BUTCHERED HEARTS

Anyone can say that school life marks forever, a before and after in a person’s life, probably defining his or her future steps. Positively or negatively, the years spent are memorable for most people, although... That supposedly pleasant experience for some, ends up being hell for others.

“I can’t stand this way of living any longer. - His shortness of breath only allowed him to remain conscious, hopefully - “Do I really deserve this? H

We know there are consequences and rewards, but how long will each take? Are they enough for everything that has happened?

“Do you even consider your family before you make decisions?! You are hopelessly selfish! - “He’s never going to get tired of repeating the same words, he’s making me tired” he thought knowing there was no point in continuing to talk to someone with an unshakable ego -. ” K

The way you want to have your life does not always align with the way you are made to live.

Chapter One; Irretrievable Journey.

H. Waking up one morning with a heavy sigh, being aware that the simple act of getting up takes courage, just as she was going through a basic routine to get ready for her sophomore year of high school, her father knocked three times on the door to get her attention- . Helenie, come down for a moment, we want to talk to you,” he spoke from behind the door, his footsteps sounding as he walked away.

- I’ll be down in a moment! - She shouted from her room, on her way to the door, finishing fixing her straight black hair.

As she walked down the hallway, which led to the dining room where her parents sat, murmuring to each other like children, she stopped as her daughter came to sit across from them.

- Did something happen? They’re not usually here at this hour. - She mentioned lightly as if it were a curious fact, quietly leaning back in her seat.

- We’re moving to Japan! - They said holding hands, in unison and with a smile on their faces that overflowed with excitement.

“Perplexed” is the best way to describe the younger girl’s face, hearing such a crazy thing from her parents. Japan? Can they even speak Japanese? Sometimes she couldn’t quite understand them, working all day, it seemed endless when it came to “family time”. So many thoughts running through her head, good and bad, her life had just taken an unexpected turn overnight, without even an anticipation. Going? Maybe, her parents don’t normally take her into account for their decisions, and this, just states the obvious.

“You never cease to amaze me with this kind of thing” He thought because clearly, his parents told him that he would not be going to high school today, he had to get busy packing absolutely everything, and have it ready in three days. So, he just nodded and headed to his room, doing just that, anyway, disappearing from that place didn’t sound bad at all.

“Will I finally be able to have that silence I always wished for, I want to find out.”

The Votto’s, a rather simple and straightforward family, an opportunity comes their way in which their financial worries will become a thing of the past. They get their firstborn to start her new year at Japan’s second-ranked high school, where it’s more than clear, it’s a place of high standards. Helenie Votto was admitted there, her grades were not disappointing so it was not complicated. All that was left was to arrive, to start a new life, a different country, meaning culture, food, customs, and so on, all of which were out of the ordinary.

The three days passed, and after hours of a long journey, they were finally in their new home, a large, two-storey, two-storey place.

They spent the whole day unpacking and arranging as best they could that spacious place, quite different from their old flat, which in the youngest girl’s heart made her feel satisfied with this drastic change. At the end of the day, after a lot of hard work, they had almost the whole place done, some minor details could be left for later.

“In spite of her quick attempt to study the language, it was quite complex in such a short time, she was aware of how difficult it would be to study in this way, so that week before the start of classes she took it completely for the understanding of the language and to decide something, there was no one to make her change her mind.

K. There was a week left until the start of classes, the idea of waking up early again for a reason, he didn’t like it very much, he just liked doing nothing while appreciating the views of the city from his huge window. “I want to go for a walk, there’s a coffee shop that sells Yokan, it would be the closest one that sells it” Determined to try it, he left with that idea in his head, but not before noticing that, when leaving the building, a moving truck caught his attention “Oh, new neighbours, I wonder which family it is... Maybe it’s just one person, or a newly married couple, someone from politics? Ah- I did it again.” He shook his head as if that would erase his thoughts, and continued walking until he came upon the coffee shop.

“Whatever you wish, we create it,” it said under the name. “What I wished for, right?” A sigh came unconsciously out of his mouth, preventing him from thinking again.

- Welcome to KO-in Cafe - Along with a slight bow the girl who fortunately received him, was enchanted by the marked but delicate features of the customer in front of her. Is it possible to describe his features that way? The moment the girl stopped wandering in her mind, the boy was greeted with kindness and attention, and then assigned to a table for one. - We are here to serve you, anytime. - Definitely not just the waitress, most people were at least glancing sideways at the boy who entered quietly but not at all unnoticed. Isn’t he being too idolised? It seems like a joke for someone to draw attention to himself like that.

He asked for what he wanted, it was his only goal there after all. He checked his mobile phone from time to time, as he expected there were no messages beyond the usual ones from his friends. “So, it’s getting less and less time, huh?” Flooding in his thoughts, without noticing the dessert lay in front of him, which he quickly thanked the waitress for, his gaze fixed on the sweet, smiling as he took the first taste.

- It tastes perfect... - he whispered to himself with a feeling of nostalgia, shouldn’t he be used to it by now? Maybe he forgets that he is still a child when it comes to negative feelings.

When he returned home, he lay down on his couch, lying down like that the views are in front of him and he can just not think about anything, his favourite place with a cup of coffee, simply the best plan he can come up with when he is alone.

There was one week left until the start of a new school year, new experiences, probably new people, and therefore possible risks, being careful is the crucial thing in the life of the boy who apparently doesn’t like to do anything. Can that even be called living?

N. Nevertheless, that new year would come to turn their lives upside down. The question is, how much will they like it? Precisely, as the week goes by, the first day of school begins, and the answer to that question would be resolved little by little.

Taking a route to the nearest underground, Helenie was clearly amazed at all the routes the trains took. Seeing the direction she needed to go, she jumped right in, sitting down awkwardly, but achieving her goal, a puff of air escaping from her mouth, letting it out as she relaxed.

Curiously, the black-haired man took the same route, standing all the way to the high school. With his eyes fixed on the outskirts that could be seen through the windows of the train, his headphones isolated him from the world, being quietly oblivious to the interesting commotion that his appearance demonstrated to the rest of the people on the train.

Half an hour was enough time to reach their destination, both of them leaving to enter their high school. Helenie was amazed at how big the high school was, even if her face didn’t show that amazement, on the other hand, the boy, who of course, I haven’t told his name, is Kazuo, it was his high school, so he walked in like any other day. Arriving at the classroom.

H. “So... These are the classrooms? They’re too perfect to be for students” She thought almost immediately as she entered, simply walking inside to sit down, downplaying the clear stares because she was a “new girl”, what did it matter? She simply didn’t want to draw attention to herself and her face obviously showed it. Although there was something that caught her attention as she sat down, there were too many people surrounding a seat, were they watching something? Without understanding, his answer was granted as the people opened up and he managed to see a boy, who was smiling warmly at everyone, while talking to each and every one of them. A black-haired boy, he couldn’t see well, but it seemed that his eyes were grey, he looked pretty good, but that wasn’t what caught the girl’s attention, it was his ease in getting all these people to surround him without further ado. “Her thoughts were interrupted the moment the teacher entered and almost by inertia they all took their seats.

K. - Kazuo-san, did you do anything interesting during the holidays? - That was the most repeated question by everyone, they were always so curious about his life, it was funny to him, but he enjoyed how people always wanted to be by his side. - Yes, as a matter of fact, I’ve been trying out new food places to go with you guys at some point, how about tomorrow after school we all go for a coffee - said the red-haired man with a smile quite comforting to anyone watching him, and clearly those were the people around him who almost in unison were talking about how much they wanted it to be tomorrow to go to where he just mentioned to them.

- We have a student who was accepted for foreign opportunities, please introduce yourself to the class Miss... Votto- It was clear that she didn’t know what he was referring to so she just looked straight ahead and spoke. - My name is Helenie Votto, I come from London and I moved here. -He definitely had no idea how to introduce himself, without adding anything the teacher let him pass and the class began as usual.

The classes finished and before he knew it the first day of classes was over, the black-haired boy turned his face to the seat where the foreigner was sitting, but she was not there, he got up quickly to look for her -Kazuo-san let’s go- -Quickly and almost without looking he interrupted them- I’m sorry, I can’t today, see you tomorrow.

He ran as far as he could to the exit, with his eyes he looked for her until he found her, he came closer and shouted her name, why was he doing all that? He hates the idea of not having someone’s attention.

- Hey, new girl, wait there!