Chereads / Who Cares!!? / Chapter 24 - Also thanks

Chapter 24 - Also thanks

The hierarchy system of any and every place is frightening.

You have been arbitrarily allotted your position since the day you're born, and the other members of the hierarchy willingly or subconsciously make sure you stay there if you are in a lower class, or will try to drag you down if you're in the upper level.

There are those who can be a Good Sport about it, but if that were to happen with everyone, life would not be as exciting as it is today.

This is the story of a certain prodigy who was saved by an angel.

The interesting thing about being a prodigy is; not everyone can admire them, but everyone can shun them. And all the kids that could, did.

Asuna and Hikaru were in the same place in 1st grade, but as time progressed, Hikaru was in 5th grade when Asuna was in 3rd, and so was the time of their faithful encounter. Hikaru is the prodigy here.

The behavior of children is usually perceived to be childish in the eyes of an adult. But through the eyes of a child, that is their whole world. Even this small world isn't spared from the principles of hierarchy.

Along with the title, Hikaru was naturally given a higher position.

People are generally afraid of something more powerful than them. It's a natural instinct through which man has survived through the ages. When coming across something superior than themselves, they will try to find ways to bring it down. Even if that something is another human being.

Hikaru was given a position that an ordinary child shouldn't have. He was given more importance, more attention, and more devotion. Thus, his peers deemed him as a threat.

What might be the first step humans think of when dealing with superior things? The answer is isolation. Hikaru was left on his own as the other kids isolated themselves from him. Unable to understand this strange behavior, Hikaru tried to take the initiative and was met with a harsh response.

'Sorry we can't play with you. Our members are full. Maybe next time.'

'It's okay.'

No one wanted to play with him. Seeing he couldn't read the atmosphere, they started making fun of him.

'You're so gross for being this smart.'

'I think he isn't a human. He is an alien.'

'Weird alien.'

This was, in their definition, an attack. The attack worked, and the superior thing was wounded. After being injured, Hikaru started isolating himself. He never got any exercise as he never played and ended up having a weaker body than others.

Things didn't get better after isolation. Isolation itself was nigh impossible. He was made to mingle with them by the adults. Children should get along with each other, they thought. Children don't make enemies, they thought—such innocent thoughts.

'Can't you understand? We don't want to play with you.'

'Get lost.'

The children viewed Hikaru as a nuisance, which forced him to think,

--Is there something wrong with me?

It wasn't long since Hikaru started believing in them. He thought he was an annoyance and started hating himself for it. Even though he was a prodigy, he was still a child, physically and mentally.

'I didn't ask to be smart. I don't want to be smart.'

These thoughts plagued him every day. Soon, he became the victim of physical bullying by his classmates. Him being in a higher class than he should wasn't something all of the students appreciated. As such, there were those who intimidated him.

He tried reaching out but was ignored by the same adults seeing it as childish behavior. Not knowing what to do, he had no choice but to keep his troubles to himself and silently take it all. Life for him had become dark.

It was in these dark days when he met the light that saved him.

The awaited bell for lunch had rung as the hungry students excitedly ate their meals. They gleefully chatted with their friends with their mouthful and giggled at trivial things.

This wasn't a pleasant time for Hikaru. He had to rush to his safe place where he couldn't be seen by his classmates. Said safe place was a staircase near a classroom.

He sat in a corner alone and chewed his lunch while hearing other children, the same age as him, enjoying their time. He wanted to join them but couldn't. He wanted to share his meal with others and laugh with them but couldn't. He wanted to smile but couldn't. And like the child he was, wept.

'Why me? Why me?... I didn't do anything bad.'

He muttered while sobbing to his fate.

'I am a good boy….I am not weird.'

Tears dropped on his food, unwillingly adding salt to the meal.

'Why are you crying?'

Like an angel, she appeared. Used to being alone, he didn't realize someone was in front of him. No one, other than an adult, would usually talk to him. Having someone speak to him alerted him. But this wasn't a taunt. This sounded like a genuine voice of concern. He quickly took out his handkerchief to wipe his tears.

After his vision cleared, he saw a girl with long black hair and bright violet eyes looking at him. The girl was closer than he expected, which startled him.

'Wahh!'

The girl watched his reaction as something amusing.

'Are you Hikaru Yoshida?'

She gently asked, trying not to scare him. It was no mystery how she knew his name. Many of the students know him as the prodigy.

'Y-yes.'

He was wary of the girl. She might look cute but could be a new bully. He was finding ways of fleeing if she approached him further.

'I'm Asuna Hayashi. Nice to meet you.'

She smiled and extended her hand. Hikaru gawked at the hand but wasn't sure what to do. This was something new for him.

--Is she greeting me?

'I see.'

Asuna retracted the hand, seeing it made him uncomfortable. She knew Hikaru as he was famous and lived in the same building.

'So, why are you crying?'

Asuna stared into his light hazel eyes, unaware of the fact that she was still scaring him. He was speechless to see she hasn't done anything yet. No one had asked this question expecting an answer.

'I… don't have any friends.'

'Why?'

Asuna leaned forward, which made him blush. If he wasn't sitting on the stairs at that time, he would have run away.

'Be-because I am…smart.'

Hikaru uttered the words that were a curse for him.

'But my Grandpa says that smart people have lots of friends and girls like boys who are smart.'

'Huh?'

They both looked at each other cluelessly.

--What did she just say?

Hikaru wasn't sure if he was having hearing problems, or the girl was crazy. If that was true, his situation should be impossible.

'But you don't have friends, you said so.'

He watched her thinking hard. She took the problem seriously. What was she thinking about was beyond him, but he felt she wasn't a bully or an enemy. He didn't know what she wanted, but he could feel himself relaxing.

'My Grandpa is never wrong, so I will be your friend.'

'What?'

Asuna again extended her hand with a smile. That smile was brighter than any light he had seen. It was as if someone had peered into his darkness and illuminated his world.

Hikaru realized that she was the first girl to say that. He also realized that she will probably be the last one too, *proof that he was smart.*

'Then if I become really smart, will you li-like me too?'

Children are smart, very smart. They just don't have enough knowledge, and even if they had it, they are still innocent. *Most of them.* Asuna had no idea what he meant.

'Sure, I like you now too.'

The bell had rung to indicate the start of recess.

'Come on, let's play.'

Hikaru saw the hand as hope. Someone wanted to be friends with him. Someone wanted to play with him. Someone was there willing to pull him out of his dark and gloomy world into a world of light and happiness.

Hikaru grabbed the hand with the intent of never letting go.

And that's how Hikaru and Asuna became childhood friends.

*There you have it, a fully functioning love triangle.*