The Antagonist: The World Ends Theory
Extra Part 1 - Who Loves Will Never Forget

On a clear morning, birds chirp with their flock. The blue sky in the orange color gradation stretched wide. And the beach that seems to reflect the color of the sky.

A girl paints a beach scene by herself. He looked solemn on every detail of the scratches on his canvas. His eyes focused on the scene he captured in the form of a painting.

"Hm.. hm..." The girl smiled gently while humming cheerfully. He swung both his legs.

"W...!"

Suddenly there was a ball that hit his painting. Though the painting was almost finished, the girl stared disappointedly at the painting on the surface of the sand.

He immediately took the canvas from the sand and tried to clean it. He hoped that the painting could still be used and there was no need to create a new one.

"Hosh.. hosh. That's..."

A man came with a hunting breath. He approached the girl with a run.

The girl just showed her best expression. "Don't worry about my painting, I can make a new one. You were unintentional, weren't you?"

The girl got up after taking back the painting. He tidied up his painting tools and watercolors. Meanwhile, the man was still waiting for the girl to finish.

"But..."

"No problem 'cock. I told you it wasn't your fault. Take it easy, I'm the greatest painter in a school. This is just a small matter to me."

"really?"

The girl nodded confidently.

But the man doubted it. "I'm..."

"LAURA...!"

Suddenly someone's cry was heard from far away. Although far away, his voice was clearly audible.

The girl, Laura looked panicked at once when she heard the voice. Suddenly his body stiffened inexorably.

Laura instantly stopped her friend's rampage. He walked up to the screaming person in a split second.

The man stared at Laura's departure. "Laura, yes..."

...❀...

"Ouch...!"

"Hey, Michael. What are you daydreaming about? I know you're often silent daydreaming. But, today it seems that your turmoil is showing up much longer."

Michael held onto his forehead which was knocked slowly by his friend.

"By my side."

"Well..are you liking a woman now?"

"..."

"Don't don't you have one? God, I can't believe a popular kid like you just got guidance now."

"Stop that, what you're saying isn't true at all."

"Jack." Call Michael to his friend.

"Hm?"

"Do you know where the class of the girl named Laura is?"

"You ask a girl but avoid that you like her. Another man of your nature must be wiped off the face of this earth." Sizzle Jack.

"Here you go, just answer!"

"Well, he's the chairman of the art club. Because he is good at sketching, drawing, and painting. Teachers always take him to compete in prestigious events."

"I asked where his class was."

"You can't wait, once. He's from 3rd grade - 7."

"Away away."

"That's why you can barely recognize who Laura is. He was only famous in his class and the teachers. Because art clubs don't really stand out in our schools."

"so. But apparently, it's possible that he likes a lot of men."

Shut up Michael growled annoyed at something.

Jack held his laughter. "Why indeed? Are you jealous if a man approaches you? Though you're no one - who, you even recognize it accidentally. And now you're acting like she's your lover. Very funny!"

"Be quiet. I don't want to hear that from you at least. Fucking playboy."

"Your mouth is so evil, it deserves the girl you refuse to cry after." Lips Jack.

"Ap-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Michael was stopped by a teacher who came to his classroom. It was an art teacher.

This art teacher is quite unique because it rarely moves to the art room during the lesson time. So students will ask first if today they study in class or art room.

"Today we've entered painting materials. Therefore, please all students bring painting equipment to the art room." Said the teacher.

All the students started to bring their painting equipment and left the classroom. Same with Michael and Jack.

"E-he! I can't wait to see that painting of yours."

"Basically you want to make fun of me, don't you?"

Well, Michael does suck at art and beauty. Although his academic and athletic ability is outstanding. But he is not very smart in this one lesson.

"I'll teach you!" Jack was half-mockful.

"Curtain, cheater."

After all the students sat in their own places. The art teacher unfurled the paper scroll he had been carrying with him. It turns out it's a landscape painting. The teacher painted the beach with the afternoon sky.

"Eh?" Michael was stunned to see it. He felt familiar with the painting so he stared at it for quite a while.

"Why?" Ask Jack. He realized that Michael was a bit surprised.

"No 'neck."

"Huf... You're a really bad liar."

"This time we will paint with the theme of nature. You can paint anything and it should be synonymous with nature. But the focus is flora, because we will explore the meaning of each flower. It's time for the class to finish, but for the insufficient and unfinished ones by then. You can continue it at home or here can be up to seven o'clock. We'll discuss each painting's meaning at the next meeting."

Jack approached Michael and whispered. "What are you gonna do?"

"Maybe 'loving ones won't forget'...? Little flowers like forget me not are easy enough to make for amateurs like me."

Jack remained silent.

"What?" Ask Michael.

"No, there's no. You're usually so blind when it comes to art. Especially painting and music. But today you're kind of 'shining' if I'm gonna say."

"You mean?"

"Well... It's a bit unusual for you to understand the language of flowers. But, just this time you look awesome. At least what you know isn't just 'you're the only one'¹."

"You're overreacting."

"Aah! Sorry then."

"But I can't paint that either. I don't think I remember the shape of the painting anymore. Maybe it's because I haven't seen her for much longer that's kind of forgotten."

"uh? What are you talking about? That painting? You mean 'loving won't forget' it's a real painting and not your original?" Jack looked at his friend in wonder.

"No... I'm sure there's no painting that's named 'sih."

Jack ignored his friend's horror and focused on the painting he was going to make. Michael saw Jack's finished painting a quarter.

Michael frowned. "Vincas? You like things - things about his memories. Is memory a fun activity?"

"Shut up! It means a lot to me."

Michael, who was bad at painting, delayed his return and continued to settle there. Beside him was Jack who faithfully waited with the painting already on the wall of the room, he just meant to show off.

The art teacher also seems to have no problem with Michael's condition. He already knew very well that this intelligent student was blunt in the only lesson, which was art.

"Does it matter if you leave me?"

"No problem, Mom! I'll accompany Michael until he falls."

"Oi! What do you mean it?!"

After the teacher left the two of them, a girl approached Jack.

"Jack, why are you still in class? I'm tired of waiting for you at the school gate, you know!"

Jack looked at the girl, he patted his own forehead as if he had forgotten something. Michael who had a bad feeling immediately hissed slowly.

"Hurry and go before my grudge against you gets bigger." Sizzle Michael.

"Ehehe, I'll see you tomorrow then." Jack laughed awkwardly and went home with the girl.

Michael continues his painting.

.

.

"Hey? 'Who loves will not forget' huh? Not bad for a beginner..."

?!

"ACH!!!"

"YESY!!!"

BRACKET

Michael was shocked that someone had arrived - suddenly speaking from behind him. That's why he screamed in shock, that someone also ended up screaming in surprise even to the point of falling down.

After that, Michael turned his body, there was a girl his age who was trying to get up, but Michael had no intention to help him and preferred to wait for the girl to stand alone.

It's like it's happened before, somewhere.

He just repeated the same thing.

Michael then realized that the girl was Laura, the painter girl he had met on the beach yesterday before evening.

"Yo, we meet again." Laura said, she managed to stand up again and break the silence between herself and Michael.

Michael regained his senses and looked at Laura who was waving at him. "Why are you here?"

Laura pointed out both of her fingers while smiling widely. "I'm the head of the art club, I came here to pick up some of my leftover painting equipment."

"Ah yes, Jack told me about you who is the chairman of the art club."

"Hjp? Jack...? Who's that?"

"He's my best friend, don't think too much." Michael then focused on his painting.

Laura leaned forward, looking at Michael's painting, "Forget me not a very memorable flower eh... Why did you decide to paint this?"

"Let's see, I'm just trying to paint this flower. I've seen it somewhere, I don't remember it anymore."

"I see, that's an unacceptable excuse."

"....."

"But take it easy, I'll help you paint it! I'm the queen of painting." Laura said proud.

"Oh..." Michael seemed not interested in it one bit.

Laura immediately took the brush beside the canvas, slipping it into a palette of paint. Laura intends to help Michael finish his painting faster.

Although initially somewhat upset, Michael lets Laura help him. Because Laura and herself are like heaven and earth. Michael needs help from him now.

"Do you have a lover? If your lover sees you close - close to a man. Your relationship will be threatened, you know?"

Instantly Laura's crisp laughter escaped from her lips, "Are I really? Where did you get that misguided info? I've never had a boyfriend in all this time."

"so."

Their conversation stalled, and they refocused on Michael's flower painting. About 30 minutes later, the painting was finally finished. At least with Laura's help she can finish it faster.

Since this is just practice, I am not required to display it in the art room. It'll look like this isn't my painting. I'll make another painting at home as a determinant of the value of my art.

Michael stretched his body, looking from afar at his paintings with Laura. It would not be wrong if Laura was chosen by the teacher as the head of the art club.

"Hey, thanks for your help- eh?"

Michael looked next to him, and to his surprise he saw that Laura was crying right now.

"Are you.. crying?" Michael asked with heart.

"Hey? Uh! It's not tears at all!" Laura roughly wiped away her tears, and let her uniform crumple.

"You're lying, let me see that tangled face of yours."

Michael held Laura's hand to wipe away her tears. So he could freely see Laura's pitiful face at this moment.

"You know? You look beautiful when you cry."

Because of Michael's words, Laura even became difficult to stop shedding tears. Just this time she was crying - so in front of strangers like Michael.

"In times like these, please don't joke."

Laura was still sobbing, there was no sign yet - a sign she would stop crying. Michael didn't comfort Laura at all either, so it felt annoying to Laura.

But. paintings forget me not flowers that. Not on the painting, but on the painter.

In the shadows of Michael. He saw there was a girl with a white mane tied up by jade flops. She was painting flowers, accompanied by a young man beside her who always called her Miss.

Michael hugged Laura gently. She allowed Laura to continue crying, even though it meant she needed to sacrifice the cleanliness of her current uniform.

Laura did not return her embrace, she only dared to grip the arm of Michael's clothes. Then raised his head to look at the young man's face.

"Hey, answer me honestly. Are you feeling good now? Are you having fun painting with me?" Laura's question was still interspersed with sobs.

"Yes. That was so much fun, this beautiful memory I'll remember. Always."

Michael glanced beside her, avoiding direct eye contact with Laura. "But the thing that pleased me the most was your presence by my side. That alone makes me happy. Knowing that you're still there is a blessing for me."

"Huh?"

Michael held onto Laura's wrists and hooked each of their fingers one by one. That of course made Laura blush embarrassed, her face was as red as a tomato now.

"All this time, I want to tell you. But whenever I wanted to express it, I always lost the chance for it."

"What's that?"

"Laura, I love you."

A single tear ran down Laura's cheek. He flinched before finally smiling full of joy. This time he ventured to return Michael's embrace.

"Yes! I love you so much too!"

And so, the leaves fall off along with the old story. Old sheets will be stored with memory - beautiful memory. New sheets will reopen.

Not always in the spring. For some people, autumn is the actual season of meeting.

TB

[1] You are the only language of sunflowers.

Don't stay with this story first okay? Because there are still 1 more chap that I have not posted.

See you in the next chapter~