A/N: Happy Anniversary! Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. My life has been crap and writing was difficult for a while. But I always make a point to at least update on anniversaries so yeah. Hopefully my updating schedule will get better but… well, you know :P
And thanks for all the support! It means a lot and I'm sorry that you have to put up with me! Special thanks go to Warrior-san (always wanted to use an honorific) for editing for me even when I'm ridiculous.
I don't know if this is any good, but I hope you enjoy!
Tears
Ding dong, ding dong… Ding dong, ding dong…
Kazuto sighed in relief as the last bell of the day rang. Faintly, he registered the sound of the chair behind him scraping against the ground. He turned his head on instinct, watching out of the corner of his eye as Shino stood with her bag and left the room before turning forward and gathering his own belongings. He really just was glad that it was Friday, the last day of school for the week. School being out meant less for him to worry about. Add on the fact that Suguha had been out miserably sick for the last three days… Yeah, he needed a break.
Speaking of Sugu, a sudden thought hit him as he slung his bag over his shoulder. "I need to stop by the store and buy her some medicine," he muttered. "And maybe some ingredients for soup. Or porridge." Honestly, he wasn't sure what she would be in the mood for. He'd have to text her.
Kazuto pulled out his phone, his eyes absently wandering over to stare out the window. He had just lifted the device, his fingers hovering over the screen to pull up his text conversation with his sister, when he spotted a certain ebony-haired friend of his. He paused, simply watching as she walked across the courtyard, her bag on her shoulder. She didn't stop, didn't even talk to anyone as she walked toward the entrance gates, the crowd practically parting for her to pass, as if her very aura repelled them.
The sight made something small and hollow expand inside Kazuto's chest, an empathetic sorrow causing his arms to lower slightly. How Shino was now reminded him so much of how he used to be.
He continued to watch the girl as she reached the sidewalk and turned right, headed for what he assumed to be her house. She never seemed to walk with anybody on her way home. Even after that day out shopping, she didn't hang out with Asuna, Rika, or the others. Why did she want to be alone so much?
Suddenly, Kazuto's onyx eyes caught sight of a couple girls walking up to Shino on the sidewalk. He blinked once. Twice. Three times. Who were they? Friends of hers…? Maybe he had been wrong about her after all.
He stood there, stunned for a moment as they talked. Then, one of the girls slung an arm carelessly around Shino's shoulder.
"No. Wait a minute," he muttered, eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to the window to see. The girls talked to Shino like they were her friends, normal people coming to pick up their friend for an afternoon out or something. But that was only what it looked like. Shino was standing unusually straight. And those girls… he didn't like the way they were smiling.
Honestly, Shino had just been waiting for this day to come, when her bullies from her last school would finally figure out where she transferred to and come to continue what they started. A small part of her had been hoping that maybe this would never happen and they would just leave her alone. But the realist side of her knew not to put too much stock into dreams like that.
"Hey, Asada!" That was Masako, if Shino remembered correctly. She tried to make herself feel better and more confident by not remembering their names, as if people as pathetic as them weren't worth having their names known by her. But inside, a small voice always whispered that it was actually the other way around.
Masako smiled as Shino walked toward them, having to stop because they were in her way. Her friend, Namie, was smiling in a similar fashion, but it only served to make Shino's stomach twist uncomfortably. She knew those smiles were fake.
"We've been waiting for you for forever!" Namie whined, her voice high and just loud enough so the other students leaving would hear. To them, this would only seem like three friends meeting after school.
Shino's grip on her bag tightened. She knew what they wanted to do, it was the same thing every time, but now she was determined to be ready. She was stronger than before. She had to be by now with all that diving time she's been putting in.
Masako's mousy brown hair swished a bit as she walked over to Shino's side and slung an arm around her shoulder, grinning down at her like they were old friends. The only reaction Shino had was her back going stiff.
"Come on, Asada. We've got a lot of stuff planned remember? Let's get going." The arm around the girl's shoulder constricted threateningly, and all Shino could do was follow along to avoid making a scene.
The girls led her along the sidewalk, still smiling and talking to each other as the school slowly moved out of sight. They rounded the street corner and continued walking until they reached an alleyway. Once they were next to it, Masako abruptly stopped and shoved Shino toward it, almost making her topple over onto the concrete as she tried to keep her balance. She had just barely managed to remain upright when she felt Namie snatch her bag from her shoulder and drop it onto the ground. The girls advanced on their prey, but she only remained stoic-faced, standing her ground just like the brick wall behind her.
"So, you transferred schools," Namie stated, smirking as she bounced on the balls of her feet, her short, bleached-blonde hair swaying with her. "Why would you do that? I thought you would have wanted to stay with your friends."
Masako had a predatory smirk of her own creeping to her face as she took a step forward. "Did you think that was gonna help you or something? It doesn't change what you are."
Shino clenched her jaw but didn't say anything. She watched them through her glass lenses, her dark eyes flicking to one and then the other calculatingly. Masako was barely taller than her, and Namie was shorter, but for some reason, she felt like their dark shadows were starting to loom over her.
"You thought you could just run away?" Masako stepped even closer. "That's not how it works, Asada. You even abandoned us and we've had to fend for ourselves without you. But I'd be willing to let you earn my forgiveness. You can start by giving me ten thousand yen. My parents cut my allowance and I need the money."
Her hand lifted, and the action made a pang of fear strike through Shino's chest. Her eyes clenched shut, preparing herself for what she knew was coming.
"Asada!"
That voice. It made her head whip around in surprise. Why was he here?
Kazuto was on the sidewalk, in clear view of the three girls and vice versa as he smiled and walked toward Shino.
"I've been looking for you," he said, casually scooping her bag up from the ground as if he hadn't just seen it lying on the ground like someone had carelessly tossed it there. He walked until he was just beside Shino and stopped. "Ready to get going? I want to start heading over before the traffic gets bad.
The girls looked at him in bewilderment, the two on the other side of the alley practically gaping.
"Hey! Who are you?" Masako asked, snapping at him with hostility.
Kazuto looked over at her, appearing surprised, as if he had just noticed her. "Kirigaya," he introduced himself curtly, not smiling as his eyes met hers. "Asada's friend. And… who are you?"
"Tch." Masako sneered at him before looking at Shino, not even bothering to consider his question. "You made a friend, huh? I can't believe you swindled another one."
Shino's fists clenched by her sides. Of course she was going to start spewing lies to get anyone who could remotely like her to immediately reject her as if she had suddenly contracted some disgusting disease.
"Swindled?" Kazuto questioned, his dark eyes glaring so intently at Masako that she took a small step back. But she immediately straightened and plowed forward.
"Yeah. She probably tricked you to make you her friend. I've seen her do that to a lot of guys. It's sad really, cuz once they find out they never want to see her again."
"Find out what?" Kazuto asked, his voice threatening to shift into a growl. He was practically daring her to say something stupid.
"That she's a freak," Namie finally decided to chime in. "Did you know that she moved here on her own and left her family out in the boonies? It's like they sent her away and wanted nothing to do with her."
"They… what?"
"Yeah," Masako picked up the trail of conversation as she caught on to his change in tone. "She lives alone and gets an allowance every month or so. They don't even come to visit. You'd think they just wanted to get rid of her without drawing too much attention. And after that, you'd think she was some cold badass getting whatever she wants, but she's a wuss. She can't even look at this for more than five seconds before freaking out."
Suddenly she was pointing a finger gun at them. Seeing it, Shino immediately shut her eyes and looked away, trying to keep herself together.
"See?" Masako asked pointedly, watching as Kazuto looked back at her, his eyes widening as he saw her body trembling. "It's not even a real gun and she still can't look at it." Her smirk returned as she watched them, imagining how disgusted Kazuto must be. "And she's also a little slut. You wouldn't believe how many guys she's ruined. You really should just stay away from her for your own—"
"Shut up."
Masako immediately stopped talking, her and her one-girl-posse staring at Kazuto as he glared at them from under his bangs. He hadn't spoken loudly, but the words had come out so sharply it was like a wolf had snarled at them. Eyes opening in shock, Shino looked at Kazuto from behind. His fists were clenching at his sides, but he stood still, with composure, and his voice didn't waver.
"You're obviously the ones ruining people. If all you do is take the time to harass and hurt people who didn't do anything to you, you're lives are more pathetic than what you're trying to make hers out to be."
"Wh-what?!" Masako shouted, looking furious. "What the hell is your problem?! You don't even know us!"
"And you don't know Shino," he snapped back. "You don't know anything about her. What gives you the right to talk shit about her when you barely even know what she's like?"
"Oh, so do you know all about her then? What, are you in love with her or something?"
"My feelings don't matter. You should just worry about taking a reality check before screwing with other people's lives to make you feel better about you're sorry excuse for one."
The girl gasped, obviously offended. "And what about you? If you're really taking the time to stand up for her then you're life must not be that great either."
"At least I'm put together enough to not be a bitch."
"Bastard! Fine, whatever. Hope you guys have a happy wedding," Masako spat, turning on her heel and escaping into the street. Namie only stayed for a second longer to glare at Kazuto with disgust before heading out after her friend.
For a long time, Kazuto glared after them, not moving until he felt like he had gotten his anger under control. He had barely kept a lid on it anyway talking to that tramp. If Shino hadn't been right behind him, he might have hit something.
Remembering Shino was still behind him, Kazuto turned to make sure she was all right. He was met with her staring at him, her eyes wide in shock. He tried to give her a gentle smile. "You ok?"
"Y-yes," Shino answered, still staring at him wide-eyed. The smile coming easier now, Kazuto lifted his hand, her bag dangling from it, and gave it to her. She took it gingerly, but never took her eyes off of him. When her bag was on her shoulder again, she only stared a bit longer before speaking. "You… said we were friends."
"Uh, yeah," Kazuto scratched his cheek.
"And you stood up for me… why? After all the times I've shoved you away, why would you be willing to do something like this for me?"
For a moment, he simply looked at her. "…I consider you a friend worth doing things for."
He… he considers me worth something? Even after all this time and what he just heard, he still thinks I'm a decent human being?
Shino wasn't sure exactly what it was, maybe it was his words or her recent confrontation with those girls, but she suddenly felt something wet roll down her cheek.
Upon seeing the tears, Kazuto's eyes widened, but out of consideration, he looked away. Shino took the opportunity to turn and wipe her sleeve at her eyes under her glasses and regain her composure. How had he managed to catch her in such a weak state twice now?
"So, Sh-Asada," Kazuto began, once Shino had gone back to looking like her usual self. "Do you want a ride home? My sister's out sick so I can take you. If you don't mind a motorcycle."
She blinked, her dark gray eyes looking at him owlishly. But then, a small smile came to her lips, and Kazuto felt like he almost had a heart attack. She was pretty when she smiled.
"Sure. That would be nice."
The dark-haired boy had to take a moment to make sure he was still breathing before answering. "Great. My bike's back at the school." He jerked his thumb behind him, turning slightly on his heel to see if Shino would follow him. She did, and soon, they were walking on the sidewalk back toward the school. It was pretty deserted by now, as most of the other students had either gone home or were at their clubs. The two of them were quiet as they walked, barely speaking as they made it to where Kazuto had parked. But just as he handed Shino his spare helmet, she broke the silence.
"Kirigaya?"
He blinked. "Yeah?"
It took her a second, but Shino finally replied, and when she did, that smile came back. "Thank you."
When he replied, Kazuto couldn't help but smile back. "Any time."
