One And Only Ichi (Yuiitsu Muni No Ichi)

Scars

"Chiharu!"

Kai cracked the door to the roof open, sitting there on the edge of the facade was Chiharu. She turned to him and smiled.

"You're late."

Kai stared guiltily at her face, his eyes brimmed with tears. Averting his gaze, he said, "I changed my mind. Let's get out of here."

Chiharu slowly stood, her white dress dancing with the wind. On her face was a look of confusion but also of disappointment. "What? Why all of a—"

"Let's just go, Chiharu!" Kai snapped. "I don't know why I even thought of this. And why would you just go along with it? Are you that stupid?"

Chiharu snickered then started to laugh which caught Kai off guard.

"I guess you're right." Chiharu said, looking out into the pitch black sky. "But I can't go back. Because unlike you, I don't have a home to return to."

Chiharu's hair began swaying violently with the wind. Kai reached out his hand to her, a sense of alarm arising from within him. "Chiharu, get away from there!"

"Do you know what my mother told me today?" Chiharu asked, suppressing sobs. "That she's disappointed, that she couldn't understand me. And that I'm nothing like her and dad when they were my age." She chuckled.

"Chiharu." Kai could only watch her painfully, scared that a wrong move would fuel her erratic behavior.

"All because I resigned from my post as club president." She began laughing again. "All my life, I tried so hard. But people are always disappointed. I never felt like I could just be Chiharu and be loved. I always had to be pretty and smart and excel in everything and even then, it's still not enough. And then..."

She turned her head to look him in the eyes. "I met you, Kai. You saw me in my least impressive state and still managed to make me feel special."

Chiharu smiled to herself as she recalled their first time meeting. They were thirteen years old. Chiharu had just transferred to their school and was being introduced to class. Immediately, everyone began talking.

"That's the new Dean's daughter."

"She's pretty." One whispered and her seat mate retorted with, "She should be, I heard her mother was an actress in Hollywood."

"They say she's always top of her class."

Chiharu felt shy and pressured, being placed in the spotlight. But she kept her composure, clutching the ends of her cardigan sleeves for comfort. 

"Maruyama." Mrs. Nakamura called out to a boy sitting at the back. "I'm assigning you as Ms. Abe's buddy. Show her around school during break time and help her get adjusted."

The boy simply nodded. He didn't look upset but he didn't look thrilled about it either despite his friends nudging him and teasing.

"Oi, Kai! You get to spend lunchtime everyday with the Dean's pretty daughter." Jiro taunted but Kai responded with just a shake of his head.

Just on the first week, Chiharu joined the English club and made a friend in almost every class and group of people Kai introduced her to. She was even voted class president. It didn't really seem like she needed much help.

However, the following Monday, Kai was passing by the hallway when he heard sobbing coming from the shoe lockers. He snuck in and peeked behind one of the lockers to find Chiharu crouched in a corner, weeping.

"A-Abe Chiharu?"

Chiharu looked up but quickly hid her face upon seeing her buddy. "Ah, I'm okay. Please don't mind me." She said, sounding mature even at that young age.

But instead, Kai knelt beside her and patted her back. Chiharu started to cry even more but only because she was moved by his warm gesture and felt as though she could release her pent up emotions. He didn't say or do anything except quietly accompany her until she felt better.

After school, Kai walked Chiharu to the gate where her parents' Mercedes waited outside. Kai could sense Chiharu's tension as they approached the car. Sitting at the back was an elegant woman dressed in expensive clothing and jewelry.

There was an immediate tinge of irritation on her face upon seeing her daughter but she quickly replaced it with a smile once she realized Chiharu wasn't alone. A chauffeur opened the door and the woman leaned forward just a little.

"Chiharu, honey! How was your day and who's this?" She asked, her voice smooth as silk.

"Um, it was good. This is Kai, my class buddy."

Kai bowed his head and the lady smiled at him endearingly. "Nice to meet you, Kai. I hope Chiharu isn't giving you a hard time."

"Not at all." Kai answered smartly.

"We best be getting home now." Chiharu's mom said with a final pageant-like grin before moving over to give her daughter space in the backseat. "Say goodbye to your friend, Chiharu."

"Goodbye and thank you for today, Kai." She obeyed sullenly.

After Kai turned around, he heard Chiharu's mother whisper angrily. "Why are your eyes swollen? Are you trying to show everyone you've been crying? It's normal for your father and I to be tough on you! Are you trying to make us look bad?"

Kai looked over his shoulder discreetly and saw Chiharu crying again.

"Stop it!" Her mother hissed and Chiharu complied, thoroughly wiping her tears and straightening her face.