★ | I, Rhys Kakyoin | Jotakak

12 ☆ Glass shards

From what I can remember, the period after lunch is going to be Math, and a dreadful yet common realisation that I'd forgotten to do my homework from last week hits me, and so I'm now heading back to class in advance in hopes that I might be able to rush and finish it in time. I consider trying to get Jotaro to let me copy his homework since he rarely gets stuff wrong, but I have a hunch that he's never going to let me.

The school hallway is bright, perhaps even upon the stormiest days its tall windows can let in a bouquet of rays. Outside, snowflakes descend from the sky and flutter as they make their way towards the ground to meet with the rest of the snow, and that marks a cold school day. I'd have stopped and approached the concrete barrier to admire it down below if I weren't in such a hurry.

Once I approach my classroom, I'm about to open the door and step inside, but what stops me is a voice... specifically one I very much dread hearing again. Mana's. She seems to be giggling lovingly about something; it slightly comes off as muffled because of the closed door. It must be about Jotaro, maybe she's with her friends. I let out a sigh and just try to clamp my eyes shut, hoping to convince myself that I have to do the homework before pushing the door open and heading in.

It turns out she isn't talking to her friends about Jotaro - she's talking right to him! I stop dead in my tracks right before I can get to my table because they're so close together, very unusually close, with Mana's hands caressing Jotaro's shoulders. Jotaro's cap is on her table while she does that to him and I... don't know what to think.

"Oh! Hi, Kakyoin... err, something. Look who your "smoking-hot boyfriend" is with now," she mocks.

"Actually, Nori, just..." Jotaro tries to say, "...don't overreact, I just..."

I can't believe it. It's like she's bewitched him or something. It's only been minutes, but she's done it. Somehow I don't feel angry at him, but only at her. On worse occasions, my anger would come like an impossible build up steam, burning me on the way out, burning the one on the receiving end as well, and perhaps this is one of those times because what should be sadness inside me switches into a sort of fighting mode. I feel my fists clench by my sides and my body tremble in anger. When I can't resist it anymore, I shout, "FUCK YOU, STUPID BITCH!"

Then I notice Jotaro has a discomforted look on his face and I feel as if I'd been stabbed in the heart by my own thousand daggers, the guilt being like poison spreading throughout the rest of my body. At first I tell myself I shouldn't have yelled, but really, it was Mana who made me do it by enraging me like this, and so I slowly approach, preparing my right fist.

"Don't you hurt him because of your own problems," Mana snaps back, glaring at me. "And like he said, don't overreact. I've given you enough chances, Kakyoin, and yet you won't leave him alone." I head past columns of tables slowly but surely, keeping my eyes right on her. She scoffs, standing up from her seat. "Here's a little newsflash for you. He's mine. If I can't have him, no one else can. And someone like you sure as hell can't!"

"Nori! I told you," Jotaro says urgently.

I ignore him - for now. Mana now approaches me, standing before me with her arms crossed. I glare at her, wishing I can punch that stupid smug look off her face till she cries like a little child and runs away in fear. She tilts her head sideways, looking at me. "You wouldn't hit a woman, would you?" she says almost like a coo.

"No, but who said I can't make exceptions?" I retort, getting a funny feeling right on the top of my head. I ignore it as well.

"I see. Go ahead, then. Punch me." She gestures at her cheek.

"Really?" My anger begins to fade a little.

"Of course. Go ahead."

"It'd be my pleasure," I smile as I throw my fist back in a punch. Before I release it in a hard blow to her face, however, she unties her messy braids and shakes her hair loose until it's a tumble of hair cascading down her shoulders. Then there's a shrill... and a bluish aura surrounding her hair as it begins to float freely around her head. I freeze in place for a moment in confusion and alarm. That's before I'm launched back against my will, feeling as if I'm a little child being grabbed by the big bang of red hair on my head by my mother. I try to find what's pulling at me with my hands, but I feel nothing, just the pain from the hard tug. It might be a Stand. Great. Mana's a Stand User! Just... perfect.