Transition and Restart, book one: Arrivals

Chapter five, 2016, falling in love, part six

The crowd closed behind them again. Kyoko held on to Yu-kun's shirt for all she was worth. I lose him now and I'll be alone for the rest of the evening.

Just a moment earlier they had almost stumbled into a drunken fistfight and now they were running.

From her right music blared from a couple of loudspeakers, and then the sound grew fainter behind her. Why is he walking so fast?

"Yu-kun, I can't. My yukata."

He finally slowed down. Her feet hurt from walking much faster than her traditional style slippers were designed for. Kuri-chan would have understood. She actually knew about the yukata. Ah, yes she told me she had been in Japan a lot before.

That thought scared her. Before this life. What is it like to live twice?

"Kyoko-chan, are you..."

"I'm fine," she lied.

"Sorry I ran." Yu-kun looked shamefaced.

Kyoko stared at him. Somehow he looked younger now, and scared.

"What is it? What happened?"

He looked away. "That fight before," he murmured, "it was a set-up."

How did he know? "How did you know?"

He walked them a little bit away. Whatever was on his mind wasn't romantic at all. She could see that in his face.

"You know, us from Red Rose."

She knew that a lot of the students came from his old middle school. They were spread evenly among all classes, and she had heard rumours. "Yes," she said, even though she wasn't sure where this was leading.

"We don't talk much about it. Have you heard that we call it Red Rose Hell?"

She had and it wasn't spoken about. "Uhum."

"There was a lot of bullying, and worse." He looked as if he was about to cry.

"Yu-kun?"

"No you should know, at least part of it."

Kyoko wasn't sure she wanted to, but if it was important to Yu-kun then she would listen. I want to know you. I want you closer to me. "I'll listen."

"There was a Chinese girl and two Korean boys. One of them in my class. It was bad and the teachers didn't help."

"Like Kuri-chan," she asked and remembered.

"Worse," Yu-kun said. "I was a coward, but the Wakayamas refused to let go." He looked as if he was making a decision. "I had a crush on Noriko-chan back then," he said.

Had? Whoa! Had? You're not in love with her any more? "Uhum." I'm not going to show anything, I'm not! Please!

In the distance fireworks were opening up. They really are flowers in the sky!

"Follow me! I'll find a better spot. Tell you more later."

They had already moved away from the worst crowd so it was easier walking around, and Yu-kun soon found a place behind a stall. It smelled of food and it was darker here but Kyoko didn't mind at all.

"I'm sorry for telling you this now but if I don't I don't know if I ever will."

His voice brought her back to his discomfort. Whatever occupied his mind was more important than the festival.

"Please I'm still listening," she said and used it as an excuse to move just a little bit closer.

"She was too loud so they took revenge."