Mirai No Kodomo
XIV: Fight (Matsuda Takato)
One more stroke and it'll be done...I've been wanting to finish this landscape for a while...Just gotta finish the real world sphere—
Gomibako wo tobikoeta saki ni aru mirai! Hikari wo mattote! GET A FIRE POWER!
AUGH! ...I...I can fix that...later... I've got to change that ringtone...
I reach for my phone, setting my brush aside. "Hello?"
"This is Principal Miyazaki of Midogame Elementary." ...Takehiro and Liangji's principal? "Am I speaking to Takato Matsuda?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Your son, Takehiro, has started a fight. We'd like you to come pick him up, he's being suspended for a week." ...What? This...This can't be real...
"...A fight?" I ask. ...Takehiro?
"Yes. He was fighting three other boys in the back of the school at lunch. The boys say he started it." ...Takehiro...started the fight?
...I don't believe that. Not for a minute.
"Is he all right?
"He has a bleeding lip and a black eye but nothing serious. He is crying...A lot," That, I believe. "Please come pick him up."
"All right, I'll be there soon." I hit end call. I actually find myself staring at the phone for almost a minute, trying to figure out if...this really just happened! Takehiro doesn't fight.
Jen-chan should hear about this. I dial his cell phone.
"Takato-chan?"
"Jen-chan...Takehiro's principal just called. He's being suspended for fighting."
"What? A-Are you...serious? I-I mean...Takehiro, whenever we train..." Jen-chan trails off, stammering.
"He fought three other kids and they said he started it, the school asked me to come pick him up."
"...Three kids? And they think Takehiro started it...?" Yeah, that...That doesn't sound right. Even if Takehiro did fight, three against one? "Is he okay at least?"
"The principal said he has a bleeding lip and a black eye. I'm going to try to find out more but I thought you should know. I'm also going to pick up Liangji, it's close enough to the end of the day, I'd rather not make two trips."
"All right...Let me know what happens...I'm sorry, Takato. If it's...what I've been teaching him, it'll stop."
"I doubt it's what it looks like, Jen-chan...You know Takehiro."
"Yeah...I just...can't believe this," Jen-chan sighs. "I hope it's not what it looks like. I can't imagine Takehiro fighting, he's...He's really gentle when we practice. Keep me informed, I'll have my cell phone with me."
"I will," I say. "I'll call when I get back home. Wo Ai Ni, Jen-airen."
Jen-chan laughs a little, hearing me speak Mandarin usually makes him feel better. "Wo Ai Ni, Takato-airen." He hangs up, I put my phone in my pocket and take off my artist's apron. I go to the front door, grabbing my car keys on the way. I lock the door and head down the hall...
...Takehiro, what happened?
I step into the principal's office, I could hear Takehiro crying from outside. Sure enough, he's sitting in a chair off to the side of the door, crying. He looks up at me for only a second, then hangs his head and cries harder. I didn't get a good look at the 'damage,' but I did see some blood still on his lip.
"...Just...wait here, Takehiro, I-I need to...talk to the principal," I say. I try to keep my tone neutral. It's obvious Takehiro's upset over what happened but...I want to know more about what happened first.
I step into the principal's office, he's at his desk. "Miyazaki-san?"
"Matsuda-san?" Mr. Miyazaki asks, I nod. He motions for me to sit down in the chair in front of his desk.
"What happened?" I ask as I sit.
"A teacher broke up the fight in the middle of it. Takehiro had kicked another student in the stomach and was in the middle of...I believe the teacher said 'pummeling' another. The three students say Takehiro attacked them 'out of nowhere' as they were going to another classroom during lunch. As for Takehiro, he's been crying non-stop, I haven't been able to tell his side but...The students insist that Takehiro started it. The teacher says Takehiro obviously had the advantage."
I give the principal a shocked look. "The...advantage? It was three against one."
"I am aware of that," Mr. Miyazaki nods. "Does Takehiro...take any form of martial arts?"
"His father teaches him."
"...Aren't...you his Father?"
"His other father," I say.
"...O-oh, I...I see..." Miyazaki-san nods, clearing his throat. ...He didn't know this? I thought it was common knowledge ever since Takehiro first came to school. "We-Well, Takehiro was clearly stronger, one student is still in the nurse's office for the kick he got. I'm sorry, but he's lucky it's only a week's suspension. I'd recommend putting a stop to these martial arts lessons. Immediately." ...Are you saying my son is violent, Miyazaki? You don't even know his side of the story!
"...I'll talk to him," I say. "Also, I'd like to take Takehiro's brother home early, which class is he in? Ryougi Matsuda." One of the few times we ever refer to Liangji in Japanese is when dealing with the school, I learned that after spending twenty minutes with someone on the phone, claiming 'There's no Riangi Matsuda in our records.'
I can't believe I'm as "good" as I am at speaking Chinese...I still mess up a lot of tones and pronunciations but Jen-chan helps a lot, he and his family are really glad to help me learn...Though, thank the Gods that "love poem" Lianjie gave me I didn't say in front of the kids...I should've known better, though, but why would I pay my own husband for...Well, okay, that request probably (no, greatly) exceeds the boundaries of 'sane, normal love,' so...
Miyazaki turns to a computer to the side of his desk, he types for a couple seconds before saying, "Class 1-2, Ichiyama-sensei's class. I'll let him know you're on your way."
I nod. "Thank you." I stand and bow my head, going back into the administration offices. Takehiro...he's crying a little harder. I take his hand. "Come on, Takehiro...We're going to the car, we'll talk there after I take Liangji out of class, okay?"
"I...I'm...I'm so-sorry...Tou...chan..." I can barely make that out from what he says, he's...I've never seen Takehiro cry like this...
...Yeah, he's a bully all right. I don't like how this is being handled at all.
"We'll talk in the car...Try to calm down, okay?" I try to sound reassuring. "Just calm down..."
...I know myself from when I was his age well enough to know that's a lot easier said than done...
Takehiro cries the entire way to the car, he waits in the front seat while I run back inside to get Liangji...
...1-2...1-2...Here we go...
I slide open the door, Liangji's already at his desk with his backpack. He looks over to me, then his teacher. She nods her head and he runs over to me. I close the sliding door and walk with Liangji.
We're no more than two steps away when Liangji asks, frantically, "Is he okay? Di-Did they hurt him? Is Niichan okay?"
"What?"
"Niichan! Is he okay? That's why you're here, right?" Liangji looks up to me, he looks almost like he's going to cry. "Is he okay?"
"How did you know Takehiro was in a fight?" ...I knew there was more to this...
"'Cause he told me to run away after he punched one of them...I-I ran back to class but...I-I was afraid something happened to him." Liangji says, a tear runs down his cheek. "Is Niichan okay?"
"He's okay, mostly," I kneel down, putting a hand on Liangji's shoulder. "Liangji, tell me what happened. It's very important you tell me exactly what happened."
Liangji nods. "I-I was in the back of the school, outside, when some older kids started shouting at me. Th-They were calling me...Ryougay and stuff like that...A-And I told them to stop but they wouldn't," he sighs. "I-I tried to walk away but they started to walk in front of me and...One of them grabbed my shoulders and they pushed me around. Niichan...He ran over and told them to stop. Then they pushed me down, see?" Liangji holds up his arms, they're a little scraped up but nothing too serious, thank the Gods. "Takehiro told them to stay away from me but...He punched them when they went to grab me again." Liangji starts to cry, he wipes his eyes as he asks, again, "Is he okay, Tou-chan?"
"...He's not badly hurt, don't worry," I smile, standing up and taking Liangji's hand. "Why didn't you tell the teacher what happened? Were you there when the fight ended?"
Liangji shakes his head. "Takehiro screamed 'get out of here,' I didn't want to but...He kept telling me to run, so I...ran... I'm sorry, Tou-chan..."
"No, don't be sorry. We'll need you to talk to the principal later, but you're not in trouble. You just need to tell him what happened because they think Takehiro started it."
"Niichan didn't! He kept telling them to stop but they wouldn't listen!" Liangji shakes his head.
"I know. He may be in trouble with the school, but not with us, okay? We're glad he helped you...He's in the car right now, I think he needs to see that you're okay."
"...Niichan's the best..." Liangji says with a sigh. "I-I was...really scared..."
"I know. I'm sorry they do this to you, Liangji...I really am. I'll talk to the principal and your teacher...We'll do what we can to stop it."
"Thanks, Tou-chan."
I take Liangji to the car, Takehiro's calmed down a little, he's holding a napkin from the glove compartment to his lip, it's still bleeding a little. Liangji gets into the back but sits on the floor between the two seats. "Niichan...!" He...He starts to cry when he sees that Takehiro's still bleeding. "I'm sorry, Niichan! I'm sorry!" He crawls forward a little and gives Takehiro a hug, crying on his shoulder. Takehiro lets out a couple sobs as he hugs back.
"Takehiro...Liangji told me what happened," I say, getting into the car. "You're not in trouble. You did the right thing, no matter what the principal or teachers say."
"...But...I...I got...suspended..."
"I'll talk to the school and straighten this out," I say. "The other kids claimed you started it and...Well, your word against theirs. I knew you wouldn't fight unless you had to, not without a very good reason...And, Takehiro, defending Liangji like that is more than a very good reason. I'm proud of you."
"...Thanks, Tou-chan..." Takehiro sniffs, wiping his eyes.
I smile, starting the car. Liangji gets in back and puts on his seat belt. "Look on the bright side, you'll get a week off off from school."
"...Yeah, I...I guess I get that..." Takehiro smiles a little. "...But..." He sighs. "...I-I can't believe I'm suspended for this..."
"If the same thing happened again," I begin, "and Liangji was being pushed around by bullies who wouldn't stop, would you defend him even if you'd be suspended?"
"...Yeah, 'cause Liangji's more important," Takehiro says.
"That's what I wanted to hear. And I'll do what I can to fix things. "
We drove straight home. Takehiro...I think he's punishing himself a little, actually, he went to his room and did his homework. Liangji's doing the same in his room...
...I think Takehiro's so upset because of how much Jen-chan kept telling him to never fight unless he had no alternative. Jen-chan made sure he knew that before he taught him so much as a single stance or punch.
I call Jen-chan as I think about that. He answers on the first ring, I guess he's been waiting by his cell phone.
"What happened?"
"Some kids were picking on Liangji and Takehiro came to defend him. Because he told Liangji to run away, the other kids claimed Takehiro started it. That's why he's in trouble."
"...Thank the Gods..." Jen whispers. "I-I'm sorry, Takato, I know he's not the kind to fight, but..."
"I know why you were worried, I understand," I say. "I told him he's not in trouble and I'd try to explain things to the school regarding the suspension. Liangji will tell them his side of the story, hopefully they'll believe him. I-I really did not like the way this was handled, Jen-chan."
"Same here. I'll be sure to talk to him when I get home, make it clear he did the right thing. Is Liangji okay, too?"
"Just some arm scrapes and he cried when he saw Takehiro. Takehiro's punishing himself more than anything..."
"Punishing himself? I'll definitely talk to him, then," Jen-chan lets out a sigh. "Like father, like son...You two and your self-induced guilt trips."
I laugh, "He was crying just like I would but...Jen-chan, I never fought in school, this is...I need to ask you-know-who some questions, see where this came from..." I joke.
"What? You think Juri's been leading a secret life as a kick-boxer?"
"No, but...That would be sort of cool if she did..." I trail off. Jen-chan laughs. "And, according to the principal, even though it was three against one, Takehiro got the 'bully' credit because he had 'the advantage.'" I probably shouldn't be proud of that but...
...I am.
...Wait...
...Oh, Gods, I'm turning into Ruki!
"Re-Really? Good to know he can defend himself if he needs to...Which, obviously, that day finally came...Thanks for letting me know, Takato-chan. I'll try to come home a little early and take them both out for ice cream. Make them both feel better."
"Good idea. With the way Takehiro is right now...Just like you said, like father, like son. If I were him...The fact the school says he's in trouble is enough."
"Unfortunately...If you don't get anywhere with them, let me talk to them. See you in a while, Takato-chan."
"See you, Jen-chan." I end the call and go back to my art studio. I'll try to fix my painting while I wait for Jen-chan.
I understand why Jen-chan was worried about his lessons being the "cause" of Takehiro's fight rather than there being more to the story. He told me the story of when he hurt a neighbor as a kid. It's more the reason he stresses his rule of "no fighting unless you have to" to Takehiro than any other reason. And I'm so glad to see that it worked...
...Jen-chan, you're a great teacher and Father.
I spoke to the school earlier today, they called Liangji into the principal's office to explain what happened and called me back...
...Takehiro's suspension was lowered to two days (for fighting...Even if it was to defend his brother! Ugh!) and the three bullies were suspended for a week for picking on Liangji and lying about the fight. Takehiro goes back to school on Monday.
Jen-chan took Takehiro and Liangji out for ice cream when he got home that night and Takehiro came back home in a much better mood, Jen-chan told me he made it clear that Takehiro did the right thing. He was also proud of him for telling him that he didn't like fighting. He did it because he didn't want to see Liangji get hurt...
...I'm so proud of my son right now. I got him a little present to make him feel better, an Ai To Kirai game he doesn't have.
I still can't believe we let him play these but...Jen-chan said they're not ecchi (mostly, he says the "summer" portion of the games can get "fan service-y," but nothing too graphic). I also can't believe my Dad waited in line to buy him one for Christmas! I-I never in a million years thought that would happen...
...Thanks, Dad. Your Grandson is very happy with that gift, he plays it a lot.
As Liangji and I walk out of the game store at the mall, Liangji pulls on my arm. "Tou-chan...Wait..."
"What is it?" I ask.
"Um...Can we...Can we go there, real quick?" He points to a candy store up ahead. "Please?"
"...Okay," I nod. Liangji wants candy...
Liangji hurries ahead of me to the store, it's the kind that has a ton of candy in bins along the wall that you pay for by weight, as well as obscure and weird candies on the shelves in the back. The "normal" stuff is up front.
Liangji goes to the bins, reaching into his pocket. What the...? He's counting out some money...
"Liangji, where did you get that money?"
"It's...Um...My lunch money," Liangji says.
"You skipped lunch to buy candy?" ...Liangji... I knew I shouldn't have told him we were going to the mall after school...
"I wanted to thank Niichan..." Liangji says, he's making a mix bag of mostly green tea candies, Takehiro's favorites. Liangji doesn't like green tea that much, that's definitely for Takehiro. He weighs the bag to see how much it'll cost...He sighs and starts to put back some of the candy.
"Wait...Liangji, get more, I'll pay for it," I say, smiling. "And make a little bag for yourself, too, okay?"
"Really?"
I nod. "Yeah. Your big brother deserves a little candy for what he did. Good thinking."
"Thanks, Tou-chan!" Liangji goes to put more in Takehiro's bag...
...He goes a little overboard on Takehiro's bag of candy but his bag is only about half of Takehiro's (still a lot, but...He showed some restraint).
I pay for the two bags and we go out to the car and back home.
Takehiro was very excited to play a new Ai To Kirai game, he thanked us for the gifts before he spent some time playing Ai to Kirai with Liangji. He's in a much better mood now.
I was also proud of how he also shared his candy with Liangji, Liangji did the same with his bag. They're very close as brothers, I'm glad to see that.
I'm proud of my sons.
Ori's Notes:
This incident is basically summarized by Takato in a later chapter (original draft, I mean), but I decided to write it into an actual chapter...I dunno, I wanted to do more with Takehiro and Liangji as kids this time around since there was a huge age leap in the middle of the original (about five years) which, like a lot of other things, bugged me.
So, again, I am full-assing this fic! Really! Don't make me post pictures to prove it, I will if I have to! I mean it!
Though, I admit, in a little bit there is a time skip of a few years coming soon but it's not nearly as bad as the last draft. Soon we're gonna hit a string of original draft chapters that will lead up to it, I won't spoil them for new readers, though! Afterwards, we get a ton of Takehiro in his teens (and, later, Liangji and Akio). I hope you don't mind the...CRAPLOAD of extra baby and little kid Takehiro and Liangji chapters...
Taiki's Notes:
People, please, believe him about "whole assing" this fic! We do not want him to follow through with his threat of pictures! REALLY! I'll take another gay seppuku instead, Ori! PLEASE!
For this chapter: I really liked the portion with Liangji and his lunch money, ha ha ha! It's good to see he and Takehiro get along so well especially if Takehiro can take on three bullies for him!
-Taiki Matsuki
Extra Note: Because one of the upcoming chapters is so special, we're doing three chapters today! Two AM, one special chapter PM! The "special chapter" is another "Omoi," we hope you enjoy it! Ori says it was by far one of his favorites to write in this fic!