The Ring Of Chaos

Chapter : 30 – Pain

Since when has he changed?

This question, this curiosity, this unpleasant taste, always haunts Amaya's feelings. No matter where and whenever, always the four short words come and bring curiosity.

This girl was sitting in her room looking at the half moon that was pouring out a yellowish light. He is not alone, but accompanied by a cup of his favorite black coffee.

Well that's what Amaya is, she is a coffee lover even though a woman. But what's wrong?.

What always made him curious? Who does "he" mean in that question? Only Amaya can answer them all because four words that if arranged into question sentences are only he who knows it.

"Asahi..since when did you change?"

His eyes glanced at the moon above. Shortly after that the cloud came and closed the beautiful light, as if to grieve with the hardness of Amaya's heart.

"You've changed since he left. You've been the same since we first met, in 1Ath grade at the introductions to classmates."

...****************...

About twelve years ago, in one of the elementary school classes, teaching and learning activities went on as usual. Today was the first day they entered primary school, so their teacher ordered to introduce themselves.

Children in 1A class stand in place and introduce themselves alternately. Starting from the right front to the last left back.

A pretty funny boy with wide eyes. Her hair was jet black in tune with her eyeballs, a bright smile never left those adorable little lips. His two cheeks slightly met as he got up and introduced himself.

"Well.a-me...Tanaka Asahi.salam..."

Although it looked timid, but it even added to the small cuteness of Asahi and unconsciously made his teacher exclaim.

"Wah-wah.my sweet disciple's son...."

Hearing the teacher's temptation, one class laughed loudly, not least Amaya who sat to her right. He laughed while covering his mouth with his left hand.

As for Asahi, she hurriedly sat back down with a flushed face. He was unable to look at his friends, only able to bow his face looking at his own shoes.

"Hey, don't be ashamed. We are all your friends." said Amaya at that time while nudging Asahi's right cheek with his index finger.

This suddenly made Asahi turn his head and accidentally, two pairs of eyes met and stuck together. Little Asahi looked at the smiling face of Amaya with a look of admiration and gawking.

Unknowingly, his mouth murmured. Very clean but because the condition of the class has returned to calm, so his speech sounds very clear.

"Beautiful...."

"Eh...?"

"Ah...?" shocked his teacher and covered his mouth with two hands.

As for Amaya, both of her cheeks had met and quickly withdrew her hands and lowered her head in embarrassment. Not long ago they became a laughingstock for the children of one class because they think the incident was comforting.

"Thank you." said Amaya nervously.

"C-beautiful.." Asahi muttered involuntarily. Making Amaya even more embarrassed and unconsciously threw a hard fist into his head.

"I've heard! No need to repeat it again!" he said with a made-up tone.

From that day on, the two of them became close friends. Wherever she goes, Amaya and Asahi are always together. If there is a group task, Asahi will always choose Amaya as a member for the first time, and vice versa.

And the most revealing of their familiarity was, ever since Asahi praised Amaya like that, she called out to Amaya with a slightly special name. Of course this makes Amaya caught off guard at first, but for a long time he got used to it and did not bother about it.

Sometimes Asahi would call her Ama-chan, or A-chan, Maya-Chan, or not infrequently Asahi called her boldly. That call is, "Beautiful".

The boy named Tanaka Asahi is a very cheerful and smiling child, friendly to others or teachers. He has many friends and is liked by the teachers.

However, everything changes when they enter the middle school, more precisely in the seventh grade.

Amaya had just been shopping for her dinner and was walking through the park. The tip of his eyes caught the silhouette of a man sitting alone on a swing. As she looked, it turned out that it was her good friend, Asahi. So without hesitation, he ran over while exclaiming.

"Asahi~ what are you doing here?"

As soon as it came closer, Amaya saw Asahi sitting on the swing chair with his head bowed deeply. Still wearing his Junior High School uniform and school bag, making Amaya frown.

"Asahi, school's closed and you're coming home with me. Why are you still wearing school uniforms?"

This question does not get an answer from the person asked. The frown on Amaya's forehead is increasingly visible. Then his eyes looked at the small piece of paper on Asahi's left hand that was still bowed.

"Oh..." Asahi was a little surprised. He raised his face and looked at Amaya with a smile.

"Oh...Amaya?"

Amaya is shocked, this is the only time a Tanaka Asahi calls her without the addition of "-Chan". Then what the fuck with that smile and that blank look? Inner Amaya.

"You...why?"

Asahi's smile widened slightly, but her gaze seemed not to see Amaya's eyes talking to her. I don't know what he was looking at, but Amaya felt Asahi was not looking at anything, the gaze was very empty and empty.

"Amaya.I'm fine.just a little...tired..."

From that day on, Asahi's attitude towards him changed completely. Indeed, he is still always good to him, but his previous words are always soft and cheerful, this time not infrequently will talk rude.

He also became cold to the people, making him feel like he was enveloped in a gloomy aura that always kept others away from him. This really made Amaya concerned.

As she asked Asahi when they were already in the second grade of High School, it was finally the first time Asahi was being honest with her.

"I'm sorry I hid this. You're the closest person to me, it doesn't seem like a problem to tell you" he said, opening a chat on the roof of the quiet school.

"Finally my waiting banner paid off. Asahi, tell your little friend what happened." Amaya said softly and looked at Asahi's eyes fixedly.

Then a pair of Amaya's eyes widened when he saw two points of tears coming down Asahi's cheeks. She clasped Asahi's hand and asked worriedly.

"What's wrong? Tell Asahi!" his insistence.

Asahi turned her head slowly and her face was increasingly cheering, her gaze was empty and hollow as if there was no life there.

"Four years ago, while in the park.sister disappeared..."

...****************...

Amaya shook her head violently trying to wake herself up from daydreaming. He already knew who the figure of the older brother called Asahi was and to be honest he felt sad because his departure made Asahi very sad.

Therefore, he always be cheerful to Asahi none other than to comfort the young man. Whether successful or not, but Amaya still did that for years and did not even change after they moved the world.

He put down his empty coffee cup and got up. As he was about to go to sleep, he muttered softly before completely closing his eyes.

"Tomorrow the twelve...."

The next day, he meets Asahi who is on a picky mission for today in the adventurer guild. Of course without further ado this girl ran as fast as lightning and was already standing next to Asahi being.

"Hello Asahi, good morning, how are you? Of course it's not good because in the morning it's been called a girl as beautiful as me?" he said in a very fast tone without pause.

Surprisingly, Asahi was not surprised at all or anything. He turned his head to look at Amaya who was still smiling broadly. A second later, a small smile was created and his hand moved to pat Amaya's head.

"Good morning" he said briefly and turned away carrying his chosen quest.

Amaya biting her lips held back the tightness that began to feel. His eyes were heating up yet he held on with all his might with the smile he forced.

It's always been like this

He bit his lips harder to hold back the sparkle of his heart. But his eyes accidentally caught a silver bracelet in Asahi's hand that had a round pendant.

Immediately he eliminated the tightness and quickly grabbed Asahi's right hand, where the bracelet was.

"Woah..you bought a bracelet? Why didn't you say!? Let me see what the carving is...?"

Asahi was quite surprised by that, then she smiled warmly and said to Amaya. "I ordered it. It might seem so simple but it doesn't matter to me if it's just to remember."

"Asahi.you...."

"Amaya.I'm fine. No need to worry." he again patted the head of Amaya and left Amaya who pecked with wide eyes.

Asahi.I understand very well about you. That smile, that smile of yours means that there is a scar created in your heart. You haven't smiled so gently since that afternoon, does this mean....

Amaya turned her head and looked at Asahi's back which was moving away. His eyes began to glaze over.

Is that how it feels? Is that really Asahi? I'm sorry I never helped you. But please, share that little bit of pain with me. Don't torture your heart like this. What pain is..what pain? Tell me Asahi!!

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

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