The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 136~♫

"Then, with no hint, you take in stray Taiga and shelter her and her adorable kittens." He sighed. "And not to mention you were the entire week hardworking. Don't think I didn't notice you dashing around, taking notes, and helping wherever you could."

Her cheeks reddened that she could start cosplaying for a beetroot. "Don't talk... stupid stuff." Her arms wrapped around her body. Trailing the grass, she noticed her shoes lacked the usual spark.

Dirt and green juice covered them. Ueno dived into the work that she had forgotten to check her clothes.

"I dunno what to think about it," he continued. "But it seems you aren't a bad person."

"What it matters?" her voice lost any color. "I can't change the way others see me. You shouldn't socialize with me. You still have another year of the school in front of you. Don't shatter your social status over me."

"What social status?" He hunched his back.

"Aren't you one of Kaminis?" His simplicity or obliviousness to the world around ticked her off and fascinated at the same time. "You are the son of IT CEO who ships components, machines, and software into the entire world. Kamini Group is in Top Ten IT companies of the world!"

She clenched her fists. "You have to be presentable! There is an image you have to sustain to be successful!" The voice of her mother resonated inside her mind. These were the lessons she had to endure after her father had died. "Associate only with the right people. Dress appropriately, educate himself in all kinds of topics, show how rich you are, make an impact in social media—"

Ueno had to stop as Kagetsu's head nodded off and on as his mind switched off.

In other words, he was dozing off.

"Were you listening?" She slapped his dropped head.

The youngest Kamini yelped. "What was that for?"

Another slap landed on his shoulder.

"Okay! I know! I know!" he rather agreed than facing her wrath.

"So, in a nutshell, watch out how you present yourself in society, and you shall get to the top."

"So annoying."

"I can... agree to that." She folded her arms, looking away. Not too long ago, she aimed for the top. Now she wasn't sure what to do but to finish her last year here.

"So, how are you?"

"Come again?" She snapped her head.

"Well, if the lecture is over, I would like to get back to my intended question"—he shrugged his shoulders—"how are you? All good?"

Putting one hand on her hip, the other pinched her nose. "That's why I said, associa—"

"I don't care what others think!"

The tone of his voice made her look right into his eyes.

"I don't care what other students think. You aren't that bad person... when you try." He gave her a playful wink. "And it would be mean not to give you a second chance. Especially when you are trying to change."

He adjusted his black skirt. "I know a lot of them see me as a freak for dressing up as a girl. But that's okay. I have fun, and... to be honest, I'm not sure this is me. I still feel I'm missing a piece of a puzzle to see the complete picture.

"The only opinion that matters to me is from my friends and family. Why should strangers decide what I wear, or how should I behave? They don't know me. Why should they judge me?"

"That's how society works. One photo can ruin one's reputation. You are lucky you are one of Kaminis, or your photos would be all over the Internet, and people would lynch you for being gay."

"Wrong!" He lifted his index finger. "It's transgender. But why would they lynch me? I'm lost."

This time it was her hunching, losing the strength to explain to this kid how the world worked. "Because it's disgusting for some, or they can call you attention whore, crazy, mentally ill, or freak. I have seen none shaming photo of yours on my social media because they fear your father."

"Why would they fear my dad? He laughs a lot, tells us jokes, and spent a lot of time with us when we were kids." He bit his thumb before snapping his fingers. "I know! It's because they don't know him!" He smiled like a small kid and marched to Ueno.

She stepped back taken by a surprise. He grabbed her hand, dragging her.

"Wanna meet my dad? That way, you won't be scared."

She trailed after him like a flag, getting dragged among people. Heads turned their way, whispers grew from hushed voice to shouts. There was even a camera snapping.

"You idiot!" Ueno barked, snatching her hand back.

Kagetsu turned a step later, his eyes widening as if he had realized a big mistake.

'About time!' Ueno took a deep inhale. "Don't touch me, you baka!" Pivoting on her heel, she dashed away, dropping her pen and notebook.

Kagetsu, like a lost kitten, watched her disappear. If his ears could move, they would drop.