It's been quite some time since I've updated. Honestly, I lost a lot of motivation after an incident which resulted in the loss of all my notes and previous work for this Fanfic. The unbearable hiatus for the source material also didn't help. However, I know there are still people who read this story and would like for it to continue. So this is for you, the readers. I really hope you all like it. Any feedback would be much appreciated. It's been quite a while since I've written, so I'm very sorry if my quality isn't what it used to be.

Standard disclaimer: I do not own Iris Zero, the characters, concepts, etc.

It's always the people who claim to be "protecting" someone else who are the weakest. They cling to some precious ideal of heroism and project their own needs onto others. It's all so they can hide from their own insecurities. That's why they're so easy to break – Takeru Kurosawa. April 12, 2014

April 3, 2014

Hijiri saw everything that happened. A group of ill-tempered boys banding together out of a sense of misplaced jealousy. Despite the potential outbreak of violence that almost erupted, Hijiri didn't bat an eye. He didn't consider seeking help for the endangered and outnumbered Takeru, let alone take action on his own part to disrupt the conflict. He wasn't worried. Rather, Hijiri was bemused at his own luck. He finally had an opportunity to study Takeru. He could learn how his newfound target would respond to a hostile situation. Takeru did not fail to disappoint. A group's actions are largely dictated by its leader. By disrupting the group dynamic, one could easily turn an enemies' numbers against them. Takeru quickly managed to prey upon the leader's insecurities. He took advantage the young man's fear of being looked down upon by his peers. Takeru dug into the boy's psyche and brought up the one thing that could easily crush the false bravado his antagonist bore. Instantly that group's synergy was torn asunder. A few simple words and Takeru was capable of maliciously tearing someone down.

Hijiri was conflicted at this revelation. On the one hand, he was able to confirm two suspicions he held. Takeru was insightful at reading other people, quite possibly due to his iris, and at a level comparable to Toru. Takeru was also malicious. Toru could conjecture a person's insecurities with relative ease. It was what made him so capable. His gift in place of an iris. A gift he used to help others, thanks to the influence of a certain girl. Takeru on the other hand used his insight to hurt others. He took a more passive role in manipulating events to a most desirable outcome. He was so similar to Toru, and yet so very different. Had Sasamori not intervened, how far would Takeru have gone? Would he have broken down each of those boys? Would he have enjoyed it? Hijiri mulled over the scene he witnessed, and soon sighed when he realized he almost missed the most critical element. Takeru's actions and personality performed an unnerving change once Sasamori arrived. He called her Koyuki-chan. Far too familiar an act for the seemingly reserved, average boy he met yesterday. Too sickeningly sweet a response for the bold, manipulative young man he witnessed just moments prior. Somehow, Takeru had some sick, twisted adoration towards Sasamori. Koyuki Sasamori. The girl who was in love with Toru. Hijiri felt he had the first few pieces of the puzzle discerned. But there were still far too many unknown variables at play. What was the source of Takeru's keen insight? Was it his iris? If so, what exactly did his iris allow him to see? What were its limitations? Hijiri needed to be assure of all relevant information before making his move. He wouldn't make a mistake. This was Toru's life, his best friend's life, that was on the line. It was Hijiri's turn to protect his friend.

When she arrived in class, Asahi immediately turned her attention towards Hijiri. While Tokita may have expressed concern about her safety in becoming involved in whatever was transpiring between Hijiri and Takeru, Asahi never considered standing down for a second. Her friend might be in trouble. That was more than enough reason for Asahi to become involved. Hijiri may have always been odd, to put it nicely. But he was her friend. So whether Hijiri wanted her help or not, she was getting involved.

"What's with you and Takeru-kun?" Asahi asked bluntly. Engaging in subtleties and pretenses was not Asahi's style. At least not in this set of circumstances.

"What?" Hijiri looked up to Asahi bearing his signature half smile. He wasn't going to make this easy for Asahi. She didn't care.

"You lied yesterday, for the first time since I've known you. You lied speaking to Takeru-kun. You've been acting off since we met him. If something's going on, you should tell me."

Hijiri looked Asahi in the eyes. He remembered back to when he first learned about her gift. It was shortly after they had started school, during a student council incident. A few of the account books had been misplaced. The former student council treasurer was obviously the first person asked questioned in the disappearance. He vehemently denied any culpability, and added that he handed all documents to the secretary at the time. The secretary, in turn, denied being handed all the documents. Most of the other student council members believed her and held continued suspicion against the treasurer. It was only Asahi, a new member of the student council at the time, who questioned the seemingly innocent secretary. It was eventually revealed that the secretary had indeed dropped the account books while bumping into another student the prior day. Luckily the student she had bumped into happened to be a certain young man with a policy of minimum exposure, so Hijiri was able to recover the documents readily. This incident is what led to Hijiri and Asahi to first become friends.

Hijiri was a student council representative from the same class as Asahi, so she wasn't a complete stranger to him. However, they never engaged in conversation beyond the mere formalities or necessary discussion for student council tasks. Asahi took the first step in establishing a dialogue. While Hijiri once claimed to Toru that Asahi took "a vague interest in him" because he wasn't the type to lie, that was only a partial truth. Asahi initially established contact with Hijiri because he was close to Toru. Asahi had felt guilty for some time for the pain she caused her former childhood friend. She knew the torment she had caused him, and was always far too afraid to approach him herself. Hijiri was the only person in the school who associated whatsoever with Toru back then, let alone being able to call him a friend. Asahi simply wanted to know if Toru was okay. That strength of character, that kindness which Asahi hid beneath her tomboyish and brusque exterior was what drew Hijiri to befriend her. When he learned about her ability to identify when a person was lying, he was initially troubled. What if he needed to deceive her, for whatever reason? He had almost dismissed such a scenario occurring as unfathomable. Almost being the key word. It looked as though it might finally be time for Hijiri to lie to the girl who could see lies.

"Hijiri? Are you okay?" Asahi asked. It had already been several minutes since she originally started talking to her friend. He just stopped talking and zoned out for a while.

"Sorry, just thinking about how we first met. It was cute how worried you were about Toru back then." Hijiri responded.

"What are you talking about, idiot?!" Asahi yelled while delivering a swift slap to Hijiri.

"Oww."

"Stop fooling around. What's going on between you and Takeru-kun?"

"What if I told you I was just interested in him?" Hijiri asked nonchalantly. He didn't make direct eye contact with Asahi, but rather observed her responses in the corner of his eyes.

"I'd tell you once again to stop fooling around. We both know you're not the type to be 'just interested' in people. You've always got some diabolical scheme planned."

"So you've got me all figured out, huh?" Hijiri whispered to himself. An almost pained expression briefly flashed across his face. It was quick enough that Asahi failed to catch it, and instead continued on with her interrogation.

"So tell me the truth. Why are you so curious about the new kid? Did he do something? I mean he's a bit weird, but I didn't think he was that bad. In a way, he kinda reminded me of Toru." Asahi said.

"Like Toru…" Hijiri chuckled, "in a way he's exactly like Toru. But also the opposite."

"The opposite?" Asahi remarked confusedly.

"Yup. And that's exactly why I'm curious about him. I'm worried about how Kurosawa will affect my relationship with Toru. What would you say to that?"

"I'd say you were lying." Asahi stated bluntly.

"Really? Do you see a tail though?" Hijiri spoke as he turned to face her directly. His eyes gazing sharply into her eyes.

"I…" Asahi was stunned. The truth was that she hadn't seen a tail when he spoke before. She also wasn't used to the Hijiri she saw before her. He usually gave a sortied grin without much trace of seriousness or intensity. The only other time she could recall Hijiri acting like this was during the Iris Hunter incident. It was when he summoned Asahi to the roof and Kuga brought a knife to her own throat. He was soon to hide that look beneath his half-smile, but that brief look of desperation was burned into Asahi's memory. His face now wasn't quite like it was then, but the serious intensity remained the same.

The teacher soon entered the room and Hijiri returned to his seat. Despite class beginning, Asahi was lost in thought. Why was Hijiri so tense about all of this? Asahi pondered this for some time. She knew that Hijiri and Toru were best friends for some time. Asahi always figured it meant a great deal for Toru, who would've otherwise been left alone. But what about Hijiri? While he was certainly weird, it wasn't like he was a complete outcast. Granted, being close to an Iris Zero did make some people hesitant to associate with Hijiri, but it wasn't so bad that he would be outright ostracized like Toru. Hijiri was a member of the general student council association and was at least acquainted with a fair number of other students. Was Toru really so important to Hijiri that he would feel so threatened and insecure just because someone new came into their lives? It was difficult to believe that Hijiri was so sensitive. He always hid his true intentions from the rest of the circle with a smile. Asahi simply had a hard time believing that Hijiri had told her the truth. But he didn't have a tail…