Study, Study, Study, Study... and Study

"Looks like your dad isn't home yet. Have you ate dinner?"

Hino shook his head.

"I'll make dinner," her mom ordered her, "Quickly shower get yourself changed and eat your dinner. Afterwards continue your studies. And like I told you, if you read your books or do something else instead of studying, I'll throw your books out next time." Her mom making sure she will do what she's told.

She went back to her room, unpacked her bags and sorted her books where they belong on her bookshelf. Some of the books were messed up and worn out. Some covers and pages were folded and crumpled. The reason she didn't reply and quietly followed her orders were not only because she was being obedient. She was scared, because what her mom said weren't empty threats. Once her mom kept her books for a whole month. And once she rampaged and thrashed her books all over her room, sweeping them off the bookshelf and throwing them.

"Hino." Her mom called her as she ate and contemplated on what will happen to her in the next few days. Will she be able to go back to the café?  Should she find another place to relax? But what would Sora think about it? Will Sora even talk to her after her mom told him to stay away from her? Will she even able to talk about the mangas she like? And the mangas she don't like. And always arguing over romance and act-

"Hino, Hey." Her mom called for a second time. But Hino, who was busy with her thoughts, just kept on looking at her food and ate, without paying attention to the outside world. The more she thinks about it the worse the outcome she saw for herself. 

"Hino, hey, your mom is talking to you." She grew impatient.

Hino tilted her head up to look at her but didn't speak a word. Her focus not completely directed at the present world.

"Look, because your exams are coming soon, I have called a private tutor to help you prepare for it. It's every weekday directly after school."

...

After school? Study? Hino stopped for a moment. 

The outcome was worse than she imagined. 'No' was apparently the answer to all of her questions. No café. No chilling after school. Not allowed to talk with Sora. Only studying at home. 

The thought of it made her whole body tremble. Studying? Only studying? That's it? Study in school and directly study again after that. And because of home works she needs to study even more after that. How can a person live like that? That's insane. Before it even began the idea already drove her mad. 

No way. Absolutely no way. Study and study and study and study and... 

Her eyes, which usually glows the color of the galaxies, is now as void as space. Her entire body felt tingly and weird. Her heart pumped faster and her entire body itching to go out in a frenzy. 

She wanted to refute the idea, have a say in it, tell her what she thinks, give her mom a piece of her mind. But she couldn't. Instead, she hold it in. 

But her body knew that she wanted to give a response and the result was she began to tear up. 

It is as if a part of her is now gone. Her own world demolished. 

Like... how- no... it's impossible... Slowly she could barely keep her mind straight. 

Her mom oblivious to her feelings, "Make sure- 

"I'm finished eating." Before her mom could finish her sentence, Hino stood up and excused herself to go to her room.

"Hino, hey you haven't finished your food! Hino! What's wrong with her..." Her mom grew even more annoyed by her behavior. 

Hino sat in her room. Her room doesn't have a working table. She usually sits on the carpet beside her bed, where a short study table is stationed. 

She hugged herself into a ball, unsure of what she should do. She doesn't want the change. But she can't oppose her mom. It is as if it is an inescapable fate. 

In her head she began to debate against her mom's plan. Why do I need to study when I already did in school... What's studying for... It's useless... 

But she knows she herself could answer her own questions. 

But what's wrong with reading books and talking about them? She kept on thinking why and how she was in this mess. And because of it, her head started to ache. She knows she couldn't concentrate with her studies now, and decides to read a manga for a while to wind her down.  

She opens her bag. There was a clear contrast between the books she brought to school and the ones on her shelf. The books she brought were all relatively neat, either newly bought or somehow managed to take minimal damage. She picked these ones to show Sora, with 'My Place of Comfort' being the only exception, since it was special to her.

Among the numerous books in her bag one stood out to her. "Moonless Days" It was the manga Sora lent to him, as part of their trade. She was aware it was an action series, but something compelled her to read it. 

She took it out and inspected the front at back covers. Then she opened up the first page, which was a color page. But as she was just about the read the first piece of text... 

Her door opened. 

"Hino! What's going on with you? Oh and also, that guy that was with you, don't ta-"

Hino's mom saw her holding a manga. And instantly Hino knew she was in trouble. 

"HINO!!! You left your dinner UNFINISHED for whatever reason. And went back to your room, NOT to study but INSTEAD read your books?!?! Oh my..." 

"N-n-no... H-hi-Hino wa-..." Hino stuttered, unsure what to say. She wanted to say she hasn't actually read the book but it was clearly opened in front her. She wanted to say that she's only going to read it for a moment, but she didn't think would have mattered for her mom. 

"Give me your damn book. I've warned you." Her mom approached her as her arm grabbed the book she was holding, "GIVE IT TO ME!!!" 

"NOO!!" She cried in retaliation, the pitch of her voice instantly went higher. Her voice louder and harsher than usual. Her mom pulled hard at the book but Hino maintained her grip on it, "MAA! PLEASE, NO!"

The both of them kept tugging the book, refusing to let go, causing the papers to crumple and fold. 

"Hino, I told you multiple times. You didn't listen."

"HINO WILL STUDY, HINO WILL STUDY!! MAA, PLEASE, HINO'S SORRY!!!"

"A person who does not listen to warnings and make a mistake is their own fault. You reap what you sow. Discipline is important for your future." Her mom made a sudden final thrust and the book is within her hands. 

"MAA!! THE BOOK IS NOT HINO'S-"

Hino's or anyone else's her mom doesn't care. She held the book with one hand and raised it up high. Then with one swift movement, she swings her arm down towards the floor. And slams the book onto the ground.

Hino, who had nothing else to say, helplessly witnessed the manga Sora lent to her get wrecked. 

"I'll allow you to keep it this time. If I see you reading your books once again, I'm keeping them. Now continue studying." 

Hino sat there as her mom leaves the room. Still and silent. Speechless. Don't know what she should and do and think. She simply stared at the book on the floor. Still intact but completely messed up. 

She slowly approached the book. Once close she enough, while kneeling, she picked it up with her hands and hugged it to her chest. 

"S-Sora-san..." she began tearing up, "Sorry...S-sorry, Sora-san..."

Tears begin to land on her lap and on the floor. She's sorry for messing up his book.  She's sorry she cannot go to the café anymore. She's sorry that her mom got mad at her. She's sorry she cannot talk to him anymore. She wants to apologize for all of that but she's not allowed to be with him.

 And not only did she feel guilty, because she was responsible for his book, but she was genuinely destroyed, because the book was special to her. 

...

...

...

Romance, huh?  Finished with dinner, Sora decides to read the first volume of the manga Hino lent him.