Chapter 52: Chapter 16 (Voume 2) – The Birthday Party

-------------------------------------------Yuka Higashi's POV------------------------------------------

7 years ago.

Today is August 7th, which means one thing. Today's my birthday and my parents already planned out what I would do today.

The main thing would be a birthday party later on during the day but, I have to attend school. Which is a total bummer.

I wouldn't say that I hated school but I just disliked some of the students in there. 

However, there are more good students than bad ones so I manage.

That didn't stop some slight bullying from happening. There is this girl named Erina Yoshida who dislikes me because a boy confessed to me.

Over a simple confession? I wasn't sure what he meant by it but I politely turned him down.

Apparently, she had a crush on the same person but he showered me with all his attention instead.

I still have no idea, how that was even my fault but since Erina is considered to be a lot more popular than me. 

She got students from our class to freeze me out. Total isolation, I felt invisible because no one even acknowledged my presence apart from our teacher.

Even the guy, who had a crush on me stopped all interacting, due to peer pressure from the other students.

I sat in class alone, I ate lunch alone and I even played by myself.

The only time anyone spoke to me was during group activities, mainly because they were forced to do so.

Sadly enough, those are the same students which my parents invited to my party.

This will turn into a nightmare.

I sat on the same school bench, next to Dante who is deeply engrossed in his book as usual.

I had a depressed look on my face as I stared out towards the road.

Dante gave me a sidelong glance and said, "Do you know that sadness is contiguous?"

I let out a long sigh and replied, "If that's the case, then you must be patient zero."

He chuckled a bit when he heard that and placed the book which he currently read on his lap.

"Happy Birthday."

How did he know it's my birthday? I know I didn't say anything along those lines. Did my dad tell him?

In a suspicious tone, I asked. "How did you know that?"

His eyes shifted down to my chest area, "You have an 'It's My Birthday!" badge pinned on your shirt."

I quickly hide my chest area with both of my arms.

I shuttered out, "S-o tha-t could me-an anything."

Dante picked up his book again, and continued to read, "It's either your birthday, or you're just seeking attention by pinning that badge to yourself. So I wonder which one is it?"

I pouted my lips and replied, "Fine. It is my birthday."

He slightly shook his head, "You don't say?"

"You don't have to be so mean."

"Sometimes meanness is the only language people will understand. Will your parents be hosting a birthday party for you."

I lightly kicked both of my feet while sitting on the bench and replied, "Yes, they are but the students they invited...."

Without even looking at me.

"Oh I see. Those students aren't really your friends and your parents just invited them, because they are your classmates."

"That's basically, the story right there."

Dante then said something that made my ears perk up.

"Is your lack of friends in school, the driving force of you speaking to me right now?"

I paused.

"It is only part of the reason. The majority being that, I am very much interested in you."

Dante still didn't take his eyes from, off of his book.

"I would say that I am quite the boring individual so you better lose interest, before you become disappointed due to wasting your own time."

I side eyed him and replied, "Yeah sure. I'll take your advice."

"Your sarcasm still needs work."

I lightly kicked him on his leg, "Can you stop getting on my nerves right now."

He ignored me.

Our conversation is cut short by my mother calling out to me.

"Yuka, it's time to leave."

I quickly got off of the bench and rushed over to my mother. Before reaching over there, I gave one last look at Dante, who didn't even seem bothered at the fact that I left."

I held my mother's hand and walked towards the car.

"Hey mom, can I invite one more person?"

2 hours later

The birthday party is in full swing at my house.

I was dressed in a red dress that my mother bought for this very day.

Everyone from my class is here but they still haven't really spoken to me.

My parents were off entertaining the other students' parents inside of the house, so that left us to our own devices in the backyard.

I was sitting by myself under our tree, when the sliding door opened and out-walked Dante who is still in his school uniform.

I was actually a bit relieved to see him.

The other students of my class, stopped what they were doing, and stared at him as if he just committed a very out of pocket action.

Dante seemingly ignored them and walked straight over to me.

"Red is a very bold choice for a birthday outfit."

I folded my arms and replied, "You're late."

"My parents didn't answer the phone until the last minute and they gave their permission in the form of 'While he is enrolled in there, the school has full authority over him.'"

"That doesn't sound very parent like. Have they been using the monthly visiting window to check up on you?"

Dante shifted his eyes to a group of students who were looking at us interact.

"I see that, I may not be very well received right now."

Erina Yoshida was one of the students in the group.

I replied, "Just ignore them." and pulled him by his right arm towards the party refreshments table.

I loaded snacks on a paper plate while I noticed Erina approaching along, with a few of my female classmates.

Dante quickly noticed them as well and shifted his attention towards the approaching group.

Erina said, "You didn't tell me that you actually have friends outside of school Yuka."

I kept quiet.

Dante didn't say anything and shifted his eyes to me.

He seemingly observed my body language before shifting his focus back on Erina.

Erina spoke again, "Cat got your tongue Yuka?"

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I still continued to stay silent.

One of the students added in, "Maybe her parents paid him to attend, after all the only reason why we're even here in the first place, is because our parents made us attend."

Dante continued to observe the situation.

Erina approached and said, "It's not fun, if you don't react Yuka Higashi."

I turned around and tried to walk away when Erina grabbed me by my wrist, causing the plate with the snacks to fall to the ground.

Someone spoke up.

"Erina it's her birthday, so take it easy."

It was the guy you had the crush on me.

Erina side eyed him, which caused the person to immediately retract his statement.

Still holding on tightly to my wrist, Erina said, "It doesn't matter if it's her birthday, a regular day or Christmas "

Dante looked at me with disappointment in his eyes.

Is he disappointed in me or the situation?

He still didn't say or do anything.

I broke out of Erin's grip, which caused her to stumble back a bit.

That infuriated Erin, who swung a back hand at me.

I had no fighting experience so I shut my eyes, prepared to take the blow.

But it never came.

A voice said, "That's enough."

I opened my eyes slowly and saw Erina's hand is mere inches from my face, seemingly stopped by Dante who tightly gripped her wrist.

Erin broke out of his grip and replied, "What the hell, do you think you're doing?"

He then stepped in front of me and said, "As much as I dislike getting involved in another person's issues, striking her is something I can't let happen."

Erina scoffed, "She lashed out on me first, right guys?"

The students surrounding her began to nod their heads.

In an attempt to defend myself, I replied. "That's only, because you held onto me tightly for no reason."

Erina rubbed her wrist which Dante previously held onto, "If I report this to the adults inside. All I have to say is that you and that guy attacked me for me reason."

I immediately interjected, "We didn't do that."

Erina looked around, "What are you talking about? I have witnesses."

I bit my lips and clenched my fists tightly.

She's right. All Erina has to do is go with that lie and have the people around us, back up her statement.

Dante replied, "Well do that. We'll be waiting right here."

What is he doing? We'll still get blamed for allegedly starting the issue, even if we defend ourselves.

Erina smirked and ran inside to get the adults.

Dante looked very calm. He even fixed himself a drink while waiting for Erin.

Shortly afterwards, Erina came outside with her parents and the rest of the adults.

She pointed towards the both of us and said, "These are the two who attacked me. You can ask anyone here."

My father looked at me and said, "Yuka is this true?"

I kept silent.

Erina's mother said, "Look at her wrist, it's slightly bruised. What type of child did you raise here?"

Erina's father looked at Dante and said, "Your parents need to do a better job of raising you, because if I wasn't the type of man I am. I would have struck you for this."

My mother tried to calm the situation down.

"I am sure Yuka has a good explanation for this."

I shuttered out, "W-e didn't d-0 any-thing."

Erina's mother aggressively said, "Where's the proof?"

Erina added in, "I have witnesses so don't try to lie."

The rest of parents looked on.

My father had a disappointed look on his face.

Dante finally said, "We just need proof? That's it?"

Erina replied in a smug manner, "Yes. Where's your proof to back up your claim of innocence?"

Dante calmly looked upwards to the side of the house and pointed in that same direction.

A security camera was positioned in our exact position.

"I believe that should be enough evidence in favor of Yuka."

My father asked, "Why didn't you include yourself?"

Dante trained his eyes on the slight bruise on Erina's wrist and said, "I am the one who inflicted that, but shall we observe the footage?"

Erina was visibly nervous now as her parents agreed to it.

My father pulled out his cellphone and accessed the footage.

Both of her parents kept quiet when they saw what actually happened.

Her father immediately apologized and quickly the party with Erina.

After the party.

Dante and I were the only ones left. My father prepared himself to drop Dante back to school.

I turned to him and said, "You knew the camera was there, from the very start so you let the situation escalate."

"After all, isn't she your bully? Was it nice to get back at Erina in the form of exposing her nasty side to the parents?"

"It was fun and I think, the bullying might stop now."

Dante looked up at the moon and replied, "That's good. I think you should learn some form of martial arts because you were about to take an entire back hand to the face."

"Do you practice any?"

"When I was 5 years old. My parents dropped me off at my grandmother's house for the summer, and she enrolled me in one of those kid karate studios as a way to pass time."

"Maybe, I will take up karate now that you suggested it."

Dante looked up at the moon and replied, "Before I forget to say this. You actually look very pretty in this dress."

My entire face became red and I said, "Stop trying to be nice when I know you're just a mean person."

"Oh really?"

I grabbed his face and turned it towards me then said, "You wear too many masks, eventually there will be a time when someone rips one of them off, and that one maybe the most important mask for you."

He replied, "When that day comes I'll willing own up to it, without any lies or manipulation."

----------------------------------------End of Yuka Higashi's POV-------------------------------------

 

 

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