masaru & hiyori || a promise

(July 5th, 2005: Second Time Leap)

Hanagaki Masaru was Takemitchi's older cousin, but was two years younger than Hiyori. Masaru met her a couple of times whenever he needed to visit his aunt and uncle's house. Though, from the moment he stepped in, he knew that his aunt and uncle weren't really pleased.

From what he knew, his dad told him that Takemitchi's mom and Hiyori's mom were sisters, with Hiyori's mom being the older one by three years. In fact, the two used to be close before eventually marrying. When Masaru asked what happened, his dad didn't have the heart to respond. But eventually, Masaru figured out the reason why.

While cleaning the attic one day, Masaru found pictures of them in high school. Takemitchi's mom and Hiyori's mom were apparently famous in their high school's theatre club. And they actually wanted to become actresses. Masaru figured maybe that's why both weren't on speaking terms.

Masaru had to look into the family tree for this, considering that he was getting confused with the family drama. At least now he knew what side of the family he's from.

Masaru was guilty, in all honesty. He didn't mean to put Takemitchi into this whole mess but he had no choice in the matter. It was either he had to get someone else to die or he would die. Call him a selfish prick, but anyone else in that situation would have done the same. No one could lecture him on that.

Well, except one person, at least.

"We need to talk. Now." Masaru didn't need to look up to know who was talking to him. He didn't respond, looking at his unopened soda can. He hated the brand now, considering that this was the brand he gave to Kiyomasa and the rest of his goons.

"Oi." Hiyori slams her hand on the table, and Masaru didn't even flinch. He could tell Hiyori was going to hit him because he wasn't acknowledging her existence. But, to his surprise, Hiyori slapped his drink out of his hand before he felt his shirt being grabbed. "What the fuck did you do to Takemitchi!?"

Masaru was staring at her now, and there was a hint of fear in his eyes. "Don't you give that look to me! What. Did. You. Do!?" Hiyori was this close to punching him now, her other hand raised in a fist. "You have ten seconds to explain before I pound you into meat slices!"

"Put me down first!" Masaru manages to say. He could sense her reluctance, before she drops him on the ground. "You could've done it more gently?"

Hiyori crossed her arms, glaring daggers. "Talk, Masaru."

Masaru gulped; Whenever Hiyori uses that tone, he knew that she meant business. So, he lets out a defeated sigh before explaining what had happened;

Last year, Masaru made the mistake of fighting one of Kiyomasa's goons out of self-defense. The gang found out, and Kiyomasa personally beat the shit out of him. He was brought to the hospital because of that, but he didn't tell the truth of what caused it. He lied to the doctor about taking a nasty fall, and she believed it. He was confined for a week, thinking that he'd be at peace for now, but he was in a great state of fear when Kiyomasa had entered his hospital room. Kiyomasa had threatened him that if he didn't follow his commands, he would personally make sure that Masaru's next stop would be the morgue.

So, he spent eleven months being the Shibuya Middle's errand boy for Kiyomasa. He hated every second of it. His only saving grace was being at home, and admittedly, being at Hiyori's house. Unfortunately for Masaru, Kiyomasa had spotted Mizo Middle beating up some other gang. Once he found out that Hanagaki Takemitchi was their "attack force"... well, things went downhill from there.

Hiyori's arms weren't crossed anymore, but she was still glaring. "So that's why he came home that night lookin' like he got robbed. And you didn't even try to help?"

"...I tried apologizing." Masaru says in defense.

"So you just stood there like a deer in headlights." Hiyori says in her calmest voice, which meant that she was going to beat the living daylights out of him if he says one more thing wrong. "What kind of fucking cousin are you?"

'A bad one, that's for sure.' Masaru thinks to himself. "...I'll figure something out."

"You better." Hiyori says through gritted teeth and she puts her hand on his shoulder. "Because if I find out that he got beaten up again, or if I see him coming home looking like he'll cry again, I'm going to use you as a battering ram when I get my hands on Kiyomasa. Capiche?" She asks, squeezing his shoulder tight.

Too tight. Masaru was wincing at the sudden pain and he wanted to push her off. "Hiyori-san, let go of—"

"Capiche?" Hiyori repeats, her voice spitting like venom.

"Okay, okay! I promise!" Masaru shouts at her.

Hiyori lets go of his shoulder. "You better."

She leaves, and Masaru looks down at his unopened soda can. He picked it up, but he wasn't going to open it yet.

He places it on the table before sitting back down, his head in his hands.

This was going to be the one thing that Masaru would do right for once.