Chapter 21: Bullies

"Violence isn't always the answer"

"People who love themselves, don't hurt other people. The more we hate ourselves, the more we want others to suffer."

― Dan Pearce

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When I stepped inside the school building and into the corridor I immediately felt overwhelmed. It is making me feel nervous and anxious, this is the first time in like years that I am in a crowd alone, it feels like walking through a jungle. There are a lot of people walking and talking to each other, it's so loud. I can already hear them at the school gates but being here feels like I am in a concert, damn... I never knew that having great hearing will be like this.

So I kept my head down and focus on my heartbeat, *Ba-bump**Ba-bump* I can walk just fine because I can hear where are the other people so I won't bump into them.

I can hear the excitement and the nervousness of the people around me, I can also hear bits of pieces of their conversations which is the thing that I am trying to tune out.

"Hey! did you saw? There was a-"

"You guys won't believe this OMG-"

"I heard there was a fire-"

"The teachers all came-"

I guess this could be considered training.

When I get into the class I saw that there are a lot of people and I guess a lot of them are acquainted because some are already forming groups. I chose to sit near the back on the side of the classroom. I want to be low-key while I am in school just in and out, so as to avoid the group that I know will form at the back I chose that seat.

I want to attend school as consistently as possible and earn my parent's trust. I know that I will be driven back and forth from school to house, I need them to trust me enough that I can do it on my own so that I can have freedom after school.

Then the teacher came and the class started.

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*RINNGGG*

"Okay, class I guess that is all for today see you tomorrow."

Finally... lunch break.

Sitting there for hours listening to boring shit is making me a bit jumpy like an overactive child, I guess I got used to moving my body all the time. The only time I stop training is when I am exhausted or needed a change of pace and play video games. Now I got to do this every single day haahh...

I could have tried meditating but with all these people around me it is hard to focus, plus I will look like a total weirdo sitting up with my eyes close.

I should just eat because food always makes me happy, unfortunately, Mom can't cook anymore so I went to the cafeteria.

Damn... it's even more loud and chaotic here.

"Bro our teacher was hot-"

"Did you see the way the math teacher looked at me-"

"The janitor looked like a perv-"

So much noise...

I just went and ordered my food and it does not look appetizing, I am already losing my appetite. If I need to eat this every day should I learn how to cook?

Then I looked for a vacant seat, there are some spaces at other people's tables but do I sit there? Then I saw a vacant table but it is near the garbage bin... so what do I choose? sit at a random stranger's table or near a garbage bin?

Of course, I chose the one near the garbage bin... It's not like I have social anxiety it's just that I prefer to be alone, yes that's the reason.

While I was eating... whatever it is that I ordered because this does not look like edible, I thought about what happened this morning. It was super embarrassing ugh... why did I ask her if she want to marry me? and I was acting so childish... why?

Is it because of the cards? or maybe it is because I spent the last ten years as a child? They say that the environment and experiences can shape a person into what he is. My past life is becoming more blurry year after year, I still remember it but it's been a long time... For the past ten years, I was just at home with barely any interaction with the outside world, I guess my parents are right to drive me.

The last time I got out alone is when I sneaked out and I needed to plan the busses that I rode to get there, I was also invisible the whole time I didn't even pay.

No no no that is not it. The question is why would I ask her to marry me? It is probably because of the cards right? That's right I remember Zenitsu wanted to marry Nezuko right? But how would that affect me?

The thing that I think I got from Zenitsu's card is his swordsmanship skills and enhanced hearing, not the memories or experiences. Maybe... that is not all that I got.

Yes, that's right maybe that is not all that I got. While I was training everything is so instinctive it feels kind of like a deja vu. It feels like I stopped drawing for years but I still know how to draw but my fingers forgot how to do it.

While I was thinking I felt people sitting at the table that I was eating on. So I looked up and saw a teenager looking down at me from my seat with a grin and on my back, there is another person putting a hand on my shoulder. Was I so deep in my thoughts that I tuned out everything around me?

"Hey there squirt you lost?" The guy sitting at my table said. He looked like he shouldn't be in middle school anymore, he is tall and skinny and had a growing stubble on his chin.

"Why aren't you saying anything? We're just trying to help right, CJ?" He said to the guy at my back that has a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah Mike is right, we are just here to help hahahaha."

'Am I being bullied? Is this bullying? This is the first time that this has happened to me.'

"Well, maybe you're just hungry, here eat." Then Mike picked up the tray that I was eating on and dumped it on my lap. "Oopps, sorry."

'I am definitely being bullied and this is fucking gross...ughhh. What am I going to do? I can beat these guys up in less than five seconds, should I?' I thought while picking up the tray from my lap and putting it back on the table.

"Did I dirty your expensive pants? I sincerely apologize young sir." Mike said sarcastically to me.

"Hahaha nice one Mike"

"Why?" I asked because I can hear from both of them, enjoyment of seeing me like this but I can also barely hear their insecurity.

"What? What are you going to do about it? Tell Mommy and Daddy? Huh? Let me tell you the rules here squirt, you give us money then we let you go, is that clear?" Mike said then CJ the person on my back squeezed my shoulder tighter.

'Money seriously? What is so important about that anyway?' Looking at his face grinning and demanding money from me makes me want to smash the tray in his face. I clenched my fists holding the tray but in the end, I let go.

'This shit is not worth it. These guys don't even matter on the large scale of things, I shouldn't have bothered to ask.' So I stood up the guy holding me down barely doing anything to stop me and walked away.

"Hey! Where are you going you squirt!"

"Come back here!"

Or at least tried to but these guys won't leave me alone. They both caught up to me and blocked my way. Both of them are seriously tall I am just at their shoulder level or is it that I am short?

"You wanna do this the easy way or the hard way?" Mike said while trying to sound menacing.

"Hehehe we'll show you the hard way." CJ then said while cracking his knuckles.

They are standing in my way and looking down on me while grinning. Then around us, I can also hear the other students that are just watching like it is some sort of show.

"Heh looks like Mike and CJ found a new kid."

"Is there going to be another beat down like last year?"

"Shouldn't we help him?"

"Why bother?"

'I just said to myself this morning that I will stay low-key but now I am being the center of attention. I can just give them money and let this be over with but... I don't want to do that.'

"So how do you want to do this squirt? The easy way or the hard way?" He then grinned at me.

'Looking at that grin is seriously pissing me off. You know what? fuck this...'

"Who the hell do you think you are? To ask me for money..." I said while lowering my body stance.

Then I kicked him behind his knees making him fall on his back with a *Thud* "Bastard! You'll pay for that!"

CJ saw what happened and throws a punch in my face but I dodge it by moving to the side. I then kicked him in the stomach making him kneel to the ground.

"Take this!" Mike shouted while swinging a box cutter at me after getting up from the floor.

'What the fuck? What kind of middle school student carries a box cutter in their pocket?'

I quickly jumped back and avoided him. Then as he was about to continue he looked around and saw that there is already a crowd forming around us.

"Tch you got lucky squirt. Come on let's get out of here!" He shouted then supported CJ and went out of the cafeteria.

"Holy shit the kid fought back!"

"Did you see that? He was carrying a knife!"

"Damn... should we call the teachers?"

So much for being low-key... I immediately got out and headed to the nearest washroom that I can find. Once I was in there I washed the stain that the food left on my pants because that shit is gross, I don't know if I can eat in the cafeteria anymore.

I then looked at myself in the mirror and thought about what I had just done. I tried to walk away but they just wouldn't leave me alone and giving them money kind of feels like what we're doing to the Kingpin.

They are just some nobodies and I won't let myself get taken advantage of by anyone... not anymore.

I'll face everything from now on, I'll stop avoiding and escaping my problems. I know I could have handled that differently but who the fuck cares anymore?

So I walked out of the washroom with my head up and face forward.

"Uhm... excuse me?" I heard a timid voice called out to me.

"What?"

"You are being called to the principal's office..." He said then ran away from me.

Haaahhh... what the fuck. This has got to be the shitiest first day of school.