Shinya
Shinya Hiiragi was a man that knew solitude. From a young age he awoke to unique sense that told him of his past life. These people abused me long ago he thought, and ever since then he didn’t have a restful night in that massive household. His childhood passed in flashes before his eyes, with fake smiles and laughs. There was a sense of not belonging deeply engraved in his heart. It never quite left. One person from his etched memories struck out to him; a man with lilac eyes and a strong voice. Guren? Was he alive in this day and age? But Shinya cursed himself. Even if someone lived who he may want to meet, surely, he didn’t deserve it. Shinya kept to himself. He knew how to please people and unlock their hearts. He was easy on the eyes. Moving from high school to college to an apartment all on his own. Nobody would ever remember him.
He laughed to himself that he chose the career of being a school counselor. Wasn’t he the one that needed the most help of all? Still, he could feel empathetic, and he reached out to the children at the school he worked for. He enjoyed talking with these teenagers; unrefined souls who were still figuring themselves out, on the cusp of adulthood.
The school year had just barely started and he had to speak with a new transfer student. Shinya laughed to himself softly. Who was this troublemaker? He picked up the paperwork and froze.
Yuuichiro Ichinose, 15
That was quite a familiar name, wasn’t it? But it could simply be a coincidence. However the pairing of those two names together set static through him. What….would he do?
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Yuu’s mouth stretched open wide and gave out a spent yawn. Talking to the guidance counselor? What the fuck? That was so lame. He didn’t want to do that, even if it meant missing class. He had told Mika about it, who had looked at him for a few moments before erupting in a fit of giggles. That idiot was of no use.
But guidance counselors….they were annoying, right? They always pressed you for frustrating answers. Yuu had often been to them at other schools. They always suspected Guren was doing something wrong which led to Yuu losing his temper. How could Guren be at fault for anything? He was just a shitty kid.
He noted the door, barging in and praying for it to be over soon.
A white haired man in glasses sat behind the desk. He appeared relatively calm but Yuu could’ve sworn he saw something in his eyes jump.
“Yuuichiro Ichinose?” the white haired man asked.
“Yea? What of it?” he was in no mood for this.
“Have a seat. I’d like to talk to you about a few things”
Rolling his eyes with all the power in his body, Yuu dropped his backpack loudly on the floor and sat down. How long was this going to take?
“Please call me Shinya. So….Yuuichiro, you’ve had some trouble at your past school. How do you think your experience here is going to be different?”
Yuu leaned back and appeared to be in deep thought. Shinya was burning. Was this the Yuuichiro who he remembered? Why was he in his office? Why did he have Guren’s last name?
Shinya opened his mouth and gathered up the courage. “Yuuichiro, how are things at home?”
Yuu slammed his fists on the desk. Not again. No he would not deal with this persistent badgering about Guren’s parenting. Guren had done nothing wrong. “Listen,” he started, “Guren is a great dad, and anyone who wants to question that can take it up with me!” his voice getting louder as he finished his words.
It was almost as if Shinya’s past few years flashed before his eyes. Guren was…..alive? Guren was living and breathing in this world. No….it could just be the same name. There was no coincidence though, of having Yuuichiro as his son. It had to be him. His chest burned. He wanted to meet Guren.
“Yuuichiro, I believe you. Don’t worry. If you say Guren is a good father then I trust you” This is not what I’m supposed to do.
“Really? Wow! You’re like the first to ever believe me!” A smile spread out on his face brightly.
Shinya smiled insincerely. “However, Yuuichiro, how are you going to stay out of fights this year?”
“Mmmm, well Mika’s with me this time. He won’t let me do bad things”
Shinya raised an eyebrow. The vampire? How many of these people were around? It almost disturbed him. “Alright, if you think your friend can keep you out of trouble, then let’s see how things go. But we’ll meet again in a month or so to see how things are going. You can go back to class now, Yuuichiro”
As Yuu made his way out the door he turned back to Shinya. “Next time, just call me Yuu.” He flashed a smile and made his way to class.
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It was Biology. Fuck. Yuu didn’t like biology so far. It was only about four days into the school year and it left a bad taste on his mouth. Not to mention his lab partner.
As he sat down in his chair she was already waiting for him. That purple haired girl. He wasn’t sure why but she agitated him to no return.
She slipped into the chair besides him. Curse assigned seating. After a few notes he felt a paper being jammed into his hand. What the fuck. He opened it up.
My name is Shinoa. What’s yours?
Who was this from? Why would anyone talk to him? He looked around and saw Ms. Purple Hair grinning at him like a devil. Well…..He might as well respond. He didn’t want something of his to get stolen again.
Yuuichiro
He clicked his tongue and tried to pay attention to what the teacher was saying. Had they started the new unit? He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t even sure he had remembered the teacher’s name. Suddenly feeling the piece of paper in his hand again, he turned it over.
I feel like you’re not so good at this school thing.
What the hell? He was trying, okay. He was looking at the board, at the teacher. He was staying out of trouble. No fights, right? He pulled the other side of the paper and began to write.
I feel like you’re not so good at this people thing.
Shinoa giggled. Why? He didn't do something funny, did he? He looked at her in confusion and she began to prepare another note.
You’re not too good at making friends are you?
What? How? This was downright offensive. He would punch her if she wasn’t a girl. He picked up a paper and began to write.
How are you any better?
That would show her. Many torn up papers laid on the desk. Yuu realized he had not paid attention during class. The period was coming to an end and the teacher was wrapping things up. Why did he always do this.
“So, Yuu?”
Who said that?
He spun and Shinoa was addressing him.
“You - !!”
“Maybe you should come meet my friends if you think I’m that awful with people” a sly grin formed on her mouth. How mischievous was this girl?
“What, it’s not like you have anything else to do. Unless you wanna bring your boyfriend”
An immediate reaction. “He’s not my boyfriend!”
“Awww I feel bad for him. Anyways, Yuu, meet us at lunch sometime”
She disappeared into the crowd of walking students leaving Yuu upset and confused. How is Mika his boyfriend?
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Yuu had been pondering what Shinoa meant during the rest of school and till he got home. He had walked home by himself since Mika had something to attend to.
Mika? His boyfriend? He never really thought about it like that. Mika was like….an older sibling when they were younger. Someone who held his hand and wiped away his tears. They were older now and he could admit he was indeed happy to be reunited. Yuu never would have thought that the little kid he knew when he was so young would grow up to be so….attractive. He blushed. No. Mika was not like that. He was already becoming popular at school, though. Surely girls would like him. Maybe he’d find a girlfriend?
That was something that didn’t feel right to Yuu.
But he couldn’t find the right words or emotions to express…..what was Mika to him. Sure, they cuddled sometimes, and Mika touched him a lot, but…..
Did Mika…..have feelings for him? No way. That was impossible. Mika would probably find a girlfriend or something at school.
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The doorbell rang and shook Yuu out of his Mika-thoughts. He swung the door open thoughtlessly and sure enough - it was Mika. Mika with a big silly smile on his face.
“Did you miss me?”
Yuu looked away and moved aside for Mika to enter the house.
The two of them ended up scrawled out on the couch watching lame t.v. progams. Mika flipped through the channels and Yuu made a face. There was some microwave popcorn set out. Handfuls of the popcorn were guzzled down as time passed. It was cozy, Yuu thought, to sit here like this with Mika. He took a glance towards the blonde’s face. Was he even watching the t.v.?
“Mika?”
“Mm?”
“Whatcha thinkin about?”
“It’s a secret”
Yuu nudged Mika impatiently. “Come onnn. Tell me”
As Yuu watched Mika, the blonde got a look in his eyes that was almost sorrowful.
“No….it would make Yuu-chan too sad”
Yuu frowned. “That’s silly. You can tell me anything”
Mika let out a sigh. “It would be nice if things were like that”