Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume4 Chapter 3 (section)

=== Part 2 ===


Seiryou Private Academy - this campus built not far of from the Imperial Palace, is a private prestigious school from middle school to senior high school.

With a tradition exceeding a hundred years, it's valued highly for yearly producing successful applicants to national universities with achievements in various fields, a school where a large number of ''children from respectable families'' attend.

And then, on the list of names of freshmen from that Seiryou Gakuen Middle School division, there are Kannagi Ren and the name of that ''friend''.




After school.

One boy approached the girl stuffing textbooks in her bag.

"Kanon -"

Being addressed with overly familiarity, the girl, Suzuhara Kanon turned over her shoulder with a sharp look.

"Do you have some business with me, Takamatsu-kun?"

Her tone was by no standard in a good mood but the boy called Takamatsu didn't notice and drew closer with a smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a reserved manner, call me Takashi. I'll also call you Kanon."

It seems that this boy, although a junior high school student, didn't learn any kind of etiquette until now. After not using honorifics and calling her ''you'', Kanon raised her eyebrows.

"Let's stop somewhere on the way home. The UFO catcher is my specialty. I'll catch whatever you fancy."

While saying so, he casually touched her shoulder. In Kanon's mind Takashi's death punishment was decided.

With a light breath she softly brushed Takashi's hand, the one touching her shoulder, and then - 

"Aghyaaah!?"

She sized his middle finger and bent it backwards with all her strength. 

Falling to his knees with an unsightly scream, he received a kick on top of his shoulders and rolled on the ground.

"Hey, ''Takamatsu-kun''?"

Kanon overlooked with a cold-hearted gaze Takashi, laying down with his face up.

"As it seems you don't know much about the manners of the world, I'll teach you but don't you think it's very rude to address a person you're not intimate with without using an honorific title?"

Sweeping the shoulder Takashi touched, whipping her hands with a handkerchief and even going as far as throwing that handkerchief in the garbage can - that three layered combo pointed out her real intent: ''I don't want to be touched by the likes of you'' and relentlessly delivered the final blow.

"If you want to chase after girls, you'd better improve your character. Because your face cannot compensate for your vulgar nature."

It was a blunt way of talking but from the classroom there could be heard snickers from here and there. It seems Kanon was not the only one who thought this boy was pushy.

"Y- you...."

"Ah, Ren-kun!"

Kanon looked at the moaning Takashi as if he was filth but the instant she recognized the boy at the entrance of the classroom she transformed to a girl in love.

Immediately forgetting about Takashi's existence, she rushed over with a light manner of walking.

"Re - n -kun!"

"Ah, Suzuhara-san. Did something happen?"

Without showing signs of faltering at the approaching beautiful girl, Ren grinned. Kanon, that seemed about to embrace him, stopped in her tracks, her face changed.

"Ren, kun......?"

"What?"

Intently watching Ren, softly smiling, Kanon thought:

''"As I thought, he changed."''

At almost the same time the new school term started, Ren took a long break. And then when he returned after half a month, he was exhausted, like a different person.

He almost never answered when she accosted him. He wouldn't laugh.

His eyes were dead.

In order to recover his smiling face, Kanon exerted herself greatly. It was annoying but she called her bitter enemy and joined hands with that homo bastard.

But it was useless.

Eventually, the graduation ceremony came and without laughing Ren left school. She knew they were going to the same junior high school but she remembers thinking that she will never see him again.

It seemed that was needless anxiety because when they occasionally met during the spring break Ren was laughing almost normally.

''"But still, something is different."''

She recognized it every time she saw him. He seemed recovered but something changed inside Ren. Although he was only five centimeters taller than her, he seemed big for some reason.

He was still gentle but she couldn't drag him along anymore. Although he drifted away, he would definitely not cross over a certain line - she felt that sort of flexible power.

Just like now. Although she would have simply hugged him before, right now he wouldn't tolerate it.

Something happened. Something related to the unique occupation of the Kannagi Family. A situation she couldn't comprehend deeply injured Ren's delicate heart. And by overcoming it, Ren became stronger.

She thought that side of Ren was cool too. But at times he seemed in a faraway place. ''Was it possible she can't reach him anymore?'' - she had those kinds of thoughts.

''"That's not true, right?"''

She fleetingly looked up at Ren with upturned eyes. Realizing the serious light dwelling in her gaze, Ren directly stared back at Kanon.

"Suzuhara-san, did something happen?"

"- No, it's nothing."

Kanon replied as bright as possible and boldly clung to Ren's arm.

"Su- Suzuhara-san?"

"I told you to call me Kanon."

Embracing Ren by pushing her chest against his arm, Kanon drew closer.

"Eh, well, but......"

Exasperated by Ren's bright red face, Kanon puffed out her cheeks.

''"Ugh, if I don't do something nothing will change!"''

Without shying away from the public gaze, she was thinking of forcing herself on him right on the spot. No, if she were to bring him like this to a deserted place -

"- Hey"

But that anticipation, unimaginable on a twelve year old girl, was obstructed by an impolite intruder. Looking over her shoulder without bothering to hide her displeasure, Kanon demanded an explanation in a thorny tone.

"Ara, Takamatsu-kun, do you still have some business with me?"

Takashi only looked at Kanon without answering and came near Ren. While their noses were almost touching he stared intensely at Ren's features and sneered with open disdain.

"That's what you like, Kanon? A man without redeeming features but his face?"

"What are you trying to say, Ren-kun is very smart. Or did you forget his speech as the freshman's representative?"

"Sh- shut it!"

Having his best effort at sarcasm easily retorted, Takashi was enraged. His eyes, red with anger, seized the surprised Ren who had not understood the situation.

He thought of targeting the short boy that seemed unrelated to fighting, a target fit for a diversion.

He quickly seized the nape of his neck and yanks it up, attacking him with a brutal countenance.
'''(!<!-- Not sure about "neck and screws it up," so I changed it. -->)''

"You're so composed! Why, there's no value in dealing with the likes of me, huh? Do you want me to hit that pretty face of yours, ahhh?"

"......Huh......."

Blinking at the sudden incident, Ren earnestly tried to communicate.

"It's Takamatsu-kun, right? I'm sorry but I don't understand why you are so upset? Could you please explain the situation before resorting to violence?"

"I can't, you idiot!"

While shouting close to his ears, Takashi hardened his fist and struck. 

But that fist was returned next to Takashi's torso, before reaching Ren.

"Wha -"

"Stop right there. If Ren was serious the likes of you are nothing but a pushover."

The man that appeared unexpectedly in the background wrung Takashi's neck. Seeing that man, Kanon murmured unpleasant from the bottom of her heart. 

"You came although I didn't call you, huh..."

"Humph, if it's for Ren I'll rush over from the end of the earth!"

Retorting a slightly complicated answer, the man threw out his robust chest. While looking over that dialogue that will never reach a common point with a tired face, Ren said.

"Serisawa-kun...please let him go. It must be painful, right?"

"Ah? Ah - sorry, sorry."

With an awkward smile the man released Takashi, who was about to stop breathing.

While coughing, Takashi scowled at the man who asked for trouble.

"Y- you.......ah?"

But, even by turning his face, he cannot see the man's face. A black wall, completely blocking his field of vision - after realizing it was the chest of the man wearing the high school uniform, he looked upward.

He was huge.

Taller than him by at least twenty centimeters. Meaning that although he was a first year student he was taller than a hundred and eighty centimeters.

In the entire class - no, the entire school there wasn't another one like this kind of guy.

"Se- Serisawa......"  

"Yo."

With a broad grin the man - Ren's friend since middle school, Serisawa Tatsuya tightly held Takashi's head.

Gripping his small head with one hand, his huge arm as if ready to crush his skull as it is.

"Uugii.......gaah, ahh......."

Drawing near to Takashi's face, who was groaning in pain, Serisawa showed a ferocious smile.

"Listen! If you have a bone to pick with Ren, I'll be your opponent first. Try remembering that!"

While saying that he shook Takashi's head and heaved him. And then, without sparing a look for the boy flowing in the air, smiling with the whole face, he turned to Ren.

"Hey, Ren. You're not hurt right? I mean, that's impossible. Wahahahahaha"

With a lively laugh, Serisawa approached Ren. But Kanon stood in his way.

Looking up at Serisawa with a cold gaze, Kanon informed him.

"Thank you very much. Now that the nuisance is out of the way you can go back to the zoo. Your wife, the female gorilla, must wait for your return."

"Wh- who's a gorilla you stupid bitch!"

"You, of course it's you! Don't you think anything about being so big at only twelve? If it's not a gorilla, your ancestor must be some sort of anthropoid so please let some research institute have you!"

While looking over the quarrel he had no place in, Ren let out a small breath trying not to attract attention.

Although this kind of thing happened frequently during middle school, all the same he didn't predict it would continue even now. Leaving Kanon aside, nobody imagined Serisawa would be able to enter Seiryou Gakuen.

Since Serisawa was a really poor student except athletics, just how much effort he put to pass the entrance examination.

That noble endeavor and the conclusion that seemed the favor of gods was rumored to be some ''miracle of love''.

Though honestly, Ren would rather have that part forgotten.

But even so, not satisfied by only passing the exam and also being in the same, maybe Serisawa really had some divine protection.

What's more, since Kanon was also in the same class, that goddess of love must have had a black tail hidden underneath her white robes.

"Ren is hanging out with me!"

"Don't be stupid! He's coming with me!"

While Ren was trying to escape from reality their quarrel continued. And at that point they were contesting who is taking Ren on an after school date - without even asking for the feelings of the person himself.

''"Will I be able to stop then, I wonder....still......"'' Ren thought in a glum mood.

If he were to ignore it, it seems their dispute would really turn violent. As expected, he cannot ignore the damage to their surroundings. 

Beside, different from the arguments between Nee-sama and Nii-sama, these two's argument was not so high a level that he cannot stop it.

Ren tried to console himself that maybe practising here will become useful in the future.

"Hey, listen..." he called out to them with as light a voice as possible.

Both turned their heads simultaneously. Controlling his urge to run away, Ren preserved his smiling face with great effort. 

"It - it would be better if we all went. Instead of only two, isn't it more fun if it's all three of us, right?"

"................"

"................"

A heavy silence that hurt his stomach fell. Unable to put up with the sense of urgency, the fortunate students closer to the door plotted a speedy escape.

Compared to them, Ren was splendid. The cold sweat breaking out on his back didn't change his smiling face and he boldly received their glare.

After a long, long silence, Kanon and Serizawa lowered their pressuring gaze at the same time.

"- Well, if Ren-kun says so..."

"- There's no helping it."

Extremely unwillingly, they came to an agreement. Leading both of them, Ren tried to leave the classroom. 

But a rough sound from the background stopped them in their tracks. 

"Hey, hey, please stop it!"

"Shut it!"

A thoroughly angry voice. Without the need to turn around, the development excessively easy to understand made the trio exchange glances with wearily faces.

"Hey, just stop it already, you."

"Shut your trap, you enormity!"

Takashi shouted at Serisawa in a disgusted voice and glared at Ren standing next to him. 

But Ren, who at twelve passed through numerous scenes of carnage, didn't feel threatened by only a violent boy.

On the contrary, not even recognizing he was being glared at, he tilted his head as is asking ''"Why on earth is he angry about?"''

And then, there was Kanon.

She received head on Takashi's hateful glare and returned a scornful laugh. Her folded arms and raised chin and her facial expression that haughtiness itself didn't hide her contempt for Takashi.

"......You're making fun of me......" he squeezed out from the gap between his clenched teeth, grasping his fists tightly.

"Don't get conceited you bitch!!"

And then, he leaped at her while screaming. As expected Kanon wasn't ready for this degree of violence, so she was unable to respond.

Takashi grabbed Kanon’s shoulder and swung his fist. A second later, everyone was convinced the girl was cruelly hit. But -

"- Gaah?"

[[File:Kaze no Stigma vol 04 155.jpg|thumb|]]



As abruptly as a spinning top launched in the middle of the way, Takashi was torn off from Kanon and pressed to the blackboard. 

Because of that enormous power, the blackboard and Takashi's back started creaked ominously. With eyes growing hazy because of the pain, Takashi looked at the figure of the person who pressed him down.

''"Ka - Kannagi........? No way.......!"''

He couldn't believe it. That a boy much smaller than him could hide this much power. Because he was pushed up, he tilted his body was slowly forced up. Both his feet were floating in the air. 

"Guu......Ha.....s - stop......"

Pressured by the fist grabbing him on the collar, his ribs were hurting. Trying to somehow raise a protesting voice, Takashi's tongue was frozen. 

Ren was looking straight at him. 

He was sharp, like a different person but despite that his gaze was carrying an intense anger. 

His whole body tied by the power loaded in that pupil, Takashi shivered in fear at his wit's end. 

''"I'll be killed!"''

He felt ''death'' closer than ever before. The fear of having a knife thrust at him seemed insignificant when compared to this. 

It was the first time in his life his body was basking in the real thirst for blood. A precise, definite ''intent to slaughter''.

There was no escape. 

Calmly, composedly and certainly -

''"This guy...will kill me!"''

"Hi - hiii......"

But, contrary to his expectation Takashi was suddenly released from the restraints. The body that lost its support slipped off, rubbing the wall with a dragging sound and feebly sunk down to the floor.

"Eh......ah.....?"

Looking up in a daze, he saw Ren looking at his own hand with an air of bewilderment. And several seconds after, he showed a minor bitter smile while looking down at Takashi cowering at his feet.

"Hey...."

"Hiiiii!"

"You can't be violent toward girls."

The persuasion Ren made in a gentle tone, while Takashi was greatly perplexed, didn't add up.

"Hey, eh........"

While thinking what to do about that, from beneath Takashi's feet, squatting down, a strange liquid poured out. 

An offensive smell.

"......Eh?"

"What have you done?"

Serisawa forcibly drew out Ren, standing rock still dumbfounded. And then he put his arm around his neck as if trying to strangle him and forced him along to a place where the liquid that kept on flowing.

"Your indoor slippers will get dirty! Instead of cleaning this guy's piss from my slippers I'd rather throw them away!"

"Th- then that really was..."

Finally comprehending the nature of the smelling liquid, Ren's face became pale. 

Looking at Takashi he saw that his body was still curled up. The reason why he was trembling was probably not only fear. 

Incontinence - a boy that was already a junior high school student never felt so much shame. And, realizing all this Ren started speaking very upset.

"I'm, I'm sorry! I, didn't mean to.....I'll call Sensei immediately so - "

"- Ren"

Striking Ren's shoulder, Serisawa feebly shook his head.

"If you feel even a little pity for this guy, don't say anymore. Just leave him alone"

"Eh, but - if it stays like this it will seem I bullied him. And people who torment others are the worst."

Ren didn't say it with malice. He didn't but the consequence of those words was to break into small pieces the already wounded pride of Takashi.

As if whipping the dead or salt was rubbed into his wounds Takashi's body shivers worsened.

"Are - are you ok?"

Perceiving that reaction, Ren flustering rushed over to Takashi. He touched the trembling body. 

".........!?"

That extended hand was flung off as far as possible. Ren's eyes blinking in shock were pierced by eyes full of murder.

"Son of a bitch..."

Raising a face full of tears and snot Takahashi glared at Ren with as much hatred as he could muster. 

"Remember this, son of a bitch! My brother is really strong! He can kill the likes of you with one attack."

"Waah, how lame," Kanon commented scornfully.

"If you can't, will you run to your Onii-chan, huh? I wonder just what sort of person that is?"

"Shut up!" screamed Takashi with a voice turned inside out.

"Now it's the time to pull back you know! My Aniki has supernatural powers! He'll turn the likes of you into ash!!"

For a second the class was enveloped in silence. And then -

"Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

The classroom was shook by a maelstrom of very loud laughter.

"Were - were you serious just now, Takamatsu-kun? Are you saying that seriously?"

"And on top of that you are one of those who believe crop circles are made by aliens too, right?"

While striking desks and walls, and stamping their feet, the students unanimously ridicule Takashi. 

But without bothering with their reaction Takashi only glared at Ren. 

"Just go ahead and laugh. Make fun of me. Get cocky just because you're somewhat good at fighting...because I'll teach you that such things are helpless in front of absolute power!"

"You're the one who you cocky, stupid," spit out Serisawa tiresomely, throwing the black board eraser at Takashi who talked on and on in ecstasy.

His right hand was already loaded with the next eraser.

"Se - Serisawa! You'll do it, too? My Aniki will - "

"Shut the fuck up!"

Without hesitation Serisawa threw the other blackboard eraser with all his strength. The chalk powder sticking to the blackboard eraser hit Takashi in the face and the angry face already flushed deep red was dyed pure white.

Simultaneously, white smoke spreads like an explosion, and the boy who inhaled the dust convulsed with all his strength.

"I'm telling you to bring your brother! Because I don't have all day, you know!"

"You - you bastard....."

Spontaneously, ignoring Takashi trying to spit out the words while having a coughing fit, Serisawa pulled Ren and started walking.

"Well, this is boring. Forget about this and let's hang out. Where do you want to go?"

"Ehh, well..."

"I - I want to go to Shinjuku. I want to buy some clothes."

"Waah, do you think we want to go buy women's clothes?"

"I wasn't talking to you."

"What did you say?"

"Well, well, calm down both of you."

With a delicately stiff smiling face, Ren tried mediating the glaring pair.

"We should go to where you both want to go in turns. We have time."

The trio started deciding their after school activities enjoyed.  It seems that inside their heads not a particle of Takashi's words remains. 





"Then, Shinjuku is our first stop right?"

"Yeah."

"Right."

Gaining both their agreement, Ren started walking with a visibly relieved expression. 

Behind him, as if his existence itself was thoroughly forgotten, there was the solitary figure of Takashi, crouching. His gaze, carrying the dark flame of hate saw off Ren's distant back without even blinking.