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Cherry Blossom Tree
Chapter 17
Yuu POV
From that day Minami stopped smiling.
Next month, our grade would be graduating.
Since that day, she lost her charisma, her personality and her whole identity. Since that day she stopped smiling and cut contacts with almost everyone. Girls began to criticise and torment her in hope to intimidate her. No matter what they did- put rotten eggs in her locker; throw her sport wear in the garbage bin- she never cried or blamed anyone in front of me. All she ever felt since that day was guilt and the grief of losing a loved one.
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‘Yuu over here!’
I threw the ball at one of my team-mates but it was caught by the opposition. It had become a routine- I was notorious for not being able to pass a single ball.
After the match my team mates came up to me and said that they wanted to take me off the team.
“Sure, I don’t even want to play anymore,” I said emotionlessly.
‘Oi Yuu, it’s about her right?’ one of my mates, Takayanagi asked. I ignored him and got ready to go home.
He confronted as he continued, ‘How can you be bothered protecting Minami-chan? She’s not even Minami-chan anymore…’
I looked at him menacingly yet he continued, ‘Just give up on he-,’ my body moved automatically and I held my fist in front of the guy. I sent him my most intimidating and ominous look I could manage.
“What the hell man, you used to like her!” I shouted, blood rushing to my head.
‘Haha… I used to fu*king like her but what the hell- she just changed. Because she’ll make you like sh*t I went and told her for you… Because you couldn’t do it… I told her she killed Ma-,’ I sent a prevailing blow to his left cheek followed by another and another. My hands were covered in blood and my mates were shouting and making an attempt on pulling me away from him.
‘Someone get a teacher!’ a voice from somewhere cried.
I ignored them and continued my business.
My throat went dry and a stimulated tear fell down from my chin. I was crying.
“Apologise to her! Do you know how fu*king hard it is for her!? Do you fu*king know that she cries herself to sleep every single bloody night!? Not even the girls said that she killed Mari… They did everything they could ever manage but they never said that directly at her! And you just go and… and…” I was dragged off him by a brawny teacher.
Before being taken away I spat out, “you’re the lowest… you’re the lowest sh*t I’ve ever met.’
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I eavesdropped over the door.
‘I’m so sorry. We sincerely apologise from the bottom of our hearts,’ my parents bowed their heads frantically to Takayangi with his head compactly bandaged, his parents, the teachers and the principal.
The teachers just looked at each other helplessly.
‘Please we beg you… Please just let him graduate. He’s actually a boy with a good heart, he meant no harm… this is his first time ever he raised his fist. We will tell him not to ever get involved in a fight or use violence to solve a problem so please just this once, please let him off,’ my parents fell on their knees and begged everyone at the meeting.
What the hell… Why the hell am I just standing here watching everything happen?
It was the first time in my life I saw my parents bowing their heads so desperately, moreover beg on their knees. I couldn’t stand it so I barged into the room unwelcomed.
“I’m… I’m really sorry Takayanagi,” I said with my hands touching the floor. The whole room fell silent as they looked at me in surprise.
“I… I acted on my impulse and I couldn’t think of the consequences… I know I have absolutely no right whatsoever to say this but I don’t care if I can’t graduate here… Just please… Could you please apologise to Minami?” tears begun welling up my eyes as I continued, “before the incident she was always smiling... always so clumsy I wanted to protect her.”
“Minami was just too kind for her own good. At that accident… a boy was trying to reach a ball and Minami only wanted to altruistically help that boy. She meant no harm, she was a person made up of benevolence. You know, she’s such an idiot… Now her eyes are dead her smile is gone… all traces of her charisma now long history… So please… Please just realise this was a mere misfortune,’ I realised I was up close to him and had my two hands grasped on to his broad shoulders.
“Please apologise to her or else I won’t know if she would ever… ever smile again…” I plunged down onto the floor and put my head against the unruffled tiled floor.
I felt a presence above my head thus looked up and found a hand offering for assistance.
‘Yuu… Apology accepted and I’m the one who should be apologising. I’m sorry man. I’ll go to apologise to Minami later but I think it’s amazing how you can love someone so dearly…’
‘Everyone, I apologise for the concern we have caused but I’m fine now. Teachers please look after us until our graduation and mum, dad… I’m sorry for being such a shameless son. One day I hope I can be someone like Yuu who treasures others before himself,’ Takayanagi announced.
Fortunately, Takayanagi’s parents and the teachers all forgave me. However, more than anything, I was glad he said he would apologise to Minami.
After everyone, notwithstanding the principal and I, left the room I held him back to inquire something.
‘Sir, I’m so sorry for all the trouble I have caused. I know that I am so egotistical to inquire something after the trouble I have caused but do you think, you could do be a final favour?’ I questioned.
He cocked his eyebrow and I continued, after I had finished he seemed tentative but gave me permission.
‘Thank you so much!’ I stooped earnestly before leaving the room with another bow. I saw him smile and mutter something about ‘youth’.
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