Helps on it's way

I reached home before the rain started. So much was on my mind. What did Shunichi owe? How could I help? Why does it have to be the Mountain of all people? I came home to see my mother in the kitchen. It was a nice surprise, I guess.

"What are you doing here, Mother?"

"Not happy to see your own mother?" she snapped back at me in a joking manner

Mother's usually working at this time. She works for a big company in the city and is never home. Sometimes I feel like I'm living alone. I go to my room and dropped on the bed. My mind was racing with what to do with Shunichi. What can I do to help? I can definitely lend him some money. I continued to think until I lost myself in my thought, and fell fast asleep.

The next day, I quickly got ready to meet up with Shunichi. Today was the weekend, but Mother was still gone. She must have left early. It's doesn't matter, her being here yesterday was a freak accident. I quickly grabbed some cash and booked it to Shun's house. I couldn't wait to see him. I turned the block where Shun lives to see Yamauchi slowly walking away from Shunichi's house. He swiftly passed into an alley a few houses away from Shun's place and entered the building, slamming the door in the process. Yamauchi lived so close to Shun? No wonder he's a target. Yamauchi must have seen him walking home and started to pick on him. I walked into Shun's house to see the place as lively as Sato-sensei. Huh. I called out for Shun, but heard no reply. I crept my way into Shun's room to see him lying there, pale as a ghost and skinny as a needle. I was shocked. It looked like Shun hadn't eaten for days!

"What are you doing here, Asahi?" Shunichi said in a raspy, sickly voice "You might get sick from me!"

"Shunichi! Have you've been eating? You look malnourished…" I said while sitting Shun up on the bed. His arms were fragile and weak.

"I didn't have any money this past month to eat." He said calmly, as if nothing was wrong

Suddenly it hit me. Shunichi was sick yesterday because he hasn't eaten properly. He didn't join me to eat on the roof because he had no food. He had no money because Yamauchi kept taking his cash. I told Shunichi to go get ready. He was confused, but followed my instructions. I helped him walk to the local coffee shop so he could eat.

"Do you want some??" Shun said, stuffing his mouth with the pastries I bought him.

"I'm fine" I answered him "All I need is my coffee. How do you expect to stop Yamauchi from taking your money?"

Shunichi looked at me as if I was crazy

"How are we supposed to go up to someone as big and strong as him? He'll get tired of me eventually, I'll be fine"

I know he won't leave you alone, Shun. If he was just picking on you, then he could've gotten tired, but he's getting something out of this. He's getting your money. All I could do right now is be there for Shunichi, I thought to myself. I looked into the cup of coffee I got. I could get lost in the creamy dark brown of the coffee. It reminds me of something. It's the same mesmerising dark brown as Sato-sensei's eyes when he fell off the roof. Couldn't I pull of the same thing with Yamauchi? No, if Shunichi found out, it would devastate him. I shouldn't resort to murder, but how else do you get rid of someone so huge and strong?