I do not own One Piece.
I was let out of the hospital a couple of weeks before school resumed. I wasn't allowed, or able really, to do much of anything during those couple of weeks. I spent most of my time lying around the house watching TV, or drawing and shooting my slingshot when my arm healed enough. But school starts back today. I feel a little awkward going back to school. I don't really know how I should act around Luffy and the others. I realized that I wasn't really their friend when they stopped talking to me outside of school, but they at least pretended at school. But I guess they couldn't be bothered to visit me in the hospital. I'll just try to do what I did before, ignore them to the best of my ability.
Sighing loudly, I roll out of bed and begin getting ready. I slowly make my way to the kitchen, where dad is fixing breakfast. I know that he is still really worried about me, he keeps insisting that we just move again, or that I start taking self-defense classes or something, but I know that we really don't have the money for either of those things, so I just keep insisting that I will be fine. I am pretty sure that he doesn't believe me, but he usually lets it go, at least for a few hours.
"Morning dad," I greet, taking my seat at the table.
"Morning Usopp," he replies, putting the food onto two plates. He sets on plate in front of me before taking is seat with the other. We eat in silence for a few minutes, before dad starts talking. "Are you really sure about this, Usopp?" he asks staring at me in concern.
I let out a sigh before answering, "Yes, dad. It'll be fine, I promise." I try to reassure. He gives me a disbelieving look before shaking his head.
"That's what you told me last time and you ended up in the hospital." I feel guilt fill me, knowing that he was speaking the truth. I bite my lip, staring down at my lap.
"I know dad and I'm sorry….but this is my problem, I need to solve it myself." I reply, looking back up at him. He stares at me for a few seconds before sighing softly and shaking his head.
"Alright, Usopp. But just try to be careful…I don't know what I would do if I lost you as well." he says, looking down at his food. I agree to try my best to be careful and go back to eating my meal, I knew there was nothing I could say that would make dad feel any better. Mom's death hit him hard, hits us both hard really, and I know that he is terrified that something is going to happen and he will lose me as well. But I can't let him keep throwing everything away for me, I have to find a way to solve this for myself. Finishing my breakfast quickly, I grab my stuff and head to school.
Someone out there must hate me. I have every single class with Luffy or one of his friends. I try my best to ignore them completely, but it is kind of hard when they keep looking at me during class. I don't turn to face them or anything of course, but I can see them out of the side of my eye. I try not to let it bother me, but every time I see them, I feel myself begin to tense up.
It is only the first day and I am already regretting my decision to come back. But I can't, and won't, change it. This is what is best. Dad gets to keep his job and won't have the added stress of trying to find us somewhere else to live and I am, kind of, standing up for myself by not running away. Everything will work out fine, I just have to be patient and try my best not to get anywhere near Kidd, Luffy or any of their friends.