One's Past

"It had happened in my second to last year of middle school... During that time, I practiced all kind of sports as well as different ways of self-defense from my grandpa who practiced all manners of fighting styles"

"When I had asked him why he knew all of this, his response was because he knew that those things would be a big and important thing for him in the future"

"Just like that, he started teaching me all of this and before I knew it, I was doing them on my own accord"

I cleared my throat and decided to focus on the main thing that she wanted to know "During that time period of middle school, I was liked by almost everyone and when it came to friends, I had quite a few, but what made me change a bit was what happened"

"What happened...?"

"During lunch time, I had decided to look for a different place to have my lunch since I didn't feel like spending time with others, I just simply wanted to be alone during that time"

"When I had believed that I had found a good place to sit down and eat, I noticed that there were some guys who were pressuring this girl into accompanying them" 

"Since I didn't want to be dragged into anything problematic, I had decided that the best thing to do was to simply walk away from the situation and act like I had nothing to do with it, but almost a godsend for her, she noticed my presence and called out my name"

"When she did that, the guys turned towards me and started walking towards me with the sole intention of hurting me, because of this, I ended up having to protect myself from them"

"Is that why you changed?"

"That's just the base of this whole thing, but the rest isn't something I can say just yet, I can only tell you how everything started"

"I see..." She didn't seem pleased by those words, but if were to separate everything in terms of importance, then what I was going to tell you was of big importance.

"When I finished helping her, I thought that was it but soon after, I got smacked in the head and fell to the ground. I was still conscious, but I couldn't move very well from the impact"

"The guy stood up and started doing some not so nice things to the girl. Witnessing all of this didn't sit right with me and from there... I ended up injuring the guy more than what I should've"

"..."

"He ended up in the hospital because of the injuries, thankfully, I wasn't charged with anything, but story of that started making its rounds, and soon more and more things started happening around me"

"So... Because of this, you changed?"

"That's one of the reasons"

"What else is there? What made you become the person you are today?"

"That's..." I stared into her eyes for a moment and simply found myself thinking to myself the reason that I was doing all of this.

"Nobody deserves to know... You can't trust people and that's something that you know deep down yourself"

I shook my head and sighed "That's something that I can't say"

"Why? If it's something that can be changed in order to help you, why can't I know about it?"

"Because I don't mind being in this situation" "I don't mind being disliked by everyone, I don't mind not being talked to, I don't mind anything about"

"Not even a little bit?"

"No, I don't" Those were lies. At least lies that I would tell myself int he past when it was happening. Back then I did mind all of that, but now, I didn't know myself what it was that I wanted.

"I see..." She looked down at the floor for a bit and then lifted her gaze and stared at me "Can I do something?"

"What?"

"Can you let me try and help you?"

"Help... Me?"

"Yes, to be seen differently by everyone else?"

"Not happening"

"But-"

"Sorry to barge in like this"

"H-Huh?"

We were both in shock at the fact that Miss Mitsuru had stepped into the classroom just like that, but when I saw the expression on her face, I could tell taht she had heard everything I had said.

I wasn't bothered by it since she was one of the first people to know about everything that had happened.

"Katsumi"

"Yes?"

"Don't do anything like that"

"B-But..."

"Remember. This club is to help those who come in for help" She turned her gaze towards me, and I could tell that she seemed disappointed herself as well "If he really needed help, he would be one of those people that we would need to assist"

"..."

"I'm surprised that you're on my side this time, Miss Mitsuru"

I couldn't help but bother her a bit with those words and I didn't actually mean it like that, but the words had just came out as me messing with her like that.

"I want the best for you, but unless you don't want that or consider that this is the best thing for you, I can't do anything" "You need to take that first step yourself"

"Yeah, I know"

She let out a sigh, picked something up from the nearby desk and waved at us "Come by later today. There's something that I need to announce"

"Will do"

"Thank you, Miss Mitsuru"

With that out of the way, both Katsumi and I were in complete silence, and I couldn't blame her one bit. After what had been said by the both of us, it was awkward trying to change the topic just like that.

"What do you think she's going to tell us, Makoto?"

"Who knows. Probably some request from someone else"

"You think?"

"Yeah, that's how these things go usually"

"I see..."

After a bit of time passed, it was a good time to start heading back towards the classroom and seeing as how we were together, she decided for the both of us to head there together.

"So... How did that date with Kano go?"

"It was fine"

"R-Really?"

"Yeah, I was dragged around all day by her just like when we both went out"

"I see..."

A moment of silence fell before us and just when I had believed that that was going to be it, she cleared her throat and spoke up once more.

"S-So... Is it official?"

"What?"

I turned towards her waiting for her to repeat the question, but just when I had thought that she was going to do so, she shook her head and smiled at me.

"It's nothing!"

"I see"

Since she didn't want to repeat it, I knew for a fact that it wasn't anything important and I could simply focus on what would come next for me.

When classes finished for the day, I made my way towards the clubroom alongside Katsumi and as we were doing so, I let out a yawn on my part and simply wondered what this something could be.

Upon arriving at the classroom, I opened the door and as soon as I did, I noticed Miss Mitsuru sitting on the desk that was inside.

"Thank you for coming. I'll try to make this as brief as possible to let you go as quickly as possible"

"Thanks, I really need to leave"

"You have nothing of importance to do today, Makoto"

"Got me there"

The both of us sat down and when we did so, Miss Mitsuru glanced at the both of us nodded "I know that it hasn't been a long time since the club was made, but we have someone who would like to join"

"Huh?"

"W-What?"

We both couldn't believe what we were hearing. Someone joining a club that wasn't known to the public was impossible, but when that thought had crossed my mind, I soon remembered one person in particular.

"It can't be..." I facepalmed right then and there and immediately after that, the door opened up revealing the new member.

"Welcome Kano Arisu to your club"

In conclusion... There are many layers to one's dark past and it will only be peeled slowly but surely upon building trust. Nothing will bypass these layers... Besides... Changing isn't easy, not for anyone at all. -By Miyashita Makoto.