Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 3• And then there were Three.

Hitoshi Shinso sat quietly in the principal’s office of Aldera Junior High, trying to keep his frustration under control. He liked to think he was a patient person, but right now, his patience was being tested to the very limit.

His purple hair fell onto his eyes as he slouched in his chair, and he didn’t bother brushing it back.

This wasn’t where he wanted to be.

Transferring schools in the middle of his final year of junior high school wasn’t part of the plan, but after everything that had occured at his last school, he didn’t have much of a choice. Aldera was the only place that, for whatever reason, would take him and he had to deal with it.

Sitting next to him was his father. The man was here, but it wasn’t because he cared. His only reason for accompanying his "beloved son" was to keep up appearances. His father was more worried about how things looked to other people than what was really happening. To him, Hitoshi was a problem that needed to be fixed, not a son who needed support.

The principal sat across from them, smiling a little too much. His voice was cheery, but Hitoshi could sense the apprehension behind it. “Hitoshi Shinso, right? We’re glad to have you here at Aldera Junior High. I know it can be tough transferring schools, especially so late in the year, but we hope you’ll settle in soon.”

Hitoshi gave a stiff nod, not really interested in making conversation. He knew the principal didn’t mean it. The only reason Aldera accepted him was because no other school wanted him after what happened. He could see it in the principal’s eyes—the same look he got from everyone else. The look that said he didn’t belong.

The principal looked down at the file in front of him, flipping through pages that Hitoshi knew were filled with notes about his past. The “incident” at his old school was likely at the top of the list. Those people really wanted to make sure that he never stepped foot on any type of educational ground.

“We understand there were... complications at your last school,” the principal continued, choosing his words carefully. “But we believe in giving students second chances. We want you to know that you’re welcome here.”

Second chances? Hitoshi thought bitterly. This isn’t a second chance. It’s my last chance.

His father cleared his throat and spoke up with his usually cool and detached voice. “Hitoshi has had some... difficulties, but we’re hoping that this move will help him turn things around. He needs to understand that actions have consequences.”

Hitoshi felt his jaw clench. Consequences. His father always talked like everything was his fault. He didn’t care about the reasons behind what happened. To him, Hitoshi was the problem. He was always the problem. The freak of nature that accidentally spawned.

The principal nodded, clearly agreeing with his father and why wouldn't he when he had practically been paid handsomely for enrolling Shinso without asking too much questions. “Of course. We’ll make sure Hitoshi gets the support he needs to settle in here. We want this to be a positive experience for him.”

Hitoshi just stared at the floor. He knew better than to believe any of it. He’d heard all these words before, back at his old school. But no one had ever really cared. The moment things got difficult, they gave up on him. He expected the same thing here.

The meeting dragged on for a few more minutes, but Hitoshi barely paid attention. It was just more empty words. His father was good at pretending to care when other people were around, but Hitoshi knew the truth. The moment they left this office, his father would go back to acting like he didn’t exist.

When the principal finally finished speaking, Hitoshi stood up, eager to get out of there. He didn’t wait for his father, didn’t say goodbye to the principal. He just wanted to leave.