Yuuto Sakurai, for the next few days, would be grounded in his house.
... Or so the principal told his homeroom teacher.
"Sir..." Yamada stopped just before leaving the office.
"What is it, Yamada?" the principal asked.
Yamada hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Who is that... ruffian?" He sighed. "For the past six months, he's been nothing but a menace in my classes. If I were Janen Johan Jaymison, I'd be demanding pictures proving how wicked he is."
The principal chuckled. "Hahaha. Never figured you for a comic book fan."
"What? Just because I teach here, I can't have hobbies?" Yamada raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, cut it out. You know I'm joking with you." The principal waved him off.
Yamada ignored that. "Who is he?" He nodded toward the office window. "He may have fooled the other students with his act, but I don't buy it."
The principal went silent, looking down with a solemn smile.
"Just tell me. We've known each other for years. If it's something complicated, I'll keep my mouth shut." Yamada assured him.
The principal finally raised his head. "Nothing complicated. Just doing a favor for a friend in need."
Yamada narrowed his eyes. "... Someone I know?"
The principal shook his head. "... I will say, that friend is very close to Hayato Sakurai." He paused. "And that friend is very close to me personally. Hence, Hayato will continue to be a student in this establishment. Let it go, Yamada. I mean it. Take a few days off if you want to."
Yamada scoffed, turning to leave. "... I'll have you write it on paper. Those days off." He raised an eyebrow before stepping out.
"Haah..." The principal sighed, rubbing his temples as he gazed out the window. The students outside carried on with their lives, oblivious. He watched them in silence.
"A storm is coming. Approaching. Provoking..."
His lips pursed.
"Hm. Seems I, too, am a fan of these comics."
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do… haunted by—"
Sato's voice cracked.
"Come on, Sato! You want a big confession, right?! THEN YOU HAVE TO SING!"
"Miss, my throat is sore! Are you trying to sabotage me!?"
"How dare you. I'm an INSTRUCTOR first, human second!"
"That doesn't really help your case…"
Sayaka exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Alright… Fine. We'll wrap up twenty minutes early. Go home, Sato." She waved him off.
Sato hesitated. "Miss."
She barely glanced at him as she sank into her chair. "What?"
"Thanks. It means a lot."
She scoffed. "You're paying me, dumbass."
"As I said, you're really kind~" Sato grinned before running off.
Sayaka nearly choked on her cigarette. "Fucking INK kid…"
For a moment, she sat alone in the studio, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
'That ideal of love he's holding onto is gonna kill the romance and any chance he's got with her. He should just go for it.'
She flicked ash into the tray, staring at the ceiling.
'But maybe all young people are like that. They need to get hurt to understand. It's a shame, but that's how it is…'
Her gaze drifted toward the entrance.
'Despite that, I hope it won't go down that way for you, boy.' She clicked her tongue, pulling out her phone and dialing Sato.
"Kid."
"What is it, Miss Sayaka? Did you miss me?"
"Shut up, brat." She exhaled smoke. "But if you need a place to crash for the night, use the studio."
A pause.
"… It's alright," Sato said, his voice faltering slightly. "Thanks for the offer, but my parents really need me. Especially my sister… She gets really restless when I'm not there."
She took another drag. "Sure?"
"Yeah. I'm… I'm sure."
"Alright. See ya'… Eat something warm, or something." Her voice softened into a murmur.
"Okay… Ma…m…"
Her cigarette nearly fell from her lips.
"You bastard… You were about to say 'Mama' or some shit, weren't you?"
"Ah! My train's here! Bye, Miss!" Sato blurted before hanging up.
Sayaka scoffed, shaking her head as she crushed her cigarette.
"Dumbass kid."
---------------
"Hiyori. The big prom is coming... Would you like to go out with me?"
Sato murmured to himself as he walked home.
"No... SHIT. Forgot the Hikki. I always call her HIKKI." He slapped himself—hard.
'GET A FUCKING GRIP.'
"Alright… Ah… H-... Hikki… Would you like t-to… go to the prom with me?" His cheek still burned from the slap.
'Better. The nervousness makes it look like I care more, right? That's what Sayaka said… but that I shouldn't overdo it.'
He hummed to himself.
'But Hikki should know I care about her by now, right? I mean, I've shown her. I've become that person who cares about everyone… I've adopted that mindset. The water-to-a-flower bullshit she believes in…'
He hesitated.
'No. It's not bullshit anymore. I'm better now. She's right. The more care and guidance you show someone, the better they turn out.'
He looked up. His house stood in front of him.
His eyes went dead like a fish.
'Well…' He exhaled. 'I can think about that when I return to school tomorrow.'
He knocked. "It's Sato Shizume."
The door swung open.
Two men—twice his size—stood in the entrance.
"Come on in. Your sister's waiting upstairs."
Sato raised his gaze to them.
"Great." His smile was blank as he stepped inside. After he walked past them, they began to talk.
"Creeps me the fuck out. Like he'll kill you in your sleep." One said, glancing at Sato as he started his ascent.
"Tell me about it… Maybe she should go easy on him? You've seen those scars on his back?"
"You wanna tell the boss that?" The other said, narrowing his gaze.
"Nah. I'm good. I like my head and my cock where they are." He scoffed.
They shut the door behind him.
Sato climbed the stairs.
"Hello… Sis."
He stood at the edge of the doorway, past the armed street thugs lurking in the house.
She sat on the bed, dark hair covering dark eyes, bandages wrapped beneath her leather jacket.
"Get in. Close and lock the door. I'm sick of telling you every time." Her voice was blank, devoid of irritation—just an expectation.
Sato nodded and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click as he locked it.
"You're early," she said, her tone firm and even as her gaze ran over him, examining his form.
"I… already finished all my studies."
"You crammed, huh?" Her chin lifted slightly.
"As I always do, sis."
She stepped closer. "Good. You know how I want you to not live like me."
She bent down, gently patting his back.
He flinched—just slightly.
Her breath was warm against his neck.
"Those injuries and scars… I knew where to hit so you wouldn't die. You know that. You just needed discipline."
Her voice was calm. Reassuring. Unshaken.
She leaned against him.
"I know, sis. You only care about me."
Sato stared at the floor. His fist clenched so tight it trembled.
"Your sister's glad."
She pulled back, eyes locking onto his dead ones.
"Cram me next." She let out, her eyes half-lidded.
"Yes…"
Her lips touched his. Her tongue forced into his mouth.
A cold blade pressed against the back of his neck.
No escape.
She pulled him closer, dragging him to the bed.
Sato's mind drifted.
'Ahh... Hiyori…'
Her voice echoed in his head as he closed his eyes.
'I really want to talk about those flowers with you again…'