A Spark Between Us (ShinKami) - DISCONTINUED

14

"No. I'm trying to tell you to let people compliment others. Don't put your feelings about people on your kids, leave them be with their own damn opinions."

They raised their right hand and slapped me. A gasp of pain escaped my mouth. They had hit me so hard my head went to the left and I stumbled to the side. I felt a burning pain on my left cheek as I bit my tongue to stop myself from crying, shutting my eyes, and drawing in a deep, shaky breath. I stood there silently, pressing my hand against my cheek, practically frozen in place.

"Don't tell me what to do," she concluded, and I heard her footsteps fade away with her kid.

"Hey! You can't just go around slapping people!" Denki exclaimed, walking forward,

"Denki...let's just go," I whispered, a single tear running down my face from the right eye.

He nodded and took my hand, walking away. I kept my head down as we walked down the sidewalk. I slowly let my hand off my cheek, wiping the corner of my eye to brush away the tear.

We passed a small shop that had somebody standing in front of the door, eyes following me. They stepped down and walked over.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked when we came to a stop,

"I'm fine." I mumbled,

"Alright. Just making sure." he said, walking away.

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--7:30 PM--

Denki waved goodbye and walked inside his house. I walked down the sidewalk, head down. I slipped my shoes off at the entrance to the house and opened the door to see Aizawa standing there.

"Shinso what ha-" he started, I could tell my cheek was still red,

"Not right now," I mumbled, walking past him and into my room.

I shut the door behind me and leaned against the doorway, sinking down into a sitting position on the floor. I drew my knees toward my chest and crossed my arms on them, setting my head down and tears came down slowly at first, then progressively came in heavier amounts. I've never been slapped by an adult before, so it was really startling.

I heard a knock on my door but I ignored it, taking a deep, shaky breath and resting my head against the door. There was another knock.

"Shinso?" Aizawa's voice asked,

"Go away. Not- not right now," I replied, my voice already showing that I was crying,

"Hey, I'm not mad that you're late." he said, "Why are you crying?"

"You don't need to know," my voice cracked and I got up, walking over to the other end of the room.

As I stood there wiping my eyes I heard the door open. "Shinso...why are you crying?" Aizawa asked again.

I looked back as I heard him walking forward and the door closing. "I don't...know how to explain it,"

"Try your best, okay? Come on, I need to know, kid." he turned me around slowly and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I slowly lifted my hands to his upper back and gently took his shirt in my hands. He placed one hand on my back and the other on the back of my head.

I took a deep breath, "Some- some kid complimented Den- Denki and I. Her mom was mad at her...and started- started scolding her..." I paused, unsure if I should continue,

"Go ahead,"

"Well I stood up for- for the kid...and I told her to not- not press her ideals on her kids. So- so she slapped me," I mumbled the last part, so softly it was barely audible.