Power

11

Kana's POV

"No Shirabu again?" Nakamura balls his fists, "I'm going to choke that boy, I don't care that he's our senior!"

"Mura, chill. Maybe there's a reason... again..." Akihiko sighs, looking at me.

I just stare at them in silence, realization taking over there expressions. Aki grabs onto my arm and quickly walks us to our usual spot, Nakamura close behind. We got our drinks, Akihiko ordering for me so I don't have to speak, and decide to take it outside today to the nearby playground. Each of us sit on a swing, me in the middle so one is on either side of me. They glance at each other with sad expressions, probably deciding who is going to speak to me first.

"I can't protect him anymore." I'm the first to use their voice, though it's small and raspy.

"Protect Shirabu?" Aki asks softly, leaning closer to me in order to hear me properly.

The cup in my hands unconsciously was being squeezed so hard that the liquid was coming out of the top. I release my grip on it, closing my eyes for a moment.

"It's too hard. It's too painful trying so hard... Shirabu and I are no longer friends." I finally look him in the eyes.

"Oh shit." Nakamura chokes on his drink.

"Mura, get it together." Akihiko glares at him before turning back to me, "Do you need a second to get your thoughts sorted first?"

"No no. I already do... I think... I've had two months to sort my thoughts without him."

"Y-you've already been separated for two m-months...?" Aki's eyes were wide now, leaning back a bit as he takes in the information.

"Yeah..." I gently sip my beverage.

"And you're barely telling us? If you told us sooner, we could've helped then, Kana." Nakamura frowns, grabbing my shoulder.

"I know but I was fine. I wasn't alone. The second years from the boys volleyball team as well as my own team have been helping." I look at each of them, "That's not what I came here to talk to you guys about though."

"What? Really?" Aki blinks at me, obviously confused at my change in behavior.

"Well, I mean kinda, but that's not the only thing." I shrug, shaking my head, "It's related to him though."

"What even happened with you two?" Nakamura talks with care, as if he said the wrong words, he'd hurt me.

"He just told me his true thoughts and opinions of me. So I accepted them and now I'm gonna do something about it." My face turns dark.

"K-Kana, what did he s-say to you?" Akihiko's breath hitches, slightly frightened at this side of me.

The scene of that day replays in my brain. The anger sprouting from both of us as we lashed out at each other. How when I got home, I cried the entire night all the way into the morning, even punched holes into the walls. My parents were confused and tried to calm me down but I refused to tell them what had happened. I didn't want them to hate you because I didn't necessarily hate you and I still don't. I just hate what you said and how you said it. I only ignored and avoided you afterwards because I was so hurt by your words. It had been building up inside of me, this school year especially, but I blocked it all out due to my feelings for you. If I had the choice, I would've rather not lose you but fate works in mysterious ways I guess.

"His exact words were 'You lack any sort of power, and that's what I can't stand about you.' He said other things as well, but that was his main thing... I lashed back at him."