Cards Of The Silent King-Chapter 12: The Rooftop At Lunch

The wind on the rooftop was constant. It smelled of rain and distant exhaust. The city hummed below. A low vibration that traveled up through the concrete floor and into the soles of Kaitos shoes.

He sat near the ventilation unit. Back against the metal. Legs stretched out. A convenience store bento sat on his knees. Plastic wrapper crinkled in the wind.

He ate with chopsticks. Rice. Pickled plum. Salmon. Cold. Simple.

Kuro said, "This is pathetic. A king eating cold fish on a roof."

Kaito said, "Quiet."

Kuro said, "You are hiding. Again."

Kaito said, "Eating."

Kuro said, "Hiding and eating. Multitasking."

Kaito ignored him. He focused on the food. He needed the calories. Last night had cost him. Embers fire burned through energy faster than Kuros shadows. His muscles felt heavy. His eyes felt gritty.

The door handle turned.

Kaito did not move. He did not hide the food. He did not reach for the cards in his pocket. He knew the footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Unconcerned.

The door opened. Wind rushed in. Ryota Hayashi stepped out. He held a bag of convenience store snacks. He saw Kaito. He did not look surprised.

Ryota said, "Found you."

Ryota walked over. He sat down beside Kaito. Not too close. Close enough to share the wind. He opened his bag. He pulled out a melon bun.

Ryota said, "Cafeteria was full. Too loud. Too many people. Sato was there. He eats like a vacuum cleaner. It is disturbing. So I came here. Figured you might be here. You like high places. Quiet places. Places where people do not ask you to join clubs."

Kaito took a bite of salmon. He chewed. He swallowed.

Kaito said, "Okay."

Ryota asked, "Okay what? Okay I can sit? Or okay Sato is a vacuum?"

Kaito said, "Sit."

Ryota said, "Cool."

Ryota tore the bun in half. Steam rose from the inside. Sweet smell mixed with the exhaust scent.

Ryota said, "Nice view. You can see the station from here. See the trains? They look like toys. Little silver worms crawling through the city."

Kaito looked. He saw the trains. He saw the cracks in the reality near the tracks. Faint shimmers. He watched them for a second. They held.

Kuro said, "He does not see. He looks at the same thing and sees nothing."

Kaito said, "Good."

Kuro asked, "Is it. Ignorance is a weak defense."

Kaito said, "Stronger than fear."

Ryota took a bite of the bun. He crumbs fell on his pants. He brushed them off. He did not care.

Ryota said, "I heard you were sick. Hana said you looked tired. Ryota said he looks like a zombie. She said be nice. I am being nice. I brought extra snacks. Want one?"

Ryota held out a bag of chips. Kaito looked at the chips. He looked at Ryota. He took the bag.

Kaito said, "Thanks."

Ryota said, "See. Polite. I knew it. You have manners. You just hide them under the silence. It is a good look. Mysterious. Girls probably love it. Except they do not know you exist. Which is a tragedy. For them."

Kaito opened the chips. He ate one. Salty. Crunchy.

Ryota said, "My mom asked about you. She said you never come over. She says I need friends who do not talk so much. I told her you talk. Just internally. She said that does not count for dinner conversation."

Kaito almost smiled. Almost. He took another bite of rice.

Kaito said, "Nice mom."

Ryota said, "The best. She makes too much food. Always. Come over sometime. She will feed you. You look like you need feeding. Like a stray cat. A very serious stray cat."

Kaito looked at the city. The sun was breaking through the clouds. Light hit the glass buildings. They glowed.

Kuro asked, "He is trying. Why."

Kaito said, "Friend."

Kuro said, "Friends require maintenance. Calls. Texts. Lies."

Kaito said, "True."

Kuro said, "Then this is inefficient."

Kaito said, "Real."

Ryota finished the bun. He crumpled the wrapper. He tossed it into his bag. He leaned back. He looked at the sky.

Ryota said, "You know. Jin comes here sometimes. He reads. He does not talk. You do not talk. I talk. It is a good balance. We are a ecosystem. Like trees and birds. Or sharks and remoras. Wait. Are you the shark? No. You are too quiet. Maybe the tree. I am the bird. Jin is the rock."

Kaito closed the bento. He put the lid on. He put it in his bag.

Kaito said, "Tree."

Ryota said, "See. You agree. You are the tree. Strong. Silent. Providing shade. I am the bird. Loud. Colorful. Annoying. But I keep the bugs away."

Kaito looked at Ryota. Really looked at him. Ryota was smiling. He was looking at the sky. He was not waiting for a response. He was not waiting for validation. He was just there.

Kuro said, "He knows something is wrong. He does not ask."

Kaito said, "Knows."

Kuro asked, "Why."

Kaito said, "Trusts."

Kuro said, "Humans are foolish."

Kaito said, "Sometimes."

Ryota sat up. He checked his watch.

Ryota said, "Ten minutes. We should go. Math. Sato. Vacuum cleaner. The usual."

Ryota stood up. He offered a hand to Kaito. Kaito looked at the hand. He took it. Ryota pulled. Kaito stood.

Ryota said, "Come on. If we are late, he makes us stand in the hall. I hate standing. My legs fall asleep. Then I fall over. Then everyone laughs. It is a whole thing."

They walked to the door. Ryota opened it. He held it.

Ryota said, "You know. You do not have to come down with me. You can stay. Hide. Skip class. I will cover for you. I will say you went to the bathroom. Or died. Whatever you prefer."

Kaito walked through the door. He stopped. He looked back at Ryota.

Kaito said, "Come."

Ryota said, "Okay. Together. Better."

They walked down the stairs. Side by side. Ryota talked about the video game he played last night. Something about levels and bosses. Kaito listened. He did not interrupt. He did not need to.

Kuro said, "He is loud. But he is loyal."

Kaito said, "Yes."

Kuro said, "Loyalty gets people killed."

Kaito said, "Know."

Kuro said, "Then protect him."

Kaito said, "Plan."

They reached the hallway. The noise hit them. Students rushing. Lockers slamming. Ryota turned to Kaito. He grinned.

Ryota asked, "Same time tomorrow? Roof. Lunch. I will bring better snacks. Maybe candy. You like candy? Everyone likes candy."

Kaito adjusted his bag. He felt the cards shift. He felt the weight of the secret. He felt the weight of the friendship.

Kaito said, "Yes."

Ryota said, "Awesome. See you there. Do not be late. Trees do not move. But you can move."

Ryota ran off. Toward the classroom. Toward the noise. Kaito stood in the hallway. He watched him go.

Kuro said, "He does not need to know. To be there."

Kaito said, "No."

Kuro said, "That is rare."

Kaito said, "Yes."

Kaito walked to the classroom. He opened the door. He sat at his desk. He put his hand near his pocket. The cards were warm. The city was quiet. He had fought monsters last night. He had eaten cold fish today. He had a friend who asked for nothing.

It was enough.

He opened his notebook. He picked up his pen. He wrote the date. He waited for the teacher.