Chapter-3: Gentle Man- A matter of choice [Subaru POV]

"Here, drink this," I said as I tossed her a can of tea.

"Th-thank you! You have no idea how thirsty I am!"

"Hey brat! What would you like to have?!"

"I can have anything."

"You sure can..." I replied absentmindedly.

"Anything?"

"Yes! Damn it!"

"I want to have a bag of Cheez-O!"

"Okay, one cheez-O coming up!"

I turned to Mika, who was gazing at the sky with twinkling eyes.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Subaru Big Bro! You like the stars too."

"Yup. I sure do like them."

Well, at least for the time being as of now. I thought as I glanced at Hanako, who was sipping the warm tea I brought her. She seemed really shaken up. I mean, yeah, of course anyone would be out of their normal line of reasoning if something unexpected happened all of a sudden.

I probably should give her some company just so that she knows that she is no longer alone. I am not the comforting type, but at least I can try to be.

"Hey Mika-chan. Have a seat over here, okay? I'll be back soon enough."

"Okay! Mika is a good girl, so I will listen to you!"

"That's great!"

"Hey you..."

Hanako looked at me uneasily as I called her out.

"Yeah, I am talking to you, dummy!"

"Please don't hurt me; I am innocent, so please don't take me back to them," she said tearfully.

"For crying out loud, I just saved you from those guys, and you seriously expect me to go and hand you over to them?" Subaru said, pointing to the deep gash in his shoulder.

Hanako gasped at Subaru's wound, her expression filled with regret and shock. She looked down, unable to look at Subaru, because she felt responsible that he was injured because she did not warn him quickly about someone behind their back.

"Helloooo, I am talking to you right now, Miss Blonde."

Hanako snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Minato's arm and then his face

"I am really sorry for not doing something earlier; I mean, your arm is still bleeding... Please hold on a minute. I'll do something about it."

My mind began processing Hanako's personality. Timid, nervous, and the type to get scared by witnessing violent situations. a mild and shy personality to be taken into account, and a person who gets upset over little matters.

"It's all right; you do not need to fret over something like this."

Hanako nodded relentlessly.

"No. Please allow me to do you this little favour."

I was surprised as Hanako took out a hankee from her side pocket and began dressing his wound. I was at a loss for words because that moment gave me warmth that there is someone, though I don't know her all too well, who is willing to help me out.

As Hanako finished dressing the gash, she rose her head just to find herself close to Minato's face. Both of them looked at each other for a brief moment.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Hanako blushed. "This should do it."

The nerve of this girl! I thought as he tried to hide his blushing cheeks from Hanako's sight.

I cleared my throat and asked, "By the way, what is the significance behind your kidnapping anyway?"

"It's nothing... Some local mafia boss wanted to have a harem of concubines, and I was dragged along too. I was so scared, and believe me, you were only a few hours away before his arrival."

Subaru sighed.All he wanted was a girl to squeeze? Honestly, I really wasted thirty minutes of my time on this stupid rescue operation. You must have turned a deaf ear to that runt's request."

"Hey, what kind of girl would want to give up her virgil—I mean, her body and honor—to some scum like him?! Besides, those thirty minutes of yours really saved my back, you know?"

Forget about me thinking that she is timid and shy, thought Subaru. They say a person can be full of surprises, but for Subaru, he did not expect her to recover from the shock so quickly, which he thought was a good sign.

"Blew off your own cover, huh? Not bad. I almost thought you were quite a timid and nervous person; it looks like one question has given all the answers I needed."

"You did that on purpose? Just how savage can you be?"

"Long enough to decipher someone whom I see is hiding behind a mask. People, be it a man or a woman, are the least themselves when they talk in their own person. Give them a mask, and they will tell you the truth themselves. See? Simple, isn't it?"

Hanako realised that keeping something from Subaru would not be that easy. She looked into his eyes, which seemed like they were looking right through her.

"Yeah, really, they just told me this, that's all."

Subaru's eyes narrowed. He became certain that this smartass girl was hiding something from him. He looked at Hanako with a serious expression.

Subaru made the Retsu seal and pointed at Hanako's forehead.

"What are you?"

"Shinobu āto: Kokoro no Maindotekunikku!"(Shinobi Art: Mind Reading Technique), Subaru yelled.

Mika, who was munching a bag of crisps, looked towards Minato, who instinctively smiled at her.

"It's nothing much, just checking if she is alright."

"Subaru Big Bro is really kind too. Mika would really love to have a good big brother like Subaru Big Bro."

"I would love to have a cute little sister like you too!"

Oh man... I seriously feel guilty for lying to her, but this can be excused, right? You know, considering the circumstances right now, it is understood. Right? Right?

Suddenly, my mind started throbbing badly. This sensation, it's... it's the same as the warehouse. What is happening to me? I can't bear this sudden burst of pain.

My hand reflexively clutched my head. I winced in agony, trying my best to bear the pain.

"AARGH, I CANNOT BEAR THIS."

Suddenly, I could recall something like it was written in the back of my mind. A girl whose voice sounded so familiar asking me,

"Big sis, What is love?"

Then a voice replied with a question: "Do you really want to know?"

The girl replied in excitement, "Yes. Big sis. I want to know because I really, really love you."

The boy replied, "My dear little sister, love is when you steal my chocolate in the bag every day and yet you take it from the same place every day!"

Just remembering the above dialogue made my head fuzzy. I stumbled as I tried to stand up. Just... What is with these pieces of my memory popping up like some pop-up hamster board game?

"Hey! Are you all right? You just started clutching your head so hard that the last thing you needed to do was crack it open like a safe. Are you alive yet or what?"

I huffed as my chest heaved up and down. I looked at Hanako and smirked.

"Did you possibly expect me to be so weak-minded like you? Sorry, but I don't belong in your category. Now if you'll let me"

I got up but was still off-balanced. Hanako grabbed my arm while Mika grabbed the other.

"....Flat..."

"Did you say something?" asked Hanako.

"I said you are as flat as a skateboard.

Hanako stopped. I looked at her to find her throwing murderous looks at me. Holy crap, talk about a cold glare.

Hanako looked at me with the smile of a true sadist.

"Do you prefer to be dead or alive? If you choose death, do you want to be strangled or buried alive?"

Wow. Both options are really off my top 10 to-do list. Well, The first thing has always been to 'move on since it's a chapter in the past; don't close the book, just turn the page.'

"On second thought, I prefer to live."

I probably should never talk about their chest size, considering the dangerous reaction I got from Hanako.

Hanako made me sit on a bench while I focused on regaining my energy, or what was left of it. Man, I really remember those days where I was more energetic than now I am—really painful days, honestly.

After some time, I got up.

"What? recovered already? You really are a tough  guy, Hanako remarked.

"I can't believe that it took you this long to realise what stuff I am made of." I grinned.

Hanako blushed, "Sh-shut up!".

"Subaru Big Bro, shall I tell you a secret?"

"Go ahead, Maki," I said.

"If Hanako-nee likes a person, she turns red like a tomato!"

"Really?" I flashed a smirk.

"Shut up, Maki! Don't go telling that to someone you've just met!"

Things were going to get pretty heated up between the duo. I listened and listened, to such an extent that I thought I might lose my head.

"Actually..." I said," Thanks. It feels really better to hear that someone actually does look at me. Once again, thank you."

Hanako stopped arguing as she seemed to observe Subaru's sadness and pain. This also made her realise that Minato had his own sorrows as well.

"Well... If you feel better, then I don't  mind, Hanako said quietly.

Mika smirked. "Oh, really?"

Hanako turned cherry as she glanced at me.

"Pfft. Hahahaha!" I found Hanako's reaction so hilarious that I laughed, and it felt good to loosen up after a tense situation.

Looking at me laugh, Hanako and Mika followed suit.

"All right, that's enough for now. I hope you guys are well rested. Let's take you home now, shall I?"

The duo nodded, and we began to move towards the commercial district of Tokyo, where there were people busy with their shopping and stuff they do on dates, which seriously makes me shy as hell.

However, it wasn't long before the smile on my face faded and I opted for the same serious look as my thoughts wandered towards the warehouse.

Something about this kidnapping doesn't seem to fit in at all. I mean, why choose this very particular day? Most of all, what caught my attention was that they let Mika off the hook, knowing full well that she would call for help. Heck, it's not like the legs of that runt would be able to outrun those grown-up asses either.

The timing was way too perfect to be a coincidence. They had been expecting me to take this particular route. I glanced at the file hidden in my backpack.

Hmm. I think I would have to do this the old way.

"Are you even listening to me?!" Hanako yelled.

That yell jarred me back to reality.

"Damn it, woman! Can't I get a little peace!?"

Hanako asked,Just asking because you know, well, you were looking worried, so... are you always this expressionless?"

I turned around and looked at her with a puzzled look on my face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

For some reason, his glare seemed to turn my insides into ice. The look in his eyes was so sharp that it would have made those bikers run for their mama, Hanako thought.

But again, those sea green eyes looked like she was looking at the vast ocean itself. There was something else, too. It was pain—pain so deep that it hurt to look—Hanako thought.

"Now what's with your pensive face?" I asked.

"Is it always good to be honest with ourselves?"

I found the question a bit strange and asked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I was never truthful to myself; I am just a coward who hides behind a mask of false personality so that I may never be pointed out by people. But you saw right through me... I find it really surprising, though."

I sighed.You got that right. But that doesn't mean that you are a coward; you are just simply too indulged in thinking about what others opinions would be of you. I can understand the feeling. Let me tell you this: as long as you know, as long as you trust yourself to make the right decision, the opinions of others just become void for you. That's all."

"I see..." Hanako looked down.

"No one in this world is a coward. They only become one when they lose their will to confront their fears and agitation."

Hanako looked up at Subaru. Her eyes widened with admiration as she looked at his sparkling green eyes and long silver hair shining gracefully in the cool moonlight, which made him appear even more radiant.

"Oh. Here we are, Michaelson Household. You've got quite the taste; it's like classical architecture—old but magnificent!" I exclaimed.

Hanako stammered, "H-hey... if you don't mind, can I ask your name?"

I looked at her disappointedly. "You are seriously asking that now?"

"I mean your first name, of course!"

Subaru turned back, his hair rustling in the cool breeze of the night. He smiled and said coolly, "I am Kenjirou Subaru, glad to make your acquaintance."

"Then Subaru... If you were in my shoes, what would you have done?"

I looked up at the sky and replied, "If I don't want to do it, I won't. If I really need to do it, I'll make it quick."