**HASHIBA MAEHARA**
Sayuri and Mitsuru finally came out of the nurse's office. Yusari and I were waiting outside, because Sayuri wanted to talk to him alone...But I know what she's really up to...Yusari nudged me, she told me before to apologise to Mitsuru because of what I said, but I really don't want to! It's hard apologising to that guy! So I thought of an alternative; "Hey! You ok?"
"We'll ask properly this time...Do you want to come for karaoke with us?.." Yusari asked with a happy expression. He looked back at us for some time. I felt very scared that he might throw his rage at me, I felt so guilty after what I said... I kind of feel like I need to understand him better...Like he reminds me of someone..
"Yeah, sure...I'll go with you.." He said smiling...HE SMILED??!! I'VE NEVER SAW HIM SMILE BEFORE?!! WHAT?!
"Did you just smile?!" How can you blurt something like that out loud? ! I wouldn't dare! However, Mitsuru just put his head down."Come on! Let's go grab something to eat first, then we can go for karaoke!" Sayuri said as she pushes Mitsuru ahead.
"Sounds good to me!"
**TOSHIRO SHINTARU**
It's a Saturday afternoon! It's supposed to be a good day for everyone to sit and relax!.....Except for us teachers! Damn it!
I have to mark all of these kid's math books! Argh! I need a break!...When is summer vacation coming! As I am walking through the hallway, I noticed a bunch of kids walking toward my direction. I see one kid in particular...It's Mitsuru!!
"Hey!" They all came to a halt.
"What are YOU doing here?!" I addressed it to Mitsuru by pointing my finger at him. "Oh, hi! Mr Shintaru! How are you?!" Yusari exclaimed with enthusiasm, but I ignored her since I'm pissed off!
"We're just going out to eat..." Maehara explained.
"Yep! Then we're giving off to sing our hearts out!"
"Not me... I'm pretty sure I just want to keep my heart beating..." Mitsuru is joining them?...This got me so dumbfounded...Mitsuru hasn't come to class at all! Now he's hanging out with his 'Friends '? !
He's so behind in his studies! "So, you're going too, Mitsuru?"
"Yeah.. I guess. .." He shrugged.
"Then, what about class?" I said giving him the stink eye.
"Uh....Sir? ..Did you go to school?.." I'm living in a damn school! And don't answer my question with another question! "Of course I did!" What is he up to?..
"Oh! ... Then maybe you're the guy who doesn't thank the Lord for the glorious weekends! " He said dramatically, by putting his hands together for a prayer. I stood silently...What is he getting at?...And yes...I did pray for weekends back then...But now teachers don't get weekends! This idiot's pissing me off!
"I know it's a weekend...But! You haven't been coming to class for weeks!" Though I yelled him, he unexpectedly looked really confused, does he not understand...
"Huh?...There hasn't been four weeks of school yet...Where'd you get that from?.." I can't take his crap! He's being sarcastic on purpose! Just to throw me off! "You're taking extra classes on the weekends! I dont care what you say!"
"...Saturday...and Sunday...." He looked at me as if he was shocked with trauma. It took him a while to collect his thoughts together. "Sorry...I can't process shit like that...It's against the laws of nature..." What the hell is HE saying? "That's it!"
"Mr Shintaru! Please! Forgive this young maiden!... " Yusari steps in between us with her arms open, as if she was singing in a opera. "Excuse me....Maiden?..." Mitsuru glares at her from behind and it looks terrifying, if Yusari turned around right now, she would probably faint at the sight. "Her life will be in forever danger! As she attempts to tackle this journey alone!" She continues in Shakespearian. Only Sayuri and Maehara are acting like human beings.
"I'm not a girl...! And you're not helping..." These kid's are so stupid..I let out a sigh..I figured that it would be better to not waste my time by debating with an idiot, so instead of letting them go, that easily...
"Fine....Answer this question...then you can go.." I surrendered.
"You can do this Mitsuru!...Right?.." Sayuri clenched her hands as she said supporting him. "I'm hungry..." ...
That was random, coming from Maehara....
"What is 44 + 57?" Let's start with the easy ones...Mitsuru looks too clueless to get this right straight away! Ha! I'll win this bet for sure! "73!" That was fast! "Hold up! Did you even work it out?" I pointed at my head to indicate if he even used his head.
"Nope. I just answered it. Now, let's go." I did say 'Answer this question..' but I mean answer it correctly!
"Wait ! That's incorrect! You need to answer it properly! I'll give you another chance! If you get this wrong,then you won't go for karaoke, and you'll stay behind and study! Understand?! " He simply groaned and rolled his eyes at me. "My head hurts..." Why is he complaining?!
"Mr Shintaru! Can't you be abit open minded about this?...Mitsuru just fainted, he was feeling really bad in the past 2 days! So, his brain can't take anymore Math questions!" Sayuri says with a worrisome face. But I stood dumbfounded....
"What are you talking about? I only gave him one question!...And besides if he's not feeling well, then he should just rest..." "But sir!-"
"What's the question? I'll answer it.." I was surprised to see Mitsuru standing up for her like that. .
"7×5. "
"Uh...." What's taking him so long?...
"Come on! It's easy! "
"You've got to be kidding me!" Even Maehara thinks he's taking too long, in fact everyone is shocked.
"Too...many...numbers..."
"See! He's going through Numeracy Disfunctional Disorder! His mind can't process the equations of Algebra!" Sayuri claims in defence with her loud, fierce voice.
"Yeah! There's smoke coming out of his head!" Yusari yelled. As everyone dragged him out while saying stupid shit....Ah!~ Damn you kids!
**HASHIBA MAEHARA**
"I can't believe you don't know what 5×7 is?.." I said as we were walking to the restaurant outside. The weather was sunny but a bit windy. "Shut up....Don't shit out a sentence with corresponding numbers..." He looks really intimidating. Does that make any sense? ...
Time went by, we had lunch at a nearby and pretty cheap restaurant...I had to gulp down alot... It felt like torture...We, then arrived at the Karaoke place, it was a room to ourselves, so no one can disturb us. Mitsuru loved that idea, He jumped down on the couch, grabbed a pillow, held it to his chest and lay down on his side. That quick!
"Ok! Who wants to go first?!" Yusari exclaimed.
"What about you Mitsuru?" I suggested him to do so, because I'm curious if he can actually sing.
"Huh?...I didn't come here to sing..."
"Then why are you even here?..."
"Food...Food is everything. ..If you don't know that...Why are you breathing?.." He said bluntly, don't think I can relate...
"Why don't you go, Yusari?.." Sayuri asks nicely. Before Yusari could proceed she stops to think to herself what she should sing. She picks up the microphone and scrolls on the ipad, searching for a song. When the music starts playing, it was a loud rock and roll song! She started to sing.....WAY OUT OF TUNE! My ear drums are going to burst! I can feel the echo of the sound wave beating in the back of my head! Even Mitsuru thinks it's terrible! He has buried his whole face in that pillow, that guy's going to suffocate! But Sayuri!...She's just sitting there! But by her facial expression indicate that she's dying! She's just too kind to show it! I'm soo proud of Sayuri!...
It finally ends...
"Ha!~ So...How did I do?.." Yusari can't really tell, but we are dying from the pain. At the moment, we're just relieved it's over...We are not praising her, as she is expecting...
"You did great!..." Sayuri looks so intense! "No!" Mirsuru interrupted her, by throwing the pillow at her. "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!..." He grabbed another pillow, smacked it on his face...then screamed!
"Was it..really that bad?..." Yusari said softly, she seemed a bit guilty...
"I really wished that I was deaf so that I wouldn't have to experience that!" That was harsh, Mitsuru!
"I'm sorry...I'm didn't realise..." She looked down in shame. I feel really sorry for her....
"Are you deaf too?!"
"No! I-"
"Your existence is giving me a headache!..Get out of my life..Look there's the door, Hell! I'll even hold it for you!"
"Don't be rude, Mitsuru!" Yusari obviously looked hurt. I had to say something..."Come on! We're here to have fun! Why do you act like you don't give a shit about her feelings?!"
"Am I putting on a f*cking show?!...It's not an act..." He lifted his arms up, like he was he gesturing if he was on a stage or not.
"You really have no feelings...do you?"
"Of course I do!...Bitch...I feel hungry every hour..." This guy has got some nerve talking with a bunch of attitude.
"It's alright, Maehara....I'll just leave the little maiden alone..So that she can live in her own darkness..." She said dramatically while heading for the door. To me, Yusari sounded very depressed to be humiliated like that.
"Like hell you're getting away after calling me that!" Yusari stood still, infront of the door...Silence...Nobody said a word, but stared at her strangely. Until, faintly...She started to laugh, then it became louder and louder. What was so funny? "Oh,my!...Mitsuru!..You're savage!...I shall now address thee as my little maiden!..." Is she trying to declare war on him?! She's crazy!
"Argh! Shut up!"
"That's what you get for being mean to me!" It was like two kids having a fight because they don't get along well, and that is exactly what it is.
"Huh?...Is that what you bitches call mean?...That was my honesty. Not my fault the truth hurts, Should I take you to the hospital?.. " I wanted to break this up! They have just met and they can't get along!
"You know what! I'll go next!" I dragged myself up, while Yusari sat back down opposite Mitsuru, they both looked at each other with evil glares. This is just so uncomfortable for both me and Sayuri, who are sitting right next these savage, evil curse bearers! "Hey!" I felt Mitsuru briefly touch my arm. "If you sing any louder than 50 thousand hertz...! I will not be responsible for your injuries..!" That was scarier than usual! I just dug my own grave! I'm dead...Even I'm not that good at singing..but maybe I can keep a low volume...Before I even started, he held his ears with two pillows!
"Wow! That was really good, Maehara!"
"That was even better than me!" I felt so happy by being praised from both of the ladies!
"You could say that again!" It was Mitsuru goofing off again with Yusari. "Shut uo! You can't even sing!"
"Keep on shouting! I love the way your voice makes my ears bleed!" Hear we go again...It's strange to see that Mitsuru processes alot better with Sayuri than anyone else...Does he have a thing for her?..
"Why don't we order some drinks?.." Sayuri asks while browsing through the menu. "Oh!~ But I want to hear you sing, Sayuri!" I was also getting curious, maybe she might be really good at it, she has a sweet voice after all.
"Well...I don't think I can sing really well... " Her expression looks very humble especially as she blushed in embarrassment.
"What?"
"I don't even know any songs..." She looked at Yusari with a nervous smile. "It's alright. ..anything is fine.." I had to encourage her, by handing over the mic to her.
"Um...ok....I do know one song. ..someone close to me used to sing..." She seemed nervous and you can tell she has butterflies in her stomach but she still gathered the courage to get up and start singing.
🔴MITSURU FUKUYAMA🔴
I covered my ears, just in case...But I was astound by what I heard. ..Her voice...sounded so angelic and calm...The melody in her voice calmed me at once...I instantly got myself up and listened to her singing with full concentration...The words that she was singing were in a different language...
The melody...
The tune...
Her softness...in her voice and her face made this feel so beautiful...It shone a light in my darkness..Not only the song...But she...always shines light into my soul...
All of a sudden, She finishes off with a high note fading into a soft sound at the end. I was shocked..I didn't want it to end..I wanted to keep listening to her sing like that all the time...
"Wow!" "That was really good!" Yusari and Maehara applauded her. While I couldn't get my eyes off her.
"Who taught you how to sing like that?!" Then maybe you could get some lessons from her, Yusari!
"I'll tell you everything after you get some drinks for all of us..."
"Alright! Come on! You jerk!" She grabbed Maehara by the collar. "Why do I have to go?!"
"Who else is going to pay?!"
After they both left, she sat next to me and smiled.."Can't control your eyes again ,huh?.."Uh!-" I turned my head swiftly. This is starting to become a weird habit...
There was a long pause between us...I thought for a while and I wanted to be say it...but couldn't get myself to...I was hesitating..Should I?...
"Your singing is really beautiful..." I pressed my head into the pillow, to try and calm myself down. "Huh-uh...Thank you..." Her cheeks have gone red..And mine feel hot...
"Um...Mitsuru...can you sing?..."
"No....I can't. .." I don't understand why she asked me that, I thought she knew the answer.
"Do you...want me..to teach you?.."
"There's no point...I'm just bad..." I put my head down until.... I hear her singing..but this is a different song... Except I can understand them. ...
"How much light....is in your heart?..
How dark...is the pit of your... soul..
No matter....how far you jump.....
How deep you fall.....
Light shall be there....waiting....
Reuniting....with you....Once more... "
"My mother used to sing this song to me when I was little...But I don't remember the rest of it...Try singing some of it... "
**SAYURI SCHREIBER**
Mitsuru stuffed his face in the pillow. I want to help him...So I started singing.."How much light is in your heart?" I waited for him to repeat after me, but the more I waited the more I denied that he would sing anything. " How...much light...is in...your heart?.." His voice was quiet but sweet and tender...He's a bit slow, but this is good progress. I started singing, line by line of the song and after a while, he would repeat after me.
"Wow. ..I'm proud of you, Mitsuru!" I said praising him while clapping.
"Whatever...I still don't like singing... " He lifted up his head and I was shocked to see his whole face red! He looks hot and tired.
"But...I like haering you sing... " He said turning to me. I smiled then began singing the first song. Mitsuru laid down on his left side of the couch, while I was at the right....
This song really touches my heart, I first heard it from my best friend back in Germany. She was the most kindest soul ever. Whenever I am sad...I always sing this song....That night, when it was raining...I sang this song...
After I finished singing...I noticed Mitsuru dozing off, he slept because of my song. This is the first time someone said that my singing is beautiful...It made me feel happy...
Thank you...Mitsuru...
🔴MITSURU FUKUYAMA🔴
I open my eyes slowly...I feel so warm...I don't want to get up. I look around...I feel like I have no idea where I am...Wait...I'm in this damn karaoke place! I instantly got up!
"You're finally awake..." It's Sayuri, she was stretching her arms up in the air. But, why are we alone?... Are they taking THAT long to get drinks?
"How long have I been asleep?.. "
"Long enough...Come on, let's go...Everyone else is gone" I've been asleep for so long.
"We need to go to school before 9. Or else we'll get trouble. " I agreed as we both got up and left the room.
We were walking quietly yet quickly. The streets were dark and empty. Sayuri was walking out ahead of me, she seemed anxious, she continued to walk faster and faster that I couldn't even keep up.
"Hey! Why are you walking so fast?!." Sayuri came to a halt, she froze. She swiftly spun around and stepped closer to me. Her eyes looked so bold. "I'm scared of the dark!" She confessed, which I now understand her fast reaction.
"Now, hurry up!" She quickly hurries to the other side, she was before. However, I'm too lazy to speed up so our distance between us became more further away. We continued like this for a while...My eyes were still on her, just in case I lose sight of her and she has been kidnapped by a bunch of gangsters. Wait...Now they're a bunch of gangsters surrounding her! I predicted as much but they were ganging up on her. I didn't want to get involved, so I kept a distance.
"Hey...Look what we have here...She's a cutie!" "Yeah!...Lets have fun with her...!" They were approximately 5 of these guys. However, Sayuri kept her down low as much as possible, as if she was trying to hide her identity.
"Move out of my way...." Her voice sounded firce and strong, like she wasn't going to back down.
"What's that?..Come with us girl.." The man grabbed her arm by force trying to pull her closer toward him. Instead of that being attempted, Sayuri pulled him by her arm and kicked him straight in the stomach with her knee! I was surprised, maybe she can take these guys on her own!
"You bitch!" All of them started to close in on her...It was like 5 hungry giant cats surrounding a little tiny mouse. Here I am...standing in the background,trying to figure out how they got here?...The streets were empty and they just happened to be waiting for a girl to walk past their creepy ally way.
"Listen carefully, bastards..." My attention shifted towards her, she was going to say something badass,..or something that she was going going to regret.
"Your either on my side, by my side or...in my f*cking way!...Choose wisely!.."She lifted her head up, her face looked furious and her eyes were as fierce as the devil himself. This was getting interesting...I smiled and walked closer.
"You f*cking bitch!!" He grabbed her and another did the same, they held her by the arms, and pulled them behind her back. While another guy lifted his fist up, preparing to punch... By that time, I reached him...
I tapped his shoulder, and he turned around.
"What?!" He looked really pissed, I smirked...You're hesitating arn't you? ..Or else you would have ignored me and punched her already.
"Oh nothing. ..I was just standing here, wondering if I'm looking at a asshole..or shit?..."
"What did YOU call me??!!" He aimed his punch at me, and shot fire..I rapidly dodged it and punched one of the hardest punches I've ever thrown in my whole life! Right into his face! I felt my whole fist covered in pain. The pain started stinging throughout !
"Ow! That hurt!" I yelled in excitement which is ironic since it hurts so much but the feeling is exilerating!
"Haha! Now I know what you are..! Your shit! But I don't like wiping shit everywhere I go! ... But tell me one thing. ..Why did you come here?....Who...sent you?..."
**SAYURI SCHREIBER**
"Who....sent you....?" What? what is he talking About? ...Did someone set this up?..
"Huh?!...How do you know?!" A guy from behind me exclaimed, still holding me against my will. Now I'm curious beacuse Mitsuru's face looked shocked, he seemed to know what is going on...And I want to know.
"No one sent us! Bastard!" The person next to Mitsuru shouted with his nose bleeding. The man suddenly throws a punch at Mitsuru, and he surprisingly dodges it as if he knew exactly what he was doing. He then throws him aside like he's a piece of trash. Mitsuru comes running towards me, pushing and kicking the men around me, he grabs my hand and we run out of there.
After a long run, we both panted so hard! "I'm completely exhausted!" I exclaimed while sitting on a bench, it was in a well lit environment.
"We're going to be in ALOT of trouble!"
"I know..! By the way, that was a pretty good punch back there!.."
"I'm glad it was worth it...But it STILL hurts like hell!" Mitsuru exclaimed while looking at his bruised hand.
"Are you ok?" I asked looking at the state of his hand.
"hm?..Yeah I'm fine..." After awhile, I wanted to get things straight with him, I wanted to know what he meant...
"What did you mean...when asked them 'who sent you?'..." His eyes widened, he looked away, collecting his thoughts as he sat down. " I mean...did you think someone was coming after us..?" Silence...DEAD silence.. I felt scared wacthing his whole body froze. Until, I saw him smile...it wasn't a pleasent smile...But I figured it out when he is started laughing.
"Heh-! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAA!!!!!!!!!!!!"
His laugh was so sinister, my skin started to crawl. This is the first time I've seen him like this!..I've never been so afraid! In fact I NEVER thought that I would be afraid of him...Slowly...His laugher dies down...he slowly looks at me...
"....Sorry... What was the question again?..." Mitsuru gave off an evil smirk, trying to avoid answering the question....! At this point, I'm terrified! I can't repeat that question to him ever!
Mitsuru releases a long sigh and stands up. "Come on...Let's go..." He walks off...
What?! Why?! How did he manage to frighten my very soul?! I'm too scared that I can't even walk beside him!..What....? What was going on in his mind?....