A glimpse into what Corrin's life is like at her high school, where a certain few people have a bitter grudge against her and are willing to go to great measures to make her suffer for it.
School for Corrin was fifteen minutes' walk away, at a brisk pace. She had wanted Leo to accompany her on the way, but since Camilla had taken an early shift at her store, Leo had to escort Elise to the elementary school.
"I'll be there before the bell rings, don't worry, sister. Just try your best to ignore them, today's too important for you to stay behind," her brother was saying, dividing his focus between advice and tying Elise's shoelaces.
Although her stomach was turning over, Corrin had nodded and replied with a quiet, "Thanks, Leo." She knew he wasn't trying to avoid her company. Leo understood why Corrin hated going to school alone.
Corrin walked with a purposeful slowness up the faded gravel path, through the parking lot, then inside the main doors. Green Valley High was the largest in its district, with around a thousand students. Every day, Corrin saw someone new slouching by the front doors, sitting on benches in the feeble sunlight, or smoking as close to the school as policy permitted.
And yet it didn't matter that the school boasted two gymnasiums, a vast library, and some of the most skilled teachers in the province, Corrin still hated it. If Camilla and Xander didn't need full-time jobs to keep the family fed, they would have homeschooled their siblings, she had been told often.
Today, thankfully, a small crowd had gathered close to Corrin's locker, giving her a reprise to store her jacket and get her binders. Two girls, one with waist-length blonde hair and the other a vivid pink, were entertaining a few others with a lesson on dancing.
"No, Ophelia, it's like this!" the pink-haired one cried, but the crowd had already burst into laughter from Ophelia's crash once her partner made an overzealous sweeping motion.
Grateful for the distraction, Corrin looked in every direction for a shock of red hair, or a straw-colored ponytail. Being forever on guard reduced the instances of being tripped or having objects thrown at her, but there was no defense from verbal violence. When Soleil's dance lesson had concluded, Corrin tried to hurry unseen into the math classroom, but she was already too late.
"You. Hey, you."
Behind me...
Corrin kept walking, her eyes on the floor. The voice was louder now, and the crowd had fallen silent, although Corrin could hear them whispering not far away.
Maybe this time, they won't just watch it happen.
"I'm talking to you, Corrin. You ought to look at me when I'm speaking to you. Didn't your real brother tell you that?"
Not looking at Takumi had worked before, though the world real had such a nasty sneer in it that Takumi sounded about to spit with pure disgust. Corrin refused to turn around, this time would be no different, then she walked into a wall of solid muscle.
"Oh! H-Hinoka, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you."
Corrin almost choked on her words when the tomboy glared at her. How had she ever felt safe around Hinoka, even five long years ago? Although less vicious than younger brother, Hinoka's physical strength intimidated Corrin into silence every time she saw her now.
"Get away from me. And if you're thinking about running to your big brother, I'm not scared of him, so don't bother."
Feeling like a mouse in the presence of a cat, Corrin hunched her shoulders and prayed it would be over soon.
"Just leave me alone. I know you hate me. I understand why, but please, leave me alone."
Now Takumi was behind her, and Hinoka in front. Was one of them plotting to slap Corrin across the face the moment she turned around, like Takumi had before? Would he rip the books out of her hands? Would he go even farther and send her to the nurse's office while Hinoka held her down...?
But when Corrin's eyes met her chief tormentor's, he moved aside without a taunt. There was a collective gasp from the crowd, and the braided girl who had jabbed Corrin let out a positively scandalized "What?".
Takumi's arms were folded and his pale brown eyes were narrow with unfiltered hatred. Only Corrin and Hinoka could hear what he said next:
"You're the only one responsible for our mother's death, Corrin. If it weren't for you, she never would have gone out that night. She never would have gone driving when there was so much ice on the road, if it weren't for her precious little spoiled princess of a daughter."
A few tears slid down Corrin's cheek. All her mind could do was pray for Leo to hurry up and save her.
"You hear that? You know that, you little wretch? You won't be able to survive off your big brother and sister forever, and I'm going to see to that. You're not safe. You're never safe! I know where to find you. Hinoka knows and Ryoma knows, and one day, when you finally let your guard down..."
Don't say anything, don't even look at him and he'll realize he's getting nothing...
"One day, Corrin, I'm going to make sure you'll slip and fall onto the road. I'll make certain of it."
That was all it took. Corrin's legs gave way and she broke down in sobs, trying to muffle them with her sleeves. Takumi and Hinoka strode past her, silent now. She was half-afraid that they would step on her hands as they passed. Soleil and Ophelia had turned their heads to look, but neither spared a word to Corrin.
Yet her crying fit could only last a moment. The bell rang out and mathematics was the most demanding class. Corrin sniffled out a few last sobs, wiped her eyes, got to her feet and picked up all her fallen belongings, embarrassed at having to be on her knees for so long.
For longer than usual that morning, Corrin debated a few escape plans. She could run home and feign illness, sending Xander a reassuring text that she just needed a day to rest, or hide in the bathrooms during lunch. That was her only guarantee of safety, as Leo was nowhere to be found.
Man, I'm getting more and more into this fic the more I write it. Once I have edited a chapter, it will have (R), standing for "revised", in the title.
If anyone's confused, here's the facts I'm giving out as of now:
1. Mikoto is dead and Corrin is tangentially responsible for her death. More details in later parts.
2. Both the Hoshidan siblings and the Nohrian siblings live alone, in separate homes. Xander, Camilla and Ryoma work, Takumi, Hinoka, Leo and Corrin attend Green Valley, and Elise and Sakura attend elementary.
