Love, Hate, and The Bridges Between

Chapter 5

"So, why'd you transfer from Kogayato?" Toru asked as they rounded the corner down the long empty hallway, no faculty or students in sight. "The bathrooms are further down the hall to the left, if you can see the signs," he added.

"I dropped out," Luna half-heartedly chuckled, her complexity tightened as she played with her bangs, rubbing them in-between her thumb and pointer finger. "My grades weren't keeping up with the standard."

"I mean, the fact you got in in the first place is amazing. Not many people can say that they made it to Kogayato." Toru admired hardworking individuals, above all else. Toru had never particularly been exceptional at anything in terms of academics, but to call him a bonehead would be a crime. He could read the atmosphere of a room like no other, so he had always mended well together with his peers. However, no matter what he did, he could never will himself into putting effort into improving beyond his natural capabilities, as an athlete or student. As such, he had an endless respect for people who struggled and worked for days on end to reach their goals.

Luna smiled, disappointment escaping her lips. "Even fewer can say they graduated from it, though. I just didn't work hard enough."

"Quit being so pessimistic," Toru scolded her, audibly annoyed at her off-hand response. "Don't undermine the achievement you worked hard for. It makes the people who can't do what you could look bad," he looked at Luna, her face surprised at the comment he made, before quickly turning away. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

"No, it's okay," she answered, sighing. "I get that all the time."

Toru turned back to her, this time with a determined gaze as opposed to an awkward stare. "That's why it's not okay. You guys also never stand up for yourselves. Always too nice to bark back at stupid comments like that when you work so hard for everything."

She put a finger to her lips, pondering Toru's choice of words. "Don't mind me asking but, who's 'you' guys?"

"You and Rin are too alike," Toru answered, fitting a key into the door in front of them, revealing the art studio, an empty yet not hollow room. It was filled with playfulness, love, determination and motivation, all portrayed by the powerful sculptures and paintings and models from an array of students, each one speaking their own tales.

"This is the studio, it's usually locked and only used by art students." He finished, turning back to her, "Rin never stands up for herself. She always just takes the brunt of whatever she hears to the face. It isn't healthy."

"Sounds like you care about her a lot," Luna said, taking a step into the studio and making her way to a canvas stand that was adjacent to one of the windows. Light poured into the room, reflecting the glow of Luna's blonde hair.

"Well, yea. She gave me a second chance, after all. I haven't even gotten the chance to properly thank her for it yet, either," Toru replied, stepping into the studio as well, closing the door behind him.

"Second chance?" Luna inquired, a pencil in hand as it glided lightly across the blank white paper that was hoisted on the canvas stand. Stroke, stroke, stroke. She continued drawing little lines and sketches on the paper. Nothing quite distinguishable, yet.

"Yea, summer of last year-" Toru could feel a lump form in his throat as he swallowed. His breathing quickly became irregular and panicked as he visibly filled with anxiety. Mentions and moments of dreadful past his mind dared not delve into. Rin helped him leave it all behind, and he was determined to keep it in the past. "Nevermind," he shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

Luna felt Toru's sudden change in tone, and decided not to let her curiousity get the better of her as a way of respect for her new found friend.

"Hey, come here," she directed, instead, her hand still flowing in an ever so gentle way across the paper. "Every piece tells a story. What do you think this is?"