The Green Valley Twins

Untitled Part 72

"Mama, Papa?" her parents looked up from the table, her father with his newspaper in hand and her mother with her teacup in hand. "Can I... Can I not go back to school?" her parents stared at her, curious and awaiting an explanation. "I...I can't do it anymore. I'm the only memorial-kid left, and the school year isn't even over yet."

"unless you told someone, no one else should know that you're a memorial-child," her mother smiled at her, gentle and welcoming as it always has been. "not even the school staff knows you're a Memorial-child. Your father and I argued with your principle for so long to get you the same treatment as everyone else would be in that school."

"It's not the teachers it's the students!" she interrupted, which was so unlike herself. "I can't do it anymore! I can't listen to what they're saying about her and I can't even protect her! There aren't any other Memorial-children left to rely on! I'm the only one left! And I can't do anything for her! Niitobya-san isn't the same girl anymore! She refuses my help! How can I help her if she acts like a glacier?!" her mother's arms interrupted her ranting and the warm comforting hug silenced her words as she crumbled into the embrace and cried like she was five all over again.

"Oh Momo-honey," her mother cooed, her arms tightening around her. "Niitobya-san... she, her mother sighed heavily. "Momo-honey, everyone has their pride. Have you tried talking to her Maybe Niitobya-san views your help as a hinderance? Some people are like that, they don't want to be looked down upon even if the person before them is only trying to be considerate towards them."

"There are only two-months left, can you stick it?" her father asked, "we paid quite the sum of money for your attendance, it'd be rude to throw it all away now."

"Dear," her mother's voice had the sound of a scolding in it.

"I didn't say she was going back next year," her father retorted. "Just finish this year. We'll figure something out for next year."

"Do I still have to attend every class?" Momo sniffled, tightening her hold on her mother. "Can't I only go for tests?"

"We'll higher some guards to attend academy grounds with you," her mother sighed gently. "ones who aren't afraid to knock some rude kids around."

"I think that's illegal honey," she smiled as her parents went into a debate about what personal guards could and couldn't do.

Two more months, Momo thought as she released her mother because their argument was starting to get a little heated. Can I withstand it? Truthfully it was Niitobya who made it difficult for Momo to attend. Her old friend had changed since the foxfire-incident. Izumi Niitobya went from a quiet, shy girl unused to kids her own age, to an ice cube who ignored everyone around her. Weather someone was giving her complements or insults, Izumi ignored them. She was always first to arrive in class and the first leave class, she's literally the first person at the school gates every day for both arrival and departure.

Momo missed her old friend, the girl who gave small smiles when someone told a joke. The girl who used to catch people before they even realized that they were falling. The girl who was observant, understanding, and considerate...it hurt Momo to think that girl was no longer living.

She just wanted her friend back.