From A-Z, and Everything in Between

Playing Pretend

  Looking out for someone and watching from the sidelines were two different things. It took conscious effort to look out for someone, you had to know the situation and do something about it. Watching from the sidelines was just silently observing without making a single action. It was knowing and playing dumb. Soraru was sure everyone around him did this. How else could so many students get away with picking on that poor kid? It made him sick. But, then again, what was he doing to stop it?

Soraru knew the kid they were always targeting, somewhat anyway. It was a boy named Mafumafu. He was small and didn't really have any friends at this school. Basically, he didn't have any means of self defense. There wasn't any real reason for him to be targeted, aside from the fact that no one would care if he got hurt. There wasn't a single person that was close to Mafumafu in this place. He never even went to the teachers for help. Soraru felt sorry for him, but that was really as far as his feelings went. Someone had to be a victim. That was just how the world worked.

So, Soraru followed everyone else's lead and pretended he didn't see a thing. He didn't notice how Mafumafu was often late to class because he had been in the infirmary. He didn't see the bruises and bandages on the boy's pale skin. He didn't see the pushing, the laughing, the threatening notes. Soraru feigned ignorance just for the sake of not getting involved. He convinced himself that even if he did try to do something about it, he wouldn't actually be able to do a thing. It wasn't like he was necessarily popular with the other students. He had no influence over them, and his physical strength was nothing to brag about. There was nothing Soraru could do.

It was one day during lunch break that Soraru decided to go for a walk around the campus. He sometimes did this when he was bored or just needed a quick breath of fresh air. Since the weather was nice today and he really had nothing better to do, Soraru figured he might as well take a walk. As he was strolling through the courtyard, it occurred to him that he had never gone behind the school before. What was even back there anyway? Curious, Soraru started to make his way around the main building. So far it looked like there was nothing but a bunch of bushes and some empty space. Soraru continued walking until he spotted a person kneeling in front of one of the bushes. With that white hair and slightly battered look, it could be no one else besides Mafumafu.

Mafumafu had a small lunch box in one hand and was petting a skinny cat with the other. A faint smile was present on his face, and he giggled when the cat nuzzled against his hand. It was the first time Soraru had seen him look happy. Soraru felt awkward standing there and watching this. It felt like he shouldn't be here. He and Mafumafu were the only people around this place, and no doubt the albino came here to be alone. But a small part of Soraru was fascinated by Mafumafu's smile. If someone like him could be happy, then couldn't anyone? Not knowing how else to announce his presence, Soraru cleared his throat. Mafumafu jumped, startled, and turned to look at him with wide eyes.

"You don't have to look at me like that. I don't have any interest in bullying you," Soraru said.

Mafumafu still seemed wary, along with a little confused. The cat meowed softly and rubbed against his leg. Mafumafu glanced down at it.

"Is that cat yours?" Soraru asked.

"No... It's just a stray," Mafumafu replied quietly.

Soraru gave a low hum. "It really seems to like you, though."

Mafumafu didn't respond. He kneeled down beside the cat again and pulled out some food from his lunch box. He gently scratched the cat behind the ears as it ate from his hand. Mafumafu mumbled something to it, earning another meow in response, but Soraru couldn't catch what he said. Mafumafu glanced over at him again.