Let the Rain Fall
pass the broccollini

Notes from the Author: I just want to thank those of you who have left reviews/encouragement/advice on my recent chapters and story in general. It's the motivation of fresh new reviews to read that keep the chapters coming! Anyway, hope you like this new chapter!
Chapter Five:

A small boy was crouched in the corner of his bedroom, hugging his knees and crying softly to himself. Outside of the protection of his old, oak bedroom door, his parents were yelling and throwing things at each other. Again. His small pleas of "make it stop make it stop" were unheard and the volume of the hateful words increased and increased. He heard the sound of glass breaking—probably a beer bottle—and it suddenly went silent.

Moments later, his father stumbled into his room. Although he was a thief and a coward, sometimes he felt guilty for his son. Arima. A complete accident. A mistake, more like. If it wasn't for that stupid little boy, he might've been able to enjoy life to the fullest and aspire towards his dreams. Granted, those dreams were overshadowed by the success of his older brother in medical school, but they were dreams nonetheless.

"Boy?"

Arima was hugging his knees and rocking back and forth, crying to himself. Why couldn't his parents just get along? Why couldn't they just love him? Was he bad? Was he stupid? Was he ugly?

"...sorry you had to hear all that. Your mom...she won't be yellin' anytime soon. Women are just plain trouble."

The drunken father closed the open door behind him and entered Arima's room as he said those words. The only bathroom was attached to Arima's small room and the living room. However, he had no desire to enter the "Yelling Room" again. Arima's whimpering would probably keep him from sleeping if he didn't comfort the stupid boy anyway.

"All of 'em. Stupid and worthless."

That wasn't true. Ms. Koibatecho, Arima's kindergarten teacher, was nice. She gave him the pointy crayons and a full glass of milk at lunch. He always got the pretty red and gold stickers too.

"Soon as you turn your back, you'll catch 'er cheating. Don't ever fall in love, if ya know what's good for you."

And if what his parents shared was love, he knew he never wanted to have it in his entire life.

Arima angrily treaded onto the school's grounds. The flashbacks from his childhood were becoming even more frequent, which didn't help his worsening mood much. Being around Miyazawa seemed to both awaken and heal his horrible memories. Some scars, though, could never be healed. The words of his father remained in his head. That stupid girl. His stupid girl. Sure, they weren't kissing...but she was letting another man touch her. That was bad enough. And while he was sick, no less.

The warning bell rang, signifying twenty minutes until the start of first period. As he pushed the glass door open, a few nameless faces in the crowd said their 'hello's and 'I hope you feel better soon's. He was in no mood to speak to these people, and thus didn't give a response. As he rushed, still fuming, towards his first class, he knocked down a boy only a few inches shorter than he.

"Hey! You're Arima, right?"

"...yeah, what's it to you?"

For a moment, the smaller (obviously underclassmen) boy paused. Arima was described as friendly, athletic, and attractive. Granted, he was the latter two. Maybe everyone had their bad days.

"I, uh, c-can I take your picture for the newspaper? You were amazing in your kendo match! You're so cool!"

Adoring freshman wannabes. He had no time for this.

"I'm busy."

He pushed by the dejected Underground photographer towards his new class. Disgruntled, the younger male shirked off with angry thoughts in his mind. Stupid jocks.

Asaba was watching from across the hall. He knew Arima was easily angered and was very possessive of his Miyazawa. Still, they were just hugging...right? He wasn't going to do anything else. Well, at least not with Arima watching in the doorstep. Still, he'd have to have a...talk with Arima to clear things up. It wouldn't do to have all the freshman frightened, now would it?

Later that day, Miyazawa purchased her lunch and sat down at her usual table. She felt guilty about the whole "Asaba-hugging" incident. Arima must've thought they were kissing or something. That's probably what made him throw up. She'd never cheat on him, though.

"Oi! Miyazawa!"

She glanced up from her Cup O' Noodles and saw a waving Asapin across the hall. He was gesturing towards one of the large cherry blossom trees outside. The weather was pretty nice, so the faculty were allowing the students to eat outdoors.

"I saved us a good spot!"

He gestured to the tree once more and waited for her to follow. She did. When they arrived beneath the light pink canopy of the tree, she sat down her lunch tray and leaned back against the solid trunk of the tree. One quick glance told her that Arima was not around.

"Where's Arima?"

"Student Trip Committee Meeting. Planning a field-trip or something."

"Oh."

"...Listen, Miyazawa. About yesterday...". Asaba trailed off. It seemed that they were sitting awfully close next to her. Arima wouldn't even notice if they kissed or touched. He liked Miyazawa. As a friend, maybe a little bit more...but never as a serious girlfriend. She just seemed so hopelessly lost without Arima. There was some deep, stirring desire within him to comfort any female within range. And so he did.

"...never mind."

"Ok." Yukino hadn't seen Arima at all today, which was probably a good thing. Some of her classmates had approached her, asking what had happened between them. That meant Arima was furious. It was probably another childhood/traumatic past incident. They'd survive it. Their relationship could survive anything, it always did.

"Asaba?"

"Hm?"

"Is Arima mad at me?"

"Nah. Just me. Think he thought I was trying to...y'know. Kiss you or somethin'."

The conversation lapsed into silence, and they continued eating their lunches. Suddenly and with no warning, Asaba flicked a piece of noodle into the reddish-brown hair of Miss Miyazawa. A small grin crossed her face as a piece of rise found its way onto his face, via a flicking of her spoon. A mini-food fight erupted, and they were so caught up in their own way to forget the "Accident", none of them noticed the snapping of the camera a few feet away.

A new chapter coming soon! Questions, comments, concerns? Please review!