CHAPTER 15 Neither Kusano nor Yamashita’s parents would let either of them attend to school before three weeks had passed. Even though Kusano had been saying that he was fine and wanted to go to school his father had said no. To Kusano staying home was one of the most boring things in the world. There was nothing to do. He could watch TV or movies, but after a weeks time he grew tired of both parts. When his dad came to him Sunday night and said he could go to school the next day Kusano was thrilled. Never had it happen that Kusano looked forward to go to school, but now he did, more then anything. When he woke up Monday morning everything seemed to be back to normal. His mum was stressing getting her fours kids up, his dad was reading the newspaper, and he himself was to lazy to get up. “It was you who wanted to go back to school, now get up!” his mother came into his room for the fifth time, this time carrying his school uniform. “Get dressed, and no breakfast for you young mister!” “Can’t I eat while I walk?” Kusano mumbled. “Yes, of course, but you wont be walking if you don’t get up right now!” Kusano had never seen his mother that stressed, had to be something to do with her job interview later on the day. Yawning Kusano finally managed to get up, get dressed, grab his breakfast and walk to school. The weather was sunny and hot, after all, it was spring. Seeing Shige a few meters in front of him he swallowed the remanding breakfast and ran for it. “Hey, Shige~” Stopping and turning around Shige saw Kusano and waved at his friend. As Kusano caught up with him Shige spoke, “Wow, don’t you look pale?” “I haven’t been out since ages Shige so don’t comment it!” It was true though, Kusano was pale and he had defiantly lost a few kilos. “Glad you’re back” Shige said when he was not allowed to comment on Kusano’s looks. The classroom was just as small and messy as ever, sitting down on his desk, which to his surprise was not dusty, Kusano let out a small whimper as the pain went though his body. He hated that stupid wound, it was bothersome to the max. “You okay?” “Hai, it just hurts a bit when I sit down…” “Sou…” Shige rubbed his eyes, it was then Kusano noticed the black rings around them. “Stayed up too long?” he grinned. “Kei’s fault” Shige stated quickly. “Okay okay okay, you don’t wanna talk about it, I get it” Kusano did not have to ask or imagine the reason for Shige’s tiredness, it was too obvious. Amazingly all of the lessons were interesting to Kusano for once, he had missed a lot and had to catch up with it in the following week. Did not matter, he was only glad he had stuff to do. Strangely it was when Yamashita did not sit down by his and Shige’s table during lunch. Yamashita had joined his gang, being surrounded by girls again. “You and him are quarrelling?” Shige asked when Kusano did not move his eyes from Yamashita. “Not as far as I know…” he had not seen Yamashita since that night his father had hit him. Turning his head around he focused on the food which he did not eat. Excusing himself to Shige he went to the toilets. Locking himself inside one of the lockers he sat down upon the toilet seat, just letting his mind drift of before he got interrupted by people entering the room. “So, Yamashita” a voice said “Still gaying around with that junior?” “He crashed my car, ruined my pretty face and reputation, what do you think?” There came no answer only laughter. Placing his feet up he bent forward, closing his eyes he hide his face with his arms and feet. It could have been another ‘Yamashita’, but when the ‘gaying’ was mentioned he knew it was his Yamashita. Not to mention the reply Yamashita gave. Cursing himself for his stupidity and breaking heart he got up and left school without telling a single soul. Running as fast as he managed he received many looks, but he did not care, he just wanted to get away. Get away from Yamashita, his dad… everything. Ending up at some random alley Kusano let himself drop down on the ground, catching up his breathe. While laying there his thoughts kept on spinning, not wanting to stop. Blinking hard Kusano decided to get back to reality and put himself together, there was nothing else left to do. Raising his tired body up he fumbled after his cell phone in his pocket. He had no idea where he was and therefore calling daddy was the best option right now. “Kusano” that was so typical of his dad, he always said ‘Kusano’ when answering the phone. “Dad it’s me, I am kind of lost…” “Aren’t you supposed to be at school?” he sounded worried. “Ehm yeah, something happen and I… kind off… ran…” “I see… Do you see anyone who could tell you where you are?” “Hai…” it was a guy selling ice cream right across the street, why did not he think of that? Simply because he did not bother thinking, besides, daddy was always the first one he would ask for help. “Well there you go, send me a message when you know where you are and I will pick you up” “Thanks, bye.” Safely back home Kusano took a shower before he ate his early dinner. Not being to healthy Kusano went of to take a nap, which turned out to end on Tuesday morning. Clearly his parents had agreed to let him sleep since he woke up around 12pm. Feeling that his entire body was tense after yesterdays run he made the schedule for the day; stay in bed. Calling for his mum now and then he got to learn that her job interview had gone great and that she hopefully would know if she had got the job within a week or so. It was nothing new to Kusano that his father began nagging about him getting a summer job. Summer jobs were alright as long as Shige was there to keep him with company. Last summer he had been working in an ice cream shop with Shige, not a bad place to work at all. Being fed with the information that Shige was going to be a camp leader for some camp this summer Kusano joined in too. The only thing that was the matter with that he got the camp leader job, was that Yamashita had signed up as well…