Chapter Text
Yachi Hitoka was rather small.
She was shorter than everyone her age and a lot more petite too. Her parents divorced at a young age and her mother got into a car accident when she was three. For some reason her father completely disappeared from the face of the earth and soon enough, she found herself in an orphan home. There was a time when she had someone who cared about her. When she first joined, a girl who was around the age of sixteen instantly grew fond of her. She was the oldest out of everyone and cared for them as if they were her own siblings. Yachi often liked to think yhat the girl was her older sibling. From her memory, her name was Saoki. Her eyes were a soft shade of olive-green and freckles littered her cheeks and nose. Whenever she saw her, Saoki was always smiling, That smile never left her mind. Two years later she was kicked from the orphanage. She was eighteen and so then of age to make a living for herself.
Yachi cried her eyes out when she saw Saoki with packed bags and eyes that said 'I'm sorry.' She swore that she would come back for her.
Ever since Saoki left, treatment had been going downhill. Adding to the fact that she was lonely, the glue that stuck everyone together was gone and so was their kindness. The older kids would pick on her, going far as pushing her fragile, six-year-old body to the ground. When she would cry, they would call her names and tease her even more. The staff ignored her bruises and scrapes, scolding her for messing around and calling her dramatic.
It wasn't too long until they started framing her too. They would draw on the wall, break the vases and then blame it all on Yachi. Cry that Yachi was hurting them or saying rude stuff and as she got older, the punishments got worse. So bad that getting starved for days and whipped with a cane was the harsh reality for her. She had no one to turn to. No one to cry her heart out to and wish that her mom never died, and her dad never left. Wished that Saoki never left.
But they all left her. And she knew that when she was swinging by herself on the swing, humming a melody to herself that Saoki always sang. She always had a beautiful voice, no doubt that she would get recognition for that one day. The relaxing sound of rain pounding against the ground was enough for her to smile. Saoki loved the rain. Any chance she got, she would start spinning around like there was no tomorrow. Yachi easily picked up that habit
But while Saoki liked to sing, Yachi liked to draw. The older girl wasn't the best drawer. Neither was four year old Yachi. But Saoki knew kids that were good at drawing from her school and always asked them to teach the kid some of the basics
Saoki's friends loved Yachi. Yachi loved them back.
They taught her about the point of angle and how objects should look towards that angle. They taught her color scheme and what colors compliments and contrasted each other and how to shade to make things look more realistic and detailed. They always called her, 'Their little artist.'
"Look at our little artist! She's so adorable!" One of the girls cooed, patting the fluffy blonde hair that belonged to Yachi.
"Yacchan's got some real talent. Don't you?" A slightly rougher and deeper voice belonging to a boy smiled at Yachi, to which she beamed back at him and nodded.
"Yacchan only draw well cuz you all help me!" She giggled as Saoki smiled at her, ruffling her already messy hair, thanks to the other girl. "Saoki-nee don't know how to draw. But she help me too!"
"Yacchan.. No need to lie. We all know that Saoki can't help you draw crap-"
"WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE CRAPPYKORI! WE DON'T NEED YOU TO CORRUPT HER ALREADY!" A girl, Minako, yelled while her brow twitched.
"Crap? What Crap?"
The group froze, sending glares to said boy Kori who whined as Minako slapped him on the head with a scowl.
"Idiot."
"Hey!"
Their laughs filled the room and Yachi couldn't help but laugh too as Kori grumbled, crossing his arms.
After Saoki left, her friends also graduated and left, not even saying goodbye. Yachi was more than hurt, but she brushed it off, thinking that they would be there when Saoki came back. She did say that she would be back soon, so she trusted her words.
"Don't worry, Yacchan! I'll be back for you soon. Just wait for a little while."
It's been nine years.
The hope of Saoki coming back was lost, the bright light of her determination that everything was going to be okay turned into no more than a dim shadow of what once was there. Yachi sighed, thankful that the top of the swing blocked the rain from completely drenching her sketchbook. Though a few droplets got on it, it was nothing that wouldn't dry over after a while.
"Lookie Lookie! It's Miss T.T." Someone called out and Yachi froze. The nickname was given to her when she was about eight. Due to the fact that she wasn't getting enough food, she grew quiet skinny and didn't grow as tall as she should She was about the height of a five-six year old. One of them pointed it out during dinner one night and that's when they started calling her Miss T.T, which stuck to her for the rest of her life until the current moment. It meant 'Tiny Twig', which Yachi despised. It reminded her of how tiny she was, and that she would always be the frail, helpless little girl everyone makes her look like.
Sure they had other nicknames like twerp, wimp, pick me, drama queen and crybaby. But Miss T.T was the most popular and also the most hated by her.
"Watcha drawing?" A girl suddenly snatched her sketchbook, causing her to yelp and attempt to grab it back.
"A-Ana-san. Please give it- give it back!" Yachi pleased, only for the girl to dodge from her reach, pushing her away slightly.
"Now, let's see.." The girl's eyes scanned the art book before finally stopping with a smirk and a glint in her eyes that only spoke danger. "This must be your pathetic attempt at drawing Saoki-san. Do you have to make every drawing look as crappy as this. I know your using yourself as a reference, but you don't need to ruin other people's beauty just because you don't have any."
"Sorry, A-Ana-san.. I just- uhm. I haven't really seen her- uh face in a while so I don't really- I don't really remember how s-she look- AHH!"
She gasped and was roughly pulled back by the hair, meeting eyes with the darker and more menacing eyes of a boy with the name Kirita. She was about to speak, but he put a finger to her lips.
"Just watch, Yacchan~"
His voice made her shudder.
"Oi, stop gazing at your crush before I rip this dunk to shreds." Ana smirked at the reaction she got from the girl, who tried to get up buy was harshly tugged back by her hair, causing her to whimper.
"Don't start crying, Yacchan~" He whispered in her ear, his hand slowly trailing up her waist. She wanted to tell him stop, but the thought of losing her sketch-book was something she couldn't handle.
"Don't you get it? Saoki-san doesn't want you and will never want you. She left you for a reason, and she won't come back."
"She will!" No she won't.
"If you don't believe me, then fine. One of my friends told me that she already has her own family and is living happily without a single regret. Face it, Saoki. She doesn't need you."
Everything seemed to freeze at those words. She could hear her heart beating in her chest wildly, as if it was trying to get out. Tears formed but never shed. A cry started but never came out. And Yachi was sure she would just stay there in shock, not moving.
But then his hand grabbed her breast as she snapped.
She wouldn't let a repeat of last time happen.
"GET OFF!" She yelled, slamming her head backwards to heat-butt him and using her elbow to hit him right in the gut. He let out a gasp, holding his head and his stomach while groaning in pain. She almost felt satisfied.
Rip
Almost.
The sound of ripping called her to pale as she slowly turned to see her sketch-book ripped in half. Ana teared it again, and again, and again until it was left in nothing but shreds and pierce. Yachi felt tears well up in her eyes. All the work she had put into her art book so that she could show Saoki was for nothing. Faint laughter from the other kids who were probably watching and the mocking voice of Ana and Kirita who called her dramatic and spat insults at her was enough for tears to start falling down her cheek. Even after dealing with all the abuse and bullying from everyone, she never got used to it.
"Don't you get it,
All of a sudden, her face jerked to the side as she was harshly punched by Kirita. He looked down at her before stepping on her wrist with a pissed-off expression. She screamed, choking on her tears at the pain she felt from her wrist being assaulted like that. Another punch was thrown at her, slightly weaker but still felt like hell. Probably from another kid. Ana's punches where stronger than that. She would know, being subjected to it more that a million times.
Soon enough everyone was punching her and kicking her.
All she could do was curl up in a ball and cry until there were no more tears to shed.
--
"So, explain what happened again."
"Yuka-Sensei-!"
"I don't want to hear it from you, Hitoka."
Yachi quickly shut her mouth, rubbing her wrist that was still in a lot of pain. She was in the office, with Kirita, Ana, a few other kids and the head-mistress. Somehow, Ana got injured, and the other kids were bystanders. She knew that they would lie. No point in trying. No one liked her.
"Go on, Ana."
"W-well I-I-I was trying to-to apologize f-for stepping on her b-book when she s-suddenly leaped at me and started-started p-p-punching me! K-Kirita and every-everyone else was trying to help her off me, b-but she was-was too violent. S-she kicked K-Kirita in the st-stomach and punched me in the eye and-and gave me a-a-a n-nose b-bleed a-a-and I o-only h-hurt h-her as s-self defense a-and also-"
Yachi resisted the urge to roll her eyes. How could someone as small and weak as her take on someone who's like half of her size. Not to mention the bruises are obviously fake and only an idiot would think the stuttering is real. Though her tears were terrifyingly realistic and that probably covered it up.
"So, Hitoka. What do you have to say for yourself?" The woman looked at the injured girl darkly.
"I-I didn't do that, I promise! The marks on her face are fake and I never kicked him! I only tried to get him to stop touching me-"
"Well, everyone else says you're the culprit. I believe them. Come now for your punishment."
"Sensei please! They're all ganging up on me like they have been doing for years-"
Slap.
"Since you don't want to listen, I'll change the punishment. You'll be whipped in front of the others. " The woman went to the side of the room and pulled out a whip. Yachi felt sweat drip down the side of her face. She couldn't run away. That would only worsen her punishment. So, she got down on her knees and pleaded for forgiveness.
"Please! I'm-I'm sorry, I won't do it again I swear! Just give me-give me one last chance please!"
The woman's expression softened for a moment and Yachi could see pity in her eyes before they hardened again and she clenched her fist.
"You have to learn, Hitoka. Maybe after all this you'll finally realize that you're in the wrong." Looking towards one of the kids, who actually looked scared and regretful, she nodded at them, "Hold her, tightly."
The kid was hesitant complied nonetheless, locking her warms into his and not allowing her to move. She could hear how fast his heart-beat was and his shaky breath. Like he had the right to be scared.
The woman walked towards her, raising her hand. Yachi clenched her eyes shut and gritting her teeth, hoping that maybe somehow the impact of the whip would never come.
It came alright.
A sharp spike of pain hit her leg before it faded into an agonizing ache. It came again, on her other leg and she couldn't stop the blood-curling scream that escaped her mouth. It was like being stabbed with a blunt knife. It really hurt, that was for sure. Her screams started to turn into cries as she thrashed around in the boy's arm, tears flooding down her face from the pain. Not to mention her already injured wrist was being injured more.
"STOP! I'M SORRY I-I REALLY AM JUST PLEASE!" She begged, trying to get the boy off her. It was just hurting too much. Was the woman even holding back.
She didn't stop.
--
Yachi remembered the pain she felt when going to bed the previous day.
Her body ached everywhere and a migraine seemed to settle comfortably in the side of her head. She was still sniffling, and she was sure everyone in the room could hear her. The probably felt bad since they weren't terrorizing her. But she could care less. All she wanted was to sleep the pain away. They also apologized. But once again, Yachi couldn't give a hell.
"We're sorry, Yachi-san."
"Yeah..We went uh- a bit too far."
Yachi stopped at their words, slowly turning around to face them in the eye.
"A bit...?" She questioned before lifting her shirt slightly so they could see the damage. Slash marks, some scarred and others still looking fresh ran along her stomach. Immediate guilt hit them like a storm and Yachi wanted to laugh at how stupid they were. Since when could they feel guilt? Seemed incapable of feeling any sort of remorse after everything they've done to her.
"Hitoka-"
"Don't call me that." She said with eyes so empty that they thought she might have turned emotionless. Though, she would definitely cry after all of this, just not in front of them.
She sighed, biting her lip to stop herself from cursing. She promised Saoki that she would never intentionally curse, and while she hated the girl for leaving her, she couldn't break her promise. Looking up at the sky, she noticed the rain wasn't stopping. It continued to soak her clothes as she sat on the ledge of a building, gazing softly at the sight beneath her.
Shoes were off, socks rolled down to her ankles. You would be able to see all the scars, both made by others and herself. They disgusted her. And the thought of never being able to get rid of them made her scrap her leg clean. A gory thought, yes. But Yachi had a lot of gory thoughts.
Yachi had left the orphanage, running away from her problems. She had stuck with it for years and was finally over it. She reached her limit. The girl aggressively wiped her tears away, not wanting to feel weak like she always did.
All of a sudden, she started laughing. Anyone present would have heard the clear and pure pain in her voice. Her laughter died down, a small smile settled on her face as she stared down below. She was high up, there would be no chance of her surviving a seven-story building. Just what I want.
'Looks like it's time.' Yachi didn't understand why a part of her was telling her to stay, that everything would get better and that her story wasn't over. Not all people get a happy ending. So why would she? All her life was a repeat of the same pain, never getting better or lessening.
It was too tiring.
She pushed herself up, gazing at the ground one last time before turning around. She took a deep breath and for the first moment for nine years, felt at peace with her mind. Allowing the wind to push her body, Yachi slowly fell to her death.
Or, that's what she expected to happen. Because the next thing she knew, someone gripped her hand tightly, stopping her from falling. They were shouting, probably. It was faint to her. Honey-brown eyes that were full of concern stared down at her, looking backwards to what she guessed was to call somebody. He pulled her up, both of them panting on the ground from what was confusion and relief.
"We actually got to you in time. Thank god, I-I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't reached you or m-maybe dropped you by accident or I might have- might have not been fast enough or-"The kid who saved her, ginger hair and eyes that looked on the verge of tears, started rambling off. Yachi stared dumbfounded at him, still in shock. Another teen, a lot taller, whacked him on the head. Icy-blue eyes hardened with a cold gaze but softened in worry as he glanced at her.
"Don't start blabbering! You'll scare her off with your annoyingness!"
"That isn't even a word. And hey, I'm not annoying!"
"Who cares if it isn't a word-"
"Why..?"
The hesitantly quiet but clear voice of Yachi piped up both of their attention as they turned to look at her.
"Why would you- how.. What made you do that..?"
"What do you mean? I have to save you, I don't want you to die-"
"You didn't save me!" Her sudden tone made the ginger flinch, "You're only going to make it worse- cause it-it's never gotten b-better and it never will!"
None of them said anything at first. Yachi didn't look at them, opting to hide her face in her hands instead.
"I knew someone who said that you can't change your fate. If your destined to be alone, you will. But if you were, you would have never met us. And we promise, that it will get better. Because it's your fate."
Yachi slowly moved her hand away from her face, staring with wide eyes at the ginger who offered her a wide grin. One that gave her a warm feeling inside, a hope that everything would be okay. Her lips trembled and she sniffled, choking out a sob. He took her into his embrace, patting her hair softly. She burst into tears, finally letting everything out. Another body pressed onto hers from the back, awkwardly rubbing her arm. She was thankful.
And the dim shadow of her hope slowly started to shine again.