悪魔は僕の部屋の中に
[Akuma wa Boku no Heya no Naka ni]
By Bayou
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Part 1
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Ps. Title translation thanks to Maria. ^^
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It started a couple of hours ago, in a warm mid May, where the spring breeze was blowing through the gap of his half-opened apartment window. It was a cozy weather to laze around; the temperature was perfect so he didn’t have to turn the AC on. It was Sunday, where Kyou practically didn’t have anything to do; no classes, no part time job, and absolutely no date. So he was dozing off while trying to move from page 10 of the book he was reading.
Suddenly his cellphone rang, it was Sasagawa Ryoko; she called him out to meet her in a nearby café. She wanted to talk about something, she said over the phone. Feeling that the girl he had crushed on for a long time was giving him some sign, he rushed out of his apartment to the café just for knowing the truth that the girl already had a boyfriend and she's complaining about her love life at him.
He had been in love with her for over 2 years now, but never had the guts to confess. Something he regretted that day. Broken hearted, yet he still listened to the girl whole heartedly.
"He never kiss me, Kyou-chan," Ryoko complained, "Can you believe it? We're dating for over 2 months, but he never kiss me! I can't tell whether he loves me or not!"
"Wasn't he the one who confessed to you first?" Kyou asked.
The girl shook her head, "No, it was me. He only said thanks, and agreed to go out with me."
Kyou was broken inside, but he still gave the girl his best smile.
After an hour of conversation, the girl suddenly came out with an idea.
"Go out with me, Kyou-chan!" she said.
Kyou was almost bursted out the coffee in his mouth in surprise.
"What?!"
"Well, I sorta think of a fake date. You know, I want to show him off to make him jealous. Maybe he'll put more attention to me."
Not knowing Kyou’s feeling, the girl had unintentionally hurt him.
Girl sure is can be cruel, Kyou said inside his heart.
"Please, Kyou-chan?" the girl pleaded with her most seductive smile. She knew that Kyou could never reject.
Everybody knew that Kyou was the 'yes man' type. He could never reject anyone who asked him for help. So many used him for this, and some of them deceived the poor boy cruelly. Like borrowing a large amount of money from him and never returned it.
The 'yes man' personality came from his mother's. She taught him that, as long as he was capable to help, he must not reject the plea. Because a single little help, could be the root of something big. Like a ripple; it started with a single tiny drop that spread thoroughly the pond.
Everything went well in the countryside he lived in, because everybody cared and helped each other. But not in the big city. When he came to Tokyo to go to college, everything was different; everybody was their own person, they pretty much didn't care of each other, unless there was something up to it.
People said that he was an idiot, and he'd break in couple of months. But he did not; somehow he managed to survive for 3 years. His good deed returned at him without him noticing. He became good friends with so many people, and people surrounding him started to change; they started to care for each other without any other meanings inserted. But still, there were some cruel people who took advantage out of him.
"Kyou-chan?" Ryoko called him, pouting, "Do you want to help me or not?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Of course..." Kyou replied with uncertainty in his voice.
"Great!" the girl squealed in joy and clapped her hand, "C'mon, let's go!"
She called the waiter and asked for the bill. After paying, she took him by the hand and dragged him outside the café. She clung to his arms so close, made the poor boy's heart thumping like crazy, and he felt like he was going to have a heart attack.
It wasn't long after they left the café; suddenly someone grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him back; forced him to separate from the girl.
And before he took a good look at the other person, he received one hard blow on his right cheek, sending him to collapse on the hard pavement. Not having enough, the other person took him by his collar and ready to strike the second punch if Ryoko didn't stop him by clinging on his arm and telling him not to hit the poor boy again.
"Stop it Asuka-kun!" she squealed, "That's enough!!"
The inside of Kyou's mouth bled, and the blood ran through the side of his lips. His head was dizzy by the impact, so he didn't even bother to get up from the pavement. He could hear Ryoko's high pitch voice when she explained the whole thing in rapid speed to the other boy, who apparently was her boyfriend.
The jealous boyfriend took a good look at him while he wiped the blood off his lips and spat out the remaining blood inside his mouth.
"Sorry for that, dude," he offered him a hand and helped him up.
Kyou took the hand and got up. He rubbed his going-to-be-bruised cheek and grinned, "That was one hell of a punch, man. You could've broken my jaw."
"Yeah, sorry..." he rubbed his neck nervously, "I was losing it for a while because of jealousy."
"Good to hear that, eh, Ryoko-chan?" said Kyou to the blushing girl.
"I'm sorry that I got you in to this, Kyou-chan," she apologized sincerely, "I'll treat you lunch at campus tomorrow to pay you back, okay?"
"Better double it, for this unnecessary punch I've got." said Kyou jokingly.
The girl laughed, "Okay," she said. Then she left clinging on her boyfriend’s arm after bowing and thanking Kyou for the help.
"Was that the famous 'Yes man' Ooguma Kyou?" he still heard the boyfriend talked in the distance, followed by the girl's nod. "You've better treat him the deluxe lunch set meal, I'll pay half of the price. I gave him the best punch I've had there... I kinda feel guilty because of it..."
Kyou chuckled. The boy turned and blushed, realizing that Kyou overheard him. He nodded apologetically at him and dragged his girlfriend to walk faster.
"Okay, okay... there's nothing left to see here. Now scat, people. Get to your own business..." someone said.
Kyou turned around and saw a familiar face shooing people around, and he just realized that the argument before had become quite a scene.
"Imejima?" he called, "What are you doing here?"
Imejima Daisuke was in Kyou's Design class, also a member and cameraman for the campus newspaper club, that's why he always brought his camera everywhere. His height was average, but he had athletic figure and handsome face with a lady killer smile plastered on it. Also because of his cheerful personality, he was very popular in campus, and always invited to goukon. His flaw was only that he couldn't handle his mouth well, but still a fun person to hang around with.
"What? Me?" he asked back ignorantly, "Oh, I was just getting the news for tomorrow's campus newspaper," he grinned playfully.
"You were here all the time and not even bother to help me?" Kyou scowled, "And I presume that it won't be news you'll write, but a gossip report."
"First, I could see you're handling it very well there, man, no need for me to butt in. Awesome, taking a punch like that and still smiling. And second, puhlease, people loves to gossip. Besides, I never tell lies; I just add some spice in it. Y'know, more flavors for the readers."
Kyou sighed, "If you got me into trouble because of the gossip, I'll make you pay the favor in double, y'hear?"
Imejima laughed and slapped Kyou's back, "You may be big, Kuma-san. But you got the heart of a saint," he clasped his hands together in praying gesture as he said 'saint'. “You won't even have the heart to punch me even if I did put you in trouble."
"And I should take that as a compliment?"
"Don't pout, Kuma-san. I was just joking," Imejima grinned, "I swear to God to only write good news about the kindest hearted person in campus. I'll bet this news can make the girls goes 'aww' and swarming you around in sympathy."
Kyou sighed again, "I never knew whether you're praising me or just making fun of me."
"Both," Imejima laughed, "It was fun teasing you, Kuma-san."
"Stop with the 'Kuma', please. My name is Ooguma, say it properly."
"Y'know, the name only fit your first image. I mean, yes you're big, and your name means 'Big Bear', but after people know you, that name isn't fitting anymore. You're more like Koguma—bear cub, cute."
Kyou sighed for the third time. He really couldn't handle Imejima; he didn't know whether he should be angry or not. Imejima's words toward him had always containing two things, praising and teasing in one complete set.
Indeed, Kyou's height was exceeding 180cm—186cm to be precise—his rough feature from keeping his unshaven stubble made him looked tough and a little bit scary. But with his 'Yes man' personality, he's more like a tamed dog instead of a ferocious bear.
"Hey, with your height, why don't you become model instead? Catwalk model suit you, because if you became a magazine model, they might have to Photoshoped your face. Well, though you're not that ugly, a little 'touch up' is a bit necessary."
Now Kyou had enough, he walked away, leaving Imejima who was still talking by himself.
"Hey, wait up!" Imejima ran after him, "C'mon Kuma-san, don't be angry. I was just joking."
Without them noticing, there was a shadow of someone watching behind the shades of the trees.
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