When did I start loving Sasaki Yuji? That was during an incident when I was younger.
My parents are not the best people. They're both drinkers and gamblers. If you went out into town just about any time of day or night, you could find them. Mom at the bar, dad at the casino. Most of my life has been parentless. It's not that they don't exist of course, it's just that they're never around to care for me so I see no reason to acknowledge them. Maybe that's what sets me apart from Yuji. I don't acknowledge my parents' existence at all, I don't have parents if anyone asks. Yuji acknowledges his parents' existence, he simply despises and resents them. My parents are lowlifes, scum. The only thing they do is accumulate debt. They only ever acknowledge me when they want to beat me, insult me, or pass blame for something onto me. Otherwise they couldn't care less about me. You could say that it's expected for an apathetic child to receive apathy from their parents, but it was them who began harsh treatment of me first. Honestly, I hope they die before I become an adult so their debt won't fall into me. I won't lie and say that I haven't thought about killing them. Their existences are a hindrance to this world, and those in it who are associated with them.
Anyway, back to the story. It was the night after school. Yuji had said his goodbyes to me before he left, because he knew I was going to stay late at school for club activities. When I was going home, I had to walk home alone. My parents told me that morning that they would be out on "business" that night. What that meant was that they would drink, then find some love hotel to go off to for a few days. I remember walking down the street. The crisp, spring breeze felt good running along my neck. It wasn't quite night yet because the sun was still up, but it was dim, and the street lights were already on. The problem was that the street I was on was one in a shady part of town that was on my walk home, which is only ever me when I'm there. I've only ever encountered one other person there once, and that was Yuji. Yuji may have told you that we don't see each other during times when school is in session, but this story is an exception. We share the same route to and from schools.
I was alone, until a guy surprised me out of nowhere. A very unpleasant surprise. I can't remember a word he said. I was too shocked to comprehend words. He was aggressively groping me, a young girl shouldn't be expected to be calm and collected in that situation. From how I've spoke about my parents and how I don't not want to kill them, you might expect me to do something on my own to get out of this sticky situation. But that didn't happen. I was there, speechless, motionless, letting this man reach under my skirt. I didn't even yell for help. Not a single "ahh" or "help me please", not even a "Fire!". I was too paralyzed with fear to do anything. I knew no one would come anyway.
But they did.
Yuji did.
Yuji was on the phone with the police when he came into view of the man. Though I was unable to speak because of fear, while being assaulted, I was able to say "Yuji" when he came into view.
That man was not only big enough, but also drunk enough to not be intimidated by a child with a phone, but the man who was feeling me up ran when he saw Yuji. Yuji gave the police all the info he had, and then immediately came to me, to make sure I was okay, and to walk me home.
Yuji didn't look very heroic that day, but from that day on, Yuji was my hero.
I thought "No one else in my life cares about me like Yuji does. My classmates are selfish and only think about themselves. They'll chew out anyone who interferes with their 'social circles'. The teachers watch students harass, bully, and physically punish other students that are deemed 'weak' and they don't bat an eye. They sit, collect their paycheck, and tell themselves 'kids will be kids, it's part of growing up.' My parents are deadbeats who only ever want me when they want to hurt me or need a punching bag. They spent all their time digging a hole of debt that they don't have a ladder to climb out of. They don't care about me. They've left me all alone my whole life. And they can for all I care. They can die. It doesn't matter to me. In fact, life would be better for all if my parents disappeared. And no god or deity is going to do anything for me. Every single one of them has already forsaken me."
"But Yuji isn't like them. Yuji cares about me. Yuji has always been my friend. Yuji has always been there for me. Yuji always puts me first. He puts everyone else aside so he can focus on me. He is the one person in the world who I have. Yuji is the only one who doesn't treat me like garbage. Yuji is always there for me to confide in. He lets me share all my burdens with him and he makes me feel better."
And on that day, I decided.
I love Yuji.
He's mine.
No one else can have him.
Even if in the end, it's only me and him.
He's only mine.
He doesn't have a choice.