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“Nerd!!” A classmate yells at Juuru while another throws his artwork into the toilet, two others holding him back
“Stop! Please!” Juuru begs
“Why would we Atsuta!?” laughing, the four classmates walk out of the bathroom leaving Juuru in there. Tears stream down his cheeks as he collects what's left of this sketchbook. Walking out of the bathroom, Juuru quickly makes his way out of the school and to the clubhouse, just wanting to be alone. Juuru hopes that nobody else is there… he doesn't want anyone to see him like this. He gets into the main room thanking whatever God there is that nobody is there… or so he thought. Juuru sits down to start his homework when Tametomo walks in
“Hey Juuru!” the older says happily making Juuru squeak and jump
“H-Hey Tame-kun!” Juuru says hoping it doesn't sound like he's been crying
“What's wrong Juuru?” Tametomo asks moving closer to the young male
“N-Nothing.”
“Juuru, I know you well enough to know that you're lying. Now please tell me what's wrong”
“I'm being bullied…” he admits quietly
“You don't deserve that Juuru, what do the bullies do to you?”
“Depends on the mood of the day… they do anything from just picking on me, to throwing my art in the toilet to…” he trails off
“Do they ever… hurt you Juuru?” Tametomo asks hesitantly, and when Juuru looks away he gets his answer
“They hurt you don't they?”
“Yeah… sometimes…” he says almost silently
“What do they do?”
“Hit me… slap me… one time one shoved me into the wall…”
“They hurt you like that… Juuru I am so sorry… Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“No… I think… if anyone was to get involved it’d just get worse… it’s just… something I get to deal with often”
“Juuru… how often do they bully you..?”
“Almost daily… but it’s okay, I’m used to it, Tame-kun. Thank you for being concerned for me but I don’t need any help…”
“Juuru…” Tametomo looks down, sad that his friend doesn’t want any help… he’s about to say something when he notices Juuru’s sleeve had rolled up a little, exposing a compression bandage around his arm. Juuru follows the older male’s gaze and sees where he’s looking, quickly pulling down his sleeve.
“What happened to your arm Juuru?” Tametomo asks looking up meeting Juuru’s eyes
“J-Just a scratch…” he says quietly
“Take off your sweater. Please Juuru” with a look of shame, Juuru complies. Exposing the whole compression bandage. The younger looks away as Tametomo starts to unwrap it, and lets his tears fall when he hears a sharp intake of breath from the older.
“How long have you been cutting yourself?” Tametomo asks sadly, bringing his hand up to Juuru’s face gently moving his head so he’s facing him.
“Few…” he trails off
“Days? Weeks? Months?”
“Months…”
“Juuru…” The younger male finally lets go and lets out the violent sobs he’s been holding back falling into Tametomo’s arms, the latter holding him close. They can hear their other friends walk in but at this point, Juuru doesn’t care who sees. Tametomo pulls away and looks at Juuru
“Can Sayo-nee look at them?” instead of verbally answering Juuru nods and they hear the small clack of her shoes walking towards them
“Oh Juuru-kun…” Sayo says, kneeling down next to the duo on the floor taking his arm and gently examines his cuts. After another moment they can hear their other two friends walk over and also sit next to them, Sena on the couch Shiguru on the floor
“Say, how about once Sayo-nee wraps them back up, we all go out for some ice cream” Sena suggests, a large smile on her face.
“I agree with that, ice cream sounds really good right now” Shiguru agrees standing up. Sayo gently wraps back up Juuru’s cuts and stands up
“Let’s go get some ice cream” She says smiling at the two still on the floor
“Let’s go Juuru” Tametomo says standing up and stretching out his hand for Juuru to take
“You guys are the bestest friends I could’ve ever asked for” Juuru says letting more tears fall
“Hey! Don’t you be crying! I’ll start crying too!” Sena shouts while putting his sweater on his head
“I’m not, I’m not crying!” Juuru smiles, slipping his sweater on and taking Tametomo’s hand standing up and the five friends all leave, going to go get some ice cream.