Chapter Text
Lying down on the concrete floor coughing out blood wasn’t part of the plan.
With one final kick to the stomach, Niragi screamed and writhed in pain as they continued to laugh. One of the bullies threw his lit cigarette next to Niragi’s head and sneered at him. They continued to taunt him relentlessly with crude insults. Time was unbearably slow today. After the bullies had their fun, they returned to their comfortable lives while Niragi tried to pick himself back up. In this deserted warehouse, he doubts that anyone else could help him.
He was too weak to walk back home so all he could do was lean against the dusty barren walls and continue to focus on breathing. If he breathes, he’ll live to see another day. There might even be a day that will make him forget about this moment.
Without a second thought, he closed his eyes to finally get some rest.
A few hours must have gone by. When Niragi woke up, the sky was so blindingly bright that it got on his nerves. He squinted at the sun and took off his glasses to clean them. Though he was not in good condition, he was able to travel home at the very least. Niragi quickly rummaged through his pockets for some spare change. He counted every coin, it managed to cover the cost of a train ride back home.
On the train he noticed various things. Even for a province, the train is always where you would see the most interesting people. One sight ended up catching his eye.
The boy must have been around his age. Tall yet lanky with a head full of messy hair. He wore clothes that seemed to awkwardly fit his frame. He must be one of those otaku. Niragi remembers his mother talking about it once, asking him to study well so that he won’t end up like them.
Suddenly, this boy looked up at him.
Niragi will never be able to forget those eyes. They were expressionless, apathetic even. He imagined some people would even go far as to call them dead. Even after he thought all those things, he thought they were a sight to behold. With the boy’s intense stare, he couldn’t muster the courage to say something. Right then and there, the train came to a sudden stop. Niragi watched as the boy stoop up. It must be his stop.
As he leaves, Niragi felt disappointed. It’s not like he was ever going to see him again.