The Tale of Fiery Fox

Ch. 2: Shinra Kusakabe

High School, to me, was a bore. Everyone had their own groups, their own friends and goals to work toward. Looking at all of this around me as I sat in my desk, during the first break, I sighed as Tamaki, Arthur and Iris joked around in one other corner of the classroom. Taking out my favourite series, Your Name., I smiled as I read along,

Tamaki: "What're you reading?" Tamaki's voice asked, ripping me from the world I was in, 

Shinra: "Nothing." I replied, closing the book and standing up, 

Tamaki: "It was obviously something." Tamaki sighed, her usual violent personality somewhat subsiding, "Is that Your Name?" She then asked, spotting the cover of the manga I was reading, 

Shinra: "Wh-Why are you so interested?" I nervously asked, as I placed it in my bag, 

At this, her face flushed red and she began to look anywhere but at my eyes. All around, everyone seemed captivated by our interaction; and soon began to whisper curiously, 

Tamaki: "I-I was just curious!" Tamaki then explained, swivelling around and running back to Iris and Arthur, who gave me a sheepish smile,

At that moment, my counsellor; Obi-Sensei, appeared in the room,

Obi: "Hey! Shinra! Got a sec'?" Obi-Sensei asked, to which I picked up my bag and walked out, 

Arthur: "He really doesn't like people getting too close doesn't he?" Arthur exclaimed, as a dejected looking Tamaki appeared in front of them, "Maybe I was right, that he's holding a secret." Arthur then suggested, as Iris also put her mind to it, 

Iris: "I guess the only way we can find out is by looking ourselves, right?" Iris sighed, to which Tamaki turned beet red, 

Tamaki: "F-Find out for ourselves?!" She exclaimed, her eyes saying yes, but her mind saying no, 

Arthur: "Let's just follow him then." Arthur sighed, walking out after Shinra, "C'mon! What're you waiting for?" Arthur then called out, as Tamaki and Iris both nervously joined him,

Obi: "So, as you probably know, the school trip's coming up soon." Obi-Sensei explained, as I sat in his office, "But, just between you and me, I think we can skip it if you want." He then whispered,

Shinra: "You really are a teacher right?" I asked, as a smile appeared on his face,

Obi: "Relax! I'm joking!" Obi-Sensei exclaimed, before sighing, "Really, Shinra, I know I'm helping with your rent and stuff because of the government asking me to; but are you sure you don't just wanna live with me instead?" Obi-Sensei then asked, as I sighed,

Shinra: "I don't...wanna leave that house." I quietly affirmed, my face losing all colour as I spoke, "It has precious memories...memories that I can't bare to lose, sir." I explained, as he sighed,

Obi: "Well, it was worth a shot..." He exhaled, handing me a paper, "All you need is an adult signature right? Preferably a guardian?" Obi-Sensei then questioned, as I looked at the paper, "C'mon! It'd be nice to get out every once in a while!" He explained, as I stared blankly, 

Shinra: "Fine..." I conceded, as a small smile appeared on his face, 

Obi: "Your Mom would be proud." Obi-Sensei then explained, as Tamaki, Iris, and Arthur overheard the entire conversation, "I do miss her, and your family in general." Obi-Sensei lamented, to which I hung my head low,

Shinra: "Permission...to cry, sir." I exclaimed, spotting the picture of my Mother on Obi-Sensei's desk, "Sorry, Obi-Sensei...there's only so much I can handle...right now." I quietly sobbed, the flashes of my Mother's sad face appearing in my mind, "I miss them...so much...!" I exclaimed, as Tamaki and the others looked to each other in grave shock, 

Obi: "How long have you spent staring at that photo, Shinra." Obi-Sensei then asked, his voice becoming one of concern, "Let me guess, you take it wherever you go." He then guessed, as he gestured to my bag, "You know that you don't have to carry such a burden on you." Obi-Sensei explained, as I zipped my bag shut,

Shinra: "With all due respect, Obi-Sensei...it's a burden I carry because it's my fault." I explained wiping the tears from my eyes, "I'll be going now..." I spoke, picking up my bag and opening the door, only to see Tamaki's feet disappear around the corner, 

Iris: "He...has no family?" Iris exclaimed, her voice sounding weak all of a sudden, "That's so awful..." She then exclaimed, as Tamaki and Arthur looked equally as disturbed, "Everyone makes fun of him in class too..." She added, making Arthur sigh in frustration,

Arthur: "Man, why didn't he say so?" He exclaimed, as Tamaki looked down to the ground, 

Tamaki: "Because...they'd make fun of that too." She quietly spoke, her usually bright and vibrant voice being changed for a more sombre tone, "Even though...I feel this way...I know little to nothing about Shinra." Tamaki then sighed, as they walked back to class, 

Obi: "Hey teach!" Obi-Sensei called out, as class began and Shinra was nowhere to be seen, "Kusakabe's leaving...or, he's already gone." Obi-Sensei announced, as the class looked at him in confusion, "Oh, I'll also be leaving, see ya!" Obi-Sensei then decided, giving the teacher a thumbs up as he left, 

Student A: "How many times is that this week?" One boy asked, as the other students surrounding him began counting, 

Tamaki: "I'm going...after him." Tamaki then determined, standing up and rushing out of the room with her bag, "O-Obi-Sensei!" She then called out, catching up to the muscular man walking out of the school, "You know where he is, don't you?" Tamaki asked, as Obi-Sensei looked at her suspiciously,

Obi: "So you were the one eavesdropping," He determined, chuckling a little afterwards, "Wait...aren't you the girl who I had in my office that one day, with Rekka?" Obi-Sensei then asked, as Tamaki nodded vigorously, "Shinra saved you that day..." He murmured, out of Tamaki's earshot, "Alright, come on." He beckoned, to which Tamaki ran to his side,

Tamaki: I'm coming to save you this time...Shinra!