The Origin Of Joichiro Hyakuzawa: Part 11

*Joichiro Hyakuzawa's POV*

//August 25, 2036//Monday//

School started once again, and I was nervous to go. Luckily, my bruises healed quickly, and when I was walking with Asami, she didn't notice them.

I don't know what will happen to me at school, but I'm pretty sure that something bad will happen to me. That's fine, I'll just endure it. As long as I have Rui and Asami by my side, I will be okay.

Everything is going to be okay…

Right?

//September 18, 2036//Thursday//

It's been almost a month, and the treatment that Ken and my old friends are doing to me every day is horrible.

"Oi, Joichiro, didn't we make ourselves clear?"

*SMACK*

"UGHKAAAH!!!"

"Where is the payment for today, Joichiro-senpai?"

*SMACK* *SMACK*

"PAY UP YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!"

Every day, Ken, and the others were charging half of my allowance daily, and every time Ken needs something, I need to do it as soon as possible.

"Oi, Joichiro."

*SLAM*

"Buy us lunch at the cafeteria, will you?" Ken said while he was stepping on my face.

Long story short, I became their lap dog.

"How about the money to buy food?"

"The fuck are you talking about, Joichiro?"

*SMACK*

"BLEEERGHHK!!!"

"Your money is my money. Now go!"

There was nothing I can do at all…

I went to the cafeteria and bought all the food that Ken and the others want.

Students were not suspicious of the treatment they were giving me. Why you may ask?

Ken was smart. He asked the others that if they want to beat me up, it needs to be just on my body but not on my face where the bruises would be visible to the eye.

Even during basketball practice, my teammates acted friendly towards me so that the coach wouldn't be suspicious of us. Ken told them to treat me differently during basketball, and it sucks to see how they act friendly towards me.

My body hurts every time I move, but I endured it all. I endured it for this past month.

I thought about telling my teachers, and my coach about it, but I figured that I should not. Ken's good reputation is not only seen by the students here, but by the teachers as well. In addition to that, he is a Yamazaki.

Even if I have proof that they were treating me like this, they wouldn't listen for sure.

Yes, it's just because he is a Yamazaki. Even if I tell the teachers what they are doing to me, even if I have the proof, they will just turn a blind eye to it.

That's what I realized when my friends betrayed me just because they believe in a video that Ken showed to them without thinking about it.

Even if you have a good reputation, even if everyone respects you, as long as there's someone who has more power than you, society will believe in that side which they think is the safest even if it was the wrong thing to do.

I learned that the hard way, and what my friends are doing to me is the proof. No matter how strong our friendship was, it can be broken just because of a man with power.

My heart… It feels like it was slowly breaking because of what is happening… Like there was a crack that will grow bigger soon…

It's because of that man that my friends betrayed me.

IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM!!!

I'm pissed, I'm angry. Every time Ken treats me like a piece of shit, I want to beat him up.

But I couldn't. One wrong move against him, and he will ruin my life.

I am afraid…

//September 19, 2036//Friday//

"I'm going out!"

"Ah, big bro! Take care!"

A new day passed, and I was getting tired of going to school because of the same awful treatment that I am receiving.

New bruises on my body, and day by day I am starting to have problems with my allowance. I am also starting to have depression because of what is happening to me.

Luckily, Rui doesn't notice these things at all. Over the past four months, I have secretly hidden my bruises all over my body, and she doesn't even suspect that something was wrong.

As for my problems with my allowance, I barely eat anything at school, and feast when I come home to eat Rui's cooking. Well, this wasn't a big deal to hide.

The two of us decided to have a daily allowance to save up for our wants, and needs, but we never ask how much we have saved since that kind of thing was a private matter even for us siblings.

Rui not knowing all the shit I have been through is enough.

Asami and I are still in a relationship. James Evans is still observing me even when the bullying started, and he was still impressed with my performance. And of course, I still have my little sister.

Those three that I am holding dear. My future career as a basketball player, my girlfriend, and my little sister. As long as I have them, I will be fine.

I just need to endure all those things this school year.

Speaking of Asami, I am going to her house to invite her to walk to school together.

Asami has been busy lately, and we rarely have time for each other. She has been busy with her academic studies, and her responsibilities as a Class Representative so we hardly get to hang out.

Just like how I don't want Rui to worry about me, that also applies to Asami as well. I haven't talked a single thing to her about what Ken and the others are doing to me.

I don't want to be the cause of Asami getting distracted with her priorities. I don't want to ruin her life just because she is worried about me. I don't want that. Besides, I can handle this on my own. I don't need to show the people I love how much I am suffering.

It was already 7:00 in the morning, and I arrived in front of Asami's house to wait for her to come out.

I texted Asami yesterday before I sleep that I would be coming over to her house this morning so we can walk together on our way to school.

After I just sent the message, she quickly replied, and agreed on meeting me this morning.

Even with all of the things that were happening to me for the past four months, I can say that our relationship is still improving for the better.

Even if we rarely hang out, we still chat every day and talk about ourselves. What we do, the things that made us happy that day, our rants that we have been keeping for quite a while, everything. We are honest and open with each other.

Asami is really a mature person and a nice girlfriend. I am glad that I get to be with someone like her.

Even if I am feeling down these days, even if I start to feel like shit, even if I am starting to have low self-esteem with myself, she is always looking at me to make sure that I am fine.

And I appreciate that a lot.

If we are going to talk about the future, she will become my everything. Maybe Rui was right. If our relationship goes well, I am planning to marry her in the future. It might be naive to think about it now, but it's possible.

Even on these darkest days that I feel shit, she was also the light that lifts me up every day.

30 minutes have passed since I started thinking about Asami, and she hasn't come out of her house. I was wondering why she is taking so long since we both agreed to meet up at exactly 7:00 am

"Hey, you there?"

I tried texting her, and after a few minutes, she still hasn't replied to me.

"Is she still asleep or something?"

Maybe I'll just wait for a while.

It is now 8:10 am, and Asami still hasn't come out. I'm starting to feel uneasy while I was waiting for Asami's reply to my message to her a few minutes ago.

"Maybe I should just knock on their door."

I was sitting patiently on the ground for Asami here in front of their gate for a while now, and I am starting to get embarrassed with all the people who are glancing at me while they are walking.

I usually don't call Asami out of their house since that is my way of respecting her while I'm waiting. I don't want Asami to think that I am rushing her because I just called her out. But this time, we are almost late for class, and I don't have a choice.

*BEEP*

As soon as I stood up, I received a message from someone, and when I looked at who it was, I was filled with relief. It was Asami.

But I was not expecting her reply at all.

When I opened our conversation, Asami sent me a video. I couldn't see the thumbnail since it was just a black background, but because of my curiosity, I opened the video.

A video that will change me for the worse.

******** TO BE CONTINUED ********