flopped back down on his bed. Pulling the mismatched blankets over himself lazily, he rolled onto his side.
“I’ll be fine Maruki, okay?” Aiya’s tone had seemed to die down a little, but he was still frustrated at Maruki’s attitude towards the situation.
“Please Maruki, let me do something alone for once.”


Maruki couldn’t help this situation, it was going to be inevitable for him.
“Okay Aiya, do what you want.” Maruki was angry out of hurt. A position where people usually said things they would regret, only to hurt others who had hurt them.
“But if she hurts you don’t come running to me.” It was a rather difficult sentence to allow pass over his tongue, having never said anything negative to Aiya before. Maruki had never even said ‘no’ to Aiya before.


Maruki fell silent for a moment, small chopped breaths could be heard in the receiver, he was trying to hold back tears. Aiya thought long and hard about his response, he was going to be as mature about this and level headed as possible.
“Thank you Maruki. I’m sure I’ll be fine alone anyways. I mean, how difficult can a girl be, right?” A small nervous laugh left Aiya’s lips.
Aiya fell silent for a moment as well, thinking about a different subject to talk about so they both could forget about it and talk normally again.
“So, first year Middle School. Are you excited Maru-chan?’ Aiya was happy and cheerful, trying to cheer up Maruki.


It wasn’t difficult to ignore Aiya’s attempt to cheer him up. Maruki let out a small happy chuckle and, his eyes lit up once again.
“I think I’m ready for whatever Middle School throws at me. Don’t you Aidou?” Maruki pushed aside all of his feelings of Aiya wanting to Date Miyuki.
“Are you excited to be back?” Maruki asked sweetly in return, stepping away from his desk, lying back down on his bed. Maruki placed his phone on his pillow, having Aiya on speakerphone.


Aiya took a small breath, about to respond, but a small crash coming from the kitchen cut him off, followed by shouts and screams.
“Kuso. Maru-chan, I have to go, ne?” His mother was drunk again and getting angry at something again. Aiya would have hung up right away, but he wanted to hear Maruki say good-bye to him.


Maruki made a small noise, hoping Aiya would be all right.
“Okay, good night Aiya. See you tomorrow.” Maruki hung up first, filled with worry. He sprawled out on his bed, face buried in his soft pillow. The last time Aiya was at home in a situation like this, his mother hit him repeatedly, leaving bruises on his face and neck. Maruki propped his head up, checking the time on his alarm clock it was still early. Early or not, Maruki was tired and decided to take a nap. He got up and stripped off his uniform, tossing it on his dresser.


Being only in his boxers, Maruki crawled under his down filled blanket and curled up in a ball, facing his cell phone just in case Aiya was to call again.
It didn’t take long for Maruki to fall asleep. Lying face down on his soft bed, stressed about Aiya, the strange peers at school, first day back at school, it was all too much to take in.


Dreaming of nonsenses, Maruki was tossing and turning. The ringing of his phone was coinciding with his dreams, than it stopped momentarily. After a few moments, the ringing commenced again. Groaning, Maruki blinked slowly before jolting awake. Stammering for his phone he finally found it on the last ring before the voicemail would answer it.
“Ai-Aiya?” Maruki accidentally shouted into the phone without even realizing it. Maruki was surprised to hear sobbing from the other end of the line.
“Aiya are you all right?”


Aiya couldn’t stop himself from sobbing uncontrollably. Maruki knew right away that something happened again. Aiya sniffed softly, him wiping his nose could be heard over the phone.
“Maruki.” Aiya managed to whimper softly. He sounded like he was in great pain, his voice was slurred and muffled.
“She hurt me again.” A small wince followed his pained sentence.


Rather then getting a few small hits like the last time, he was beaten greatly in the face and arms. Looking much like his father but nothing like his mother, he mustn’t have been his mother’s son at all. Aiya had held his arm up in self-defense from his mother. She had twisted it when he had tried to run away from her. He was now afraid that it could have been broken.


Now hiding in the pantry with the phone, Aiya was terrified, his mother never hit him like that before. Instead of calling the police, where he wouldn’t feel safe talking, Aiya called Maruki, the only person he could be open with. For now Aiya didn’t need Maruki to say anything, just knowing he was there was good enough for him.


Almost a half an hour of listening to Aiya sobbing and sniffling, finally regaining a steady breath, he finally spoke.
“I… I think its safe. I think she’s asleep Maru-chan.” Still with nothing but a muffled whimper, Aiya couldn’t say much more without hurting himself.


Maruki sat up, pulling his blankets to cover his lap, his small slightly chubby torso exposed in the dark.
“Are you going to be okay Ai?” Maruki’s voice was filled with concern. He didn’t want anything to happen to his friend when there was nothing he could do to help.
Maruki’s breath matched Aiya’s as he left the pantry slowly.
Be careful Ai.” Maruki whispered softly in order for it not to echo on Aiya’s end.


The house was bright, every light was on and the small house was messy and wet from spilled cups of water that was on the counters. Aiya tip-toed through the kitchenette to the living room, through the open paper screen door. his mother was sleeping on the floor next to the dojo table, passed out with an empty bottle in her drunken hand. It was safe to say that Aiya was going to be fine for the rest of the night.


Aiya let out a soft sigh and relaxed a little. He went to go straighten his arm when he remembered it had hurt, a small winced passed his lips. He took a small breath and whispered softly in order not to wake his mother.
“I’m okay now Maru-chan. I’m just going to go back to bed, all right?” With pain still laced in his whimpers, this was something that he could not just forget.


Maruki was not going to let this go as easily as Aiya was. He threw his hand down on his bed sternly, he was serious about what he was about to say.
“Ai, you are going to pack a bag, and you are going to come and stay at my house until your mother smartens up, okay Ai?” Maruki was not going to pretend like nothing happened anymore, not like he did the last time something happened to Aiya when he came to school with bruises. Maruki knew that a parent should never act in such a way to a child.


Aiya was silent for a few moments it worried Maruki slightly. Until, small rustling could be heard, it sounded suspicious to Maruki. He listened carefully to what was going on. He couldn’t quite figure it out.
“Ai, what are you doing?” With worry, Maruki propped himself, sitting as stiff as a board.


Aiya stopped what he was doing, only to questionably tilt his head towards the phone against his ear.
“What you told me to do Maruki! Pack!” Maruki was very intelligent, but he sure had his stupid moments sometimes. It didn’t matter what it was, over time Aiya would always do what Maruki told him to do. Maruki’s decision was usually the right one after all.


Aiya continued packing, clean clothes, toiletries, school uniform, everything that could last him up to a week away from home. Aiya remained on the phone with Maruki the whole time. Talking or not, Aiya felt safer with Maruki on the line with him. Having changed from his pajamas, into something street worthy, Aiya was finally ready to leave his house.
“Maru, I’m leaving now.” Aiya seemed scared to hang up, but it was necessary if he wanted to leave. Maruki gave a sound of agreement, allowing Aiya to hang up.


Placing the phone back on the receiver before silently rushing to the door to get his shoes on, Aiya knew he would regret doing this, but it was for the better. Being careful of his arm, Aiya opened the door and snuck out without any notice. He ran as quickly as he could to Maruki’s house, who still many years later lived only a few blocks away.


Maruki had not fully gotten dressed, he planned on going right back to bed as soon as Aiya was settled. A knock on the door moments later startled Maruki’s mother, who answered it soon after. Maruki soon came downstairs knowing who it was. Maruki’s mother was quite surprised to see Aiya, though it was not yet twenty-two hours yet, it was still late nonetheless.
“Kaa-chan, Aiya is having troubles. I said he can stay here until things are sorted out.” Looking at Aiya, Maruki silently told him to cover parts of his face with his hair. Inside, with clenching teeth, Maruki was angry to see those marks on Aiya’s face.
“Tch… Is that all right Kaa-chan?” With a distinct sound of anger in his voice, Maruki pleaded to his mother.


Maruki’s mother, who was previously in the den planning for her job, was still a little shaken. Stepping aside, she allowed Aiya in the house. She agreed only because she loved Aiya like he was her own son, she knew that Maruki and Aiya were close. Maruki pulled Aiya up to his room after he removed his shoes.


Maruki snatched Aiya’s bag from his rather forcefully. He was silent for a bit, getting everything ready for Aiya to sleep. Pulling out his spare futon, resetting his alarm clock, to get up for school the next day, remaking his own bed. The whole time Aiya stood silently by the door, trying not to move. Maruki stopped once he was finished, staring silently down at the futon for a moment, letting out a small sigh.


Maruki spun on his heels, facing