Everchanging

Survivor

!!TW!! Bullying, Talk of SA/CSA, Victim blaming, Drug Addiction, Meth, Child Abuse/Neglect, Hospitals/Needles

The steadying weight of Obanai's hand kept Kaigaku from ripping the other boy's throat out, Kaigaku and Gyutaro sitting in front of one another. Ubuyashiki was silently observing them both, his expression calm contemplation as Kaigaku counted prime numbers. His anger was a slow simmer, but it could quickly boil once more. He could barely even stomach hearing Gyutaro breathe when he thought back to Genya's sharp, panicked, gasps.

"Look." Kaigaku started, his voice breathy as he glared right at the boy in front of him. Bruises mottled his entire face, blood crusting over other parts as he held a wad of tissues under his bleeding nose. He would probably be going to the hospital after all of this, and for that Kaigaku felt proud. "I'm not going to sit here and talk it out. I'm not gonna apologize, either. And you all are fucking crazy if you think that I am."

"I'm not going to make you apologize, Kaigaku." Ubuyashiki offered a warm smile, and the boy marveled at the composed expression on the man's face. "I just want to get to the root of the issue so I can fairly make judgments."

"Root of the issue? He fucking broke my face!" Gyutaro hissed, leaning forward only for Shinobu to nudge him back. The nurse held a tight expression, her eyes glaring at a spot on the wall. "He should be fucking expelled!"

"Oh yeah? Fuck you!" Kaigaku spat, smiling at him just to watch the boy's face twitch. "And who was the one who was tormenting someone for months? Huh? Who was the person who deserved to get their fucking ugly mug caved in?"

"Both of you, watch your language." Ubuyashiki clicked his tongue, fetching a pen before looking back at them. "Now, Kaigaku. Tell me your side first and then I'll listen to Gyutaro's side. You must be quiet until it is your turn, yes?"

"This is fucking stupid." Gyutaro huffed, slumping back in his chair as he snatched more tissues. But, otherwise, he became silent. Ubuyashiki took this as aggreeance and turned to Kaigaku.

"Can you tell me when this all started?" The man looked so kind when he spoke and for a moment Kaigaku felt a little guilty that he was having to deal with this bullshit.

"You've seen all the shit that's been happening to Genya, right?" The principal nodded and Kaigaku continued. "Well, Gyutaro and Ume have been paying girls to ask him out and touch up on him or flirt. It makes him uncomfortable. For good reason."

"I think I recall a girl coming into the office not that long ago because of something similar." Ubuyashiki hummed, his eyes trailing back to Gyutaro before he continued. "Her name was Emi Saihara, I believe. She's in a few of your classes, Gyutaro."

"Well, apparently she was paid to ask Genya out and it really fucked with him." Kaigaku continued, trying to connect everything he felt was important. "He was paying girls to write Genya love letters and Ume's been really touchy with him too. Kanao said that Ume sat on Genya's lap and was trying to ask him out."

"Okay, can you tell me why today happened?" The man jotted a few things down, but Kaigaku didn't bother to look, he was at a crossroads. What happened involved Genya's big secret, it felt violating to talk about it when the boy wasn't present. What right did Kaigaku have to get angry about something that never happened to him?

And yet, here Genya was, coaching Kaigaku out of the turbulent water he found himself in. Holding his hands with his own bandaged ones as he mimicked good breathing. His small voice, so hard to get out, asked him questions to bring his brain back. Despite Kaigaku's evil soul, Genya showed him kindness.

"I forgive you. I can forgive you now. You've changed, Kaigaku. A lot."

"Well...Gyutaro found out about what recently happened to Genya." He wanted to keep it vague, to respect Genya's privacy. It was the least he could do. "And he blamed it all on Genya! He made fun of him for being–for what happened! So...I punched his fucking lights out."