Chapter 236 - Afraid

"There's something else – something at the level of thinking that I was born to specifically tell you something…"

Kazehaya Gin delivered this line with a wiggling of his brows as if to joke about it, but he was serious. He just didn't want to sound a lot graver than the situation already was.

Ryuu nodded in understanding, his blue gaze shifting from his friend towards Mavara and Aello near the portal.

"You better go to the Kazehaya House tonight. I feel it would be easier for you and Aello to be far from the portal."

The harpy was well behaved but Gin was very tensed and it showed. The fear that Aello could sense beings from the other side and was communicating with them in secret was bothering him greatly. Although Kazehaya was still very much in control of his elemental, the continuous discomfort would break him down if it was prolonged.

"Or the Homura House," Ryuu continued hurriedly remembering Gin's dislike of his old residence.

"Nah, it's okay. I'll go to the Kazehaya House. I need to talk to my father anyway," Gin said.

"Are you sure?"

Ryuu wanted to make sure. The last thing he needed was to stress the wind caster further. He didn't want to have to deal with an angry Aello when Czernobog and his minions could come anytime. His power as Kresnik was strong as he's hailed as the second strongest in all of heaven, just a notch below Perun, and a notch above Stribog who was the third most powerful deity.

A contest of strength between him and Czernobog was not even heavy exercise for the Flame Emperor. But with Gin, it was a totally different challenge.

He had only fought Gin at full strength once, and it took him a while and a lot of stamina before he's able to keep him in control. It was when his power went berserk when his mother poisoned him and Aello took over his body to fight.

"Of course. I'm not a naïve kid anymore," Gin scoffed, remembering years past when he last returned to his old house. "It's not like there's still someone foolish enough to try and poison me again with Aello around."

Ryuu nodded. Gin wouldn't ask Aello to hide within him. The harpy's tasked to keep guard at all times while he's in Hakone.

"Alright. Go then. Take a rest so you won't be so slow-witted with the seer tomorrow," the Koutaishidenka ordered, and Gin had no other choice but follow, but not before sticking out his tongue at him.

=====

"Oh God, until when are you planning to sit here and act like this is not happening?" Asou Chiaki scolded herself as she closed her eyes and counted to ten.

But of course, she couldn't answer that question thrown at herself. It's been several minutes since Ara left, and here she was sitting in the car, her body heavy and shaky at the same time.

She was in a panic.

Why?

Because tonight, everything that she had been running away from over the years would be facing her.

She had no choice. She was foolish enough to get caught unawares. She should have known that this would happen as soon as Aki had a confrontation with his uncle on the first day of the IBEC. The CEO of the Suzuki Raiden Group didn't even bother correcting his uncle when the latter mistook her for his girlfriend.  

Not that Aki would ever do such a thing anyway…

Chiaki sighed. She was aware. She knew. Suzuki Aki was in love with her – had been in love with her since they were kids.

As she had been with him…

"Oh God," she murmured as she palmed her face.

However, regardless of their feelings, Asou Chiaki couldn't find it in her heart to be with him – at least for now. It was why she had always brushed his advances off, keeping things professional between them as much as she could.

Why?

Because Asou Chiaki didn't feel worthy enough.

It was funny as how a person like her who kept spouting about equality between classes would be this insecure about herself. But she couldn't help it.

"Oh God," she groaned again, remembering her conversation with Ara.

The younger Suzuki's words to her really struck home. No matter how much Chiaki thought of her as not enough for someone in Aki's status, Ara was much worse with her prince, and yet, they were together.

You deserve it. You are worthy of your love…

This was what she said to Ara. But what about herself? After everything she heard from the younger woman, did she still really think she didn't deserve to have a place next to Aki?

When Aki confessed to her years ago, she was honestly elated. So much so that her normally highly functioning brain wouldn't cooperate with her, and so she asked to have time to think it over even if she really wanted to say yes then and there.

Then she found out about the truth.

To be honest, she was very furious and felt so betrayed. But it didn't last long. After all, she couldn't stay angry at Aki for longer than a day even if she wanted to.

But she couldn't be with him yet. Because after people found out who he was, he suddenly felt so far away – an unreachable star.

This was why she worked hard on her studies. She felt that if she worked vigorously and became the top in school at least she could come closer to him even just a bit. She topped their senior high school, then her university.

But, as much as she climbed up, the gap between her and Aki never lessened. When she graduated valedictorian in high school, Aki started working part-time in their company, being groomed as the heir. When the two of them went to Tokyo University together, even if she excelled more in class, he was already part of the working community as his duties at Suzuki Raiden increased while also still being a student. When she started working for him, although she had contributed a great deal and was acknowledged for her work, her sister suddenly died leaving Taka with her.

Asou Chiaki was one competitive nutjob. She knew this, but that was not the real problem for her. The problem was her fear that people would misunderstand and judge Aki because of her. But Ara said, it was okay – that other people didn't matter.

She also knew this. Other people's opinions didn't matter as they would always have an opinion anyway. But why did she still feel so afraid?