no mader how strong the wind blows

chapter 2 Savior

S

ummary:

Things don't go so well on Ash's first day of school, good thing he has someone to protect him.

Notes:

For everyone's guidance, Ash is 6 and Eiji is 8.
Anyways, enjoy the update!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

“Good morning, Ibe-san! I’m ready for school!” Eiji cried in excitement as he ran to the dining room where Shunichi and his sister were already seated.
Shunichi simply smiled back, looks like the boy’s already geared up for his first day. His dark brown eyes were sparkling as he held the straps of his backpack, looking sharp in his usual combination of a red v-neck sweater over a white polo shirt and khaki shorts.
“Looks like someone’s excited to go to school, huh, Ei-chan?” he said, gently ruffling Eiji’s hair.
Eiji grinned, taking a seat next to his guardian. “I sure am, Ibe-san! I can’t wait to go to school!”
"I'm excited too, Ibe-san! Look at me!" Eika added, looking cute herself in a pink dress and white Mary Jane shoes, her hair tied into two small pigtails. It was her first day of school as well, she would be starting Pre-Kindergarten.
“You're excited too, Eika-chan? That's wonderful! That’s why you two should eat your breakfast now,” Shunichi chuckled, helping Eiji take off his school bag before he put two strips of bacon and a sunny-side up egg on the two siblings' plates. “We don’t wanna go to school on an empty stomach now, do we?" 
"Ibe-san, will Ashu go to school with me?” Eiji asked, completely ignoring Shunichi’s advice. Ever since the two boys came up with their nicknames, they have been referring to each other as ‘Ashu’ and 'Ei-chan’. 
Shunichi chuckled again. “Ash must’ve gone ahead to school with Griffin. You’ll see him later, don’t worry.”
Eiji’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “Does that mean Ashu’s in the same school as me?”
Shunichi nodded, fondly smiling at the boy. “Yes, Ei-chan. You’ll be going to the same school as Ash.”
“YES!” Eiji squealed, pumping his fists in the air.
“Whoa there little man, you sound so happy, huh?” said Shunichi.
“I am, Ibe-san!” Eiji answered, bouncing up and down in his chair out of excitement. “I can't believe I’m in the same school as Ashu! Weeeee! We’re in the same school!”
Shunichi couldn’t help but laugh, he’s never seen Eiji so excited before. He has been accompanying him to school for the past three years, but it was only now that Eiji got this excited to go to school. He couldn’t blame the boy though, it was probably because his best friend is now in the same school as him.
But today wasn’t the first time that he saw Eiji like this. During the summer, he noticed that whenever the boys are together, Eiji seemed a bit happier and he seemed to smile more. And not only that, he also noticed that the boy’s eyes sparkled in delight whenever he’s around his best friend.
“But before you could see Ash in school,” he repeated his statement earlier. “You better eat your breakfast first, Ei-chan.”
Eiji just giggled, still feeling giddy from the fact that he will be going to the same school as Ash, before biting on a strip of bacon.
“Wow, Ibe-san! It’s delicious! I’m gonna eat a lot today!” he beamed.
Shunichi just smiled back at the boy.
***
“I’m off to work now, Ei-chan. Be a good boy, okay?” Shunichi said as he and Eiji walked up the steps leading to the school’s main door. He brought Eika to school first before her older brother because her school was located closer to the apartment.
In response, Eiji nodded his head and smiled at him. “Yes, Ibe-san!”
After hugging Shunichi goodbye, Eiji proceeded to walk down the student-filled hallway. He hummed a soft tune to himself, holding on to the straps of his backpack as he looked for the 3rd Grade classroom.
As he passed by the 1st Grade classroom, he decided to take a quick peek. There were already a lot of kids inside, but he couldn’t find Ash.
I thought Ashu went ahead to school? Eiji thought. Where is he?
He scanned the classroom from corner to corner, hoping to see his best friend already seated on his desk or running around with the other children, but there was still no sign of the blonde-haired boy. 
The raven-haired boy sighed, sadness evident in his face. He didn’t know why, but he somehow felt disappointed when he didn’t see his best friend inside the classroom. He was expecting Ash to run up to him with a cheeky grin on his face the moment he sees him, but nothing happened.
Feeling dejected, he was about to turn around to go to his own classroom when he noticed something familiar from the corner of his eye.
It was Ash, looking good in a simple light blue shirt and jeans. And he was walking down the hallway towards his classroom, towards Eiji.
The raven-haired boy’s disappointment quickly melted away at the sight of his best friend, his eyes beginning to twinkle in delight as a wide smile formed on his lips.
Yup, he was definitely happy to see his best friend.
“Ashu!” he called out.
The moment Ash heard his nickname, he looked up and smiled when he saw Eiji.
“Ei-chan!”
Out of excitement, Ash started to run towards Eiji, but just as when he was about to reach his best friend, a tall blonde boy suddenly appeared out of nowhere and tripped Ash, causing him to fall face down on the floor. 
“OUCH!”
“HEY!” Eiji yelled before turning to Ash. “Ashu, are you okay? Come here, let me help you up." 
"I-It hurts,” Ash replied as he sat up, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. “M-My knees and elbows hurt!”
And with that, Ash began to sob loudly. Clenching his fists in anger, Eiji stood up and faced the tall blonde boy, who happened to Frederick Arthur, the school bully. Every kid in school feared him, but not Eiji. When it came to Ash, he wasn’t afraid of anyone. He always hated it when someone made his best friend cry.
“Hey Arthur, what was that for?!” he hollered. “Why did you trip him like that?! Nobody hurts my best friend! You’re mean!”
He began to hit Arthur’s chest with his clenched fists, but the other boy didn’t seem to be affected. 
“What did you say?” Arthur replied, an insulting tone in his voice. “He’s a boy? I’m sorry, I thought your best friend’s a girl.” He looked at Ash, a teasing smirk on his lips. “He looks like a sissy girl. An ugly, sissy girl.” Then he turned to Eiji. “While you’re Mr. Bowl Cut Boy.”
“Well, you’re more ugly and sissy, Arthur! You’re a big, fat, mean sissy girl! Bleeeeehhh!” Eiji yelled, sticking his tongue out in an attempt to mock him.
Arthur’s forehead crumpled at the raven-haired boy’s insult. “Why you little—”
“I’m telling the teacher!” Eiji cut him off. “You’re mean! You’re—” The raven-haired boy was about to say something else when he suddenly felt Ash’s hand on his wrist.
“Ei-chan, that’s enough,” he sniffed, wiping his tears. “He could hurt you if you don’t stop.”
Eiji didn’t say another word after that, he glared at Arthur one last time before he and Ash walked away.
***
It was recess time, and while the other children were playing, Eiji and Ash just sat down on one of the playground benches. They weren't really in the mood to play today because of what happened earlier.
“That meanie,” said Eiji, his lips pouted and forehead crumpled. “Hurting my best friend like that.” He turned to Ash. “You’re okay now, right, Ashu?”
Ash smiled. “I’m okay, Ei-chan. Thanks for protecting me awhile ago.”
“Arthur was so mean, I can’t let them hurt you. And besides, best friends protect each other, right?”
Ash sighed. “I wish I were as strong as you, Ei-chan. Well, I have to be strong also so I could protect you, too.”
And with that, Eiji’s frown instantly turned into a smile.
“Now that’s my best friend!”
As the two boys did a high-five, there was only one thought that formed in Eiji’s mind.
He would always be here for Ash…forever.