*Shotarou-kun Pov*

Miyoshi-Senpai is starting to scare me...

He's been acting real differently lately ever since yesterday.

He starts mumbling to himself.

I recently noticed the blood that was on his arms were not in my head like I imagined they were...

Miyoshi-Senpai...

Is self-harming himself...

Why...?

Why is he doing this to himself!?!

I told Yusuke about it and he was in shock.

Yusuke: Shit...So four-eyes is off his racket.

Me: He needs help...I'm not sure what's going on with him. But I'm getting worried.

Yusuke: ....Believe it or not, so am I...his recent behavior is freaking me out.

Me: Eh...?

This was new to me, never in my life I've seen Yusuke show concern for anybody.

Yusuke: Hey...I think there something you should know...about Miyoshi...

Yusuke then went quiet. Oh...Oh I do not like this at all....Something wasn't right about this. Yusuke...Yusuke was never quiet.

He was always loud and aggressive.

So for him to act this way and out of character, now I needed to know.

Yusuke: I guess he didn't tell you about this...okay, you didn't hear this from me but...Miyoshi's parents...are pretty strict.

I raised an eyebrow.

Me: Eh? Isn't that how most of the parents act here in this country. So how is that anything new...?

Yusuke: Let me finish.

He gave me an glare as if telling me: "Do you want to know or not?! Quit interrupting!"

I kept my mouth shut, he took that as a chance to continue.

Yusuke: Yeah. It isn't anything new but...Miyoshi's parents...or should I say father...has always been strict with him. Due to him being the eldest son, he puts a lot a pressure on his son to be the best. He wants his son to follow in his footsteps.

Me: (Oh...)

Yusuke: Yeah. His father fucking sucks. Strict or not, he doesn't even seem how much pressure he's put on him...to the point where his mental health is no concern for him.

....Wow, his father is such an asshole....

Me: What about his mother?

Yusuke: Don't know. Hardly know a thing about her. All I know is she barely lifts so much of a finger to help.

Me: Ah.....

Yusuke: Tch. His father is one of those guys. When it comes to business matters, Miyoshi's father is never one to consider people's feelings...not even his own son. One time, Miyoshi got sick from exhaustion and stay home for the day. The next day, despite having a fever, he was forced to come to school by said father.

Me:....

Yusuke: Have you ever hear a parent ever told their child: "Don't Embarrassed Me!"?

Me: I...heard that a lot...but not from my mother...

Yusuke: Well lucky you. But yeah, like you. I'm worried about four eyes myself. He's been acting real strange lately. I get the feeling it has something to do with the mock exams.

My eyes went wide...

The mock exams...That explains a lot! How could've I not noticed!

Hearing Miyoshi's backstory with his parents.

Now I know why he wanted to pass the mock exams so much.

Me: Shouldn't his parents...realized their pushing too far.

Yusuke: That's just the thing. Either they don't listen to what he says or they don't give a shit at all.

Great. Now I'm really worried about Miyoshi-Senpai.

Even though, I can't just go up to his parents and force them to stop them from hurting Miyoshi. But maybe I can go find Miyoshi myself.

He needs a hand more than anything before the pressure becomes too much for him.

-Later-

Me: Miyoshi-Senpai...?

Miyoshi quickly jumps up from his desks and looks at me in shock. Oops, I guess I did startled him.

He was still here...afterschool doing studying?!

Miyoshi: Ah...Ah...Shotarou-kun...Hello?

I quickly examined him. God, he looked like a mess. His hair was unbrushed, his eyes had cracks in them. His glasses were on his forehead. Uniform hardly looked neat and the scars on his arms were very concerning. Books were all over his desk.

What a unbearable scene...

Miyoshi: Study...Study...I gotta study...the tests are tomorrow.

He's been studying non-stop. It's okay to study but...not when it's bad for your health.

Me: Miyoshi-Senpai...I think it's best you take a little break-!

Miyoshi: A BREAK?!

Me: S-Senpai...I understand you must study but-!

I got frightened when he glared at me. Something I've never thought he do.

Miyoshi: THE MOCK EXAMS ARE NO JOKE! I NEED TO STUDY! I NEED TO PASS! OR ELSE I'M A FAULURE! A DISGRACE! SOMEONE THAT SOCIETY WILL NEVER ACCEPT!

The wounds on his arms opened up to the point where they were bleeding again.

He became disheveled and his sanity started worsening.

Miyoshi: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! NO ONE! NO ONE! NO ONE! NO ONE! NO ONE! I HAVE TO PASS!!!

Me: SENPAI!

I grabbed him and hugged him. That's all I could do at this moment. He continued to thrash in my hold yelling out profanities I couldn't understand besides "Work" and "Study"...

Wake Up...

Wake Up...

Senpai...Please...

SNAP OUT OF IT!

Me: SENPAI! WAKE UP!!!!!

...after a few seconds, he finally calm down.

Miyoshi: W...What....? What happened to me...? S-Shotarou-kun...?

Me: Senpai...Please...Stop...I'm here...I'm here...

I felt his arms around me as he begin shivering in my hold. I felt his tears and blood poured down...

Me: Let's take you to the infirmary, Senpai...

Miyoshi:......

He didn't say a word but let's me drag him by the hand to the infirmary to see the school's nurse.

I'm not sure what I can do next but...I need to do this...I need to save Miyoshi-Senpai...

Not just from his father...

But from himself too...