What Was Once You

Chapter 4: Not a big deal

Today I woke up earlier than usual but I just couldn't sleep after the entire meeting with Mr. Kawashima from the office, we were only trying to turn our club report but Sora got curious and asked him if school was going to shut down. Of course that sort of information was classified but Mr. Kawashima said "its unlikely but if it gets worse than we have no other choice", those exact words stayed in my mind the entire night but I guess if school ever does manage to close, then I should make the most out of my time in the club after all its the place that I mostly enjoy to be in. As I walk down into the kitchen, I noticed my mother was awake but she wasn't watching the tv, she was talking to someone on the phone and I could only guess my grandmother but she looked a bit pissed when she was talking on the phone. I shouldn't be rubbing my nose in other people's business but I was curious about this so I kept hearing stuff until my mom finally yelled out "you left me alone to raise 2 children for 10 years and now you're telling me you want to come back!?" The only one who I thought was my father and he abandoned us when Misaka was only 1 so my mom had to work hard to keep things going smoothly but she often left me in charge of Misaka when my mom worked but I guess the coward that is my dad, has finally decided to come back to the family who has learned to live without him.

My teacher today made us learn about disease outbreaks and how the world got affected by them but in my opinion, it wasn't the best of choices since I saw fear showing in some of my classmates but still a normal day. I saw Sora waiting for me but this time he seemed more different than usual, like he was impatiently waiting for me. "Hey there you are, look I'll walk you to the clubroom but I'll be late today because I have club stuff to take care of." His voice was faster and it seemed worse like he was scared something was gonna happen but I guess he just wants to finish this stuff quickly and then come back. "What's up with you? You seem a little shaky and if you're going to do things that involve the club, then shouldn't I go with you?" He hesitated to say something but I already know he's lying about something since Sora was always a terrible liar even when I first met him. He finally responded but he said something in a harsh tone: "look just do what I say, this is only for me to do so just relax and keep the girls some company while I'm gone alright?" I already knew he was lying but this situation that's involving him, must be really serious for Sora to speak in a harsh tone.

As usual we're the first ones to arrive but Sora immediately says that he'll be back and he quickly ran out the room so I was alone. As I was finishing my history work, Sakura and Yui entered the room with coffee and plastic bags which I assume is snacks or something small and Sakura went on and made fun of me without greeting me. "Poor Akano, always alone while we're having a good time enjoying the cold day with a couple of coffees. You're such a loner and I love it." At this point I didnt know if she was making fun of me or complimenting me in a masochistic way but I eventually moved on from it and decided to talk about something more important. "Listen guys the main reason I'm alone is because Sora had to take care of some business involving the club and maybe something about his future but he said that he'll be back soon enough." They both looked surprised with what I said and I already knew what they were gonna ask me. "Then how come you're not with him doing this stuff? You're the Co-President of this club and you always go with him for club reports and meetings." Yui clearly found something fishy but even if Sora was hiding something then I should be the only one to know about what's truly going on.

A few moments later, Sora finally came back but he seemed and looked different than usual. His lips were red, his nose looked like it was bleeding, his cheeks were swollen and he was wearing sunglasses in a winter day, some parts of his uniform looked ripped but from his appearance I see what's going on and why he didn't want me to go with him. As soon as he entered everyone went quiet and all you could see was Yui's shocked expression, Sakura's worried expression and my dissapointed expression. Sakura was the first to ask something and she sounded quite pissed when she asked Sora her question. "Why the hell are you coming here and expect nothing to happen when you look like you've been beat up?" I just had to ask what happened to him and he brushed it off like nothing and said "don't worry I just fell down the stairs, its not a big deal." I heard this somewhere before but I already knew what was happening and where this was going so I decided to get straight to the point. "You expect me to believe that sorry ass excuse!? I already know what's happening here so stopping lying to us and tell me why and who's doing this to you." Sora had the face of a little kid who's secret has just been discovered but this time he finally revealed to the others who had been happening to him. "Look guys, I'm sorry for lying to you but the truth is that I've been dealing with a couple of bullies for the past week and I just feel like I needed to hide it to avoid getting more harassment from other people I care about. I've been taking money from a group of people to buy supplies for something important but it looks like I can't give back of what I owe those people." I was surprised to all of this but it looks like this whole situation made Sakura pissed off and I was expecting another argument but instead she said some things to him in a angry way. "Why are you now deciding to keep secrets like this from us? Seems like you don't think of us much as friends even though we've known each other for a long time now but what important thing are you making that you have to get your ass kicked for it and why don't you ask me for money so I can pay off your debt?" Sakura didn't hold back on the questions and by the look of Sora's face, it looks like he got embarrassed by all the attention that he got from this situation. He couldn't respond to all of Sakura's questions but he at least tried to clarify some stuff about this, "I do think of you guys now as close friends but I don't wanna make you guys worry about me too much since that's the last thing I need and I don't need your money to pay off my debt since that'll make me feel like a loser but I guess I already am if I'm constantly getting beat up by the same people." Sakura finally gave him a tiny piece of paper and their faces glowed up as me and Yui can only guess what was on that paper. "This is my line, I know I gave you my number but I'm more comfortable talking through line so I would like to help you with your money problem but only think of this as a helping gesture from me, not any romantic stuff behind this at all. I just don't wanna see you bloody and desperate for help." Sora thanked her and that was the last for the day as we usually walked back home but this time, Sakura took a ride home so it was just me and Sora walking but I decided to break the awkward silence and ask him "What are you even doing with all that money that you got?" He responded with "that's something I'm not gonna tell anyone yet but this will be worth it. Oh Akano, how did you know that I got bullied?" I somehow knew he was gonna ask this but I still wasn't prepared to answer it at all. I decided to tell the truth even if it was something I'd like to forget. "Before I came to Shisui Academy, I went to a school and also got rough treatment but I only got it because I wasn't as rich as the other students from the school." That's all I decided to say but as soon as Sora was gonna say something, the bus had arrived and I decided to take it to avoid any conversation about me getting bullied. A big part of my past has finally came back to haunt me but no one else can found about this. Man, why do some people have it easier than other people?