Saviour: Syo

Part 4

***WARNING! CONTAINS SELF HARM!***

Haruna and Riku's conversation was overheard. And it spread like wildfire. Although, their version didn't quite make the cut.

The rumour said that Seiko Date was in an abusive relationship with Syo Teruya. Where Syo was the abuser and Seiko was the abusee. After all, with a face like his, who wouldn't find that version more believable?

Following the spread of this rumour, came a beaten up Riku. Words could not describe the shock everyone felt. But the rumours intensified.

The rumour said that Riku Kurokawa had found out about their relationship and as Syo's friend, confronted him about it. Unfortunately, Syo the delinquent lost his temper with her and beat her up.

Riku didn't interact with any of them. She didn't even look at them. But she looked like she was in constant pain. The first time Syo saw her like that, he approached her, but Riku just gave him a look, and then glanced over his shoulder, at Seiko.

Her look said, "I'm sorry."

His mind was killing him, and he couldn't think straight at all. The moment he went home, he went to his room and locked the door. For a while, he just sat there, only thinking.

Suddenly, he got up and stood in front of the mirror, staring at his image. Ignoring everything he saw, he pulled off his sweater and rolled up the left sleeve of his shirt. The moment he did, he turned his eyes back to the image, and stared at the ugly, messy cuts that were splayed across the skin.

For Seiko-chan.

He didn't react to it, and rolled up the sleeve of his right arm. The skin was bare and free of damage. The image of the beaten up Riku flashed across his inner eye, and his nails dug into his skin.

He hadn't done anything about it. He hadn't raised a finger. He just stood by while she looked so hurt. He pulled open a drawer and saw the blade, and there was sharp intake of breath.

"If she ever suffers because of you, you better suffer too," he whispered, slowly welcoming the blade into his hand. His left arm was already dedicated to Seiko.

It was because of him, right? It wouldn't hurt....right?

He raised the blade.

For Riku-chan.

The next few minutes, he didn't understand anything. He just felt a repeated stabbing pain in his right arm, biting his own lip to prevent himself from calling out.

He lay panting in the ground, arm stinging. The next thing he knew, he started laughing. He didn't know why, he was just laughing.

This is the pain I have given others. I deserve this pain.

It's okay, he thought, turning his head to his left arm.

If Seiko-chan is hurt, I have my arm. If Riku-chan is hurt, I have my other arm. If Haruna is hurt, I have my leg. If Katashi is hurt, I have my other leg. No matter who is hurt: Hattori, Aneki, Aniki, Onii, Oka-san, Oto-san, it doesn't matter.

I had my whole body to hurt.

***

"Syo-chan..." Haruna entered the empty classroom, and looked around. There was nobody there, but Syo's bag and phone was still there.

"What's up?" Katashi asked, peering over her shoulder.

Haruna pouted. "Is he honestly never here?"