Heyyy everyone!!!! Guess who's back!!!!! Finally, here's chapter 3~!!!
Part 3
"Yuria!"
Upon hearing her name, she stopped by the landing of the staircase. Her mother approached from the living room with a disproving look on her face.
"Where have you been? Look at you! Have you been fighting again?!"
Yuria kept her eyes trained on the floor, she always hated this part of the day.
"It's late, and you're a mess. What on earth are you thinking? Getting into fights? Haven't you shamed us enough?!"
She bit her lip, and clenched her fists, trying to bear through her mother's lecture. Really, if she was so tired of it, then why did it still hurt so much?
'Just a little longer, it's almost over.' She thought to herself.
'You can deal with it, just don't break down.'
"Look at me when I'm talking to you! Honestly, try learning some manners from your brother. I don't understand why he can be such a good child while you're the complete opposite."
Yuria, to her own disdain, flinched at those words. Knowing that she struck a nerve, her mother continued.
"Do you know what happens to girls like you? They get thrown into prison! And then what will you do?
Wait.
Yuria looked up, surprised. Hope shone in her eyes. Was her mother actually worried about her?
"And what about me? I deal with yankee girls everyday, what will my employers think if my own daughter gets thrown into prison?!
Oh.....
Of course, she should have known. Yuria lowered her gaze and held back a sigh.
"You will stop with this nonsense immediately. If you're really in need of a hobby, go do something useful for once. But I will not have my daughter running around soiling the family name. This is your final warning. Am I clear?!"
Managing a small nod, it was all Yuria could do to keep herself together. Once her mother's back was turned she took this chance to run to her room. Making sure the door was locked, she took a moment to scoff at herself for not slamming it, since she knew her mother disliked the action.
Throwing herself onto the bed, the tears that were held back burst past her control as she buried her face into her pillow.
Why can't she amount to something?
Why was nothing that she did ever good enough?
Why did she even care what her mother thought?
As these thoughts ran amok in her mind, Yuria tried to hold back her screams of frustration.
She was angry at her mother for not loving her, for not understanding.
And she was angry at herself for caring. She should have been used to it by now, she should have accepted that she'd never amount to anything in her mother's eyes.
So why? WHY?!
And Yuichi, why did he have to be so perfect? Of all people, why did HE have to be her brother?
No.
Yuria berated herself, how could she think that? He was nothing but kind to her. It wasn't his fault that things turned out this way. If anything, she's grateful that he
was there for her. The one anchor that kept her from drifting into a sea of depression and oblivion. It was wrong to be angry at him.
*Knock knock.*
"Peace? It's me, can I come in?"
Not wanting to deal with anyone at the moment, she kept silent, and tried to ignore his pleas.
"I heard what happened downstairs. Could you please let me in?"
Heaving a sigh, Yuria wiped her tears away and pulled herself together before opening the door.
Once Yuichi entered, he ushered her to sit on the bed after locking the door behind him. Settling down next to her, he noticed how downcast she was, refusing to look
up at him. Without any hesitation, he drew her into his arms, surprising her with the sudden act.
Firmly, he told her,
"I'm always here if you need me."
Her guilt ate away at her. Once again, this selfless brother of hers was being so kind. As if her guilt were some sort of key, it unlocked the dam of emotions she had been trying to keep under control. Tears sprang forth again, she cried into his shoulder.
Yuichi patiently kept her company, stroking her hair while whispering again and again that it was going to be alright. Once she had quieted down, he pulled back to find that Yuria had cried herself to sleep. Giving a sad smile, he tucked her into bed and sat there for a while. He liked how peaceful she looked as she slept. A moment when she could forget all about her pain and troubles. Brushing her hair from her eyes, he wished her sweet dreams before planting a kiss on her temple.
Right before he turned out the lights, he looked back at his little sister, and earnestly prayed for her to live a happy life, with or without him.
Two days later, Yuria was keeping true to her word. Even though she never instigated any fights, she also made sure to give no oppurtunity for others to start one with her. So right now, she was watching the clouds drift by, wondering just why she was still trying to please her mother. This was her favourite spot, a little hill hidden from the world, yet not too far from home.
Eventually, after much brooding, she concluded that no matter how much she hated the way she was treated, she still loved her mother. Why? Yuria guessed that because she never really felt her love, it only fueled her yearning for it. After all, no matter what, she was still her mother. She had nurtured and raised her since birth. Huffing at her sense of loyalty and fidelity, she lamented over the fact that her mother didn't even realise it.
'Sweet things always make people feel better.'
Ah, that's right. For some reason, her brother's words sprang into her mind. Shrugging and thinking to herself why not, she decided to pay a visit to a favourite dessert store of hers. She could definitely use some chocolate right now.
Her trip to the store was uneventful, unfortunately, the same could not be said as she was returning home.
Yuria was taking her usual route, happily munching on the last of her chocolate bar, when a couple of girls emerged from the corner and blocked her way.
"Look at you, all smiles with not a care in the world."
'That's not true.' Yuria thought.
But she recognised who was speaking, it was a girl who she defeated last week. Apparently, she was the teppen of her school, though Yuria couldn't exactly remember
her name
The girl continued.
"I hate it when little nobody's get all cocky thinking they own the place."
"I never thought that at all, and you were the one who started attacking me." Yuria retorted.
"Urusai!" A vein could be seen popping from her temple.
"We're gonna make you disappear!"
"Gomen, I'd rather not."
Yuria instantly turned around to flee, but found that her escape route was blocked by three more girls.
'Darn it, I was so close.' She felt irritated that these prideful girls had to hinder her promise to Yuichi.
A girl to Yuria's right sprang forward with her fist raised. She blocked the punch and retaliated with a menacing left hook.
Later, Yuria cautiously opened the front door and tip-toed up the stairs. The last thing she wanted was to be caught by her mother yet again. Of course, with her luck,
she was almost home-free when a voice rang out.
"Peace!"
'Yabai,' she thought.
She sheepishly descended the steps, sporting a nervous smile from being caught.
"Tadaima, onii-chan."
Yuichi frowned instead.
"You're hurt,"
"A-ah....it's not as bad as it looks..."
"Even so. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
He gently tended to her cut lip and other injuries, telling her that their mother would be back late that night, and kept prodding her on what happened earlier.
Once she had explained, the only thing Yuichi did was tell her that dinner was waiting for them.
And that's how they ended up having dinner together, an unnatural silence between the two. Yuichi's face was pensive but did not give Yuria any hints on what was plaguing her brother so much. She knew that it would have something to do with her. After all, his silence only began after she had spun her tale.
She was curious and anxious, but she held herself back, knowing that Yuichi would tell her when he was ready. And she was right. He only spoke up later, once the dishes were cleaned, and gently led her to sit on the sofa.
"Peace," he started, not unkindly, his eyes serious and unyielding.
"We both know that this current situation is not working out. Instead of people avoiding you, they're now drawn to the prospects of defeating a well known streetfighter."
"But onii-chan!" Yuria interrupted,
"It's not like I get in trouble on purpose!"
"I know," Yuichi said, he placed both arms on her shoulders, calming her down.
"You do it to protect yourself, because you refused to be bullied anymore. It's admirable, and praiseworthy, but at a price. People are attracted to power Peace, and you're caught in the middle of it."
"But I'm not a yankee!" Yuria protested, grasping one of Yuichi's arms at her shoulder.
"That's exactly it!" He deadpanned.
"To them, you're no rebellious school delinquent, or some fearsome street gangster, you're a meek, quiet, lonely goody two-shoes! Don't you see? You're the perfect target."
Yuria kept quiet, her gaze downcast, she knew that her brother's words rang true.
"Those that don't know you challenge you, and those you've beaten, come back for more after licking their wounds. They're relentless! That's why you keep getting into fights despite trying to avoid them. And as long as this continues, you'll always be at odds with mother."
"Then tell me, what should I do?!" Yuria pleaded, tears prickling at her eyes. She was sick of this, there was no pleasing anyone. If she did not fight back, she'd be bullied aggresively like before. But if she retaliated, she suffered the wrath of her mother. It was one or the other. Yuria was angry, just so frustrated that she had run into another brick wall.
Why was it so hard just for her to be happy? Wasn't it bad enough to have no friends? Like her brother had said, she was lonely. Oh so lonely.
"Listen, I did some research, and may have found a solution. Before you decide, I want you to think it over carefully ok?" Yuichi gingerly handed her a pamphlet, his eyes watching her closely as she examined it.
Yuria was shocked, she didn't know how to react.
It was a pamphlet for an all girl's boarding school. It's pages displayed information and images of smiling high school girls, with modern school facilities and picturesque surroundings. In another prefecture.
"It's in another prefecture, I know. But that's the point, it's far enough for you not to be recognised and has a low crime rate, so there's less risk of you getting in trouble with yankees. You could have a fresh start, make friends, and live without mother breathing down your neck."
Yuria didn't answer, she could barely breathe. Yuichi's words struck deep. She could live the life she always wanted. Finally be happy. It seemed too good to be true.
And then she remembered, it was.
"But onii-chan, that far? What about you? I can't do it without you....." And it was true. Her brother was the only support she had ever known, she depended on him emotionally and mentally, she can't leave someone that important behind. To leave to an unknown school, in an unknown town, located in a faraway prefecture, all without her one comfort and anchor to this world? Unthinkable.
Knowing what she was thinking, Yuichi enveloped her into a hug. A long, warm, comforting hug, that allowed Yuria to wrap her arms around such an important figure in her life, and thank whichever powers that may be for granting her at least this one piece of happiness.
They both savoured the moment, knowing that their time left together was limited. The world keeps spinning, and it just so happened that it was spinning Yuria in a different direction than her beloved brother.
When they finally separated, Yuichi grasped his sister by the shoulders and looked her seriously in the eye.
"You are stronger than you think you are, Peace. Both physically and mentally. You fought back against the bullies that have tormented you for so long. Not many have the strength to do so. You endured for so long....." Yuichi took a deep breath, saddened by the thought that he could not do much more for Yuria. That he could not protect her from harm, forcing her to fend for herself.
"Onii-chan...." Yuria stared up at her brother, not knowing where this was going, and at a loss for words.
"But remember that being strong comes with a price. Even if you move, there might still be chances for you to somehow get into fights. I know you've been struggling with the promise to not fight, and I hate seeing you hurt. But if it is better than the alternative....well, at least mother won't be there to find out. My only wish is that you wield that strength responsibly, for peace, ne?" Yuichi gave a small encouraging smile.
Yuria blinked uncomprehendingly for a while. A wide smile slowly grew on her face, and she tackled Yuichi into another tight hug.
"Hai!"
Things were looking up. Maybe, just maybe, she will finally be happy.
Topic: Won't you hold me?(Majisuka Gakuen 3)(Peace)(3-shot?) (Read 5598 times)