"My family was never the touchy-feely type." with Tenga... i saw him on your platonic list and i'm DYING to know how you write that tough bastard. I'm curious cuz i'm thinking to myself that there's so many kids at salt middle school who need a TRUSTED ADULT! Caring about kids, reigenquest
(This will be my first time writing my delinquent son, so hopefully I do him justice!! And you're right; I look at so many of these kids and I say "Is anyone gonna take care of them?" and then don't wait for an answer, ahaha~!
Also I should note, I was NOTHING like how I'm writing my past to be here--I wasn't even close to delinquency in school, but I have a fondness for the archetype...)
Odd as it may be to admit, I have a soft spot for the delinquent kids I saw running around Salt Mid. But man, that was my turf once, and I know how it is.
See, I was banchou--and sukeban--of Salt during my time there, and at Cayenne High when it was time to move on, and my crew and I were always a tight-knit little group: we had to be. I had made quite the name for myself between the two schools, so much I had become a legend of sorts among the delinquents of both schools even when my reign was long over.
It took me one look at a certain Tenga Onigawara about two years ago to realize why he had acted like I was some kind of celebrity--his style and his hair gave it away. He was how I was back then.
Since that first day in my cousin's first year of middle school, he had established himself as banchou. I had a tendency to keep an ear and an eye out for the new guard at my former territory, and thankfully, my status even now made it a little easier for Tenga to lower those steel walls of his around me--still only to a certain point, but it was something at least. When I heard some shit was going down there, and the very boy I had been looking out for was getting framed in some corrupt scheme by the student council, it was all I could manage to NOT immediately snap back into that familiar persona and take care of it myself. (I didn't know at the time that my youngest cousin was involved, but)
I made sure Tenga knew he could get a hold of me if he ever needed quite a while ago. I could tell he was hesitant still to accept my help, but he thanked me under his breath.
Hearing banging on the door at an ungodly hour of the night made me nearly jump out of my skin. It was a safe bet it wasn't one of my cousins, Teruki wouldn't be knocking so loud, and I doubt my aunt or uncle would knock like this either. I cracked the door open just enough to see Tenga standing there, his back hunched even lower than usual, hands in his pockets.
"Oh, shit, hey, kiddo. What's up? It's past midnight..."
"Get in here before you catch a cold, and then you can tell me everything."
As I closed the door behind him, he immediately flopped himself on the couch, and I followed suit.
"Now, then, what's going on?"
"You know how I got pinned with stealin' the girl's recorder mouth pieces, even though I didn't do it?"
"Ugh, yeah. Something else happen since?"
"...Take your time. Really. I've got all night."
"...My crew turned on me. They got framed for shit too, and apparently the student council said they'd set them up as victims if they said I told them to do it..."
He takes in a deep breath, steadying himself, balling his fists.
"...and they did. My crew, my so-called 'friends', turned on me to save their own fuckin' skins."
"Fucking cowards. Sorry. Back when I was banchou-slash-sukeban, a gang of delinquents stayed together, had each other's backs. Apparently it's changed. Either that, or your gang is shit. Again, sorry."
"Don't apologize. I'm pissed."
For a few seconds, silence. Then I spoke.
"You know...if it were me, I'd be feeling more than just anger. It's okay if you are, too. I wouldn't tell a soul, on my name I wouldn't, if you wanted to get it out here where no one but me will see."
He didn't reply for a few seconds. It was clear he was debating it within himself.
"It's okay, Tenga. You won't be any less a banchou. You won't be any less an anything. You've had a rough time."
I look him in the eyes, which, despite his best efforts, were welling with tears, and he turned away from me, not wanting me to see, stubborn as ever.
"Let old Hex help you through, Tenga. Even a banchou needs help sometimes. I would know..."
All I heard was a sniffle in reply for a bit.
"D-Damn it, I told myself...I told myself I wouldn't fuckin'..."
I gently put a hand on his shoulder and he flinches, but doesn't otherwise move away. This is something people didn't seem to get about delinquents--they're kids, too. They need everything any of their peers would get.
"S-Sorry. My family...My family was never the touchy-feely type. It's weird..."
"Want me to not touch you?"
More internal debate from Tenga.
"...nah. It...It's not bad, just...weird."
We remain that way for a while, just sitting in silence, and then he speaks up again.
"I...I always thought...they'd always have my back, even if they gave me hell sometimes. But I guess I was wrong..."
I rub his back, and he still doesn't move away, even scooting just a hair closer, still trying to hold onto some shred of what he felt was "manliness" or "toughness".
"I...never really had a lot of friends. My folks are too busy fightin' each other to really pay attention to me. No matter what I did...I had perfect attendance until all this happened. Now I just...I don't care anymore. Why should I? They were all lookin' for an excuse to turn on me..."
"Care for your own sake. Prove to all of them that you're better. Spite is a perfectly valid reason to succeed, if necessary."
He cracks a grin, wipes his eyes on his sleeve.
"Maybe you got a point. Thanks, Hex."
"'Course. I'm here for you, okay, kiddo?"
