A Good And A Bad Person's Past

14th November 2035.

That was the day I was born to this hell on earth, Morioka. 

At first, my life was going well. My mother was cheerful and positive, and my dad always had time to play with me.

It wasn't until my mom discovered that Dad was cheating on her, and as to how she found out... It was all my fault, as I accidentally pulled a pair of panties from under their bed while looking for my toy car. When she saw they weren't hers, Mom screamed at Dad, and Dad screamed at her. After their fighting, Mom divorced Dad, leaving me with him. That happened when I was only 5 years old.

Immediately after she left, Dad was furious at me. He got into the habit of drinking every day while beating me up when I did something wrong. When I started school, he would wait for me to come back before unleashing his hatred towards me.

I thought that I was a horrible person, that I deserved this, so I never protested when I got beaten. Everyone at the school was worried about me, since I came bandaged up every day, and I was barely standing. As I feared my dad, I kept on making excuses, which the teachers and classmates didn't buy, but they dropped the subject when I insisted. That was my daily life.

My dream was to sing, to make songs, and to make other people happy, as I always loved listening to music, but that dream faded... I gave up on it when I tried to tell my dad that I want to be a singer. He went berserk and tried to strangle me.

"DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN BREAK MY DREAMS AND FULFILL YOURS, YOU DAMN BRAT!"

I was blinking in and out of consciousness.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS EVER AGAIN, OR I WILL DESTROY EVERY LAST BIT OF MUSIC IN THIS HOUSE!" 

He let me go, and I gasped for air.

There's no point...

I ran back to my "bedroom" before I began crying.

Why? Why do I exist?

The next day, I prepared myself a piece of bread and jam for breakfast before going to school. That was the day I met her.

"Everyone, we have someone joining our class!"

The teacher spoke eagerly. The class looks at the teacher.

"Come on in!"

A redheaded girl, who seemed elegant, entered the classroom.

"Hi everybody, I'm Okubo Hikari! I hope we all get along."

She spoke cheerfully, which made her look cute.

"Go and have a seat."

The teacher instructed her, and she took the seat next to me.

"Hey, are you hurt?"

I hear her whisper towards me, and I turn my head to see her.

I'm wearing bandages, so it's not that surprising she's curious.

"I...got in an accident! I fell off my bike!"

My hands were sweating.

"Oh, that must have hurt."

She scrunches her face.

"It's fine... It doesn't hurt as bad."

I grimace.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Matsushita Gina."

"I'm glad to meet you, Gina."

Her smile was warm and beautiful, which made my face heat up.

"M-Me too..."

After ending our conversation, we pay attention to class.

When the bell rings, everyone surrounds Hikari.

"Wait, don't tell me you're Okubo Hikari, THE star child singer!?"

A girl from our class speaks up.

"Um, yeah... That's me..."

She looked embarrassed as the other girls beamed at her.

"Wow, that's so cool!"

All the boys seemed impressed.

For the rest of the school day, she was surrounded by classmates, who were asking her about the life of a singer. I tried as much as possible to avoid talking to her, as I thought of all types of punishments I would get from Dad.

When I walked out of school, I heard somebody yell at me.

"Gina!"

Turning around, I saw Hikari running towards me.

"Why are you running?"

"I wanted to walk back home with you, since we live on the same street."

My body froze.

"How did you know?"

She grins at me.

"I saw you walking to school when I was getting in my dad's car."

I tense at the thought of her being close to my house.

"Okay... I don't mind."

We then started our walk back home.

"What do you like to do?"

She asks out of the blue.

I hesitate for a moment before answering.

"I want to be a singer."

Her face lights up.

"That's awesome! Do you want to be friends?"

A shiver coursed through my body at the thought of my dad.

"N-no."

"Why not?!"

She looked dejected.

Do I really want to do this? Dad would...

"Say, do you like talking about music?"

Hikari stepped in front of me.

"Huh, of course I do!"

She pouts then.

"So why can't I be your friend? I love music too!"

Thinking again, I realize how rude I was.

"I-I'm sorry! You're a nice person, but I can't!"

"Why?!"

Hikari looked confused.

"Because... I'm a terrible person!"

I blurt out.

Silence. She just looked at me with a confused face.

"Why do you think that?"

Hikari spoke after a moment.

"I... I just know."

My gaze falls towards my shoes. There were holes, and they were covered in dirt.

"I don't care! I want a friend I can talk about music with!"

I looked up at her.

"There are others who are willing to talk."

"But I want it to be you!"

A few tears form in my eyes.

"R-really?"

"Yeah! Really!"

Her smile was infectious.

"A-alright then."

As soon as she heard me, she jumped in joy.

"Yes! Who knew making friends would be this hard?"

"I-I'm sorry!"

She laughed a bit before we continued our way back to our houses.

Once I got home, Dad was looking furiously at me.

"Why are you late?"

A hint of rage could be heard as he spoke.

"U-um... I... helped an old lady cross the street."

His anger exploded as I finished speaking.

"DON'T MAKE FUN OF ME! I KNOW YOU'RE LYING! YOU LITTLE-—"

He beat me up for hours until he was exhausted.

"YOU'RE GOOD FOR NOTHING! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DIE!?"

My whole body was numb. I couldn't feel a muscle.

Is this how I will spend the rest of my life?

Tears run down my cheeks.

The next morning, I go through my usual routine before heading to school.

The classes go on, with nothing special happening.

After school was over, Hikari approached me.

"Hey Gina! Want to go to the park?"

I think for a moment.

Dad is at the bar today, so he will come home late...

"Okay, I can."

"Great!"

We went to the nearby park and sat on the swings. Hikari started speaking about how she is expected to become an idol in the future.

"Really? You want to become an idol?"

She nods.

"That's my dream! To sing and dance in front of a huge crowd!"

A smile creeps up on my face.

"That's cool."

"Of course it is!"

Her grin made me grin myself.

"Why don't we make a promise then?"

She smiles at me.

"What kind of promise?"

"That we're going to meet each other on stage and maybe even make a song together."

I face away from her.

"I don't know..."

Hikari jumped off the swing.

"Please!"

When I looked back, she made puppy eyes.

"U-um..."

"Please..."

My face was red.

"F-fine... I'll try."

I hear her whine as I finish speaking.

"O-okay! We will meet."

Satisfied, she jumps in joy.

"You better keep your promise!"

What have I gotten myself into...?

We hung out for a little bit more before going back towards our houses.

Seeing as Dad wasn't home, I made myself dinner (instant noodles) and went to bed.

Before dozing off, I think about Hikari.

She's a good person... I can't wait to see her again.

Smiling to myself, I doze off.

10 years later...

*beep*

*beep*

*beep*

*click*

I get out of bed, feeling a bit groggy.

After getting ready for school, a thought crosses my mind.

"Today's 8 years since she left."

I look at the magazine on the table.

Famous idol Okubo Hikari gives a speech at a charity event!

"You deserved it."

I smile at the magazine picture before heading out.