The Song of Windchimes

Lisianthus

┏━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┓

Chapter 11

┗━°⌜防風鈴 ⌟°━┛

A beat up and teary eyed Sako watched as he looked at his savior.
"Why'd you help?" He asks.
"'Why?' Those dudes are bullies, they were CLEARLY picking on someone weaker," young Hiragi says after clapping the dirt off of his hands. "What? Did you wanna get pummeled or something?" He walks forward to the younger kid "You know, if you don't speak up for yourself, they'll jut keep coming at you harder. You gotta fight back, too."
Hiragi puts his hand out to help Sako up. "Can you stand?" He asks before his sleeve is grabbed by two smaller hands.
"Teach me... How to fight...!" Sako cries, taking Hiragi off guard.
"S...Sure..."

'You were so strong back then...' Sako remembers the past, how Hiragi showed him some moves, how Hiragi was His Inspiration. Hiragi was his Idol.
'Even though you don't tend to group up with people yourself, you still naturally attract people to you without trying.'
'I've... always looked up to you so much. Being able to walk behind someone like you... honestly made me feel incredibly proud, from the bottom of my heart.'

"Hiragi-san, happy graduation!" Sako says, walking behind Hiragi "You'll be going to Furin, Finally!"
"Yeah," Hiragi responds.
"You'll become their top, I'm sure of it!" Sako says, excitedly, "You deserve to stand above EVERYONE."
At that, Hiragi turns to face the younger teen who was smiling with a slight flush on his cheeks. Just wait till I get to Furin next year, I'll help you."
'At the time, Furnin hadn't been united yet. To me, that leader role was meant for you.'
'And I was gonna be by your side when you took it. That was what I truly believed back then...'
"Hey, Sako?" Hiragi says, sakura petals swinging gracefully to the ground around them. "I don't need you to follow me anymore," He says with a slight smile.
"Huh?" Sako asks 'What?'
"I've decided to ally myself with this guy named Umemiya. The top spot will be his, not mine." Hiragi states, looking up at the sky and admiring the falling blossoms before looking at Sako with a gentle smile "So... please know, if you do follow me, things won't turn out the way you want."

"You need a new goal... One that's more about you than me..."
Hiragi walks away, crossing the bridge they had stopped at to talk.
'Why?'
That memory led to another one.
Sako was standing, surrounded by knocked out bodies of some gang members, inhaling and exhaling loudly for air, sweat dripping from his nose as he held onto a knocked out member's white shirt with bloody fists.
"Well, you did some real damage." Togame says from behind him "You're strong."
Sako drops the guy in his hand with a huff. "There's room on out crew If you'd like to join us," Togame offers.
"I call fighting you next, new guy!" Togame sings, going forward before getting grabbed by Togame to stop him from rushing over.
"Are your men strong?" Sako asks.
"No question about it."
"Try me if you need proof!"

"Power is everything," Togame says "We are the devotees of power... we recognize people for their strength. The stronger you are, the higher you'll go."
"I don't give a shit about that." Sako clenches his bloody fist in anger "All I need i a decent pool of sparring partners."
"I'll get stronger... I'll make him regret what he did when he crumples before me..."

'I'LL BECOME STRONGER AND BEAT HIM... AND I'LL MAKE HIM REGRET IT'

Sako grits his teeth, eyes becoming smaller in rage. "I CAN'T LOSE! UNLIKE YOU, I..." He breathes "I CHOSE TO KEEP TO MYSELF, FOCUSING ONLY ON GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER ON MY OWN!" Sako yells out at Hiragi.
'He's envious...' Ryuu crosses his arms as he watches the two.