After that day, the life of people around him continued as if nothing happened. No one noticed how drastically Kyoya`s life changed, and he didn`t noticed anyone. Kyoya still held the expressionless face he like every other day, was quiet as usual, and focused on study like he always had.

He went out of school by the back gate. Not a soul was there. On the train, humans were either looking at their phones or sleeping. Kyoya gazed outside. Colors reflected on the window.

The door clicked open. Kyoya put the grocery bag on the floor, removing his sneakers.

*Sigh*

He prepared dinner.

At 10:00 pm [or 22:00], Kura got back. She took off her makeup, and went for a shower. Kyoya watched her from upstairs. Without a word, he got to the kitchen to reheat the food.

Kura had dinner. Then he followed her to the living room. She took out a stack of money and counted.

“Mom, you are late again today.”

“Uh… I have to go somewhere.”

“Is it work?”

“Yea…” She answered, not bothering to look at her son.

Kyoya raised his head.

“Your breath reeks of that smell. Are you doing that work again?”

“…”

“Are you doing that kind of work again, mother?”

She exhaled:

“Yes I am. In Kabukicho.”

“…”

“Isn`t it dangerous, mom?”

“No, this place is legal. They won`t allow penetration, so you don`t have to worry.”

Kyoya looked at the floor.

“I don`t want you to work there anymore.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

She didn`t reply. Instead she put the money down and started writing something in her notebook.

“Please, can you quit?”

Kura stopped writing.

“Please, Kaa-san, find another place… find a legitimate job! This… this is just wrong.”

“Where do I get money for your food then?”

“But…”

Kura grunted:

“And what about living expenses? What about your tuition fees? What kind of job can give me enough money to pay for that?”

“If you can get a degree… on anything… It would be better…”

“How am I going to get a degree? I don`t have time for that!”

“Please… for me… Can you try?”

“God damn it Kyoya! I`m doing this filthy job here so I can feed your mouth you brat! Why don`t you stop complaining and be grateful for once!? What`s with that look on your face? You…”

She snapped up straight. With both hands, she grabbed Kyoya`s hair.

After that, Kura`s memories became fuzzy. She didn`t know what happened, but when she got back to her senses, everything was a mess. The table was flipped upside down. The mug of tea Kyoya made for her broke into pieces. Kyoya`s clothes were messed up, and a purple bruise appeared on his face. His arms and legs were also littered with scratches, and his hair became unkempt. Kura herself was hyperventilating.

Yet Kyoya stood still. He was smiling, slightly. Reaching for her hand, Kyoya spoke:

“It`s fine, Kaa-san. If this makes you feel better, you can continue. Hora, keep pulling my hair apart. Slap me again. You can use another mug to hit me. It`s fine…”

“No… No… I`m sorry… Kyoya… I`m sorry!”

She kneeled down and held onto her son. Tears soaked his sweaty shirt. Kura was trembling, mumbling inaudible words.

“Tomorrow, I will look for a part time work to help you, Kaa-san.”

She kept crying. Kyoya looked at her nape. A weak voice exited his throat:

“Nee… You don`t need to cry… I`m very strong, you know… Something like this wouldn`t hurt me.”

He looked at the ceiling. It felt just like when he was a kid.

(Because this is nothing compared to what you did back when I was 9, anyways…)

Kyoya got a job at a small pub. He would work in the later hours, when people have already finished dinner in their homes. The shop he worked at was not too far, but not close either. He would ride his bike there every night, from Monday to Sunday. The pay was low. But he didn`t complain.

Soon, midterm test came once again. Homework piled, and it was only a matter of time until the day Kyoya failed to complete all of his assignments. It was a cold Saturday morning. In literature class, students were required to learn by heart and recite very long poems. They randomly drafted Takumi, then Kyoya. The shounen got scolded, and forced to stay at school until he had all the lessons memorised. Tired and sleepy, Kyoya didn`t have time to make dinner when he got home, and had to go to work right after.

He arrived late. His bicycle tires were flat. Not being in top condition, Kyoya accidentally dropped a drink he supposed to serve. More scolding. And they also fired him, despite his best efforts to apologize. That day was his second month`s payday, yet Kyoya received nothing.

The shounen stepped outside. Dusk has long passed, and he found himself in the freezing temperatures at night. It was cold, so very cold that he couldn`t even lift a finger. Next to his bicycle, Kyoya stood still in the darkness, shivering, completely soundless.

After very long, he picked up his unusable bike, and walked home. Until, he came across a group of people who were obviously smoking crack.