Path of the Extra Chapter 389: Leo Karumi [23]

The festival entered its second day.

Now, the school welcomed all non-students who possessed a ticket.

"Gahh! What is wrong with you?! I’m your classmate! You’re supposed to scare me!!"

Inside one of the gyms, the haunted house attracted a big crowd. Right at its entrance, though, a far more amusing scene played out—one completely unrelated to the main attraction.

A zombie-costumed boy slumped on the floor, his outfit stunningly lifelike: ragged, blood-smeared clothes, grey lenses turning his eyes lifeless, and meticulously painted facial wounds like bites and slashes.

It could have been an awesome getup...

...except this zombie boy was sobbing uncontrollably.

He gazed up tearfully from the floor at the clown looming above him.

That clown was utterly horrifying. Its mask featured a broad, ripped-open grin that suggested the face had been savagely split. This gym was among those with strict warnings—no kids under twelve without an adult.

"P-please... go... go away...!"

The ironic twist? The zombie boy feared the haunted house not at all. He helped build it with his class.

No, tremors wracked him because the clown had crept up during his break and startled him up close.

Onlookers merely grinned in delight, refusing to intervene—some even filmed it on their phones.

Dave appeared ready to wet himself, gaping at Leo in the clown garb. Clowns were Dave's one true phobia.

Nathan was well aware.

And Dave, who tormented Nathan at every opportunity, had unwittingly delivered the ideal revenge chance. Nathan, scheming like a genius, had foreseen and orchestrated this moment perfectly.

Thus, as Leo witnessed the results...

Any irritation over Nathan picking his costume vanished.

It proved utterly worthwhile.

"C-come on!" Dave blubbered, gasping out words amid shivers. "At least say something! I-I know it’s you under there, Leo! Y-you won’t scare me!"

Leo ignored the feeble bluff no one bought.

His mere presence sufficed for terror—why add words?

Yet the scene's harshness stood out. Children and grown-ups watched gleefully as Dave crumbled.

Tears poured down Dave’s cheeks. He lurched upright and fled—tripping face-first once... twice... before staggering from the gym.

A classmate neared Leo, beaming as if he'd seen the day's highlight.

"It’s hilarious how he dodged you the instant you donned the clown costume, but you held back no longer, right?" he chuckled. "I mean—damn. You’ve stayed wordless all day, yet terrified crowds just by lurking."

Then, shifting to business.

"Anyway, solid job. We’re wrapping up here. Lunchtime now, but next comes the sports festival. Our class runs the hundred-meter sprint, so watch for us, okay?"

Leo peered through the mask and nodded deliberately.

After a short pause, Leo murmured—voice low and stifled by the outfit.

"...Good work."

The boy blinked in surprise, then grinned like he'd earned praise, echoed it, and departed.

No cause to linger, so Leo exited the gym too.

Corridors brimmed with students, parents, families rushing between events, chattering and laughing boisterously. The school buzzed with noise, throngs, vitality.

Leo craved none of the chaos.

He aimed for the stairwell, intending the roof for a quiet lunch from his purchase.

But nearing the stairs, a known voice halted him sharp.

"Mom! We’re too late!"

"It’s alright," came the reply. "I’m sure we’ll—"

Leo retreated steps and peered below.

Ascending through the student and adult masses were his mother and little sister.

Work had kept his mother away two days. Lia he'd glimpsed scarcely—she was out when he returned, and he hid in his room.

"Mom! Look—a clown!" Lia exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "So cool!"

She noticed him first.

And failed to identify him.

Naturally, Leo mused. No clue hid behind that mask.

Or so he believed.

Up close, his mother’s eyebrows lifted.

"Leo?"

A subtle unease stirred in his chest.

He raised hands, doffed the mask, baring his features.

Lia’s mouth fell open adorably—shocked her big brother lurked beneath what she deemed "cool" over creepy. She showed more grit than Dave, at least.

Leo’s eyes rested on his mother moments extra before he ventured words, hesitant.

"...I didn’t think you would come."

She ought to work. Leo expected no family at the year-end festival. Yet unease—not joy—filled him, stirred by chill in eyes mirroring his own too closely.

Whatever words she held, privacy beckoned. Jeanne eyed Lia, radiant as she admired Leo’s attire top to bottom.

"Lia," Jeanne stated, steady yet commanding, "I need a word with your brother. Explore nearby, but stay in this hall, alright?"

Lia blinked puzzled briefly—then adventure's lure reignited her. She nodded eagerly.

"Okay!" she sang, darting away.

Leo tracked her flight. His mother did likewise, worry softening her features—tender, guarding.

Briefly, shadow glinted in Leo’s gaze.

He forced it back.

"Follow me," Jeanne uttered lightly.

Leo complied, striding alongside as they veered from Lia’s path. Past open classrooms, watchful teachers at booths, shouting students amid tunes and mirth. Festival din trailed, fading with distance.

Jeanne appraised him head to toe, fixating on the costume.

"Why the clown outfit?" she queried. "Is your class running a circus?"

A sharp undertone hinted mockery. Leo’s brows furrowed faintly before smoothing.

"A haunted house," he replied. "Though I barely contributed. Duties as festival committee captain kept me swamped."

At those final words, he eyed her with faint hope—the role might impress.

Jeanne merely surveyed posters, props, ornate frames.

Hope extinguished swiftly.

Leo puzzled over her iciness today.

True, Lia outshone him always—he accepted that lesson. But must she regard him thus?

There was affection for him. Simply eclipsed beside Lia.

Meeting her eyes anew churned his gut.

Her gaze at Lia versus him spanned universes.

Lia—cherished daughter, vibrant, genuine, utterly relatable.

Leo, though—

Nausea hit from Jeanne’s stare, as if beholding another entity.

Like a—

Like some beast.

"Mother," Leo uttered finally, pushing it forth. "Is something wrong?"

Jeanne halted. Leo mirrored.

They’d hit a dim hallway corner, barren of rooms ahead. Few ventured here.

Leo regarded her, expectant.

Jeanne held his stare unflinchingly. Audience absent, chill etched her openly.

Suddenly, her hand rose, palm cupping his cheek softly.

Leo stiffened.

Warmth spread from her touch; eye-chill eased slightly—yet worry replaced it, restrained.

"Have you eaten?" she murmured tenderly, concern lacing tones.

"...I was going to," Leo answered. "Before I saw you two."

"I see." Jeanne’s thumb brushed idly. "Then fortune favored us. We aimed earlier, but arrived late."

A fortuitous stairwell encounter.

Still, Leo grasped neither purpose nor her distress.

"I didn’t think much of it," she added, "but you’ve invested more in this school festival than anticipated."

Her inflection clenched his heart.

Anger brewed.

"I... I guess." Leo gulped. That glare urged defense—demanded it. "I don’t know. Just... wanted involvement, maybe. Everyone harped it’s their last middle school shot, craving a memorable finale."

"At the expense of piano lessons," Jeanne shot back instantly, "and true priorities?"

Her icy snap made him wince.

Hand withdrew from cheek.

Instead, she seized his wrist—firm, claiming, unyielding.

"Kaya offered tutoring amid festival chaos," Jeanne pressed. "You declined. Practice has slacked too." Eyes sharpened. "Hardly touched it last and this week. Sarah saw you with that girl—Lea, right? Shopping together."

Leo’s throat parched.

"That—that was festival-related," he hastened. "Extra costumes needed because—"

"So?" Jeanne interrupted, face stern, dismissing excuses. "Doesn’t matter outings or festival needs. Matters you squander time on trivia."

"But—"

"Enough."

Her pitch rose subtly, cracking sharp.

"Get it straight, Leo. No time for trivial festivals or kid games. Your realm dwarfs theirs—heaven from hell."

Leo gaped wide-eyed.

"No, it’s—"

"I tolerated your pranks and fits over years," Jeanne declared, hold unbroken, "trusting no dent in results. Seems it just emboldened worse pushes."

"That’s not what I—"

"I’ll permit festival through week’s end," Jeanne stated, "but vacation means daily Kaya visits for catch-up. All lost time on—"

"IT’S NOT A WASTE!"

The shout ripped free.

Loud enough heads turned.

Jeanne’s shock flickered. Leo reeled too—outburst stinging like rebuke. Burning regret dawned.

Silence gripped. Students glanced, averted, scurried off feigning blindness.

Leo’s lips twitched futilely.

"No— I meant... I-I—"

Pain exploded in his wrist before words formed.

"Ugh—!"

Leo glanced down.

Mother’s nails gouged skin.

Blood trickled fine crimson trails on pale flesh as the mask clattered free.

Jeanne’s gaze iced over.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, voice quaking outrage. "Even with my generosity, why yell like I’m in the wrong?"

"Agh—m-mom, it hurts," Leo hissed. "P-please—"

Pressure mounted. Flesh ripped. Panic surged.

His free hand muffled cries, stifling screams.

No screams allowed. No spotlight.

Sight of this spelled disaster.

There—the anxious stare resurfaced.

She fixed him with it, fearing unknown... blind to his agony.

"Why can’t you understand?" Jeanne breathed urgently, imploring. "All for your good, Leo. Only I seek your triumph."

Her plea muddled in his ear’s roar.

"Delude yourself endlessly," she urged, "but you differ eternally. ‘Friends’ will betray. Obey me, stay unalone, and—"

He tuned out.

Tinnitus overwhelmed.

Revulsion hit—from pain, her worry, eyes kind yet blind.

Blind to true him.

Leo gulped harshly.

Pain tormented Leo eternally. Even minor nicks unbearable, poison demanding purge. Now raw throbs twisted his gut.

Jeanne’s other hand caressed his face softly—even as wrist crushed carelessly.

Blind to it?

Why persist?

Leo eased hand from mouth, breaths ragged against sickness, gently tugged her fingers free.

"Just know this," Jeanne whispered.

"I’m your family, okay? Nowhere else fits you. None accept your kind."

Ah.

Indeed.

He knew.

She’d ingrained it deep, near his own convictions.

At last, grip yielded. Release stung torn spots, but crush ended.

Jeanne’s face evened, incident erased.

"I’m fetching food with Lia," she said evenly, maternal smile returning. "Join us?"

"N-no," Leo murmured faintly, cradling wrist to staunch flow.

Jeanne ignored the injury. Blind or willful.

Leo paled distant, head dizzy—faint, flushed, soul fleeing flesh.

"I see." Jeanne cooed softly. "Eat properly, yes? Heard your class joins sports festival. You too?"

"...N-no," Leo echoed blankly.

"Alright." Jeanne nodded conclusively. "Visit family later if free. We stay till close. Took work off for you."

Leo speechless. Incapable.

Jeanne bent, kissed his brow.

"I love you," she said, then departed.

Leo lingered, blankly eyeing her retreating form.

...Lunch appetite fled.