7 Grass Snake (1/2)

.

”Kazuya… You…” The young man was startled by the sudden rejection.

”Lee, don't take it to heart. Kazuya…” Kyouko explained the current circumstances while holding Kazuya who seemed to be in pain.

This handsome young man is called Hashiyama Lee, Kazuya's father's adopted son. He was adopted when the couple separated which was approximately 8 months before Kazuya's birth. He was valued for being intelligent and was being personally groomed by Kazuya's father.

”What's wrong Kazuya? Does your head hurt?” He tried reaching to pat Kazuya's head again.

”I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME!” He swatted away the hand it was harder this time.

Lee was displeased by this but he immediately changed the expression on his face almost instantly. Kazuya on the other hand didn't miss this and glared while looking straight into his eyes. He knew this person was his adopted brother. The brother who relentlessly showed off how superior he was compared to him in his original memories. He had already been considered an adult when Kazuya woke up and recovered from his past life's accident.

Kazuya only met and found out their relationship when they met by coincidence. He really didn't mind that this person never visited him when he was recovering but this person had a hobby of shamelessly flaunting himself whenever they would meet. It went up to the point where he would find Kazuya just to embarrass him in front of people.

”I apologize little brother. I guess you don't remember how close we used to be. We used to play a lot together remember?” he said with a smile.

”Shut up you fake person! I don't know who you are but the pain in my head definitely doesn't want to remember you. These images in my head don't show playing peacefully… There's only you bullying and hurting me!” That was a lie. The actual images actually showed them playing and having fun but Kazuya had already decided to trust his original memories. Also, after seeing the subtle changes in this person's expressions, he knew that this guy was total scum.

”Lee you…” Kyouko looked at him with mixed feelings. She had grown fond of Lee and admired his talents but all of that meant nothing because Kazuya was her world.

Introduced to her when Hashiyama Lee was newly adopted, Kyouko had her guard up at first. When she saw that both boys had gotten along, she grew closer to him and even allowed him to stay at their house a few times. She figured that he would be a good influence to her own son since he was so talented and softened up to him. Now she realized that that decision was the wrong one. Truly nothing good came from 'that person's' side.

”Calm down first Kazuya okay? You must be confusing me with someone else, don't you remember asking me to stay over many times and we would play video games together and watch movies?”

”Have fun? Like how you practice martial arts on me? Didn't you say that no one would believe me because you practice moves that hurt a lot but don't leave any traces? Please stop trying to fool anyone. The old me may have been afraid to say something but that is a different matter now” He used a part of Lee's statements from his old memories. Since this guy loved to brag how strong he was then using it against him today made Kazuya feel a bit satisfied.

”Boss, I have something to say” Mei, who was sitting and silently working suddenly interrupted. This made Kazuya feel strange. A certain incident from his memory couldn't help but come to mind when she intruded in the conversation.

”Mei-san, please talk some sense into them” Lee gave her an affectionate look which made Mei's eyebrows twitch.

”I have told you repeatedly to not call me by my given name” The cold look she gave Lee reminded Kazuya of the future version of herself. He was relieved to see that Mei didn't seem like she had been fooled by this snake.

”K-kazuno-san please. It may not be Kazuya's fault but I'm definitely being wronged here” He couldn't help but avoid Mei's cold gaze.

”What do you have to say Mei?” Kyouko interjected. She really didn't want to hear his excuses.

”Nothing much. I just had a thought and wanted to confirm some things with you after hearing everything. Do you remember who was it that spent a long time with Kazu the day before he lost his memories? Don't they teach him their family's martial arts?”

”This…” Kyouko had a sudden realization and immediately understood. ”You dare lay your hands on my son you ingrate! Get lost and never show yourself in front of us ever again!”

”M-mother this is all a misunderstanding!” Lee couldn't help but feel scared. He tried appealing to her but the way both ladies were looking at him made him want to run.

”Don't you dare call me mother! The only reason I allowed myself to be referred to that way by you is because Kazuya recognized and treated you as his older brother. Now that the truth is out, there is no reason to me to go along with this farce. Leave! I will get people to send whatever items you still have in our place”

”I…” Lee felt wronged. ”I will excuse myself then. Get well soon Kazuya. I hope this misunderstanding will be cleared up when you recover” He quietly turned to the door. There was no reasoning with them now so he chose to retreat.

”I know enough about you just from fragments of my memories to tell you that there has been no misunderstanding. I hope you'll listen to my mom and never show your fake ugly mug in front of us again”

”…” The calm façade that Lee kept up crumbled at this point. He glared at Kazuya before finally leaving the room.

”(Playing with me happily during childhood then humiliating me after my mother dies? You're nothing but a common grass snake in my eyes. If I'm going to get my revenge then every single one who plotted or will plot against me will regret it)” he glared at the door until Lee's presence was gone.

”I'm sorry Kazuya I… let that monster—” Kyouko felt apologetic to her son. She had no idea that such a thing had been happening nor noticed any signs.

”Don't worry about it mom. He won't be able to do so ever again. It's not your fault, it's mine. It was my own cowardice that made it last this long” he comforted his mother who was about to cry. He felt a little bad for making her feel like this but this was a necessary step if he wanted to get rid of those that could possibly harm them.

”Mei” Kyouko turned to her assistant.