Author: Simply Kim
Title: Little Akira... The Tokyo Terrorist!
Genre/ratings: (Shounen-ai /Yaoi) (Humour / (a bit of) Angst)
Length: (3.5/5) Side Story 2
Disclaimers: The series I'm referring to obviously do not belong to me, only this story does.
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Side Story 2: Broken
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"SENSEI! WAIT!"
I have no idea why I'm breathing hard as I try to catch up with my Economics professor. I mean, I practice all the time – except for some days where I'm too out of shape to actually dribble three hundred times... maybe my current lifestyle isn't doing me good. I was eternally thankful that the old department head stopped and turned around, waiting for me to approach him. I've never seen anyone with so much distaste intertwined with a frighteningly intense gaze.
"Rukawa-san." I gulped at the admonishing tone. "You've been absent from my class this morning, and now I see you running around and hollering after me like an uncivilised individual. Your grades have been slipping. Would you please tell me what in heaven's name you're up to?"
If the situation is different, I might be having a fine time mentally laughing at how snotty this person could be, but unfortunately, I know the tone meant business... it seems he despises me because of something I don't have any idea what...
Unable to do anything, I hung my head in hopes of appeasing his anger. "I'm sorry Yasuba-sensei... I'm having umm... problems, and I forgot to set the alarm clock this morning so I woke up late and... I..."
Yasuba-sensei raised a silencing hand. "Stop. I don't need your excuses. You were supposed to hand me your research paper this morning. Where is it?" I felt my stomach turn as I gazed at gnarly outstretched hands, expecting me to hand something...
Taking a deep breath, I schooled my face to be as apologetic and beseeching as I felt. "Uh... that was what I was going to talk to you about, sensei... you see..." I started, wringing my hands in complete nervousness. "I... could I possibly ask for another deadline? I mean... I..."
My professor's eyes widened in obvious disbelief. "ANOTHER deadline?" He grated out incredulously. "I moved your deadline TWICE already, and now you're asking for ANOTHER one?"
Ouch.
"Y-Yes... I..."
"No."
I wanted to cry. "Sensei, please... please.... I need that for additional credit..." I pleaded, trying to get him to agree, but seeing the angry features of glaring up at me with much fervour, my heart immediately sank.
"Rukawa-san, maybe you should reconsider taking this course. Economics needs a lot of work before anything could be done, and if you insist on having no time for your studies and asking for too many deadlines, then you're not fit to be taking it up... you're not fit to be in this university either. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go home. I have lots of work to do."
"Sensei... I..."
I wanted to protest, I wanted to throw a tantrum until Professor Yasuba agreed to my proposal, but it wasn't happening. I couldn't do anything but stare at the my professor's back and try not to break down in front of the whole student body congregated around me, feeling sorry for me... and I knew, were gossiping about me.
With agonising slowness, I trudged away, my feet taking me by habit to my hiding place – my college building's rooftop.
As soon as my feet touched the concrete floor, the desperate tears I had been holding fell in huge torrents. I trudged away from the door, towards the railing, collapsing against the strong iron bars a couple of metres tall, feeling the strong gusts of wind that froze my cheeks. I lifelessly stared at the light blue horizon, the view seemingly a mockery of what I truly felt inside... or rather, what I did not feel inside.
I am hollow, I am empty... I am no one... I am nothing.
I am no one...
A sob escaped his constricted throat.
I am nothing.
I wanted to die... I couldn't take it anymore... Why me of all people? Why me?
I am nothing.
I rolled to my side, curling into a ball, waiting for nothing, caring for nothing... just lying down...
Broken.
I am nothing...
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Kaasan... I feel so alone...
I rubbed my eyes, staring at the green railings where the sky was visible, as azure as ever, mocking me... laughing at me...
I know I've never been the best person in the whole world. I have been in the wrong more times than I could count... but why me? Why not some random criminal now sitting in this country's government? I really don't understand...
Hungry... I could feel my stomach rumbling. I don't have the money to buy anything right now. I can't dig into my trust fund... I can't I must do everything to keep my allowance be enough for a whole month, or lese my uncle will really kill me.
He learned about me buying the red scooter... I wonder how he knew about that? He told me I wasn't receiving any reimbursements unless I tell him what I did with the toy. So I told him I gave it to my friend's brother... the next thing I knew I was out the door, his voice still ringing in my ears, calling me all kinds of stupid, saying I wasn't keeping my priorities straight.
I was wondering then why he was interfering with my usage of money... it was mine anyway... But then I got to think really deeply and then I realized that he was right. However, given the situation... I was prioritizing. I mean, I couldn't let a kid grow up malnourished right? Logic dictated that I should do everything to make the kid eat, so there!
I sighed, tightening the hold I had around myself.
I miss Sendoh... when I'm feeling a bit alone, he would walk up to me and pat my shoulder, telling me...
FLASHBACK
"Oi, Rukawa, are you alright?"
"Aa."
"No you're not."
"Baka. I just told you I'm fine. Are you going deaf now?"
"I heard you, I heard you..."
Laughter... and then silence.
"Stop thinking about her."
"..."
"I'm serious, don't look at me like I'm an alien or something... although sometimes I do look like one... but that's beside the point –"
"What is your point?"
"I mean, don't think much about your prospective girlfriend, alright? She loves you too! Who-Hoo! Who could the poor girl be? Tsk – ITAI! What was that for?"
"For being such an idiot. I wasn't thinking of anybody... I was just letting my brain cells rest!"
"Oh. Heh-heh..."
END FLASHBACK
He was right though... I was thinking of someone... but not some girl. I was actually thinking about him... why he always manage to get under my skin... why he treats me slightly different from the others... I was thinking about him.
And always him...
Tears fell involuntarily from my eyes once again; remembering the little boy I knew would be in my house at this time...
Is he waiting for me?
Is he worried?
Is he scared?
I wanted to stand up and make my way home... but I couldn't seem to make my body move. Maybe I'm more exhausted than I thought...
Maybe a short nap would ease the ache inside me... maybe when I open my eyes everything would be back to normal... maybe my bank account would be as depleted as I thought it already was...
Maybe when I wake up, Akira would be here, towering over me... peering into my bleary eyes and ruffling my hair, a hand stretched out ho help me up...
Maybe...
Maybe...
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TBC
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