Falling like the stars ~ Hikaru Hizashi x oc ~ Beyblade fanfiction

Chapter 14

Suisei sat alone on the park bench, the autumn breeze rustling through the leaves around her as her thoughts drifted. She was lost in a moment of rare peace, her mind wandering through dreams of a life without secrets, without fear.

But the peace was short-lived. She didn't notice Kazuma approaching until he was almost beside her, his footsteps soft but his presence heavy.

"Suisei," he began, a seemingly casual greeting as he slipped his phone from his pocket. His smirk was unmistakable, a spark of malice in his eyes as he tapped the screen, revealing photos she dreaded to see. "You and Hikaru make a nice couple."

A cold chill swept over her as she saw the images: candid shots of her and Hikaru together, laughing, smiling, and sharing moments that should have been theirs alone.

There was one with Hikaru's arm around her shoulders, his protective warmth nearly palpable even in a photograph. Kazuma watched her reaction, his smirk widening.

"I wonder what your mother would think of these," he said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "She's not exactly fond of you... getting close to anyone, is she?"

Suisei's heart pounded painfully, her stomach knotting with dread. He knew. Kazuma knew all too well how tightly her mother's rules gripped her life. He had no idea just how far her mother's influence stretched, but even this surface knowledge was enough to use against her.

Suisei didn't just fear her mother's anger—her mother wielded control with a ruthlessness that was terrifyingly effective. Her punishments were never loud or violent but were insidious, relentless, leaving no escape from the quiet devastation she could inflict.

Kazuma tilted his head, feigning innocence, but his smirk betrayed his true intent. "Oh, nothing much. Just... maybe you keep your distance from Hikaru. It'll spare him the trouble of dealing with your... complicated life."

A flash of anger flared in her chest, but she kept her fists clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms. She couldn't let him win, but the fear he stoked was paralyzing. The thought of her mother finding out and retaliating chilled her to her core.

Suisei could already imagine the subtle, calculated punishment her mother would devise—ways to make her life unbearable, to remind her every day of what happened when she stepped out of line.

"Think about it," Kazuma said with a grin, finally walking away, leaving her sitting there, rooted to the bench, her mind reeling

Hours later, as dusk fell, Suisei found herself outside Hikaru's house, her heart hammering with both fear and resolve. She knew she couldn't keep this from him, not when he was at the center of it. She knocked lightly, hoping he was home.

Moments later, the door opened, and Hikaru's face lit up with his usual, warm smile—until he noticed the worry etched in her expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked gently, leading her inside without hesitation. They settled on the couch, and Hikaru watched her patiently, waiting as she struggled to find the words.

"Something... happened," she started, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kazuma... he has pictures of us together. And he threatened to show them to my mother."

Hikaru's jaw tightened, his brow furrowing with both anger and confusion, but he held back, allowing her to continue

"My mother..." Suisei swallowed hard, the words painful to voice. "She's not just strict. She's controlling, Hikaru, in ways that... it's hard to explain. She has these rules, and if I don't follow them, she finds ways to make me regret it. It's not just grounding or taking away privileges. She has ways of getting under my skin, of making me feel... trapped. It's like she has this quiet power over me, and if she found out I'm with you... I don't know what she'd do. But it wouldn't be good."

Hikaru's eyes softened with a mixture of sympathy and anger, his hand reaching out to take hers. "Suisei, you don't have to face this alone. We'll get through this, together."

The gentle strength in his voice softened her fears, allowing a glimmer of hope to push through the dread. For the first time, she felt the weight of her mother's shadow lessen, just a little, knowing she didn't have to face it alone.

"But Kazuma..." she began, only for Hikaru to interrupt, his gaze firm.

"Kazuma doesn't get to decide who you are, and he definitely doesn't get to decide who you can be with," he said firmly. "If we let him come between us, he's already won. But we won't let him, right?"

She took a shaky breath, Hikaru's words filling her with something she hadn't felt before: determination. She tightened her hold on his hand, meeting his steady gaze. "You're right. I'm tired of being afraid. Kazuma can't control my life, and neither can my mother. Not anymore."

The next morning, they found Kazuma waiting at the entrance to the school courtyard, his usual arrogant smirk firmly in place. He clearly expected Suisei to back down, to be cowed by his threats. Instead, she met his gaze head-on, refusing to flinch.

Kazuma sneered, stepping forward. "So, come to your senses?" he asked, his voice laced with condescension. But Suisei didn't shrink back.

Instead, she stepped forward, her voice steady and unwavering. "You don't scare me, Kazuma. Whatever you think you can do... I'm done letting you hold that power over me."

For a moment, Kazuma's expression faltered, but he quickly recovered, trying to maintain his sneer. "Oh, really? And what about your mother? I'm sure she'd be thrilled to know about your little boyfriend here."

But before Suisei could reply, Hikaru stepped up, his eyes cold and determined. "If you try anything, Kazuma, it'll only prove how weak you are. Blackmail doesn't make you strong—it just makes you a coward."

Kazuma's smirk twisted into a scowl, but he stayed silent as Suisei and Hikaru turned and walked away. For the first time in her life, Suisei felt truly liberated from the fear that had once chained her, and a newfound strength settled within her.

Later that evening, Suisei invited Hikaru over to her house for dinner. They shared a quiet meal, a sense of peace settling between them as they enjoyed each other's company. As they sat together, Suisei looked at Hikaru, gratitude and admiration filling her heart.

"I never thought I'd be able to stand up to him," she admitted softly. "Or to my mother. I thought I'd always have to live in her shadow, that I'd never be able to make my own choices."

Hikaru took her hand, his gaze warm and encouraging. "You don't have to live by anyone else's rules, Suisei. Not Kazuma's, and not your mother's. You get to decide the life you want, and I'll be here, whatever you choose.

They sat in comfortable silence, the warmth of each other's presence giving them strength. As the sun set outside, casting a warm glow across the room, Suisei felt a quiet certainty settle within her heart.

With Hikaru by her side, she was finally free to imagine a future where she could truly be herself—free from fear, and free to embrace her dreams without looking back.