Chapter 271 - Did it start then?

Year 20XX - March -

"Sorry I'm late," Yang apologized as he slid the doors open and bowed down.

"Haha. It's fine, it's expected from you."

As usual, Shinji doesn't hesitate with publicly humiliating someone in one line. It's not that he's always late either; it's because, along the way, there's always something wrong that happens. Yang rubbed his sore shoulders. 'Stupid gangsters,' why did they have a knife , anyway ? On the way here, somebody attacked him. If he doesn't get attacked by such people, he gets stalked by dangerous and creepy fans. It seems like the word peace doesn't exist in his book.

"Why did you call me, anyway?"

"I can't call my friend whenever I want."

Yang rolled his eyes, "Don't be disgusting."

"Anyhow, this is the new member."

Yang looked up his eyes went wide, girl. . it's the girl from the cafe, seriously? He looked her up and down for a few minutes before confirming his thoughts. It's her, alright .

Shinji didn't notice anything strange and started to explain a few details and handed him some paperwork. Yang couldn't help but notice how serious her expression was. He recalls the lyrics; perhaps it really is like what he thought.

"I'm Kaname Setsura ."

Kaname, her name means snow Resplendence. Snow, those cold looking eyes when she introduced herself just now. He wonders what the girl went through to look like that. The name rung a bell to him, but Yang could not recall exactly where he heard it.

"Yang."

"Yang? That's a nice name," Setsura said with a smile. Yang felt his heart skip a beat when he saw that sudden smile. Woah —  just now he thought she was a cold-hearted beauty. But, what's this surprise attack? She's completely  different.

"I thought it would be something to do with your hair. But it's not."

She continued laughing.

Her smile is nice, so is her laughter. It's really  feminine and yet not too much. It felt just right to him.

"Right? I told him already to change it to red tomato. But he doesn't," Shinji interjected.

"Shinji, that's rude."

"I always come up with nicknames."

"I know," Setsura muttered.

"Then why don't we just change yours to my lady."

Setsura hits Shinji then. "As if you jerk, quit teasing me."

Yang looks up at that point at his friend's expression. To find that he was actually  smiling. A smile, not a false one. Not the smile he pulls whenever someone catches him in deep thought. Not those wry smiles. No, this was a genuine smile. Could it be that Shinji likes her...?

Somehow, huh? That bothers him. Why would it bother him?

..

It did bother him a lot.

To say that it didn't would be a lie. Yang wasn't the kind of  person who bothered with lies too.

It bothered him a great deal when he saw them together. What's more , it seemed as though even those three were falling for her. That girl has only been here for three months, and yet she's made the top leaders all fall for her charm. She's something  indeed .

Yang decided that if he saw her again. If he saw the owner of the lyrics, he would give it back to her. But even after three months upon meeting her again, he had yet to give it to her.

He lets out a large sigh; what was he doing? Even though he was passionate about the whole, seeing her again thing. Now that he saw her every day, how come he can't speak to her? His thoughts broke upon when he saw rain rapidly filling the grounds. It's pouring all of a sudden . Rain , huh ?

Yang sat down and played a few notes on his guitar when he hears a thud behind him. He turned to see the girl who had been occupying his thoughts this entire time.

"Oh Kaname-san, you're still here?" It felt foreign using the girl's surname.

Yeah, making light conversations was something he sucked at. But, then again, he rarely talks to girls. Typically, it ends up with him pushing them against some random wall or on the ground.

"T — that melody..." she trails off, " How come you know it?"

Why does she suddenly seem so shocked? From his observations of the girl, Yang had judged her outside character to be somewhat  calm and collected. Right now, she 's completely showing the opposite. " Why, you ask.. . I created it."

Suddenly the girl bursts into laughter, "Haha." He blinks in surprise. Huh?

"So that's what it was. I thought you were familiar. Though it was only briefly, I remember it quite  clearly. You gave me this because I lost the piece of music I was going to play in my recital," Setsura explained, as she took out a score sheet. His eyes went wide, recognizing it, eh come to think of it.. . she...

Ah!

"Ah, your....."

Setsura laughs, " Really, I can't believe it took me so long to recall what you looked like, and my memory is usually sharp and on point too. But to think I'd see you again. Coincidences do  happen."

No. It isn't a coincidence, especially since it happened twice. Yang grabbed hold of her hand, causing her eyes to widen as he shuts his eyes and starts singing. Once he finished, a clear blush was on the girl's cheeks.

"... . my lyrics... you're the one who found them?"

Yang smiles, "I think we can get along better now, can't we."

_____

Present - the Year 1895

Did everything start at that time?

Or were things already starting a long time ago? The redhead lets out a deep sigh. From the moment, he realized that they are connected not just through music; but in the past. ' I don't mind if you pursue me. '

He's defeated.

Yang didn't think she would say that to him. Setsura, even now, is still unable to love someone deeply without hesitation?

"Boss…"

Everybody was looking at him with expectations. They probably expect him to agree with Hae-Rin. If he does that, he will remain their cool boss; however - that's not what he wants. He knew it was a risk doing this. Once, he decides to take Setsura's side. The people in the organization who dislike him will use this to their advantage. They will take advantage of this moment and change the momentum in their favor.

He may be the current head of the organization. But, if he does something unexpected, then he will lose everything. Could he risk that? The answer is yes. The only reason why he came to this era was because of Setsura. He only stayed here longer than he should have was because he accidentally learned of her mission.

Yang didn't say a word and walked off in the direction where Setsura was. He could hear them mumbling behind him, some may have been shouting. But that didn't matter to him. He needs to find Setsura quickly. If Chauncey Long is here, then... Yang gripped his hands tightly into a ball, recalling the image on that photo he received.

'That's Touma..that's what he looks like.'

Yes, he made a deal with the man without knowing what he looked like. Yang didn't care as long as he could have Setsura. But, after a while, he grew curious. Whenever he mentioned Touma, Setsura's reaction, it reminded him of something. It shouldn't be possible.

However, if both him and Setsura can be here, then why not that guy?