Key Notes | Y.N

thirty two

"again." she smacked my hand with the ruler. i held back my wince and started from the beginning. it's been two weeks since she came back into our lives, and she's been helping me practice for the competition. her method of help involves a ruler and a strict schedule. "again!" she snapped and smacked my knuckles harder. the sharp pain made me jerk my hand closer to my chest, that just made her tsk. "if you're going to act like a baby then get out of my sight, come back when you're ready to be a real pianist." she scoffed and walked away. my eyes followed her with a nasty glare, but i took the opportunity to check on ichigo and kyo.

i was rubbing the top of my hand gently to settle down the stinging pain as i entered their room. kyo perked you when he saw me and rushed to my legs, hugging them tightly. "just let me tell my parents about her, they can have the cops here in seconds." ichigo whispered clutching a cold cloth over my red knuckles. i shook my head softly, "she promised to tell me about our dad after the competition, and then she'll leave." i whispered back. "i don't believe that!" ichigo furrowed his brows as he looked away. "she's going to leech off you after you win and try to control everything you've worked for!" he hissed softly. i moved my hand away from the cloth and brought his head close to my chest, "thank you for worrying about me, but i promise i'm okay." i hummed to him.

ichigo just hugged back without saying anything. "onee-chan?" kyo spoke. "yeah kyo?" i smiled down at him. "i don't want to go with her, i want us to stay together.." his eyes wobbled with force, he was trying so hard not to cry. i knelt down and hugged him swiftly, my heart snapping seeing him so upset, "we will always be together," i pulled ichigo into the hug, "all of us, forever."

the two boys gripped onto me. i felt my world falling at a slow rate, but it hurt deeply. i removed myself from the two boys when i heard my mother calling my name. "go get me more." she demanded holding up an empty saki bottle. i snarled at her, but didn't deny. she drank so much it was shocking that she looked sober. "and make sure to get back quick, you still need to land that tempo perfectly! the competition is in three days and you're still midocure!" her sharp voice boomed from inside the house even with the door being shut behind me. the fresh air felt great compared to the air inside my once cozy home. my eyes glanced around, making sure he wasn't waiting around again. seeing he wasn't anywhere in sight, i started my walk to the store.

"he's probably practicing extra hard for their tournament," i sighed aloud. my hand moved up to my chest and gripped the fabric over my chest, it still hurt. i can still see and hear everything like it happened just seconds ago. i was so dumb to think nishinoya was in love with me, i should've known. "ah back again so soon?" the nice man with glasses smiled at me as i entered his store. "mmm," i nodded heading to the back. i grabbed two bottles of saki and went to pay, the man giving me a sympathetic look.

"you know.." he started off slow, my chest tightened, "the whole team is looking great," he said softly placing the bottles in a paper bag. "they're training really hard to perfect everything," he handed me the bag. "that's really great." i took the bag without looking at him in the eye. there was an odd silence between us before he broke it, "he's pushing himself too hard, he won't let up i think you should—"

"ah mr. shimada i should be heading back now, thank you." i quickly bowed and left the store. my eyes were burning with tears. i wish i could stop these feelings..but it's so hard. my mind raced back to a few days ago, when nishinoya was waiting outside my house.

"airie wait please!" he shouted running up to me. i stayed silent he grabbed my hand to stop me, but i pulled away from him quickly, my heart breaking more. "airie you need to hear me out!" he begged trying to get me to meet his eyes.

"nishinoya, i need to be back home." i said coldly looking at the ground. the way he breathed indicated how upset he was with the name i chose. "what is she doing to you?" his voice was soft and i could feel him reaching for my hand. i didn't fight back when he took my bruised hand into his. "airie..what do you need me to do..please.." his grip tightened around my hand.