CHAPTER 4: FATE? WHO IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW ANYONE BY THAT NAME!

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

「Author's POV」

Ayumu awoke to soft cries of a maid, and the morning light trickled in through the open sliding door. Shedding herself of the remaining glimpses of what had happened before she fainted, her heterochromia eyes were still shut as she soaked in the warmth of her covers before letting her eyes see the sun's rays.

Slowly and reluctantly, she uncover her face. She blink, close her eyes, and blink again. Streaks of sunlight penetrate the sliding door and blind her. She turned her head to face the crying maid as she called out quietly to her ❝Nanako-chan...?❞

The young maid look up, seeing her young master gained consciousness and is wide awake now, she almost wants to cry harder at that moment ❝Ojou-sama...!❞

❝Wait... Why are you crying, Nanako-chan?❞ Ayumu asked, a bit lost as the maid sniffles, apologising  ❝I-It's because of me, if I have paid more attention then you won't have that injury on your forehead in the first place!❞

❝Injury?❞ The red haired child raises a hand to her head, feeling a soft cloth wrapping around her little head. Oh. She remembered it now. She turns her eyes on the young maid and said kindly ❝It's not your fault, Nanako-chan... I just remember a bad dream I have this morning❞

❛Sorry, Nanako-chan. I can't just tell you that a man just told me to marry a jujutsu sorcerer in order for me to be alive!❜ She sighed at her thoughts, feeling slightly down after knowing something like that.

❝A bad dream?❞ The brunette asked, looking at the child in question ❝What was it about? You can tell me to make yourself feel better, ojou-sama!❞

❝Ah... Well...❞ Ah. Crap. What now? She can't just make a lie right on the spot, right?? That's would be so obvious! Wait unless...

❝What's wrong, ojou-sama?❞ Nanako looked worried when her young master suddenly goes quiet on her ❝Was it really that bad?❞

Ayumu flinched, shivering as if cold as she hold herself. Her lips tremble in fear as she continues in a stuttering voice ❝I-I can't help but feel like someone is...watching us, Nanako-chan❞

From the corners of her eyes, she saw the young woman freeze up ❛Bingo. I'm glad my plan works❜ She thought, forcing herself to remember the backstory of her character, the one that she created. It was too cruel even for a mentally adult woman would be shivering in fear at the thought of it.

❝S-So, in my dream, I saw a man killing everyone in this exact house...I-I don't feel safe anywhere I go after having that dream and I g-guess that I couldn't handle it anymore... That's why I collapse in the hallway❞ Ayumu stared at the brunette with the expression of a scared child, she said with trembling lips ❝I'm sorry for worrying you, Nanako-chan... I didn't want to make anyone worried...❞

❝...is that why ojou-sama was looking for Milord Mochizuki?❞ The brunette asked in a quiet voice, seemingly afraid to frightened the child in front of her. When the red headed nodded in response, Nanako smiled slightly at her ❝Thank you for telling your problems, ojou-sama. If you want, I will inform Milord Mochizuki about this❞

❝R-Really...?❞ Ayumu look up with teary eyes which send an arrow to the young maid's poor heart, the young woman excitedly grabbed the child's hand in her own hands.

❝Hmm! You can count on me!❞ She happily cheered as the child finally smiled at her, thanking her ❝Thank you, Nanako-chan❞

❝Ojou-sama...❞ She hugged the child tightly, taking her by surprise as the young woman sniffles ❝You don't need to worry anymore so just smile for us, okay? We don't want you to have a frown on your face, you're still a child so try to depend on us adults, a bit more, okay?❞

The red headed nodded ❝Okay❞

❝Oh! I nearly forgot, I have to go and inform Milord Mochizuki immediately! Allow me to excuse myself, ojou-sama❞ The brunette bow to her young master as she politely make her way out of the room.

Sliding the doors shut along the way, Ayumu listen to the sound of her footsteps and as soon as she couldn't hear it anymore, she turned to look at the corner of the room, whispering ❝She's gone now, Shiro❞

❝Finally...❞ Taking a few steps away from the spot where he was waiting at, he said to the little girl in front of him with a worried tone in his voice ❝Are you okay? Seems like you injured your forehead there❞

❝Oh, I don't know. Who wouldn't be shocked to found out that they were forced to marry a jujutsu sorcerer from a young age, huh?❞ She said sarcastically, clearly not happy with the situation.

❝Well, sorry. I can't change it even if you complain about it❞ Shiro rolled his eyes, growing slightly impatient with her ❝Just so you know, there is no jujutsu sorcerers in this small town❞

❝... Huh?❞

❝Do I have your attention now?❞

❝How can you tell?❞

❝I'm a cursed spirit, what did you expect?❞

❝O-Oh, that's true! If so what are we going to do then?! I don't want to die young again!!❞

❝Again?❞

❝Ignore that! I'm just talking nonsense!❞

❝Ahh, kids nowadays... anyways you gonna need to ask your parents to send you to a school in a big city as soon as I can sense the nearest jujutsu sorcerer then you're going to pursue them to an agreement into marrying you❞

❝Godamnit...the pressure is real❞

❝What did you just say?❞

❝Nothing~!❞

How did she get herself into this mess...

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♪ .⋅} ────── ⊰

-ˏˋ. A few years later ˊˎ-

The faint chirping of the birds was heard, singing as a sign of the beginning of the day was about to start. The golden rays of sunshine rise from the earth, shining upon the dewdrops over the soft green grass.

The glittering sunrays spread various hues of shiny silvers and golds, shiny morning arrives slowly after the dark gloomy night roll on as all signify a new inning, embracing each day at a time and just see the various treasures of mother nature unfolds before us.

The sounds of the wooden windows was heard, slamming against the wall of the house as a young girl stood there, embracing the start of the day.

Her boyish short bright red hair was dancing in the wind as a smile spread across her face when her heterochromia orbs caught the sight of the birds singing among the trees ❝Good Morning, everyone!❞

She smile at the sight of the sun raising up to the surface of earth, her hair was gently swaying by the wind. It was peaceful and calm, the beginning of the day was slowly becoming a beautiful reminder of the nature's beauty.

She stay silent as her eyes were closed, taking the gentle breeze of the wind blowing through her hair with soft green leaves dancing in the wind as they were gently swaying, passing the window where she stood. However, her peaceful moment was interrupted by a voice whose belong to someone she have known for years.

❝Ayumu, Are you awake up there?❞

❝Yes, I will be down in a second, mama!❞

She immediately took her hairbrush, brushing her tangled locks in a neat yet quick manner, taking her favourite triangle hairpin from one of her drawers once she was done with fixing her hair. She quickly grabbing her dark blue hoodie before picking her school bag near the bed.

She open the door, wide enough for her to slip through before letting herself out of the room then slammed the door shut, locking it while doing so.

The young girl didn't waste any time as she ran off towards the staircase, almost tripping herself in the progress. Once she finally made it to the end of the stairs, she held the school bag in her arm as she went to the front of the house, opening a much larger wooden door with her free hand.

There stood in front of her is a small town with people from various of backgrounds and ages walking through the road in a hurry. There is a small bakery with three familiar people moving from place to place of the bakery, an older girl who seems to be focusing on her pastries of the day and a youthful woman who is currently arranging the pastries right out of the oven as the sweet aroma of the fresh pastries surrounded the small bakery and the red headed could smell it through the open windows.

She smiles at the sight of the independent family working hard to get in time for the opening time of their little bakery store, she was snapped out of it when she heard the voice of her mother calling for her ❝Oh, Ayumu. There you are!❞

Kasumi panted, stopping in front of her daughter with a lunch box in hands ❝You forgot your bento, dear❞

❝Oh! Thanks, mama! Did grandma make them again??❞ She looked up at her mother who begin to sweat as she whispers, embarrassed ❝... No. Your papa made it this time❞

❝Really?!❞ Her eyes sparkles, her father rarely cooked but his cooking is always fill with delicious foods, oh she couldn't wait for lunchtime soon!

The blonde woman smiled gently ❝You really like your papa's cooking that much, huh?❞

❝Hmm!❞ She happily nodded.

❝Well, you need to get going if you don't want to miss the train to school, won't you?❞ Her mother softly reminds the red headed who freeze up slightly.

❝Oh no! I gotta go now, bye mama, I love you!❞ She kisses her mother's cheek as she quickly run out of the house, opening the gate as she closed it while doing so as she immediately head for the train station.

⊱ ────── {⋅. ♪ .⋅} ────── ⊰

❉ ╤╤╤╤ ✿ ╤╤╤╤ ❉

Some time after school

❉ ╧╧╧╧ ✿ ╧╧╧╧ ❉

❝Hey, Ayumu-kun, is it okay if we could walk home together?❞ a little girl in the small classroom, shyly asked the red headed child.

Ayumu looked at her, clueless what she meant by that but won't hurt to be friendly, right? She smiled at the girl, happy to have a new friend ❝Oh, sure! You're Ai-chan, right?❞

The black haired girl blushed slightly ❝Y-Yes❞

❛This girl obviously has a crush on me, she's cute but too bad that I'm actually a girl. Sorry, Ai-chan!❜ She apologies in her head, watching the timid girl playing with her hair.

❝No fair, Ai-chan! I want to ask him that first!❞ Another girl pouted, her short light brown hair make her look a cute doll.

❝E-Eh? Kanako-chan?❞ The shy girl with black hair look surprised for a second.

❝I want Ayumu-kun to walk me home too!❞ A girl with sandy blonde hair shouted.

❝Mami-chan?!❞

Oh boy. Ayumu doesn't have a good feeling about this...

❝Being popular is tiring...❞ Ayumu sighed, clearly exhausted from going to different houses and after sending them home and then saying goodbye to her classmates is surely tiring!

❝I'm surprised you can handle that much walking around in a day❞ Shiro stated, appearing in front of her as they approached a nearby park.

❝Tell me about it! I didn't think me dressing up as a boy would get me this popular with the girls... and they don't even know that they are crushing on a girl!❞ Ayumu sighed in relief when she finally got to a tree, sitting down to rest her little legs for a while.

She stayed like that for a few minutes, feeling sleepy as she just about to close her eyes. She feel someone was standing in front of her, opening her eyes to see a small group of boys standing over her.

Why are they looking at her like that? She didn't understand why they have that look on their faces but it was anything but positive.

❝You're Ayumu-kun, right?❞ One of the older kids asked, assuming to be the leader of the group.

❝Yeah...❞ She didn't like the way they're talking to her. It's didn't sound friendly at all.

❝He looks like some ugly alien❞ One of the kids said.

❝Huh...? Hey that wasn't nice-❞ She was cut off when a rock hit her on the shoulder.

❝Ew, nobody likes you. Go away!❞ They started to throw rocks at her, laughing as if it was funny.

❝Ouch!❞ It's hurt. Why? What did she do wrong?

She couldn't do anything to defend herself so she endure it until they got bored of her ❝Aww, you're boring! Come on, let's just get away from this freak❞ The leader of the group said, leading them away as they leave her there.

❝I'm... a freak...?❞ Sniffing as tears begin to fall off her eyes ❝Wahh!❞

The bruises she received from the bullies begins to burn, it was almost unbearable for a child and it was all because of these eyes of hers. So she try to erase her eyes herself, rubbing her eyes as hard as she can.

She thought she was normal because no one made fun of her eyes but now she is being hated by other kids just because of them? She couldn't stand the thought of getting herself bullied again ❝It's hurts...!❞

Everything hurts, her arms, legs and mostly her heart hurts like there's no tomorrow...

❝Hey❞

She stopped scratching at her eyes and when she look up, she see a smaller boy with black hair holding out a flower to her ❝Don't cry❞ He said.

At that moment, she stopped crying when she realised who the boy was in front of her...

«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»

╭                                    ╮
Author,
snowyroses-
╰                                    ╯

⁀➷ Ahaha cliffhanger! Did I get you guys good? It's my first time doing one so I hope I caught you off guard for a moment! Next up is Ayumu's pov and it is going to be out tomorrow!

Ayumu never experienced bullying before so this is actually her first one so it's hit harder for her since she was born with heterochromia irises and in Japan, bullying is actually terrifying there because it's can go so far to the point of physical abuse on other people. You can easily get bullied for having different colored eyes and for your blood type as well!

Bullying is never a good thing. It can easily hurt a person's feelings like how Ayumu express her feelings about her eyes after the bullies told her that her eyes bothered them.

And yes, I edit the picture. If you're wondering who is the face claim. His name is Ryuu, he is from the anime called Akagami no Shirayukihime. It is a good romance show by the way and no, he is not the main focus, he is actually a side character lol.

◑ ━━━━━ THANK YOU ━━━━━ ◐