chapter four

A week had passed since the accident. Kai looked as if he was about to give up. His life here hasn't improved. The boy he saved, Takuya Izumi was so ungrateful that he started to boast that he was just messing around. Takuya even managed to trip him up on the way to class and locked the door, making him get late for class. The only person that changed her attitude about Zodianites was Azusa.

Azusa and Kai managed to move on and hang out often. She was often tutoring Kai whenever he got kicked out of class for things that wasn't his fault. He had no idea why his classmates hated him with such an intensity. If he gets kicked out of school, then his aunt and uncle would be disappointed in him. His aunt and uncle were away for the time being and Kai promised to be on his best behaviour. Even as he lived close by on his on. He had to sort himself out. Because he couldn't burden his family any more. He didn't want them to cut their trip short because of him. Thats why Kai endured everything his classmates threw at him. Because he had no choice in the matter. He didn't want his guardian to regret taking him in. He didn't want a lot of things right now, but that was his first priority.

Azusa invited him over to her house for her sister's birthday. Her wish was to meet a Zodianite. Kai was vary of the situation. But Azusa hadn't stirred him wrong before. He heard so many wonderful stories about her sister and stories that were, well, not so nice. He heard how her sister lost her ability to walk after an accident during one of her basketball tournaments. Her sister was fifteen years old and was one of the best players around. During the finals, she collided with another member, injuring her knee while the other teammate passed away from hitting her head on the hardened floor. 

Kai was happy to accept the request. Because he knew that it meant a lot to Azusa who always stood by his side even when things went wrong. It was the least he could do. He stood in front of the house, ringing the bell. He had worn a nice outfit: a shirt and some trousers, not too formal for the occasion. But good enough to make a good first impression. He wanted to make her mother adore him. Because he didn't want his friend to be in the middle of it.

The door opened and a lady stood on the doorway, blocking his entrance. She rudely gestured for him to enter her house. Despite her sullen attitude, Kai was still polite and courteous towards her. "Azusa invited me. Ma'am. She wanted me to meet her sister."

Her lackadaisical attitude turned serious. Sister? Is that a freaking joke? She doesn't have one. I was never blessed to have another child and you're being so cruel."

"Azusa! Why did you want me to come here to meet your sister when she doesn't exist." He stood up, angry at being lied to by the one person he considered to be a friend.

'No! Wait please." Azusa begged him to stay. Her eyes welled in tears.

Kai's smile faltered, his cheeks turned red.

Azusa chuckled. "You think I would be friends with someone like you. Someone who doesn't deserve a friend. Your own family abandoned you and your guardians also abandoned you. I staged the whole thing up and acted sweet so you would trust me. I invited you here so I could pull off this."

She snapped her fingers and the classmates surrounded him, laughing and calling him horrible names, names that were too hurtful to be repeated. They even taunted him about his parents' death. Something that affected him even now. Why did his classmates hate him so much? He'd never knew why they felt the need to make his life miserable.

Kai left them, reeling from the events." Did we go too far?" Scattered voices of yeah and maybe filled the air that was lingering from the hurt he felt.

Without turning back, he yelled, "now you guys grow a backbone. I'm done being the nice guy. I"m done with all of you. At school, I will makes sure that you guys regret it. Zodianite style."

He shut the door firmly. "Azusa, this couldn't be what you wanted. You were there for me. But when you were yelling at me earlier, I read your mind. You were only doing this to be popular. Being popular isn't worth it if you're compressing your morals in the process. You never changed one bit. You were lying through your teeth the whole time."

Kai left, his shoulders slumped. He had no one to turn to. He was truly alone after all this time. He missed his brother and his parents. He missed his kind guardians. He missed Daigo. Why did he have to leave?

"Kai. Wait up!" Azusa raced after him. Kai was angry with her. But was he willing to continue walking when she's clearly out of breath. He wasn't so cruel. But she deserved it for her part. He expected this from his classmates. But not her. She didn't need to change herself to fit it. Haruhiko would have still given her a second chance despite everything that happened. So Kai decided to emulate his brother's morality. He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face her.

"What you did was wrong. Azusa." Kai said, folding his arms. "Why did you come chasing after me? My humiliation and hurt wasn't enough for you wasn't it? Why don't you—" He paused, the anger evaporated from him as quickly as it came." I don't know if I can forgive you for this."

Azusa's lips trembled as she bit her lip. "Please. You're the best friend I ever have. It was a mistake. I know that now. It was selfish and immoral to do something like that. I understand that if you don't want to forgive me because I won't forgive myself. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"I see!" Kai said, unfolding his arms. "Well, its too late for that. Azusa. I was genuinely exited to meet your sister because I wanted to make you happy but I was wrong. I was a fool to think that you were different.

"Let me explain. Kai. Please." Azusa said, her lip quavered. Kai refused to listen to her. He had enough of his classmates' cruelty. He had enough of them.

Kai glared at her. "Don't talk to me. Azusa. You want to know what hurt the most. I was starting to fall in love with you." He gave a derisive laugh. "What a fool I was. I should have known a Zodianite would be destined to be alone."

A stray tear rolled down her cheek. "Kai, I am sorry. I'll make it up to you."

Kai's shoulders tensed."Spare me your apologies. You want to know why I am not upset at my classmates? Because I expected this from them. But not from you. Azusa."

"I don't have a family. I lost everyone I cared about." A tear rolled down his cheek. His voice was on the verge of breaking. "But I had you. It made all the crappy things my classmates put me through bearable. Because you were always at my side."

Kai walked away from her, clearly hurt by her actions. But he turned over his shoulder to see that Azusa wasn't even there anymore. He ignored the lingering feelings bubbling up inside his chest. She must have gone inside. He continued walking with his hands inside his pocket. His shoulders slumped.