Reverse X Trap - Chapter 4

Takuji noticed something in his class.

A seat next to him was always empty. It had been that way since the semester started and he felt that was odd because nobody ever talked about it. So he decided to talk to his homeroom teacher.

—

“Eh? An empty seat? I really believed our class already full though.” The teacher explained while checking the the student list.

“Well, I just realized this recently as well, sir. So, I’m sorry if I take your break time to check through this.”

“Ahaha, it’s fine. You have been doing well as a class representative, and I believe this is also a duty for a class rep. But, it’s my mistake too for not noticing.” Both of them apologizing to each other while teacher kept searching, until he found a name with a blank attendance.

“Found it! It’s Jun Hoshizora. Yes, it seems he never came from the beginning. I suppose I should check on him.” The teacher smiled and looked for the student address, but Takuji opened his mouth.

“Um…sir, if you don’t mind can I go with you as well? He might be having a problem that caused him to skip school. A presence of his classmate might help him relieve a bit.” Suggested Takuji.

“Excellent! Okay, we are going there after school. Meet me in front of the school gate.”

“Yes sir. I will see you later.”

—

School went by normally and Takuji head to the front gate. Not long after he arrived, Asuka and Riku came by.

“Yo, Taku. Ready to go home?” asked Riku after having fist bump with Takuji.

“Sorry, you guys go ahead. I have an errand with Enoshima-sensei.”

“Oh, what errand Taku?” Asuka asked while tilting his head confused.

“We are going to meet a classmate of mine. He never shows up at school, and nobody notices until now. I asked sensei if we could see him and asked him about this.”

“Dude, you are a kind person. If it’s me I’d probably just asked sensei and leave it to them.” Praised Riku followed by a nod of agreement from Asuka. But suddenly, Asuka looked like he remembered something.

“Hehe, he is. Oh! I’m sorry Riku! I have to go shopping. Mom will come back late, and I’m also going to pick up Asuna. So, we can’t go home together.” Asuka said it sadly with a disappointed look. Riku just smiled and pat his head.

“Hey, it’s cool Asuka. Sorry that I’m busy with soccer club too nowadays, so we rarely see each other. It’s just one of those days.” This calmed Asuka and Takuji noticed Asuka blushing a bit.

“Haha, you two. Please remember that I’m still here. You can have your lovey-dovey moment when you’re alone.” Both of them surprised by Takuji’s words and put some distance on each other.

“WE ARE NOT BEING LOVEY-DOVEY!” Both of them yelled at the same time. While Takuji smirked because of their opposite reactions.

“Okay, okay. By the way, where is sensei?” just in time, Enoshima-sensei came but his expression showed an apologetic expression.

“Sorry Tsuburaya. I had a sudden meeting with the headmaster. We will postpone this tomorrow if you are not busy.”

“It’s okay sensei. I will go there myself. At least I want to know where he lives.”

“Are you sure? If that’s fine with you then okay. I’m sorry to burden you with this though.”

“No problem sensei. I don’t have anything to do either.”

With that happened, Enoshima-sensei went back to the school. Riku and Asuka looked back to Takuji.

“So you are really going alone? Want me to accompany you?” offered Riku but Takuji refused.

“It’s okay. It’s my duty as a class rep after all. See you tomorrow then.” Takuji walked off from the school and parted from the two. The two said their goodbyes too and started walking on different ways.

According to the address, Jun Hoshizora house was located in far district of the city. It took 45 minutes to arrive there. And Takuji still had to walk again around 15 minutes from the station. He began to wonder perhaps because his house was far, that Hoshizora always late and thought that he would be punished anyway so he decided to go home. He walked around an unknown area with a lots of abandoned buildings. Mostly shops that went bankrupt, or just closed. A lot of garbage scattered around. He felt that he came to place where normally thugs lived. But so far all he saw were homeless people. He finally arrived in front of a house, or formerly a house.

The house had broken windows, an unattached front gate, lots of sprays painted on the wall. Takuji could only shook his head in disbelieve. Mustering his courage he went inside the house, hoping that he could meet the person he was looking for. Calmly, he knocked on the door. No answer. He did it again. No answer. He did it again one more time, louder this time. Still no answer. Frustrated, he left the house.

“Is it the wrong address? But it’s very clear on the front gate. The house number, and ‘Hoshizora’ written on it.” He decided to go inside again to search on the yard. Nothing. And when he checked through the window, only a very messy room could be seen. Sighing, he decided to go back home. On the way back, he asked a person outside.

“Um excuse ma’am. I’m looking for Jun Hoshizora’s house. And the address I got says it’s this house. Is it correct?”

“Hmm, I’m sorry. The only thing I knew that someone usually enters the house at night, but I never knew someone actually lives there. Look at that house, it’s a terrible place right?”

“Yes. But do you know who that person is?”

“No. It’s dangerous to go outside in this area during nighttime. And I never meet anyone named Hoshizora since I lived here.”

“Thank you ma’am.” Parting from the kind lady who was sweeping the dust in front of her shop, which looked to be closed permanently soon, Takuji went home with a disappointed feeling. He didn’t expect to meet Hoshizora soon, but he felt glad that at least he found his house.

“I’ll talk to sensei tomorrow. We forgot to call first to check.” Speaking of call, his phone suddenly vibrated. He pulled it out, and see ‘Riku Morikawa’ on the screen. He answered.

“Hello?” Takuji was replied by a panic voice.

“Buddy, where are you?” It was Riku. And it didn’t sound good.

“I’m just on my way home. Near the station. Why?”

“I think Asuka’s in trouble! I can hear a panicked scream before his call ended. Can you help me find him?”

“I’ll go to the shopping district! You go check his way home from Asuna’s school.”

“Got it! Call me when you find him!”

“Sure!” They both hung up. With a determined face, Takuji started running towards the shopping district, hoping that no harm approached his friend.

“Be safe, Asuka. Wait for us!”

—

“Uhuk..uhuk” A girl fell down with scratch on her knee. The other girl immediately came in front her to check.

“Are you okay? Please stop! Let us go home!” The girl pleaded to group of delinquents who were standing with a dirty look on their faces.

“She started it when she insulted us! We really just wanna play, but that cocky brat starts barking at us!” A guy with weird hairstyle and a toothpick angrily shouted at the girl, the girl shrieked in fear while the injured girl glared at the delinquents.

“Are you guys wussies? Hitting a girl and ganging on us! What’s…uhuk…your problem?” The injured girl still throwing insults and the delinquents had enough.

“Please! Don’t hurt her! I’ll do what you say!” The other girl begged the guy backed off.

“Well, you are cute, girlie. But she is annoying me. I’ll shut her up first before having fun with you.” Pushing the girl away, the toothpick guy swung his fist towards the injured girl.

“NO!”

The punch he threw hit something else. But instead of the face of the injured girl, it landed on a palm of a guy. He wore an unkempt school uniform with tears on it including the trousers. He also wore a jacket with hood over it. Everyone was silent by the sudden appearance of the boy.

“Who are you?” The toothpick guy broke the silence.

“Swinging your fist against an injured girl. Cih. Not manly at all” The boy spoke with an angry voice while the other delinquents were readying themselves to jump him.