He settled on taking her to his home, since it would not look good if someone stumbled upon them. What with the splintered wood and furniture everywhere and her front door busted down; not to mention the emotionally distraught young girl in the center of it all. The added cherry on top was him, the male classmate who had no business being within her home. There were way to many things that could be taken out of context in this situation.
Shuichi gently tapped her shoulder, before helping her up and guiding the two of them up the stairs of her home. All the while calmly speaking to her as the made their upstairs, "I'm going to take you to my home, it's out of the way enough that you'll be relatively isolated from other people and their thoughts. Do you understand?" His tone held a soft firmness to it, trying to help her out of her state of shock.
All Yuna could do was nod, she heard him fine, though it felt as if she was a stranger within her own body. Everything felt automated, almost as if her body was in auto pilot when she was taking her cram tests. They stopped when they were at the second floor, her room was just a few steps down the hall on the right, the baby blue door the only splash of colour against the light gray painted walls. She clutched onto her classmate's uniform sleeve desperately. She didn't want to be alone and her pleading gaze on him said so in volumes.
Shuichi grasped her hand in his sleeve, giving it a gently squeeze and her a kind smile, "Go and change into something other than your uniform. I'll be right here, I promise." He hoped his voice was filled with some safety to her. He knew she was not comfortable around anyone in their school when he observed her in class. And from the visceral reaction she had when he tried to touch her arm, he could tell Yuna was not treated very kindly within her home.
While she was occupied within her room, Shuichi let his green eyes sweep through out the hall, there were no pictures except basic landscape paintings on the wall. The entire home was devoid of any warmth, and lacked that usual lived-in feel. He could not shake the feeling that the home was somehow staged, though that thought was pushed to the back of his mind when his classmate slowly walked out of her room. She left the door open behind her, allowing him to look at her room.
There was no cot, nor a real bed other than a makeshift one on the bay styled window in the room. The hardwood floor was polished and clean, a small rack with hung clothes sat in the corner while almost all the walls were covered in filled book cases. Save for the small letter desk next to her bay window bed, and a soft pastel yellow rug beneath it. A slight frown marred his usually handsome face. She did not even have a proper bedroom! It was like basic comforts were an afterthought, this observation atop the previous ones were beginning to make his blood boil.
Her small hand gripped his sleeve once more, and though she normally felt uneasy around him; she knew he was the safest person to be with right now. Looking down at Yuna, he smiled at her change of clothes. Yuna opted for a light blue baby-doll sundress and a pastel yellow zip hoodie. Her eyes maintained their new golden hue, though the glowing had diminished to a slight luster, making them most eye catching. The same could be said with her hair as well, the bright, ice-blue colour that fell around her shoulders in gentle waves.
Her awakening abilities caused her to change quite drastically, possibly due to the stress she was forced to endure. Her face had shifted to become more mature and eye catching; nothing like the plain and childish one Shuichi had been accustomed to seeing on a day to day basis. Yuna's body had also changed, her flat bust had filled out quite a bit, and her hips were wider. If he had to describe it to someone, the best way to be to say that her body had gone through an accelerated puberty. Truly the only thing that remained the same about her was her short height.
Slowly he pulled her hood over her head, "Let's hurry, that way we can figure out how to control those abilities." Yuna met his statement with a quiet nod, as they made their way out the home. She pulled the door closed behind them and locked it. She rushed back to Shuichi and grabbed his larger hand. "Let's hurry before Miss Azumi sees you.." She spoke just below a whisper, not yet ready to try and speak or talk with her mind being in a jumble. On the bright side she soon realized, it was quiet in her head.
Her classmate gave out a half-hearted chuckle, muffling the sound with his right thumb. "I would not worry so much, it's quiet likely your little issue rendered your neighbors unconscious from your earlier mood." He gave her hand another good-natured squeeze. She gave the neighbor hood a quick look around before nodding with him. Truly there was no way for either of them to know the extent of possible damage she had made.
Shuichi maintained his silence as they walked on, just keeping his grip on Yuna's hand in hopes it would help calm her more so. "H-How did you know I needed help?" She startled him by breaking the quiet atmosphere around them.
"I heard you calling for it. If you must know, thought projections as powerful as that are quite loud." he responded simply. A soft, almost bell like chuckle left her, catching the usual cool teenager off guard.
"I can only imagine your fortitude if you were the only one to remain conscious in comparison to my neighbors."
She had startled herself with how easily she that humorous statement, though it was more than likely her way of dealing with confusing thoughts and issues. She could not really know since she had never been put in this position before, nor had she ever had friends to share such awkward moments to do such a deflection.
Friends...
The same thought she had sometime ago about the subject came back to her. Timidly, she looked over to her classmate, pursing her lips to speak. However as soon as she took in a breath to speak all her confidence vanished.
Why are you helping me like this... We aren't friends it makes no sense. I'm not worth helping.
Once again she could not find it in her to speak up. Yuna breathed out her nose as she looked away from him. Self loathing filled her heart, mixing with the shame of how weak a person she was.
"Normally I would be inclined to agree with your sentiments, but I can't help but feel the need to help you." He looked over at her, "It is also true we are not friends, not from my lack of trying mind." Yuna turned to face him with wide eyes, had she actually said those out loud? The young man's green eyes crinkled with a small chuckle. "No you did not say any of that out loud I can assure you. You are merely projecting your thoughts."
They continued to walk in silence for quite some time until they came to a medium sized home, above the mailbox was a nameplate which read "Minamino" in black. The front lawn of the home had a garden of varying flowers and an older woman tending them. Shuichi rush forward, "Mother! What are you doing here?" His voice held a slight quiver and was filled with worry. As the he fretted over his mother, Yuna stayed rooted to her spot in front of the home, unsure if she should impose on them.
The woman quickly shooed the fretting Shuichi away before laying her warm, brown eyes on Yuna. A beautiful, happy smile filled the woman's face seeing her, and she dusted her hands off before walking to her. "Oh my! Shuichi I had no idea you had such a pretty friend." She gave her a slight bow, "I was beginning to worry my son didn't have friends!" The happy smile of the woman filled with relief. The young girl could almost feel her eyes start watering up, she had never met a person so filled with kindness and warmth. The sense that everything would be alright washed over the blue haired girl.
Turning her head to her son the black haired woman softly goaded him, "Shuichi aren't you going to introduce me?" He gave her a smile that matched her warmth. "Yes of course Mother, this is Watanabe Yuna, she is a friend and classmate of mine." Yuna bowed deeply to the woman, unsure how to act in such a situation. Her awkward bow had caused the warm mother to laugh gently. "Oh you dear girl you don't need to worry about bowing so low. It's very lovely to meet you, I'm Minamino Shiori" Gently touching her shoulders to pull her up, and giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Come in! Come in! I'll get some tea ready, you look quite shaken up. Did something happen on the way here?"
Before she could say anything her classmate spoke, "Don't worry about making tea Mother, I'll take care of it." He ushered her inside along with Yuna. Holding a chair out for both of them at the nice dinner table, once they had their shoes off. "Unfortunately yes. Watanabe-san's house was broken into earlier and rendered her unconscious." An appalled gasp was heard from Miss Minamino. Who quickly reached for Yuna's face causing the young woman to instinctively flinch, lending credence to her classmate's fabricated story. Though Shiori quickly pulled her into a hug.
"And your parents Yuna? Are they alright?" Said girl was frozen, distracted by the woman's hug. She could not recall a time where she had felt so comforted. Tears filled her eyes again before falling slowly. "I-I'm sorry.." her voice cracked catching them by surprised. The young girl's hands shook, her fingers flexing just a bit before slowly holding the woman. All she could muster out was an apology, unable to answer anything else as she cried.
As his mother soothed the young girl, Shuichi made tea as quickly as possible. The sounds of his companion hiccuping and repeating apologies over and over. She had a valid point on questioning why he came to her rescue. Quite honestly he knew why, the girl was basically leaking spiritual energy. Helping her was more for his survival and goal, he could not risk the chance of running into someone from spirit world. Though over the course of the last few weeks, more spirit energy was practically pouring out of her with each passing day. Then that shock wave of energy he felt, it was like a beacon to every spiritually sensitive being in the area.
His green eyes swept over the golden eyed girl who was resting her head on his mothers shoulder and breathing heavily. With what he had seen at school with the staff and faculty, he could imagine that what her parents put her through at home was worse, for god sake she did not even have a proper bed. And like most of the students who spent time helping in the offices he did hear stories of the amount of tutors and cram she was forced to have. While he was musing over her circumstances the water had started to boil, prompting him to continue making tea.
Sniffling loudly, Yuna lifted herself off Shiori's shoulder, "I'm sorry Minamino-san I hope I didn't ruin your shirt.." She looked up at the concerned woman, before trying to collect herself. "My father is currently on a business trip overseas," Her body shuddered at the thought of her father while Shuichi set a tea cup in front of the two women. He observed her as he took his seat next to his mother. "And my mother lived at Yurei Manor, but she since moved I think.."
Shiori looked concerned as she spoke up to the young girl, "So you have no one to take care of you?" Yuna shook her head quickly, "No, b-but I'm used to it. I can take care of mys--" "Unacceptable. I'll clean up our guest room and you'll stay there until you're father returns from his trip" Miss Minamino's left no room for argument as Yuna sat there in shock. Shaking her head, she grasped the woman's hand. "Minamino-san no I couldn't possibly burden you like that. After all you just met me.." Yuna's plea was met with that same warm smile filled with kindness. "You're not a burden Yuna."
Shuchi interrupted the two, "Don't trouble yourself mother I'll prepare the guest room. Please just sit and rest." He placed his hand on her shoulder with a smile and a gentle squeeze, before walking towards the stairs. "Uhm.. Please, S-Shuichi-san let me help! I can't let you do all the work alone" Yuna quickly stood up and walked after him after bowing once more to his mother.
As she followed him up the stairs of the household, she took notice of all the pictures hanging on the walls. Some she had recognized as her classmate when he was younger with his mother.
This is the first time I've ever been in someone's home. This place just feels differently than my own home.
This place feels...warm.
Hearing her projected thoughts once more cause him to frown. There was no way his suspicions were wrong, especially with her visceral reaction from just speaking of her father. All the while he still could not help the feeling that there was something more hidden deeper than he could see.
Just what was it?