The Halls Ways of Hell High buzzed with the usual energy as Yumi made her way to her next class. But today, the laughter, the whispers, and the sounds of clanging lockers seemed louder than ever. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. It was as though the weight of the world was pressing on her shoulders, and she didn't know why.
As she passed by a group of students, she overheard a conversation that stopped her in her tracks.
"Yeah, Yumi's just popular because of her dad."
"Prince of Hell, right? Killed Lucifer once upon a time or whatever."
"She's just a spoiled brat who thinks she's all that. Nothing more than a rich daddy's girl."
Yumi's heart sank in her chest. She hadn't expected this. The words hung in the air, harsh and cutting, louder than anything she'd heard before. Her face flushed with anger, but it wasn't the anger that she was used to. It was a gut-wrenching ache, a sting that seemed to reach deep into her soul.
The truth behind their words was undeniable. It was as if they were peeling away the mask she had been wearing for so long. The only reason people even cared about her was because of her dad—because he was the Prince of Hell, because he had once killed Lucifer and come back stronger, because of his reputation.
Yumi stood frozen in place, her chest tightening as the weight of their words settled around her. She had always known there were whispers. She had always known that people only liked her because of who her parents were. But hearing it spoken aloud, hearing it from people she knew, it felt like a slap across her face.
"Yumi?"
She blinked, startled by the sudden voice. Elnora had walked up beside her, her gentle face filled with concern. "You okay?"
Yumi didn't answer. She couldn't. Instead, she kept walking, her eyes focused on the ground ahead of her, as if the hallway was the only thing she could control in that moment.
"Yumi, wait!" Elnora called after her, but Yumi didn't stop. She couldn't.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the hot sting of tears welling up behind her eyes. But she wasn't going to let them fall—not here, not in front of all these people who only saw her as the daughter of a prince. She couldn't let them see her like that.
She kept walking, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she pushed past everyone who tried to stop her, who tried to talk to her. She just needed to get out of there. She needed to be alone.
Yumi didn't even know how she managed to leave the school grounds. Her feet moved mechanically, her mind clouded with everything she'd heard. All she could hear was their voices repeating the same words over and over again in her head.
"You're only popular because of your dad."
When she reached the gates of the school, Yumi didn't look back. She just kept walking, pushing through the streets of Hell, through the crowds of demons and creatures that didn't even bother to look her way. The only sound was the steady beat of her boots hitting the cobblestone street.
But even that couldn't drown out the emptiness inside her.
As she neared the castle, Yumi could feel the tears threatening to fall, but she held them back. She couldn't let anyone see her cry. Not here. Not now. She was supposed to be strong. She was supposed to be confident. She was supposed to be the daughter of the Prince of Hell, a force to be reckoned with.
But all she felt now was weak.
The front door creaked as she pushed it open, stepping into the darkened hallways of the castle. It was eerily quiet inside. No sounds of laughter or conversation—just silence, the kind that weighed on your shoulders and made your thoughts feel too loud.
She didn't even bother to take off her boots before heading to her room. She just slammed the door shut behind her and leaned against it, her breath ragged as she finally let the tears fall.
It was all too much.
Yumi sank to her knees beside her bed, her face buried in her hands as the sobs wracked her body. The mascara she had so carefully applied that morning was streaked down her cheeks, but she didn't care. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.
As she cried, a soft, warm pressure settled on her shoulder. She looked up through blurry eyes to see Cerberus, his tiny Chihuahua body sitting next to her. His big, dark eyes were filled with concern, and his head rested gently on her shoulder, the weight of it a comforting presence.
Yumi sniffled, reaching up to pet him weakly. "You're the only one who gets it, huh?"
Cerberus didn't bark or whine. He just stayed there, his little body still and calm as Yumi cried into his fur. She had never felt so alone, but for some reason, Cerberus' quiet comfort made her feel like maybe she wasn't.
In the midst of her tears, she whispered, "I hate this. I hate that I'm only known because of Dad. I don't want to be known for him. I want people to see me, not the Prince of Hell's daughter."
Cerberus gave a small whimper, nudging her cheek with his head. Yumi let out a shaky laugh, wiping her tears away.
"Thanks, Cerberus. You always know how to make me feel better."
She took a deep breath, letting the comfort of Cerberus' presence wash over her. Maybe she wasn't as alone as she thought.
And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to stop hiding behind her father's reputation. She had to. For her own sake.
But for now, she just let the tears fall, knowing that Cerberus was there to share the burden with her.
The End of Chapter 7