The next day, Kuyo went to school like usual. He approached his sear and would've sat it, except for one thing.
On his table was a dead bird, with its beak ripped off, and the words "This bird didn't need a mouth, and neither do you." were written on the table. Everyone looked at Kuyo in silence as if they were suprised
He sat down on his seat regardless. To the eyes of the class, he looked composed, but he was far from it. He knew those confused glances they shared were all a ruse. After all, he was being bullied in the school.
He avoided speaking to people. After all, he tried his best to avoid anything that might deal him harm. Though, his effort were in vain.
Except for during lunch, when he always went to a corner where no one went, and ate lunch alone. This was one of the rare moments of peace he had in the daytime.
At school, he was away from all the drama at home. He was safe from his alcoholic father...
"Hey guys, guess who I found?"
...But that didn't mean he was safe.
At the call of the one who found Kuyo, more guys appeared to surround Kuyo. These were his bullies.
Among them was a boy who had a smile on his face. He was dressed prim and proper, which further accentuated his innocent demeanor. You'd think he was a simple bystander among the group, but that was far from it.
???: Hey Kuyo.
Kuyo: ...
???: Are you okay, Kuyo?
Bully: I doubt it, he must be scared shit of us.
???: Oh really?
The kind boy leaned in closer to Kuyo and grabbed his hand. This seemed like he intended to comfort Kuyo, as a classmate who was concerned for his other fellow classmate.
???: Oh, poor Kuyo. You don't have to be scared of us. After all, we're friends. Aren't we, Kuyo?
Kuyo: ...
Kuyo seemed to have doubts about his claim, which the boy saw. At the meer thought, he tensed up, holding Kuyos hand even tighter. He was beginning to inflicting pain in Kuyos' hand, and in response, Kuyo looked away.
The concerned boy forcefully pulled Kuyos' face towards himself to figure out how he was feeling. To see if Kuyo doubted their 'friendship'.
???: Aren't we?
Kuyo: ...Yes.
???: Say it louder!
He grabbed the boys hand even tighter. Thats when he noticed the pain in Kuyos eyes. He finally looked towards his hands, andbwithout a single look of suprise in his face, he identified himself as the culprit.
???: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?
Kuyo was worried about what might happen if he gave the answer he had in mind. Though, the boy had such a harmless look in his eyes. Kuyo felt like he could answer honestly.
Kuyo: Yes!
Bully: Woah, the mute actually spoke.
???: That's right!
The boy finally let go of Kuyo and walked around him, with a look of excitement. However, Kuyo felt something wrong. He was correct, as the innocent boys excitement was soon short lived.
???: Wait, to what did you say yes to? Was it my first question or my second one?
Kuyo didn't respond to that question. He would've responded with "the third" to shake the boy off, but the feeling he was getting told him otherwise. He was so unsure of what to say.
If he said "the first", he would be confirming the very 'friendship' he doubted.
If he said "the second", he would be being honest with the boy. After all, he seemed 'concerned' for Kuyo, and he would've probably appreciated a truthful answer.
And in a moment where he left himself vulnerable, the boy was about to answer " the second", however.
???: What was it!!!
The boy was now face-to-face with Kuyo. How did he do that, even though he was behind him?
Bully: Come on, you don't have to literally pull the answers out of him.
???: OH REALLY!!! WELL KISS MY- Oh... sorry, my bad Kuyo.
The boy then let go of those navy strands he was pulling on. He was confused, buy Kuyo was even more confused.
Kuyo was unsure of what to say. He didn't want to be friends with the 'concerned' boy, but after that glimpse of anger he saw, he knew that he couldn't tell him how hurt he was.
Kuyo: The f-f-f-f-f-first...
???: I'm sorry, I couldn't quit hear that. GUESS ILL REALLY HAVE TO PULL THE ANSWERS OUT OF YOU.
The boy reached for those navy strands again, but by pure luck, he responded to his words. Within the short time frame, he had done it, before there was any damage done to to the head those strands connected to.
Kuyo: THE FIRST.
The boy was suprised by Kuyos words. He would've expected him to say "the second", or rather, he wanted him to. However, he had to calm down in the face of his "friend".
???: Yayyyyyy!
The excited boy looked back at his other "friends", but during the short span of that glance, he was quiet. Though, he continued his energetic rant when he looked at Kuyo again, as if that split-second didn't happen.
???: I'm so glad we are. I will really appreciate it.
Kuyo: Will...?
Then, something small and metallic flew straight towards Kuyos' face. If it was the boy, who looked worried after what happened, then Kuyo would've seen it coming.
So, it had to be one of the bullies who surrounded him. And with that, the culprit spoke.
Bully: Take that. Go get us some yakisoba buns with that money.
In accordance to his own order, the bully gave Kuyo some more money at Kuyo, by throwing it on the ground.
Kuyo then crawled around, looking for the coins the bully threw. He scraped all those coins, which amounted to 650 yen. Kuyo then stood still out of confusion.
Bully 2: Why are you standing there? You got the money, now go!.
The boy looked at the rest of the group, which an intense stare. He wanted the group to shut up, to which they did.
Kuyo: The... The... Money...
???: What about the money? Is it not enough?
Kuyo: ...
Kuyo wanted to shake his head, but he was too scared to do that, and to further augment that fear, the boy put his hands on his shoulder.
???: Kuyo, this is all we have. We are really hungry, and yakisoba is all were able to afford.
Kuyo: But...
Morikawa: If you were a real friend, you would've done this without a second thought. ARE YOU NOT A REAL FRIEND? 'Cause if you aren't, then that would make you-- OUR ENEMY! And THAT would be unfortunate. Wouldn't it?
With the constant switch in tone, Kuyo couldn't tell if those words were a suggestion or a warning.
He needed to figure it out what it was....
...Until...
"Heheheheheheheh".
He could hear snickers that were very low volume. He couldn't tell if they were directing at him, or who it even was who made those sounds.
Though, it couldn't have been the boy in front of him. Those words he said were too scary to be a joke. Or maybe they were too scary to be serious.
He looked at the boy for an answer, maybe then he'd figure it out. The expressions on his face would make it clear if only he showed one.
"Heheheheh"
Though, the face in front of him wasn't the clue to the answer. Rather, it was all those faces that weren't jn front of him. Those unserious faces that laughed at the boy.
It finally clicked.
All this time, the bullies were doing nothing, simply standing there as if waiting for orders.
Their laughs, their remarks,they were never directed at the boy, but Kuyo who was a victim of his "worried" rant.
They all targeted him, and the boy was no exception, as 'kind' as he was to Kuyo. The group was, of course a group. So it meant one thing.
That they were being led by someone, and no one could fit that criteria.
Except for the 'kind' boy, who had lackeys instead of 'friends'.
The same one whose 'kind' suggestions were threatening Kuyos livelihood.
There leader was none other than the innocent devil standing in front of Kuyo, Morikawa.