Red Thread

Chapter 4

He fell silent, that is sure a lot to take in even for him. "I..have two sisters... Our mother is rarely around..My father? I'm not so sure about where he is.." your eyes widened as that is enough for you to know how rough his life must be. "I-i'm sorry..and here I whined and all..It's just..I hate the situation I live-" you feel then his hand patting your head. "Don't say that.. I don't know how hard it is for you but you've survived this far. You are strong, l/n.. Don't hate the situation you are born into..", hearing that, your tears start to stream down your cheeks. He just sits there with you, letting you cry all the feelings you've bottled up all these times. You barely know him but somehow you feel like you've known him for so long, you feel safe when he is around and you feel like you could rely on him. Since that day, he has spent more time with you at the shrine. Sometimes he will come with both his sisters or with his gang just to chill with you. Sometimes you two will have your alone times, talking about anything that comes to mind. Youtube becomes close and the feelings keep growing each day but he knows you are new to all these and he sure is patient. While you thought he was only being kind to you and because he owed you.

"How about I give you a ride home? It's quite late already if you walk" He walked with you down the stairs. "Will it be really alright? I meant will your sisters be alright? My place isn't that far" your cheeks blushed lightly, it's not like you mind but you worried he will end up back late too. Clearly you didn't know how sometimes he and his gang would go around late night for a ride. "They are having a sleepover at their friend's place and I insist" he smiled at you, you just nodded your head as you followed him "Then I will be in your care, Mitsuya-san..". Hearing you said that he looked away to hide his blushing face. Hearing it made him think like you just about to be HIS instead only take you back to your home. He wants to take you to HIS home instead, glad he still got all his senses "Y-yeah. No problem..". That was the first time you were riding a motorcycle. You never thought it would feel so nice, the wind and especially being that close to him. "You...really are rich huh.." he gulped when saw the big gate. The gate was written as L/n's Private Estate. "...It belongs to the family and not me.." he could hear how uncomfortable you were. The time the gate opened, you and him just back rode through "So, all these houses are your families?". "Mhm.. Everyone that lives within the gates are l/n related.. They separated the inner family and the people...who isn't considered as.. Purely from the family bloodline.. This place.. It sorta felt like..a cage.." you said quietly. Hearing that he just remained silent until arrived at your place, now he knows why you feel frustrated sometimes. "Thank you for sending me home" you give him your usual smile as you bow your head a little. "It's no big deal. Your place sure is huge. Do you live alone?" his eyes looked at your house as you shook your head "I live with my aunt and my cousins..". "Hmm~ Which side is your room, l/n?" you looked at him a bit confused, wondered why he was asking. "That one atthe back. You see that big tree near the gate wall? I stay on the second floor. Why did you ask?" you tilt your head a little. "I see. Well, who knows I will maybe visit you!" he grinned as that made your cheeks turned red. You heard his phone ring and heard it from Mikey. "Ah sorry, l/n. I have to go. See ya~" not even able to say anything to him, you could see him leaving. "W-what did he mean..." you mumbled as you could feel your cheeks felt like they were burning.

Apparently someone reported you were sent home by some guy to your aunt. "Lift your hibakama up, y/n" your face turned pale when you saw your aunt with the rattan. With trembling hands, you lift up your hibakama as you close your eyes tight. You bit your lips as you could feel the rattan hit your legs "Such disgraceful behaviours! How dare you bring shame to our family?! Is that what you did everyday at the shrine?!". You could feel the multiple hits of rattan on your legs. "Is he the reason you've been abandoning your duties?!". "I-I didn't abandon my duties, aunty! I-i attended every lesson! P-please believe me" you sobs as you look up at your aunt. "How dare you talk back to me?!" she starts hitting your legs more and more. It's been an hour and you just lay there on the tatami floor sobbing. "Do not hang with those filthy people and stop bringing shame to our family. Gosh.. Like a mother like a daughter..'' Even if you didn't look up, you know your aunt looked at you with disgust. "Someone dragged this girl and locked her in her room. No one may give her food until she learns her lesson." she called out to someone as then one of them did help you walk to your room "what an ungrateful brat..". You could hear your aunt mumble as you passed by her.