I wasn't exactly sure why at first, but I had butterflies in my stomach. It was normal for Miu to come over to my house and eat dinner with us. Yet, today would be majorly different. My parents weren't going to be here. They were off to the movies and decided to leave me as the host for our house. I was never a host before. Miu had always felt like family when she would eat with me and everybody. Suddenly, now that it was just us and Kasuka, I was nervous as hell. I'm starting to think I wanted to impress her that day.
"When is Miu coming?" Kasuka had asked me.
"She'll be here any minute now and the pizza isn't here." I was becoming agitated.
"Are you getting upset over pizza?"
"Of course not." I had tried to say with a straight face. My fist was beginning to ball up so, I quickly grabbed a stress ball to squeeze on. I heard the doorbell ring a moment later and I squeezed the stress ball too hard. It became unable to inflate itself again.
"Door." Kasuka obviously pointed out.
I regained my composure and went to the door. I opened it without thinking as to who it was. Thankfully it was only the pizza man. He had brought one box of cheese pizza. I remember feeling very grown when I handed him the cash. Once he left, I closed the door and took the pizza to the dinner table.
"May I eat?" Kasuka inquired.
"No. Mom and Dad like for us to have everyone at the table before we eat."
"What if Miu doesn't want to come for dinner anymore?"
"She would call!"
The waiting began. I and Kasuka sat at the table with our stomachs rumbling. It seemed mine was more violent. I had to glare at my little brother a couple times for I had saw his little hand attempting to infiltrate the pizza box. A whole 15 minutes passed before I had heard a soft knock at the door. I jumped to my feet and ran to the door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see Miu in a maroon dress. I had never seen her in that color before. When I think of it now, she looked very nice for a ten year old.
"I'm so sorry I'm late Shizzy." she had apologized.
"No apology necessary. I was beginning to think you wouldn't come."
"I wouldn't abandon my hero." as she stated that, it hit me. She was one of the only people left in my life at this time. Everyone else had become frightened of me or I had unintentionally hurt them. I was a monster and yet, here this girl was. She had no idea of what hidden strengths I had. I wanted to keep it that way.
"Your hero? I think I like the sound of that." as I said this, I grabbed her younger hand of two years and lead her in the house.
The three of us took a seat at the table. Usually we would have grabbed our own slices but today, as host, I served the slices. Once the food was served, we began to chat and eat.
"Seems we'll have extra time after dinner today." Kasuka munched.
"Well, yeah I guess."
"We should go to the park. You're old enough to supervise me."
"That sounds like a good idea Kasuka." Miu had giggled.
"Aren't you beginning to become too old for the park?" I asked Miu.
"I never said I was going to play there!"
"Yeah yeah. You're still just a kid."
"Like you're any different." as Miu said this she wiped a string of cheese on my nose.
"Hey!" I growled although she had already walked off to wash her hands clean.
Everyone was stuffed so the park actually did sound like a good idea. When we arrived, Kasuka went to his usual spot. He wasn't going to work his food off by just sitting under a tree observing bugs. I told him this but he didn't even seem to hear me. Miu had went over to the swing just to sit on it. At least that's how it appeared.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing you'd like."
"Of course not. I hate pretty much everything you do."
"You're quite the jerk. I'm star gazing! " Miu had stated with a smile.
"I'm just being honest. Everything is about science with you. That's boring."
"Science helps us adapt for survival. Without it, you'd probably still be in the hospital right now. Advanced medical care comes from advanced science. So Shizzy, why is it that you're hospitalized often?"
"It's complicated." was all I had said before I walked off to Kasuka.
It was late and my parents had drove to the park to see if we wanted a ride home. Kasuka had accepted the ride. I wanted to walk Miu home. Once my parents and Kasuka took off,so did I. We headed off to Miu's house.
"Why wouldn't you just get a ride?"
"I need to walk off the pizza."
"Yeah! Me too." we continued to walk in silence. This didn't last long for the noiseless environment was pierced with Miu's soft voice. The sound of her singing sent chills down my spine but not for it was bad, but for it was ominous. Captivating indeed but somehow seemed misplaced.
She sang her heart out for what seemed to be three minutes. As she was approaching the end of the song, laughter interrupted her finish. We stood in place and I shifted my eyes to the laughter's direction. There stood two boys that appeared to be of my age. One had thick lips and messy eyebrows along with a chubby body shape. The other bared a beanie with red hair. I had seen this guy causing all types of trouble around the neighborhood but my parent's taught me to keep my distance. I knew that someday, I would meet him.
"What exactly are you two laughing about?" I inquired. The thicker one grinned.
"I hope you're joking. Obviously that girl. She thinks she can actually sing!" he teased.
"She honestly has no talent whatsoever." the red head stated as he strolled over to her. "You're pathetic."
I could see the sudden hurt in Miu's eyes. I stood there with conflicting feelings. I didn't want her to see the real monster that I am. I couldn't stand the fact that I could possibly loose her but I also couldn't let these punks speak this way. There was nothing wrong with her singing and she certainly wasn't pathetic.
"Hey. Why don't you two head home and leave the girl alone?"I commanded.
"Hmph. What is she your girlfriend or something? You would pick an overly developed ten year old." the red head spoke as he looked to her still developing chest.
"Yeah get it straight girly. This freak only wants you for your body. You're nothing but a slut." the chunky guy guffawed.
"Don't say that! Shizzy isn't like that! He's more gracious then you'll ever be!" Miu shouted.
"You heard the girl. Now get to stepping." I had agreed.
The hefty one came out of nowhere and slapped her. She released a cry and took a step back holding her now red cheek. Her step was a clumsy one for she tripped on her dress ripping it and falling back. Tears flowed heavily from her eyes.
"M-my dress. It's ruined. I just got this today." she wailed.
That was my breaking point and all that mattered was the extermination of these boys. I couldn't allow them to get away with this! I roared with anger and the two looked to me.
"Ha! What's the matter? That dress was ugly anyway." the fat one taunted.
"You're dead!" I yelled as I picked up the nearest mailbox. The bullies screamed without taking their eyes off of me.
Everything was becoming a blur as I was about to squash the jerks to death. My grip suddenly tightened again as I heard Miu scream my name. My vision began to return to me as I saw the once tough guys cowering in fear under me.
"Shizuo you mustn't! You're my hero!"
I stared down at the cowards with a somewhat crazed look as Miu's words processed through my head. Typically, a hero is any living thing that saves lives. If I were to squish these boys, I would possibly kill them. I wasn't about to give the title of hero up so, I tossed the heavy,blue metal box behind me. Almost immediately, the bullies ran for their lives. I watched them until they were out of my sight then turned to face the inevitable. I expected her to have fled as well but there she was, dusting her self off. Her eyes were still puffy from her earlier tear shed and yet, she smiled.
"I was wrong about you Shizzy."
"I know. I'm no hero. I made you think I was when really...I'm only a monster." I shakily stated.
"You're right. You're no hero. You're not even monster. You're a super hero. You're my super hero!" Miu exclaimed with a bright grin. She stepped forward and hugged me and my bones finally broke. It was time for another hospital visit.
I always remembered this day because she didn't turn away from me. She didn't even see me as the monster that everyone did. She saw me for me. That is why Miu has always been quite special me. From this day forward, I had become extra protective of her and tried my best to stay as her super hero.