REMPAK: The Destruction

Part 16: Blowing Up Airi Bombs With One Sentence

"A Theatre Performer Found Dead Rotting In The Trash."

The initial allegation was a premeditated murder. Police are investigating the case in depth to find evidence and pursue the perpetrator.

Clik.

Airi closed the window of her phone screen that featured a re-recording of the news. The case is still ongoing even though it has been weeks since the incident.

At that time, Airi had not yet met Akane. He could not find any trace of her anywhere. Airi even gave up on asking the school board.

Akane's disappearance was a huge blow to Airi. Coupled with the news of the death of the theater actor they were supposed to watch that day, adding to his shock to the point of being almost unstoppable.

Airi rubbed her forehead which began to throb pain. He flipped through the math book in front of him. The semester's assessment season is ongoing and Airi must learn to keep her grades stable if she wants to leave the academy in peace.

There were not so many other distractions that shook the girl except the three above. The rest, she went through days like before meeting Akane. Spending long periods of time in front of books, going to part-time work, and not socializing with others. Exactly how Airi when sitting in junior high school.

Drrrrttt.

Airi glanced at her phone which she had turned off a while ago. The name sign "Father" on the screen so Airi consciously moved quickly to lift it.

He looked around the classroom, people were busy studying with their books in extra afternoon classes willingly. Airi tiptoed out towards the corridor. Walk a little further to get more privacy.

He put his earphones on. The girl cleared her throat briefly, preparing a voice. "Hello, dad?"

"Hi, Airi. Is dad bothering you?" Across the street, his father's voice was heavy. Vaguely Airi could hear the bustling buzz behind him. Royo must be at the dock.

"No, I'm in an extra independent class. No one is disturbed."

"Thank God."

His father's voice sounded relieved. Lately his father has been calling to ask how his day has gone since Airi told him that Akane is no longer around.

His father made no comment on that. Royo instead asks if he eats regularly, what part-time work is good, or what he did today at school.

At first, it felt a little awkward as this was indeed the first time Airi's father had done it. The girl understood, Royo was worried and attentive in his own way.

"Airi, I'm thinking about something." His father's voice turned heavy and serious. Airi was just preparing herself as an answer.

"Airi, do you still want to go to the Northeast District?"

The girl blinked. Be quiet for a moment before responding.

"Why suddenly ask?"

"Dad only remembered you were so excited before leaving. So, I was wondering if you still wanted to visit there."

"No. I'm not interested in the Northeast District." Airi said straightforwardly and clearly. Not giving hospitality in his tone.

"..."

The two-way relationship was quiet for the next five seconds.

"Rather than the Northeast District, how about visiting the Eastern District alone?" Finally, Royo broke into silence. Ask her carefully about her daughter.

"Will I be there when I graduate, Dad?"

"Not— is not like that," interrupted Airi's father.

"I meant to come here for a short vacation after your exam this week. Come to look around and get used to it. Before actually moving next year." Royo kept up his words.

Airi who heard that was stunned for a moment.

Visiting the Eastern District for a short vacation? His father must have been so anxious that he offered him something so far. Even when Airi was in her tough days two years back, Royo did not intend to ask her how she was.

"You mean my dad can get there to see you sooner?"

"Yes, of course," said Royo confidently.

Airi bit her lower lip lightly. That's not a bad thing to do. He could definitely get some fresh breeze to refresh his mind.

"I'll think about it." Airi did not see it, but she could feel her father smiling behind the screen of the phone, tens of kilometers away, hearing Airi say that.

"You must like the Eastern District."

"Dad always said that."

Then the call closed after a few brief remarks from her father and Airi's short greeting.

The girl pocketed the voice device along with her phone in her pocket. He walked back to class.

"Hi, misty lady, can't you see your way?"

Airi almost hit someone on the classroom door for not paying attention to what was in front of her.

"Ah, sorry I—" Airi's shoulder down. His eyes became a line seeing the figure that had just made a strange call for him.

There, Jizo bites the ice cream stick that has been half melted with a bright green color. Airi even had to take a step back so that her nodes did not hit the girl's uniform as well.

Besides, what is Jizo doing here? Hasn't he gone home? It is common for Jizo to skip extra classes. Therefore Airi was relieved not to have to deal with him.

"Where are you from, Airi?"

Airi who was already sitting back on her stool ignored Jizo. It seems, that man was about to leave, why did he come back here on purpose?

"I was looking for you because Airi doesn't usually disappear during extra classes." Now, Jizo whispered after getting reprimanded by some other students who were studying, while putting his chair on the other side of Airi's desk. Also, take her things to the girl's desk.

Airi kept quiet and continued the matters that she had not answered earlier. Jizo did not bother and was busy doodling his own book, still in the Airi region.

The girl did not finish the two questions as her brain repeated the words of her father about the Eastern District.

"Jizo," call Airi half-heartedly on the man who uses his own arm as a pillow while the other hand is busy drawing the origin.

"Hm?" Jizo turned his eyes on Airi. But his hands did not stop. Her tone was slow and gentle, she understood the situation that Airi did not talk to her if it was not so important. Don't mess up in the first sentence.

"You ever been to the Eastern District?" Airi spoke slowly. He made sure that only the two of them heard.

Jizo frowned, raised his head, stared at Airi's long-goal. The girl felt uncomfortable being looked at that way. He turned his head a little backwards.

"Why?"

"This is about your fake friend?"

Airi's heart melos. He didn't like the word Jizo just now.

"No, forget it." The girl intended to ask nicely, perhaps Jizo had an opinion. Only the man put an ear on her. However, every time she started to bring up Akane, Airi became resentful of her because it was ruining Airi's mood.

The talk about Akane between Jizo and Airi was taboo as both sides stood on too different sides.

"You should be grateful that he's not around you anymore." Jizo talked to him who returned to his last activity. Ducking down, without looking into Airi's eyes as usual.

"Jizo, shut up."

"You're foggy, sad, irritable. He's a really bad influence."

"I'm not asking for your opinion." Airi pressed her hand against the pencil she was holding. Starting to cool and whiten, Airi piled all her emotions in that fist.

"Why should it be grim just because someone who is unfaithful goes out of your life?"

"JIZO, I SAID SHUT UP! BE QUIET! BE QUIET! ARE YOU DEAF, HUH?!"

Airi could not hold it anymore. Thin veins poked from his face. Now he's flushed, looking ready to explode whenever it's ignited further.

Jizo's eyes blinked. He was shocked, the whole class was shocked. Everyone placed their eyes on Airi who was now painstakingly adjusting her breath.

Airi rubbed her own face. Taking a deep breath, gathering his senses. Moreover, the moment he realized that the girl had just messed up the extra hours of her classmates.

He's looking embarrassed.

"Water..."

"What's the difference between you and him?"

"Watery?"

"You also make me sad, angry, troubled. Why don't you go like that, Jizo?" Airi fizzed with her head still bowed down.

Airi's crazy, crazy girl. He could be released again. Jeez, Airi doesn't know where to put her face. Although, he was still angry at Jizo, his embarrassment remained unbearable.