𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 || Alternate ending

A Hairpin Gone to Waste | 13

At break, you couldn't seem to find Scaramouche. He was nowhere to be seen in the school. You had checked his classes, the hallways, and the garden. But he wasn't anywhere.

You were still new to the school, thus you didn't know of many locations.

All the students at school seem to be avoiding you as well. And in addition, everyone had a strong distaste for Scaramouche— even the mentioning of his name would cause nasty words to spill out of everyone's mouth, which you didn't want to waste your time hearing. So, asking others was definitely out of the question.

It was only your first day of school and you already wanted to go home.

It was strange not having Ayaka. As far as you can remember, she was always there by your side, keeping you company. But this time around, Ayaka was busy with student council, thus you refrained from disturbing her.

You purse your lips as you notice a group of girl's murmuring about you in the hall. They were spreading false information about you. "Hey!" you wave cheerfully, startling them. "I look forward to the stories you come up with about me. You should tell me about them sometime."

Watching as the group of girl's quickly grow discomforted from your statement, a satisfied smirk graces upon your lips. You quickly look away to keep them from noticing as you cover your mouth. "She noticed us...! We should go," they hurry away.

Now that they had left, you were the only one left in the hall. Which was surprising, especially since Inazuma High was said to be full of students. You couldn't deny that were curious to where everyone was, but you weren't exactly going to start looking around for them.

Counting the files you pass while slowly walking, your hands were in your pocket as you quietly hum to yourself.

"Come on! Hurry, we have to get this on recording." A student shouts from behind you. You immediately look back as a crowd of students suddenly rush past you with their phones ready in their hands. They left as quickly as they came. "Wow, what's everyone in a hurry for?" you question, following them.

In pursuit of the group of students, you ended up in an alley just outside the school campus between two buildings. And there you realize where all the missing students in the hall have gone. They were gathered for what appeared to be an event. Pushing through the crowd, you go near the front to see what everyone was cheering for. And there, you finally found Scaramouche.

He was fighting.

As you stare in shock, you utter, "Scaramouche?!" but your voice is drowned out by the noise of the crowd. "Get him! Get Him! Get him!" everyone cheers, and it didn't take you long to realize that they were all rooting for the group of students who were beating Scaramouche.

He was completely outnumbered, it was a whole group of students against just one singular boy. It was unfair. You could barely call it a fight, it was partially a beating session.

No one even thought to try and help Scaramouche, whom was struggling to stand straight as blood dripped down from his head. Everyone watched in anticipation as they recorded, and you frantically look around to find some way to stop the fight.

"What's this? Is the all mighty Kunikuzushi struggling?" one of the students who was hitting him with a metal poll shouts. "You have no right to call me by that name!!" Scaramouche yells angrily, throwing himself forwards to land a firm punch across his face. "You asshole!" he screams as a large red mark was now on his cheek. His friend's quickly hits back, now enraged from the stunt Scaramouche had pulled against their friend.

They spare him no time to react as they gab their knee into his stomach, causing Scaramouche to vomit blood onto the stone floor. He falls back onto the ground and begins to cough hysterically as he clenches onto his stomach.

One of the students goes to grab the metal poll again, they hold it firmly with both their hands as they prepare to swing with all their might.

The sound of the blow echoes across the alley and everyone immediately becomes quiet.

Blood pours onto the ground.

Scaramouche looks up to see your face, scrunched up in pain. "Hey?! Where did this girl come from?" the student says in shock, slowly stepping back as he drops the metal poll onto the ground. "What... what are you doing?" Scaramouche whispers.

You muster up a smile despite the throbbing pain in your head, "Argh, don't worry about me..."

"Oh god," realization struck. "—That hit your head! What were you thinking?!" Scaramouche exclaims, staring in dismay as he watches your blood drip onto the ground.

Your hair falls apart as the hairpin slips out.

And it wasn't until it fell onto the ground did you realize; the hair piece had broken.

The group of students look at each other, "crap, we should get out of here!!" One suggested, and the others quickly agree and they all run away like cowards. The crowd slowly starts to dissipate, as only a few students stayed to watch both you and Scaramouche.

"Hey," Scaramouche weakly sits up to check your head. However, as he touches it, his hand was immediately covered with blood. Startled by the sight, he glances back at you with a look of guilt upon his face.

Tears began to swell your eyes. The flowers had broken off the hair piece, the pedals had cracked off, and the gems had been smashed to bits... now, nothing but the golden stick of the hairpin remained in intake.

Your head was pounding and you were dizzy from the blood loss. But the throbbing pain in your head was the least of your concern.

You had just lost the item most dearest to you.

"Y/n?" Scaramouche questions, peeking at your face, only to realize that your e/c eyes were dripping with tears.

"Why are you crying? Crying isn't going to solve anything." Scaramouche mutters, lifting your chin up to wipe your tears away with his thumb. A tired sigh passes through Scaramouche's lips as he helps you pick up the remains of the hairpin.

'Such a beautiful hairpin gone to waste...'
Scaramouche couldn't help but think.

As you both finished collecting the leftover pieces, the sound of a siren suddenly approaches and stops in front of the alley. Both you and Scaramouche were puzzled to see as paramedics rushed over to treat you both.

Neither one of you had called the ambulance, but, a part of you was relived that some sort of help had finally arrived...