Mother

Sakata Akio's POV

Few hours after I slept, I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked weakly and saw a woman weeping on my bedside. She has a silky silver colored hair like mine. Her beautiful green eyes were glistening with her tears. She's wearing a black see-through top and a frilled skirt. It took me a few seconds to realize that the woman that was crying is my beloved mother.

Akio: Mom! Why are you here? How did you know I am here?

My mother ignored my question and smiled gently with her tears on her face. She reached her hand onto my face and caressed my forehead.

Sakata Hina: I am so glad you finally woke up. Are you okay? Are you still hurt?

She asked worriedly, grabbed my arm, and pulled me into her. My chin was resting on her shoulder. Rei-kun and the others were just looking at us. I glared at them, asking for answers. Rei-kun shook his head and shrugged, signaling me that it wasn't him who called her. When I looked at Watanabe-san, he was avoiding eye contact. Watanabe-san! You better prepare yourself later! And when I looked at Saito-san, she still has her usual "I-am-an-emotionless-watchdog-robot" face. My mother rubbed my back and hugged me tighter.

Akio: Ouch! Mom don't hug me tightly!

My mother gently broke off from our hug and placed her hands on my shoulders.

Hina: Oh! I am so sorry, son. What happened to you?! Why and how did you end up like this?

My mom felt troubled because of what has happened to me.

I can't just tell her like "Hey mom, did you know that dad beat us up to death? Did you know dad's school is a mess? Did you know students here kill each other?"

I am sure she'll collapse in no time. I know a mother should know what has happened to her child but I cannot and I should not mention anything about this school to her. It will just make things more complicated. Even though if I get to tell her, she still has no power against my dad.

Akio: Mom, don't worry this is just boys' stuff. You know like how girls also have their quarrels with their friends but we boys just talk with our fists. Rei-kun and I just fought over some nonsense-, uh, don't mind the details of our fight, mom. We're friends now.

Watanabe-san and Rei-kun were surprised to hear my answer. I hope I had convinced my mom.

Please believe. Please believe.

My mom let out a deep sigh. She lowered her hands to my wrists. She held them softly. I felt pain on my wrists. I forgot I was chained in the room a while ago. Good thing the hospital clothes were long sleeves that hid my wounds well. I slowly bit my lower lip to refrain myself from groaning in pain. My mother looked worriedly at me and then to Rei-kun.

Hina: You two. I hope this will be the first and last time you're going to fight over something so petty. You might break each other's bones. It may seem fun to you two after you exchanged fists but I am sure even your parents will be worried if they know something like this has happened.

Rei-kun and I just slowly nodded to my mom. My mom stood up and tucked me into the bed. The door of our room suddenly opened. A light bearded man with black sleek hair with blue slanted eyes wearing eyeglasses stood by the door.

Yup. That's my father. I just look exactly like him. I loved it so much before that I resembled my father. But now, I don't know. I still love my father but I also hate him at the same time.

Do you get how I feel? Ugh. But anyways, for now, let's have a role play of a sweet father and son. As my father opened the door, he was surprised to see my mother in the hospital room. He looked at me with an eyebrow raised and I slightly shook my head in reply, letting him know she doesn't know about him beating me up.

Akio: Hey dad! How did you know I am here?

I asked cheerfully. My father smiled at me like how he used to before I knew everything he was doing. I missed my father whom I thought was gentle and loving. Saito-san, Watanabe-san and Rei-kun bowed as my father entered the room. He walked towards my mom and me. He planted a gentle kiss on my mom's forehead and patted my head.

Hina: Honey, how did you know Akio-kun is here? I haven't called you yet.

My father wrapped his arms around my mom's shoulders from behind. Yes, my mom and dad is the sweetest couple I've ever known. I dreamt of having a wife like my mom and I will be the sweetest husband to my wife just like how mom and dad is. Seeing them like this makes me want to forget all the bad things I knew about dad. I just wished we were all happy like before.

Hiroto: I knew about this because it happened in the school. Honey, don't worry about our son too much. He's as strong as I am.

If I could roll my eyes right now, I would have done it already. I gritted my teeth in anger. I need to calm down. I forcefully grinned to my mom.

Akio: Yes mom! You don't have to worry! It was my fault that we got into a fight.

My father smirked sheepishly. (Hey readers! Stop me!) My blood is boiling but still I tried to manage a smile. But it was obviously a rough smile as I was controlling myself from throwing stuff at my father. I clenched my fists.

God, if you can hear my prayer, help me calm down because I am about to disobey one of your commandments. I cannot honor my father anymore.

Hina: Honey, aren't you mad at your son for starting a fight? It's unusual for you to be calm like this.

If only you knew mom, he is the one encouraging students to fight each other for filthy money.

Hiroto: I can't scold him now because he's pretty beat up today. I was reminded of my teenage days fist fighting with my best friend. It's normal for guys to have moments like this. They'll just laugh it off as they grow older.

My dad walked to Rei-kun's bed. Rei-kun was only staring at him blankly as my dad grew closer to him. My father extended his right fist. Rei and I was surprised as to what my father was planning.

Hiroto: Let's have a fist bump. Thank you for the good fight with my son. But I really do hope nothing like this will happen again.

He smiled "gently" and was hinting about Rei-kun and I disobeying him. Dad's a good actor. I could give him an Oscars award anytime. Note the sarcasm. Rei hesitantly replied with a fist bump and a half baked smile. My father then looked back at my mother.

Hiroto: Honey, can you please give us a moment to talk? It's about school matters and about the punishment they're going to receive for having a fist fight in the school grounds.

My father said it in a sweet voice. Our eyes (Rei-kun's and mine) widened. What? Punishment? Has he already done enough? My mother then nodded with a smile and slowly went out of the room and closed the door. As the door shut, my father waited for a few seconds to start the conversation, making sure that my mother won't hear what we'll be talking about.

Hiroto: Watanabe-san, Saito-san.

Watanabe-san and Saito-san walked closer and bowed.

Raijin and Reiko: Yes, Sakata-sama?

Hiroto: Why did you bring them to the hospital? Didn't I tell you to leave them after beating them up? And did you beat them for exactly three hours as what I instructed you, Saito-san?

Three hours?! Did you expect us to be alive if we were beaten for three hours?! We couldn't even last an hour! Wait a minute, that was why Saito-san was careful as she ended the torture. She was helping us secretly! She didn't follow my father's orders. Is that really Saito-san? Is she really kind? Can I trust her? She only beat us up for an hour. Was that why she called Watanabe-san to seek help?

Reiko: Yes, Sakata-sama. I did what you instructed me to do. I sought help from Watanabe-san to carry their dead beat bodies because I know Sakata-sama that you would love to keep your child alive.

Watanabe-san consciously licked his lips as he felt nervous. His eyes are blinking too fast.

Hiroto: Oh. I thought you two did help them because they are your friends. Right, Watanabe-san?

Raijin: No, Sakata-sama. I do not see them as my friends because I only serve you and young master. I know my limits and boundaries as a government scholar.

My father chuckled.

Hiroto: Hmm. I see. I see. That's good to hear. As to the punishment I talked about, you two can both calm down for now as I have already punished you. And by the way, the tournament is going to be held next Friday. You two are going to be exempted for a this tournament. I am going to explain things to your (Rei-kun's) parents as they cannot let their son fight in this condition. I'm just going to tell them that you got injured in the training. I am still kind, you see?

Hearing him say that he's kind makes me want to puke.

Ugh. This school year's first tournament is upcoming. To be honest, I felt a little happy that I get to be exempted for now.

What's going to happen this Friday?

I am curious on how they host the tournaments in this school. I bet it's deadly.

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End of Chapter 5