×Sweet•Death×

1-1-Cruel Fate

     I steadily walked home, the sun was eating and I closed my eyes just for a second. My grip tightened around the small grocery bag containing eggs. My legs are starting to hurt but the trip to the store was worth it. I ran out of eggs a day ago. When my eyes re opened I bumped into someone tall. I looked up and my heart began to beat faster as my nose was with the smell of alcohol. Two men stood in front of me and I flinched back, repelled by his touch. "Hey, you're cute. Did you come here alone?" He asked and his voice was raspy from smoking. The other man looked down at me and snickered, "Look, she is just a high schooler. What grade are you in? 12th?" I didn't know what to do, "...!" I turned to run away but I felt a rough hand wrap around my wrist, "It's not polite to run away from your elders!" The man grumbled at me and I tugged harder dropping my bag to the ground. I heard the eggs crack.

     "HEY! GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER!" I looked forward tears falling off my face to see a boy my age running towards me. The man let go off my wrist and I fell forward onto my knees. I felt a burn and I instantly knew I was cut. It hurt so much! I looked behind me to see the retreating figures and I felt someone's hot breath in my neck. I crawled forward to get away and I looked back to see the boy. "Are you okay?" He asked me and I nodded standing up and brushing off my clothes. The brunette boy also stood up, not before grabbing my bag of broken eggs for me. He pulled out his wallet after handing me my bag saying, "Here, take this to get new eggs. I'm sorry you had to deal rotten men. The world would be a better place without them." He held out 500 yen and I put my arms up into the air. No thank you, is what I wanted to say but the words didn't come out. He stared confused at me and I felt embarrassed by my lack of words.

     I turned on my heels and retreated towards my house. I left him standing there, far in the distance. It wasn't because I thought he was cute, or I was aloof around men in general, I was always just scared of people. Who wouldn't be? More people are killed ever year by other people, not lions, tigers, or bears.

      I panted, my hands on my knees. I glanced over my shoulder and sighed with relief. Nobody followed me. I straightened up and walked towards the front door off my house. I fumbled for the keys and to my surprise it opened the first time I turned the lock. The door creaked open and I took off my shoes and weakly called out, "I'm home..." Something big jumped on me and it cried, "Ah! Hanako! You're home and you brought eggs!" My mother cried out happily but looked inside the bag with a sigh saying, "Hanako...you brought back broken eggs." Her eyes were narrow and I looked down,

     "I'm sorry, I was attacked on the way home." My mother's eyes widened and she pulled me into a hug and kissed me all over, "Aw! My poor baby! That's so worrisome! How are you supposed to grow up if all these men keep attacking you. You need a body guard. " I took all the hugs and kisses but it doesn't mean I wanted them. I wasn't a touchy person. In fact, when people touch me I get scared. I guess I'm skittish.

     After that, everything went back to normal. I did my homework for normal school, went to cram school, came home, ate dinner silently and went upstairs to practice the piano.

<~>

     I looked outside the window of Daikoku Private Academy. Class just ended but I normally wait for everyone to leave before gathering my stuff. I put my head on the desk slowly and continued the look out the window, then I saw him. It was the boy from yesterday and he was staring at something on the ground. He slowly walked over to the spot and picked something up. I could tell by the way he moved he wasn't an ordinary student. He walked with confidence and he went alone, despite all the girls giggling at him. He put the item back down and turned to leave but he came back and picked it again. Suddenly, he looked directly up towards my window and saw me looking at him. Shivers were sent through my spine, he noticed me from that far.