"and so there-" wow I din't think senior high would be this dull, wait.. no, its more of the teachers are a bit dull. Notes notes and more notes were taken until the school bell rang. "That's it for today, get your thing and seek yourselves out" tch, unsettling. "Hori" a person called out to us, yes us because I sit beside Kyouko. it was Yoshikawa I look to her and saw her gaze was directed at my sister.
"What's wrong Hori?" Yoshikawa asks my sister who was slumped down on the table looking down in the dumps "Yasuda sensei won't get over the flat chest pep talk" ah, Yasuda sensei is that kind of guy who in quote likes "flat chested" girls. I patted her back "It's been over 3 months and he's still on with that joke? he's one big jerk alright, even if his lessons are easy to follow." Yoshikawa said and soon turned back again.
"Hey, Hori" she leans on my desk getting closer to my sister, God she almost sat on my finger! Kyouko humms as a reply "A guy from another school emailed me and asked for your number, give it?" another? that's like the fourth time this week. Well, Kyouko is pretty and smart im not that surprised actually that many guys want her number. "Nah, if he doesn't ask it for me I won't even consider it" she said and gestured to pack up.
"Aww, alright then. setting that aside Shuu seems excited about something" I pointed at Shuu Iura a happy go lucky guy in our class that's usually the life of the party, if there is one. "You betcha I am! I got us some tickets to go do some karaoke! it's a 75% off. got it from my friend" he said and held the coupons tight showing them off to us.
"Huh?! what a steal lets go today!" Yoshikawa announced brightly as we got out of our seats waiting for Tooru and Shuu to pack their things. It's cleaning day and im sure Kyouko's aware of that. "Sorry guys we can't, we'll skip today thanks for the offer by the way" it's not that we don't want to, but we have to take care of Souta because mom and Kyousuke isn't usually home this time around.
"Again? aww, you guys never come" Yoshikawa complains with Tooru backing her up "come on Hori, Tozoko's been dying to go karaoke, are you just gonna crush him like that?" Tooru, a tall guy with purple hair who reached out to me at my first day, said. "No Tooru, that's just you trying to get us to come, yesterday you said that a bride was waiting for me and that I had to come" I slapped his hand away and got my school bag ready.
"B-but it was true!" he complained and held my shoulders to which Iura pulled him off "I would rather believe pigs were flying than the stuff you say" I scowled playfully to which he huffed a breath to. "Well whatever it's not like we can't go some other day anyways" Kyouko shrugged them off and I heard a small clack sound, I look around and I din't see anything. throwing the thought away, I went to Kyouko but was stopped by a hand on my shoulder.
It was that gloomy emo guy in class, Miyamura. "Hori-kun, Hori-san's phone" he said and pointed down to my sister's phone that I almost stepped on. He got the phone and gave it to my sister. "You dropped this, Hori-san" my sister thanked him awkwardly and he left the scene. "It's Miyamura, the guy who always sits at the corner of the class alone" Yoshikawa said quietly as Tooru starred at his back.
"The guy's a walking mystery, quiet and reserved. He's basically invisible" I wouldn't want to say anything because Miyamura actually reminds me of myself. Although I talk more in contrast to Junior high I still consider myself quiet. "I bet he's one of those Otakus blegh.." Otaku? I imagined Miyamura looking at a anime girl figurine weirdly and it isn't settling for me.
"Nah I don't think he is, well we'll be going now see you guys tomorrow" Kyouko said and we both ran out waving back at the others. It wasn't everyday that I feel actual fun from school, usually it was just studying and working on repeat. I din't have anyone to work for, no family no friends only Ms Haruhiko.
but now, a warm family well.. Kyousuke is sort of warm despite his cold appearance and the reek of cigarettes. rather study alone, I have Kyouko and the others to study with. Tooru and Iura reached out to me and now instead of labeling myself "antisocial" i'd go for "Really-really quiet" Ms Haruhiko and I are still on excellent terms, she would constantly ask me if im enjoying the new place, the family and I would always give her the same answer "Yes."
She's still the same women i met years ago.
"What's your name?" it was 6 years ago at a dark alley, i was shivering from the lack of warmth. noting much was too be expected anyways, how can a ripped shirt keep me warm anyways? "Tozoko Katou" i replied with a small voice, i was scared that he might hear me and take me back to his house. "Don't worry Tozoko, i won-"
"Tozoko?" i snapped back to reality, we were already in front of the house Kyouko was calling me for a while now it seems "The door?" i went through my jacket pockets to get the keys and unlock the door. as soon as we got ourselves in the house we threw our bags in our room and went down to change into cleaning gear. Aprons, masks, gloves applied and i threw the broom across the room which Kyouko caught perfectly.
Slapped the vacuum's on button and the cleaning started. In 15 minutes the whole place was spotless and the final boss is.. the toilet. After a bit of self conflict i just scrubbed it to get this over with. about 3 minutes passed when i jolted up when i heard Kyouko scream, i went down stairs to see Souta with a nosebleed. "You okay lil guy?" i asked as i got the first aid kit.
"Yeah, im alright onii-chan! this onii-chan helped me out when i fell down" well that sounds awfully familiar don't you think? wait, this onii-chan? "seems like you guys got this covered, im just going to head out. see you guys" Kyouko had much more of a reaction to a guy with long hair tired to a pony tail, piercings on his bottom lip and ears and for the record, her reaction was a long scream of shame for not noticing the guy.
But i couldn't help but find this guy familiar. i kinda feels like he's invisible.. weird. "N-no don't leave yet, the least we can do is give you a drink and snacks" i went in and got some cookies and tea ready for the guy as Kyouko chatted with the guy. "Eh? w-we're in the same school?" i can already imagine the guilt that's running down on her for not remembering. "In the same class?!" strike two Kyouko.
"Uh.. Im Miyamura from your class" strike three and "EHHHHHHHH?!" yeah, i figured that would happen. i settled the tea and cookies on the table and sat down "Thanks for returning Souta back Miyamura, the little rascal likes to run off" i messed with the little guy's hair as he did the same with mine "Stop that Souta" i chuckled a little as he tied my hair.
"It was no trouble at all actually!" he said as I offered him a cookie and gave Souta half of mine "You get half because you ran off again" he pouted my way but nodded and took the treat anyways "Blegh.. too sweet" Kyouko heard my complain and turned anxious all of the sudden. She looked to Miyamura with an awkward smile "I-is it too sweet?" she asks the guy who was munching on the chocolate chipped cookie "No! not at all I actually really like these"
...
"Hori-kun, can I borrow a pencil?" Miyamura asks of me, he was back to his usual emo look at school. Glasses on, jacket on, no piercings but I can clearly see that small hole when he tucks his hair behind his ear. "Sure, here you go" I handed him the pencil, oh I forgot to sharpen it "It's fine, I can sharpen it. get back to working on the task" he said as I nodded we were just doing a short essay about a past event.
Is this how my life goes everyday? yeah, the reek, the hurt was all in my veins by now. Thanks a lot that I got an asshole of a father "Don't worry Tozoko, I just want to help you" the women called out to me offering her hand. I was cuddling myself because I had no other source of warmth. after starring at her hand blankly I uncovered the bruise mark that I hid with my hand and held her hand.
'so warm' I want more of it-
"Nuggiesss" suddenly a hand was on top of my head messing up with my hair, Tooru.. sometimes he can get annoying but Tooru is Tooru so I don't really have any choice either, i'll just wait for him to get bored.. "Ouch!" 2 minutes is more than enough for me to jab his stomach "N-never... disturb... a Hori" I huffed continued to tend the essay "What would you tell yourself if you were in that situation again?" a question was left on the bottom of the paper.
"To not be weak" I wrote truthfully, I din't mind sharing this personal stuff with the teacher because she's Ms Haruhiko's close friend. "PARTY!" really? it's not everyday that I just want some peace because I haven't finished my assignment. "GET YOSELF UP BECAUSE IT'S THE WEEKEND GUYS!" I stood up and moved my seat, ugh why do i have to sit near a wall! its damn annoying when i want to go out of my seat.
I smiled angrily to Iura as he sweats intensely before me. "Shuu, can you keep it down for a bit?" i said with a calm voice, i did mean to come off as scary but i din't mean to make him kneel on the floor either. "P-please forgive me master Tozoko!" I sighed and went to his backpack "Guess i'll be taking this as your punishment" i held a chocolate bar, his favorite chocolate bar actually.
...
"So what did you learn today Shuu?" Tooru asks the pale, green haired male. It was already the end of the day and we were walking in the hallways making our way out. "Never.. disturb Tozoko." Shuu mumbled as i was chowing down his chocolate "This thing is good, you should get on my nerves more so i can get more of these" i threw the wrapper away leaving him dejected. "W-why don't i just buy two later on?" He asks with a sweatdrop as i shrugged.
"Hori-kun" i turned back to see Miyamura holding the borrowed pencil "Oh yeah, I almost forgot about it" he thanked me and Kyouko joined in suddenly "Miyamura, you should call him Tozoko because it's confusing when you call our last name, you can call me Hori!" Well it is confusing because not everyone uses honorifics except for Miyamura. "O-oh alright then, see you guys"
He left the scene passing by Tooru and the others, we two went home after excusing ourselves and the days were passing rather quickly. Miyamura kept coming over because the little rascal claimed him as his onii-chan, well personally I had no problems with him same goes with Kyouko, he's generally a good guy who just doesn't talk much. "Kyouko, do me a favour and look up tomorrow's sales" it was yet another day that I lost rock paper scissors on who cooks dinner.
"Got it!' she yelled back through the living room. Today we were just having some curry but since it's the last of it we need to get something for tomorrow. after I prepared some drinks for them I went back to see Kyouko starring blankly to Miyamura's face. Interesting... "Uhh, the eggs have a huge discount tomorrow"
"Then we know what's for dinner tomorrow" Souta heard and jumped in happiness yelling omurice repeatedly "You and your obsession with omurice" I chuckled a bit and noticed that the two others were starring at each other. I coughed to catch their attention and soon the three watched a movie while I prepared dinner. Afternoon, the sun is already setting to a gentle orange. it was and still my favorite colour.
"Mom, why does dad hate me?" even if I am just a first grader I already know when someone hates me, I learned how it feels to be completely despised from the man that gave me life. She starred at me, her orange eyes is still sincere as it is when i first learned how it is to be loved... from the woman that carried me. "Tozoko dear, dad doesn't hate you.." she always says but even at such a young age i know that's... a lie.
...
The school bell blares at dismissal time, everyone packed up and was soon saying goodbye to each other. "An announcement for the student council members, all please assemble at the council room to discuss an imporant matter, i repeat all assemble at the council room to discuss an imporant matter" seems like the day isn't in Kyouko's favour, judging by her sigh and how she slumps down.
Suddenly she pulled out her phone and started typing. Ding! came the notification on my phone. "Help Miyamura get the eggs, pronto.. or else!" i still want to live and not get mulled alive by my sister so i bolted out of there and went to the shoe lockers where Miyamura was already there. "Miya! eggs.. now!" we both ran at full speed, the front gates were usually crowded at this time.
"Side gates!" we both ran there but in reality there isn't any gates, it's just a fence. "Think you can make it?" he asks me as i gave him a small smirk, we picked up the pace and jumped over the fence with ease. I turned from him for a second and saw that it seems like we bumped into someone "W-what are you guys doing?!" Yoshikawa asks bewildered at our actions but we just gave her one word as an answer "Eggs!"
"Eggs? ehh?!" We ran at full speed "5 minutes left Miya!"
...
"we... got them" Miyamura collapses on the floor while i caught the eggs that he almost dropped "omurice's for dinner, go take a shower first Souta" i said to which he nodded vigorously, the little guy will do almost anything for my cooking, although i don't know why the thought of it was enough for me. I wasn't the best cook, but i know how to make something simple even better with a few touches, a skill i got from Ms Haruhiko.
"I am not going to a sale anymore, housewives are scary" shouting, shouting, pulling hairs, kicking to get the discounted eggs. Miyamura seems to agree with me, he flinched at the mention of housewives. "Yoshikawa must think we're a bunch of weirdos now" I remarked to just half an hour ago where we left her hanging, explaining ourselves with just a word. That being "Eggs!"
after a bit of cooking the omurice was almost done Kyouko went in the kitchen to help out, I asked her to get the water out since we forgot that Miyamura ran at lightning speed, went back at usain bolt's speed and came back here without a single drop of water. "Dinner's read-"
"I just kind of feel, the time is just for me, you know?" something that I din't expect to hear but heard anyways. "S-Stop saying stupid things like that!" I got a scene of Kyouko slamming the water to Miyamura's face... hard, gosh that looks like a free bruise. "Stupid Miyamura, you idiot! idiot! Stupid Miyamura" I saw the furious blush on her face and ears.
Knowing that Kyouko's a top tier tsundere and her teensy bit rough personality that she has, actually adds up to the current ice pack that Miyamura's holding to his cheek. we were all having dinner.. well we three were having dinner "Once onee-chan starts calling you an idiot, she never stops" Miyamura was sweating at the sight of Kyouko calling him an idiot.. for 15 minutes straight.
"I-it seems so" he said but soon bursts out laughing "Im not saying that I don't like how you are at school Hori-san. But when you get angry like... hitting my face, it feels like you're not even trying to look good at home, I find that side cute" I smiled a little and looked out the window. it wasn't usually a good idea since my mind wanders around.
Its kinda crazy how much my life's changed in just a few months, sometimes looking at the past is nice looking back at all those memories but looking at the same memories that gives me nightmares, I feel the hellish pain because all of that I've been through but yet I feel that bitter sweet happiness that I remember them and that I won't ever relive them.
"Tozoko?" I snapped back to reality. "Sorry, I zoned out"
Bitter sweet memories, is all I have it'll be nice to relive them but I know that's impossible.