A Little Braver

Chapter 3

| Chapter 3: Break In? |

“Here’s your favourite Pearl Milk Bubble Tea with Fruit Jelly, with pizza!” Mashiho settled down the food enthusiastically, trying to cheer up his best friend. He was worried for her as she had been considerably silent throughout their whole journey from school to Mashiho's cafe.

Ryujin did not respond and sat completely still except for rubbing her palms in frustration. She was hurt, angry, and greatly upset by what Mira had said. Mira had opened up a very sensitive issue that was close to Ryujin's biggest weakness. It was a scar she was trying to hide with layers of everything else, a scar she was still learning to heal. Nothing affected her as much as her relationship with her parents and their fate did.

Mashiho sighed and shifted to the nearest seat to Ryujin's.

"Ryujin..." He started softly, "I'm so sorry. I have no words of consolation and I am in no place to tell you how you should feel, but I know one thing Ryu. You have come this far, fighting all the pain, the struggles that your parents left you with. It does affect you, remembering them hurts, but you can't let it get to your head. You have put in a lot of effort to accept it and overcome the situation. And Mira is not going to bring you down. She's someone who knows absolutely nothing about you. Mr and Mrs. Shin are so happy to have you. You're like their own one and only child. You have us as well. You are not alone, Ryu. We're all here for you. You have a family in all of us."

Ryujin listened, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I know, Mashi..." Ryujin's voice was thick with emotion, blinking away her tears. "It was just unexpected, and... embarrassing. I'm happy. I certainly am happy with how I am now. I feel true parental love from Mr. and Mrs. Shin. They're already my parents. And all of you too, I'm grateful for everything. I was just taken by surprise. It angered me that Mira would use my family's past against me in a petty fight."

Mashiho patted her softly.

"I understand. Mira intentionally said that to instigate and infuriate you. We know how much you've hurt and how hard you've struggled. Her words are irrelevant."

Ryujin gave a pained smile.

"Thank you Mashi. I'm sorry for losing control."

Mashiho shook his head. "My best friend is a warrior and don't let people walk over her. She's badass and brave. I'm proud of her." He gave his widest grin.

Ryujin returned a wide smile.

"I'm loving the compliments, go on!" Ryujin teased, earning a flick on her forehead.

"Mashi! Ryu."

The two friends saw a familiar group of people approach them. They immediately brightened up at the sight of their other close friends- Yoshi, Jihoon and Doyoung.

"Ah! You guys are here!" Mashiho said enthusiastically.

Seeing that his sister Atsumi, and his mother, with the help of three other assistants were managing the cafe all fine, Mashiho decided to spend time with his friends in his living room, having a movie marathon.

The five friends enjoyed each others' company to the fullest.

Midway, Mashiho's mother informed that she had to go to visit her mother who stayed with her sister’s family in the next town. She would not be back until the next day.

Soon, Ryujin, Yoshi, Jihoon and Doyoung had to leave as well. They bid Mashiho farewell, thanking for the wonderful time, the incident already pushed to the farthest part of their mind.

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Later that evening, Mashiho went down to the cafe as usual after taking a light shower and dinner. It was only Atsumi and him at home, since their dad hardly was in town due to his busy schedule as a businessman.

Mashiho settled down in one the tables of the cafe- a placed he used as a solitary and undisturbed place to complete his homework and study for a bit during the night when it had closed for the day. He was a diligent student apart from everything else.

He had not even really started when he heard a noise outside, followed by some shuffling before he saw the silhouette of a large frame crashing onto the front glass door of the shop.

He froze.

He looked at the silhouette figure warily from his place, confused and scared of his next step. When he realized the figure did not move, he summoned up some courage and slowly approached the blinds behind which the glass wall of the shop was hidden. Taking a deep breath after some contemplation, he slowly pushed the blinds open.

A boy sat beside the threshold, his head between his knees. Mashiho tipped his head to the side, breathing much more easily, immediately recognizing the person. He turned on the lights and opened the door.

The guy was whining about how it was getting worse for him by every minute.

“Junkyu?” Mashiho called, looking down at the Junkyu at the floor.

Junkyu immediately straightened up and turned to Mashiho in a flash, his earlier frustrated face easing into a small smile.

“Oh it’s just you. Hi Mashiho!

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Things will start getting interesting now, I promise.

Double update because someone has been eager for an update. You know who you are. Ily.

Vote if you think Mashiho is a good friend! XD

Don't forget to comment and share!

Xoxo

~S