Chapter Twelve: Behind These Bars, Secrets and Heart – to – Hearts!


"... I just don't get those two, Mikaru. They won't leave me alone!"

Hisao was sitting on the bench on the roof, watching his friend as he went through his routine with a passive awe. They had been working for three days since the new week had started, and things with Misha and Shizune were taking a surprising turn for Hisao.

"But... they're cute, right? Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"

Hisao scoffed at his friends suggestion, waving a hand dismissively and looking over his shoulder, eyes resting on some trees in the distance.

"- Yeah, I wish. No, they just want me to be a part of the student council."

Mikaru did not pause, but he considered the words before speaking.

"Well, Hisao... Maybe *Grunt* it's just their – WAY – of flirting *Grunt* with you. Or, MAYBE -"

He threw his last strike, a flawless repeat of the last time he did, when Hanako was watching.

"... It's the other way around. Maybe they planned on jumping your bones, loving you into submission, before popping the question, and leaving you powerless to resist!"

He said this excitedly, but he was too busy with switching out to his plates to really look at Hisao's reaction to his statement.

"- pfft, suuuure. I admit, it's an... enticing thought... but I'm not even sure if I'm interested in them or the council. I mean, it's something to do, sure, but I already have enough to do with you, Lilly and Hanako."

Mikaru grunted as the plates snapped onto the structures, and abruptly stood. He turned to Hisao, using his plate to summon him along. Hisao noticed the blood flowing from his arms, but barely grimaced as he nodded, and stood to follow.

"We're not that exciting, are we? I mean, the most the four of us has done as a group is sit in the tea room, bickering a little. Personally? I think -"

They reached the back wall of the stairwell, overlooking the town. Abruptly, Mikaru launched himself into his pose, and started his 50 rep set of pushups.

"You should consider... this more... carefully. It's not like... you're interested in... either Lilly or Hanako... anyway... right?"

Hisao blushed, but Mikaru was too focused on counting reps to look at his flustered friend. Hisao, though, in a rare burst of bravery, spoke anyway.

"Well... I... I... I'm not sure."

Mikaru paused, in – between a rep, holding his half-bent arms steadily in place. He didn't move for almost ten seconds, but after that, he moved and spoke at the same time.

"I nearly lost count there. 22. So that's why you clammed up in the cafeteria the other day. You have the hots for Lilly, huh?"

Hisao let out a nervous chuckle, before continuing shakily.

"I... I don't know, like I said. I'm definitely attracted to her, but... to be honest... I think she's more attracted to you than she ever could be to -"

"- No, Hisao. It wouldn't work."

Hisao balked at his friend.

"W – what's that supposed to mean? Am I really that unattractive of a person?"

Mikaru gave something of a dark chuckle, and spoke steadily through his reps.

"- No, dumbass. ME and Lilly. Lilly and I wouldn't work. You and Lilly, however..."

He paused, despite himself. He knew this was the manipulative sociopath in him talking, but he couldn't help but actually agree with it for once.

"... You're a stubborn guy, Hisao. You're also an outstanding friend, and you have a lot going for you. Even if it seems bleak now, I think there's hope for you two yet."

Hisao blushed, looking off into the distance again. "H – Hey, cut that sappy crap out!"

Mikaru finished his set of 50, getting back onto his feet and grinning.

"You're a lucky man, Hisao. You just bore witness to my last ever 50 – set."

Hisao processed his words a little dumbly before balking at his friend.

"You did 50?"

Mikaru shrugged, turning away.

"... Yup. But tomorrow, I graduate to 75. 50's not enough anymore."

Hisao followed his friend over to the bag, reaching into it and grabbing the gauze wrap, tissues and Hydrogen Peroxide. After his friend disengaged his arms from the rigs, he turned to him, and Hisao started dutifully cleaning the fresh wounds by his biceps.

"SSSsssss... ooohhhh, that cold burn... Hey, remember to triple-wrap that shit, ne?"

Mikaru was completely passive, but his voice held a bit of forced mirth. Hisao, on the other hand, just ignored it, emulating his friend and taking the words for what they were. After he finished the first arm, he started again.

"Mikaru... I was speaking with Emi a while ago and -"

Mikaru grunted, turning away his head from his friend.

"- Hisao, please. You know I'm not ready for that yet. I don't care what she wants to say to me. I can't focus on that right now. I can't go back there yet."

Hisao wasn't exactly privy to the information he was talking about, but sighed in defeat anyhow.

"Heh, well, that's that then. Don't keep her waiting too long though, ok? She's going insane with worry."

Mikaru looked at his friend sceptically, but nodded anyway. Just take the words for what they are.

"Well, I'm all dolled up now. Let's scram. I've got some mail coming soon, and I think I saw my moving truck coming up the hill."

"- Hold up. Moving truck?! Just how much more useless crap are you bringing here, anyhow?"

Mikaru blushed a bit, but didn't pause.

"- Hey, I paid the BIG BUCKS for that room, Hisao. I'm going to fill it with useless shit. I've earned that much."

Hisao chuckled at Mikaru's attitude about it, shoving his head through the straps and hoisting it up with the burly boy, seating them on his sturdy shoulders. Wiggling a bit, then gave each other a satisfied nod, and headed towards the stairwell, opening the door and making their way towards the dorms.


"... Mr. Kanasu. What exactly am I looking at here?"

Mr. Mutou was standing off to the side on the concrete, flanked by Hisao and Mikaru, as a team of twelve workers moved about, carrying various appliances and pieces of furniture.

"This, Mutou, is progress."

The teacher hung his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he usually did around Mikaru, and sighed deeply.

"Kanasu... No."

Mikaru stood before the man, drawing his attention and his gaze, before speaking in an inspirational tone.

"Respectfully, sir, I haven't even seen a couch in five years, let alone sat down in one. I've spent the past five years of my life paying for a crime I didn't commit. But I soldiered on! I took the beatings! I did my time! This is a landmark achievement for me! The day when I can finally cast off the Iron Shackles of Oppression, and begin my life anew in the blinding happiness of NORMALCY! - And yet, despite all of the hardship I have endured, the embarrassment of being branded with a cultural stigma I didn't deserve, HERE YOU STAND! BEFORE ME, CASTING JUDGEMENT UPON ME FOR MY SINS, DENYING ME MY GOD – GIVEN RIGHT FOR MATERIALISTIC INDULGENCE! ...Would you truly deny me this happiness?"

Mr. Mutou let out a long, pained groan, looking at the ground before him, before sighing, closing his eyes at the sky, and speaking.

"... Some days, I find myself wondering if humanity has finally achieved true intelligence. I tell myself that we've made great strides, achieving new degrees of cultural understanding and scientific achievement on a daily basis. I wonder if, finally, humanity can be considered worthwhile. And on those days, I look at you, and it all comes crashing down. I wash my hands of this, Kanasu. You've won. Just make sure to share sometimes, ne?"

Mikaru grinned, his speech having achieved the desired effect, and he turned to the workers.

"GOOD NEWS, EVERYONE! BREAK IN FIVE, AND YOU'RE ALL GETTING A MASSIVE BONUS FOR YOUR HARD AND DILIGENT WORK!"

The workers all snapped their heads in his direction, and turned back to their work, going faster and harder than humanly possible.

... It was a good day.


"Just how much money do you have, Mikaru? You must have forked over 15,000,000 Yen this week alone."

The two friends sat on a positively amazing couch, watching a movie on a glorious curved 96 inch screen in ear – gasmic 9.1 channel surround sound. Currently, they were content to eat the popcorn they had made in the microwave oven, and drinking a couple of brews that Mikaru had... smuggled... onto the campus.

It was a good life, indeed.

Mikaru didn't bother looking over at his friend as he spoke, using the paper scoop that was taped to his arm to eat more of the delicious, buttery snack.

"- Too much, Hisao. I honestly feel a little bad sometimes, how much money I have access to on a daily basis. Ohhhhh, it's been SO LONG since I've eaten popcorn..."

Hisao glanced over at his friend, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "OK, sure, but how?"

Mikaru looked over at his friend, slapping his forearm onto the side of the couch, effectively pausing the movie. Standing up, he walked over to his laptop, opened it, and pressed the giant button that rested in the centre.

"I'll show you. Gimme a sec, I gotta boot..."

Hisao stood up, the popcorn now forgotten, and looked over his friend's hunched shoulders. As he watched the screen, an unfamiliar start up screen booted, and then a dark green screen with a light green line flashed in the corner.

"Access: Compile Script in local disk, file address J:Documents:Binexe:Fuzzy:Temp. Access Cores 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Boot Graphics Driver, File name: DXEU – 1477 – HBZFT – 93 – 2."

Hisao was amazed. He knew his friend was a decently smart guy, but seeing him so focused, and on a computer no less, wasn't something he was expecting. Hisao was pulled from these thoughts, however, as the computer screen flashed a couple of times, and a strange home screen was displayed. Taking a moment, Mikaru spoke again.

"Access: Open Wide – Area – Network Tool, File name IB – x128 – 0."

A window popped up then, and Google's splash page displayed.

"Access: Open Tab 2"

An animation played, the Google splash page being swapped out for another page. It was a strange website, with an unfamiliar logo and the words "AttainableTech" written beneath it.

"This, Hisao, is how. My company, AttainableTech, deals in computer software and hardware specifically designed for handicapped persons and business applications, like Servers and work suites. We offer a wide range of specialized equipment and software, ranging from registered Microsoft Extension programs, proprietary third – party interface devices, and Operating Systems catered to a person's particular disability. This -"

He gestured to the laptop before him, continuing confidently. "- Is my baby. It's my work machine, and I've been using it and servicing it for a couple of years now. It's not even technically a laptop, according to the hardware manufacturer's guidelines. It's filled with proprietary technology, specifically designed for a desktop experience. I offer slightly less powerful models for people who don't have hands like me, or for the blind. Also, my Operating System is proprietary to myself. It's a 128 – bit work suite, with several different compatibility modules built in allowing dynamic socket – based software emulation. In other words, it's the frankenputer."

Hisao snapped out of his amazed trance and grinned at his friend's new-found enthusiasm.

"... Dude, you're such a nerd."

Mikaru laughed, and closed his computer. He turned back to the couch, taking a seat.

"- Yuuup. But, it pays the bills. You shoulda seen me when I had hands, Hisao. I built my first computer when I was eight, after I stole my mom's credit card and hitch hiked to a computer warehouse. She was soooo pissed! But she was happy that I was happy, in the end..."

He looked down, visibly deflating a little.

"... Of course, we don't speak anymore. She was there, you know. When my sentence was passed down. I... stopped being her son when the word 'Guilty' was spoken."

Hisao looked over at his friend, sitting down beside him.

"I wouldn't know how that feels, Mikaru. My mother... She's always been a little distant, but..."

Mikaru looked up at his friend, giving a small smile.

"... Hanako likes computers too, you know."

Hisao grinned at his subject change, going along with it. This is far more interesting, anyhow.

"Does she? I suppose it makes sense."

"Heh, now that you mention it, not so strange after all. She was amazed when I pulled out my machine. She probably would have stolen it, if only it had a keyboard."

He looked down, shaking his head in amusement.

"... of course, I probably wouldn't have minded. It would have made her happy, you know?"

Hisao smirked mischievously at him. "Yeah, because you care so much about my and Lilly's happiness..."

Mikaru chuckled, looking up at the ceiling as he leaned back. "Hanako is... Hanako is something else. Personally, I don't think that Lilly gives her enough credit, but don't ever let her hear that I said that."

Hisao laughed, and started.

"Hey, your secret is safe with me. Although, now that we're on the topic of friends... Emi really misses you. She regrets what she said, and just wants things to go back the way they are."

Mikaru leaned forward at that, looking at the ground again.

"... I know. I think I'm going to talk to her tomorrow. She probably didn't deserve it, but I just... I was scared, you know? Shit, listen to me. What is it about Ibarazaki that has me scared shitless all the time?"

Hisao thought for a moment.

Maybe... maybe she reminds you of yourself. You both strive to not let your disabilities and pasts define you, effectively letting yourselves be defined in the process. You're both strong – willed, stubborn people with a cocky facade and an adoring fan base. Maybe you're scared that your Illusion of Normalcy will be shattered, taking your hope with it.

"... it's the pigtails. Definitely the pigtails."

The boys chuckled at that, slipping into comfortable conversation and the movie for the rest of the night.


"... So, how are things going with Mikaru?"

Hanako froze at her friend's question. She wasn't really expecting that to be asked of her, but Lilly was her friend, so she answered.

"Well... They're... They're g – good..."

Lilly smiled at her friend, raising her cup to her lips and taking a sip of her tea.

"I've heard that you've been helping each other with your schoolwork."

Hanako nodded, despite the situation she was in, and spoke. Her voice was a little louder than before.

"... Yes. H – he... Mr. M – Mutou lets us work in the library. I don't... I give him the notes from the lecture, and he... he puts them into his... his computer."

Lilly raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh?"

Hanako nodded again, continuing.

"He... he speaks to it. And... it writes it... for him... it's... really complicated..."

Lilly chuckled, knowing that her friend was saving them both from the long – winded explanation she would have wanted to give.

"... I take it that it's something special, then."

Hanako nodded, continuing.

"He... he made it himself, apparently..."

A look of recognition came across her face, and she spoke.

"... Oh. That's... That's pretty interesting, actually. In fact, I think I know something about that."

Hanako was the one intrigued now, waiting for Lilly to continue.

"... Back in Scotland, I have something similar. It's a computer that my family purchased for me, to try and help me with my work. There's a few of them in the computer lab, as well, although I don't spend much time there myself. It seems that our friend is a little smarter than we thought."

There was silence after that, both of them pondering this strange sequence of events, sipping their tea. After a short while, Lilly spoke again.

"Well, that's neither here nor there. Actually, Hanako, I have been meaning to speak with you about Mikaru for a little while now."

Hanako froze again, her cup half raised to her lips.

"... I think that it's been too long since we've gone to the Shanghai. I was going to ask you if I could bring Hisao along with us. If us three go, I don't think it would be very fair to leave Mikaru behind. However, I am unsure as to... as to how much... freedom... Mikaru has to wander about off – property."

Hanako pondered her friend's words. How much freedom does he actually have? Do I even want him to come with us? No, that's stupid. I WANT him to come. I just...

"I can... I can take care... take care of it, Lilly."

Lilly smiled at her friend, content to sit in silence for a while.

Hanako wasn't, but didn't know what to say, so she just stayed quiet. Eventually, the silence was too unnerving for her, and she stood up abruptly.

"- Hanako?"

She looked down at her friend, picking up her cup and plate.

"I think... I think I want to go... go for a walk..."

Lilly pondered that for a second, before nodding her assent and turning back to her cup. The action went unnoticed by Hanako though, as she was already heading for the door.


Hanako walked into the night, the cold April air nipping at her face and legs. She decided that she didn't mind, though, because it was oddly refreshing to feel it after feeling so hot all the time. She pondered the nature of heat, of how it was so vital to live and yet, it took so much of her life away. A bitter chuckle sounded from her lips at that.

Hanako was a different person when she was like this. Outside, at night, alone, she didn't get the same feeling of dread that she did when she was trapped beneath the sun and light. It was liberating.

Black, it seemed, was Hanako's color.

These thoughts were pulled from her as she cast a glance over her shoulder, only to spot a lone figure huddled against a tree. On any other night, feeling any other way, she would have ignored the sight and walked away. Something about the way the person sat, however, didn't sit right with her. In an unnatural spur of determination, she walked down the concrete path, turning back into the field, and approached the figure that sat beneath the tree.

When she arrived at the base of the tree, seeing Ibarazaki Emi wasn't high on her list of priorities. However, as she stood there, unnoticed by the tiny girl, she felt her hands clench, and her arms shake. This girl wasn't somebody she liked right now. This girl wasn't someone she thought deserved the attention she received from Mikaru. This girl -

Wait, what?

Swallowing her thoughts into the pit of her stomach, she decided she needed to speak with her, and quietly approached. She went unnoticed by Emi until she had taken a seat, assuming the same position the other girl was in with ease.

"Hey, do you mind? I don't really feel like – Hanako?"

Hanako, for her part, didn't even look at the startled girl. She just sat, staring at the stars, thinking about what exactly she wanted to say.

"... Hello."

Emi was understandably floored by this occurrence. However, she wasn't one to ignore blessings from above, so she spoke.

"Hanako, I can't say I understand this, but I'm glad your here."

She stood up, and Hanako stood as well, still looking off into the distance.

"You see, it's about Mikaru. And, according to the gossip, you seem to be the authority on all things related to him."

Hanako turned towards the girl, watching her.

"I... I'm friends with him too, but... I just don't know what to think about -"

Without warning, Hanako slapped the girl right across the face. Emi's head turned at the slap, her right hand raising slowly to her cheek. The two girls stood there in silence, the wind rustling through the grass and branches being the only sound, before the shocked girl slowly turned her wide eyes to her assailant, completely taken aback.

"H -Hanako..."

Hanako watched the other girl with steady eyes, waiting for a second before she spoke.

"... No. You don't get to... you didn't see."

Without warning, Hanako grabbed the girl's wrist, and turned, pulling her off towards the forest. Emi couldn't believe what just occurred between the shy girl and herself, but couldn't find it in herself to feel angered by her actions. She didn't know how to process this turn of events, so she just plodded dumbly along behind the now – confident girl before her, startled by her aggressive gait and the firm set of her shoulders.

They walked for about twenty minutes, the legless girl stumbling at rough parts that didn't have a path, until they arrived at a clearing. The light of the moon did a good job of illuminating the scene, and Emi found herself in the middle of the clearing by herself, Hanako's hand no longer wrapped around her wrist. Turning back, she looked at the girl, observing her iron composure and piercing gaze. After a moment, the girl's left hand rose pointing past her to a tree at the edge of the clearing. Turning slowly, she plodded through the bumpy grass and loam, stumbling before deciding that she should look at the ground. When she did, it was with a shock that she saw the ground littered with leaves.

She saw something shiny on one of the leaves, and bent down to pick it up. Bringing her gaze across the surface of the uncharacteristically young leaf, she turned her gaze to the moon, rotating the stem of the leaf until she properly saw what it was she was holding. She gasped, staggering back until she fell to the ground, the leaf twirling to the earth. She watched it as it fell, the moonlight shining off of the dark splotches of blood that were there. Only when it disappeared behind the grass did she get up, looking around her at all the leaves, seeing something she had as of yet to notice.

Almost all of the leaves were shining like that one was, glittering with her every move. She spun around herself, watching the ground as she did, until her eyes fell upon something black. She slowly approached it, picking up the rough fabric in her hands, turning it over. After a few moments, she stood up, letting the sweater in her hands unravel and extend as she did. She brought her arms up, examining the sweater. Her eyes froze on the left sleeve, where the tearing and blood was prominent. Her eyes jumped to the other side, and when she saw the same thing, she started shaking. Turning slowly towards the tree, she approached it, glancing between the ground and the trunk.

She was right next to the tree when she noticed that these leaves were much more saturated than the ones to the rear of this spot, and she brought her eyes up along the trunk. She stopped when, after looking a little above her head, she noticed the blood that had settled into the bark there, which was chipped and mulched. She just stared at it for a while, the only things keeping her grounded being the sound of her breathing and the feel of the fabric in her hands.

After staring at the tree for five minutes, she let the fabric fall from her fingers, and she turned back to Hanako. Hanako was still watching her, arms at her sides, waiting. Emi took a few steps forward, before pausing, slumping her shoulders and looking at the ground.

"... you did this."

Emi's eyes snapped up at the girl, and she finally felt the guilt that had been gnawing at her on the way over here. She couldn't even speak.

Hanako turned, walking a few paces before pausing, and turning her head over her left shoulder.

"... This didn't happen."

She left then, walking away as the confused girl just slumped down, looking at the grass and leaves around her.


Mikaru arrived at the track early that morning. Hisao said that he needed to shower first, so Mikaru let him. He was just starting to stretch when he felt two small arms wrap around him from behind, and a soft body press it's self into him. He paused for a second, and looked down at the arms. The hands that stuck out from them rested on his torso, unable to reach around completely. He brought his own arms down, the bandaged stumps coming to rest over the hands that held him. After a while of just standing there, the arms around him shifted, and Emi came around him, walking out in front of him a ways before stopping. She turned in his direction, and he looked at her.

Her eyes were a little puffy, and they were red, but the smile on her face was undeniably happy as the sun crested over the trees behind her. All in all, it was a beautiful sight. One that Mikaru thought that he would never forget. This was, after all, a very special day for the two friends.

"... Ready to run?"

Her smile widened, and she nodded happily.

"Let's do this!"


End of Chapter Twelve: Behind These Bars, Secrets and Heart to Hearts!

Next Time! Chapter Thirteen: Behind These Bars, the Will of the Council!