Chapter Text
3 hopes
“ Papa?” Gakushuu turned to his father at the age of seven years old.
“What?” responded Gakuho, slightly annoyed in the car ride.
“Why don’t we ever go past the bridge?”
Gakuho tensed.
“Bridges aren’t a safe place to drive on.. Do you want music on?” Gakuho asked.
“Sure!” exclaimed Gakushuu, completely brushing past his question brightly.
Gakushuu still wondered why the bridge was never something they crossed.
———
A slow dreadful drive with his father at the age of fifteen. A drive down the limo towards their place was always silent. No interaction. It’s not needed. So quiet. Always so cold.
“Father” Gakushuu stated.
“What is it now?” Gakuho replied coldly.
“Why don’t we go down the path down the bridge?” Asked Gakushuu.
“That’s enough.”
“It’s a faster drive towards the school and it’s more convenient.”
“Be quiet Asano.”
“I don’t understand why you refuse to tell me. It’s like your-“
“ I said enough Asano.” exclaimed Gakuho interrupting Gakushuu.
Gakushuu closed his mouth, pressing his lips together. The bridge remained a question to him as always. His father always brushed past that question. Their own bridge that wasn’t allowed to be crossed.
———
He failed again. He lost.
Gakushuu took a sharp inhale. Their class lost the school trip to E-Class. It was all his fault. No, if the Big Five never made that irrational bet to begin with then this wouldn’t have happened. But it’s all your fault for losing.
Gakushuu walked down the road. He usually walks home instead of a ride with his father. It’s a great way of exercise to prepare for any upcoming tournament. It’s always very suffocating in that car anyways.
Gakushuu began to tread slowly along the road as he spotted the road to the bridge. Wondering to himself why this place was such a sensitive place to his family. He continued walking along the bridge.
He gets closer to the railing.
Hands on the rail.
Looking down at the water.
How sparkly, how peaceful, like a hug.. so warm.
Gakushuu snapped out of his daze. Looking at the water again made him wonder, what secrets lay below it. Father always was skeptical about him being in water. Always made him wonder why he hated the thought of the ocean.
Gakushuu should really learn how to swim, maybe then he will be able to cross the bridge.
——-
Drowning.
He’s drowning in his own regrets. He let it happen, if he just decided to stay. Then maybe they wouldn’t be.. No it was inevitable. They would have been brainwashed either way.
Gakushuu walked home the same road, the same path, looking ahead. Spotting the path near the bridge. Gaksuhuu walked the road where the bridge was once again. Hands on the rail, Looking at the water, and the silence so calming.
Would anyone notice if the water decides to consume? Have they noticed? What a thought.
Gakushuu looked ahead.
A noticeable breeze slowly moved his hair. A gentle touch like he’s forgotten someone he used to know. The presence of someone who once met this bridge.
What a weird feeling.
Gakushuu slowly walked off to his home, not sparing a glance at the railing.
The presence is now disappearing. Gakushuu wonders when he’ll be able to cross the bridge to that feeling.
———
He failed once again.
His father was seething with anger. He could see it. He’s seen it before.
Everything went blurry. Right, his father finally hit him. Ren carried him out and the nurse patched him up. Should he go with his father to the limo?
Didn’t his father go near the E-Class building?
Around the end of the day, the sun slowly sets down to reveal an orange sky. Gakushuu walks to the limo to see if he’s father will arrive.
He does.
His father looks at him like he wants to say something to him. What is it? His father instead just turns his head away from him.
“Will you be riding the Limo?”
Gakushuu inhales sharply.
“No, I’ll walk.”
——-
Gakushuu walks down the road of the bridge once again. The breeze is back and it’s slowly moving his hair. Gakushuu walks near the bridge.
Hands on the railing.
Gakushuu leans forward to get a look at the water.
The breeze picks up.
What’s up with the wind today? It’s strong enough for Gakushuu to stumble back a bit. Removing himself off the railing.
The breeze is intense. Knocking him off his feet hitting the road.
“What in the world?!-“ Gakushuu exclaimed.
Before Gakushuu can say anything else.
The bridge collapsed in on itself.