The 'Unwholesome' Hall Monitor!

The Strings in my Heart

Point of View: Kaede Akamatsu

If a grain of sand shows my eternity's plan,
I'll happy accept it with arms,
For my journey is to unfold, untangle
And I feel the waking moments in my palms.

•—~—•

I watched as Kiyotaka rounded up people who were ditching class from my desk, tapping my pen to a beat in my head I couldn't describe. As I was snapped back to reality with Shuichi poking my shoulder I felt some pain swell up in my heart.

At lunch, I was sitting alone before Shuichi came over
"Kaede... is something wrong..?"
"Oh." I thought I didn't make it obvious "How did you figure out?"
"You don't need to be a detective to see... you aren't talking to everyone like you usually do... what's wrong Kaede..?" I looked down, gently cracking my knuckles and holding my head

"It's my birthday Shuichi... my parents forgot about me again..."

•——•

I can't say my life was a hard one. It certainly wasn't the worst out there

I was born into a middle-upper class household, so all I've honestly known was comfort and accessibility to anything I wanted. I grew up hardly getting 'no' for an answer whenever I wanted a toy or instrument. However... I always got a 'no' when I wanted to see my parents.

It all began when I was little and became immediately attached to the piano, and my parents were pleased I could pick up on such a strenuous instrument so easily. The only time I ever saw them was when I was performing for people at a concert. Growing up, my parents seemed so distant.

My father was highly intelligent defence attorney, though he spent most his time as a barrister, speaking for clients. My mother was a university lecturer. Both my parents made a good income. But they were always so busy. More busy than the nanny they hired for me.

Growing up, I saw my nanny as a sister, since she was younger than my mother. I wish I could've been nicer to her when she was still around but no... I can't change the past. If I could, I'd have changed almost everything.

One day, my mother set up a primary school to help the misfortune children in the area and put me into that school to be a 'good example' of a good, obedient child. I wish that wasn't so. I often watched other children play together while I was stuck practicing piano during breaks and lunches. The small time I had, I tried to talk to as many people as possible and gained a lot of friends this way. I felt less lonely engaging in conversation with people I had the slightest idea about. I always snuck the kids who were struggling more food at lunch and I let my closest friends listen to me play, but the one kid who surprised me the most was Miu Iruma.

I found I was bisexual at a young age, and I was scared to come out to people about it... but Miu... I remember little Kaede wanting Miu's attention all the time. Yes, I admit when I was young, I had a massive crush on Miu. I wrote her poems, made songs for her, gave her gifts (I... obviously never gave the poems and songs to her) and I just wanted to be more than friends with her; at the time, young me wanted to be best friends but now I know it was because I really REALLY liked Miu. I gave her a Squirtle key ring because I thought it was cute and I knew Pokémon was incredibly popular so I thought she'd like it.

But alas, all good things have to come to an end. Miu confronted me one day in middle school when we were packing our bags. She was screaming at me for telling people she slapped me. I never did that, I was so confused. I'd never lie about Iruma. Before I could tell her, she threw the teddy bear I gave her that day in my face and ran away and I was left there, holding the teddy bear and feeling tears flow down my face. Miu told everyone I was a piano freak and I got quite isolated after that. After that day, I stopped having a crush on Miu. Her screams that day still haunt me.

I was less innocent after middle school. I didn't drink, do drugs, watch porn or anything. I just lost hope for anything in the future.

As I got to Hopes Peak, I met Taka and saw the innocent side of me I lost so long ago, and I knew I wanted to keep him safe. I was supposed to enter his class but I got expelled for breaking a door. During those two years, my parents made me do work around the community as a punishment. Not all bad though, at least now I can fix my own car when needed. But I always played piano to calm my nerves. I am a piano freak. But that's the best for me.

————

As I told him this, Shuichi looked saddened, holding my hand
"Happy Birthday Kaede... would you like to get a milkshake or something..? There's a new shop down the road that sells mochi, milkshakes and other sweet things."
"Shuichi..." I held my mouth, nearly crying "thank you for being such a good friend..."

Point of View: Mondo Owada

I was holding Taka to the wall, glaring down at him as he glared at me. He had insulted my loud yells and now, I despised his guts. We were both yelling at each other at the top of our lungs before Makoto came up to us
"Hey what's going on..?" He asked, looking at the two of us
"Makoto! You're going to watch over us compete!" Taka yelled
"What..." Makoto whispered quietly, looking at Kyoko behind him as if asking for help-
"Yeah!" I yelled at Makoto, making his stupid ahoge move "we'll compete over-"
"Who can last longer in a sauna!" Taka butted in
"Yeah!- wait what." I looked confused
"It's the best way. An endurance challenge! And here, we'll find out who's right and wrong, who's better!" His eyes seemed to glow slightly. He was fired up.
"Well... I guess I can do that-" Makoto said before Taka just- stripped his clothes in front of us. Don't worry. He had a towel around his waist
"Let's head there right now! Shall we Mondo!" He said, bumped up
"Yeah let's go eyebrows!" I yelled, also bumped. This- this will probably end up being a while

•——•

1111 words!

Finally! We're getting to the Ishimondo stuff. Thank you for reading so far and I hope you enjoyed Kaede's backstory.

Bye bye!