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While Jett was waiting for his mother he leaned against the wall next to the entrance. Pulling out his phone, he checked his messages again...sure enough Haruka did not answer him still. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and sighed. He was wondering what had happened to her that made her ignore him on a daily basis.
As he tried to ignore the issue while looking around at the crowd of people who came to visit their kids at the end of day, or waiting for their friend to come out and hang. He noticed a girl who looked similar to Fumika, walking next to a tiny girl who was on crutches. His eyes focused on the smaller girl. She dressed awfully familiar to Haruka. She was about the same height as well. But the fact that she was covering her face and seeming to stick to the blonde girl’s shadow. Also that she had a prosthetic leg, it clearly could not be his Haruka. She would have been leading the other girl,head held high in confidence. That and she had not told him that she got into an accident….or was that the reason?
It was at this time Fumika came sprinting and tackled the poor girl squeezing her tightly. She had yelled Haruka’s name and started commenting on how she fought someone strong and fast like her. This peaked his interest for two reasons. The first one being how excited Fumika was at this time she seemed a lot more quiet during the day, and the second being that she somehow described his Haruka as well...that and the fact that girl who joined in the fight and used Haruka’s move. Was this Haruka???
The girl seemed to be glancing around looking for someone and as he went to walk over and say hello and see for himself if it was her, But before he could his mother pulled up in the family car. He sighed and jogged up to the back door as it opened and his mother stepped out.
She quickly pulled out a shoulder bag and placed it onto the ground giving Jett a quick hug.
“Sorry I can’t stay, Just got off the phone with Midge, there is a hostage situation that needs to be taken care of.”Jett nodded, he understood. Growing up with pro hero parents this was normal for him. He was also a little glad, as this gives him a chance to catch up with Fumika. He glanced back only to see Fumika carrying the short girl and running off with the other blonde girl trailing.
Looking back to his mother he smiled.
“It’s fine mom. I understand.” She studied him for a moment, her sharp eyes seeming look right through him. A smirk came on her face as she cupped his cheek in her hand,
“I'll come by tomorrow.” she tapped his cheek lightly and quickly got back into the car.
“You be good ok?!” He quickly nodded and watched her leave, before picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder and turning around into almost a sprint trying to catch up with Fumi. Good thing he knew which dorm she was in. But he didn’t have to go far as he realized Fumi had a run in with another student. That he hadn’t seen before, as well as Kasuke, It looked like they all were running, looking at their shoes. It was odd to him they were still in uniform and running though, They seemed to run into each other. He noticed the girl with the crutches slowly getting up and realized it was indeed his Haruka. He stopped in his tracks immediately. His eyes were wide at the sight of her, and the fact that she didn’t have both her legs anymore.
Why the hell didn’t she say anything to him!? Was this why she didn’t want to see him before school? Why she started ignoring him? Even more...Why was she visiting Fumika...and...not him? A sharp pain shot through his heart which almost made him lose his own footing. He almost just wanted to walk away, and not confront her.
But, at that very moment, Fumika turned around, her antenna perking up like the ears of a dog that’s heard its master’s footsteps. Tilting her head curiously to the side, she gave a slight wave.
“Oh. Hello, Jett,” She said quietly, evidently oblivious to the altercation going on behind her between the girl who looked suspiciously like her and the taller student… Or to the fact that the moment she said his name, Haruka went pale as a sheet and froze in place. The plastic frame of her false leg rattled in its socket as her knees began to shake, but she didn’t turn around. She didn’t move, or even speak. If it wasn’t for the slight rising and falling of her shoulders, Jett couldn’t have been sure she was even breathing. Her head hung, messy black bangs and braids dangling in the wind, and for all the world, she looked as if she wanted her legs to simply give way, letting her sink into the ground and thus disappear.
Jett only glanced at Fumika with a blank stare, before registering that she waved and said hello. He only raised his arm just enough to give a single wave back from his waist. It felt like lifting his arm any higher than that would be too much effort. He looked back to Haruka and watched her as she didn’t move, it seemed like ages but it was only for a few moments before he then softly said,
”Haruka?” He still had hope that it wasn’t her, that she wasn’t intentionally trying to ignore him...but the fact that she wasn’t turning towards him and seeming to act like if she didn’t move he didn’t see her, only drove it home more. He suddenly felt that wasn’t enough as he took a few steps towards her.
”What...are you doing here?” It was clear she was visiting Fumika for some reason… but he wanted to hear it from her own mouth.
“Don’t!” Even though it sounded disgusted, angry, tired, fed up, and on the verge of breaking, that voice was still unmistakable to his ears. It was the same voice he’d heard laughing with glee, the same one that had always boasted and ordered him about mercilessly, the same one which had helped him, which he couldn’t have ignored even if he’d tried. This was her. This was who he’d been waiting for.
“Don’t come any closer. Don’t look at me. Please, just… Forget you ever saw me like this.” She wasn’t commanding him anymore. Rather, she was pleading with him, and yet…
“Huh?” Fumika blinked in confusion, her gaze darting between her first friend and one of her newest with ever-mounting concern.
“Haruka? Jett? What’s…?” She trailed off into silence, too baffled by this sudden confrontation to continue.
Jett was taken back at her tone. That wasn’t her at all… yet it was her voice. He knew it, he could hear it clearly in his mind always. It was unique and memorable….but this, this wasn’t anything like he heard before. He didn’t even acknowledge Fumika, he was too shocked by the fact Haruka didn’t want him to come closer, or even look at her. She ashamed of the fact she had lost her leg? How the hell did that even happen anyway? Why would she even assume that he would think differently of her.
He stood silently for a moment...wondering what to do next. He of course wasn’t going to just let this go. That’s not what friends do. A sudden look of determination came on his face as he let out a breath of air. He straightened his shoulders and quickly moved to her, and before she could react he moved in front of her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into tight embrace. He just held her like that for a moment and then said.
“Why would I want to forget my friend?” softly into her ear.
Her crutches clattered to the ground, and he felt two arms pushing against his chest… but it was so weak, he hardly even felt it. It was as if she was still just as much a child as when she’d left, and yet…
“Stop. Stop it. What are you even trying to do? Just let go of me.” Her voice sounded cold, but it was utterly devoid of the resonance he so remembered. It was as if it was taking every last bit of her effort just to articulate words, but at the same time, she never once sobbed, nor did she raise her head, stubbornly refusing to surrender to tears. Even in despair, she was still just as stubborn as ever.
“I told you not to come any closer. You never listen. Why do you never listen?!” Word building upon word, her voice rose to an angry crescendo that bored its way into his heart like a knife. Her hands were grabbing the lapels of his uniform jacket now, and she shook him violently, her gold eyes staring eerily up at him through the bangs of her dark hair, put into stark relief against the pale white of her face.
“Fine! Are you happy now?! I’ll bet you’re overjoyed! Go on, then, smile! Laugh! Do whatever the hell you want! You finally got…” Despite her valiant attempts to hold it back, a choking sob wracked her voice.
“You finally got your stupid answer…!” Her head dropped as she finally gave up on her defense. Jett could feel her shoulders trembling as little by little, her struggling and squirming grew weaker. The way she was simply drooping over, completely limp… It was as if she hadn’t lost just her leg, but rather, like her whole body had been replaced by a mere doll of the Haruka he’d once known.
Someone else was shaking him now. Springing into action, Fumika had begun tugging on his arm. A short distance behind her, the younger girl who looked to be her sister was staring in silent bewilderment at the sudden confrontation.
“Jett…! Haruka said to let her go!” Her words were confused, desperate even… and yet oddly resolute. But the way she was looking at him now… It was the closest expression to “terror” he’d ever seen her display. It was the look of someone who could only watch helplessly as the people she cared about were hurt - of someone who wanted to do something, anything, to ease their pain, and yet could not.
Jett was completely confused at her reaction...not so much of why he never listened. He got that a lot from her. But the fact she asked if he was happy, overjoyed, and he should smile and laugh. What at this? Why the hell would he do such a thing? He did not even attempt to cover up the hurt look on his face as she lashed out at him. As he tried to think up of what to even say to this when he felt Fumika tugging on his arm. Though he didn’t move, he didn’t want her to fall. He didn’t know how well she could balance. He did however pull back slightly but Ignored Fumika.
He looked her dead in the eyes. Almost angry now that she had the gall to say those word.
”What the hell are you saying? Why would I be Happy about this? Why would I laugh or smile at seeing…” He motioned with his hand downward to her leg, and at that moment, the last bits of her facade crumbled as if he’d struck her right across the face.
”Haruka, why would I? You think I’m that shallow I wouldn’t want to be your friend after seeing you like this??” His voice was rising now, Over the years he never Really got mad at her, even if they were messing around. He never raised his voice at her like this.
Haruka didn’t answer. She’d frozen up again, and didn’t even seem to be looking at him anymore. The clattering of her false leg echoed like drums in Jett’s ears as not just her knees, but rather, her whole body shook. Fumika wasn’t just tugging now, but was practically clawing at his arms, trying to drag Haruka away from him. She was yelling something, telling him to get away, but it hardly registered in his mind as more than a passing oddity. Why was someone like Fumika screaming at the top of her lungs? Why was she looking at him like a complete stranger - no, like he was somehow an enemy?
“Jett, stop! You’re hurting Haruka! Stop it!” As always, her words were ever childish. It was obvious she didn’t understand at all what was going on. If she just knew, then surely, she’d understand that he was trying to help. So why the hell was she looking at him like that? Why was Haruka looking at him like that? His grip went slack, and in an instant, Fumika grabbed hold of Haruka and tugged her back, clinging to her tightly as she stumbled backward and away from Jett. She was obviously panicking. Her breath was coming in short, quick bursts, and her eyes were darting back and forth as if they’d somehow help her to see and understand the meaning of why her friends were fighting, of why Haruka was crying.
”H-Haruka, are you alright? What’s wrong?” Fumika’s desperate question got no answer. Instead...
”So… you’ll just pretend it’s no different? You’ll act like everything’s fine, like nothing’s changed?” Of all things, the slightest hint of a laugh crept into the distraught girl’s voice, such that it was impossible to tell where her tears ended and this black joke began.
”That’s stupid… It’s all so stupid…!”” Something has changed obviously, and it's not your leg.! But the one thing that wouldn’t change is that you're my friend and I care about you whether you like it or not.’ He yelled, but pulled himself back before reaching down. And picking up the crutches and placing them in just a way that either Haruka or Fumika could take them from him.
”What are you talking about?” Haruka shot back defensively, rubbing her eyes before snatching her crutches and then shaking off Fumika, who positively wilted and drew back in dismay, but Haruka didn’t seem to notice.
”What do you mean ‘it’s not my leg?’ Are you dense or something?! Of course that’s why… It’s all because I was stupid and got careless! If it weren’t for that, then… Then I’d have been able to keep my promise. But I can’t, alright?!”Jett was about to say something before pausing. And taking a step back, looking at the others around them as they watched silently. This was not going anywhere he wanted. She was clearly hurt and bitter over her leg.
”Haruka….” His voice soft once again.
”You know what? Forget it.” He looked defeated now, but he didn’t know what else to say. He reached down and picked up his bag that had fallen to the ground and looked at Haruka one last time.
”I’m sorry you got hurt… I wished you told me, but know I don’t care if the promise was broken, if that's the reason you didn’t want to see me or talk to me...thinking I would think less of you, or laugh at your situation. You clearly didn’t know me at all.” He said in a hurt tone.
“Where was I wrong?” Haruka asked at last.
”It’s obvious. Of course you think less of me…! Even just now, you were clinging onto me like you thought that without you there to hold me up, I’d just fall and get hurt. Well I’m not helpless! Even like this, I’m…”He cut her off as he took a few steps to her.
“Of course I was holding onto you. I don’t know how much you adjusted! Cause you didn't’ TELL ME. Of course I’m going to be a little more careful or more protective. I don’t know what was going on! It doesn’t mean That I think less of you! Sue me for actually caring about your wellbe-””BOTH OF YOU JUST... SHUT UP!”Haruka froze. Asuka froze. Because that voice… there was just no way. That couldn’t be…
Fumika?!As her friends looked at her in disbelief, Fumika stared blankly back. She still looked restless, uneasy, terrified even, and yet…
“Stop being angry at each other. I don’t know what either of you are talking about. I don’t know why you’re sad. I don’t understand it, because I’m stupid.” She frowned, looking away bashfully, but nevertheless mustered up the most of her courage to continue.
“But I do know that why you’re angry… it’s my fault. Because… because it’s my fault that Haruka got hurt…! She got hurt saving me, so if you’re going to blame anyone, then blame me!” As she shouted this out, she looked as if she, too, was about to cry. It was obvious, then, that she wasn’t just acting this way because she thought it would resolve everything, but rather, because…
What do you mean ‘it’s not my leg?’ Are you dense or something?! Of course that’s why…Haruka stared in disbelief, then hung her head in guilt.
”Fumika, that’s not… I never meant…” She protested weakly.
“Please, you know I didn’t mean to blame you. What happened was my fault, right? Because I didn’t get there fast enough. I was careless.”“But if I hadn’t-”“No buts!” Haruka cut her off adamantly.
“Then… it’s alright?”“It’s alright. I’m sorry, Fumi. I shouldn’t have brought you into this.” Haruka sighed, taking a deep breath and rubbing her reddened eyes one more time before turning back to face Jett. She no longer seemed quite as angry, just… tired.
“You’re right. I should have let you know sooner that I failed. There’s no point blaming you for anything you’ve just said. Just… go ahead and think of me whatever you will.” Just like that, Harukaze Haruka, who never backed down, completely lost the will to argue any further. But that dispirited look in her eyes, and the blunt way in which she phrased her surrender… Either way, it didn’t feel like a victory to anyone.
Jett half expected to see Kasuke be the one to tell them to shut up. But it clearly wasn’t her voice. It was Fumika. That was the first time, beit the first day he met her, but it was still odd to see her be the one to tell them to shut up. It definitely pulled him back into the moment. He listened as he found out Haruka lost her leg while saving Fumika. He was quiet as she then turned to him and gave up the argument. Though the way she phrased it only made him more angry, he didn’t show it thought.
This wasn’t her at all..the part she was missing was her personality. He should have said it...but he instead said. [color=007236]”No… You didn’t fail...You saved Fumika. If anything you became a hero before I did. Losing a leg because of it doesn’t mean you failed… I’m just mad you didn't tell me. Not because of our promise. Because Friends are there for each other. I can’t be there for you if you don’t tell me. Even though I know you don’t like help we all need it anyways.” He said with a sigh.
Haruka frowned, and opened her mouth as if to argue something… but then flushed an uncharacteristic shade of red and simply looked away. She didn’t affirm or deny anything, but at the very least, she wasn’t running or hiding anymore. It was a long shot, but maybe…
Maybe she’d at least hear him out, and then things would be, if not the same as they once had been, at least better than they were now.
Fetzen
urukhai
