My name's Kurogane Ryouya. My father is Japanese while my mother is American. My parents both lived in Japan before I was born, so I wasn't that cliche half-japanese that transfered out of nowhere. I've a slightly dark blonde hair which I took over from my mother. Because of this, you'd probably think that I'll be the centre of attention and be one of the 'cool kids', but I'm really far from that. The exact opposite, in fact.

-----

"Haha, what a loser."

"Yea, you said it."

"Can you just dissappear already?"

"Just because he is a half with a cool name he thinks he's a league above everyone."

I've been getting all these comments ever since I've started middle school. I was a loner, and everyone teased me because of it. They would spread false rumours and by each passing day, they only got worse. It was really impressive that they could make such harsh statements when I was right there. They wouldn't bother to lower their voices when they were bad-mouthing me, as if to let everyone and myself included to hear.

It wasn't that I didn't want to be friends with anyone because I felt superior. Back in elementary school, I got along easily with everyone and middle school should be no different. Though I wasn't good at starting conversations, I was quite the talker when someone approaches me first.

Now how did all these start?

It was the first day of school. I was slightly late, so I rushed out to get to school as soon as possible. As I was running, I gazed at the falling petals of cherry blossoms, anticipating what middle school has in stall for me.

"Get out of the way!"

Someone screamed before colliding with me on his bike. I didn't react fast enough to dodge the incoming biker. The bike hit my leg hard and I was unable to stand. The guy seemed like a middle-schooler. Recognizing his uniform, he probably goes to the same school as I do. I was asking him to help me up, but he just took his bike and left without even muttering a single apology.

I tried, and tried, but I was still unable to get up. The pain in my leg hurts so much that I was sweating all over due to the pain. I was moaning for help at the side of the road and fortunately, a passer-by helped me up and offered to bring me to the hospital and call my parents.

I was admitted to the hospital. The doctor said it was a minor bone fracture and that it should heal by a week.

When I recovered enough to be able to return to school, everyone was already friendly with each other. I couldn't bring myself to talk to any of them since I'm bad at starting conversations and would feel awkward to just barge in in the middle of their conversation. Though I was the centre of attention because of my blonde hair, no one really approached me. I went home on my first day without making any friends.

The next day, I noticed the guy who shoved me the other day and approached him to ask why he didn't even mutter a single apology before leaving.

"Hey yo---"

He cut me off halfway and said "Woah, just because you have blonde hair doesn't mean you could walk up and talk to me like that."

"I didn't mean t---"

"Woah, this guy is a total freak."

"Yea, you said it. Hahaha."

It was on that day that everything turned a full 180 degrees.

I couldn't get myself to join the soccer club, which was my favorite sport, due to fear of being teased by fellow students and seniors.

I couldn't get myself to look up whenever I walked down the corridors.

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I couldn't get myself to fight back when they were bad-mouthing me.

I cried so much when I got back home that I couldn't cry anymore. Eyes empty and dead; body powerless and unable to do anything.

Ahh, I thought, So this is what they call 'hell'...

-----

A long and painful year passed. The bullying didn't stop, and there were still more and more insults with each passing day. I thought that by waiting until the next year, where they shuffled everyone's classes, I could make new friends and start over. But without me noticing, word about me has already reached everyone in my year.

Every day was a disaster.

Ahh... two more years of torture and I'll be free, I thought painfully. Two more painfully long years.

But on a particular day, my life was drastically changed by only a single person.

-----

It was Science period, and everyone was to head downstairs to the lab. I was packing my stuff and got ready to head down with the rest. As I was stading up to get out of the classroom, someone shoved my accidentally but didn't stop to apologize or even look my way and shut the door as if no one was in there. He pretty much treated me like air. It was really some kind of traumatic deja vu.

I just sat there quietly, staring at the ground.

"Oh, looks like I forgot something. You guys go ahead without me, I'll catch up soon enough."

Someone opened the door and looked at me, speechless.

"What are you doing?" he said. "At this rate, you'll be late for class."

He squated to help pick my things up.

"W-why are you helping me?" I asked curiously and frightenedly.

"Because you seemed in need of help, I guess," he replied carefreely. "I know it's been hard for you with everyone talking bad about you each day. Thing is, I've always wanted to talk to you, tell you to not let it get to you. But you just seemed really distant, as if you shut yourself away from everyone else. I just couldn't get the right chance to approach you, you see?" This time, he said with a renewed firmness in his tone.

"Oh," I replied, not knowing what to say.

"All right, there you go, c'mon, we're gonna be late for class," he said as he handed me my things and held out a hand to help me up.

I wanted to take his hand but at the last moment, I momentarily pulled back a little. He took my hand and helped me up anyway.

"Wanna become friends with me? I'm Tachibana Yuu," he held out his hand again for a handshake.

"B-but, you're one of the more popular guys. You really shouldn't be with a person like me..."

"Don't worry about it," he replied. He wouldn't take 'no' for an answer it seems. He forcefully took my hand and shook it.

"Let's go to the lab together shall we, Kurogane-kun?"

I was a little nervous. I've forgotten how long it was since I last talked to someone like this. It just seemed like a fantasy.

"Alright, Tachibana-kun," I replied with probably the brightess smile of my life.

-----

"Kuro, where have you decided to go for high school?"

Before I knew it, over a year and a half has already passed since then, and we third-years were going to choose which high school we'll be attending. Yuu (Tachibana) and I were just discussing where we're going to.

"Kawashima High, I guess," I replied.

"Woah, really?! The same as me I guess."

"Oh."

"Hey, what's with the lack of reaction? Aren't you pleased that we're going to the same high school?"

"Not really..."

"C'mon..."

"Hey! Watch where you're touching me!" I said as I hit him in the head.

"Oowie... You're so heartless, Kuro..."

Yuu and I got along very well. It only took us a week to drop the formalities and call each other more naturally. Before I knew it, he already started calling me by a nickname. And I started calling him by his last name.

He would stand up for me whenever I got bad-mouthed by other people. And ever since then, the bad-mouthing eventually stopped and I was able to live my middle school days normally, though it was still hard to talk to other people because they clearly hated me for taking away Yuu.

Although he was a little annoying sometimes, he was a great friend who would cheer me up when I was down.

"Don't let it get to you. Just you watch, I'll make them shut up if you give me enough time."

At first I thought it was a joke, but he really went and did it. I was really grateful and blessed to have such a great friend and someone understanding at my side.

We eventually gotten matching piercings on one ear each for the fun of it. Though it was something small, it proves our friendship in a way.

At his advice, I switched to wearing contacts instead, cut my hair into a certain style and by the next day of school, everyone was already gawking at me.

"See, told you you'd look super handsome," Yuu said.

I blushed a little but replied, "Umm, thanks I guess. But it really is getting too much attention..."

"You mean you are getting too much attention."

I was really greatful to Yuu. He was the one who got me out of the hell I was in, changed me into who I am now.

Although he gets a little annoying sometimes, but deep down I treasure him as a great friend and am truly grateful for everything that he has done for me.