Yuki’s Strength

Yuki arrived at his first class at the same time as usual. Everything was going the same as always until roll call started and Aiden's seat was empty. He thought that maybe he was just late and would show up later but even when the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Aiden still wasn't there.

For a long time, Yuki was used to being alone just trying not to draw too much attention to himself. Surprisingly though, it didn't take long at all for him to get accustomed to Aiden's presence and feel strange because he wasn't there. Before the next class started, Yuki texted Aiden to ask if he was okay. It wasn't until lunchtime that he got a reply explaining what happened. Yuki was glad that his friend wasn't ill. They texted back and forth while Yuki ate his lunch in peace. Regretfully, that peace didn't last.

"Hey!" Yuki recognised the owner of the voice without even turning around. It was definitely Ash and his entourage. Sure enough, when he turned to look, Yuki saw Ash standing there with a mocking smirk. "All by yourself today, I see. What happened? Did that other guy get sick of you already? Can't say I didn't see that coming!" He started laughing and his friends joined in. This time there were no teachers around to get in the way and all the other students simply pretended they didn't see anything.

Normally in such situations, Yuki would be terrified and trembling, unable to even speak a single word. However, for some reason, he felt a little different. While he was still scared and he was trembling a bit, he also felt indignant. He couldn't remember the last time he felt anything other than fear and resignation whenever Ash and his gang would terrorize him. The only thing that had changed was Aiden.

Unlike all the previous years of bullying, now Yuki had someone he could truly call a friend. He didn't feel so hopelessly alone anymore and that somehow gave him a strength he didn't know it could. Even though Aiden wasn't even in the school, it didn't matter because Yuki knew he'd still be there for him. There was someone on his side.

Yuki clenched both of his fists under the table and took a steadying breath. His head was hung low but unlike when he was cowering, his eyes were fierce and determined. When he spoke, his voice was almost inaudible but since he hadn't talked back to them in years, they all noticed.

"...No." Ash and his friends all froze and started with a mix of anger and disbelief. Even some of the nearby students gasped and whispered.

"What did you just say, you little shit?!" Ash took a step closer as if daring him to say it again and, to everyone's surprise, he did.

"I said no. Aiden didn't get sick of me. We're friends. He's just not here today." Yuki raised his head and looked directly at Ash as he spoke, despite his nerves. Ash's eyes widened just before his face twisted in rage. He reached over and grabbed Yuki's collar, pulling him violently up from his seat.

"You dare talk back to me?! Have you forgotten your place just because one person was stupid enough to get within spitting distance of you? You're trash!" Ash threw Yuki to the side and because he was small and light, he slid and slammed his back into the wall.

"Ack!" Yuki winced and tried to get up but before he could, Ash yanked him back to his feet by the collar again.

"Trash doesn't talk back! We're gonna have to give you a reminder of what kind of worthless existence you truly are and when that f**king sissy boy shows up, we'll teach him too!" Yuki, who had been struggling to free himself, suddenly stopped moving. "Heh! Scared now, huh? Well, it's too late. You should have thought about it before you…!" *SLAP* The entire lunch room went as silent as the dead. No one spoke, no one moved, they hardly dared to breathe.

Shocked speechless by the sudden slap to his face Ash just stood there for a moment. He only came back to his senses when Yuki started speaking. His voice was trembling as he did so.

"...Don't talk about my friend like that and don't you dare threaten him. Aiden is a thousand times better than you pathetic a**holes who only know how to bully people weaker than you while you're backed up by your friends!" Yuki was breathing heavily after shouting out words he'd been subconsciously holding back for years.

"You're dead meat!!" Ash and his group of friends couldn't stand the fact that Yuki had publicly humiliated them and they all attacked Yuki at the same time. He did his best to fight back but it didn't do much. He ended up getting thrown to the ground and surrounded as the group of people kicked at every part of him they could see. Luckily, one of the on looking students rushed to get the teachers who soon broke up the fight. Yuki was taken to the infirmary while Ash and his friends were sent to the principal's office. Then, the school contacted the families of everyone involved.

In the infirmary, Yuki was laying down on one of the beds after receiving basic treatment but the nurse recommended he visit the hospital as well. His back and ribs were covered in bruises. He also hit his head on the floor causing it to bleed. His arms, hands, and legs had bruises as well from shielding his face and stomach. The nurse was worried whether or not he had any broken bones.

Around twenty minutes later, the door to the infirmary banged open and a furious looking Mikael walked in. He took long strides over to where Yuki was and, after looking him up and down, lifted him off the bed and carried him out. Yuki's face flushed bright red.

"W-what are y-you…?" Yuki was so flustered he couldn't even get the words out.

"Hold still. We're going to the hospital." As Mikael carried Yuki out of the school and towards the car, the principal hurried over and tried to ease Mikael's anger, which only fueled it more.

"Ah! Mr. Jensen, sir! That's…the children got a bit carried away. They'll all be disciplined appropriately, I assure you! …If you could just…" If looks could kill, the principal would've been dead on the spot. Mikael glowered at him menacingly.

"Carried away? Is that the best you can come up with? I have no interest in hearing your pathetic excuses. Once Yuki has been treated at the hospital I'll be back to settle things here." Without another word, Mikael put Yuki in the car and they drove off to the hospital.

The doctor examined Yuki carefully and took several x-rays. He concluded that Yuki sustained a sprained ankle, bruised ribs, and a spinal contusion. The spinal contusion is what worried the doctor most as it involved the spinal cord. He explained that, just as is the case with any bruise, contusions of the spine can involve bleeding and inflammation, swelling and pain. However, due to the location of this particular contusion, this bleeding can cause serious complications.

Since Yuki wasn't experiencing any severe side effects and the contusion was relatively mild, the doctor said he could be taken home in a few hours but he should rest in bed for the rest of the week. He also instructed them to monitor for any numbness in his hands or feet, movement impairments, excess swelling, or breathing problems. If any of that occurred, he was to be brought back to the hospital immediately. Before he left, the doctor prescribed anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and pain medication.

After telling Yuki that he'd come back to get him when the hospital was ready to discharge him, Mikael went straight back to the school and directly to the principal's office. Ash, his friends, and their parents were all still there waiting. The principal was sitting behind his desk and wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. When Mikael walked in, the previously rowdy parents went silent. The principal was the first to speak.

"Ahem. Mr. Jensen, how is Yuki doing now?" The man instantly regretted asking the question when Mikael's eyes flashed with rage.

"How's he doing? Hm, let's see," he slowly walked closer and closer to the desk with every word he spoke. "Bruises all over his body, a sprained ankle, bruised ribs, and a spinal contusion. How does it sound like he's doing?"

"That's…I'm terribly sorry to hear that."

"Good. Then show just how sorry you are by immediately expelling every single person who dared to touch him." The principal was sweating buckets at this point.

"I'm not sure that's…"

"What?! You want to expel my son over this? That's not happening!" One of the parents quickly voiced their disapproval, with the rest following their lead.