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Chapter 6 – Friendship

3rd JANUARY

In the past few days, Jin had realised that nothing was going to be like before. Ling was determined to make him see that he needed friends, so she had started to have lunch with him every day. At first Jin was shocked, but two days later he got used to her presence. Usually they would sit in an empty table, or when it wasn't raining, under a tree in the school yard. Ling used to talk a lot, but Jin only answered with short sentences.

-'Am I boring you?'-Ling asked after two attempts to make him talk.

-'No…'-Jin said.

Ling frowned.

-'Yeah…right…'

-'It's just that I'm not used to this.'-Jin explained.

-'Ok…what do you think our punishment will be…for missing classes last week?'

-'I don't know.'

-'More short answers…can't you talk to me properly?'

-'What do you want me to tell you?'

-'I hope they don't send us to clean the toilets. It's horrible!'

-'Not for me it isn't…'

-'Huh? Are you joking?'

-'Men's toilets are always cleaner than the girl's.'

-'You have to be joking!'

-'Nope. It's true…how many guys have you seen entering the toilets since you arrived here?'

-'A…I don't really remember. Besides I'm not counting the guys who go to the toilets.'

-'Because the large majority of us don't use the toilets.'-Jin explained.

-'What? So where do you…? Outside?'

-'Of course not…it's just that men don't need to go to the bathroom as often as you.'

-'Why not?'

-'Well…first of all we don't have the period…so our toilets are always cleaner.'

-'Great…'-Ling cursed.-'Maybe I'll volunteer to clean the men's toilets then…'

In that moment, Miharu approached them.

-'Miss Sugimura wants to speak with both of you.'-she announced.

-'Now?'-Ling asked.

-'Yes, now.'-Miharu confirmed.

Jin got up immediately and left the cafeteria.

-'You could try to be a bit nicer to him…'-Ling said before following Jin.

Miharu shrugged. She couldn't understand why the hell Ling was having lunch with Jin every day.

-'Jin! Wait for me!'-Ling asked as Jin was going to the elevator.

Miss Sugimura was the Schools Director, since Heihachi was always busy. She was a very strict lady and Jin knew her very well, because he had been punished quite a few times.

-'Miss Xiaoyu, Mr. Kazama…please have a sit.'-Miss Sugimura said.

Jin and Ling sat down. Ling was a bit nervous but then she realised that Miss Sugimura had a friendly face.

-'So you missed classes last week…'-she started.-'That doesn't surprise me, Mr. Kazama. But as for you, Miss Xiaoyu, I must say that I'm disappointed.'

-'Sorry…'-Ling said.

-'Well, what it's done, it's done but I would really like to know what was more important to you than classes.'

-'Oh…you don't need to worry, I was with Jin…'-Ling said quickly.

She thought that she was doing the right thing by telling the truth, but she quickly changed her mind when she saw Jin's face turn white and Miss Sugimura's face turning red with anger.

-'What?'-Miss Sugimura asked trembling with anger.-'I can't believe this! Mr. Kazama! What the hell do you think you're doing?'

-'Miss Sugimura this is not what you're thinking.'-Jin said calmly.

Ling was looking at them with a puzzled look.

-'Shut up! How could you do this to such a young girl…knowing that she lives with you and your grandfather? Have you got any idea of the consequences?'

-'It wasn't like that.'-Jin tried again.

-'Like what?'-Ling asked confused.

-'I should take you to the police! Miss Xiaoyu is only sixteen! I hope you had the good sense of using some sort of protection because if this girl gets pregnant I'll be the first to tell your grandfather and the police!'

-'But Miss Sugimura…nothing happened!'-Ling said once she finally understood what was going on.

-'What?'-Miss Sugimura asked surprised.

-'That was what I was trying to say.'-Jin said.

-'Are you sure?'-Miss Sugimura asked a bit more relaxed.

-'Yes, I'm quite sure…'-Ling reassured.

-'Oh…in that case, I'm sorry for shouting with you, Mr. Kazama. I was just concerned about your well being.'

-'It's ok.'-Jin said.

-'Well, in that case, tomorrow you will clean the school's terrace…some students went there to drink illegal stuff and it's quite a mess…'

Ling sighed; at least she wouldn't clean the toilets. She couldn't avoid feeling embarrassed when Jin looked at her when they were leaving.

-'The woman is a bit paranoid…'-Jin said making Ling's face turn red again.

-'She has quite an imagination.'

-'Yeah…she does.'

-'Tell me Jin, how many times have you been in the Director's office?'

-'A few…ten…maybe more. But this was the first time she told me to use some sort of protection…'-Jin laughed. He couldn't help to joke with the situation.

-'Does Heihachi know that we missed classes?'-Ling asked trying to change the subject.

-'Probably…'

-'He'll be angry…won't he?'

-'I don't care.'

-'He's your grandfather, Jin.'

-'Not by choice…'

Ling sighed. It was obvious that Jin and Heihachi were distant by the day and she couldn't help, at least for now.

That same night, Jin received another phone call. It was Heihachi again; he wanted to know how things were going and he did know about the punishment in school. Jin was forced to say that he wouldn't do it again, but after hanging up the phone he told his grandfather to piss off.

Ling was there and she looked at Jin with a reprehensive look that Jin ignored. After the phone call, Jin decided to leave his undone homework and left to the gym.

Ling took her books to her room and jumped to the bed.

-'Did you call me Miss Xiaoyu?'-Taka asked entering Ling's room.

-'Yes.'

-'Is everything ok?'

-'Why does Jin treat Heihachi so bad? What did Heihachi do to him?'

-'I don't think you should worry about this.'

-'Come on Taka! They're a family!'

-'A very complex family.'

-'But still a family.'

-'Look…Miss Xiaoyu, Jin is a very nice boy but he has many problems…'

-'Why?'

-'Because he's the grandson of a very wealthiest and rich man who always wanted an heir.'

-'And what's wrong with that?'

-'He had an heir before.'

-'Before Jin?'

-'Yes…'

-'Jin's father?'

-'Yes.'

-'What happened?'

-'Kazuya died…mysteriously…for what I was told.'

Ling stood in silence for a while. She new that Jin's parents were dead, but she didn't know that Kazuya Mishima's death was a mystery.

-'I guess I'll have to speak with Jin to know the truth.'-she finally said.

Taka seemed surprised with these words.

-'I know Jin since he arrived to this house. He never talked about this…only with Heihachi. I think that the poor boy is still suffering from his parent's death, so please be careful with your questions.'

-'I will, don't worry.'

-'I think that first you should concentrate in becoming his friend…'

-'I've been working on that.'

-'And how is it going?'

-'Slowly…very slowly…sometimes I feel like I'll never be able to reach him…'

-'Let me tell you something…Jin isn't an ordinary boy, but just like everyone else, he has a flaw…'

-'A flaw?'

-'Yes.'

-'Which is?'

-'Jin cares…he tries to hide his emotions behind that cold and numb expression, but Jin cares. You just need to make him see that.'

-'Right…and that's what I'll do!'