Chapter Text
****
Kyouka, Kenji, and Q got to the train station. It was one of the trains that had seats, so they sat down in a booth together. Kyouka sat by Kenji and Q sat in front of them. Q would have rather sat by Kyouka, but he knew he had no other option.
“Where are we going?” Kenji asked, looking over towards Kyouka and meeting her gaze.
“To the flea market!” Q butted in, into the conversation.
“A special place,” Kyouka said, faintly smiling at Kenji.
She slowly brought her right hand to touch his hand. Her fingers prying to open his hand up. His eyes widened. He wasn’t used to Kyouka trying to hold his hand; it’s usually him who has to start the interaction. He was hesitant, but he opened his hand up for her, finally letting her clasp their hands together, and slowly closed his sweaty hands onto her soft and gentle hands.
Q frowned from the sight. He couldn’t stand how happy Kenji was from such a small interaction. He wished it was him. He wished that Kyouka would hold his hand, and not Kenji’s hand.
Oh, how he wishes he could figure out his feelings for the girl…
“Q, are you okay?” She asked, which didn’t make him feel any better. He brought his gaze towards Kyouka and answered, “Of course I’m okay. It would be stupid to cry on a day like this.” He answered, proudly.
He brought his torn up toy towards his face. He muttered some words of anger, wishing this day would just disappear.
“Are you sure, Q?” She asked once more. Q nodded his head and took his toy away from his face. “I’m just really sleepy,” he said, yawning in the process. He scooted himself towards the window of the train and placed his head on the window. Closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep.
“I guess he really was tired,” Kyouka said, placing her head on Kenji’s shoulder.
Kenji frowned for the world to see he was upset about his “friend”. Deep down, Kenji was ecstatic that Q was that upset over Kyouka.
Kenji couldn’t stand Q for a multitude of reasons, but the main reason: jealousy.
Kenji placed his head on top of Kyouka’s head. He breathed in and out, getting a whiff of her scent. She smelt like strawberries. The sweetest strawberries a person can find. Kenji was mesmerized by her scent.
He still couldn’t believe a person like her could be in love with a person like him. It just wasn’t possible.
****
The whole train ride there was quiet. When all of them would be awake, it would be filled with silence. Kenji kept a hold of Kyouka’s hand any time Q would take any glances over at Kyouka. Kenji couldn’t stand Q at times.
When they arrived at the familiar area, Kenji’s heart started racing. He had a feeling about what was going on for his birthday. He was hoping he was wrong. If he wasn’t—he wouldn’t know what he would do if Kyouka did this to him.
But yet again, Kenji didn’t tell her about any of the bad things the village did to him, only the good and fluffy stuff from the village.
He was hoping he was wrong, but deep down, he knew he wasn’t wrong.
“We’re here!” Kyouka cheered, standing up quickly. “Shall we go?” She looked at the panicking Kenji, then looked over at the depressed Q.
Kenji gulped, “Yes,” was all he could muster up to say. Q nodded his head sheepishly. Both boys slowly got up and followed Kyouka off the train.
“I’ve never been here before, so it might take me a moment to understand the full location of where we’re going.”
“My village isn’t too far from this place,” Kenji said.
“Can we take a tour to your village?” Kyouka proposed, hoping that Kenji would take them to the village.
“Of course!” He gave a cheeky smile. Kenji tried to act so cheery while walking Q and Kyouka to his farm town village.
They walked for a good thirty minutes before they arrived at Kenji’s hometown. Kyouka and Q were mesmerized by the amount of forest and small cottage homes.
“This place looks like so much fun!” Q exclaimed, Kyouka nodded her head in agreement with Q.
Kenji didn’t understand how they could like a place like this, and hate the city? For Kenji: he hated the farm and loved the city. He just couldn’t comprehend it.
“Before we arrive, you guys must stay with me at all times,” he said, “This farm isn’t exactly friendly with newcomers. However, if you stay with me, you’ll be just fine.” Q rolled his eyes whilst Kyouka nodded, grabbing Kenji’s hand.
Kenji smiled, as he walked the both of them down to the farm.
****
When Kenji got down there, still holding Kyouka’s hand, he saw the grandma of the town making a bunch of pies. She averted her gaze over towards Kenji and smiled.
“Kenji, my dear,” she horsley said, wobbling over towards Kenji. He smiled faintly, letting go of Kyouka’s hand, and walking over towards grandma.
“I’ve missed you,” he mumbled, bringing him into a tight hug. The grandma patted his back, then immediately afterwards, the hug was broken.
“I didn’t know that you were coming over for your birthday or I would have made you a cake,” she frowned. Kenji giggled, “I didn’t know either, or I would have called your daughter.” The grandma nodded her head.
She noticed the two other kids behind Kenji. “Who are the kids behind you?” She pointed at Kyouka and Q. Kenji turned his head around then back towards the elderly lady. “They’re my friends,” he said, “Kyouka is the girl with the long black hair, and Q has the brown and white hair.”
“She’s a cute girl,” the grandma said. Kyouka's face flushed, looking away embarrassedly. Q giggled, elbowing her forearm. Q never realized that Kyouka was slightly taller than him. It really did something to his pride.
“Oh, Kenji,” the grandma said, “Make sure you go meet Hana, she’s been wanting to see you for a while now.” Kenji nodded his head slowly, putting his best fake smile on.
“I’ll make sure to greet her later on today, grandma.” The old lady smiled, kissing Kenji’s right and left cheek before the kids left.
“We’re not meeting with Hana.”
“Why not?” Kyouka asked.
“Just because I don’t want to. She’s mean anyway,” he exclaimed, trying not to raise his voice at Kyouka.
“Don’t be so harsh on Kyouka now, Kenji,” Q stated, being sarcastic as ever.
“Who else can we meet while we’re here, Kenji?” Kyouka asked, grabbing Kenji’s forearm.
Kenji felt disgusted with himself. He couldn’t believe he was showing Kyouka and Q around. Especially Kyouka. He didn’t want her to find out what he had to do to survive.
He cleared his throat and walked down the village with pride.
“I guess I could show you all the farms I took care of, if you’re interested.” Kyouka nodded her head, while Q groaned, but he eventually did nod his head. It was a very sarcastic head nodding.
Kenji did like he said he was going to do. He showed them around the village. All the farms he took care of, the houses he stayed at, and the barn where he was born. Kyouka seemed interested in all of this silly tour, Q was a different story.
“Kenji!” A girl with long brown hair yelled, wearing a white sunhat, with a cute pink flower. His eyes widened. He froze in fear. He slowly turned his head to the sound, he saw who it was: Hana.
She ran up to him, bombarding him with a hug. He stood there, frozen in place. He couldn’t move as her slimy hands touched all around him.
Kyouka noticed. She walked over towards Hana, pushing her off of Kenji slowly and gently. She couldn’t understand what possessed her to push Hana off of him, but she knew she had to. She could tell in Kenji’s eyes that he was uncomfortable with Hana touching him.
Hana gave a crooked smile. “My bad!” She said, bowing down to Kyouka. “Why would you push me off of my Kenji?” His eyes widened. “I’m not yours, you don’t own me, Hana.” She pouted, putting her arm on his shoulder.
Her hand started touching all over his chest, making Kenji feel more uncomfortable.
Q had a soured face by witnessing the events that was going down with Hana and Kenji.
“Lady,” Q started, “I don’t think Kenji is appreciating your hands being all over him.” He put his hands behind his head.
Hana gave a sinister smirk. She let go of Kenji, blowing a kiss to him afterwards. “Make sure you guys stay the night, even at my place if you want to, Kenji,” she gave him a wink before walking off.
Kenji’s eyes widened. He fell to the ground, grabbing onto his shirt. His breathing hitched. His heart beating fast, he couldn’t calm himself down. Kyouka ran over towards Kenji’s aid, helping him the best she could, along with Q.
Kenji hated himself. He hated that he let Hana use him for his body. That whole segment of his life was rough. He would sleep with older women, or younger women, as long as he could have a place to sleep at night. He wouldn’t care what he would do with his body.
He didn’t know the after effects would leave him so traumatized; he wouldn’t even do it in the first place if he knew.
****
Night time fell quickly after the tour Kenji gave Q and Kyouka. They were staying at the grandma’s place they had met earlier that day. Q was on the bed, Kenji on the floor, and Kyouka had gone out of her room to grab something for Kenji.
She walked into the room, “Kenji,” Kyouka said, bringing Kenji a coffee cup. Kenji was wrapped up in a blanket and Q was fast asleep on the bed.
Kenji grabbed the coffee cup, and slowly drank it. Kyouka sat next to his side, as he drank the hot chocolate that was in the cup.
“Kyouka,” Kenji said. It brought her eyes towards his eyes. “Where did you want to take me for my birthday?” He asked hesitantly. She looked away, not being able to answer his question. She let her navy black bangs cover her eyes.
“Thought so,” he mumbled.
“I really thought you would want to see them for your birthday…”
He scoffed. “Do you have any idea what I had to do to survive here?” He asked, his voiced raise slightly.
She looked up at Kenji, his eyes holding contempt for them.
He was angry; there was nothing she could do, because he was angry at her.
“Kenji, listen, I’m sorry—”
“Sorry?” He let out a laugh. “You’ve never considered my feelings when all I’ve done has been here for you.” His voice started to quack.
“You never told me about you being sexually harassed. And yes, maybe I haven’t been here for you, because you won’t tell me shit about your past! You only care about my feelings, pushing away yours.” She said in disbelief. “Before you start blaming me, think about your actions that put me here.”
Kenji stood up, letting the blanket fall off his shoulders. He looked at Kyouka, then the hard wooden ground. The coffee cup he had in his hand was soon shattered. Kenji threw the coffee cup onto the ground, letting all the pieces break.
He looked down at Kyouka, tears swelling in his eyes. “Never talk to me again. Not at school, not on the train way home, not in the hallways, and not at the dorm. Never be in my life, ever again.”
Kyouka’s heart skipped a beat. Her stomach sank to the ground when he heard Kenji tell her that.
Kenji walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Kyouka flinched from the sudden noise.
Her heart has been shattered by the boy she loved the most. She couldn’t understand how Kenji could do this to her, when he had told her nothing about his past.
Her eyes started swelling up with tears. The tears from her eyes started escaping her eyes, falling down onto her rosy cheeks. She brought her knees up to her face and she started sobbing.
She hasn’t felt so bad since before the school year started. She felt skinny arms go around her from the bed from behind her.
She raised her head slightly and recognized the arms: it was Q. She pushed Q’s arms off of her so she could stand up. Her eyes were red as day. She kept sobbing, holding onto the ends of her dress.
Q felt bad for her. He got off the bed and brought her into a tight hug. She wasn’t hesitant to hug him back, because when she did hug him back, she cried into his shoulders, not letting go of Q. Not ever.
****