Chapter Text
How often do people wish for a fresh start? For the mistakes of their past to be erased? With hindsight it can feel like these past failures were made by a completely different person as the current self wouldn't make the same mistake. The memories should be erased because the person responsible effectively no longer exists.
But so rarely are these fresh starts possible.
For Aren Kuboyasu transferring to PK academy was supposed to be his second chance. A chance to completely redefine the person he was before. But Kuboyasu’s past was a part of him and he was able to find friends who accepted him fully, past and present. With this acceptance Kuboyasu could finally start to build this new respectable and conventional life.
Though Kuboyasu’s new friends saw this reform, the rest of community did not.
Kuboyasu watched as his friends all waited in line and, walked as their names were called; and each accepted their high school diploma and ceremonially graduated high school. To Kuboyasu, seeing them graduate felt as if his friends were leaving him behind.
In the First semester of his senior year, an old friend of Kuboyasu’s had been arrested in relation to an investigation over a destruction of property that had occurred two years prior. In a deal made with the prosecution a list of associates to the main suspects had been released, a list containing Kuboyasu Aren's name. Though his involvement was suspected to be minor Kuboyasu became involved in the trial. The details of the trial aren’t as important as the trial continuing for several months.
Parents, teachers and even students petitioned for Kuboyasu to be removed from the academy. Despite the advocacy of his friends he was placed on an indefinite suspension and wasn’t allowed to return to campus. After the trial Kuboyasu was found to not be involved and was sentenced to community service hours for accessory charges. Although Kuboyasu was then allowed to be readmitted, it was too late. He was not able to graduate and the damage done to his reputation was permanent.
Seeing everyone graduate, to walk past him was humiliating. Maybe second chances are not truly possible. It was hard for Kuboyasu to truly feel like a changed person, after all the Kuboyasu of the past would always be a part of him. Acceptance, forgiveness, or even hiding one’s past doesn’t change this fact.
For Kuboyau moving on just seemed impossible.