"Mom, please wake up! Mom please don't leave me." The smell of burning flesh was overwhelming, hot burning tears streaming down the sides of my face, spilling over my chin, as my mom lay unconscious in a pool of blood. The sound of sirens echoing throughout the street as the crackling of fire engulfed the house. A calloused hand dragged me away as, my mother was being carried away on a stretcher with a black tarp that cover her head to toe. I writhed against the man who was pulling me away, as my mom was being placed inside a van. I tried to scream out to her, but my voice felt as if there were claws that were slowly tearing my voice away. My vision clouded over with un-spilled tears; my voice hitched as I made one last attempt to scream. 

"Ahhh!" I screamed as I woke up drenched in sweat with tears streaming down my face, the vivid memory was still replaying in my mind as  stared up to the moon.

"Shut the **** up you stupid kid!" He shouted. I shuddered as I heard the smash of glass against the wall. "I didn't take you in for nothing, YOU UNGREATFUL PIECE OF SHIT!" I froze as my door was forced open.  He walked closer to me with the shattered beer bottle in his hand. He reeked of alcohol and sweat. 'He must be drunk.'  I thought to myself.

 He grabbed the neck of my shirt, I closed my eyes and looked away. He held the bottle up to my face and painstakingly sliced my cheek. I winced in pain, as I felt a silent trickle of blood roll over my chin.

He let go of my shirt, dropping me to the ground while muttering something under his breath as he left my room. I wiped the blood of my face with the sleeve of my shirt.

I opened the window to let some fresh air in, a dull breeze blew a couple of blonde stands of hair in my face. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated the room leaving shadows. 'It'll go away soon it always does.'

A headache was slowly pulsing throughout my brain, my hands began shaking, small shocks reverberating through the veins. I placed my hand on the wall, while trying to collect myself, trying to restrain myself.

The pounding in my head was gradually getting worse, it went from a small pulsing to a sharp stabbing sensation building up at the back of my eye. The spasms that were spreading out from my hand weren't helping either.

I slid my back against the wall trying not to focus on the pain by listening the the leaves swaying in the wind. I went to check the time on my phone '2:39am'  the streets are pretty quiet at this time of night, nothing much can be heard except for the occasional car passing by, or the homeless who lay on the walls of hidden alleyways.

'I should get some sleep, I have school tomorrow after all.'  My mind was oblivious to the fact that the assignment was due tomorrow as well, but I wasn't focused on that, I was more worried about the eviction notice that was hanging on the door when I returned yesterday.

Scenarios began playing throughout my head, I pondered on where I, no we would go. I tried my best to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, until his word began ringing through my head.

'Do you really deserve this?'

. . .

'ANSWER ME, Isamu, do you deserve this?

No

'Your just like your mother, worthless.'

Maybe I really am?

"What have you ever done in your life, NOTHING, nothing like you or useless family.'

Nothing, I've never done anything to help, I only cause trouble.

'Don't you think that this world would be better without you.'

Yes, I'm only a burden to everyone around me.

'Or I need to remind you of what happened."

Beep Beep Beep

The alarm on my phone brought me out of my thoughts and back into reality, I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth, I had bags under my eyes, I didn't get I wink of sleep last night. The slash was still visible on the side of my face, from where he cut it.

I have think of a believable excuse, so they won't worry. They have bigger problems to worry about, like grades and training, unlike me. I know Hiroki will ask of how I got it, Fukuda too. I'll just say I got it in training or something.

I tried my best to cover up the bags under my eyes, I didn't bother with the slash, since I knew I couldn't cover it no matter how much concealer I put on it. I sighed as I walked down to the kitchen.

He was passed out on the sofa, surrounded by empty beer bottles and cigarette ash. I knew that he would be passed out for the next few hours. I opened the fridge to see if we had had any food left, I all ready knew the answer to that question but I still opened the fridge.

I closed the fridge then I I grabbed the keys and my bag and headed off the the bus stop, it was still quiet early, but I needed to get a breath of fresh air, yet again I was left alone with my thoughts.

I heard the bus arriving, I slang my bag over my shoulder and headed onto the bus.

"Morning Isamu!" I heard a cheery voice call out to me.

I flashed her one of my signature smiles, as I sat down on a seat near the bus. I pulled out my phone 7:53. I plugged in my headphones as I stared out the window. There was no one on the bus, there usually isn't anyway.

I observed my surroundings as the bus was going through the different regions. Finally my stop arrived, I tried my best to clear all negative thoughts as I smiled at my reflection in the window, mentally preparing myself for the day. I slipped my phone back into my pockets.

I walked into Class, Hiro and Fukuda both gave me stares, I brushed it off by smiling at them. I walked over to my desk, and as I expected Hiroki was the first one to ask about my cut. I explained my Fool-Proof excuse.

Fukuda rolled her eyes at me , while Hiroki was saying how it looked 'cool'. I laughed at what Hiro said.

"Move outta the way, you damn extras!" Watanabe roared, while pushing Hiroki aside so he could get to his desk. Hiro replied with a 'Good morning'

Uyeda-sensei opened the door in his usual yellow sleeping bag, the class went quiet except for Watanabe letting out a 'tsk'.

"We have a student joining our class who exchanged from overseas." He informed the class. The class fell into hushed whispers, and shocked faces as the new student opened the door.

"Please introduce yourself.' The student just rolled his eyes

"Kasumi Asato." The boy mumbled.

"Go sit next to Isamu, he has a free seat." Uyeda instructed him

I took it upon myself to introduce myself. "I'm Isamu Oki, nice to meet you." I exclaimed while giving him a closed eye smile.

"Im Isamu Oki nice to meet you!" I said to my new deskmate.

The boy only replied with 'Whatever.'. I was a bit confused by his response, but he didn't seem to take notice, he just continued to sit down at his desk. I glanced sideways, he had eye bags, I'm assuming that they are from a lack of sleep.

(Katsumi's POV)

I was greeted by an overly enthusiastic boy, but I'm not here to make friends. This one going to be annoying, I have a feeling that, that won't be the last time he'll try to talk to me.

I started to observe the class, most of them seemed energetic, except for a boy with a cut on his face, and a boy who looked like a nerd. There was girl who had a long pony tail, a boy who was shouting at the top of his lungs "GET BACK HERE SHITTY NERD!"

I'm guessing the boy who was cowering in the corner was the boy who he was screaming at. 'Is anyone normal here or is it just me.' I'm gonna need a gallon of coffee to survive this class. 'Sigh'

(Isamu's POV)

My new desk mate seemed disinterested in what was going on. He rested his head on his arms, 'He must be tired.' I decided not to wake him or bother him.

As usual Watanabe was going off at Tadashi, Hiroki trying to calm him down.

"Watanabe, I'm sorry." The short boy whimpered

I rolled my eyes then walked over to help Hiroki pull Watanabe away from Tadashi, since Hiroki wasn't having any luck.

"Heyy, Tanabe. Why don't you come with us?" I stated, while pulling him away from one scarred Tadashi. I only got a grunt from him. Rika came over and started rambling on about some hot celebrity.

I sighed, I glanced back over to my desk where Asato was sitting, or sleeping I wasn't quite sure. He hadn't moved.

(Time Skip)

The lunch bell rang and my friend group was calling me over, I went to get up but I noticed that Asato had fallen back to sleep again. I lightly nudged him on the shoulder, saying the it's time for lunch.

He lifted his head up from the desk and looked up at me sleepily then mumbled "Ok" before getting up and exiting the classroom.

I watched as he walked down the hallways into the cafeteria. I searched around the room for my friends. I saw Rika waving at me and telling me to come over.

I made my way over to my group of friends, Rika, Nishida, Hiroki and Watanabe. More commonly known as the Tanabro's. Watanabe was shouting for no apparent reason, but that is expected of him.

Before I knew it, lunch was over and class was starting. I didn't like maths, or any subject really, well except for English since that was the only subject, I was at least half good at.

The teacher was rambling on about something, while I started to zone out, staring out the window and becoming lost in my thoughts.

I knew he would be there once I got home, he was always there and always will be. The image of the eviction notice popped back into my head along with a bunch of other bills that needed to be paid.

'Should I take on another job, do I have the time?' I thought to myself. I was disrupted from my thoughts when Hiroki placed his hand on my shoulder, shaking me and telling me that it was time to go.

Rika and Nishida came up to me at the gate asking if I wanted to hang out at the arcade with them. I replied with a "No." Rika pouted saying that 'I'm always busy, or that I always have things to do.'

"Maybe next time, ok Rika.?''

I began to walk down the streets to the nearest bus stop, so I could catch it to my first job, a convenience store worker.

I knew that it was against school rules to have a job, but I need the money desperately.

(Katsumi's's POV)

I waited in classroom, sitting at the teacher's desk waiting for my dad to come back from the staff meeting.

'I wish they would shut up.' Surprisingly there were still other students from other classrooms that were chatting in hallways.

The afternoon sun shone in from the windows, as the sun was starting to set.

"Are you ready to go, Katsumi?" I heard my dad say, while standing at the door of the classroom.

"Hmm." I replied as I gathered my things from my desk and shoved them into my schoolbag. I put the bag over my shoulders and headed out the door with my dad.

The first thing I'm doing when I get home is a cup of coffee, even though I know that the rule is no coffee after the time of 5pm, a little won't hurt.

-Em

Hiroki has been there for me since as long as I can remember, he's the closest thing to a family member I have. Sure, we've gone through ups and down, but who doesn't.

I know he will always have my back, and I have his. Though I am worried about Rika, I know she thinks that I am just flipping her off, but she doesn't know the full story, either does Hiro.

Even though I've known Rika since I was a kid, our friendship isn't as strong as Hiro's and mine.

(Flashback)

11 years ago, ...

"Hey, mommy what's that kid doing?"

"I don't know sweetie?"

Isamu waddled over to the young boy, curious about what he was doing. The boy didn't seem to notice that Isamu had walked over to him.

"h-Hi." Isamu spurted out.

The young boy snapped his head up in shock, wondering who the boy was. "...Hi". The boy replied.

"Um, what's your n-name"? Isamu asked

"Hiro, Hiroki".

Isamu thought that the boy looked very shy and lonely, so he asked if the boy wanted to be friends with him. To his surprise the little boy said no. Isamu wondered why he had said no, no one had said no to him before.

But now Isamu was more curious than ever, making it his job to be friends with the boy at the park.

This went on for about a week, Isamu asking to be his friend and him replying with a no, until one afternoon he finally replied "Fine I'll be your friend, only if you stop asking me about it".

And that was how Hiroki and Isamu became friends. From that day on they were like two peas in a pod, they would everything together.

One day during middle school Hiro introduce Isamu to a very eccentric girl named Rika. Isamu thought this girl to be wild and over the top, which isn't far from the truth.

She was short with curly brown hair that puffed up like an afro. Her uniform was worn messily covered in dirt and dust from outside.

He didn't quite like the girl at first, but she slowly grew on him over time, and before long she was a part of the pack. Although Hiroki is closer to Rika than I am, we're still best friends.

She's still teasing me about how she was my first crush, even thought that was years age.

(End of flashback)

The bus pulled up at his stop, to let him off. It was a quick walk towards the convenience store, where which he worked at.

He went to the staff restroom to get changed out of his school uniform into his work clothes before his shift started. He folded his clothes and placed them inside his school bag, before exiting the restroom to start his shift.

He put his phone on 'Do not disturb' mode so he wouldn't be distracted by it. The afternoon was relatively quiet, with only a few customers.

He went outside for his break, sitting on one of the nearby benches, admiring the sunset. The sky darkened as the sun slowly vanished from his view.

(Isamu's POV)

'I should go back in before any customers come in.'

I opened the door of the store and headed inside for the last part of my shift. The shadows slowly crept up the walls as the stars begun to shine. I looked up to the clock on the wall '8:36pm' 24 more minutes until my shifts over.

'sigh'

As the closing time was approaching, I gathered my phone a school bag as I got the store key out from my pocket. I switched off the lights leaving the fridge on the went to lock up.

I closed the door, and began to walk home, since buses didn't run at this time of night. I took in my surroundings, half-wearily half-curious. The majority of the street was illuminated except for a couple smashed streetlamps.

The streets came alive at night. Bars and brothels bustling. The shouting of some worker telling a customer to get out. I lightly chuckled at that.

The night held something that the daytime didn't, like a different type of energy. A more relaxed environment, should I say.

(End of POV)

The boy walked down the familiar streets as he began to hum a soft tune . . .

'Hmm, hm, hm, hmm, hm, hm'

I always subconsciously sung this song when he was plagued by worries, it reminded him of his mother, who sung it to him as a child. It never failed to sooth him, like a baby with a lullaby.

Isamu turned the corner of the street, heading towards his house. There were no lights on in the house 'I hope he's asleep.' The boy thought to himself, concerned about what waited before him.

He got the key out his pocket, slowly unlocking the front door not daring to make a sound. He turned the doorknob and went inside.

"Phew" He sighed in relief, luckily his father was out but for how long. He went upstairs and took a shower, washing off the concealer from earlier. The cut on the side of cheek was still visible, it would take longer to heal than a bruise.

He brushed his teeth then went into his room, falling onto the bed exhausted from today work.

'Please, last for one more day'

He would be receiving his pay tomorrow, even though it would not nearly be enough to cover all the debt that had accumulated, at least they wouldn't be evicted for another week or two.

His eyelids became heavy slowly covering his eyes. He drifted of into sleep, yet again it would be a dreamless night.