Why… Why is he here? Why!? Eiji kept staring at the man in front of the door breathing heavily.

The man went to take his seat, which was right next to Hikari…

He looked back towards Eiji and grinned once more.

What does he plan to do? Thoughts kept rushing through Eiji’s head, completely ignoring that he’s in class Eiji just kept staring at that man as if his life was over.

After class the man walked straight out the door, Eiji seeing him leave decided to wait a while to make sure he was actually gone.

Hikari walks up towards Eiji and slams the table

“I don’t know what happened! But you have to snap out of it!”

Just like that Hikari leaves before Eiji could say a word to her.

What does she know? What could she possibly know how I feel? EIji clenched his face looking down at his table.

After a few minutes of silence Eiji finally gets up from his seat and heads towards the door. Just as Eiji went through the door he felt great force on his collar and was pulled aside and slammed against a wall by someone. Eiji opened his eyes and began to sweat as his eyes widened to see the man he thought left a while back.

“You thought you could get away from me!?” the man said staring right at Eiji in the eyes

Eiji looked away unable to reply. The man raised his hand in the air and slapped Eiji straight across his face.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you! Did you already forget what I can do to you!?”

Eiji looked down towards the floor, and stared at it as if he was going to cry.

Once again the man raised his hands and Eiji closed his eyes, but this time Eiji didn't feel anything, he took a peak and saw Ryo standing next to him holding the man’s arm with veins popping out of his head.

“What do you think you’re doing to Hamasaki!?!”

“Who are you!? Let go!” the man struggled and was eventually set free

“Don’t let me see you again!” Ryo shouted waving his fists in the air

“I’ll get you back Eiji!” the man said walking away

Eiji quietly walked past Ryo, but was stopped by Ryo’s arm

“Who was that?”

“It’s none of your business Machida!” Eiji tried forcing his way past Ryo, but found his attempt useless as he didn’t even move a centimeter further from where he was.

“You know I won’t let you go until you tell me” Ryo turned to face Eiji with a face of seriousness and one where he didn’t smile.

Sigh, I guess I’ll just tell him his name, then maybe he’ll let me go…

“H, his name is… Kawata Takeshi…” Eiji once again tried to force his way through Ryo and this time he got through.

“Wait…!” Ryo lifted his arm trying to grab Eiji by his collar, but missed and was left behind as Eiji kept running without looking back.

Eiji, too afraid to look back continued to run all the way home. How did Takeshi find me? What does he plan to do to me? I can’t believe Machida saw what happened!

As Eiji closed the door behind him, he fell to the ground. His vision got blurry and he touched his face, having his hand turning wet. Eiji sat on the floor, crawled up in a ball and began to sob. Until he felt a vibration from his phone, Eiji took out his phone from his pants and saw a message which read

“I won’t tell anyone about what happened today, but just remember you don’t have to be alone”

Ah, It’s probably from Machida… He probably got my number from Takaki… Why does he suddenly decide to think about me…?

Suddenly, Eiji felt bnging behind him, he stood up and looked through the peephole on his door and froze once more.

“I found you! Eiji!”

How did he find me? Why is he here!? Why is Takeshi outside my door right now!?! Eiji began to panic, his breath got heavy, the world was spinning, and his mind went blank.

“Open the door Eiji! I know you’re home! Since I followed you here!” Takeshi began to fiddle with the door knob banging the door even louder.

Eiji covered his ears and closed his eyes shut trying to ignore Takeshi.

“If you don’t open this door right now! I’m going to repeat what happened ten years ago!”

Eiji opened and widened his eyes as fast as lightning.

No… I can’t have that happen again… Never again…

Eiji stood up slowly, unlocked his door and fell back to the ground as the door opened with great velocity.

“I see you still remember what happened, loser! Glad to see you still know your place!” Takeshi put his hand on Eiji’s head and rubbed ferociously.

“But your friend really got me mad before! So you know what that means right!?” Takeshi pulled Eiji’s hair forcing their eyes to meet.

Eiji tried looking away, but that just made Takeshi grip his hair harder

“Look at me when I’m talking to you! It seems you’ve been alone for far too long!”

Takeshi began to shake Eiji around by his hair and eventually pulled him straight towards a wall. Eiji, unable to fight back, fell back to the ground and as he was about to get back up, Takeshi raised his leg high up in the air and stomped down with all his force, right on Eiji’s head.

“You dare get back up! Blame your friend for this! Blame yourself for this!”

Takeshi pulled Eiji back up by his hair once more and stared at Eiji’s bruised face as tears fell down.

“Remember Eiji, You’re a loser who deserves to be alone!”

Takeshi, slamming Eiji against the wall once more, finally decides to stop and exits Eiji’s house, closing his door.

“You better not tell anyone about what happened today! I’ll see you in school tomorrow!”

As Takeshi left Eiji’s house, he kept laughing as Eiji just stayed on the floor as tears just couldn't stop flowing out.

Why? Why does this only happen to me? Why can’t I ever be happy?

Eiji got up slowly, went straight to his bookshelves, and began throwing down every manga he had. As he cried and screamed, he fell down to his bed, took a deep breath and screamed with all his might in his blanket completely ignoring the pain he felt all over his body.

The next day, Eiji didn’t go to class. Hikari waited for Eiji at the place they first met, but didn’t see him anywhere at all. Hikari waited until she couldn’t wait anymore and had to head to class.

In class Hikari looked around for Eiji, but couldn’t see him anywhere.

Where is Eiji? Did something happen? She thought to herself taking her seat.

As Hikari took her seat, she heard a voice next to her

“I see that the loser decided not to show up to class today!”

Hikari turned her head to see Takeshi laughing.

Who is this guy? He looks kind of familiar… Is he talking about Eiji?

Before Hikari could ask him any questions, class had already begun.

During class Hikari tried texting Eiji multiple times

“Where are you?”

“You shouldn’t skip class no matter the reason!”

“Are you okay?”

However she never got a reply.

After class Hikari checked her phone once more to see that her messages weren’t even seen by Eiji.

What’s happened to Eiji? He usually at least reads my text messages… That guy that was sitting next to me might have something to do with it…

Once class was over, Hikari tried to ask Takeshi some questions, but he left before she could even get a hold of him.

As Hikari rushes to exit and catch up with him, she bumps into Ryo on her way out.

“Machida! Do you know what happened to Eiji!? He didn’t show up to class today!” looking right at Ryo while holding her phone.

Ryo turned his head to the side looking a bit worried and also a bit angry clenching his fists together.

“You know something don’t you?” Hikari grabbed a hold of Ryo and began to shake him

“Tell me what it is!” Hikari raised his voice tightening her grip and shaking Ryo more violently

However rather than telling Hikari what he knew, Roy just stood there in silence looking away from Hikari, no matter how strong her shaking was.

“Fine! If you won’t tell me what happened! Then I’ll just go ask Eiji myself!”

Hikari turned away from Ryo and began walking away, but just then Kohaku appeared in front of her.

“What’s going on?” Kohaku asked tilting her head slightly looking at Hikari

“Eiji wasn’t in class today and I think somethings wrong. So I’m going to his house to check up on him.”

“Can I come too? Hope he’s okay…” Kohaku replied with a worried look on her face

“Yeah! Since someone won’t tell me what happened we’ll just find out ourselves!” Hikari grabbed Kohaku’s hand and began walking leaving Ryo behind standing out in the open in front of her class without moving at all.

In front of Eiji’s house, both Hikari and Kohaku banged on his door and rang his bell in hopes of him answering.

“Eiji! It’s me! Morino and I were worried that you didn’t come to class today!”

However, they never got a reply from Eiji no matter how long they banged his door or rang his doorbell.

“What should we do? It doesn’t seem like he’s home…” Kohaku said holding her hands together

“He’s definitely home! He wouldn’t have gone outside if he didn’t even go to school! He’s just ignoring us!” Hikari raised her fists in anger

“Let’s just give him some time… We can check up on him some other time…” Kohaku told Hikari looking down and worried

“Yeah… I guess you’re right…”

“Eiji! If you can hear me! I don’t know what’s wrong! But just remember that you’re not alone!” Hikari screamed and turned around to leave

“Morino, you coming or what?”

Hikari turned around seeing Kohaku bending down at Eiji’s door.

“Yeah!” Kohaku replied getting up immediately and started leaving with Hikari looking back one last time as they left.

In Eiji’s house, Eiji found a small folded piece of paper in front of his door, as he was checking to see if they actually left. He unfolded the piece of paper and noticed words on it. The note read

“Get better soon! :D”

Eiji stared at the piece of paper and once again tears fell down his face onto the paper.

Why? Why do you guys care so much?

Eiji crumbled up the wet piece of paper and threw it on the floor going back to his bed looking down the whole way.

Just what should I do? Eiji covered himself in his blanket and fell back into a pit of darkness. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, he notices something on his bed. Eiji moved around, but couldn’t get rid of whatever was on his bed. He reached towards the object on his bed and noticed it was another piece of paper. Eiji moved the paper towards him and noticed it was the paper Hikari had left for him.

“You’re not alone” Eiji kept repeating in his head

Just what should I do? Eiji cried once more and fell back to sleep.

The next day Eiji decided to go back to school. However rather than meeting Hikari on the way there, he saw her the moment he opened the door at his house.

Eiji froze in his place for a moment, unable to move at all. Why is she here?

“Hey, Eiji…” Hikari put her hands behind her back

What’s this? Why is she acting like this?

“I see you finally left your house… Are you going to class today?”

Eiji nodded slowly and shut the door behind him and began to walk away without looking at Hikari at all.

“Hey… Don’t ignore me…” Hikari reached out for Eiji, but he began to walk faster

Why? Why is she doing this?

“Hey… Eiji!”

“Why…?” Eiji stopped in his place

“What?”

“Why are you doing this!?” EIji shouted clenching his fists together, unable to look at Eiji

“What do you mean?” Hikari looked worried walking closer to Eiji, but Eiji stepped father away from her as she got closer.

“We barely know each other! So why!? Why do you care so much!?”

Hikari froze in place for a moment, it was as if time itself had frozen. Clenching her fists together she rushes towards Eiji and grabs his collar.

“I care for you! You may not know why, but just remember you have friends that care for you!”

“Okay! Okay! Can you let me go now!” Eiji struggles to free himself since all his bruises haven't fully healed yet.

“No! Not until you tell me what's going on!” Hikari began to shake Eiji

“No, I mean it! It hurts!”

Hikari let go of Eiji’s collar and looked at Eiji’s pained face and saw something purple on his skin near his neck.

“What is that?” Hikari pointed right at where the mark was as Eiji covered it with his hands

“I, it’s nothing…” Eiji looked away from Hikari, but Hikari ignored him and just lifted up his shirt to see black and purple bruises all over Eiji.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing!” Eiji tugged his shirt down to recover himself and Hikari stood in front of him staring right at him.

“Why… Why didn’t you tell any of us that this was happening!” Hikari clenched her fists together, mustering her strength to stop herself from crying.

“I, it’s none of your business…” Eiji turned around and began to walk away from Hikari once more

“If you really want to be alone…! Then we’ll never bother you again…!” Hikari screamed, as she stood there watching Eiji get farther and farther from her, a tear fell from her face to the ground.

In class, Eiji was completely alone with no one around him. He looked towards Hikari’s direction, but she didn’t look back at him.

After class, Hikari left immediately without bothering Eiji at all, just like she said she would.

Yeah, this is what’s best for me… I deserve to be alone…

Just as Eiji was about to leave, he found Takeshi right in front of him.

“I see you’re alone again! A loser like you should be like this!” Takeshi laughed hysterically as he pushed Eiji down and left.

Eiji slowly got back up and went straight home and covered himself in his blanket once more.

I’m alone again… Why am I not happy? Why can’t I smile like I used to? As Eiji closed his eyes, a tear crawled down his face onto his bed sheets.

It’s quiet…

Too quiet…