Chapter 36

Shuya, Yusuke and the other male student were sitting on chairs next to each other in the teacher’s lounge, getting an earful from Fuyoko. She wasn’t yelling, but she surely wasn’t speaking in a calm voice either. She wasn’t really looking at Yusuke, mostly she was using him to gnaw at Shuya’s bad conscience. 

“Now, you all just stay here and I will call up your parents and–”

“Fuyoko, maybe that isn’t necessary,” said Yusuke and got up, using one hand to hold the paper against his bleeding nose.

“Yusuke, I know you’re a nice boy, but we won’t allow our students to fight in school.”

“I know... of course not...” said Yusuke and continued talking while Shuya watched in confusion. “But, I just know what my dad will think of this.”

“Your dad? But you didn’t do anything wrong,” said Fuyoko. “He will be proud to hear that you tried to break up a fight.”

“He might,” said Yusuke and smiled. “But he will also be unhappy to learn that this is a school where fights happen.”

“I don’t–”

“He was already unhappy with me enrolling in this school instead of the private school my sisters all went to, so if he hears about this, I’m sure he’ll get me to drop out and with that, withdraw all his fundings to this school.” Fuyoko visibly swallowed when Yusuke finished talking, and she stayed in the same spot without saying anything for several minutes.

“Alright, I will talk to the director and tell him that since this was a one time thing, we will not involve the parents,” said Fuyoko. “But if this happens again!” Fuyoko pointed her fingers at the other two boys.

“Yes, I understand,” said Yusuke. “I will talk to them, it will not happen again.”

“Alright,” said Fuyoko. “Now go back to your classes and we will speak no more about this. Yusuke, say hello to your father from me.”

“I will,” said Yusuke and the three students left the teacher’s lounge, standing in the hallway while awkwardly looking at each other.

“Shuya, don’t you have anything to say?” asked Yusuke and gave Shuya a slap on his back. Shuya looked at Yusuke and then at the male student, whereafter he bowed down in front of him.

“I’m sorry for punching you. I was out of my mind.” Shuya slowly stood up again, looking at the student who was rubbing his neck while looking at the ceiling.

“Well... it’s fine, let’s just forget it,” said the student and looked at Shuya. “Don’t get into any more fights.” The student walked off, leaving Shuya and Yusuke alone.

Shuya quickly turned his head and stared at Yusuke.

“What was that all about? Is your father some sort of big shot? Who is he?” asked Shuya, all in one breath.

“Calm down, will you?” said Yusuke and laughed. “Let’s talk while we walk back to class.” Shuya nodded and followed behind as Yusuke started walking.

“My dad is... Kazuya Sasaki.” Yusuke stopped talking and Shuya stopped in his tracks.

“Kazuya... Kazuya.... ah!” said Shuya and raised a finger as if he suddenly felt all the pieces falling back into place. “Kazuya Sasaki, he’s one of my dad’s biggest business partners. He’s owns all those convenience store chains,” said Shuya. “He makes sure that my dad can sell his brand of ramen in all of them. He’s huge! Why didn’t you tell me that our fathers work together?”

“Well...” said Yusuke and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t really like to talk about my dad’s business. I mean... I’ll never be able to follow his footsteps anyway. I don’t even want to.”

“You don’t?” asked Shuya and Yusuke nodded.

“No, as I told you before, I’m not like my sisters. I can’t do what they do, so I have to make use of what I’ve been giving,” said Yusuke. “I know you can’t understand, you’re born to follow your dad’s footsteps.”

“I don’t know...” said Shuya and looked away. “I always thought I was meant to do what my dad does, but nowadays, I’m not so sure...” Yusuke looked at Shuya for a moment and then took a step closer.

“Say... what do you think about skipping school for today?”

***

“Ahh! It’s been a while since I skipped school,” said Yusuke and raised his arms in excitement as he and Shuya was walking down the street. “It’s too bad we can’t go to a cafe or something, they’ll just scold us when they see our uniforms.”

“True,” said Shuya. “But why did you want to skip school anyway? I didn’t think you were that type.”

“Well, I think it’s about time you and I talk,” said Yusuke and walked inside the small, lonely and abandoned playground, sitting down on one of the swings in the middle.

“Talk about what?” said Shuya and sat down on the swing next to him.

“About what’s going on! You’re acting strange, you and Iyori are fighting all the time, and you’re fighting other students too, literally.” Shuya looked away and Yusuke let out a sigh. “Come on, I thought you and I were like, best friends or something.” Shuya suddenly looked up again, the words burning in his heart as he looked at Yusuke.

“I... I just don’t know what to do...”

Yusuke looked at Shuya, as he convinced himself to stay quiet, wanting Shuya to open up about his thought and worries on his own, in his own time and tempo.

Shuya raised his head and looked up at the grey sky. Even if Winter was nearly over, the sun was still nowhere to be found and the wind was still harsh this time of year.

“I just want to do everything right,” said Shuya after taking in another deep breath. “Why is that so hard? Even though I try my best, I just keep failing. I used to be the top student, but I can’t even do that right anymore. And I keep hurting Iyori, even though I know she needs me right now. I’m just... a failure in every aspect of my life.” Shuya lowered his head, letting out a huff of air, like the last remaining bit of his energy left his body. 

A slight chuckle from Yusuke made Shuya turn his head slightly to get a look at his friend, confused by his sudden reaction.

“You know,” said Yusuke and continued. “I know a thing or two about being a failure.” Yusuke leaned forward on the bench and Shuya kept his eyes on him.

“Since you know who my dad is now, I guess it doesn’t matter if I spill everything to you,” said Yusuke. “As I told you, I already know I won’t be able to follow my in my dad’s footsteps. For years... years, he told me to keep working hard, to learn the trade, because I, for sure, would be the one to take over his business. I’m his only son and even though things like that rarely matter these days, he’s still old fashioned that way. Besides, my sisters already had goals of their own and my dad supported them in those goals. He was so proud.”

“It wasn’t until a few years ago when it suddenly dawned on him. I don’t know what happened, I think he just came to the realization one day; 'ah... my son really is useless... he will never be able to take over the family business'.” Shuya sat up slowly, making no sudden movements as he listened to Yusuke’s story with a saddened look on his face, unsure of his to react and respond to everything.

“Of course he didn’t say that to me, but I could see it in his eyes. Since then, he never once talked about me taking over the family business. He asks me how school is, he checks my grades, but all he gives me is a nod if I passed and that’s it. He’s just... given up on me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true!” Shuya suddenly blurted out and Yusuke looked at him with widened eyes, his expression afterwards turning to a sad smile.

“Thank you,” said Yusuke. “But I’m not telling you this to make you pity me. I’m telling you this to show you how special you are. I mean, you know what you want, what you’re supposed to do. And you work towards your goal like there’s no tomorrow. I don’t have that, well, I don’t even think Iyori have that. So few people our age knows what they want to do with their life.”

“But what’s so great about knowing what you want, if you’re just gonna fail anyway while also hurting the people you love and disappointing them?”

“The only way you fail is by giving up, and unlike me, I know you’re not the type to give up, am I right?”

“I... I guess... at least... I think I used to be like that...”

“You’re still like that, you still have so much fighting spirit in you, I mean, look at this bruise.” Yusuke pointed at the red mark on his cheek from where Shuya had hit him.

“S...Sorry...” said Shuya again.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m just teasing you,” said Yusuke and laughed. “But cheer up, you haven’t failed yet, you’ve just reached a bit of a hurdle.”

“And how do I get past that hurdle?” 

Yusuke shrugged his shoulders.

“You just have to keep going.” 

Shuya nodded carefully and both of them turned quiet for a little while, looking around in the empty playground. 

“What about you?” asked Shuya all of a sudden.

“Huh?”

“What will you do now? Since you aren’t going to take over your dad’s business?”

“Who knows,” said Yusuke and leaned back. “I’ll probably just apply to all the local Universities and see where I end up.”

“You don’t want to try Art School?”

“No, I want to keep this as a hobby,” said Yusuke. “I hope Iyori will apply, though. If one of us has a chance at making it, then it’s her.”

“I hope so too, it’s just... she really doesn’t believe in herself much.”

“I guess we all have that in common,” said Yusuke and laughed.

“Maybe it’s part of youth,” said Shuya and laughed too.

“You know, I think you’re right about that,” continued Yusuke. “I wonder if being an adult means you get rid of all your insecurities and worries. Or if you just get better at hiding them?”

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Shuya and got up from the bench, stretching out his entire body, whereafter he looked at the time.

“Wanna go back in time for lunch break?”

“Sure,” said Yusuke and got up as well. 

The two slowly started making their way back to the school in silence. While walking, the things Yusuke told him kept lingering in his mind and he slowly took out his phone and went into the dating app. He went to Iyori’s profile and clicked on the bell.

“You will now receive notifications everytime Yuki is available.” Shuya looked at the message on his phone and nodded.

I have to keep going, even if she doesn’t trust in me anymore. Even if she hates me, I have to do my best to look out for her.

“Watch where you’re going!” said Yusuke and grabbed Shuya just as he was about to walk into a streetlamp. Shuya quickly turned off his phone and put it back in his pocket.

“Sorry, and thanks,” said Shuya and they both started walking again. “Thank you for everything. I’m glad you are my friend.” Yusuke turned his head and looked at Shuya with a big smile on his face.

“Me too.”

Hello everyone!

Isn't friendship just beautiful? I love writing about good friends having each other's backs. Even the bible says that 'a true friend is a brother who is born for times of distress'. I think we all know how much it means to have someone you can confide in.

As always, I hope you'll let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. And make sure to stay safe!

Love, Annalise~