In an empty classroom with two boys who share nothing but childhood memories that slowly warping into nothing but blurry images, because of the looming tension that has developed within the both of them. The space between as they both sat at the far end of the room seemingly represents the rift created by unspoken feelings and the growing misgivings they have for one another. The more rash one, Zorome, was slowly understanding what he did earlier was wrong, however, he still couldn't let go of the fact that Hiro deserved it. He would have never treated Hiro like crap if he didn't act like one. Yes, what he did earlier was stupid and uncalled for, but what he felt for the raven haired teen wasn't his fault.
It was his and his, alone.
Zorome could remember vividly how the young Hiro would stand in front of the whole class and deliver some speech that would have everyone clapping, even the teachers. He remembers how Hiro didn't have to put any effort in having friends, all the kids were basically begging to be his friend. He remembers overhearing the teachers talking about Hiro. They would constantly praise his brightness and call him as some sort of whiz kid of some sort. He remembers how the stars would always seem to align for Hiro, showering him with blessings one after another.
And it gnawed at him.
His parents were constant travellers, thus, leaving him in the care of his beloved grandma. Due to this, he wanted to be acknowledged, especially by the adults, but unfortunately, he wasn't as bright as Hiro. He was just some average kid who seemed to fair pretty well with sports, but no, being sporty wouldn't have you being praised by the teachers. All they ever noticed was the one good with books and talking, but that didn't stop him from working hard. Day and night, he studied just so he could be in par with Hiro, but with numerous kids being smarter than him, like Goro, Ikuno and Mitsuru, he knew he had a long way to come.
And yet, his younger self would constantly push his limits, being the passionate kid he was.
But when sixth grade came, everyone noticed how the once smart kid slowly deteriorated into a person he found despicable. Where was the grit, the passion Hiro had? How could Zorome ever be on par with him if he's like this? How could he prove to everyone he could be better than Hiro?
It pissed him off to no end. His efforts were all in vain, and soon, he reverts back to the rowdy kid whose only good at sports. Something Hiro was probably never good at, at least.
If only Hiro hadn't changed. If only he hadn't stopped being the model kid he was back then, then maybe, just maybe, his feelings of inferiority would have been justified.
Meanwhile, Hiro was once again lost in his thoughts, still, he was also somehow acutely aware of the other boy's presence. They were in the same space, but for him, it was like they were in different places. Zorome's words kept ringing in his head. Some of them didn't matter, like how he told him to just kill himself and unbeknownst to the dirty blonde, he already did, countless of times, and if it weren't for Goro or his parents, he might actually be dead by now. Zorome didn't know that, and he might as well never know the scars that haunt him, every night he suffers from bouts of self hate. They haunt him when he's weak, and they haunt him whenever he stares at his bare arms, itching to draw another mark on his skin.
But he doesn't care if Zorome doesn't know, because he was never involved anyway. All of this fucked up mess was his own doing. He destroyed himself, throwing every single thing that was associated with his so called, perfection, leaving him empty but in a strange way, satisfied.
But when he hears Zorome say bad things about Zero Two, something in him snapped. Compared to his empty self, she was full; broken, but full. She was everything he wanted to be, naturally cool yet fiery at most; distant yet radiates with a charisma only she possesses.
Most importantly, she was imperfect, an enigma, with her striking horns and unpredictable personality; she admits to being alone yet, you could see the fire in her eyes that represents her strong will to live.
In just a short period of time, he could feel her filling up his empty existence; filling him up with emotions both unknown and long forgotten.
That's why at that moment, as his veins were being filled anger, he explodes, putting his all when punching Zorome in the face and pinning him to the ground. Once again, Zorome didn't know a thing. He doesn't know a thing about Zero Two and how she was involved with him.
But after calming down, Hiro's wrecked over his dilemma with Zorome. A part of him wanted to know why the boy grew to be hostile towards him, even more so than Mitsuru, which was another issue. Hiro wanted to at least have an explanation, and he thinks now is the time for one, the only problem being how he would approach Zorome, with the heavy tension in the air making things hard at the moment.
'Why were expressing feelings much easier back then?'
Yes, in this quiet classroom, the only noise that filled the air were the raging thoughts in their heads..
The air felt damped, Zero Two muses.
She hasn't gotten very far from school because of her worries for Hiro.
Was he okay? Are him and that other guy doing well? Constant thoughts ran in her head. To be honest, she was tempted to stay and wait for her darling until his detention is over, but as she looked her darling in the eye, she instantly knew what he wanted and chose to respect it, so here she was, walking alone in the busy streets.
She was used to it anyway.
Realizing she had no dinner at home (well she could go to her gramps' home for some food, but she didn't want to hear him gush over his ceramics again), Zero Two decides to drop by the very first convenience store she'd find and fortunately, there was one just across the street.
Entering the store, Zero Two sees some people staring at her, prompting her to roll her eyes. For her, this was a natural occurrence. Throughout the years of odd looks and unwelcome whispering, she learned to not give a damn at anyone who did so, and right now, no damns are absolutely given with how hungry she was feeling.
So without further delay, Zero Two grabs a microwavable (microwaves are the only kitchen appliances she uses that doesn't explode.) bento that contains some rice, steamed veggies and chicken teriyaki. She also grabs some coke, and of course, a dozen of bizarre tasting lollipops full of sugary sweetness.
"New flavor...Bubblegum caramel swirl?" Zero Two muses while twirling the lollipop on her fingers before putting it in her basket.
As she's paying the cashier, she looks out to see a familiar twin tailed girl being approached by a group of boys. Zero Two could see that the girl was clearly uncomfortable with the boys' advances, fidgeting and trying to pass through only to be blocked by them. Normally, Zero Two wouldn't care, but as she takes a closer inspection, she realizes that the twin tailed girl was her classmate Miku, who was also a friend of her darling, she assumes.
Sighing to herself, Zero Two knew she had to do something, even if the girl WAS a bit of a brat.
'Stupid Zorome..' Miku was still a bit pissed over what Zorome did to Hiro earlier. Yes, she and Hiro weren't really that close, even when they were children, but she knows what Zorome did was unreasonable.
She knew that, as an effect of Zorome's insecurities due to his innate wish of being acknowledged, he developed a burning jealousy towards Hiro who was considered as a 'prodigy' at that time. Knowing Zorome the longest, she witnessed how he would burn himself out day and night just to prove he could beat the other boy, but at least before, they were in good terms, because outside his jealousy for praise, Miku knows deep inside, Zorome looks up to Hiro as well.
That's why when Hiro stopped being the boy he once was, Zorome became much more meaner with him.
That was probably his way of coping with the fact that the boy he so wished to surpass, was nothing but a part of yesterday's youth.
Lost in her thoughts, Miku accidentally bumps into someone. Immediately, she apologizes, trying to pass through, but she suddenly feels a grip on her wrist slightly pulling her back.
'W-what?' A deep feeling of dread develops within her.
"Aren't you the girl from that cat video?" One of the guys slurs. "I'm sorry but I don't know what you're talking about." Miku feigns confidence, but the dread she feels grows even stronger.
The boy, who was accompanied by a few others, laughed but his eyes had a hungry glint, like how a predator would look at their prey. Involuntarily, Miku gulps.
"Nahh..I'm pretty sure you're the one, nice panties by the way." Pulling her even more closer, he lowers his face to her ears and whispers seductively. "I'm pretty sure you're better off without them."
"P-please, don't..." Miku strains, trying to push away the guy to no avail for his grip on her was far too strong.
'Please somebody, help me...'
"Oi." A voice calls out, making the boys and Miku turn to where it came from. Miku was surprised to see a familiar shade of pink and a pair of bright red horns that added to the woman's intimidating aura.
"Zero Two!" She exclaims in surprise.
Said girl looks down at the perverts, an advantage of being 5 foot 8, and crunches her knuckles. Recognizing her as the horned girl who beats up thugs, the boys gulp in fear.
"Y-you're..!"
"That's right. Now if you assholes don't want to go home with your heads between your pants, I suggest you perverts scram." She growls and in an instant, the boys leave Miku, who was dumbfounded, and run away as fast as they can.
Zero Two sighs, 'such cowards..' on the bright side, at least they didn't put up a fight because that would've been a pain.
"Z-zero Two..." she turns to see Miku looking at her with a blush coloring her bashful expression. Zero Two raises a brow. "Um..I know I wasn't that friendly with you and I pretty much judged you because of your horns..." Miku says, her voice much softer as compared to her usual haughtiness.
"It's nothing unusual.." Zero Two immediately answers. "Everyone's scared of my horns..."
'Except Darling of course..'
"But even so! I was wrong for that, and I'd really want to say, I'm so !sorry" Miku bows before adding, "And also, thank you for saving me from those bastards." as she straightens up, she raises a hand towards Zero Two and gives a small grin. "If it's okay with you...let's be friends?"
At loss with what to say, Zero Two hesitantly takes her hand and nods at the red head's request. Beaming, Miku pulls the taller girl in a quick hug before waving goodbye at her, leaving Zero Two much more surprised. To her, Miku initiating positive contact was a very foreign concept to her but odd enough, she didn't hate it.
She doesn't even notices the small smile on her lips as she heads back home.
Back with the boys, Zorome was busy passing time by playing with his pen. It was absolute torture being stuck with Hiro for a whole two hours of silence, but he'll be damned if he ever starts talking with the wuss. He'd rather eat shit than be all chummy with the guy who started it all.
'I mean just look at him!' He thinks to himself, glaring daggers at the guy, 'He's so hopeless he's-
"Zorome."
Surprised by the sudden call, he turns his chair towards Hiro and asks, a bit pissed over how Hiro addresses him so casually, "...what do you want?" he says a bit roughly,
"I think it's time we should talk."