A Different Vanguard

5

"Okaa-san!" called Aichi with a smile, running into the living room where his mother and sister sat. 

Almost a month had gone by now, and Aichi had met up with Kai, Miwa and Ibuki almost every day. He had told his mother about getting a few friends, but kept the Vanguard part away. And because of that, he made sure that his mother didn't ask to meet them or ask them over, or let his friends know his home address because he didn't want to tell her about it.

"Can I go out and play with the others?" he asked her, making her smile at him.

"Of course, dear," she smiled brightly. "I'm really glad to see you enjoying yourself with your new friends, Aichi."

"Un!" beamed Aichi, turning to head to the door. "Arigatou, Okaa-san!" He ran to the door, put on his shoes and jacket, then went to run out. "Ittekimasu!"

"Itterasshai!" called his mother before he closed the door.

Aichi smiled as he ran down the street. He and the others would always meet up at the park, then decide what to do then. Normally they stayed in the park to fight each other and just hang out, and other times they would head out to a small card shop close by and challenge others - more like Kai and Miwa, sometimes Ibuki. Aichi would always grow too nervous to challenge anyone else, so the other three were the ones to take on others.

Aichi panted as he slowed down into a walk. He was just down the road of the park, but froze when seeing a group of boys between him and the park entrance. The boys were wearing the Miyaji Elementary uniform, where Aichi also went to, but he recognized the group.

He felt himself unable to move as he stared at them with wide eyes. One of the boys had turned and noticed him. "Hey, look over there," the boy grinned, pointing towards him, and the other boys turned. "Look, it's Sendou the mute." They snickered, walking towards him. Aichi shivered, taking slow, staggering steps back in fear. "What are you even doing out? Did you get lost always looking down at your feet?"

Aichi bumped into the wall of the park and shivered in fear as the group surrounded him. The boys grinned, one grabbing his shoulder to drag him forwards from the wall. "Hey, how about we do our game again? You still got to beat my score."

Immediately, a boy shoved him from behind, making him stumble forward from the force, but kept his balance. The boy clicked his tongue and shoved him again. Aichi tried his best to keep his balance and not fall, but they kept shoving him. One of them suddenly stretched out a foot as Aichi got another shove, making him trip and crash to the ground. He bit back the pain and tried to get up as the other boys laughed.

One of them grabbed the back of his jacket and dragged him up, starting over again. After a short while, he had been shoved and pushed to the ground multiple times. Previous old bruises grew worse, and new scratches had appeared. One pushed harshly him on his chest, and another tripped him from behind, making him fall harshly into the wall of the park. He yelled out in pain, gripping the back of his head as tears rolled down his chin.

"Crying already?" snickered the boys, but Aichi still sat into the wall. "Still as mute as ever." One of the boys looked at the park clock, then nudged the others. "We need to go." The others scoffed, but walked down the road, leaving Aichi hurt and by himself.

After sitting there for a minute, he slowly got up and headed towards the park again. His hand went over to his pocket, gripping the deck case which laid inside his pocket. He stared at the ground as he walked into the park. 

"Yo, Aichi!" came a cheerful cheer, making him jump. "You're late!"

An arm was thrown over his shoulder, the person leaning onto him, but Aichi gave out a small cry of pain, making them quickly step back.