Lesson Learned

I want to go back

"Um, excuse me?" A timid voice interrupted them.

"What?!" They both yelled at the same time, snapping their gazes to the side where a man was walking his dog.

"Uh, you're blocking the path..." the man replied feebly, sweating in fear when they levelled him with matching glares.

"And?" Mitsuko snapped darkly.

"I-I'll just got around!"

Mitsuko turned back to her brother while the man practically ran across the road to get to the other side. "Look, be angry about the Principal snubbing you, but don't take it out on me when I didn't even do anything."

Gakushuu's jaw was clenched tight, scowling darkly. "Of course, nothing's ever your fault is it?"

"You're such a prick," she swore harshly, balling her hands into fists. "You can say what you want, but I've never complained about being in your shadow—do you even have slightest idea of how hard it is to be your sister?!"

"No." He bared his teeth in a snarl. "Because I'm too busy thinking of how much easier my life would be without you in it!"

Her eyes widened in hurt, feeling like he'd punched her in the gut.

Gakushuu froze up as soon as he said it, gripping his bag strap tightly.

She blinked quickly, feeling her eyes sting. "Well, that's just great." Her voice broke a little in the middle. "Thank you for being honest for once."

His mouth remained shut tight like he'd swallowed something disgusting. "Good."

There looked like there was a great deal more he wanted to say, but his lips stayed tightly shut. Anger was still simmering off him as he turned away from her and marched down the path, completely ignoring her like the asshole he was.

Mitsuko gritted her teeth tight, glaring at his back as he marched off in a strop. "Prick," she muttered and then frowned when she saw some people staring. "What are you looking at?!" she snapped, making a few jump in surprise and quickly duck their heads. 

***

Mitsuko let out a deep breath when she was alone, leaning against the wall outside of the auditorium; it wouldn't be long until the other students arrived.

"Shit," she swore, banging her head lightly against the wall.

This was really going to happen.

Her thoughts lingered back to her classmates and felt something ache in her chest.

Her back slid down the wall until she was sat on the grass, staring up at the sky, wishing she was somewhere else.

"Mitsuko..."

She glanced up, grimacing when she saw a very anxious looking Takebayashi approach her, a bit hunched over like he was carrying some extra weight in his school bag.

"Takebayashi," she replied, sighing as she looked back up. "So you actually memorised the speech?"

"...Yes," he replied hesitantly, stopping in front of her.

She smiled grimly. "Of course you did..." Her stomach lurched when she thought about it. "And you're sure you really want to do this?"

He was quiet for a moment. "...Not really." He came and sat down next to her. "None of this is how I thought it would be."

Mitsuko eyed him warily for a second or two, before giving a shrug. "No, me neither...well, I didn't expect to feel so crappy about it at least."

"I can't give that speech," Takebayashi said, his voice growing firmer. "And I don't want to be a crazy overlord or whatever the Principal is trying to push."