(Anime intro)
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- That guy over there…
- Isn't that…?
The whispers were spreading in the classroom as he entered. The news about a 15 year old boy attempting to take his own life after his mother died had been broadcasted on television.
Since that day he had been thrown into a temporary establishment for orphanage kids while they were looking for a substitute custody giver for him, which most likely would have been an adoptive family, after all he didn't have any other close relatives.
It pissed him off that people wouldn't mind their own damn business but of course the rumors were circling around as people loved gossip.
- Hey Moore…
As he sat down behind his desk his bench neighbor nudged him in the side.
- Need to let some steam out? Despite our circumstances being different, you know what usually helps me when things are bugging me? Let's go play baseball together after school. Channeling your rage into sports can actually-...
- No thanks.
- Well geez… I was just trying to help you. It's not my fault that your mom died, don't take out your frustration on me!
Attempting to help? More like making things worse. Bringing up the source of his frustration on top of that…? Containing his anger he prevented himself from giving the guy a punch in the face. Instead he stood up from his chair and marched on towards the exit of the classroom.
- H-Hey..! Don't leave…?!?!
Returning to school after his absence was a mistake. He didn't care about how his lack of attendance would affect his otherwise stellar grades. Everything got on his nerves right now.
He lost his mom, he lost his sister… and the man who abandoned their already broken family many years ago didn't even have the guts to contact him. He was furious.
On top of that he didn't even have his home left. They might have been poor, they might barely have been getting by each month from paycheck to pay check but at least they had each other. He wanted to help his mother, as soon as he was old enough he'd get the first best job he could find just to be able to support her, after everything she had done for him.
He didn't know how he could ever repay her for that. The world didn't deserve such a beautiful soul with such a drive, such a passion… no matter what was thrown at her, no matter how difficult things got she still pulled through with her heart in her throat pit.
She even managed to fake a smile even when she felt like she was falling apart.
Even at the very end when she was at the very edge of dying her tears ran dry.
His sister was someone he never got to know very well. They spent their holidays with her at the hospital, and they tried to make weekly visits there, but as time passed and the realization that she never would get better became an ultimatum she withered away with her disease, and the final delivery of the news that her mother had passed away was the last straw for her. She used to be a bit more hopeful as a kid, even if it was naivete he wanted to believe in the possibility of her recovery too. One thing he learned about her was that she was very into writing. Probably imagining a better life where things had turned out differently for her.
He wished he could have saved them both, but it was too late now…
…
- Are you done yet?
That voice… he recognized it. Someone had been tracking him. He wasn't really in the mood for a confrontation though so he told the person to leave him alone as he continued onwards.
- You think moaning is gonna get you anywhere? I know what grief is like, and I know that it takes time to get over a shitty past… but are you really gonna let your shortcomings affect your future? You're an academic, top of your class, are you not? Not everyone is able to perform that well in school. With those grades your future and your future income is secured. You have it easy, so take advantage of the advantages you do have compared to the other dumb kids.
Don't let your shortcomings affect your possibilities!
Not only was she a heroine, she was also an orator. How did she find him again?
More importantly, what was she doing here, at this school? Was she another student here?
- It's the second time you find me at my lowest point, isn't it?
Here is an idea for you, how about you just leave me alone and mind your own business?!
Who even are you, and how do you know so much about me? Are you a stalker?! That's creepy!
His words seemed to have gotten to her as her nature of counter arguing was diminishing.
- Who are you…? Huh… so you really don't… remember me…? That's… a burn…
Unable to contain her sadness she ran past him in the corridor as his anger turned into confusion. Seriously, what was up with that girl? Her "heroic" and "inspiring" speech before did nothing for him, even though he realized that it was an attempt of probably, in her own odd ways, cheering him up and encouraging him he still decided to ditch school for the day as the terrible beginning overshadowed the continuation of the day as well.
"Channeling his rage into sports"… actually didn't seem like a bad idea. He played a bit of soccer as a kid, maybe he still had it in him. Much to his demay, he sucked, his ball sense could use a lot of training. They didn't play many ball sports in gym class either, of course he'd lose some of his skills. Dissatisfied he left the arena, fortunately borrowing their field didn't cost anything at least. After that he went through a stroll in the city, wandering around aimlessly. Why couldn't things have been different for him and his family? Why did it have to turn out like this…
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Chapter 3 concluded.