The streets were never empty in the evening. I was walking back home from school. Hitori wasn't by my side again. He had to stay later at the orphanage so I decided to go home by myself.

I hated being on my own…

They'd laugh at me…

Or ignore me…

I don't mind if they ignored me. It made me less depressed when I got home but the laughter always increased the depression.

I would hear a group laughing…

Laughing at me…

They'd point their grimy fingers at me.

The people in front of me would glance at me and smirk or glare in distaste.

Truly I was a mistake…

And everyone else knew that too.

At least my earmuffs would drown the sound out but either way I knew they were laughing.

Their voices were muffled but I knew they were making fun.

The pushing from the crowd always felt like they were pushing me… shrinking me down into nothingness.

I felt someone shove me forward from the back.

I stumbled and fell onto the cement.

I yelped in pain as I fell onto my arm.

It pulsed in pain as they laughed…

I could hear their muffled laughter towards me.

Biting my lip I closed my eyes as I tried to block it out. I could feel my teeth piercing the skin of my lower lip, drawing blood. I didn't care about the pain… I didn't care… just stop…

Please…please…please stop… stop laughing…

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped under the kind gesture it held.

Jerking my head upwards I thought I would meet Hitori's kind eyes but surprisingly… the eyes were blue.

It was the girl from before.

"Hey, are you alright?" she winced and ran a finger under my tear, wiping it away, "y-you're crying…"

I glared up at her and quickly stood.

I had to run… I need to run.

"Hey! Wait!"

I felt her hand on my shoulder again.

"Leave-leave me alone!" I screamed out, shaking out of her grip and turning back to meet her eyes, "You'll only laugh at me too! Go ahead! Laugh!"

The crowd around us stared at me.

She too stared at me in shock.

I was shaking… I could feel it…

…Don't… stare… stop staring… please… I hate this… I hate this…

"St-stop it!" I felt tears already escaping my glands. I covered my ears and ran.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me until I finally collapsed.

Through my tear fogged eyes I looked around me. I saw a house ahead of me… the sign read Hatoful House.

"…Hitori…" I called out weakly, "Hitori save me…"

I felt the darkness cloud around me again.

No… no please… help, Hitori… help me…!

When I opened my eyes I was in an unfamiliar room. I shot up and held my head.

"… I'm dead… I'm dead…. I know I'm dead… No… no…"

"Kazuaki, calm down, you're not dead."

I opened my eyes to see I was back at the apartment. Indeed I wasn't dead.

I let out a breath of relief and looked over at Hitori who stood over me.

"What happened? Were you picked on again?"

"…. Y-yes…"

"And you ran to Hatoful House… I'm not surprised you passed out. You're not used to running that much."

He was right. My legs were aching and my sides burned.

"Do you want me to take over your teaching?" he asked politely.

"N-no, I'll be fine…"

His eyes suddenly narrowed. I can tell a hit a nerve which connected to his memory.

"Don't say that… You need to rest."

"I'll… I'll be ok in the morning… I don't want you to—"

"Kazuaki just rest."

I frowned but I obeyed and rested my head back onto the arm of the couch.

"… Hitori…"

"Yes?"

"… I'm scared…"

I heard him sigh, "You're not thinking about dying again are you?"

I winced, "I-I just…"

"C'mon, Kazuaki, you need to learn to be strong. Death is never the answer… Maybe someone will like you someday…"

"… They'll only use me like you did…" I felt tears rolling down my cheeks again.

"Don't remind me… I'm really sorry," his hand rested on mine and squeezed my hand comfortingly.

"I forgive you… At least I was useful to you…"

"I said to not remind me."

I flinched and looked at him wearily.

He frowned and his eyes waned away.

A deadening silence filled the room.

I hated that silence.

Slowly he looked back up at me, "… Maybe they won't…"

I met his gaze, "Do you think I should give her a chance then?"

His eyebrow went up, "Who?"

Oh yeah… I haven't told him about her yet.

"I bumped into this girl yesterday; she looked a bit younger than me…" I paused, "she apologized to me Hitori… I thought it was a joke… but either way she helped me pick the groceries back up."

"Well that's nice of her, did you catch her name?"

"No… I didn't ask because I thought it was just a one chance meeting…"

Hitori nodded, understanding, "Go on."

"I remember that she had lost something and I remember that I wanted to run because I was scared… but I accidently found it."

"What was she looking for?"

"A stuffed animal, I think… it was really old. She thanked me and shook my hand… She touched my hand Hitori…" I slowly gazed at my left hand as I recalled the memory of her gloved hand shaking mine… how awkward I felt… how unease and how unsure…

"No one has done that other than you…"

"She was trying to be polite, Kazuaki."

"I guess… I met her again today when they were laughing at me… I think she was trying to help me… I was so angry and upset I yelled at her… I-I think I scared her Hitori… I know she hates me now…"

"How do you know she hates you?"

I frown in concentration before I responded, "… I-I just know!"

"Did she glare at you? Did she laugh?"

He paused to think. "N-no… but I know she was thinking about it!"

"Kazuaki, listen… what was her reaction after you yelled at her?"

I drew back to the painful memory to remember her face.

The look of fear in her eyes had scared him.

But she wasn't angry…

"… Sh-she was scared… like me… she was scared of me Hitori… she hates me…"

Hitori frowned and smacked his hand against his head.

I flinched at the impact.

"I won't hit you…" he growled within his teeth, "… I just want you to listen, Kazuaki. I want you to stop being negative all the time."

"I-I know! I just don't know how!"

I felt his hand pat my head, "Then I'll help you."

That smile always comforted me but this time it didn't seem time. I faked a smile, "Thank you…"

I did see her again but only glimpses… I didn't want to be near her… so I avoided her…

I knew it…

I knew she hated me…

And I knew she was avoiding me too.

It was early evening. School had ended. I was going to take a bus this time. Barely anyone took the bus at this time of day so hopefully I wasn't going to get laughed at again… that's wishful thinking…

I sighed as I stood next to the sign, waiting for the bus.

All was absolutely quiet… except a few birds were chirping away. I watched them as they flew gracefully in the air and perch themselves on the electric wires.

How I envied their freedom and carelessness.

"They really are beautiful aren't they?"

I jumped and whirled around to see the same girl behind me, watching the birds.

She drew her attention towards me and smiled kindly.

… She… she was talking to me again… why…?

Her smile vanished slightly, "I'm sorry; I'm making you uncomfortable, aren't I?"

She then turned and sat back down on the bench, bringing a sketchpad out from her bag and a pencil.

I couldn't seem to speak at first.

But finally I croak out, "… I-I'm sorry…"

She glanced up at me and asked politely, "Excuse me but did you say something?"

I slowly nodded, "… I-…I said…"

"I can't hear you, can you speak up, please?" she smiled comfortingly.

I felt my heart pang as I adverted away, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I-I'm sorry.. for yelling at you…"

She blinked then nodded, "I understand. I don't blame you for being upset."

"Why are you being so nice to me?!" I finally blurted out, "Why don't you hate me like everyone else?!"

I didn't notice my voice was increasing in volume until I saw her flinch.

Nonetheless she answered me, "Because… I can't hate someone I don't know and you look like you've been through a lot so I was just trying to brighten up your day."

I was shocked by her answer.

"… So you can use me?"

"Of-of course not! I would never do that…" she hesitated, "has someone used you in the past?"

I fell quiet for a moment, "… You can say that."

"I'm sorry to hear that…" a gently smile returned, "Hey, since we keep meeting, can we exchange names? I'm Hara Sakura and you?"

I could feel myself shaking again under my heavy clothing.

"… I-I'm… N-nanaki… Nanaki Kazuaki…"

"Kazuaki…" Sakura repeated thoughtfully, "that means harmony right?"

I slowly nodded.

She smiled absentmindedly, "What a lovely name."

I felt my cheeks burn.

S-should I thank her…?

"… N-no one has told me that before…"

She nodded a bit and stood up as the bus pulled up, "Well it was very nice meeting you again, Mr. Nanaki."

We shook hands again, "… Just… just call me Kazuaki."

"As long as you say my name too," she agreed.

I blinked.

She was right I haven't said her name.

"… Alright… Miss Sakura…"

"Just Sakura ok?" She giggled as she stepped onto the bus.

I-I think I was staring at her…

"'Ey, blondie! Are you going to get on or what?"

I winced at the gruffness of the bus driver's tone but I got on.

I sat a few rows down from her.

She had a notebook on her lap as she tapped her pencil against it rhythmically.

Other than the words written on the top the page was completely blank.

I didn't like to pry into others' business besides I couldn't bear to speak.

… She was… so nice to me… like Hitori said… I think I should give her a chance…

I didn't know she had left until the bus stopped at the next little station. I got off the bus and began to walk again… That when I realized…

I-I forgot to thank her!

It was too late now… I had no idea where she lived… even if I did, I don't want her to think I was stalking her or something…

We would probably never meet again anyway…

I got the mail and entered the apartment to see Hitori standing in front of the door, his hand extended towards the knob. We both jumped.

"Well… I was about to open the door," he said in a humorous tone and smiled, "oh you got the mail!"

"Uh, y-yeah..." I handed him the envelopes.

"So did you take the bus this time?" he asked as he flipped through the junk mail.

"Hm? Oh yes…"

He looked over at me concerned lining his eyes, "You alright?"

"I-I'm ok… I met her again," I responded slowly.

"Oh? How'd it go?"

I had told him what had happened at the bus stop.

"Sakura Hara…" He repeated with a hum, "what an interesting name…"

"I-is it?"

He glanced back up at me, "Are you sure you're alright?"

I nodded, "I-I guess I'm just tired…"

He eyed me skeptically for a moment then sighed, "You just rest then; dinner will be ready soon."

And so I rested on my bed, staring up at the ceiling…

…. Highly doubting my chances of seeing her again…