Hard Paper

-Chapter 17- •Scars From the Past•

Shiko looks at her wrist and points to a cut, looking to be the oldest, she starts speaking with a slightly shaky tone.

Shiko: This... was my oldest one... About a month after my little sister was born.... she takes a breather
I was 13... when she was first born. My mother said something like
"Wow, Shiko doesn't look as precious anymore..." she lightly moves one of her thumbs over the scar
My father giggled and said
"Nahh, She is precious too. But I can see why you'd think that after creating such a beautiful diamond darling..." she gulps and sighs
I couldn't say anything at the time but it hurt.. she closes her eyes which makes a single tear fall down. Kuro is simply watching with silence, looking at Shiko's wrist.
A month later, my mom and dad would just keep pushing me away, telling me I'm just wasting their time... Unless it wasn't an emergency, I wouldn't be important at all for a few months they said... she opens her eyes, slightly mad
So I just lost it... locked myself in my room and did this with a blade without hesitation... I was used to not being believed in... but finding out all that "love" they gave me was fake broke me... she sniffles a little and smiles slightly
When I showed them, saying it hurt... they looked at me with disgust... 1 month old Hikari looked at me and stopped crying... she just looked sad... My mom looked at her and pushed me back into my room saying I was a bad influence... she slightly giggles
I was bleeding then yes, but they didn't know that when I said "It hurt..." I meant how they were acting... not how I was bleeding... she falls silent for a bit.

Kuro takes a breather and just before he's about to talk, Shiko starts speaking again and points at a different scar, also looking fairly old.

Shiko: This one was my second I believe. It had been half a year since Hikari was born and My parents were acting the same. The time limit had started between me and Hikari. I didn't need to see her for 2 hours anyway though... I'd just go up to her and say... "Thank you... and I'm sorry" every day... I didn't blame I'm her for changing my life but blamed myself for not being someone who my mom could be proud of. At school; they'd always bully me and my mom would just say; "you probably did something and deserved it"  she sighs and wipes her teary eyes a little with the back of one of her hands. She sniffles
So the day I did this; a bully was verbally abusing me, saying I was a spoiled brat from a wealthy family and I should cling to their feet to make them feel better. I couldn't take it that day... so when I said no; they said I was weak and they'd hurt me more and more if I didn't do it... she takes a breather
I carried a small blade with me every day; resisting my urges to cut... she forces a smile
I just remember screaming at them in tears and doing this... asking them if they were gonna harm me more then myself... she giggles slightly with pity at herself
They looked disgusted and ran away...
She falls silent

Kuro: Shiko... This is hurting you... maybe we should stop for now... he says with a slightly sad tone and puts his hand on Shiko's shoulder. Shiko looks at him with teary eyes

Shiko: Are you... disgusted of me..? She asks hesitantly. Kuro quickly shakes his head no

Kuro: Of course not... he lightly and kinda hesitantly wipes Shiko's tears with one finger and takes her hand away. Shiko looks at her wrist and takes a deep breath

Shiko: Unless you are disgusted I'm gonna continue... she says very silently

There is about a minute of silence until they both sigh and Kuro nods. Shiko points to a few more scars, explaining their stories one by one. They all have sadness, fear and the feeling of uselessness behind them. Kuro points at one