33 - From the beginning, Hajime

A/N: Pretty smart title, I know I know.

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"I'm gonna borrow these two for a quick chat" was the last thing I heard before I got hoisted up in the air- Umemiya is carrying Haru and I on his shoulders like we were just bags of soil- 'What the hell-'

I was already surprised he could carry me...but the two of us?! He's on another level-

"Umemiya-san?! Where are you taking us-?" I blurted out as I felt my cheeks heat up, Haru looks flustered as well. Everyone is staring at us. 'I was ignoring you why are you showing up like this-'

"We're gonna have a nice chat up at the rooftop!" He exclaimed happily as he took us up to the rooftop with no trouble at all.

'He's not affected at all'

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We three sat at the edge of the rooftop, Umemiya just started talking about himself out of the blue...He's talking about his childhood-

While he was talking, we were just staring at him. His arms were stretched out behind him as he stared at the scene below. His hair was moving slightly against the soft breeze of the wind.

He looked pained when he mentioned his parent's death but he was smiling. The whole time he showed us that gentle smile of his. 

I knew he came from an orphanage but I never really thought about how he got there. I never expected it...to be like that. I felt like I could tear up.

He also told us how he met Hiragi, their relationship is just adorable-

I wish I saw how they looked when they were in their first years-

"Why did you tell us all this?" Haru suddenly blurted out as Umemiya finished telling us his story.

He looked taken aback before he faced Haru, giving him a soft smile. "Since you two got involved with Endo, I wanted to tell you guys how I started out everything. Plus, you could say it's my secret to share since I don't just say this to anyone" he said as he turned his head away from us.

"So you trust us like that?" I asked as I tilted my head up, looking at the sky.

"Yeah of course, I'm already so fond of you guys" He answered while still looking at something else.

"Umemiya-san" I called out. 

"Hmm?"

"You're..gonna win..right?"

".....Yeah I can't afford to lose" He said as he finally faced us. "Do you think I'll win Himawari?"'I don't know. I want to believe that you will though. You're Umemiya afterall'

"Yeah. I think you'll win" I said as I smiled at him, he stared at me for a few seconds before he returned the smile. 'It's so weird when he looks at me like that after what he said yesterday..'

"He better win. We'll be handling Endo, he should focus on his opponent" Haruka suddenly said which made me look at him.

"That's encouraging somehow" Umemiya said as he started laughing, his laugh lifting up the mood.

"I'll go and train downstairs, you two can start your session" Haru said as he got up and started walking away. 'Hey why are you leaving me with him?!'

I was gonna get up and follow him but I got pulled back by Umemiya. I turned my head and looked at him just to see him already looking at me.

"I have something to tell you"

I gulped before I sat down and faced him, "What is it?" I asked as I stared at him. Definitely trying not to look nervous as hell but I could feel how loud my heart is beating and how cold my hands are getting.

"Himawari..about yesterday..did I make you uncomfy? I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way" He said as he looked down at his hands. 'What am I supposed to say to that?'

I let out a deep sigh before I answered, "It's alright..it's just confusing....infuriating. I didn't understand why you said those..I think everything you said was wrong. My name..it doesn't suit me..I don't see the joy in things, I do not look for it. I cannot look for it"

"Why?" He asked which made me look at him before replying.

"Because once I'm happy, it'll just be taken away from me. It'll hurt more if I had lingering feelings about it...so I'd rather not" I muttered out as I stared at my hands. 'Why am I even telling him this?'

"Don't say that" 'huh?'

I looked at him as he reached out his hand and held mine against his, "If you say it like that, I might do everything to make you happy" he continued, his grip on my hand tightening.

"Stop saying that- You sound like Haru" I said as I felt my cheeks heat up and I yanked my hand away from his.

"Haha~ Do I? I just think everyone deserves happiness. I also thought I couldn't do that before but I realized that my parents would've been happy if I grew up happy" 

'You're too pure for this world Umemiya'

"If I..get attached with the feeling of happiness..won't that make me fear of losing it? Fear can make one person weak" I said as I looked to the side.

"That's where you are wrong Himawari"

'Why?'

"Feeling scared can make you stronger. Because in that way, you'll feel like you should protect something with all your might"

"I...never thought of it that way" I said as my mouth fell agape, my eyes turned and looked at him.

"Then keep that in mind. It's okay to be scared Himawari. It doesn't make you look weak at all." He said as he showed me a bright smile, my heart skipped a beat. 'I wonder what kind of things he is scared of losing..'

"Thank you..Umemiya-san..I learned a lot of things today" I said as I also smiled over at him. 

"You know Himawari..you can call me by my first name too if you want" 

"H-huh- Why-" I said as I blinked my eyes at him, he doesn't appear to be joking.

"Come on, let me hear it! I'm curious now! Say Hajime~" He said as he grinned at me.

"Stop making it sound like a big deal-"

"If it's not a big deal then say it" He said as he chuckled out.

"Shut up-" I muttered out as I looked away from him, avoiding his gaze. "I still have something to ask you" I said to change the subject.

"Hm what is it?" He said as his grin disappeared, his head tilting to the side.

"About the big fight...they...kept you out of it..didn't they? I heard they specifically ordered that you should stay at the school grounds.." I said as my voice grew quieter with each second I spoke out.

"Oh..yeah they did. It's alright though"

"How's that okay? How are we suppo-"

"Himawari, I'll follow that rule so the fight will run more smoothly. So they won't have any reason to not follow their own rules. We'll be having a meeting about that with the other kings later" I glanced over at him, his eyes showed power in them. 

"Will we be able to protect this town..?"

"Of course. I won't let anyone destroy anyone's happy smiles in this town."

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"Tamon group will be stationed by the bridges" Mizuki-san is explaining our strategy as he pointed at the map of the city.

Everyone's here gathered at one room, all the grade reps and the kings, even Umemiya.

"Everyone join this group chat, we'll relay information as fast as we can to notify the other groups of your status. Send an X if your team can't handle it, if you think your group can handle it..send an O" He continued as he showed a QR code at the screen and we all scanned it to join.

"I have a question" One grade rep said, raising their hand.

"Yes, what is it?" Mizuki said as he looked at the person.

"Where will Umemiya-san stay?" 'Oh I guess they don't know yet-'

"Umemiya..will be staying at the school grounds.."

The others started complaining, asking why Umemiya will be staying here.

"They ordered that as a rule. If Umemiya-shi will break it, they will ignore everyone else and destroy the town." Mizuki replied as he let out a sigh.

My eyes glanced over at Umemiya, he was seating at the side of the room. His arms crossed and his usual happy demeanor, gone. He looks serious. 

It took a few seconds for that to change though-

"Don't look so down guys! That's not a problem for us actually. They got Bofurin wrong. Furin doesn't stand just because I'm here. It stands because every single one of you is here. As long as someone is standing, the town will be safe. So..I'll be counting on you guys! Show them what you got!" He said, showing us a reassuring smile.

If you say it with such power in your voice, it makes me want to believe in it...

I will believe your words,

Hajime.

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A/N: Hi! It's been a while I think? I have no sense of time lately..my sched's so packed so the every other day update is getting affected. I'm sorry if the updates will be completely random from now on but I promise to update nice chapters for ya!

The fight is near, I'm excited! I can't wait to show you guys what I planned for this story...he..he...he

Anyways! Don't forget to share your insights, suggestions or any comments at all! It keeps me going:) Tysm<3

I missed y'all