2k+ hype! over 2100 views. you might be tired of reading it but I can't express how much it means to me that you guys continue to read my work. I know I'm not the greatest writer out there but you guys certainly make me feel like a great writer (I'm definatley not). Anyway, ch 14.
Yuzu and Mei walked along silently towards the hospital. Yuzu felt a bit awkward about the whole thing but Mei had insisted that they go together so the blonde had acquiesced. She had figured Mei would want to see her grandfather alone but apparently she needed someone there for emotional support seeing him in such a state. The two entered the hospital signing in the visitors log and headed upstairs to room 306. Mei knocked on the door.
"Enter." the familiar voice of the chairman came in response. Mei and Yuzu entered to see the chairman sitting up propped up by the hospital bed and had many of his business assistants and lawyers there. "Leave us." he said to the men who packed up their laptops and paperwork and would head out of the room. Mei and Yuzu stood their quietly for a moment after the other men had left before Yuzu finally broke the silence.
"Good afternoon gramps. How are you feeling today?" she said in as warm and cheery a voice as she could muster which took both Mei and the chairman by surprise. Another moment of silence followed causing Yuzu to blush in embarrassment and turn away from the two prompting a noise she had never heard. A stifled laugh followed by a more failed attempt and then actual laughter stemming from the Aiharan patriarch. Yuzu turned around trying to pout as she still felt pretty embarrassed but such a jovial expression from such a stern man warmed her heart. Mei was just staring in astonishment at the chairman completely perplexed, as if she had never heard laughter before.
"It surprises me how well that tone fits you Yuzuko." he said to the blonde with a smile further perplexing Mei. Was this even the same man? He was like a completely different person around Yuzu.
"Just because I'm a blonde doesn't mean I have to be as sickeningly bright and cheery as one." Yuzu protested.
"Perhaps not but smiling suits you far more than that scowl you usually wear." the chairman said
"Whatever, anyway, how are you holding up?" Yuzu asked changing the subject.
"I am as well as a man of my age who had a heart attack the previous day can be I suppose. You look fairly well though a bit pale. I hope you aren't pushing yourself too hard. The nurse already informed me of what happened yesterday." The chairman said
"This coming from you?" Yuzu said crossing her arms across her chest. Mei looked back and forth between the two bewildered and trying to catch back up on the conversation as her mind reeled trying to understand how his man could be the stern grandfather she was used to.
"Grandfather is right though you do look rather pale today." Mei finally said having at least wrapped her mind around the conversation if not the emotions.
"Hey don't be ganging up on me too!" Yuzu whined
"You need to worry more about your health." Mei said stepping closer to Yuzu causing her to back up reflexively as she raises her hands in front of her.
"Hey when did this become a grill the blonde session?" Yuzu complained. The chairman gave a chuckle.
"Mei don't bully your sister." The chairman chuckled before returning his attention to Yuzu. "I must thank you for your quick thinking yesterday and for helping me."
"Don't mention it gramps." Yuzu said rubbing the back of her head bashfully "your family. helping each other is what family's for right?"
"I must also thank you for having the courage to oust Amamiya for his wrong doings. If it weren't for you Mei would still be on track to marry that abusive bastard. I'm sorry you had to deal with such a wretched human being." the chairman sighed then turned to mei. "And I am sorry to you most of all Mei. I allowed such a horrible man to be apart of your life for so long, I allowed my pride in the school to overshadow your well being and freedom. Please forgive me. From now on I want you to live your life the way you want." Mei stared at him in total shock. Who was this gentle and kind old man in the hospital bed that looked so much like her grandfather? This wasn't the stern honor bound man she knew since her birth.
"Grandfather I-" Mei began
"It's your life Mei. It's important that you are happy. Understood?" the chairman interrupted
"O-of course grandfather." Mei stuttered her reply.
"Good. Now I need to request something of you a bit contradictory to my previous demand." The chairman sighed. "While I am recovering in the hospital I will need you to take care of part of my responsibilities as chairman, and more importantly, I need you to watch over your sister."
"Gramps I'll be fine I can get to school on time for my psychiatry examinations just fine." Yuzu protested while blushing a bit embarrassed
"I'll take care of both grandfather. I wish you a speedy recovery." Mei said without hesitation.
"Thank you Mei. And I am sorry for putting this all on you." The chairman said before turning to Yuzu "While I am recovering in the hospital you will go to school and return home with Mei as well as eat your lunch with her. Mei's student council duties will have her at school early enough for your psychiatry examinations but you won't need to be up quite as early." Yuzu sighed knowing no amount of protesting would save her from this fate.
"Fine..." Yuzu grumbled. The chairman nodded about to say something else when the nurse came in.
"Apologies but it is time for your morning therapy Mr. Aihara." the nurse said to which the chairman gave a nod.
"Alright see you later gramps." Yuzu said giving a wave "We'll stop by tomorrow."
"Alright see you tomorrow then girls." the chairman said as the two girls left and he was wheeled off to morning therapy
Yuzu and Mei exited the chairmans office, having just finished another of Yuzu's psychiatric appointments. Mei had listened to Yuzu and the psychiatric specialists talk and was surprised at how much it seemed they understood Yuzu. Certainly better than she felt she understood her sister. The psychiatrist seemed to be very concerned about Yuzu's diet and medication after the events of two days ago. The two walked down the hallway headed towards class on the opposite side of the building. As they walked Himeko bumped into them from a side hallway.
"If it isn't the blonde delinquent. I'm surprised you havn't been expelled yet." Himeko said eyeing Yuzu as she crossed her arms in defiance
"If it isn't the screw headed vice president of the student council. Silver's not gold but atleast your up there screwball." Yuzu smirked
"How dare you!" Himeko growled stomping in frustration
"You started it." Yuzu shrugged
"Meimei why are you walking with such a delinquent? It would be terrible for your reputation and for the look of the student council as a whole to be caught fraternizing with..." Himeko eyes up and down at Yuzu "Low class scum."
"Alright that's it, I'm kicking your ass!" Yuzu shouted shaking her fist at Himeko but Mei raised an arm in her way stopping her
"Himeko please do not antagonize her." Mei said before turning to Yuzu. "And you need to calm down. Go find Tanaguchi. I will head to class with Himeko."
"Fine have it your way. I don't want to be around the pipsqueak anyway." Yuzu said shrugging
"Pipsqueak?! How dare you!" Himeko shouted
"Yuzu." Mei said
"Yeah yeah i'm going." Yuzu said heading off
"Why are you spending any energy on her at all?" Himeko said once Yuzu was out of ear shot
"It's my duty as student council president to help every student at the academy grow." Mei responded "Now come, class will start soon and we still have work to do."
Harumi looked around the small crowd of girls in the gymnasium trying to see if she could spot Yuzu. Amazing how easy it was to lose track of the ONLY blonde in the school. She sighed and figured she'd sneak back into the locker room real quick to see if she was there. Upon entering the locker room she saw the blonde just sitting on the bench near her locker still wearing her full uniform. "Hey why aren't you dressed yet?" Harumi said walking up to her. Yuzu looked up at Harumi a few tears in her eyes and a look of fear on her face "Hey hey, what's wrong?" Harumi said kneeling down gently placing her hands on Yuzu's knees.
"I can't hide the scars with anything in the gym uniform." Yuzu said pulling up her sleeve for emphasis.
"ah shit... hmm." Harumi said realizing what was going on. Harumi stood up and walked over to the supply closet attached to the locker room and dug around for a bit until she found the karate clubs pads. She dug through till she found a pair of elbow length forearm protector gloves that looked roughly Yuzu's size. She comes back out with a look of accomplishment and hands them to Yuzu. "Here try these on." she said. Yuzu pulled her sleeves up and slid the pads on and gave a smile when they fit like literal gloves.
"Your a life saver Harumin." Yuzu exclaimed
"Yeah yeah, now hurry up and get dressed. Class is about to start." Harumi said heading back out to the gym. A few minutes later Yuzu came out dressed in the gym uniform as well as the arm protectors hiding her scars. The gym teacher calls roll and has everyone group up for stretching but stops when she notices Yuzu wearing the pads.
"Aihara, Yuzuko." The gym teacher said "Why are you wearing the Karate Clubs equipment?" Mei who was across the room heard the gym teacher and looks over seeing Yuzu wearing just the forearm protectors and instantly knew what was going on.
"Excuse me." she says to the group she was with getting up and swiftly making her way over to were Yuzu was floundering trying to come up with an excuse.
"I uh... I just thought it'd look good." Yuzu made a terrible excuse causing Harumi to face palm.
"What? whatever just go put them back and don't get into the equipment locker without permission again." The gym teacher said pointing towards the locker room
"Sensei." Mei interrupted "May I speak with you for a moment."
"What is it Mei I'm dealing with the delinquent at the moment." The teacher said
"In private please." Mei said causing the teacher to sigh
"Fine." the teacher and Mei walked over away from the others. Yuzu watched as the two seemed to argue for a bit before both exiting the gymnasium
"I wonder what she's telling the teacher." Harumi said
"I have no idea." Yuzu sighed.
"HEY!" someone shouted at Yuzu causing bother her and Harumi to turn to look at the tall short haired girl built like a brick house "What do you think your doing wearing our club's gear?" the girl said as she stomped up to tower over Yuzu. Harumi stepped in between the two of them raising her hands up defensively waving her palms at the girl with her characteristically disarming smile
"now now no need to shout... she already understands her mistake." Harumi said
"But out Taniguchi." The karate girl growled "My beef is with the blonde bitch!"
"Well the blonde bitch is my best friend." Harumi shot back now bearing an irritated glare
"Hey no need to argue I'll put them back after class and I won't touch them again." Yuzu said
"No you'll put them back now!" The karate girl said pushing Harumi out of the way to stand over Yuzu. "And your gonna get on your knees and beg me for forgivness for screwing with my club's stuff!" Harumi grabbed the karate girls arm and yanked her arm to face her
"Enough! It's just a pair of pads what does it matter if she wears em? It's not like you own them anyway!" Harumi growls
"Those pads are for our club not for outsiders to wear!" the karate girl growled and shoves Harumi backwards into the arms of her waiting cronies who grab Harumi by her arms to restrict her movement.
"HEY LET GO!" Harumi growled struggling in their grip
"Just relax this isn't your fight Tanaguchi." One of the karate minions chuckled
"Of course it's my fight that's my friend!" Harumi tried to stomp the minions foot prompting them to tackler her to the ground pinning her.
"HEY! Get off her!" Yuzu shouted trying to run to her friend before being thrown back against the pads on the wall by the lead karate girl.
"Where do you think your going blondie?" The Karate leader snarled towering over the blonde who was just getting back to her feet
"Leave Harumin alone!" Yuzu growled with as much courage as she could muster though it would come out shaky and un-intimidating.
"Or what? Are you gonna fight me?" The karate leader chuckled leaning over to be eye level with the blonde "I'll give you the first swing." Yuzu clenched her fists shaking. Yuzu gives a shout and swings at the girl only to have her punch swiftly blocked and then the lead karate girl grabbed her arm while simultaneously tripping her to the ground with a painful thud. "If your not gonna put upa decent fight, and your not gonna put the gear away yourself... I'll just have to do it for you." The karate leader smirked yanking Yuzu's arm into a painful position and unstrapped the arm pad before stripping it off of the blondes arm before freezing looking at the blondes arms which caused a collective gasp from the rest of the class that had been watching the whole ordeal. The scar riddled forearms of the blonde on display. Yuzu at this point had begun to sob. The Karate leader twisted Yuzu's arm back and forth a few times to examine the scars though never with the intention to hurt Yuzu any further simply curious about the scars. "Hmmph... shoulda said something earlier." The karate leader sighed letting go of Yuzu and dropping the glove at Yuzu's side as she stood up looking down at Yuzu now with less contempt and more pity.
"I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS FOR THIS!" Harumi screamed at the karate leader still trying to tear herself away from the minions who where struggling to keep her still
"Oh shut up." the karate leader said simply walking away from the whole thing to a different part of the gym. The minions let go of Harumi dodging backwards to avoid the flailing plum haired girls fists as she swings wildly before sprinting over to Yuzu's side to do her best to comfort the distraught blonde.
Poor Yuzu, didn't want to let that one out to the rest of her class but looks like she didn't get a choice. Anyway, thanks for reading this chapter. Please feel free to leave a review with comments, critiques, and suggestions. Ciao for now!