The Quiet Path
The school bell rang, signaling everyone that the school day was over.
Makoto met up with Komaru and began their walk back home.
The path they took was quiet. There was no one around but them.
But this wasn't very out of the ordinary. They always took this path, it was the most convenient shortcut that lead them home.
Everything was quiet. The only sound being the faint rustle of tree leaves in the wind, the occasional bird fluttering by, and their footsteps.
This route they take is peaceful, it gave them a brief moment of tranquility.
A moment to reflect on the day.
There was no need to talk, the silence never bothered them. Because just being there was enough.
But today, was different.
And the aura was very unlike it was yesterday.
"I uh, heard about what happened during lunch today." Komaru said awkwardly, not entirely sure how to bring it up.
"I don't know the details...so I was curious..." She asked carefully.
Makoto let out a sigh. It might not be a bad idea to talk to someone about this and get it out of his chest.
"...It uhm. It started when this kid wanted to talk to me. And then my group of "friends" from yesterday intervened. And they told me something unbelievable." He said as he looked at nothing but the ground beneath his feet. The scene was still fresh in his mind.
"They told me I shouldn't be hanging out with him, because he was quirkless."
Komaru seemed to give an unknown reaction to the last word, but Makoto continued to speak.
"Then they started to say these, awful,
awful things and I... I don't know. I just got really mad. And before I knew it, I slammed the table and I yelled at them."
Unconsciously, his hands formed fists. And his expression became tense.
"And the strange thing is...after I got started... I just... couldn't stop. I couldn't stop...yelling. And I ended up drawing the attention of, probably the entire cafeteria."
Komaru stayed unusually quiet.
"Komaru..."
She turned to her brother.
"Did I...do the wrong thing?" He said, looking toward her with a solemn expression.
"..."
"I just think that maybe... maybe I should've stayed quiet. Maybe it was a dumb idea to even speak up." he said.
Komaru stopped in her tracks, catching Makoto off guard.
"No."
"huh?"
"No." She stated firmly. Her eyes focused on his.
"I don't think that it was a dumb idea." She stated, her expression was strangely intense. "You put those bullies in their place. It wasn't a stupid idea at all." Makoto noticed her hands had formed fists.
"Komaru?"
She smiled, even though it looked oddly strained, her words were filled with truth.
"I'm proud of you Makoto. I know it's weird for a younger sibling to say, but... I really am."
Makoto opened his mouth to say something but his sister interjected.
"There's no reason for you to regret doing what you did. You did what you believed was right. And that's what matters. Even if it seemed like a small thing, I'm sure you made an impact on that quirkless kid." Her eyes were getting teary, much to Makoto's concern.
"Komaru? A-are you okay?"
"Y-yeah.." She said shakily, wiping her tears with her sleeve. "It's just..."
She looked up at her concerned older brother with a bright smile, despite the tears filling her vision.
"You're- you're just so cool, Makoto."
His eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't anticipated this.
"This might seem weird for me to say but.....I admire you... a lot. You were always amazing, to me...even if you don't notice it.." She says, choking sobs through pauses.
"Komaru." He says softly, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm not sure what you mean by this...and why the encounter from earlier affects you so much..."
She chuckles emptily. "Have you already forgotten?"
Forgotten?
"I'm quirkless, remember?"
"..."
Komaru's vision had become too blurry from the tears to see her brother's shocked expression.
"You were always there for me. You cared for me the same and more, even though you had a quirk and I didn't."
...What?
He removes his hands from her shoulders.
Makoto doesn't have a quirk. Why did she say that he does?
"You'd always use that quirk to help anyone around you, and for me. You gave luck, but you also gave kindness."
This is getting confusing...
"Whenever people find out someone's quirkless, they never treat them the same. But you-... you were different."
She pauses, trying to catch her breath.
"When we found out, all those years ago...on my fifth birthday, the doctor said it very clearly. That I, will never have a quirk."
She faked a laugh.
"I couldn't stop crying. I cried and cried and cried. I shut myself in my room, I thought I wanted to be alone. But you came in, and... you comforted me, told me you'd be there for me. That overflowing kindness... changed me."
Makoto looked into her eyes. Despite the tears, they looked...happy.
"You made my life as a quirkless girl, so much more bearable. You made me strong. And I wanted nothing more than to be just like you."
Makoto fell silent. The ever growing cries of his sister being the only sound he could hear.
"So don't you get it?" She said, her voice growing intense at the phrase as she continued to speak.
"There's no reason for you to second guess yourself. No reason for regret. Because I know you would always, always do the right thing..."
And immediately, her voice grew softer.
"And that's what you have to understand... alright?"
A small smile formed on Makoto's face, despite the confusion.
"...alright." he told her.
She smiled as her tears slowed.
Makoto couldn't help himself. Because as soon as he finished speaking, he enveloped her in a tight embrace.
Her voice was dry and Makoto was speechless.
But they didn't need words. Because this warm act of comfort was enough.
They held unto each other tightly. And neither one of them wanted this moment to end.
And so they stood there in a firm hug. Much like they did back in the bustling street, slowly gathering themselves from under the emotional fatigue.
He hopes this won't become a usual thing.
Written: 8/30/2021
Edited: 9/03/2021
Published: 9/04/2021
So, who wants to pay for their therapy? Raise of hands.
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