Akito never really liked Toya. As a popular kid at school sitting and reading was weird to him. He was the party kid, not some nerd. For some reason Toya always got on his nerves whenever he saw him. The ginger started bullying the other, nagging about how nerdy and boring he is. Mostly the blue-haired boy shrugged all of the comments off, coming off as someone that didn’t really care about Akito’s opinions.

Toya got used to such a lifestyle, being the laughingstock at school wasn’t anything close to being one at home. Ridiculed by his own parents, forced to study subjects he had no interest in, but knew that if he were to go against his Father it would end badly. He may have been one of the richest kids at school, but this luxury was only a burden for him. Toya believes that if he were born into a poorer family he’d have what he always longs for, care from his own life givers, his parents. All they do is demand, demand and are super cold, when to his older siblings they’re loving and respectful. Toya doesn’t think he’s lucky to be from a wealthy family, it’s the exact opposite, he thinks it’s like a curse.

Akito, heck no one knew about the nerd’s home life. They only saw him as someone to envy and wish to be in his place. The ginger couldn’t understand why Toya is fine with being so disconnected from anyone and even thrives in that action. It really did tick him off.

Yet, little did Akito know that he will finally witness the hidden truth about this boy…

———

After school, when everyone left, once again he was last to go home. Toya wasn’t much of an important person to his own mother, that picking him up from school seemed like a chore. Going home means often hearing degrading words, hearing he is not good enough and a disappointment to the family, that his own mom wonders why she bothered having a 3rd child. She often said something along the lines of "If I knew you would be such a failure of a son, I would have never even had you to begin with".

And unfortunately or fortunately to Akito he had heard this all by accident ‘cause he had detention again and happened to walk by them and overhear their conversation.

Akito was shocked upon hearing all the words that came out of Toya’s mom’s mouth. The sheer audacity to speak so lowly of your own family member… It made his blood boil. It’s also when it hits him that this is probably why Toya is how he is. No love at home, constant studying, because his parents force him to, and his own bullying towards the other surely could not not leave a mark on Toya’s own mental health.

The ginger felt guilty for being another reason to the boy’s misery. He hated himself for somehow magically finding out sooner. Toya doesn’t deserve this, not one bit.

———

Ever since that day Akito started being nicer towards Toya. Helping him out when bullied by other kids that unfortunately followed his own lead in bullying Toya, keeping an eye on how he’s feeling and trying to come off as genuine.

One day Toya was sat alone again at the cafeteria and the ginger decided to sit down with him, with his own tray of food.

Akito: "Hey there. You doing alright?" he spoke while beginning to eat his sandwich.