261 Chapter five, 2017, years end: 9 (2/2)

As usual they passed streets and stop lights in the usual interrogation thinly disguised as a father's interest in what occurred at school. Yukio could see the difference in his face whenever the topic touched on the Wakayamas and Urufu or Kuri.

'He knows something.' And as always that interest dimmed when Yukio told him about what the friends had done. 'He wants to know what their parents are up to.'

Therein lay the problem. Since the attack Urufu had been close-mouthed. As if he tried to protect the two of them. 'But I don't want to be protected. I want to protect.'

If it only was that easy. Urufu threw an employed thug to the street and Yukio got his sorry arse kicked to kingdom come. 'Screw this! It's not Urufu's fault.' Besides he got beaten up as well. Making up excuses didn't help. Someone had hurt Kyoko, and Yukio wanted in on the deal. The need for revenge was so strong he could taste it.

”… to eat?”

'Huh?' Kyoko's voice reached him from behind. ”Sorry, I didn't hear you.”

”What do you want to eat?”

”Eh, anything.”

”Don't be a bore. We're going south in a few days, and dad has to go to a conference starting tomorrow.”

'Ah, forgot they gave us permission to travel to Ise.' ”Hot pot?”

”Dad, what about it?”

”Hot pot. Sounds delicious. I'll stop by the mall then.”

'I guess they're not that worried any more. Damn, how can anyone think of their own daughter as damaged goods?' She couldn't have children, so there wasn't as much as a sound of protest when Kyoko showed them the vouchers she had received for a birthday present.

They stopped at the mall. Urufu's and his old mall. Shopping food was a silent and sombre affair. Even Kyoko stayed strangely subdued, a little like the Kyoko he fell in love with close to a year earlier. He hadn't known at the time, Yukio admitted that to himself, but she walked in the shadow of Kuri without a complaint. That also, was an untruth. When he learned more about her he found out just how rough she could be with her best friend, and he loved her all the more for it.

Bags in hands they returned to the car. Conversation hadn't picked up at all, but Yukio was thankful for that. This close to the end of their first high school year his head was full of memories of how it had all started.

Funny that. When they began he'd been full of thoughts about the future, and how to make the most of his lucky shot to share classes with Urufu. 'Looking back, is this part of growing up?' He'd ask Urufu when they met next time. 'Man, I miss your insane ideas. I'm not a girl, but it hurts in my heart to see you hurting.'

Then Yukio laughed when he realised how angry Urufu would be if he knew Yukio made a difference between boys and girls when it came to hurting. 'I won't ask you about that though. Some secrets are best kept, well, secret.'