Chapter 4: The Rebirth of Jun Sakurada
"And so it ends? ….or is it 'begins anew' , eh? Ha ha ha!"
-Rozen
Jun was feeling rather good. He finally was being taken seriously, with a little incidental help from a pervert, Tomoe, Sam, and his new sensei. There was certainly a palpable amount of "pep" in his stride, like a man who won some kind of tournament, or lottery. As he got to the corner near his home, a very audacious thought crossed his mind. He stopped to ponder the very possibility that once filled his heart with fear, and regret.
"Maybe I can do it..." he mumbled as Tomoe approached from behind."THAT'S IT! I'M GONNA DO IT! I'm gonna go back!" he yelled, completely oblivious to the situation.
"Do what, Go back to school?"
Jun turned back suddenly and his face froze white as snow and his jaw completely slack. She knew his secret, and that made his world shudder. Tomoe took a breath and began to talk to Jun, not as a leader, but as a very close friend.
"I already know, Jun. I - we know more than you think. The class rep and the kendo club already know, they were there to see what you did, how you saved me..."
His eyes just teared up as she continued. "You're not alone. Not everyone at school thinks you are a 'sissy' , but a fine 'otomen' just like Asuka-Sempai. Meet me at school next Monday at Seven by the bike racks... if you want." and as quickly as she spoke, she continued walking back to her home. Despite Jun's teary-eyed response, there were no other words, no offer of a handkerchief, nothing.
After a moment of silence, he started walking again. No longer did he care if he was spotted, as he wasn't wearing his jacket or cap. "I'm not 'sewing-chan' any more... so why worry?" he thought as he proudly strode in, whistling a victory fanfare from a role-playing game he was thinking of playing while taking off his shoes and putting on slippers.
Upon walking to the table, he saw his new school uniform. Usually, Jun would scorn it and run off to order some mail-order trinket to return before the trail date expired. "I'm not gonna be a chicken, not this time... I'm gonna be a real man, for Her" He spoke in a seemingly phony-tough voice, despite his sincerity... until POP!
"A REAL man, Or just a Real CHIBI, Desu?" A playfully snide voice cackled out from behind Jun, along with the feeling of several acorns flying and crashing into the back of his head. Suisei-Seki stood there, with an evil smile as to taunt Jun into saying something rude. Jun's face turned to face the little green-dress clad brat, first with an expression of anger that seemed to be that of a false preacher that had been accused point-blank of religious impropriety and total hypocrisy. Then with a breath, he just smiled calmly, picked up the acorns, and placed them in his pocket to Suisei-Seki's surprise and dismay. He didn't say a word until he started up the stairs to his room. The little green girl just followed meekly and asked "Is something wrong?"
"Nope"
"Why aren't you mad...-"
"Why should I?"
"I-"
The sound of another doll approaching filled the hallway with silence between the 2. Shinku had been woken up by Jun's heroic sounding reverie. She yawned and faced Jun "Can't a lady get some peaceful rest today?" and after wiping her eyes, she paused. This pause was not just a short pause that one would take in normal conversation, but one that insinuated that words were escaping her. She was so accustomed to insulting and rebuking Jun that she had no words to express the congratulations that she felt were in order.
Jun coughed and chuckled politely as he smiled. He shook his outfit for school nervously and broke the silence with the same fear that a new policeman or military soldier would have in speaking to a superior for the first time "I-i'm going back! I feel that thanks to you two and everyone else, I can finally live life again! Thank you so much!"
The two girls could only look at Jun with eyes as big as headlights as the house's front door opened once more. More footsteps could be heard, now it was Nori and a friend that were coming into the fray.
"Hey there, Jun or should I say 'Defender-San' ?" Asuka joked and stepped in behind Nori with a rather benign smile. "Jun-Kun, I heard all about it. You were so great today! I never knew you could-" Nori nattered on as she went from amazed to nervous to downright scared as she began to think about why her brother was holding a school uniform.
"Th-Th-Th-thank you, everyone... I feel I have enough confidence to finally go back." Jun feebly said as everyone but Asuka stood there nonplussed. (It was natural, as Asuka was the only other one who knew what Jun felt. The feeling of being alive, at peace with oneself, And no longer scared to be himself again was what Jun felt).
The only response was not one of shallow congratulations, but of deep brotherly (and sisterly) love. The group of misfits came together in one tearful group hug.
It had finally been done. His sister's wish finally granted. Jun would end his Hikikomori ways and live the life the way it was meant to, with friends. Even in the hard times, Jun had friends, it's just that he never listened. Now he would learn to give and receive love, not just for Nori and Tomoe's sake, but for his as well.
However, that night neither of the 2 dolls were seen or heard from until the next day.
