TW: depression, self harm, attempted suicide

             The next day, Akihiko couldn’t muster the energy to come out of his room. Facing the stares seemed impossible to him. Akihiko looked at the clock. 5:30 pm?!

           He rolled out of bed and went to his closet, where he had hidden a scalpel he’d pocketed back when he and Kyoko searched the infirmary. He took it out and stared at it.

          Kaito’s probably dead.

          Grandma and Grandpa are probably dead.

          Leon is dead.

          Sayama-sensei is most likely still alive… and my grandparents probably made her mine and Kaito’s guardian in case of emergency.

          Do I actually have a reason to live?

          “…” I don’t. Akihiko slowly, deliberately drew the scalpel across his arm. Hypnotically, blood slowly bloomed from the cut and slowly trickled down his arm like a tear. He shook himself from his stupor.

          I shouldn’t make them go through a long class trial where they could possibly get executed. Blood dripping from his arm, Akihiko walked over to a notepad and pen on his desk.  He started to write. 

         To whomever it may concern,

I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I don’t want to stay here anymore. I’m tired. I’m writing this as evidence so that way nobody gets harmed from my actions. I wish I could help more, but at least you have one less person to get out of here. It’s nobody’s fault but mine that I did this. I wish you all the best…

         -Akihiko Momota 

         Akihiko slid the note under his door into the hallway. He then sat on the floor, leaning against his bed, took a shaky breath in, and started cutting.

…

        “So what did you want to talk to me about, Owada-san?” Sakura and Mondo were taking a walk around the first floor of the school.

        Mondo scuffed his heel on the tiled floor. “It’s Akihiko. He’s been actin’ strange since after Kuwata died. At first I thought it was because he was just mourning a friend, but I think it’s more than that.”

       “…You too, hm.” Mondo looked up in surprise.

       Sakura chuckled slightly. “You’re not the only one who thinks of the boy as a little brother.” She turned serious again. “But yes, I’ve noticed his behavior and I'm rather concerned.”

       “We, uh, had a fight yesterday.”

       “What about?”

       “I asked him if he was okay, and he told me yes, but he was lying. I pushed him a little too hard and he got mad.” Mondo looked down. “It’s all my fault. I don’t think he’s even gotten out of his room today.”

       Sakura put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Owada-san. Why don’t we go check on him together?”

       Mondo hesitated, then nodded. He followed Sakura to Akihiko’s dorm door. Sakura knocked. There was no answer. Mondo stepped forward to knock, but heard the crinkling of paper under his foot. He looked down. A piece of lined paper was under his foot. Mondo picked it up and started to read. His face turned pale.

        “What-“ Wordlessly, Mondo handed Sakura the note. She read it and turned as pale as him.

         “We need to get in there.” Mondo growled. Sakura nodded in agreement.

          “On three, knock it down. One, two…three!” The two pushed at the door. Too late, Mondo remembered the no breaking things rule. Who cares! I need to help Akihiko.

         Repeatedly, the two kicked the door until it was knocked down. They looked wildly around the room to look for Akihiko when Mondo spotted him.

       There was blood everywhere. In the middle sat Akihiko, mechanically slicing at his arms, slowly getting closer to his wrists. His eyes showed no pain or emotion, but fixated on the slowly dripping blood.

       Mondo cursed under his breath. He and Sakura ran over to him and immediately tried to restrain him and take away what looked to be a scalpel. Akihiko snapped back to life as soon as Mondo grabbed him.

      “Let go of me!” Akihiko struggled, arms and legs flailing every which way.

       “Not a chance.” Mondo said. “I’m not going to let you kill yourself for no reason.”  Sakura grabbed at Akihiko’s hand with the weapon, but accidentally touched his cuts. He screamed and flung his hand back.

        “Ouch!” Mondo hissed. Akihiko froze and looked up. He had swiped a cut across Mondo’s face. Akihiko started shaking.

         “Let me die, please.” He whimpered. “I have nobody left. I’m so lonely. Senpai, please.” He struggled again, albeit being seemingly defeated this time.

         Mondo hesitated, but then hugged Akihiko closely to stop him from moving, being careful not to touch the boy’s arms except to keep him from hurting himself.

         “S-senpai?” Akihiko stopped.

         “You might not care about me, but I care about you. I don’t want you to die.” Mondo said quietly. “I’m sorry for yelling at you yesterday. I yell when I get nervous. And besides, plenty of people care about you. I will make sure you aren’t alone.”

         “I feel the same way,” Sakura added. “In fact, if you’d like, I would like to spend time with you and Mondo if he wants after you get cleaned up.”

          “Don’t kill yourself. I…I can’t…” Mondo gritted his teeth and sighed. He hated being vulnerable. “I can’t have someone else die because of my actions again.” Sakura glanced at him, sensing more to the story but she chose not to pry.

          “Whenever you need something, come find me. No matter what I’m doing, you come get me. I want you to stay alive, get out of here, even if nobody else does, bro.” Akihiko’s face crumpled, and he started crying. 

          Gently, Sakura pried the scalpel out of Akihiko’s hand and left to go dispose of it.

          Mondo sat silently, holding onto Akihiko firmly like he was the only thing holding him together. “I won’t let go until you’re ready.” He mumbled. I won’t make the same mistake I did with big bro Daiya.

          Akihiko put his arms over Mondo’s, hugging him back. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He cried.

          “Not your fault.” Mondo reassured. “Take your time, bro. I’m stayin’.” Akihiko cried and cried until he got it all out and he was hiccuping slightly.

          “Thank you, O-owada-senpai.” Akihiko sniffled.

          “Ya know I never said you had to call me Owada again? And drop the senpai, I told you we’re bros.”

          “S-sorry.”

          “No sorries needed, Aki. Just please make me a promise, man-to-man. Find me whenever you feel like doing this again. I’ll stop everything I’m doing.”

          “I…Owa…Mondo…”

          Mondo panicked. “I mean, you don’t have to! I just don’t want you to do this again.”

          “That’s not what I meant, just…are you sure you want me to annoy you that often?” Akihiko let go of Mondo’s arms and picked at a cut on his wrist. Mondo quickly shifted his hold to Akihiko’s hands.

         “It’s okay, ya know. Like I said, bros look out for each other. So, if you want…promise?”

         “…” Akihiko leaned back onto Mondo’s chest. “I promise.”

         Mondo smiled down at him. “Thanks, man. Wanna go and clean up?” Akihiko nodded.

         The two of them got up and walked quickly to the infirmary. Mondo took out a roll of bandages and rubbing alcohol then started to treat Akihiko’s cuts. 

         “You’re good at this.” Akihiko commented. Mondo chuckled.

          “As a leader of a gang, I kinda have to be. Get into a lot of scraps n’ stuff.” Mondo carefully tucked the end of the bandage in.

          “You don’t have someone specifically trained for that?”

           “Nah, we can’t really pay ‘em with anything.” Akihiko nodded thoughtfully. Mondo noticed bandages sticking out of the younger’s pant legs. “What are those from?”

            Akihiko glanced down. “Oh. Those are from Leon’s…execution.” He lifted his shirt to show the bruises on his back and stomach. 

             Mondo winced. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

            “It’s…alright. He’s gone…nothing is going to bring him back.” Silently, not knowing what to say, Mondo finished wrapping up Akihiko’s injuries. Then he took out a small bandage to start treating the cut on his face.

            “I’m sorry for cutting your face.” Mondo nodded and finished cleaning his cut and placed the bandage on top.

            “Are you…” Mondo read exactly what Akihiko was thinking. “Going to tell anyone?” Mondo finished. “No. It wasn’t your fault.”

            Akihiko looked miserable, but replied, “Thank you.” 

           They spent the next hour talking. “So do you get along with anyone here well?” Akihiko asked. 

           Mondo thought for a moment. “Uhh…not too many people. I guess maybe Fujisaki, Kuwata…” He glanced at Akihiko but the Ultimate Child Prodigy showed no reaction. “And Ishimaru.”

           Akihiko’s mouth dropped open. “Huh? Mr. Straight-laced-I-hate-geniuses-and-rulebreakers?! You were just fighting him in the last class trial!” 

           Mondo laughed. “Yep! And you’re pretty straight-laced too, you know. Why do you hate him so much?”

           “He…uh….was the first guy I talked to when I woke up. And when I introduced myself as the Ultimate Child Prodigy, he closed himself off, saying he hated geniuses because they never work hard. But…” Akihiko quickly explained how he achieved his Ultimate title. “It just rubbed me the wrong way.”

          “Hm…I’ll go talk to him.”  

          “Huh? You will?”

          “Duh!” Mondo grinned. “You’re a cool dude, so I’d be weird not to!”

           Akihiko smiled widely at Mondo. “Thank you. I was wrong earlier, by the way. I still have someone I care about-you and even though I didn’t think so before, everyone else as well.” Mondo’s eyes widened, then he ruffled the ten year old’s hair. 

          Akihiko pouted, seeming even younger than he was, clinging to Mondo’s hand on his head. “Come on, Mondo big brooo…”

          Mondo grinned and tickled Akihiko. Akihiko screamed with laughter. As Mondo roughhoused with Akihiko, he realized something:

          This was the happiest he’d been since Daiya died.