[HIATUS] ♕ 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒆 ♕ -jibaku shonen hanako-kun

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟘

"Sorry, but I've already got a person I like."

Teru has been giving the exact same answer to every confession that was directed at him ever since he heard (y/n)'s voice near the abandoned tower a few days ago. He knew that (y/n) is dead, and she will never come back to him, but there was a tiny bit of hope inside him that fate might let them meet once again in the future somehow.

Even if she was untouchable.

Even if... no, that's impossible.

"President Minamoto! I have a big problem here!"

Teru turned his head curiously as one of his classmates approached him, panicking. "What happened?"

"A student suddenly collapsed in front of the abandoned music room on the 3rd floor of the west building! I think you should see him, becauseー"

+++

(y/n) placed her fingers on top of the piano and was about to play her song when she heard a loud thud from outside the music room where she resides. She hurried out to see what it was, and her eyes widened in shock at the sight.

A second-year male student was lying there, unconscious, as his eyes and mouth were seen wide agape with terror on his face. His pupils were shrunk, as if he just saw something really terrifying. His whole body was stiff as a board, his hands were in a position where it looked like he was about to cover his ears but stopped midway.

"What the..."

(y/n) was about to move closer towards the unconscious student to examine him, but approaching footsteps are already being heard from afar. She hurriedly darted back to the music room, closed the door shut behind her, and leaned on it to listen to the people outsideー that apparently just arrived at the spot where the student lies down.

'Students who listen to the sound of piano playing are usually in awe at the beginning, but when it gets to the refrain of the song, most of them end up bewitched. They will start screaming in agony, while holding their ears as if something is ripping it'.

Panic bubbled up inside her as she realized that this is similar to what the rumor about her would sound like. But I haven't even started playing yet...!

"What happened to him?"

Teru-kun's voice...

(y/n)'s heart rate accelerated. If this had happened before she found out that Teru is an exorcist, she would be certain that happiness was the cause of it, but now she wasn't even sure whether it was because of her undying affection for him or her fear of being discovered.

"I have no idea... I was passing by when I saw him collapse, and I immediately rushed over to you for help, President Minamoto!"

So he didn't see me... that's a relief...

A short moment of uncomfortable silence passed before (y/n) heard Teru speak again. "As I recalled from the rumor that was passing by a few weeks ago, I would say that there is only one thing that would cause this incident... which is the School Mystery No. 8."

(y/n) froze. But I didn't do anything...! Then who...?

"I also heard that she resides in this abandoned music room right over... here."

(y/n) closed her eyes, not knowing what to do nor where to hide. He's going to find out...!

She heard the door being opened, but then she felt an arm snake around her waist and pulling her body towards their chest. Wait... I recognize this embrace...

"You're safe now, (y/n)-chan~!"

+++

The abandoned music room was empty the moment Teru entered it. He looked around the room, hoping to find some signs that indicate the whereabouts of the School Mystery No.8. Nothing seemed off, but there was something that he found weird.

The room was too tidy and neat for an abandoned music room. The things insideー the music stands, the chairs, the piano, and everythingー was sparkling clean, as if somebody cleaned it everyday. The window shades were open, and there were fresh potted plants in front of it.

It looked too aliveー too familiar...

"President Minamoto? Are you okay? You look... distracted."

Teru immediately realized that he had walked to the piano and was caressing its lid absentmindedly. "I'm fine... just... remembering old memories."

He remembered how (y/n) used to sit on the piano bench in her house and practice in front of him while he was visiting her, and how she would ask him questions related to music which he didn't understand. He also remembered how he'd always ended up researching music theory just to impress (y/n).

"You're so smart, Teru-kun! I know I could always count on you!"

... is what (y/n) would say every time he answered her question. He didn't quite understand why, but it made him absolutely happy and eager to learn everything just to be someone that (y/n) could rely on.

"Uh... President Minamoto...? What should we do about the unconscious student...?"

Teru's smile slowly vanished, replaced with a serious and cold look as he turned his gaze towards the bewitched student.

"Bring him to the infirmary for now. I still need to confirm something. I'll visit him once I'm finished. Can you do it?"

"Of course." Then Teru's classmate left with the unconscious student.

Teru turned back towards the piano, pressing a single note on one of the white keys. He didn't have much knowledge on music, but he could tell that the piano was just recently tuned. He then moved to the potted plants and examined the soil on each of them. It was all damp.

This is definitely not a normal abandoned music room. There must be someone here recently... but where did they go?

Could this place really be the sanctuary of School Mystery No. 8...?