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[New Story] Our Rebellion Phase Is Not As Smooth As We Expected, Chapter 1.
🕑 Added 2024-05-19 18:55:05 +0000 UTCOregairu x Naruto.
Yukinoshita Yukino x Uchiha Sasuke.
—OoOoO—
Summary: Having extraordinary siblings should be be a great motivation and role model. They are the closest people you can look up to. However, what if their perfection always leaves you in the shadows? This is the story of those who want to escape the shadow of perfection and go to find their own motherland. Pain, blood, sweat, sorrow, and even a little deviation from people so-called society. They went through everything just to find a place where they could express themselves.
Chapter 1: Our Life Is Not As Smooth As People Expected.
—OoOoO—
"Uchiha Sasuke, can you explain this?"
An adult man sat on a luxurious-looking sofa with his arms crossed. The wrinkles on his forehead appeared more obvious as his eyebrows curved sharply. His jaw seemed to harden as if the man held back the turmoil inside his body.
Even though he was faced with a question with a cold intonation, a little boy sitting on another sofa could only look down listlessly. Seeing that he wouldn't get an answer, the adult man clarified what he was concerned about.
“Why did you only get third place? An Uchiha shouldn't be ranked that low.”
The little boy named Sasuke remained silent. Never mind answering, he didn't even dare look at the man's eyes. However, before the man pressed Sasuke, a woman sitting beside him interrupted their conversation.
“Third place in cohort isn't that bad, right, Fugaku-san? Moreover, it’s still Sasuke-kun's second year in elementary school."
The man named Fugaku briefly glanced at the woman. But he returned his gaze to Sasuke in the next second.
“Second place’s that Shiho girl, right? She’s a poor girl that needs to share her room with her brother. Meanwhile, the first place’s Haruno Sakura."
Fugaku paused his sentence for a long time. However, no one interrupted him because they knew the man hadn't finished yet.
"There’re no other special notes that need attention. However, both of them come from ordinary families.”
Fugaku then looked at little Sasuke sharply.
"As for you, you’re an Uchiha. You’ve all the privileges needed to reach first place. I even gave you a private tutor to ensure you could secure first place.”
The Uchiha Family was one of the conglomerate families in Japan that lived in Kyoto. Their main businesses were finance, technology, and food. The Uchiha were a family with solid traditions. With their high status and privileges, the Uchiha always prioritised the principle of perfect domination.
Therefore, aiming for the top position in every field they pursued was a standard tradition in the Uchiha blood. Moreover, if it was something as trivial as a school ranking, there was no reason for an Uchiha to fail to get it.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Sasuke, the youngest child still in his second year of elementary school, failed to execute something considered trivial and should’ve been done correctly with little effort.
"Your brother, Itachi, always gets first place with perfect scores. Moreover, from elementary school until now he’s attending a superior school. And you? I sent you to a public school to give a good impression to people because your uncle’s going to run for the general election."
“Nii-san’s still in his first year, isn't he? Who knows, his ranking will fall next semester," Sasuke muttered.
Unfortunately, Fugaku heard the babbling and immediately glared at his son. The gaze penetrated Sasuke's every cell so deeply that it made the boy's guts shrink.
“Before you worry about your brother, look at your embarrassing ranking,” Fugaku said coldly, “Besides, who taught you to talk trash like that? Is that the Namikaze boy? You hang around too much with that idiot kid, and that's why your ranking’s dropping.”
"Fugaku-san, it's unethical to insult other people's children," interrupted the woman beside him, “Sasuke-kun is still very young. He is different from Itachi-kun. There is no meaning in comparing them. Moreover, Sasuke-kun has done well this semester."
Fugaku looked at the woman deeply. He then looked into her eyes while letting out a long snort.
“You spoil him too much, Mikoto. If you keep doing that, Sasuke will never be as good as Itachi.”
Without waiting for any response, the man got up from his seat. He briefly glanced at Sasuke with a cold gaze before looking away.
"I hope you don't tarnish the Uchiha name any more than this, my son."
—OoOoO—
"Wot?! Yer pops scolded ya ‘though ya rocked third place?!”
Two elementary school boys walking hand in hand on the streets of a shopping district. The first boy, who asked in disbelief, was a boy with spiky blonde hair and eyes as bright as the morning sky. Meanwhile, the second boy was Uchiha Sasuke, with jet-black hair and sharp onyx eyes.
“Yeah, ma pops’ hella annoying. Always comparin’ me to ma bro.”
Sasuke hung up on his words with a hint of curiosity crossing his mind.
"Wot ‘bout ya, Naruto?"
Even though they had just finished school for today, the two boys with strong Kansai dialects didn’t immediately go to their respective homes. More precisely, Naruto dragged Sasuke somewhere to try every ramen shop around them until he found the best one.
“Nah, ma pops didn't mind it and just gave me some words. But ma mom chewed me real bad. She's like a beast, gotcha?”
“Ya really down there in the ranks. No wonder yer mom’s all heated," Sasuke replied.
"I know, ‘kay? But adults ‘re mad dull, ya know? Always judgin’ stuff with numbers and whatnot.”
“I ain’t that close to many adults, but ma pops hella annoying. And the others? They’re like leeches, man. They butter me up just ‘cause I’m an Uchiha and hopin’ for payback from ma clan.”
Naruto didn’t immediately reply to the complaint. Or rather, he was too ignorant that his young self didn't really understand the complications Sasuke was feeling.
“I don't get it, but being rich seems kinda hassle. Like, ya hardly ‘ve any time to just relax and play.”
Unlike Sasuke, who came from an elite circle, Naruto came from a middle-class family. In fact, because Sasuke attended the public school closest to his residence, all the people in his school only came from the middle class to the upper middle class. So, Sasuke's existence was a bit of an anomaly.
Most people feel inferior when meeting someone from high-end ranks like Sasuke. Others were opportunists who tried to build special relationships. However, growing up and getting used to such an environment made Sasuke very sensitive to their hidden and evil intentions. As such, he grew into a closed, indifferent, and even cold person, making him very difficult to approach.
However, Namikaze Naruto was different. He was a simple-minded boy that was grew up with excellent parents. Therefore, he was too innocent to have such hidden thoughts and intentions.
The two boys were too lost in their conversation, which only involved games, manga, anime, and food. They didn't even notice their steps until Naruto bumped into someone.
Sasuke reflexively stopped in his tracks when Naruto fell and sat. He looked at the blonde boy but then shifted his gaze to the person Naruto had bumped into.
It was a big man carrying a sports bag over his shoulder. Sasuke thought they were in trouble. However, the man squatted down and showed a worried expression.
"Boy, ‘re ya ‘kay?"
Naruto was stunned for a moment, but he immediately recovered and took the hand the man held out.
“It’s fine. But wow! Yer body’s so big, Nii-san!”
Hearing that response, Sasuke immediately glared at his friend.
“You can’t say that to people you just met, Naruto,” he said in normal Japanese accent and then looked at the man, “But he's right. I've never met someone as big as you.”
Hearing the innocent questions from the two boys forced the man to laugh.
"Hahaha. Ma body’s big ‘cause I’m strong and trainin’ hard. But there’s tons of folks out there who’re as massive, or even bigger than me, ya know?”
Indeed, the man had a posture that was beyond Japanese standards. His body was almost 190 centimetres with a large stature. In fact, Sasuke, who was used to seeing bodyguards working for his family, had never seen someone as big as him.
When Sasuke was about to reply, he found someone tapping the man’s shoulder.
"‘Sup, bro?"
“Ah, Yahiko. Nothing. Just accidentally bumped into these brats.”
After the brief exchange of words was over, another group of men appeared behind them. Apart from their tall and big stature, one thing that looked similar about them was that they both carried sports bags on their shoulders. The appearance amazed Naruto.
"Wow, they’re all big," commented the blonde boy without realising it.
“Yeah, I fell ‘ya. But that Yahiko guy’s small compared to them," added Sasuke innocently.
That comment offended the man named Yahiko. He squatted down and looked at Sasuke and Naruto alternately.
“Hey, hey, hey. I ain’t that small, ya know? Ma height’s even 175 and ma weight’s 66 kilo. Though ain’t as big as them, I'm the strongest in the dojo. No, I’m the best judoka in Kyoto.”
Sasuke and Naruto were stunned for a few moments. They were silent, not even blinking, until finally, Naruto said a few words.
“What’s the judoka, by the way?”
“It’s a term for someone who’s into judo. At least ya know what judo’s, aintcha?”
“Ah, I knew that. Those who wear clothes similar to karate dudes, right?”
Sasuke nodded slowly, "That's it. Wonder why they don't make their own uniforms to look cooler.”
The adult men felt their eyebrows twitch when they heard the boys’ chatter. Even though Kyoto was known to have a more polite etiquette because the prefecture upheld customs and traditions, the Kansai people were still Kansai people at heart. Although not as loud as the Osaka people, many Kyoto people were honest about their thoughts. Sasuke and Naruto also fall into that group.
“Hey, brats. ‘Though it looks the same, judogi has different details from karategi, ya know?”
Yahiko said that while trying to give the elementary school boys the best possible understanding. Unfortunately, they only responded with blank expressions, as if they weren't sure what Yahiko meant. However, the man who bumped into Naruto just now immediately intervened in their conversation.
“Well, well. Boys their age will understand quickly if they see and feel it firsthand," said the man, placing his hands on Sasuke and Naruto's shoulders, “So, why don't you come with us to the dojo?"
—OoOoO—
The main lesson children always taught by teachers at school and parents at home was that they couldn't easily trust strangers. Children should avoid following a group of strange men without a familiar adult accompanying them. Never mind Sasuke, even a knew as innocent as Naruto knew that.
Unfortunately, the curiosity of the boys that still in their second year of elementary school kicked in and took over their common sense. Thus, despite the risks, Sasuke and Naruto followed people they had just met. However, luck was still on their side because the people they followed were real judokas.
It was a spacious dojo with many modern touches. Sasuke could even see some gym equipment that he didn't know the function of other than barbells for strength training. The floor was made of good quality wood, and the mattress wasn’t only thick but also felt soft, minimising the risk of injury.
Unlike Naruto, who easily joined the judo practitioners, Sasuke sat quietly on the sidelines watching them. At first, Sasuke cringed when he saw their warm-up movements. However, when the judoka started to enter the grappling and throwing training session, little Sasuke could only stare in amazement.
In particular, when he saw Yahiko, a man who was only 175 centimetres tall and weighed 66 kilo, Sasuke was amazed that he could throw and slam an opponent much bigger than him. Sasuke knew it wasn't just a coincidence because no matter who he was sparring against, that man always dominated.
After an hour of randori or sparring, Yahiko walked towards Sasuke, who was still faithfully paying attention to the training while sitting with his arms around his knees on the outskirts of the dojo.
“Yo, brat. Judo’s amazing, right?”
Sasuke stared at Yahiko for several seconds without saying a word. However, he then buried part of his face in his knees.
"I ain’t sure. But how can ya beat someone who’s clearly much bigger than ya?”
Hearing that question, Yahiko snorted softly with a smile. He then positioned himself to sit comfortably next to Sasuke.
“That's ‘cause I'm strong. I trainin’ ma butt off to beat all ma opponents. Well, all martial arts can be used to smash bigger dudes, tho. But I think judo’s the best if ya wanna beat big guys.”
Sasuke pondered those words thoroughly, but he gave no meaningful response. However, Yahiko understood that his words had sunk into the boy's brain, so he didn't care, even though Sasuke seemed to ignore him.
“Yer friend, that blonde brat, is he a Caucasian?” Yahiko asked.
“Naruto? Don’t know what Caucasian’s. But his pops’ a half-blood.”
“Oh, no wonder then. It’s ma first time to see such blonde hair and blue eyes," Yahiko said while watching Naruto, "By the way, yer friend’s very excited, ain’t he? ‘Though what he does is mostly playing, he’s very eager to follow instructions.”
“Bet the enthusiasm will be gone next week. Lastly, he was into drawin’ manga, but that didn't last long.”
Naruto was a child who was classified as hyperactive and liked new things. However, he was terrible at maintaining the excitement. The only consistent thing he could maintain was his unwavering love for ramen.
Yahiko turned his gaze back to Sasuke.
"How ‘bout ya? Interested in tryin’ judo?”
Sasuke still wore a hesitant expression at the question.
“Can I beat a person who was born perfect if I learn judo?” Sasuke asked innocently.
That unexpected question made Yahiko take a back.
“Well, I don't fully understand what ya mean. But I'm sure there’re no perfect people in this world. ‘Though it looked perfect on the surface, there’re bound to be weaknesses that not many people knew ‘bout. As long as the person still has weaknesses, defeatin’ him ain’t impossible.”
Yahiko paused his words to take a moment to breathe.
“So, who do you wanna beat? A boy in yer class who’s also yer love rival?" Yahiko asked a little jokingly.
"It's ma brother," Sasuke replied softly with a sad look, "He's good at everything and has always been the pride of ma family. No matter what I did, I never surpassed him and ma pop never acknowledged ma efforts.”
“Is he also good at martial arts?”
“I ain’t sure, but ma mom said he has a weaker physique. But it can be easily covered up and ain’t a big deal because he’s a very brilliant dude and that doesn't mean he can't do outdoor activities."
“Then, do the martial arts or any other sports,” replied Yahiko quickly, “If he has a weaker physique, means he has no talent in sports. If ya focus on this area, ya can do something yer brother can't.”
Sasuke looked at Yahiko with a questioning look.
“Doesn't that sound like a coward?”
Yahiko didn’t immediately reply. Even though he knew what to say, he needed to put together the right words. The reason was that his interlocutor was an elementary school boy in his second year. Above all, Yahiko noticed that the boy had an inferiority complex. So, he had to pay careful attention to his choice of words.
“As I said, no human’s perfect. A person may be good at some things, but there’re also things they’re not good at. Yer bro’s talented in academics, but he mightn’t be very good at sports ‘though he can still participate in outdoor activities to some extent.”
Yahiko looked straight at Sasuke, giving a strong message through his eyes so that the boy would not be trapped in a dilemma.
“The point’s, every human being’s unique. It’s useless comparin’ each other. The most important thing’s tryin’ many things until ya find one ya really wanna stick with. It doesn't hafta be sports, but it could also be art, cookin’, sewin’, or whatever.”
Yahiko paused his words again to take a breath.
“‘Course, school’s also important. But ya go to school not to catchin’ up with yer bro, but gainin’ enough knowledge to understand how the world works. Simply put, sport’s no less important even if ya don't aim becomin’ a pro. After all, ya need a healthy body to enjoy anything in this world. And getin’ a healthy body, ya needa exercise.”
After saying his long lecture, Yahiko looked at Sasuke with a big smile.
“So, wanna try judo?”
—OoOoO—
"What? Sasuke wants to learn judo?” Fugaku asked in surprise.
In a master room in the Uchiha mansion, Fugaku sat on an expensive single sofa with a glass of water on the table next to him. The couch that Fugaku sat on wasn’t the only one. Because that was the room for Mr. and Mrs. Uchiha, of course, there was two single sofas flanked the round table. On another couch was Uchiha Mikoto, Fugaku's wife.
"Sasuke-kun came to me this afternoon and he said he wanted to try judo."
“Why judo? It's meaningless. I’ve looked for music and Mandarin tutors for him. If he wants to try sports, he better do swimming classes on the weekends.”
Mikoto tightened the fists on her nightgown, which was a kimono, causing the soft fabric to wrinkle. Her ears felt hot when she heard her husband's stern statement. However, he couldn’t fight stone with stone.
'Sasuke-kun came to me because he knew Fugaku-san wouldn't allow him to learn judo. He was already very stressed because he had to face his father's high expectations after Itachi-kun easily exceeded the standards that Fugaku-san had set for him. As a mother, it makes my chest feel tight every time I see him pushing so hard to meet those expectations even though I've often said there's no need to compare him to his brother.'
Mikoto grabbed the glass on the table and poured water into it. Like a high-rank lady, she elegantly drank the water to give herself extra time to think.
'Sasuke-kun is too demanded to do what Itachi-kun can do. The problem is that from the start, Itachi-kun was a child who preferred indoor activities such as reading books, going to museums, or seeing science and technology exhibitions. Meanwhile, Sasuke-kun has never shown any interest. This is the first time he has asked me for something directly.
Mikoto closed her eyes, and flashbacks of Sasuke flooded her mind. Mikoto herself came from a very prominent family, the elite of all elites, who married Fugaku because her family arranged for her to do so. She really understood what kind of demands were placed on upper-class families, forcing children to become adults much more quickly.
On the surface, being born into a family with everything might sound great. However, it was undoubtedly like a high-speed marathon because many families still adhere strictly to tradition. They must understand morals, integrity, dignity, and the demand not to bring shame to the family name.
Itachi was a child who was naturally born with qualities and talents that made him a perfect human being in the eyes of society. However, Mikoto understood that humans had their own attributes, and she never felt disappointed when she learned that Sasuke didn’t have what his brother had. To her, it just meant that her youngest child had other qualities that his older brother didn't have, and Mikoto would be happy to support him.
The fact that Sasuke had finally made his first wish, a genuine wish and not just the babbling of a toddler, made Mikoto very happy. As such, she swore in her father's name that she would make it happen, no matter what.
“Judo isn’t as bad as you think. It’s one of Japan's cultural heritages. For a family with a long history like the Uchiha, judo isn’t something uncultured.”
Judo probably only started in the 19th century. However, the art of grappling has been deeply rooted in Japanese history even since the prehistoric era, and the first manuscripts were recorded in the 8th century or the Heian Period. At that time, all martial arts in Japan were still divided into two genres, sumai, or sumo’s ancestor, and jujutsu, the art of killing humans.
“The Uchiha Clan is descended from the Fujiwara Clan through the Konoe Family line. Mastering the strategic political and business is our tradition. Even though judo has deep roots in Japanese culture, it won’t provide any benefit to our family unless our athletes compete in the Corporate League. And you didn't think I’d let my own flesh and blood follow that barbaric competition, did you?”
As expected, Fugaku countered with a tight point. However, Mikoto didn't just give up trying to persuade her husband.
“Imperial family were recognised sports as a national identity and a tool for uniting the nation. For this reason, the name "Emperor's Cup" is always used in every professional level sports championship event. In particular, His Imperial Majesty, my own father, also loves sports, especially judo.”
Mikoto sighed softly and then looked straight at Fugaku.
“A talent like Itachi-kun's is technically very advantageous because he’s a natural born leader. But sport always has its merits and emotional value as a spirit of unification, harmony and sportsmanship. If His Majesty finds out that one of his grandchildren is doing sports, I'm sure he will be happy. That way, the Uchiha Family's relationship with the imperial family, which has been damaged since the grandfather-in-law's generation, can be more harmonious."
Mikoto's tongue felt numb after comparing her children's talents and hobbies to something only seen based on value and merits. However, she couldn't help it because it would only escalate into an unnecessary dispute if she persuaded her husband with the same stubbornness.
Before being betrothed to Fugaku, Mikoto was the princess and daughter of the current Emperor. Meanwhile, before the Kazoku system, or noble ranks, was abolished by the Emperor through the Japanese Imperial Charter in 1947, the Uchiha were one of the highest nobles with the title Kotaishaku or the equivalent of Duke.
However, after the entire nobility system outside the imperial family was abolished, there were many pros and cons among the Japanese nobles. Many of the Emperor's loyalists supported it as a form of solidarity for penance and shame after defeat in the Second World War. However, some weren’t happy with that decision because apart from many of their privileges being stripped away, many of their assets written on the books as nobles were also confiscated by the state.
However, after the Showa Era ended, people realised that continued conflict didn’t reflect their ancestors' ideas for Japan's prosperity. For that reason, both parties cooperated and showed goodwill to improve relations, including marrying the Emperor's first daughter to the heir of the Uchiha Family.
Although Mikoto's imperial family title was renounced after her marriage, that didn’t mean all her ties to the imperial court were cut. In fact, with her current status, there were various ways to build a bridge between the imperial family and the Uchiha Clan.
Fugaku, who had been silent while considering his wife's advice, exhaled. He wanted to uphold the Uchiha traditions and values but must pay attention to his obligations, including improving family relations.
“Fine. But if his ranking drops from single digits, I’ll force Sasuke out of judo, no matter what.”
—OoOoO—
“Hayato-kun, these are valentine chocolates for you!”
I probably will regret that sentence for the rest of my life. No, I am sure I will regret it. Even when graduation day almost arrived, I became more confident about it.
Hayato—I mean Hayama-kun—I even don't want to call him by his first name anymore. The point is, I know that this guy is loved by many girls at my school. Unfortunately, I, Yukinoshita Yukino, greatly underestimated how stupid humans could become. When they were faced with this superior me, these stupid people were busy looking for ways to intimidate and bring me down instead of increasing their value and quality.
I stare straight at my locker, unsure how to react when I find one of my outdoor shoes gone.
'It was my 55th shoes since I gave Hayama-kun chocolate last month.'
I sigh in resignation and open my backpack. Luckily, the shoes for a sixth-year elementary school girl are relatively small, so I can put them in my bag and carry them around since all this happened.
That is really sad. Seeing their rotten and despicable identities actually makes me feel like I want to pity them instead of wanting to take revenge. I never believed that cases of bullying like those in TV dramas were real until I actually experienced it and becoming a victim myself.
Am I angry? Of course, I am angry. Do I want revenge? I don't know, but I don't think so. Carrying out aggression only proves that I consider them equal human beings, and they succeed in intimidating me. And even until my bones disintegrate into pieces of earth, I will never recognise those stupid creatures as part of the human race.
I put on the shoes I had just taken from the bag without paying attention to my surroundings. Even if I have to spare my energy to look around, it will have been useless because I am the last student still in this school until the afternoon.
“Yukino-chan.”
Without realising it, my head turns to the source of the voice that calls me.
I am surprised when I see who is standing a few metres before me.
Her long fingers are combing and smoothing the strands of black hair blown away by the wind. A refreshing smile never stops appearing on her beautiful face. She is bathing in the afternoon sun. The gentle breeze and background make her hair dance beautifully. All of them is like confirming that the harmony in the world loves her.
“Nee-san, why are you here?”
She is my sister, Yukinoshita Haruno. She is three years older than me. She is the embodiment of flawless and undeniable beauty. All in all, my sister is someone who was born perfect and loved by the gods. However, no one knows what crazy ideas and mischief are hidden behind that perfect figure.
“Pick you up, of course.”
I reflexively narrowed my eyes and looked at her probingly. However, before I could reply, she got ahead of me.
“Don't look at me like that, okay? I don't have a specific intention, really."
"It actually sounds even more suspicious when I hear it come out of your mouth," I replied.
Nee-san laughs lightly at my answer, but I will not lower my guard just because of that. She is the type of person who would play pranks on me when I was off guard and wouldn't even hesitate to drag me into her game. Even though it annoyed me, it was just Tuesday for her.
“I've noticed you've been coming home late for the past few weeks, so I wanted to check on you in person. Well, actually, that was also an order from mother, though."
Hearing the statement, I looked down and squeezed my school skirt tightly. Even though our eyes didn't meet, I could feel that Nee-san was looking at me with a complex gaze.
“Let's go. Maybe we need to have a deep talk between girls.”
—OoOoO—
Even though we are in the car, I cannot hold my head up while looking at the scenery outside the window as usual. I squeezed my skirt until the fabric was wrinkled. Just thinking that Nee-san knew that I was being bullied already makes me nervous, to the point that I cannot even imagine my mother's reaction.
I generally like silence and calm, but this unbroken silence suffocates me. Because of that, I dare to start a conversation.
“How did you know?”
It is an ambiguous question, and what it refers to is unclear. However, I am sure Nee-san knows what I mean.
“You've secretly bought new school shoes many times. I think it's about 54? If you always buy new school shoes almost every day, you don't think we won't notice, right? Well, but it sucks that I didn't realise it sooner.”
I can clearly hear that Nee-san answered my question while holding back the anger, which might explode at any time. Even so, I still don't dare look into her eyes. I am sure I am not in a position of guilt even though I try to keep it a secret. But for some reason, I don't dare face Nee-san directly. Finally, I hear a sigh from Nee-san.
“How long have you been bullied? If you've bought that many shoes, does that mean your indoor and outdoor shoes are stolen almost every day?”
"Ever since I gave Valentine's chocolate to Hayama-kun," I replied softly while looking down, "And yes, every morning my indoor shoes are definitely gone. And although it is not every day, I always find my outdoor shoes have been stolen.”
I am trying to peek at Nee-san's reaction through the corner of my eye. Seeing her biting the corner of her lip tightly shocks me, and her eyes are scary.
“Then, why didn't you tell us in the first place? And what about Hayato? Did he just keep quiet when he saw you being bullied?"
“I was thinking about holding off until graduation day considering it's only a short time away.”
There is still one question from Nee-san that I still need to answer. However, the words cannot come out when I open my mouth. I hesitate to drag Hayama-kun's name into this matter even though I hate him, who is just watching in the corner, even though he knows many girls stole my things secretly because of the rumours circulating after I gave him chocolate.
However, I am afraid that the words I am about to say will affect the relationship between my family and Hayama-kun’s. However, even though I didn't reveal anything about it, I am sure Nee-san already knew the answer by connecting one dot to another.
Once again, I hear Nee-san sigh for the umpteenth time. Instead of giving me a series of lengthy lectures like I imagined, she gently stroked the top of my head, something she hadn't done in a long time.
“You should just tell mother, you know? Or if you want to solve it your own way, that's fine too.”
"But I don't want to tarnish the family's good name, especially since father said he would take part in the general election for the House of Representatives in 2017."
"Oh, come on. That's still three years away, you know?" Nee-san replied, waving her hand, "You're still a kid too. You're only in sixth grade. It's okay if you want to mess around a bit. Just let the adults take care of the rest."
Nee-san gives a wide smile after always wearing an expression like someone holding back anger.
“Well, I didn't mean to scold you, you know? I just want you to be stricter to people like them in the future."
"I am not sure. I once saw the news on TV, it said there were many people shouting about injustice because they felt oppressed by rich people."
“If they have indeed violated the law, they deserve to be prosecuted. I mean, anyone should be punished if it's the case.”
Nee-san said that while leaning back against the seat and looking at the car's ceiling.
“Opening job opportunities, contributing to society, being a good role model, and many more demands from our society. Japan is a modern country, one of the major economies in the world. But humans tend to prefer to blame others for the injustices they experience instead of finding out solutions. And people like us who have been fed with a silver spoon are the perfect targets for venting their frustrations.”
Nee-san sighs after saying that long line. I want to reply, but based on her gesture, she still has a few words to say.
“This depravity of thinking patterns is what makes people not hesitate to attack other people brutally. If a small person were to report the case, it would easily be labelled as an attempt at defence and there would be many people supporting it. But if big people were to defend themselves, they would easily accuse them of oppression. If we can't defend ourselves, then who’ll protect us?”
I have never seen Nee-san express her opinions about society at such length. The person I always saw was a cheerful-looking figure with so much mystery behind her beautiful face.
Even so, I honestly don't know how to respond. In general, I understand what Nee-san is trying to convey. However, I don't know how the world works, so I cannot give my opinion.
Nee-san stares at me for a while before she smiles widely to cover her anger.
“Well, basically you only need to fight back if you’re being bullied. It's that simple.”
“But that will not solve the root of the problem, right?” I replied.
“The root of the problem?”
Nee-san repeated my words, and I responded with a nod.
“In the first place, I don't retaliate against people who bully me not because I'm afraid, okay? I explained the reason earlier, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Nee-san responded quickly.
After hearing her reply, I puff out my cheeks without realising it. However, I ignore it and continue what I want to say.
“But there are certainly many people out there who feel afraid and don't dare to fight back. And I want to change that! But how?”
I looked into Nee-san's eyes, keeping my expression serious so she wouldn't think I was playing around.
“Hmm, interesting,” she said with an enthusiastic smile, “Humans can only change if there’s an external push that forces them to adapt or something that naturally fosters self-awareness. So, I think there are at least two ways.”
Nee-san said it confidently. I looked at her with great enthusiasm and waited for her further explanation.
“Humans have a law so that humans will behave like how humans should do. This law has even existed since before Christ and will continue to change with the times. If humans didn’t know the law from the start, humans would be no different from animals. If you want to change society, you need power that can introduce the laws you want into society.”
I think my mouth is currently agape after hearing Nee-san's explanation, which has complicated terms.
“Being a person who sits in parliament or in the cabinet is the fittest position to formulate a law and ensure that it goes well. With the right laws, you can force humans to act like humans.”
Err… I am not very comfortable with Nee-san's way of saying that politicians make laws to force humans to act according to the rules I set. It sounds like a dictator and emphasising that our father was the one.
“Then the second one is?” I asked.
“Become an activist who’s good at oration and rhetoric. They move people's hearts with words to improve, to see reality and understand what’s hidden underneath, or even give people courage.”
“Is that so?”
Nee-san nods slowly and answers, “But sometimes people who’re only good at words find it difficult to reach many people.”
“Eh? Why?”
"Because people who can only give speeches and rhetoric are often thought to not really know the grassroot problems."
Is it really like that, though? Well, I sometimes think that people who talk too much, even if their words have weight, are annoying in some ways.
"However, these two basic methods can be varied and refined using certain formulas to improve their performance," Nee-san continued before I could answer, “For politics, you can see how Father won the election for the regional parliament in the last period. As for rhetoric, I think the most effective thing is to combine it with singing."
My eyebrows rose, and I involuntarily chirped.
"Singing?"
“Yep. The key is how you want to convey your message to people, right? In contrast to oration and rhetoric which tend to speak passionately or offer sweet words, a song is a way for singers to convey the lyrics to their listeners. It’s an art of communication that involves a variety of emotions. As such, many people feel more touched and motivated through a song."
“Well, I don't really understand the whole thing, but I think I got your points,” I replied.
Honestly, Nee-san said many foreign words that even sounded new to my ears. However, I can understand what she wants to convey if I ignore some words and focus more on the main idea.
“Well, that's fine. You're still in your sixth grade. You'll know what I mean when you're a little older. Put that aside, don't you realise that we aren’t in the way back home?"
I raise an eyebrow while looking at Nee-san. The next moment, I turn my head to look at the view outside the car window. I bring my face closer to the mirror to get a clearer perspective. However, I don't see any difference at all.
“Pfft… As expected, you’re really bad with directions, Yukino-chan.”
I immediately look at Nee-san with a sharp gaze. She covers her mouth with the back of her right hand. Nee-san and the driver accompanying us smile amusedly while looking at me through the rearview mirror.
“What? Where are we going?"
"We're going to Tokyo, then take the shinkansen to Kyoto," she replied.
“What? Kyoto? Why?"
"The Uchiha clan invited our family to attend Uchiha Kagami-sama's birthday party."
"Uchiha Kagami? Who?” I asked while tilting my head.
Nee-san looked at me straight while smiling.
"He’s the older brother of the current head of the Uchiha family, Uchiha Fugaku-sacho."
I am puffing out my cheeks in annoyance. Going to adult events is so dull. Moreover, I am also tired of my bullying all this time. Is it too luxurious if I just want to rest at home?
“Don't be so gloomy. I know it will be a bit boring, but you can also make friends there. There are some kids your age, you know?”
I turn my face to the side to stare at the window.
“I am not interested at all. Who would want to be friends with spoiled kids like them?”
This is not my first time attending a party with my family. Although the scale seems much larger this time than the ones I usually go to, it is not that different, right? All the children from other families that I met were just a bunch of spoiled kids who could only brag about their families' greatness.
“Eeh… spoiled kids? I don't know who else was also invited, but if you want to be friends with a rebellious kid, Itachi-san told me that his brother is quite a brat. What's his name again? Uchiha Sasuke-kun, isn't it?”
I sigh without paying any more attention to what Nee-san said. Rebellious, wayward or whatever, they are just kids who only know how to squander their family's wealth. Even though we are from the same circle, a kid is still a kid. And I am not interested at all.
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: So, yeah. I decided to write a new story, a story about MMA. Or maybe, it’s a story that I haven't published yet. As I said before, I wrote this chapter in my third year of high school, and this is the only chapter I had. But right now, I already have another chapter. But before I publish it, I want to explain a few things.
First of all, why Sasuke? Well, I chose him because his character is the most suitable for this story, and I love the Naruto franchise so much. However, I won't make Naruto do MMA and become Sasuke's rival. I want to make their relationship as a true best friend without any rivalry thingy.
Why judo? Honestly speaking right, it's hard to blend a whole new character outside Oregairu verse into one. So, because there was an arc about a judo event on Oregairu. So, at least judo will have a role in making Sasuke interact more with the other characters. And the other reason, I did judo, like, I don't really remember. But maybe about 5 to 6 years. And yeah, when I wrote this chapter back then, I still practised judo. So, writing something you already know is pretty easy, at least.
Why is Mikoto the emperor's daughter? The thing is, her name is very beautiful, and it's like representing the grace of the Gods. Like. Susanoo no Mikoto, Takemikazuchi no Mikoto, Okuninushi no Mikoto, and such. So, I don't think a normal conglomerate would suit the Uchiha because their lineage in the canon is directly connected to Kaguya. You know what I mean, right? That was why I decided to make Mikoto the daughter of the Emperor and Uchiha as the descendant from the Fujiwara Family that once ruled Japan in the Heian Period.
The last one I want to explain is why the MC's background comes from a rich family. Well, there are many stories about MCs coming from poor or complicated families. So, I just want to write something different. Honestly, there's another reason why I chose this setting, but I'll save it for later.
And that's all from me. What do you think, guys?
