Minori cried in the shower that night. He scrubbed his skin till it was raw and bright red, he couldn't bear to even look at his own body. After his bath he quickly ran inside his room and locked it, he buried himself deep into layers of blankets and pillows. He sighed and tried closing his eyes.
knock knock
"Mi...no...ri." whispered the horrid voice. Shosuke turned the doorknob and pounded on the door. Minori only covered his ears with his hands, praying that'd he'll go away. After a while he did, Shousuke kicked the door in frustration and left.
"Just give me call whenever you like okay?"
Minori replayed Tohru's words in his head over and over. But he felt that he couldn't trouble Tohru right after just reuniting. No, he thought. He'd have to bear with it and try to fight back himself.
But how long could he even last?
Next Morning
Minori woke up at the crack of dawn, he quickly put on his school uniform and went downstairs. He turned on the coffee machine for his aunt, he remembered the stern lecture that he gave her recently about how she liked her coffee and followed her instructions by detail, 2 spoonfuls of sugar and 1 creamer, he repeated in his head. He began cooking the rest of the breakfast, keeping in mind each of his cousin's specific ideals, no onions in the miso, the rice can't too wet or too dry, and the grilled fish can't too well done.
He prepared each plate and table and sighed in relief.
Soon enough the family came down to eat.
His aunt poured the coffee in the sink.
"Minori, this is too sweet, didn't I tell you yesterday how I liked my coffee?" she asked sternly, she turned and made herself her own coffee and then poured the old one down the sink.
Shosuke and his sister, Ami slowly put down their chopsticks.
"The miso tastes bland." said Ami.
Shosuke nodded in agreement and then looked up from his chair to glare at Minori, but then quickly give him a slight sinister grin. Minori hung his head down as they picked at their food and then threw it away. They left the house without saying goodbye, and by that time grandpa got up and went downstairs to eat as well.
Minori prepared his food and grandpa ate every bite with joy. After he ate he smiled at Minori.
"Truly nothing is better than a home cooked meal, don't you think?" grandpa asked cheerfully.
Minori smiled and gave a slight nod. Minori quickly cleaned up the dishes and cleaned the table.
"I'll be off to school then, bye grandpa!" said Minori as he went to the door.
"Have a safe trip!" grandpa said.
When Minori arrived at school he put his shoes in his shoe locker and walked to class.
"Hey look, it's the tranny." he heard someone snicker.
"I hear he doesn't even live with his parents."
"I heard his dad ran out on him and his mom, must have been ashamed of having a gay as his son."
Minori hung his head down and blocked out the noise. He entered his class room and sat at his desk.
"Just give me call whenever you like okay?"
"Maybe...I should call Tohru...I'll call her after school and-"
"Hey, Honda."
Minori looked up from his desk. It was one of his classmates, Narumi.
"Y-yes?" he asked.
"You know that cd you let me borrow?" she asked while leaning on his desk. "I broke it. I hope you don't mind."
"You...you didn't break it..." he thought.
"I hope you don't mind. Minori." she repeated sternly.
"I...don't mind." he replied.
"Great! Thanks." she smirked. She turned away from his desk.
"...you didn't break it..." Minori murmured under his breath.
Narumi quickly spun around and glared at him.
"What did you just say?" she demanded.
"N-nothing..." he quickly stuttered.
Narumi's face contorted into anger and she grabbed Minori's tie and yanked him up to her face.
"You fucking gay. Are you trying to start something?" she asked.
"I-I'm not gay-"
"Don't say another word! Or do you want me to cut off all that pretty hair of yours?!" she yelled.
The other classmates in the room jeered her on.
"I-I'm sorry, please..."
She pushed him back from his chair and he clattered to the ground, hitting the back of his head.
"Disgusting." she hissed. "You're not even a man, you're a worm."
She huffed as she went back to her desk as the rest of the class booed in disappointment. Minori held the back of his head in pain, the bell rang and the home room teacher came into the class.
"...Is that Minori Honda over there on the floor?" the teacher asked.
The class replied yes.
The teacher sighed "Someone take him to the nurses office alright? I need to start my lesson."
No one volunteered.
"Yuuto, go take him to the nurse."
Yuuto groaned. Minori slowly got up from the floor, Yuuto stood before him with his hands in his pockets.
"Hurry up." he said and he quickly walked out the door.
They walked together in the hallway, but Minori walked a cars-length behind Yuuto. It was silent between the two of them
"You know..." said Yuuto, breaking the silence. "You should really leave this school, you're just a nuisance to everyone."
Minori looked at the ground and nodded. Yuuto left when they arrived at the nurses office.
"Oh, Minori..." said the nurse in sympathy.
"Hi Ms. Hara." he replied weakly.
Ms. Hara got up from her chair and examined the bump on his head.
"Who was it this time?" she asked.
Minori remained silent.
"You know you have to tell me..." she said.
"I-it...won't make a difference, they'll just get angrier."
Ms. Hara sighed and tended to the wound.
"I think you'll need to go home...I'll go call them." she said.
"No!" said Minori.
Ms. Hara looked back in surprise.
"I-I'm sorry...there's no one home now..."
"I don't want to worry grandpa anymore."
Minori sat down on the bed his hands clasped together and his back hunched over. Ms. Hara sat next to him, patting his back.
"You're...very nice Ms. Hara...thank you." he said. He felt his eyes watering. Soon enough he was choking on his tears and he buried his face in his hands.
Ms. Hara hugged him tightly.
"Please, let me do something to help you. I can't stand to see you like this anymore..." she said.
Minori breathed heavily.
"I...I have a cousin, Tohru Honda."