Chapter 5: Yoru

The low rumbling of the van came to a slow halt as Yoru stepped off the bus and into ‘Camp Kunutachawa: Camp for Magically Afflicted Youth!’ Yoru wasn’t thrilled to be there, it was just some dumb summer camp for people who got affected by the Jiyoda Incident. So all of earth! Thought Yoru, thinking the premise was dumb.

In front of him, on top of a soap box, was a man with yellow cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He was wearing an orange puffer vest with a two-headed beaver patch on the left shoulder. He was wearing a light blue bucket hat, that’s straps reached the bottom of his chin. He had an angular face, with sharp features and elfish ears. His hair was a tan brown with a few streaks of grey. He seemed like the type of guy that was always positive.

Yoru set his bags down next to him as the guy that seemed like the Camp Director, who began speaking.

“Hello there campers!” he began, “welcome to Camp Kunutachawa. Here at Camp Kunutachawa we believe friendship is everything!” The man stepped down from the soap box he was standing on. “My name is Lincoln McDonald, and I’m this camp's director, but just think of me as your friend. Anyway, each of you will be assigned to a cabin, based on your age.”

Lincoln McDonald stepped to the side and several people, about three or four years older than Yoru, stepped out.

“These are your counselors. You can trust them with anything!” exclaimed Lincoln.

There were four of them, each wearing the same outfit of Lincoln, but without the hat. There were two boys and two girls, each with tan skin and light blonde hair. They looked sort of like quadruplets.

“Hello!” spoke the boy on the far left. “My name is Derek Leafson, and these are my siblings,” he gestured towards the other people next to him, “Scott, Taylor, and Elizabeth.” Derek raised his left hand, “And we will be your camp counselors!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd, but Yoru didn’t get why. They’re just some dudes that run a camp, what’s so special about them?

As the counselors began calling out names to go to their respective cabins, Yoru walked toward Scott. Apparently he was in the ‘Hawk’ cabin, with a bunch of other nerdy looking boys. One of them smelled like rotten fish and old eggs, I don’t think I’ll be sleeping this summer…

“Hey kids!” said Scott Leafson, “welcome to the Hawk Cabin. Here you’ll learn to deal with your magical influence! Have fun!”

Scott led the fifteen kids down the hill and into an old cabin with a hawk carved into the front. Yoru tossed his stuff onto a top bunk and left the cabin. He wasn’t planning on spending much time there.

Yoru strolled through the paths of Kunutachawa, seeing other kids playing football and soccer. There were some kids sitting by the cafeteria, sharpening sticks with rocks. The one that seemed like the leader had deep black hair and a burly build. He was wearing a black skull tee shirt.

A few other people were playing in the gaga ball, and a few others around a tetherball.

After a bit more exploring, Yoru went back to his cabin and set up his bed. He put his sleeping bag onto the firm, rubbery mattress.

Yoru sighed, what was there to do here? The tetherball courts were filled up, and Yoru didn’t like gaga ball all too much. Maybe I’ll check the cafeteria out again, I’m pretty hungry after the bus ride here. Yoru walked back down the path to the cafeteria, passing the people playing tether ball. One kid turned to him, but went back to his game immediately.

After making it to the cafeteria, Yoru noticed that there was a kid being pushed around by the boys he’d seen before. The boys were snickering and calling the person they were pushing around calling him things like ‘fatso’ and ‘the blob’. Goddamn it.

Yoru approached the four boys that were about his age, maybe a little older.

“Hey,” he said, “stop picking on… uh… whatever his name is!” declared Yoru pushing himself into the circle.

The kid was chubby, with a round torso and frizzy red hair. He had severe acne and he looked at Yoru with awe in his eyes. He was a few years younger, thirteen or fourteen, and about four foot ten inches.

The boy who looked like the leader let out a small laugh, “Make me.”

Another kid walked up from behind him, “Yeah, make us.”

They continued taunting Yoru, but their threats were hollow to Yoru.

“Look,” Yoru began, “I don’t want to hurt you guys, so please just let this kid go,” Yoru’s eyes flickered with malice, “or things will get violent.”

The boy in front laughed, “It’s four on one, dipshit. The odds aren’t-”

“In my favour? Nah, they're not in yours,” taunted Yoru.

The boy in front growled, “Take my stuff. I’m beating this asswipe up,” he said.

“But Randy-”

“No but’s!” yelled the boy, apparently named Randy. “This kid’s dead.”

He raised his fist and swung it down, trying to punch Yoru. Yoru ducked under it and spun around, landing a roundhouse kick. Randy coughed, losing his breath, but quickly recovered, going in for another punch. Yoru tilted his head, making the punch miss. He grabbed the boy’s arm and wrenched it down. Randy screamed in pain, but kept going, swinging punch after punch, eventually getting a hit. He’s nothing compared to Steve.

Yoru slammed his fist into the roof of the boy’s head, causing him to crumple to the ground, kneeling. A small crowd had gathered at this point, watching the two boys fight. A few of the girls were snickering and pointing at Randy.

“Given up?” asked Yoru, a little blood trickling down his nose.

Randy started muttering, getting louder and louder. “Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it!” yelled Randy, punching the ground at his feet, cracking it.

One of the boys approached him, “You okay, Randy?” he asked.

Randy turned his head, his eyes were bloodshot and dark black bags hung under his eyes. “Do I look okay?!” he yelled, dragging the boy down with him. Randy stood up and pointed at Yoru, “You! You, you, you, you! Are going to die!”

“Wait hold up! What did I do?” protested Yoru, taking a step back and putting his hands up.

“You know what you did!”

Yoru thought for a moment, “If I knew what I did, why would I ask?”

Randy screamed again, “Damn you! You despicable scum! You are making me look like a fool, like a weakling, in front of my boys!” Ah, so that’s it. It’s all about saving face, always is.

“Look dude, I’m sorry for beating you up, I was just trying to help out that other kid,” said Yoru, glancing at the kid he saved.

Randy clicked his tongue, “I. Don’t. Care.” Randy ran at Yoru and swung his meaty fist, hitting Yoru’s nose.

Yoru took a step back and punched Randy in the chest. Randy wheezed and swung once more at Yoru, missing. Yoru rolled to the side and struck Randy’s kneecap, making him lose his balance and fall.

Yoru bent down in front of the boy. “Please don’t make this a big deal. I don’t want to make any enemies, so please just go away and let me live my life.”

Randy grumbled but didn’t try to retaliate, “Fine. But just know, you’ve made an enemy.” Randy and the other kids surrounding him sulked away, with their heads low. Randy glanced at Yoru one last time, but kept walking.

The kid he’d saved turned to him, “Th-thank you,” he stammered.

“Hm? Oh, no problem,” replied Yoru. At this point he wasn’t even worried about the kid anymore.

“My-my name’s Lucas Drakesworth,” he said, choking on his own words.

“That’s cool,” said Yoru walking into the cafeteria to get a bite to eat.

Lucas chased after him, “I really appreciate what you did back there!”

Yoru turned to the kid, “It was seriously no problem,” he replied. Secretly he wanted to say ‘Leave me alone’, but that would probably break the kids heart.

He was about to break it to the kid that he had no interest in being friends with a thirteen year-old when a voice cut in.