《Boku No Kasa (My Umbrella)》


 Rain

    Chapter 1 - Rain


    I was 5 years old, and I remember it all vividly. Grandpa was in the backyard doing his daily exercises, and as always, I was amazed by his abilities, even though I didn''t realize how insane it was at his age.


    "WOAH, GRANDPA, YEAH!"


    I yelled out as my grandpa did 10 push-ups during a handstand. "HAHA, that''s nothing, Hin... look at this!" Grandpa ducked to the ground so fast that I couldn''t even follow his movement. He did a sweeping motion with his leg and ended up in a one-handed position, kicking his legs forward.


    "WHOAAAAAAAAAH!" I yelled in excitement and disbelief.


    "Grandpa, please teach me that!"


    But my grandpa always gave me the same excuse:


    I can''t teach you yet, you''re too young, and it requires a lot of bodily strength. "With the saddest face, I stood there disappointed.


    And my grandpa responded, "But I can show you the steps," while patting my head.


    I yelled, "Yeah!" and jumped in the air.


    Meanwhile, Hinto''s mother, Ame, and father, Ikari, were in the kitchen, talking about their son.


    Ikari said, in a very annoyed voice, "Why is your father teaching him this nonsense? He should be practicing his kendo."


    "He''s happy, don''t you see that?" Ame said, smiling.


    That made Ikari angry, and he headed outside.


    Ame stood there and let out a soft sigh.


    Outside, Hinto was trying to do the sweeping motion.


    "YESSS!" he yelled, one second before falling face-first on the ground.


    "HINTO!" his mother yelled, running outside to help her son.


    Grandpa helped me up when I fell and said, "He''s a strong boy he''ll be okay."


    My grandpa was always so encouraging. I wish I could say the same thing about...


    "HINTO, COME HERE!" I heard my father yell angrily as he came out of the house. I felt my soul leave my body and fear fill it simultaneously. He threw a kendo sword into my hand and said,"It''s time for your daily kendo lessons!


    "All I could do was look at my feet and the sword in my hand.


    My grandpa, Tuyo, looked at him and said, "Ikari-kun, it''s grandpa time right now, so no kendo. "As my grandpa took my sword, he threw it back at my father, and I could feel that it angered him.


    When I finally mustered up the courage to look at him, I saw intense anger on his face, and I froze again until..."HINTOOOOOOO!"


    As I heard that voice, my fear disappeared for a split second. I looked in the direction of that voice and saw my friend Nikko. "Hinto-kun! Let''s play hide and seek!" She said, with the biggest smile on her face, not realizing what had happened seconds before she arrived. Of course, I responded with "OKAY, LET''S GO!" and ran off.


    Ikari got even more furious and stormed off into the house.


    A few moments later, during dinner preparations, Ame and Tuyo were having a conversation in the kitchen.


    Grandpa Tuyo said, "I need to talk to you. Is this man trying to ruin this child!? The tension in the house is very bad for Hinto," he said, very concerned.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Ame responded, "I know he''s a tough person, but he''s really been trying lately." She thought to herself in that moment, Ever since Hinto was born, he vowed to change, but he kept falling into old habits... But I can''t let my father know too much about our issues. He already heavily dislikes him...


    Grandpa Tuyo got up, and as he walked to the fridge, he looked at a picture of Hinto as a baby and said, "THAT FOOL DOESN''T REALIZE THE PURE AND KIND SOUL THIS KID HAS. He forces this lifestyle on a 5-year-old!" "Why can''t you find a decent man?" "You deserve way more, Ame."


    Grandpa Tuyo showered her with questions and expected Ame to defend him, but...


    Ame responded with, "I know..." and she started to cry. Grandpa Tuyo walked up to her and hugged her. "I''m sorry, Ame... you''re my only daughter, and it makes me sad seeing you aren''t fully happy the way you deserve to be."


    Ame responded, "Deep down, he''s not a bad man..."


    Grandpa sighed, and, slightly disappointed, said, "You can''t save everyone, Ame... don''t let this man become your demise... promise me that..." He said, holding back his tears.


    As she smiled and wiped away her tears, she said ,"I promise."


    A few days later, on a rainy night...


    I remember I was inside the house watching TV. Mom and I were the only ones at home because Dad had gone on one of his so-called business trips. Mom had just made my favorite food, and I was rolling on the rug happily.


    All of a sudden, the doorbell rang, and she went to the door. Shortly after, I decided to call her since my plate was empty. "Mom, my plate is empty! Can I have seconds?" But she didn''t respond. I got up, frustrated, and went to the front door.


    I saw that it was still open. As I looked outside, my heart stopped, and I saw a million raindrops crashing down. They were so loud that they drowned out every sound. But the reason I was so shocked wasn''t the tremendous amount of rain falling down. What shocked me was my mother, lying face down on the concrete.


    I ran outside, tears flowing down my face. It felt like time stood still. I ran, but it felt like I wasn''t getting any closer¡ªat least not fast enough. I tried to scream, but I was so hurt in that moment that I couldn''t form any words or sentences. All I could do was run...


    As I fell to my knees, I hugged my mother and screamed, "MOMMY, WHAT''S HAPPENING!? WHAT''S WRONG?"


    As I was trying to communicate with her, a mysterious person in a raincoat, holding an umbrella, was leaving the property.


    Nikko looked out of the bedroom window and saw Ame on the floor with Hinto next to her.


    "AUNTY AME!?" she screamed.


    At that moment, Nikko''s mom heard her and ran upstairs. "Nikko, honey, what''s wrong?"


    Nikko pointed at the window and said, "Aunty Ame... something''s wrong." As she rubbed her eyes and screamed, Nikko''s mom looked out the window, startled, then ran downstairs to call the ambulance.


    Hinto was yelling at the mysterious man as he walked away from the property.


    "PLEASE HELP US!" "PLEASE, MY MOMMY IS BLEEDING!" But the sound of his screams was drowned out by the rain.


    My mom pulled me towards her and, as she hugged me, said, "Hinto, my dear...remember that after rain, there will always be sunshine. And if life comes raining down on you... remember that your friends and family are the umbrella that shields your heart.


    I cried and hugged her, and at that moment, I saw the life leave my mother''s eyes, and I screamed the loudest I''ve ever screamed.


    Nikko was crying in her room, but as she got up, she looked out the window, and the mysterious person entered a car and sat in the passenger''s seat.


    He was wearing a dark brown raincoat and had a mask with the face of a snake.


    While Nikko was staring, he turned toward her and stared back. Startled, she tripped and fell onto her bedroom floor.


    They drove off.


    And the ambulance finally reached the scene...


    but it was too late...


    Chapter End - Rain

 Kendo

    Present Time


    We see a teenage Hinto lying in his bed with headphones on, trying to recall the past.


    "I remember finding my mom''s body as if it happened yesterday, but why do I have so much trouble remembering her funeral...?"


    The days after my mom''s death have been a blur for me. I remember being at her funeral, yet I felt like I wasn''t there at all. And for some reason, the color purple keeps popping into my mind every time I think back to it. I don''t remember what I thought or what I did during it all, but I remember it being unbearable.


    Talking to myself has become a normal thing. For some reason, saying these things out loud feels soothing¡ªalmost therapeutic. Every time I do, it feels like I find some peace in accepting these vague memories.


    A few things still bug me to this day, though.


    As Hinto was thinking this, he looked at a photo on his desk of him and Nikko.


    Right after the funeral, Nikko and her mother, Asa, left our city. According to my grandpa, they left because Asa got a job in another city. Grandpa helped me write them letters, but they never sent one back. Which is why, eventually, I stopped believing the reason for their sudden disappearance.


    Sometimes, I wonder if she thinks about me...


    Hinto closed his eyes, sighed, and went downstairs. When he glanced into the hall, he saw his father''s old kendo sword lying in the umbrella stand.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    That brought back some memories...


    7 years ago


    After Ame''s death, Hinto would spend his time watching his father train in the garden. He felt an urge to spend time with his father, like any child would. But he also developed an urge to impress him. Maybe if he became great at kendo, his father would finally pay attention to him. His father was an expert at kendo, so Hinto asked him to train him.


    Hinto saw it as a fun activity to do with his father, but his father thought otherwise. He said he wanted Hinto to aim to be the very best. And he certainly made sure Hinto would stay committed.


    For two years, Hinto was swinging his sword and making progress, getting better at handling it. Everything seemed to be going well until...


    "FATHER, I CHALLENGE YOU!" Hinto said confidently, pointing his kendo sword at his father with the biggest smile on his face.


    Ikari was unamused and wore a serious expression. "Come show me the fruits of your training."


    Hinto ran toward Ikari and tried to strike him. He thought to himself, Finally, I get to show my father how strong I''ve become!


    During his strike, he let out a battle cry.


    "HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"


    But, unfortunately, Hinto stood in front of his father, swordless. His sword was knocked out of his hand by his father with a single strike.


    "Pick it up!" his father said.


    Hinto remembered shaking in fear. His father used to speak in a certain manner, but something had changed. He seemed colder than usual.


    "I SAID PICK IT UP, YOU BRAT!"


    "YOU DARE DISOBEY YOUR FATHER!? YOU TRAINED FOR TWO YEARS AND THESE ARE THE RESULTS?!"


    These were the words coming out of Ikari''s mouth as he spoke to his 7-year-old son.


    Hinto felt like the strength drained from his legs, and he collapsed to the ground. This made his father angrier than Hinto had ever seen him.


    "I GUESS I''LL HAVE TO TEACH YOU SOME MANNERS!" he yelled, blinded by rage, swinging his sword toward Hinto.


    Hinto closed his eyes in fear.


    "ENOUGH!"


    Hinto opened his eyes and saw his grandpa standing in front of him, holding his father''s sword.


    "Grandpa!?" Hinto asked, with tears in his eyes.


    Chapter End - Kendo

 Deadbeat

    My grandpa stood in front of me, but it didn''t feel like the usual cheerful grandpa I was used to. No, this was something else. I felt an overwhelming energy push me even further into the ground.


    The look on my father''s face changed. He seemed surprised¡ªno, he seemed afraid... He collected himself and said, "This is none of your business, old man. You have nothing to do with this."


    My grandpa responded by saying, "You have some nerve, Ikari. This child is my grandson, MY DAUGHTER''S LEGACY! HE IS MY BUSINESS!"


    When my father heard these words, he walked off into the house.


    My grandpa asked if I was alright. Obviously, I wasn''t, but I didn''t want to seem weak after my grandpa''s courageous moment. I wiped the tears off my face and smiled.


    He told me to wait for a minute, and he went inside to speak to my father. After a few minutes, he came outside with a serious expression on his face. Right after, he said, "LET''S GO EAT SOME DUMPLINGS!" with the biggest smile on his face.


    I said, "Yeah, let''s go!"


    Hinto and grandpa Tuyo went to eat some dumplings at a local street food stand. Grandpa Tuyo sat there, looking at how happy his grandson was eating his dumplings. He thought to himself, "This kid is unbelievably strong mentally. His mom got her life taken away, and his father is a horrible person who abuses him, and yet... he still... smiles."


    Before grandpa Tuyo knew it, a tear escaped his eye.


    Hinto turned to his grandfather and said, "Grandpa, are you okay?"


    His grandpa responded, "I''m more than okay, Hinto." He grabbed his grandson and hugged him.


    A few hours later, my grandpa and I just got back to my house. All the lights were turned off. My grandpa yelled, "Ikari, we''re back!"


    But there was no response. So my grandpa went upstairs to look for my father. As he was looking, I found a letter on the living room table.


    I read it, and as I did, I instantly started to cry.


    My grandpa came back downstairs and saw me with the letter in hand. He walked up to me and asked, "What is that, Hinto?"


    I gave him the letter, and he read it:


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    "I''ll be going on a business trip, and it''s going to be a long one. I leave Hinto in your care, old man. ¨C Ikari"


    Grandpa Tuyo thought to himself, "I didn''t expect this, not even from you, Ikari¡­"


    He hugged Hinto and told him, "Everything is going to be alright, Hinto. Your grandpa is here."


    Present time


    And that''s the last time I''ve seen him. I honestly don''t give a damn about where he is. He left me alone for seven years and never cared to show himself. He might be dead in a ditch somewhere for all I care.


    Hinto walked up to the umbrella stand, grabbed the kendo sword, walked to the backyard, and threw it into the garden. "Piece of trash."


    Soon after, Hinto decided to get ready for school.


    He looked into the mirror and thought, "I should have dyed my hair black. Everyone is going to think I''m weird because


    "Who loses pigment in their hair as a child?"


    He let out a heavy sigh, disappointed in his own decision. He got ready, put his school uniform on, and ran out of the house.


    Hinto walked down to the end of the street, where he saw his best friend.


    "Yo, Hinto-Kun!" he said.


    He responded, "Oi, Hiro-Chan!"


    "Bro, you gotta stop calling me that..."


    They both started laughing and gave each other their signature handshake.


    This is my best friend, Akimoto Hiroki, also known as Hiro. He seems careless and goofy, but don''t be fooled¡ªhe has a mean right hook. He spends most of his free time kickboxing and bothering me. But on a serious note, he is a great friend. He always gets up a little earlier so he can wait for me while I visit the graveyard.


    Meanwhile, Hinto and Hiro reached the graveyard.


    "Be right back," Hinto said.


    "Take your time!" Hiro replied.


    Hinto smiled and walked in.


    "Hey, here I am again. Today is my first day of school, and of course, I would have wished for you to be here... but unfortunately, I don''t have that luxury."


    "Wish me the best of luck. I love you both¡­"


    The gravestones read:


    Ame Handa


    2453 - 2488


    Rest in peace


    Tsubasa Yoji Handa (Tuyo)


    2423 - 2497


    Rest in peace


    "I''ll be going now!" he said, smiling.


    Chapter End ¨C Deadbeat.

 White Demon

    Hinto and Hiro had just left the graveyard and were on their way to school.


    After about 20 minutes, they arrived at the school gate, where they saw the rest of their friend group.


    "Now''s my chance to impress Usami-chan!" This person thought as he ran toward Hinto.


    "OOOOOOI, HINTO!" he screamed while still running toward him.


    This is Naohisa Takato, also known as Taka. He''s a judoka and has a big crush on Rika-chan, something everyone knows¡ªexcept Rika.


    "Oh no, here we go again," said Hakuho.


    This is Hakuho; his heart is as big as his appetite, and you don''t want to wrestle this guy¡ªhe''s insanely good. Also, I don''t think you''d survive if he sat on you.


    Hinto just moved aside, and Taka fell to the ground face-first.


    Taka said, "HOW ARE YOU SO FAST?"


    Hinto responded, "Taka, I literally just moved aside."


    "Amazing..." Taka said. And while he said that, Hinto was moving toward him.


    Taka was getting intimidated by Hinto.


    "Oh no," Rika thought to herself.


    Hinto lowered himself and said, "At least you got a little taller, Taka."


    "Thanks, br¡ª"


    Before he could finish his sentence, Hinto flicked his ear.


    "AAAAH!" Taka screamed out.


    Hiro and Hakuho started to laugh.


    Rika said, "Taka, stop bothering Hinto!"


    Hinto turned around, smiled, and said, "It''s okay, Rika, that''s just how he is."


    Rika thought to herself, "What happened...? This is not the Hinto I remember..."


    Hinto turned to Taka and asked, "Do you remember this?" as he raised his hand.


    Taka''s eyes lit up, and he did Hinto and Hiro''s signature handshake. He jumped in the air from excitement. You can''t imagine how happy Taka was in this moment.


    "Yo, Sho, you gained some muscle, didn''t you!?" Hinto asked.


    "Gotta eat big to be big, haha!" Sho said, striking a pose.


    "Can''t wait to see how strong you''ve become!" Hinto said, smiling.


    And then, after greeting the whole group, he walked up to Rika.


    "Rika..." he said.


    "Hinto-kun," she replied.


    In this moment, all they did was look at each other.


    Flashback to the beginning of summer:


    My grandpa had just passed away and i was alone again.


    my grandpa was the only family i had left after my mother''s passing. For the past seven years, he was the one who took care of me. Whenever i got in trouble or needed anything, grandpa was there for me.


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    Hinto was in the hospital every day, spending time with his grandfather until his last moments.


    Rika-chan sent him letters so he wouldn''t feel alone.


    One letter read: Dear Hinto, I''m so sorry for your loss... I''m always thinking of you. I''m here if you need my support. Please don''t hesitate. The guys are worried too. We love you, Hinto.


    Present time:


    Hinto walked up to Rika, and she acted a bit startled.


    "Oh no, was the letter too much? Was it weird to say I¡ªwell, we¡ª" Rika thought to herself.


    She said, "Hinto, listen, I¡ª"


    And before Rika could say anything, Hinto hugged her tightly.


    "WAAAAAAT!?" everyone yelled out.


    Hiro was shocked, spat out his soda and started to laugh. Taka seemed disappointed, and Hakuho dropped his chips¡ªso obviously, he was very shocked if he dropped his food.


    Rika''s face turned red, and she started to mumble. "wha- wha- wha-"


    "Rika..." he said.


    "Y-yes!?" she responded.


    "Thank you for your letter... It has been a very difficult time for me... and I''m sorry I wasn''t more vocal. I must have seemed ungrateful. I''m sorry."


    "No, no! Don''t worry about it!" she said.


    Hinto let her go.


    Hiro broke the silence and said, "Are you lovebirds done with your little romance!? We have to go inside!"


    "Haha, right," Hinto said, and he walked off.


    Rika: "HIRO, SHUT UP!"


    Hiro stuck his tongue out and pulled his eye.


    Rika, still shocked and flustered about what had happened, followed after them.


    Taka, very sad and defeated, walked slowly behind the group, thinking, "Hinto is so lucky..."


    Hakuho slapped his back, making Taka almost fall.


    Taka yelled "AAAAH!"


    Hakuho said, "Cheer up, bro, you''ll get enough chances in the future!"


    Taka sighed and said, "You''re right."


    The whole group walked to class, but as they walked through the halls, people were staring at them¡ªwell, at a specific person in the group.


    "Isn''t that the guy?" they whispered.


    Hinto looked at them when he heard them, and they froze, looking at him with fear.


    He thought to himself, "This was to be expected" and he let out a sigh.


    Flashback to elementary school:


    Hinto was standing in the school courtyard, towering over a guy, but all the guy could see was a black silhouette with red eyes and white hair.


    "The¡ªthe¡ªWHITE DEMON!" the guy said while cowering in fear.


    Chapter End - White Demon

 Sunshine

    In elementary school, I was known as "The White Demon," and honestly, I don''t blame them for calling me that...


    And that kid from my memories... I¡ªIt''s even hard to think about what I did to him and the others.


    There hasn''t been a single day that I haven''t regretted what I did, and unfortunately, I can''t take it back.


    Hinto was completely spaced out, and before he entered the classroom, Hiro asked him, "Bro, are you alright?"


    "I don''t know..." was Hinto''s response.


    Hinto walked into the classroom, and as he did, some students started whispering and glancing at him.


    "He has some nerve coming here." "Wasn''t he expelled from his old school?" "What''s up with his hair!?"


    Hinto stood up and asked, "Teacher, can I use the restroom, please?"


    As he got up, everyone was startled and looked at him.


    The teacher, sensing the tension in the room, said, "Uh, yes, go ahead," while checking his name.


    "Mr. Kasa Hinto... but in the future, please try to do that before class."


    "Yes, I will. Excuse me." Hinto bowed and walked out.


    "Kasa," as in "umbrella?" That''s a very strange name," they whispered to each other.


    Rika looked at Hinto with a sad expression and thought, "Poor Hinto..."


    Hinto walked to the restroom, thinking about the events from his childhood.


    I was angry most of the time, filled with aggression, hate, and pain. If someone made fun of me in any way, I would make sure to make them regret it. I felt this unexplainable tingling, burning sensation, as if these emotions were trying to force themselves out, and the only way they could was by hurting someone else.


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    The loss of my mother and the so-called father who abandoned me was too much for me to bear. In the end, I hurt a lot of people because of it. I couldn''t handle my emotions. Friend or foe, it didn''t matter¡ªnot one bit.


    Even my best friends at the time...


    Hiro... Taka... Hakuho...


    I was even mean to Rika at times.


    When people hear the name "Kasa," they associate it with something bad. Even though it isn''t even my real last name, it still stings.


    I don''t want to be remembered as a destructive person. I want to be remembered in a way that would make Grandpa proud¡ªA way that would make Mom proud...


    "Hello, class! I have amazing news for you."


    Everyone looked at the teacher, confused.


    "What''s with all the confused looks?" the teacher asked, laughing.


    "We had a last-minute addition to the class!"


    "Ugh, more people? Isn''t the class already crowded enough?" Taka complained.


    "Rika: Ssssht, Taka, nobody asked you anything."


    Everyone started talking over each other.


    They heard a knock on the door but kept their conversation going.


    The teacher said, "Come in."


    As the person walked into the classroom, all the guys looked shocked.


    She had beautiful, long blonde hair.


    She looked like a movie star, and her aura felt like the sunshine on the first day of summer.


    It was a unanimous fact that this girl had to be the prettiest girl anyone in this school had ever laid their eyes on.


    The teacher said, "Welcome, and go ahead and introduce yourself."


    As soon as the teacher said this, he received a call on the phone.


    "Sorry, I have to step out for a second, but continue with your introduction."


    "Okay!" she said.


    "Woah," you heard throughout the classroom. "Even her voice is pretty..."


    "Nice to meet you all, my name is¡ª"


    Hinto opened the door to the classroom, and as he entered, he noticed everyone had their attention focused on the girl standing in front of the class.


    The girl turned around and smiled.


    She ran toward him and hugged him.


    Everyone was shocked and stood up with their mouths open.


    "WHAAAAAAT!" they all yelled.


    Rika stood there, holding her face in shock and thought, "WHAAAAAT!?"


    Taka was shocked and just thought, "Hinto is so lucky... wait, what am I thinking? My heart belongs to Rika-chan!" He slapped his own face with both hands.


    The girl said, "I missed you, Hin-kun!" while smiling.


    "EEEEEEEEEEH!" the class reacted.


    "MISSED!?" all the guys in class looked at Hinto with anger and jealousy.


    "MISSED!?" Rika felt like her world was collapsing.


    Hinto couldn''t believe his eyes, and in a very shocked but quiet manner, he said, "Nikko-chan..."


    Chapter End - Sunshine

 Sorrow

    "How? When?" Hinto asked her.


    Nikko let go of Hinto and said, "We moved back a few days ago, and my mom wanted me to go to this so-called ''prestigious'' school, but I convinced her to let me transfer here."


    The students around them started whispering. "Why would she do that!?"


    Hinto stood there, speechless.


    "I''ve been away from this place for so long, and I missed it¡­ and¡­ I also missed you," she said, blushing and looking away.


    The whole class yelled, "WHAAAT?!"


    Everyone looked furious.


    Rika felt like she was on a rollercoaster of emotions. "WHO IS SHE, AND WHERE THE HELL DID SHE COME FROM?!" she thought.


    Hiro started laughing and jokingly said, "Haha, looks like you''ve got competition, Rika!"


    Rika turned to Hiro and snapped, "Shut the hell up, you!"


    "Hey, hey, calm down. I''m just joking," Hiro said, still laughing.


    At that exact moment, the teacher walked in and noticed the commotion.


    "Ahem! Everyone, back to your seats!"


    The class quickly rushed back to their seats, but Hinto, still in shock, remained frozen in place.


    "Also, you, Mr. Kasa¡­ Mr. Kasa!"


    Hinto snapped out of it. "Yes, Sensei!"


    "Kasa?" Nikko thought to herself.


    "Back to your seat," the teacher repeated.


    "Sorry, Sensei.!" he said, walking to his seat.


    Nikko giggled a little.


    "Now, let''s continue your introduction from where you left off."


    "Yes!" she answered. "My name is Haruki Nikko. I''m 14, and I recently moved back to this amazing town. Nice to meet you all¡ªI look forward to getting to know everyone!"


    "Hello, Nikko-chan! Welcome!"


    The class erupted into whistles and claps.


    Rika, however, only grew more annoyed at everyone''s obsession with Nikko.


    "There''s an empty spot next to Hinto. You can sit there."


    Rika nearly bit her tongue when she heard that, and all the boys in class glared angrily.


    Hinto, however, didn''t react.


    "Hinto, make Haruki feel at home," the teacher said.


    "As you wish, Sensei," Hinto replied.


    "He already has," Nikko said in a slightly flirty tone.


    Rika crossed her arms and muttered the same words in a mocking voice.


    Lunch Break


    Hinto and his friends walked into the school cafeteria.


    "Whoa, this cafeteria looks awesome," Hakuho said.


    "Yeah, we all know why you''d say that, Hakuho," Taka responded.


    Hinto sat down at the table. Rika immediately took the seat next to him, while Hiro sat on his other side.


    "Yes! My plan worked! Now she has no choice but to sit next to Taka or Hakuho," Rika thought smugly.


    "Hey, Haruki-chan, do you wanna switch places? I''ve seen this guy all summer, and I''m kinda tired of him," Hiro joked.


    At that moment, Rika shot Hiro a death glare, but he quickly got up and moved across the table.


    "Thank you, Hiro! And please, call me Nikko!" she said cheerfully.


    "So, Nikko-chan, how do you know our Hinto?" Hiro asked.


    "Well, we were neighbors," she said.


    "Oh, great. They were just neighbors," Rika thought, sighing in relief.


    "We practically grew up together!" Nikko added.


    Rika''s reality shattered in that moment.


    "Just neighbors¡­ or more?" Taka asked with a smirk.


    Unable to hold back, Rika kicked Taka under the table.


    "OUCH!" Taka yelled.


    "TAKA, DON''T ASK STUPID QUESTIONS! You''re making Hinto feel uncomfortable!" Rika scolded.


    Hinto suddenly stood up and walked off.


    "Hinto?" Nikko called as he got up.


    "Hinto, where are you going?!" Rika asked, but he ignored them and kept walking.


    "After all these years, she just walks in with no explanation and acts like everything is fine," Hinto thought bitterly.


    As he walked down the hall, he passed a group of guys hanging out.


    "What''s up with the white-haired freak?" one of them sneered.


    Hinto was too lost in his thoughts to even notice.


    "Dude is straight-up ignoring me¡­ ah, whatever."


    Nikko quickly got up and ran after Hinto.


    Rika also stood up, but Hiro stopped her. "Rika, I think it''s best you sit back for now. This is probably something between the two of them."


    Rika hesitated for a second before realizing he was right. She sighed and sat back down.


    Nikko spotted Hinto at the end of the hall and yelled his name.


    "Hinto!"


    However, she also caught the attention of three guys hanging out nearby.


    Their leader, Kazuo, smirked. "Damn, who is this beauty?" he said, checking her out from head to toe.


    Nikko rolled her eyes. "Can I pass? You''re kind of in my way."


    "Whoa, spicy!" Shingo, one of Kazuo''s buddies, said


    Jiro, another one of Kazuo''s buddies, chimed in and said, "I think you need to show some respect!"


    Kazuo grinned. "Calm down, guys. Look, I just wanna get to know you. You sure as hell have to be the prettiest girl in school."


    "Whether I am or not is irrelevant¡ªand wouldn''t matter to you either way."


    Kazuo chuckled. "How about you and me on my motorcycle after school?"


    "Ooooh, smooth, Kazuo!" Shingo teased.


    Nikko shoved him aside. "I''d rather die."


    Kazuo''s face darkened in embarrassment. He grabbed her arm. "I guess I''ll have to teach you some manners."


    Before his hand could reach her face, Hinto grabbed his wrist.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "She''s not interested," he said coldly.


    Kazuo laughed. "Haha, what is this? Your boyfriend?"


    Nikko gasped. "Hinto!"


    "Hinto¡­?" Shingo whispered.


    Nikko, worried, tried to de-escalate. "Hinto, I can handle myself! Don''t worry!"


    Kazuo scoffed. "Yeah, little Hinto, scram!"


    Shingo''s eyes widened in realization. "Wait¡­ Hinto? That name sounds familiar!"


    Kazuo, getting annoyed, tried to yank his arm free. "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FA¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Hinto yanked Kazuo toward him and drove his knee into his face."


    Nikko, Shingo, and Jiro stared in shock.


    Hinto''s expression darkened. "Don''t raise your voice, you piece of shit."


    Shingo took a step back. "Oh no¡­ it can''t be¡­."


    Kazuo, furious, lunged at Hinto, throwing punches¡ªbut Hinto dodged every single one.


    "GRAB HIM!" Kazuo shouted.


    Shingo and Jiro rushed Hinto, but in a flash, Hinto jumped two meters into the air, clapping his feet together against their heads.


    They collapsed to the ground, momentarily unconscious.


    "Had enough?" Hinto glared down at them. "You don''t wanna go any further. Trust me."


    At that moment, his friends arrived and saw the scene.


    From a distance, the principal approached. "What''s going on here?"


    The principal''s eyes narrowed. "Mr. Kasa¡­ I''ve heard many rumors about you¡ªvery atrocious ones. I don''t want any of those¡­ incidents in my school."


    "I understa¡ª"


    "Since this is the first day, I''ll let it go. But be warned¡ªif I catch you doing anything out of order, disciplinary actions will follow. Do I make myself clear?"


    Nikko immediately jumped in. "Sir, it''s not Hinto''s fault! It was¡ª"


    Hinto cut her off. "Nikko, it''s okay. Understood, sir."


    The principal sighed and walked away.


    Rika rushed forward, concern written all over her face. "Hinto, what happened? Are you okay?" she asked, reaching for his hand.


    Nikko saw the way she touched him and gave her a confused look.


    "Yes, I''m fine," Hinto replied.


    Taka furrowed his brows. "Wait¡­ so no one went to the hospital?"


    "No, they ran off," Hinto answered.


    "Taka," Rika muttered, already annoyed.


    "But you''re the White Demon!" Taka blurted out.


    Hiro facepalmed. "Oh my god¡­"


    Hakuho just stood there, shocked at Taka''s ignorance.


    Rika''s frustration boiled over. "DON''T CALL HIM THAT!"


    Hinto looked around. The voices in his head started swirling again.


    "They all see you like this¡­"


    "You should''ve never come to this school. You don''t belong here."


    His gaze flickered to Nikko. She was watching him intently, her eyes filled with worry.


    "Hinto¡­" she whispered.


    Without another word, he turned and ran.


    "Hinto!" Nikko called after him and immediately took off running.


    Rika clenched her fists before sprinting after them, but Hiro stopped her.


    "Rika, let them go. This is something between them."


    Rika hesitated, then sighed in frustration before stepping back.


    Hinto reached the entrance, slipped on his outdoor shoes, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped outside into the rain.


    "HINTO!"


    He stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he saw Nikko running toward him before she threw her arms around him.


    "Nikko, I¡ª"


    "Thank you for saving me," she murmured.


    "I did what anyone else would do," he said, voice flat.


    "That''s the thing. Not everyone would. I don''t think most people would fight off three guys for someone."


    She pulled back slightly, her gaze meeting his. "And¡­ I was even happier that it was you who saved me."


    A voice echoed in Hinto''s head.


    "She''s lying."


    His jaw clenched. His hands curled into fists.


    "I mean a lot to you?" he repeated, pain evident in his voice.


    "Of course you d¡ª"


    "THEN WHY DIDN''T YOU WRITE ME ALL THESE YEARS?!" Hinto shouted, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face.


    Nikko froze.


    "You say you missed me, but I didn''t receive a single response to my letters."


    His breath hitched as years of bottled-up pain surged forward.


    "When I learned how to read and write, my grandfather helped me write letters to you. I was so excited to hear back from you, but I never did."


    Nikko opened her mouth, but Hinto didn''t let her speak.


    "At some point, I thought maybe you had moved on¡­ that our time as kids didn''t matter to you anymore. So, I buried those feelings deep down."


    His body trembled.


    "I lost my mother. You moved away. My father walked out on me. And then, during summer break¡­ my grand¡ªmy grandpa, he¡ª"


    His voice cracked. His knees buckled. Nikko barely managed to catch him before he collapsed.


    "Every single day, I had nightmares about that night. About finding my¡­ my¡ª"


    Words failed him. The weight of grief pressed down on his chest, suffocating him.


    "Hinto¡­ I''m so sorry, I¡ª"


    Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted them.


    "YO, WHITE DEMON!"


    Hinto snapped his head up, blinking through his tears.


    A group of people surrounded the school entrance, blocking every possible exit.


    A guy in a fully black outfit, smirked.


    "Our boss wants to see you. And you''d better come along nicely."


    They all wore matching uniforms¡ªa black jacket with a snake logo.


    Across the back, the word "KOKUJA" (Black Serpent) was stitched.


    Chapter End - Sorrow