Cherry Blossom Abyss

Chapter Ten

I sigh.

It was slow today at work.

I look up to find aosuke at a table with a group of guys.

They were laughing.

Mockingly.

"He's one of those emo kids. Fucking weirdo."

I didn't even realize it..but he did look emo.

Black clothing. Black hair. The mask covering his mouth. He never took that mask off. Even his nails were painted black.

They shove him and he stumbles.

He was always getting bullied.

C'mon,ao. Say something back. Do something.

"Still don't talk?"

A guy says to him.

"He's a mute. That a problem?" Uehara walks up beside him.

"Who the fuck are you??" The guy asks uehara.

"Whoever the fuck I wanna be."

Uehara replies,snatching the guy's phone.

"Ohh,the newest iPhone,huh? What are you,16? Mommy's money,right?"

The guy reaches for the phone back but uehara pulls it back.

"Oh,so close. Here,ao."

He tosses the phone to ao.

"Listen,i'ma bounce now. Y'all can choose to keep picking on little Ao here. Shit,i used to,too. He's a little bitch."

Uehara leans into them.

"Until you push too far."

With that,uehara notices me.

"Oh. Sup' vi?"

Uehara leaves Ao and walks over to me.

"You....just left ao with them??"
I ask.

Uehars shrugs.

"They'll learn."

I look back at Ao and watch him.

Ao glances at the phone,then at the guys face.

The guy's smile falls.

Its a good two minute stare.

The dudes face turns white and Ao puts his phone on the table,face down,and walks off.

"What? What happened??" I look between uehara and ao.

"Aosuke went into the guy's head. Ao can read minds. Probably read his trauma and used it against him. That's his lethal weapon,he can drive someone to suicide with it."

Uehara shrugs,leaning over the counter.

"Hey,only workers behind the counter,uehara."

Maemi says,coming up beside us.

Uehara ignores her and looks at me.

"You work with this whore?"

Maemi laughs and hands me ten bucks.

"Aw,that's cute. Here,vi,from your table."

She smiles at me,turning her gaze to uehara and glaring.

He snatches the ten dollars and looks at me,thrusting the ten at me.

I reach up but he holds it up.

I reach again but he holds it low this time,avoiding my grasp.

Maemi smacks the back of his head and he snaps his head at her.