Chapter 10: The Last Supper.

6:54 A.M.

The last day of school. Hiro woke up without the need for his alarm clock and with Shuuki already gone.

He must've walked.

Shuuki didn't snitch on him.

According to his mother, Shuuki wasn't expelled or suspended since there was only one day of school left, and because he's never been in any major trouble before. However, it would still remain on his record.

Hiro was down in the dumps all morning. He took the bus to school, and even in his classes, he avoided talking to anyone. Some of Shuuki's friends came over to him, but he brushed all of them away, not in the mood for it.

Shuuki was talking with his other friends, acting the same way he did everyday, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Hiro hated that, that he was being fake.

Hiro gave a deep sigh, and focused on his studies, hoping that it would take his mind off of the events of yesterday.

School went by extremely slow, despite it being the last day.

The teachers gave their farewell speeches, lectured the students about how much more difficult high school was going to be, and reminded them that the graduation ceremony was later tonight.

Hiro didn't catch when, and didn't care. He wasn't going to it anyways; he wasn't in the mood for anything.

With a meeting in the auditorium and congratulations from the teachers, junior high was over. It didn't matter though.

While the majority of the students said their farewells to each other and hung around to thank the teachers for all they had done for them, Hiro left straight away.

He took the path he usually took to get home home. Approaching the intersection and the alleyway where he fought off the bullies, he heard a voice from behind calling out to him.

It sounded like they were a good distance away, but he could recognize her voice.

2:22 P.M.

[Kaori: Hiro!]

Hiro stopped walking, and turned around. Kaori was sprinting towards him, her demeanor energetic and joyously happy.

[Kaori: Hiro!]

When Kaori caught up to Hiro, she put her hands on her knees, catching her breath.

[Hiro: Kaori?]

Kaori pulled her head up, and looked straight at Hiro, smiling.

[Kaori: Hiro... we just graduated junior high! Another step closer to our dreams! This is nuts! I can finally start pursuing a career in science, and you-- you wanted to become a combat mage right?]

Kaori's eyes were beaming. Hiro felt as if he should've been happy, but he didn't in the slightest.

He should have at least smiled to not break the mood, but he didn't have the energy.

[Hiro: Yeah, you're right...]

Kaori immediately noticed something wrong with Hiro, and her face shifted quickly.

[Kaori: Hiro?]

Hiro didn't care for much of anything, and just wanted to go home. Hiro turned his back on Kaori, and began resuming his walk to his house.

[Kaori: Hiro!]

Kaori ran up to him, and put her hand on his shoulder, stopping him from leaving.

[Kaori: Hiro... what's wrong?]

Hiro kept his face down, not looking at Kaori.

[Hiro: Nothing... nothing at all.]

Hiro began to start walking again, but Kaori moved to the front of him, blocking his path. Her eyes showed that she would not let him go until he said something.

[Kaori: Hiro... I know there's something wrong. Don't lie.]

Hiro remained in his spot, saying nothing. Kaori let out a big sigh and put one of her hands on her waist.

[Kaori: Jeez, Hiro. This might be our last time ever seeing each other, and this is how you want to end it?]

Hiro didn't think of that.

What Kaori said hit him like a brick to the face, but something in him prevented him from saying anything. Hiro wanted to say something back, but he couldn't... he couldn't say anything...

His lip quivered, and he could feel tears beginning to form.

Kaori looked frustrated. She looked straight at Hiro, who still had his head down, and spoke.

[Kaori: Hiro...]

Hiro wanted to go home. Hiro wanted to be away from everything. Hiro wanted to do nothing. Hiro wanted to go home, bury his face in a pillow, and cry.

[Hiro: Please... Kaori... leave me alone...]

Hiro struggled to get those words out of his lips without his tears falling from his eyes.

He wanted to stay there, and talk to Kaori, and enjoy their last few moments together. He wanted to tell Kaori how much he loved her, how much he was thankful for the years she spent with him, even though he was such a terrible and pathetic person.

Hiro cried, because no matter how much he wanted to say those things, the words that came out of his mouth were the opposite.

[Hiro: Kaori... please go away...]

Tears began streaming down his cheeks.

Hiro didn't want to let Kaori see him cry. He had to go now.

[Hiro: S-see you in a little bit...]

Hiro, shifted to the side where Kaori wasn't blocking, and proceeded to walk as fast as he could.

Dammit, he couldn't see. His tears were obstructing his vision once again. He wiped his face and--

bump--

{Hiro: Huh?}

He bumped into something.

Its kind arms wrapped around him, and he wrapped his arms around it; it was so soothing and soft and gentle, it made him cry.

He wiped his eyes again, and what he saw was a school uniform, and dark blue hair.

Kaori...

Her hair pressed against the side of his face, and her hands held him close.

Hiro couldn't handle this. Mentally, he broke down inside, and held Kaori tight.

He broke out and wept, more tears coming from his eyes than ever before. He cried so much, his tears were soaking Kaori's shoulder.

Hiro cried and cried, letting all of his feelings out. Hiro was bawling his eyes out, and looked up to the sky.

With a deep inhale, Hiro let out a cry to the world, shouting as loud as he could, hoping his sadness would leave with the sound of his voice.

Hiro cried, and hugged Kaori even tighter; because if he let go, the world would end. Reality would fall apart, and everything would cease to exist.

Hiro and Kaori stood there, hugging and crying for who knows how long, until a tender whisper left Kaori's lips.

[Kaori: Hiro, thank you for making these last few years good ones.]

More tears came from Hiro's eyes.

[Kaori: You know, when I came to Taiko, I didn't know anyone. Every day I would eat alone at the lunch table-- until one day you came and sat with me. I was so awkward and stiff whenever we talked-- I don't know why you kept coming back and sitting with me, but I was so happy whenever you did. During that time, my parents had just gotten a divorce, and I moved to this town full of new people and new places. It was scary. I was always lost, and I never thought I was going to make any friends. Not to mention, my mother would call on the phone every night, and argue with my father, even though they lived in separate homes. But you, through all of this, you guided me through it. Whether you knew it or not, sitting next to that awkward girl brought me out of a really dark place. You were my first and only friend for a very long time. I want to thank you for sticking with me through everything. And whatever you're dealing with, I hope you fix it, and I wish you good luck and many good days. More good days than bad. And when you have bad days, because it is impossible to only have good days, I wish that you will remember me, so that your day may be just a little bit better.]

Kaori let go of Hiro and looked him right in the face.

[Kaori: And cheer up-- being sad and depressed all the time doesn't suit you.]

Struggling to speak after crying so much, Hiro stammered.

[Hiro: K... Kaori... sorry...]

[Kaori: Jeez Hiro. After all that, and you don't say thank you back? It's much more rewarding to hear a "thank you" than a "sorry," you know.]

Kaori teased.

It was the exact same thing Hiro had said to her in the alleyway only a few days before. So much had happened since then...

Hiro laughed a little bit, then thanked her.

[Hiro: Thanks... thanks so much...]

Kaori abruptly broke off from the hug and pointed her finger straight to Hiro's face, with a serious look.

[Kaori: Hiro!]

Hiro was confused.

[Hiro: Huh?]

[Kaori: Hiro!]

[Hiro: Yeah?]

Kaori inhaled deeply.

[Kaori: Promise me that we'll meet again! And promise me that the next time we meet, you have whatever you're dealing with taken care of. I don't want my shoulder to get drenched with your tears again, got it?]

Hiro laughed. His sad expression changed into a grin.

[Hiro: Haha, yeah-- I promise.]

Kaori extended her hand, and Hiro shook hands with her.

Even though the argument from yesterday still left his heart damaged, he felt a million times better than he did before. Hiro wiped away his tears.

[Hiro: Thank you so much Kaori.]

Kaori looked back at Hiro's smiling face, and with a killer smile meant to replicate Hiro's, she replied--

[Kaori: Anytime.]

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3:37 P.M.

When Hiro made it home to his house, he went straight to his room and plopped on his bed.

Shuuki wasn't home; most likely at a graduation party.

He didn't feel like crying anymore after that whole scene with Kaori, so he just lay there.

He lay there thinking of what happened yesterday, what happened today, and what he should do.

How was he supposed to reconcile with Shuuki after that? Was he supposed to go back to avoiding him?

With those thoughts, he dozed off.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

[Mom: Yumi! Dinner's ready!]

To his mother announcing that dinner was ready, Hiro unwillingly woke up and sat up in his bed.

[Yumi: OKAY!!!]

Hiro heard the freakishly loud and high pitched response of a little girl and loud footsteps running across the hallway.

Guess some things never change.

Hiro was hungry, so he might as well eat dinner. Maybe that would lift his spirits a bit.

Hiro stood up, stretching. His body still ached quite a bit from the fight he had a few days ago-- a reminder of his grave mistake.

After opening the door, walking down the hallway, going down the stairs, and sitting down at the dinner table with his mother and Yumi, his mother stared at him with a confused expression.

[Mom: Hiro?]

[Hiro: Yeah?]

His mother raised an eyebrow.

[Mom: I thought you went to the graduation ceremony with Shuuki.]

Oh, that's right. So that's where Shuuki was. That's what was happening today.

[Hiro: Oh, no I'm staying home today.]

[Mom: But... it's your graduation ceremony.]

[Hiro: Yeah, you're right.]

His mother pushed on, trying to get Hiro to go, but Hiro wouldn't budge.

[Mom: Aren't you going to it? I can still drive you there you know.]

[Hiro: No, I'm fine.]

Hiro's mother gave him a concerned look, but didn't bother him further.

The conversation was straightforward and bland, but Hiro honestly could care less about the ceremony.

The only reason he had to go would be to see Kaori once more, but then he would have to see Shuuki.

Hiro wanted to delay a confrontation with Shuuki for as long as he could.

Hiro's father walked into the room and sat down, looking exhausted. Yumi, still with wet hands after washing them, cheerfully hummed in her seat.

Steak, green-beans, and rice for dinner.

Hiro's mother brought out the plates and silverware and set them in front of everyone. With the family at the dining table, Hiro's mother sat down and joined them.

6:24 P.M.

[Ichiko: Are we ready to eat?]

[Yumi: Yeah!]

[Dad: Yes ma'am.]

[Hiro: Yeah.]

They all grabbed their spoons and forks, and in unison they said "thanks for the food," and began eating.

Yumi quickly grabbed the largest steak piece and took a chunk of rice, and began wolfing down her food.

Hiro took a balance of everything, the steak, rice, and green-beans. Even though he didn't like green-beans all that much, he decided he should tough it out as punishment.

Their parents took their food as well, and began eating.

Hiro ate his food at a very slow pace, force-feeding himself the green-beans.

After eating only half of his plate, he didn't feel like eating anymore. Hiro picked at his food, staring into space.

He wondered what Kaori was doing right now, in the graduation ceremony. He wondered what Shuuki was doing.

Was Shuuki still putting on a facade? Or maybe everything he said the other day was a lie... and he didn't feel anything at all?

Damn, if that were true, Hiro would have wasted all of his tears thinking about him.

Hiro's mother looked around the table, observing the atmosphere.

She felt bad for yelling at Shuuki, and wondered why he would do such a thing as beat up three of his peers. She knew her husband probably felt the same way, but more importantly she wondered how Hiro felt.

She saw Hiro come in that day when she was scolding Shuuki. She also knew they had a huge argument. She didn't eavesdrop on them of course, but was curious to what it was about.

And since Hiro seemed down and out of it, she wanted to find a way to help him.

[Mom: So, how was your day?]

She made her question sound like it was to no one in particular, but who it was truly aimed at was Hiro.

With chipmunk-like cheeks, Yumi responded excitedly.

[Yumi: It was great! We made balloon animals, drew pictures, and laughed at these really funny jokes by our teacher! She's really funny!]

From what her mother recalled, she still had one week left in school. She was still just a grade-schooler, so it made sense that they wouldn't be doing anything for the last few weeks.

She put on a smile and replied.

[Mother: Well that's great honey!]

Yumi grinned.

[Yumi: Mhmm!]

Was Hiro going to respond now? He looked really down.

[Dad: It was such a long day at work today, I'm so glad that I don't have work tomorrow. I was supposed to get my check today but they were late for some reason. They forgot to print out the checks... again! I'm telling you, the Sovereignty's going into debt-- they're spending too much money on secret government spies that are trying to shut down the companies, in turn causing trouble for the middle class! Us!]

Their father sighed, looking exhausted.

Hiro's mother was a bit annoyed. She guessed her husband didn't catch on that she wanted Hiro to respond. She didn't want to hear about his conspiracy theories right now.

[Dad: Anyway, did you know there's a full moon today--]

And he kept going!

Whatever, she was just going to ask Hiro directly.

[Mom: What about you Hiro?]

The father's eyes had a dejected look after his wife suddenly ignored him like he was an annoying fly. He then slumped into his chair once again, continuing to eat his food like a sad-puppy look on his face.

He was too exhausted for anything else anyway.

Hiro's father only had two moods-- super exhausted whiny father, and amazing inspiring role-model father. There wasn't much of an in between.

Hiro stopped his thought train and looked up from his trance to see his mother smiling at him, patiently waiting for his response.

With a little shrug, he replied.

[Hiro: Oh, it was good I guess.]

The lie came naturally. He was so used to saying he was okay, or fine, or good, that it just came out.

His mother raised an eyebrow.

[Mom: You guess? You graduated from junior high today you know.]

[Dad: Oh, that's right! Sorry Hiro, I forgot to tell you congrats!]

[Mom: Aren't you supposed to be a little more cheerful?]

[Hiro: Thanks, I guess you're right...]

Hiro paused for a little bit, making yet another silence.

His mother's eyes clearly showed her concern, but she stayed silent.

[Hiro: I, I don't know. I just have some things on my mind I guess... Thanks for the food.]

Hiro said this as he got up from his chair; even though he didn't finish his plate.

His mother looked at him worryingly and with concern. Noticing his wife's expression, Hiro's father stopped eating as well and looked at him the same way.

Hiro couldn't stay there, he still wanted to be alone. He partially filled his stomach, so he decided it was fine to leave.

As he walked up the stairs he pulled out his earbuds and started listening to music. He attempted to clear his mind of the events of the past few days with some music, but to no avail.

He shut his room door and slid into his rolly chair, letting out a tired sigh. He glanced at the various papers unorganized on his desk.

Just old homework, bad sketches, and unfinished plans.

Still not wanting to do anything, he sighed and checked his phone. A message from Kobu.

Seeing this message, his heart beat with excitement, but quickly died back down.

The words displayed: "Kobu: hey little bro, sorry about the late notice but I should be there by 8 P.M. Make sure you save me some of mom's cooking! love ya, see you soon."

6:44 P.M.

After reading the message he leaned back and looked at the ceiling, lost in thought.

[Hiro: I'm a high schooler now, huh?]

Flashes of his childhood flew by as it all led to the present. The happy days with his mother, father, Kobu, Yumi... and Shuuki.

Hiro really had enjoyed the time he spent with him, but there was still that lingering bitterness in the back of his mind, knowing that he would never be as good as Shuuki.

The past few days had been crazy-- the fight with the bullies, the argument with Shuuki, and that conversation with Kaori...

Thinking of his tears and spittle getting all over her shoulder as he cried was most certainly embarrassing, but he was really thankful for her.

What would Hiro do without Kaori... and now they were going to high school.

How long would it be until he saw her again? Would he be able to keep his promise to her?

Hopefully they would keep in touch over text.

Hiro sighed again and rolled his chair to his desk, leaning his face onto the wooden surface. He deemed thinking about the subject won't better him, and he closed his eyes.

What felt like seconds turned into minutes.

Soon enough, his heavy eyelids engulfed his tired eyes; sleep relieving him of the thoughts that plagued him.