Snippet #2719782

"Hey, hey. Wasn't that the girly Hiruka-chan?"

I was stiffened when the three upperclassmen in Junior High cornered me. The looks on their faces were extremely sinister. I was on my way back from school as usual, and I have purposefully taken the longer route to get home in order to avoid these louts. But looks like today was another unlucky day for me, again. The three of them hated me, everyone around me hates me, just because I have this long hair, and because I didn't look as 'manly' as they are. But I can't simply find a drop of strength to fight them back. I don't think it was right to do so, even if they have treated me wrongly. So I just endure it all. I know I shouldn't, but how could I do otherwise?

As the three of them approached me, I turned my back and run, but they were faster and stronger than me, so it was not long until the caught up with me. "What happened? We just wanted to chat as usual, why are you running?" The tallest one of them smirked as they circled around me, like how they always did anytime they wanted to pick on me.

"P-Please, I... I don't have any... money on me today. Please let me go..." I stuttered, trying my best to hold back my tears. I felt so hopeless, I wanted to cry, but crying is bad. I cannot do it, no matter what. It's the least of things I can do.

"Tch. Always that whiny voice. Man up for once, will ya?" One of them push me from behind, which made me stumbled on my feet and I fell on my knees. My whole body is covered in dirt and my feet were aching a lot from the impact with the ground. The tallest one lowered himself and looked down on me with a smug gaze on his face, as if I'm sorts of inferior insects. "Poor, poor Hiruka-chan. Cannot even stand up and fight for himself for once. We're giving you golden lessons of how to be a perfect man here, so listen up carefully."

Then suddenly, the other two from behind grabbed me by the arms and held me up. The tallest then proceeded to grab the tail of my hair and pulled up violently. It was so painful, and I felt as if my head is actually going to be plucked off. I couldn't hold off anymore as I began crying, while begging them to let me go, but not in a million years would they ever listen to me.

The guy smirked vilely again, "Tsk tsk. I'll let you off when I feel like it. And actually, I think I should give you a makeover to help you man up a bit. I'm that generous. What else could you possibly ask?" He then pulled out a pair of scissors. My eyes widened in shock as I realized immediately what he was about to do. "Short hair will fit you perfectly, don't you agree?"

I tried to pulled out from it, but again, they were gripping me so hard that I could barely move. As the guy grabbing my hair was moving the scissors closer and closer to my hair and was about to cut it, I closed my eyes tightly, prepared myself for the worse.

But miraculously, what I expected to happen didn't come. Instead, I was taken aback when I heard a loud thud, and upon opening my eyes, the tall guy was hit hard in his face by a soccer ball. The impact was so strong that he fell lying with his face on the ground. The other two guys were surprised at what happened too, and we all turned to where the ball came from.

Apparently, it was kicked by another black hair boy, who looks a bit older than me. "Oi, oi. Who the hell are you? What's with the attitude-" Before the bully could finish his sentence, he was punched hard in the face by the boy. And a rather intense fight broke out between the four of them. The strange boy was surprisingly strong, though he struggled a bit against the trio since he was outnumbered. But in the end, they three bullies faced their defeat as they retreated, looking more miserable than ever while threatening the boy that just saved me that they will get back on him.

The boy then walked to me, grinning proudly, even though there were bruises everywhere on his body, his lips were bloodied and his left eye just became violet. He helped me to stand up and asked me if I were okay. I thanked him, while patching him up a bit with a bandage I happened to have in my bag. He told me his name was Nanase Yutaro, and I told him mine, in which he quickly nicknamed me 'Sora', while I called him 'Yucchi'. He then picked up his ball, ruffled my hair and told me to be careful on my way back before we bid farewell to each other. As he walked away, he turned his back and waved to me, telling me that we will meet again, with his confident grin ever presented on his face.

Watching as he disappeared into the sun set, I don't think I have ever smiled brighter in my life. That sole moment, I know for sure that we were fated to meet, and become closest of friends.

---

The memory of the meeting that had changed his life forever rewound in his mind in a flash, reminding him of how much they were meant to be for each other, to make up for what the other lacks, and how they will always remain connected despite how far away they are separated. Somehow, it all became so clear to him. That despite the fact that he had been through the hands of who knows how many guys now, his mind will always be there for that person only. It felt as if time had never passed, and they are still the young boys they once were in the past.

And the person eventually turned up, calling out the nickname he had always adorned. Hiruka continued gazing up at the treehouse while Yutaro approached him, "Do you still remember when we first met?" He said in a calm tone, "I was a such a damsel in distress back then, and you were almost like a prince walked out from fairy tales. But looking at us now, it's hard to believe how much we have changed, huh? If I have a time machine, I would definitely go back and give myself smacks on the head for being such a sissy."

Hiruka then walked to the ladder leads up to the treehouse, "Shall we? I hope it's strong enough to hold two adults like us." He said and then climbed up into the house. Looking around, he saw that nothing had changed since the last time they met hear so many years ago. This was used to be the storage where they kept all sorts of things that were precious treasures to them, but when they left, they have split up all of those stuffs between them, so there were pretty much nothing left. But for Hiruka, it all felt like it was only yesterday when the sudden news that they have to live separately at the two polars of the country came, and they were making that pinky promise together. "This really makes me feel like a kid again." Hiruka stretched his arms, though with his current height, he couldn't properly did it, and sat down on the wooden platform, "You still remember what we promised when we sat at this very spot? Can't believe it actually took us a few check-ups to realize each other. I thought I'd realize that sneaky look on you everywhere." Hiruka laughed.

And so, they spent time reminiscing over all the memories that they once shared together. Hiruka chatted so casually that it was almost as if what had happened three months ago didn't occur at all. He remembers clearly why he is here, but he just wanted to enjoy the moment for now. Dusk was quickly falling, and when they have gone through all there are to remember of what they have been in the past, they exited the house.

"We've just barely made it in time to see it one last time." Hiruka said while gazing up at the treehouse as his heart is filled with unspeakable emotions, "I heard that they are going to cut down all trees in this forest, including this oak to make room for building a factory or something soon. Lucky that we're both here to say goodbye to it before it truly become a piece of our hearts, huh?"

The two of them went silent for a rather awkward duration. When Hiruka finished collecting his thoughts, he had come to his final decision. What he is about to ask Yutaro will probably change both of their lives once again, but no matter how things turn out after this, Hiruka no longer had any regrets. His heart is finally at peace, and he will no longer be troubled over any obstacles that stand on his way again.

"Yucchi, no, Yutaro-san." He spoke up to break the silence between them, then turned and gazed straight into Yutaro's eyes, more determined than ever, "I may have been a little rushed in my judgement due to my bad lucks, but you have proven that I was wrong. But you must know that, I don't want to place my life in the hands of a guy who is still indecisive and cannot yet figure out his feelings and what I meant to him. And I most certainly cannot rely on someone who couldn't give me a feeling of assurance and would turn his back on me on impulses. I'm sure you are well-aware of that?"

He then paused for a moment to let his words sink in, before continuing with his demand, "I will give you three days. Clear your mind, sort out any feelings that you are uncertain, cast away all doubts and think long and hard about your answer. What do you want us to become? Will you promise that you will be with me no matter what? If you don't think that it's possible for us to move any further, we may continue to be friends. If you say 'yes', then we will take it slowly, one step at a time."

Hiruka then turned his back and began to walk away, before halting and turned his head to look at Yutaro one more time, but with a serious and intimidating look in his eyes, "And if you dare to go back on me again, I will personally carry out what my brother threatened you before, but only ten time worse. So make sure you think real hard about it. See you again, Yutaro-san." And with that said, he walked away without looking back.