The Blind, The Mute, The Deaf

Chapter 1

Originally Started October 27, 2020
Rewrite started February 4, 2023
Third-person Shouta
TW: Abuse (Verbal and Slightly Physical), Misgendering, Eating Disorders, Stay Safe!
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     The edgy teenager woke to the sound of his alarm going off. Still groggy, he threw his arm in the alarm's general direction, swinging until he finally hit it and shut it off.
     He groaned, he didn't want to get ready for school, but alas, he did want an education. And he was in a really good program.
     After a couple of minutes he finally dragged himself out of his bed, not really caring to make it. He wouldn't be able to tell if it looked nice anyway.
     He heard a ringing sound in his room, he walked towards his phone, picking it up and tapping until it stopped ringing and he heard the voice of his only friend.
     "Shouta!" His friend yelled at him through the phone.
     "Hey Oboro," Shouta replied.
     Shouta and Oboro lived in the same neighborhood, they've know each other since infancy. Since Shouta and Oboro were deemed the outcasts, they always stayed with each other. Even after Shouta's diagnosis. Even after Oboro's diagnosis. They never left each other's side.
     "How you doing?" Oboro asked in a playful tone.
     "Could be better. You?" Shouta replied.
     "I'm doing wonderful, I can barely contain my excitement." Shouta could physically feel the excitement radiating off of Oboro through the phone.
     "I can tell." Shouta had always know his friend could have some serious self doubt, despite him having the same issue, it hurt to see his friend degrade himself. He loved to help encourage him and help improve his self esteem.
"Well, I'll meet you at the park at seven. Should give us enough time to walk," Oboro told Shouta. "Bye baby."
Shouta sighed. When they were in middle school a lot of people thought they were dating due to them always being together, so as a joke Oboro started to call Shouta pet names: baby, honey, sweetie, etc.
It never really bothered Shouta, until last year when he realized he liked being called those things by Oboro. That thought scared him a little.
"Bye Obo..." he replied, tapping randomly until he ended the call, or Oboro ended it and Shouta just hadn't noticed yet. Who knows, the call just ended.
     He was happy they figured out a way to be able to talk on the phone with one another, it took a while but they figured out a way.
Shouta stood there for a moment, not wanting to do anything. He knew he had to get ready though, he got into the course he wanted to take at the school he wanted to go to, there's no way he would get kicked out for always being late.
He opened his closet and felt around for his uniform, he knew when he grabbed it because the texture was different than the rest of his clothes. Uncomfortable and stale feeling, like most uniforms are. He hated the feeling but he did want the education this school would give him, so he had to suck it up until his parents would get him the alternative material clothing.

He grabbed the uniform and brought it to the bathroom with him, where he then showered. After he got out he made sure to figure out the correct way to put his binder on. He just got it from Oboro and was super excited to try it out.
     He couldn't see how it looked, but when he felt his chest and it felt flat, he experienced a joy that he hadn't felt in a while.
He opened a cabinet and found the bandages, he grabbed them. He didn't have any over his eyes right now, he never sleeps or showers with them on, but every week he changes them into new ones, just because of the sweat and grime that would get on them.
He quickly wrapped the new bandages around his eyes. If people knew what he was doing they'd think it's strange. After all, why would you choose to live in a world of darkness? He just always said he's blind, choosing to live in darkness rather than in fear.

     He made his way downstairs, dangerous without being able to see but he knew the layout, he was safe.
"Good morning Shouta," he heard his mother call to him. "Still bandaging your eyes?" She sounded disappointed.
"Yeah, sorry mama." He walked to the kitchen where he heard his mother's voice.
"Excited for high school, buddy?" He heard his father ask.
He was so grateful to still have his father. They were in a bank robbery when Shouta was a child and his father got shot protecting him. Shouta felt guilty, especially because his father got shot in an artery in his right leg, causing him to almost die. The bullet also severed some of his father's nerves in his leg, which caused him to not be able to feel it anymore and need crutches.
     "Yeah, I'm nervous though," Shouta spoke.
     "You got in the course you wanted, right?" His father asked him.
     "Yeah, the support course," Shouta informed his father.
     "Will you be able to make me better crutches?" His father asked in a joking tone.
     "I'll try, papa." Shouta sat at the table, his could hear his mother making breakfast for him. Although he didn't eat much, his parents wouldn't let him leave until he ate something.
"Here you go sweetie," he could hear something click in front of him, he felt out, it was toast. He took a couple of bites from it and sat it back down.
"Thanks," he went to get up but he felt a hand push him back down.
"Shouta, please eat the whole piece. It's just one," His father begged. Shouta sighed, not wanting to eat anymore but knowing his parents wouldn't let him leave until he did.
"Okay..." he picked the toast back up and slowly ate the rest of it.
"Thank you," His father thanked him for eating. Something most parents wouldn't thank their child for, but his would.
"You wearing that binder Oboro gave you?" His mother asked, taking the plate back.
"Yeah," Shouta informed them. "Does it look nice?" He asked.
"You look stunning." He felt his mother place a kiss on his forehead. "You're a very handsome man."
     "Just make sure to be safe wearing that," his father added. "Make sure to take it off when you come home."
     "Okay." Shouta stood up. "I'm supposed to meet with Oboro at seven, what time is it?" He asked his parents.
     "Oh, six fifty-one," his mother read the time. "You should probably get going."
     "Yeah, bye mama, bye papa." He got his backpack and shoes.
     "Bye Shouta," his father said.
     "Have a good day," his mother added.
With that, Shouta grabbed his cane and left for school.