64 Here But There

"You know Isla isn't like Isaac right?" Hiro asked his friend.

"So?"

"So, as much as you're going through something, you'll regret it if you take it out on her."

"Just whose side are you on?"

"Obviously yours," Hiro said, drinking the yoghurt. "But you know, I know you took quite a liking to her. I don't speak much but I do observe."

Kiro ignored him. He didn't want to admit that he was right. He had no time to think about other people's feelings at the moment. He drank the yoghurt silently.

-----

Class was in session. Kiro was far, far away in his thoughts. He couldn't get his mother's expression out of his mind. She looked so desperate and utterly dead. That broke him. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Maybe he should've let Isaac do as he pleased?

He sighed, 'well, at least the game will do something about this situation.'

Now everything absolutely rode on the game. This never happened in the past, so he had nothing to reference, he'd have to wing it. There was no other choice. The thought of his family's future being on the uncertain scale made him unsettled.

He was in and out of focus during the lesson. Though he couldn't tell you exactly what Dr. Ramirez was doing for today's lesson. He was also unconsciously sketching on his notebook.

It was unknown to him but Isla and Hiro were watching him. Both were worried for him, Isla was furious about before when he shut her down but overhearing the conversation in the cafeteria made her blood freeze.

She wanted to approach him, but at the same time she knew, because of her societal status, that alone made Kiro unapproachable.

This made her incredibly sad. They were just starting to get close and something, beyond her control ruined that. It stung.

Kiro was oblivious to the ones who were worried for him, he didn't have the luxury to think about others at the moment. His mind had a lot going on as it was.

He kept unconsciously sighing. Dr. Ramirez of course noticed this, but news in this academy spread like wildfire, so she knew what was going on with him. More or less. So she let it go, just this once.

She was also originally from the lower district, she knew coming out of there was next to impossible. It depended more on your luck than your skills to go out of there.

She'd worked with lower district scientists who were better than her before, but surprisingly she was positioned as their boss.

Of course, one complaint out of her and she would see herself back where she was born. She had simply worked too hard, and even then she didn't have real power, just a pawn.

Just a sheep whom does what they're told, fearing what they've worked for could be stripped at a moments chance.

She was well aware of the unfair happenings in their society, but like a good pawn, like any good pawn who is controlled by fear, she didn't question.

"So, that'll be the end of class. The dean asked me to remind you, the welcoming ceremony is tonight. There'll be alcoholic drinks, those who are underaged are urged to not do anything they'll regret." She said sternly, looking at them through her thin glasses.

"But Dr. Ramirez, why not just ban alcohol since there are those who are underage? Seems fair that everyone celebrates with the same state of mind." A boy said with his hand raised.

"Yeah. Agreed. It doesn't seem right."

"He's right."

"It's unfair to the few of us."

"You're a dunce if you think we have to suffer because you guys are younger."

"Yes, just go there, sit in a corner and drink lemon juice."

The class was properly divided. As those who were already 17 scoffed and told them off. Of course this conversation was happening just as background noise for Kiro.

Dr. Ramirez was well too familiar with their reaction, she had been through so many of these in her 8 years of teaching.

"I don't make the rules. You should practice self-restraint." Dr. Ramirez said with finality.

Kiro was not really in the mood to party, but every new student was required to attend. Which was an absurd rule, people who didn't want to attend should be given that right.

But he supposed that's how it is in a society ruled with classism, only those in power decide what qualifies as a human right.

This irked him. He wanted to stand on his desk, and scream at the top of his voice, scream until his own lungs were shredded in pieces. So they would know that, that's exactly how he felt.

"Kiro?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Class is over, let's go."

When he looked around, the class was almost already empty. He found himself glad to have Hiro around. Who knows how long he'd have sat there, thinking.

"Oh wow, time's already flown by this much. I guess I daydreamed more than I should've."

"Day nightmares more like."

For the first time in forever, Hiro saw a smile on his friends face.

"So, how are we gonna handle that punk?" Hiro asked.

"Don't worry, I can handle it," Kiro said, getting up from his seat.

Hiro didn't like his answer. He wanted to help as much as he could. He wanted his friend to know he could rely on him.

He had no idea however that Kiro said that for him, he didn't want his family implicated. He wanted to minimise the damage to just him, and as much he hated it, to just his family too.

Isla was somehow still seated where she was. Kiro just passed as if she didn't exist. Her mouth was agape, she wanted to say something but choked on her words when she realised Kiro wouldn't acknowledge her.

Hiro gave her an apologetic look and mouthed, 'give him time.' He knew his friend would come around eventually, he was just naturally worried for his family.