streaks of dark red lowlights murmured on her seat. Her soft voice was loud enough for Hiroto to hear.
Hiroto glared at her and huffed, “Shut up, idiot and mind your own business.” He hissed under his breath as he made his way to his seat near the window.
The girl glared back at him and hissed as well, “Stop calling me that you jerk!” she growled softly as she rolled her eyes at him.
“Now, now don’t fight anymore, you two.” Yamaguchi Masao, their literature and English teacher called out to the two of them.
Mao smiled gently and watched the two, “It always intrigued me, though. Why don’t you and Ogata-kun agree with each other? You always fight. Makes me wonder if there is something special going on between you two?” he chuckled as he looked over the girl sitting a seat away from Hiroto and back to the boy by the window.
Hiroto and Tsukino’s eyes widened as their ears twitched at their teacher’s words. They slammed their hands on their desks and pushed themselves off their seats, glaring irritated at Mao. “NO WAY IN HELL!” they both exclaimed.
“Oi! Stop copying me, otemba3!” Hiroto called out as he glared annoyed at her.
Tsukino glared back at him and gritted her teeth angrily, “I’m not copying you, you woman hater!”
Mao and the whole class burst out laughing; Hiroto and Tsukino looked at them confusedly.
“Ah, that’s always a good way to make the class lively now doesn’t it?” Mao snickered.
“It’s not funny!” they growled in synch once again sending the whole class giggling and cooing at them more.
“Don’t they look cute together, Mao-sensei?” one of their classmates giggled behind them and they both glared angrily at her before huffing and sitting back on their seats embarrassedly, and as usual, they did it at the same time as well. They crossed their arms together as Hiroto looked outside the window, cursing and murmuring to himself while Tsukino looked down on her desk and started scribbling funny faces on her notebook as she puffed her cheeks in frustration.
Mao chuckled at Hiroto and Tsukino’s reactions before he turned his gaze down on his book and hummed, “Okay, that’s enough~ let’s start the class now, okay?” he smiled sweetly at his students before turning to write on the blackboard.
***
“Okay~ that’ll be all for now. Class dismissed!” Mao chirped happily, the other students started leaving the classroom while Tsukino gathered her things and shoved them carefully in her book bag. On the other hand, Hiroto was soundly asleep on his desk. Mao shook his head and walked over the sleeping man, poking his arm gently but the other didn’t even squirm. Mao sighed and looked over Tsukino.
“Is he still alive?” Mao asked innocently as he kept poking Hiroto’s arm.
Tsukino frowned and looked over, “He’s just asleep Mao-sensei. Poking him won’t wake that jerk up. Don’t worry about him so much.” She hummed before taking her book bag with her. She bowed at him before heading out to the door.
“Ah! Tsukino-chan, wait! You can’t just leave him here like this, right?” Mao pouted.
Tsukino stared at Mao and sighed, “Fine. I’ll wake him up.”
Mao grinned happily and nodded, “Well then, I’ll take my leave now. I’ll leave him to your care, ne Tsukino-chan~” Mao chirped happily before walking away, leaving her alone in the room with a snoring Hiroto.
Tsukino rolled her eyes and sighed, “What a weird teacher.” She shook her head before walking over Hiroto’s desk. She stared at him quietly before leaning down to see if he was really asleep.
“Eww, I think he’s drooling.” She shivered before poking the other’s arm carefully.
“Ugh! Why am I stuck with this idiot?” she groaned before kicking Hiroto’s desk as hard as she could.
“ITE!” Hiroto groaned, holding on his throbbing head as he lifted it up from his desk. He quickly looked up to see who kicked his desk and found Tsukino grinning mischievously.
“Its dismissal already you sleepy head- get your lazy ass going!” she chuckled.
Hiroto sighed and hissed angrily at her, “Why the fuck did you kick the desk? You could’ve woken me up properly!” he growled.
“I tried but you were in a very deep slumber that it almost seemed you’re dead already. Didn’t you know Mao-sensei was worried? He tried waking you up too but you won’t budge so I thought maybe kicking the desk would work and look! It did!” she giggled and grinned widely at him.
“I’ll kill you!” Hiroto hissed as he rubbed his throbbing forehead. He let out an exhausted groan before grabbing his book bag and standing up from his seat.
Tsukino watched him carefully, “Going home?” she asked as she followed him out of the classroom like a puppy following her master.
Hiroto twitched as he scratched the back of his head, “None of your business, leave me alone.” He simply replied as he massaged the back of his neck.
Tsukino just kept quiet and followed him. Hiroto stopped and stared at her, “Stop following me.” He groaned as he continued to walk off.
Tsukino stopped when he stopped and trailed off after him when he started walking again. Hiroto sighed and quicken his pace and Tsukino did so as well. Hiroto tightened his grip on his book bag as he tried not to burst. She was seriously annoying the hell out of him.
“You better stop.” He mumbled.
“What?” she asked innocently as she continued to follow him, humming to herself. Hiroto stopped and glared at her.
“What the hell do you want with me?” he asked as he looked into her yellow green eyes that changed its color when light hits them. No matter how hard he tried, he just can’t seem to read or understand what’s going on her mind. Tsukino just stared back at him and blinked as he stared deep into her eyes. Her face was blank and she seemed to be waiting for Hiroto to tell her something.
Hiroto started to feel nervous as she stared at him, “Stop it! Don’t look at me like that!” he hissed and turned away from her but she just kept looking at him.
“What do you want, Tsukino?” he asked again, trying to be as calm as possible. Maybe, just maybe she’ll finally talk. Tsukino smiled and giggled to herself, Hiroto looked back and quirked an eyebrow at her.
“What’s funny?” he wondered.
“You called me Tsukino.” She replied.
“What?” Hiroto asked confusedly.
“You called me by my first name~ for the first time!” she exclaimed. Hiroto rolled his eyes at her and sighed.
“So?” Hiroto tilted his head as he tucked a hand in his pants’ pocket.
“Mm- nothing, I just find it amusing.” She chuckled.
“Anyways, wouldn’t you thank me for waking you up?” She asked.
“Gah! You’ve been following me around just for that?” he cried out and Tsukino just nodded.
“What else should I be following you around?” she asked innocently.
Hiroto wanted to hit her but kept himself composed, “You know, you’re such an annoying girl! Why the hell didn’t you tell me that earlier? I KEPT ASKING YOU WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT!?” he cried out and she just shrugged.
“I forgot but I thought you said I’m an otemba?” she tilted her head to the side as she pointed her index finger back to herself.
“Ugh! I don’t want to talk to you! I’m just wasting my time talking to an idiot.” Hiroto hissed and walked off.
Tsukino pouted but then smiled, “See you tomorrow Hiroto-kun~” she waved happily at him and he hissed as he quickly walked to the school gate where Reita and Aoi are waiting for him.
“Yoh~ you’re late!” Reita chuckled.
“Gomen4, gomen4, I got stuck with an idiot.” Hiroto sighed.
Aoi chuckled as he played with a flower by the school’s gate. “By any chance, is that idiot you’re talking about is a girl who happened to be in the same class as you?” he wondered as he looked up at Hiroto, the flower climbed up Aoi’s arm.
“Yeah.” He replied with a small nod, “And you shouldn’t do that.” He continued.
“Pon’s right, Aoi-kun. We don't want anyone knowing about us.” Reita hummed and Aoi quickly stopped manipulating the flower.
“I’m sorry; I got carried away with the flower’s beauty.” Aoi sighed and glanced down the now still flower by the plant box.
“Ah! Ichiki-sensei~ Ninomiya-sensei, Are you guys going home now?” Tsukino called out happily, Aki and Shinji looked up and saw Tsukino running towards them. Aoi, Reita and Hiroto heard the commotion and looked up as well.
Hiroto sighed and hissed as he saw Tsukino, “Speak of the idiot-“he groaned.
Aoi giggled and patted him lightly on the back.
“Ah~ Tsukino-san, yes…we are about to go home. How about you?” Aki greeted and asked her back with a warm smile on his calm face.
Tsukino nodded and bowed at them, “I’m going ahead now then, sensei. See you tomorrow~” she chirped before waving at them and heading off.
“Bye~ Take care!” Shinji called out as he waved at her happily as well.
Tsukino stopped and glanced over Hiroto who was by the school gate and bowed at them, “See you tomorrow, Aoi-sempai, Reita-sempai.” She smiled and left.
“See yah~” Aoi and Reita smiled back and watched her leave.
“Tsk, she didn’t even notice me.” Hiroto sighed.
“What’s wrong? I thought you hate her?” Shinji snickered.
“Nothing! And I do!” Hiroto groaned.
“Where are you heading to?” Aki asked.
“We’re going to visit Saga and ask him to help us with Tora.” Reita replied.
Aki remained silent and nodded, “I’ll go ahead now then. Take care; see you guys later at the banquet.” He waved and walked off.
“Mou! Aki! Wait for me!” Shinji called out, bowed at them before running after Aki.
“You’re so loud Shinji!” Aki scolded as he shrugged him off him.
Reita chuckled and turned to Aoi and Hiroto, “So, are we going now?” he asked.
“Yeah- we should.” Aoi smiled and walked off with them.
***
“Saga-kun.” A soft whisper echoed gently against his ears.
“Saga-kun!” the voice became louder and he flinched a little, still keeping his head buried in his arms. A soft groan crawling out of his lips.
Shizuka sighed and shook her head as she sat back on her seat, glancing at their professor who was now glaring angrily at her seatmate who seemed to be in a deep slumber already. Shizuka quickly nudged gently but frantically with her elbow when she saw their teacher walking up to where they are.
“Idiot, wake up!” she groaned however, Saga kept asleep and finally, their teacher was standing right in front of them. Shizuka sighed and looked away as their teacher glared at Saga, she could imagine their teacher’s face and eyes becoming bright red while smoke gust out of his ears and nose in anger.
‘Oh geez, he’s so mad.’ She thought as she held a hand on her forehead not wanting to see what their teacher is going to do with Saga.
Their teacher sighed and shook his head, “Sakamoto!” he called out as he gently shook the limp form in front of him.
“Nn-” Saga groaned and cringed when their teacher shook him.
The teacher hissed and hit the back of Saga’s head hard with the thick book in his hand. “Didn’t I tell you not to sleep in my class?” he growled and glared as the once limp form glared back at him.
Saga sighed as he rubbed the back of his head, his classmates murmuring and watching his not so new scenes with their Math teacher. He looked over Shizuka who was looking the other way; he gently nudged her and leaned her head on his shoulder before letting out a small yawn.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?” he whispered as he watched their teacher walk back in front and onto the flat form.
Shizuka gasped softly when she felt the nudged followed by Saga’s head on her shoulder; she quickly looked at him with a faint blush painted all over her face as she bit her lip gently.
“I did so! You were just so stupid you didn’t even notice I did.” She pouted cutely as she continued to take down notes, letting the other rest his head on her shoulder.
Saga hummed and nodded a little, eyes closed as he slowly started to fall asleep again. Shizuka looked at him when he didn’t yell at her for calling him stupid and found him sleeping soundly on her shoulder again. She sighed and shook her head, ‘I really wanted you to sleep like that on my shoulder but I'd rather not see you be in detention later.’ She thought to herself before jerking her shoulder making Saga’s head fall onto the desk.
“ITE!!!” Saga groaned as he stood up from his seat, holding on his throbbing forehead, he glared at Shizuka.
“What did you do that for?” he hissed and Shizuka just smiled at him and pointed at their teacher who was glaring at Saga angrily again. Saga looked down and let out a sigh before sitting back down on his seat and trying his best not to fall asleep again. Shizuka giggled at him and continued to listen and take down notes.
***
“We’re going ahead now~” three girls called out at her as they head out of the door.
“Okay, bye~” Shizuka waved gently at her friends as she continued to pack her things in her bag. She looked over Saga who was cleaning the whole classroom as a punishment for interrupting the class twice. She chuckled a little and went over to help him.
Saga looked over her and blinked, “What are you doing?” he asked.
“Helping you. What else do you think am I doing?” she asked back and flashed a wide smile at him.
“You don’t have to- I can do it myself.” He groaned and continued to erase the blackboard.
“But I want to~ It’ll make you finish quicker.” She smiled as she started to sweep the floor.
Saga sighed and shrugged at her, “If you insist.” He smiled gently and finished the rest of the work.
“Knock, knock~” three men in high school uniforms came in, a grin plastered on their faces. Shizuka and Saga looked up at them.
“What are you guys doing here?” Saga asked quirking an eyebrow at the three men as he dusted his clothes and hands off.
Hiroto chuckled and sat on top of the teacher’s desk. “Why? Are we interrupting anything?” he wondered, winking a little at Shizuka who was staring curiously at them.
“Ee? No, you’re not interrupting anything at all- I was just helping Saga-kun finish the cleaning, I’m actually done and I’m about to leave.” Shizuka replied in a panic.
Saga sighed and rolled his eyes at his cousins, “Don’t worry about them Shizuka, but thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.” He smiled.
Shizuka nodded and smiled back at him as she set the broom and dust pan aside before grabbing her bag and bowing at them. “I’ll go ahead now then~ see you.” She waved before dashing out of the room.
“She’s pretty cute~ is she your girlfriend?” Reita asked, chuckling a little as he leaned his back on the door’s frame while watching Shizuka disappear in the hallway.
“No- she’s not.” Saga simply replied as he went over his and Shizuka’s desk to grab his bag.
“Is that so? She seems nice though.” Aoi hummed as he leaned on the other side of the door’s frame and tucking his hands inside his pants’ pockets.
Hiroto nodded and swung his feet back and fort as it dangled down the teacher’s desk he was sitting on. “Yeah- Aoi-kun is right. I thought you’re a sex god? Why haven’t you won her over yet?” he asked, tilting his head at him a little. A sly grin plastered on his face.
“That’s because I don’t want to. One, because she’s not my type and two, it’s because she’s a close friend.” He replied.
“Anyways, why are you three here? If it’s to remind me about the banquet well you can go home now. I didn’t forgot about it.” He continued as he head towards the door.
“Well, it’s related to the banquet, yes.” Aoi nodded and smirked at him.
“We need your help.” Reita added.
“My help?” Saga asked quirking an eyebrow intrigued at Aoi and Reita who were both standing by the door.
“Yeah, you know Tora-kun never goes to the banquet ever since his wife passed away, right? Well Ruki-jisan wanted us to get him to come by any means necessary and so- we have to use force on him. We need you to help us because we know you’ll be a great help.” Hiroto replied as he got off the desk and walked over to Saga’s side.
Saga looked over at him and nodded, “Fine. If that’s what Ruki-jisan ordered then I guess I can’t say no. Do you have a plan at all?” he wondered.
“A plan…?” Aoi blinked as he tapped his lips.
“Can’t we just pounce on him, tie him up and drag him with us?” Reita asked innocently.
“That won’t work. He’ll kill us all-” Hiroto shook his head and sighed.
“What do you think should we do then, Saga-kun?” Hiroto wondered, looking up at the taller man.
Saga shrugged and sighed, “I don’t know but we can’t just go there without a plan. We’ll end up digging our own graves.” He replied.
Aoi chuckled and patted his shoulder, “I’ve got a plan.” He smirked.
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Jiji1- is a rude way of calling an older person. It is derived from ojiisan meaning old man.
Jisan/ojisan2- literally means uncle or grandfather but in this case, we’re using it as uncle.
Otemba3-a Japanese slang meaning tomboy.
Gomen4-is an informal way of saying sorry, derived from the word Gomenasai which is the formal way of saying ‘I’m sorry.’
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To be continued
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~> Chapter 2: The Banquet [Part 2] <~
Credits to: star_jrock for the chapter banner~