Chapter Text
Horikita felt a bit exhausted from the day before, still getting lost in her own thoughts as she zoned out thinking about her relationships and the books she reads. Her eyes drifted away from the person she was talking to; landing on Kikyo Kushida. Suzune's nails dug into her palm as she saw the brunette, she swore that Kushida wasn't up to any good; so why did they become allies anyway? She pondered, before a familiar monotone voice practically reached out and tore away her attention from Kikyo to him.
"Horikita. Are you listening?" Ayanokoji said, his face the same as always; he sent with a hint of anger in his glare. Always expressionless and dull. This made Horikita think of how sweet and lively Kushida seemed to be. In comparison, the two contrasted so much that it was comical. Her thoughts were then again interrupted by Ayanokoji.
"Pay attention. Having Kikyo be a part of our alliance could help us get from class D to class C, her strengths are influence which can help with leadership if she's on her side.." He continued.
Horikita always assumed Ayanokoji to be a love interest of hers. They were boys and girls, so he has to be. Well, following with that logic, that would like to a mean that she had to be mates with every male she sees. That logic seemed to be implanted into the minds of everyone she met. Horikita always thought that thinking was odd. It left her a bit puzzled on how she viewed relationships with the opposite gender.
Those patterns of thinking led Horikita to a time when she was little. A time when she was vulnerable.
One after-class afternoon, when Horikita was cleaning the classroom with her classmates, a boy called for her attention.
"Hey hey, Suzune." He said.
They weren't even close. Why was he using her first name?
"What is it?" She replied.
"Did you know that boys and girls will never be able to be just friends?"
What was he saying..
"Why?"
"Because they are bound to be mates. Boys and girls should mate."
"That's gross."
A punch in the face.
She froze. Hitting someone in the face in public? What was he doing?
"Ow.." She mumbled.
Another one.
The boy kept hitting Horikita over and over, she felt like a bell that has been rung multiple times. She could feel the vibrations. The blunt force. And the pain? It arrived a little late, but hurt like hell. All while the boy chanted repeatedly: "Boys and girls are mates, you can't change that."
She could feel her face getting sore from the hitting. She wanted to fight back, stand her ground, and have power just like her brother.
But she just couldn't; hitting him back would just lead to more trouble.
All she could do was take it while crying.
"Please.. please stop." She pleaded, trying to push the boy away.
Footsteps then could be heard. The scent of cheap drugstore girl's cologne wafted through air as Kushida entered, gritting her teeth. Her eyes narrowed to the boy hitting Horikita, making up look away.
This was her chance.
Horikita shoved the boy away and crawled away before her back met Kushida's legs. Her dark hair clung to her face due to the sweat from the fear. She tried to seem more put together but it all went in vain.
"Hey! Don't hit girls, that's bad!" Kushida snapped with her eyes full of annoyance. Before the boy could say anything; she threw a chair at him, making him fall on his back.
"Suzune, are you okay?" This made Horikita face Kushida. Kushida smiled with her teeth; the same teeth she could use to draw blood. Her smile seemed so sweet yet so dangerous.
"Yes, thank you." Horikita got up with the help of her hand.
This was not the first time Kushida helped her.