Chapter 434: The Idol’s Child – I |
A dark storage room in the back of the middle school section of Hoshigawa Academy.
There, trapped inside a cramped metal locker, Emma hugged her knees and sobbed.
*What? Did you think you were safe just because your mom was a former idol?*
*You're SUCH a brat. Acting all tough just because you're hanging around the Headmistress's daughter...*
*Tch. Why does that hottie Perry have a sister like you anyway?*
Emma trembled as the words from the girls who shoved her into the locker echoed in her mind. "Why me...?"
It wasn't fair.
Emma didn't do anything. She just wanted to have a normal school life. So why did this happen...?
The rotting smell of fruit peels and garbage filled the cramped locker.
And then there was a sudden explosion in the distance.
Emma flinched and then a surge of panic swept through her. Did the girls come back? No... Did... Did they bring some of the high school boys like they said they were going to...? She started hyperventilating.
And then a shrill screeching sound echoed and sunlight filtered in. The locker was completely ripped apart, revealing Meggie standing there, her hands clutched along the edges of the distorted metal sides.
Emma froze, stunned. And then she burst out into sobs and hugged Meggie.
Meggie didn't say anything and just hugged her back.
Emma sobbed. "Meggie...!"
"It'll be okay, Emma." Meggie patted Emma's back. "I'll handle this."
Emma nodded, sniffing as she clung to Meggie's blouse. When she did, Emma noticed that a chunk of rotten fruit fell out of her hair to stain it. She flinched and quickly said, "I'm sorry, Meggie-"
"Don't apologize." Meggie's voice was cold. "You did nothing wrong. No, you did everything right."
Emma sniffed and closed her eyes, clinging to Meggie. "Thank you, Meggie... thank you..."
===
Anger. Not a burning hot anger, but one so vicious it turned into icy steel.
That was all Meggie felt when she took in Emma's situation.
Bloodshot eyes from crying. Bruises and scrapes from being shoved into a too small locker for Heavens knew how long. Uniform stained with garbage and rotten fruit.
'Those... those...!'
Was this how her mother felt when she flipped her lid in the past?
Meggie felt cold. Like her heart itself had become a blade. Like she wanted to walk out there and tear apart those... scum who dared hurt Emma like this.
"Meggie!" Perry's voice echoed from the distance. He ran into the storage room past the broken door and doubled over, panting to catch his breath. "Did you... find..." He stopped when he saw Emma, his green eyes widening with shock and concern. "Emma!" He quickly ran over and hugged his twin sister. "What happened?"
Emma shook her head and just let herself get pulled away by Perry, sobbing the entire time.
Perry gnashed his teeth.
Meggie clenched her fists and was about to spin on her heel, using all her powers to find the people responsible for this and end them-
And then a song started playing. The CapsuMon theme song.
Meggie blinked, confused. And then she realized it was her phone. She paused and pulled it out and answered. "Hello?"
"Meggie. Don't."
Meggie blinked and realized it was her dad. Then she calmly said, "Don't what, Dad?"
"Calm down. I can sense you even from across the world. And I'm sure everyone else can right now too. So calm down. I've talked to your aunts, mom, grandpa, and everyone else. But if you keep this up, that entire place will become a bloodbath. Don't."
Meggie took a deep breath, visibly trembling. "It's hard, Dad." She stared at Emma.
Emma was still sobbing, trembling in Perry's arms.
Perry held her tight, rubbing her back and doing his best to comfort her.
Seeing that, Meggie's heart shook and her vision blurred. She said, "It's so hard, Dad. I want to hurt them. I want to hurt all of them. More than anyone else. Even more than any time I had back at home." She clenched her hand over her heart and said, "Why does it hurt so much, Dad?"
"Because you care, Meggie." John's calm voice echoed across the phone. "It hurts because you care." He paused and then said, "...I always thought you took more after your mom. But I guess you took after me more in the end."
Meggie angrily brushed her tears away and then stepped outside, giving Perry and Emma some space. After she did, she said, "I don't get it. Why, Dad? Why did this happen to Emma? She didn't do anything. She's so kind too...!"
"Jealousy. Envy. A twisted sense of superiority... There are lots of reasons, Meggie." John answered. "But those reasons don't matter. What does is Emma. Your first priority is to get her safe, cleaned up, and rested. Got it? Don't worry about getting even for now, worry about getting Emma to feel better."
"Okay." Meggie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "...Okay, Dad. Okay. I'll do that."
"Your mom called her workers. You can use her private office. There's a shower there. They'll bring spare uniforms. Help her get cleaned up. I'll send Jenny to come help and get you guys later, alright?"
"Okay Dad....Thanks." Meggie took a deep breath and forcibly calmed down. "I'll do that."
"Good. And remember this too."
Meggie blinked. "Yes...?"
John's calm voice suddenly turned icy. "Violence is temporary and too quick, along with death. Public shame and forcing them to live with that is better."
Meggie blinked in surprise. "What?"
John continued and said, "Like you said. Emma didn't deserve it. I've met her, and she's a sweet girl. So get even and force them to live with those consequences."
"...Shouldn't you be trying to talk me out of this, Dad?"
John chuckled and said, "Maybe. But you know me. I'm not the sort to let things like this slide, and I'm not going to let my children be that sort either."
Meggie laughed. "...Thanks, Dad."
"No problem, Meggie. Remember, no violence."
"Just public humiliation and shame, got it."
"That's my baby girl."
Meggie rolled her eyes and hung up. Then she walked back inside the storage shed. As she did, she noticed that the door and front wall had been completely broken down... it seemed like she went a bit overboard there...
'Well, Mom will forgive me.'
Inside, Emma had calmed down a bit.
Meggie walked in and said, "Come on, Emma." She glanced at Perry and nodded before looking back at Emma. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Emma sniffed and then walked over, clinging to Meggie.
Meggie held her close and started walking out of the storage shed.
Perry immediately took a protective place in front of both of them, gnashing his teeth still.
Meggie noticed and said, "You'll break your teeth, Perry."
Perry paused and took a deep breath, calming down. "It's just..."
"I know." Meggie rubbed Emma's back as she walked with her. "But let's get Emma safe and clean first. Then..." Her eyes flashed a cold jade green. "We'll talk. And get even."