Chapter 35

Hanako woke up by the sound of her alarm and quickly turned it off. She slowly sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes to wake up entirely, but when she opened them again, she was startled by the sight in front of her.

“Iyori!” said Hanako when she saw Iyori sitting on the chair by their desk. 

“Why are you up already?” asked Hanako and got up and walked over to her.

“Ah... I just couldn’t sleep... that’s all...” said Iyori and sent Hanako a smile. “I thought it might help if I tried to study. Studying is so boring I usually get sleepy, but I couldn’t even focus on that.”

“Iyori...” said Hanako with a sigh. “Maybe we should tell mom and dad.”

“NO!” said Iyori in a firm voice and Hanako widened her eyes. “N.. No... You promised. That’s why I told you everything. Because you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone. Not even mom and dad.”

“I know,” said Hanako. “I curse myself for making such a promise!”

“Don’t,” said Iyori. “I’m glad I could tell you.” Hanako looked at Iyori in surprise, the smile on Iyori’s face looking more genuine now.

“I felt so alone before, now I have at least one person who knows everything.”

“Ugh that just makes me remember how much I want to kill Shuya!” said Hanako and balled a fist.

“Don’t say that, Shuya has his own problems. I don’t want to bother him right now.”

“Bigger problems than a crazy stalker?” asked Hanako and Iyori looked away. “See, you’re mad at him too.”

“Can we drop this? I just want to get ready for school and think about something else.”

“Fine,” said Hanako and sighed again. “Do you want to use the bathroom first?” Iyori shook her head.

“No it’s fine, you can go.” Hanako nodded her head and grabbed her things, ready to leave the room, when she turned around and looked at Iyori again.

“I’m happy you told me, and don’t worry, I won’t let you go through this alone.”

“Thank you.”

***

Iyori walked close to Hanako when they entered the school, hoping, by all means, that she could stay invisible for the entire day. Especially in front of one particular person.

The sight of him made her tug on Hanako’s blazer and she looked back at Iyori in confusion.

“What?” asked Hanako in a gentle voice, but Iyori just shook her head, hoping they could continue to walk by unnoticed. Hanako looked ahead again and immediately put two and two together in her head and looked back at Iyori again.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to talk to him at all, just stay by my side,” whispered Hanako and started walking again.

Iyori watched from the corner of her eyes, looking at Shuya as they entered the classroom. He hadn’t been to school for several days, and today of all days, he decided to show up?

Fate is really never kind to me, thought Iyori.

“Iyori!” yelled Shuya and Hanako and Iyori stopped walking.

Yup, fate really is never kind, thought Iyori and turned around.

“Shuya,” said Iyori and tried to maintain her composure.

“Um... can I...” started Shuya, but the glare from Hanako made it hard for him to get the words across. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“I don’t... I think I...” mumbled Iyori while gesturing that she had to get going.

“Iyori,” said Shuya again, but this time, Hanako stepped in, her eyes shooting daggers at Shuya.

“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” said Hanako in a firm voice. “What about that don’t you get?”

“I know I haven’t been present lately, that’s why I want to talk to her,” said Shuya.

“Oh, so now you want to act like a boyfriend?” said Hanako mockingly.

“Hanako, stop,” whispered Iyori behind her.

“Where were you when she needed you?” said Hanako loud and clear.

“What?” said Shuya.

“You know what she’s been going through, how could you leave her alone in a time like that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“What if he found her that night. Who knows what he would’ve done to her, I can’t even stand the thought,” said Hanako while Shuya tried to wrap his head around what she was saying. “But what’s even worse is knowing that her boyfriend cared more about his grades than about her safety.”

“What... what are you... Iyori, what is she saying?” Shuya looked at the shadow of Iyori behind Hanako and she slowly stepped forward again.

“I... I started working again...” said Iyori in a low voice. “When I was going home, I felt like someone was following me... I got scared, so I ran away and hid behind some dumpsters. I... I saw him... He was really there... It's not a scam... he exists... and he could’ve found me...” Iyori’s voice cracked with almost every sentence and she struggled to hold back her tears.

“Iyori... Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why should she,” said Hanako and intervened again. “She knows she’s not your top priority. So she called me and I went to her. She had been sitting behind that dumpster for hours. She was cold as ice!” Every word stung in Shuya’s heart and he turned to look at Iyori who was looking away.

“Iyori I–”

“Don’t!” said Hanako.

“No, stop it, this isn’t about you!” yelled Shuya and people around them stopped to see what was happening. “I’m her boyfriend, this is between me and her!”

“You’re her boyfriend? Then act like one!” yelled Hanako.

“Stop it, both of you!” yelled Iyori and stood between them. “Hanako... please stop... please...” The pleading look on Iyori’s face made Hanako calm down a little and Iyori turned to look at Shuya.

“Iyori, let’s just talk–”

“No, Hanako is right,” said Iyori, her voice much firmer than before. “If you can’t... be there for me... then I’d rather you aren’t there at all. Please just leave me alone.” Iyori looked up, her eyes burning with determination, making Shuya lose track of whatever comeback he had come up with. 

After a while, his expression changed, slowly growing more angry. More frustrated. And he opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but in the end, he just turned around and walked away.

He walked down the hallway, in the opposite direction of their classroom, no thoughts or worries about class starting soon. His mind was ablaze, he barely noticed the people around him, even in front of him, and as he walked on, he bumped his shoulder into another student.

“Hey, watch out,” said the male student, but when Shuya turned around and glared at him, the student quickly closed his mouth and raised his hands in defeat. Shuya snorted and walked on, his anger growing by the second, his blood reaching boiling temperature soon.

Why... thought Shuya. I was supposed to be there for her. I failed... I failed again...

A rush of adrenaline went through his body and he made his hand into a fist and violently punched the cabinet next to him, making everyone turn around in shock. 

“What?” yelled Shuya as he glared back at the students watching him. “What are you looking at?” The students all took a few step backs as they kept whispering to each other.

“Hey, what’s going on here,” said a tall male student and put his hand on Shuya’s shoulder, but Shuya quickly drew back.

“Don’t touch me!” yelled Shuya.

“Wow there, calm down,” said the student who towered over Shuya. “Calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” yelled Shuya and took a step back. “Leave me alone.”

“Stop, you’re scaring everyone!” yelled the student back at Shuya, his eyes starting to glister with the same red color as Shuya’s. He took a step closer to Shuya and reached out, but the movement alone was enough to make Shuya lunge forward and hit the student with all his might.

One punch. 

And all hell broke lose.

Students gathered around the two boys as they punched and lunged at each other, rolling around on the ground and pushing each other against the walls. People were yelling and looking around, wondering what to do.

“Shuya!” 

Shuya didn’t even hear when the familiar male voice called out to him, and he didn’t notice even when Yusuke was standing on the sidelines, watching the fight.

“Shuya, stop, the teacher is coming, you shouldn’t–” Yusuke stepped forward, trying to break up the fight, when suddenly, Shuya turned his body and placed a solid punch, right in the middle of Yusuke’s face.

Finally waking up from his daze, Shuya watched as he friend fell backwards, his eyes closing slowly, preparing for the clash with the cold, solid floor.

Hello everyone!

FIGHT! 

Well, I guess we all saw it coming, giving Shuya's past and everything. This probably won't make things easier for Shuya, especially not if his parents find out.

But what do you think, what were your thoughts on the chapter? Let me know your thoughts down below!

And as always, I wish you'd stay happy and healthy wherever you are! 

Love, Annalise~