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cherrypikkins — 'Just Be' [Jean x Tsundere!Reader] - Part 0
Published: 2014-03-04 10:12:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 11585; Favourites: 148; Downloads: 0
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---'Just Be': Part 0---...
...
...
Once upon a time, there lived a Princess in a beautiful Castle. After a hailstorm, she found a Blue Dove lying injured in her garden. Nursing him back to health, she kept him as a companion. The Dove came to love the Princess, and lived in a golden cage within her room.
One day, the Princess fell terribly ill. The disease was so great, that some believed that she was cursed by a Demon. The only thing that could cure her, they said, was a Magical Fruit that grew in a distant land, far beyond the reaches of mankind.
The Blue Dove overheard them. One day, when the nursemaid came to clean his cage, the Dove took flight and sped its wings out the door.
Thus the Bird began his journey, to search for the fruit that would cure his beloved Princess.
...
...
...
... It was a cold and snowy day.
An unpleasant draft, chill and biting, swept through the house where you lived. In the morning, you did your best to bundle up against the unrelenting winter. Once you looked after yourself, you changed the warming pan underneath Grandfather's mattress, helped him pull the covers up, washed his face, and reminded him to eat his breakfast. He thanked you, gave you a peck on the cheek, and weakly wished you a good day at school.
The year was 846, the second winter after the invasion of Wall Maria. The Kingdom was suffering through a food shortage, not nearly as severe as the one last year. Of course, the thing that had changed was that now there were less mouths to feed. Cropland was still scarce and the hunting was bad. If it weren't for the culling of those poor refugees from Maria, mankind would have starved.
Though no one spoke against the government, a shadow of restlessness and discontent hung over the heads of the people. Moving to the Interior was an idea that became more and more attractive by the day, especially to the folk living in the outlying cities. Trost was one of those outskirt settlements. This was your home. You had lived here your entire life. Up until last year, you believed that you would always be safe here, nestled close to Wall Rose. Nowadays, the Titans lived right at your door. Even at night while you slept, you could hear the restless pounding of their footsteps, coming from the Gate.
... Mother and Father had promised never to let the Titans reach you. Now, they were nowhere to be found. The letters had stopped coming. Food and money were dwindling, but you received no support. It was as though they had disappeared into the heart of Sina, barricading themselves within its mighty, impregnable Walls. You longed to follow them there.
You were but an eleven-year-old child. Life had grown lonely and miserable ever since contact faded with your parents. Every day you waited for their letters, looked out the window hoping to see them appear at your front door. Nothing. It was just you and Grandfather now. Nowadays, he didn't feel well enough to go outside anymore. That left you to face the world alone.
Standing in the lobby, wrapped up in your over-worn winter clothes, you took a deep breath and steeled your nerve. Mustering the courage to go outside was always a chore. At last, you pushed away your fear. With mitted hands, you pushed the door open, letting in a mighty blast of cold air. Then, you stepped outside.
SPLAT.
The snowball - wet, muddy, and unpleasantly cold - smacked into the side of your face almost as soon as you left the house. It hurt. Flinching, you wiped away the snow and the mud with your mittens. Mocking laughter filled your ears. Blinking away half-frozen tears, you looked up just in time to see a group of kids run off down the icy street. You scowled after them, but did nothing.
You felt pathetic. There was no point in getting angry. If you tried to get back at them, it would just make things worse. Instead, you ducked your head down, pulled your scarf up over your face, and braved the winter. As the wind picked up, you hurried through the badly-neglected garden, past the shambling and mold-covered fence. The house had been in a state of disrepair for some time now. With Grandfather ill and you still a child, there was no one else to maintain the family home. It was almost embarrassing, especially whenever you had to face the neighbours.
The state of your property wasn't all that they talked about. A group of women gossiped together on the street. You could hear their words, clear as a bell.
Meek as a mouse, you hid behind the hedges, not wanting to attract their attention.
"Look how far they've fallen," one of them said, eyeing the rotting panels of your house. "Weren't they more well-to-do before?"
"Yes," Another sniffed. "Her parents work for the Military Police. Both of them are highly trusted members of the King's Guard. Back in the day, you'd see packages of money and food arrive at their doorstop every other day, straight from the Royal Districts!" The bitterness in her voice was obvious. "While we were struggling to make our everyday living, she and her Grandfather lived like royalty."
"But not anymore?" her companion inquired.
"Not since the Invasion," the women said, in a matter-of-factly voice. "The Military Police have all cloistered themselves away ever since the Titans came marching to our Gate. It looks as though the girl's mother and father have decided to follow suit. Not a single care package has arrived at their doorstop since!"
Well, of course she would know. She was your nosy next-door neighbour who always made it her business to keep tabs on you. ...And use it to cultivate gossip of course. It was a bother, but what could you do? You were just a child.
The prattling women continued to murmur about you amongst themselves. Some of them were filled with pity, others with criticism.
"I see. ...Poor thing. They've probably abandoned her. ...Then again, perhaps they've gotten caught for getting involved in some shady business."
"I wouldn't be surprised," scoffed the catty woman. "They sound prestigious, but the Military Police are actually a rotten, corrupt lot. Makes you wonder how that family got their hands on so much money in the first place. ...Either way, it looks like the Mother and Father decided to keep it all for themselves."
"Leaving that old man and their little girl to fend for themselves in an outskirt town like this? How cruel of them."
Those words struck at your nerves like a hammer. You balled your tiny fists as you stood there. Tears stung your eyes like pinpricks. You weren't angry. You were just trying your hardest not to cry. None of it was true, you wanted to tell her. Mother and Father weren't like that. But with your parents gone for so long, and with no way of knowing for certain, how could you prove that?
...You wanted so desperately to keep believing in your parents. But at a time like this, your faith was thinning out.
"Either way," the woman continued in a haughty tone. "Even though they're in the same school, I would never let my little ones anywhere near that child. It would embarrass them. After all, that child is impoverished and living in a house like that..."
Your lips pouted. You wished they would stop talking and just move already. They were in the way. All you wanted was to get to school, before the kids from earlier came back. Much to your relief, the chatting women began to walk further down the street. The conversation was steered to another subject. Not once did they see you.
"...By the way, have you heard of the new family that moved into our district recently?" one of them asked.
"The new neighbours who moved into the house by the river? Yes, I have! They have a son about my daughter's age!" the gossiping woman declared enthusiastically. "I expect they should be in the same class starting today..."
By that point, they had begun to disappear round the corner. You were halfway along the block, running the rest of the way to school. Your arms clutched tightly around your schoolbooks. Your tiny boots slipped on ice and snow, but you simply picked yourself back up and kept on running. You hardly cared about anything anymore, let alone the new kid in your class. All you wanted was to get through the day with the least amount of trouble possible.
It wasn't the first time you had heard such mean-spirited gossip about your family. Your neighbours had always been jealous of your parents. It was mainly for their prestige as members of the King's Guard, but also for having access to the Interior. Even now, they still took out their envy and frustration on you.
You did nothing. You said nothing. You never let yourself get angry. If you made a fuss, then everyone would really think you were a bad girl. It would be so easy to put the blame on your parents, and you didn't want that.
Instead, you kept your head down and tried to forget everything you heard.
You spotted your fellow pupils retreating from the schoolyard by the time you made it to the school house. You picked up the pace, racing through the snowy path. As expected, you were running late.
...But not late enough, it seemed.
SPLAT.
Another cold projectile hit you in the back of the head. Hard. With a yelp, you fell chin-first onto a snowdrift. Your schoolbag spilled to the ground.
Cruel snickering and laughter filled the air behind you. You didn't have to look. It was that same gang of boys from earlier. They never passed up the chance to torment you like this. It was all a marvelous joke to them. Their favourite game.
"What's wrong, [Last]?" Their ringleader called out. "Too scared to throw one back?"
Your lip trembled as you stood up. Avoiding their eyes entirely, you did your best to brush the snow off of your coat. All the while, you endured their jeering.
"Ha! As I thought, you're a coward!" The bully shouted at your back. "Just like your Mom and Dad!"
You didn't know how much more of this you could take. Facing him, you mustered your courage. Still, you couldn't bring yourself to make eye contact.
"They're... they're not cowards..." you said, fumbling on your words.
Why was it so hard to stand up for yourself? Why was it even harder to stand up for your parents?
The boys laughed at you. "Liar! Everyone knows they're hiding in Wall Sina to get away from the Titans!"
The ringleader's expression turned angry as he walked towards you. "It's not fair that you used to get more food than we did. Also, weren't your parents gonna ask the King to let you move into the Interior with them...?"
His eyes were accusing. You cringed, unable to argue back. Everything that the bully was saying had been true at one point. You couldn't deny any of it. It made you feel helpless and miserable.
The bully glowered at you resentfully. "You're gonna leave the rest of us to feed the Titans, aren't you? Just like them?"
By this point, other students were gathering round to watch. They whispered amongst themselves. You could feel their eyes on your back. Their dirty looks. The bully wasn't the only one who harbored such sentiments. Everyone here hated you.
When you said nothing. The bully spat at your feet and stalked off with the rest of his cronies. You were left to endure the gawping of your fellow classmates. You could hear familiar, furtive giggling from a nearly clique full of girls. You wished you were invisible.
Without a word, you headed straight for the school house. You kept your head down and pushed your way through the masses of children who were still standing around. They either purposely kept their distance, muttered insults, glared at you, or simply behaved as though you didn't exist.
Everyday at school was spent in this humiliating fashion. You had no friends here. You were completely alone. You had never been the most social child in school. You preferred books to human companionship. But ever since the Invasion, things had gotten worse. Everyone changed, including the children you went to school with.
Silent as a shadow, you filed into the small, drafty classroom and took your usual seat. Boys and girls chattered merrily together while you quietly unloaded your book-bag. You were always the quiet and shy girl in the class, sitting in your own corner of the room. Right at the very far back, next to the window. You never spoke up in class. You just hunched up in your chair and buried your nose in your work, making yourself look as small and unnoticeable as possible. It usually worked. When your schoolmates didn't pick on you, they flat-out ignored you. Frankly, you preferred it that way.
Too bad you were already running on a poor streak of luck that day.
"Look at her. Still acting all high and mighty."
That voice came from a nearby pair of girls, sitting together at the table next to yours. They were the same ones that had laughed at you earlier.
"Are you kidding? Have you seen her house, lately?" This question was asked with a smirk. "That place is falling apart! I thought they used to have a lot of money and everything."
"That's just because her parents are in the Royal Guard," the first girl explained. Her voice lowered maliciously. "They're soooo corrupt."
Those words were all too familiar.
"Why is she still even here?" her friend asked. "Wasn't she supposed to move to Wall Sina by now?"
"Nuh-uh," said the first girl in a snooty manner. "I heard my Mom talking. Her parents haven't sent her a letter in more than a year. Guess they don't care about her anymore."
"Yahh, it's just her and her Grandpa now," the other girl remarked. "They don't get money anymore so they're poor. She has to take care of him. It's real sad."
Her tone was mocking as she said this. To them, that was the kind of 'sad' it was. The kind that equated to 'pathetic.'
"Whatever, she's still acting like a snob," the first girl muttered. "Even before the Invasion, she didn't have any friends. She'd always sit by herself and read books instead. It's like she thinks she's better than us, or something."
"It's so weird! I never see her talk to anyone!" exclaimed her friend. "She never smiles, she never laughs, she never cries, and she doesn't even get angry when the boys pick on her. She's totally blank!"
"Just admit it, she's a freak."
You heard every word. Somehow, you had the feeling that they wanted you to hear. Those girls tended to be petty like that. They always said awful things like that about other people. Being the social outcast of the class, you tended to be their favourite target. Nothing made you feel lower.
Just don't let it get to you. you said to yourself, biting your lip. Biting back tears. Don't let them see how you feel.
Every now and then, however, you looked around the classroom. The other children seemed so lively, so happy, chatting with their friends. Their laughter, jokes, and cheerful banter filled the classroom. You were the only one disconnected from that bright and sunny world. A stranger among familiar classmates. Their conversations felt like nothing but distant 'noise'.
You were used to being alone.
The schoolteacher rapped his baton against the desk, calling the class to attention.
"Children, settle down! I have a very important announcement to make. A new student will be joining our class today."
The room exploded into noise once more, this time with excited chatter. Your classmates immediately bombarded the teacher with questions.
"Is it a boy?" the girls asked, eyes wide.
"Is it a girl?" the boys demanded, leaning forward in their desks.
You kept quiet. Decidedly, you were more interested in the pages of your arithmetic textbook.
The teacher urged the class to settle down once more. "Children, please! Enough chit-chat!" He began to reprimand individual students. "Yes, I'm talking to you girls over there! And you there, young man! Don't make me send you to the corner like yesterday!"
The children immediately shut up. The teacher continued to lecture them. "Let's try and show our new classmate how well-behaved we are, alright? Just like Miss [Last], over there!" He gazed with approval in your direction.
Outcast or no, you were always the quiet and obedient one. Never caused trouble. Never spoke out of turn. That was one of the reasons why you were well-liked among the teachers.
The same girls from before, along the boy that had thrown the snowball, immediately shot glares in your direction.
You smiled quietly to yourself. Who said you couldn't afford a bit of satisfaction every now and then? You never got in trouble with the teacher because you showed better conduct than the students.
...Even if it was just an act.
The teacher called the new pupil into the room. You immersed yourself in your textbook and ceased to pay attention whatsoever.
The children watched as a lean boy with fluffy hair walked through the door and stood at the front of the classroom. It was obvious that he was nervous as hell, despite his attempts to play it cool. All eyes were on him. The boys looked mildly interested while the girls were absolutely rapt with attention.
"Now then," said the teacher. "Please introduce yourself to the rest of the class."
The boy mustered his bravado, flashing a grin enhance his show of confidence.
"Um, I just moved here from the other side of Trost. ... My name is Jean. Jean Kirschtein. Nice to meet you all."
The corner of the boy's mouth lifted in a slight smirk. It was funny how being the new kid in class instantly made his arrival the most exciting event of the week. But so far, so good. His new classmates looked vaguely impressed. It looked as though he stood a fair chance of getting off on the right foot. Maybe he wouldn't mess this up after all.
Of course, the day was still young. Anything could happen at this point.
---
The tutorial went on without incident. When it was time to study literature, you outshone the other students by reading aloud in class. Here, the teacher could always count on you to do an excellent job.
"...the moment he saw the familiar castle where the Princess lived, the Dove knew that his long, and tiring journey had finally come to an end. ...He flew faster, carrying the magic fruit that he believed would cure her illness."
You paused to take a breath. Nervously licking your lips, you then continued.
"Alas, the Dove had returned home too late. The Princess had already passed away. The nobles that gathered around her wept in sorrow. However, her beautiful face was peaceful. Though the Dove was sad that he could not save the Princess, he did not regret the journey that he had made. He could tell from the way the Princess looked that she never lost hope, and loved the world."
The teacher stopped you. "Very good job, Miss [First]. That was perfect! You may sit down."
Feeling a hint of pride, you returned to your seat with the storybook in hand.
You heard someone mutter in a low, bitter voice.
"Suck-up."
You refused to show any sign of hearing. Sitting down at your chair, you ducked your head down and curled your shoulders once more. The only pleasant thing about school was being praised by the teacher for how well do you did. As long as you continued to be a perfect student, maybe everyone else would start to like you.
And perhaps... your parents would be proud enough to come back home.
"Let's see..." The teacher mused. "For ending of the story, shall we have our newest student read to the class? Mr. Kirschtein, if you would please?"
"Yes, Sir."
The fluffy-haired boy rose from his seat, not looking the least bit nervous. Carrying the book in one hand, he walked over to the front of the room and faced the class. Propping up the open book, he cleared his throat and began to read.
"The exhausted Dove lay upon the pillow next to the Princess, and never opened his eyes again. By the following morning, his body was discovered by the nursemaid, who was surprised to see him return after escaping from his cage. His wings were battered, and his body was broken. But in his beak, he still held the magical healing fruit, even after passing away."
The entire class listened quietly, hanging onto every word. He articulated each word with the correct pronunciation and perfect clarity. The teacher looked visibly impressed. You frowned.
"... The nursemaid decided to plant the fruit in the garden, right underneath the window of the Princess' room. In time, it grew into a tall and beautiful tree, with many thick branches. It is said that from the top of the tree, the Princess' room and her Dove's cage can clearly be seen."
With that, the story was concluded. Without warning, the classroom applauded. The boy let out a sheepish smile, looking mildly pleased with himself. You remained frozen in your seat. ... None of the other students had ever clapped for you before. But that wasn't the only thing that bothered you. This boy... he was even better at reading aloud than you were.
You clenched your fists against the surface of your desk. It was enough to hurt your pride.
"Well done, Mr. Kirschtein!" exclaimed the teacher, as the new kid returned to his seat. "Well done! Well, thanks to Miss [Last] and Mr. Kirschtein, we've finally reached the end of our story. Your assignment for tomorrow is to rewrite those two final passages. I want you to envision a different ending for the tale."
You and the rest of the students quickly took note of this. No doubt most of your classmates would change the ending so that the Dove and the Princess survived. Quite frankly, you had different ideas in mind for your beloved fairytale.
The class was dismissed for the midday intermission. You gathered up your books and rose from your seat.
The same pair of girls from earlier blocked your path. The most outspoken and dominant of the two crossed her arms, wearing an annoyed expression on her face. You knew her face well. She was the daughter of your neighbour, and likewise a shameless gossip.
"Stop trying to be the teacher's pet all the time," she reprimanded you, as if it was her place to do so. "No one's buying it, you know. You're just trying to make yourself look good."
You avoided her eyes, shuffling your feet uncomfortably. "... I don't know what you're talking about."
"Still playing dumb, huh?" The girl snapped. "That's why no one likes you. It's your attitude. You're always acting like you're better than us. We can tell, you know."
You said nothing. All you did was huddle your books protectively to your chest while they glared at you. You felt trapped. Cornered. If you backed away any further, you would only wind up hitting the desk. All the while, the girls and their leader continued to goad you.
"Aren't you gonna say anything?" One of them demanded. "Why are you just standing there?"
"She's slow, that's why," the leading girl explained, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "All she does is stand there and stare at you. Like a stump."
"It's creepy," another said with a shudder. "She's so alien."
You clenched your teeth. This day was just getting more and more unbearable by the minute. You really wanted to do something right now, but you didn't want to turn into a misbehaving child. What would they say about your family then?
The Teacher wandered over. "Miss [Last]? Girls? Is something the matter?"
The group of girls quickly changed their act.
"No, nothing!" said their leader, smiling nervously. "We were just asking [First] for some advice on the assignment."
As if. That said, you kept your mouth shut to avoid making a fuss. This was what your tormentors were obviously counting on. The rest of the girls nodded quickly and chirped their agreement, backing up the lie.
"I see..." The Teacher raised a skeptical eyebrow. Incidentally, the new kid was standing patiently behind him. But you were too busy staring at your feet to pay much attention.
"In any case," the Teacher continued. "I was about to ask [First] if she would be willing to accompany Mr. Kirschtein during the break. He's still getting used to the school, so I was hoping that perhaps a fellow student could show him around and-"
"Ooh! I want to show the new boy around!" squealed the queen bee, eyes lighting up. "Let me do it!"
"I wanna help too!" another girl chimed in. She was echoed by similar pleas from the rest of the clique.
"Us too!"
"Come on, let us!"
Their voices nearly rose to a shriek. The Teacher sternly reprimanded them.
"Girls, the classroom is no place to shout. You all know that."
He smiled in approval in your direction. You were as quiet and as well-behaved as ever.
That said, the other girls were giving him their best puppy-eyed looks, to the point where he found himself at a loss. "Now we can't have everyone swarming the new student all at once. In any case, I believed I extended the offer to Miss [Last], first of all?"
The Teacher gazed at you with an expectant look. The other girls glared balefully at you. You wilted under the attention.
Meanwhile, the boy named Jean let out a bored-sounding yawn and stared wistfully into the snowy schoolyard outside. Clearly, the debate at hand didn't interest him. He just wanted to go outside, already.
You finally answered, voice as small as a mouse's squeak. "It's alright... They can do it. I don't mind."
"Hm, are you certain?" The Teacher inquired, looking disappointed. He sighed. "Very well. Be on your best behaviour, girls. And treat Mr. Kirschtein well."
The girls, though not the least bit grateful, looked absolutely gleeful. Within seconds, they were swarming all over the new kid, bombarding him with names, questions and petty information about themselves. As they all happily tugged him towards the playgrounds outside, you were completely and utterly forgotten. No longer were you the subject of anyone's harassment. Because of that, you were relieved. But that wasn't the only reason.
...You just couldn't find yourself to be friends with someone who had outdone you in class.
---
The Dove approached the ancient tree, explaining that he needed its fruit to help cure the Princess.
"Do you know why this fruit is magic?" The Old Tree asked the young Dove.
The Dove shook his head.
"It has the power to become anything you wish it to be. A medicine to cure the Princess, or a poison to kill her," The Tree explained. "Or, it may be nothing more than a stone, or an ordinary fruit."
The Dove did not understand what that meant.
"Long ago, my branches were filled with these fruits," the Tree said quietly. "I remember how the world was back then... and I remember the one who planted me. His name was Razgriz..."
"Razgriz?" The Dove whispered. "The one who cursed the Princess? ... Isn't it an evil being?"
"... Not quite," said the Old Tree. "Razgriz is both a Dark Demon... and a Great Hero..."
---
Jeez. If he had known that being the new kid in class would make him this popular, Jean would have begged his parents to let him transfer schools every other week. Seeing as that was completely impracticable, he decided to make the most of his fifteen-minutes of fame. Might as well milk out all the fun of it while he still could.
Quite frankly, he was starting to get bored. These girls were just yapping at him non-stop when he could barely get a word in edgewise. He could have liked to tell them, in the most eloquent way possible, to shut their mouths so he could hear himself think. But, eh, he had promised Mom that he would behave, so he decided to make a valiant effort. He grimaced. Gosh, did these girls love to talk about themselves!
Soon enough, a bunch of boys rolled right up and introduced themselves to him. They were all grins and friendliness, but Jean was aloof as he accepted their greetings. Earlier in the day, he had noticed them throwing snowballs at one of the girls, saying all sorts of unpleasant things, and then spitting at her feet. Ugh. Clearly this school was no different from the rest. It had its own fair share of bullies. At least it gave Jean a very good idea of who to look out for.
He gazed askance towards the far corner of the school grounds, where you sat by yourself. Resting on a tree stump, you paid no heed to anyone else, kept your head low, and buried your nose your book. Jean raised a curious brow. He recognized you as the girl who had read the second-last passage out loud during the lesson. ...And the girl who was picked, on earlier.
Just a small, sad, isolated little thing. Sitting in your own corner of the world. Just trying to get through the day with as little trouble as possible.
"Don't pay any attention to that girl," the ringleader of the bullies said darkly. "Trust me, no one likes her, except for the Teacher. She's such a suck-up."
Jean frowned, narrowing his eyes.
"What makes you say that?" he asked in a blunt, forthright tone. "And why were you being so nasty to her earlier?"
The gang of boys looked at each other, looking a little stunned and guilty. The new kid's honesty took them slightly aback.
"Oh, it's fine! She won't say anything," one of the girls trilled cheerfully. Jean recognized her as the loudest and most obnoxious of the lot. "It's not like she gets mad at us or anything. I bet she doesn't care what we do, or what other people think about her. So obviously there's nothing wrong!"
"Yeah? How do you know? Have you even asked her?" Jean inquired, raising his eyebrow in a patronizing manner.
The girl stammered, looking flustered. "W-Well..." She shut her foolish mouth.
"Her parents are corrupt, cheating cowards," the bully blurted out. "They're part of the Military Police. They work for the King, but they use the system to get paid on the side." He glared in your direction. "After Wall Maria got taken over by the Titans, her parents don't even set foot in Trost anymore. They're hiding out in the Interior like cowards, while the rest of us are stuck here."
"So? What's wrong with that?" Jean asked with a shrug, looking unimpressed. "Hiding in Wall Sina, I mean. Don't you want a safe place away from the Titans, too?"
The girl and the bully looked at each other. It was clear that the new kid was a little more vocal and opinionated than they had expected.
"Well, yeah..." muttered the bully, turning a little red. "All of us do. It's just not fair that the nobles and the Military Police get to live so far away from the Titans. Everyone's talking about how Trost will be next if there's an invasion. What'll we do before then?"
"Join the army," Jean said simply. "Get the top marks in your grade. Work your way into the Military Police Brigade."
Everyone stared at the fluffy-haired boy like he was crazy.
"Wh-what are you saying?" asked the girl, eyes wide. "If we become soldiers, then that means we'll have to fight Titans!"
"We'll just get ourselves killed!" the bully gasped.
The response was a visible rolling of the eyes.
"What, you're just going to sit around and complain until the Titans come knocking at your door?" Jean said sarcastically. "Don't be stupid. Whether or not you join the army, you're out of luck if Colossal Titan appears and kicks down the Wall."
He tilted his chin up loftily. "...But if you play the system to your favor and join the Military Police, then you can take it easy in Wall Sina and never have to see another Titan again. Sounds real nice, doesn't it?"
"Well, yeah..." the bully mumbled, scuffing his foot against the ground. "But getting into the top of the class is probably impossible..."
"Yeah," Jean snapped irritably. "It is, if you're so afraid of effort. You work hard to get what you want. That's how the world works. What I don't get is why you're complaining about someone else being in a better position by calling them a coward. You're no better than they are. You want exactly what they have, yet you won't do anything to help yourselves."
The rest of them fell silent, looking humbled. Maybe even a little resentful. But so what? It was the truth. Jean was still a child, but he prided himself on having a firmer grasp on the real world than most kids his age. His abrasiveness had gotten him into trouble with the past, but all he was doing was telling everything as it is.
"In any case, that's what I plan to do," he declared smugly. "I'll sign up for the army, and I'll work my way into the Military Police. From there, I'll move into the Interior and live an easy, Titan-free life. You guys can join me if you want, or you can stay here." He let out an arrogant smirk. "Wall Rose could always use a few more farmhands. Either way it's less competition for me for the top ten."
"You know, you'd better watch that mouth of yours," the bully growled, face turning red. "You're not going to make any friends if you keep talking down at us like that."
Jean raised his palms defensively. "Hey, you have your own way of dealing with life. I'm not going to pick a fight with you for that. Just don't turn it into an excuse to take it out on someone else. That's all I'm saying."
He let out a huff, looking weary of his present company. "Whatever. I'm getting bored, so I'll talk to that kid over there. Later!"
With that, Jean turned a heel and marched over to your corner of the school grounds.
The girl called after him, "Jean, wait...!"
But he was already half-way there.
---
The Dove thanked the Tree for the fruit, and for the story of Razgriz. As an ominous wind blew overhead, the Dove took off for the Castle, determined to reach the Princess.
As he flew through rain and hailstorm, wings battered and heart fit to burst, he carried the Magical Fruit in his beak. In his heart, he believed that he held the miracle that could cure any illness, and looked forward to seeing the Princess again.
He continued to race home towards the Castle in the distance, wondering what sort of fate awaited him there.
---
The snow fell in sparse, gentle flakes. You sat on the stump with the open book, poring over its pages. Unlike the other children, you had no interest in play or idle chatter. You were determined to get a head start of your assignment. No, you were absolutely set on writing the best composition in the class, even if you had to lose sleep over it. Nobody here was nice to you, so you might as well show all of them up.
... You let out an audible (and visible) sigh. It was just so hard acting like a good girl when nobody seemed to appreciate it. Maybe just the Teacher and your Grandfather. But you couldn't do anything about the gossip that kept circulating around your community. It was stressful, especially for a child like yourself. If only your Mom and Dad would just come back, then everything would be better. You didn't need friends. As long as you had a family that loved you, it didn't matter if the rest of the world hated you.
But Mother and Father were away. It was just you and Grandfather now. Come to think of it, you were worried about him. This Winter was frightful, and his health had taken a considerable toll. You wondered if you ought to buy more food and medicine, but money was growing short... Your savings were almost running out.
"Hey."
You frowned ... If you didn't have to go to school, perhaps you could get a job somewhere and earn money that way...
"Hey."
Sigh. You really didn't want to deal with all this right now.
"Oi." A hand pushed your book down into your lap, forcing you to look up. "Are you deaf or what?"
The voice was demanding, but unfamiliar. Ugh. It was the new kid. Kirschnickerdoodle or something. You couldn't be bothered to remember his name correctly. Peering up at him briefly, you turned away to concentrate on your book.
"Yeah, okay. Fine." The boy placed his hands on his hips, letting out a huff. "Don't look at me while I'm talking to you, then. Suit yourself."
You said nothing and kept your eyes down. You had hoped that he would be astute enough to walk away, but no. The kid simply refused to take the hint.
"Whatcha reading over there? Looks familiar." He leaned over to scrutinize the cover. "Huh ...'A Blue Dove for the Princess'. That's the story we read together in class. Man. You sure don't waste time with homework, do you?"
"Mm..." You mumbled, as a way of humoring him.
"I don't see why we have to change the ending," Jean said critically. "Sure, it's sad that the Princess and her Dove both died and all, but the story is fine the way it is. The Dove left his cage to search for the healing fruit. On his journey, he discovered the world, went through a bunch of trials, and learned more about himself. Regardless of the ending, he still made it home to the Princess. Shouldn't that be enough?"
You quietly agreed with him, but pretended to ignore him. You didn't feel like making conversation when there was a boatload on your mind.
"... You're just gonna act like I'm not even here, huh?" The fluffy-haired boy inquired, gazing down at you.
Uh-huh. You replied silently, not tearing your eyes away from the book.
"...Hey." The boy took another step closer. "Is it true that everyone's picking on you, because of your parents?"
You froze at his words. That reaction was answer enough to him.
The new kid tilted his head to the side, in a rather curious manner. "Is it also true that you don't yell, or fight back, or stick up for yourself, no matter what they do?" he asked, frowning. "Why is that? Are you scared of them, or something?"
You bit your lip, growing more nervous by the second. But also, more irritated. It was bad enough that the new kid had obviously spoken to the classmates that hated you the most. The fact that he was being absolutely nosy about it, however...
...It was starting to grate at your nerves.
"... I'm not scared." You mumbled, keeping your eyes down.
"No? Well then, aren't you the least bit bothered?" asked the boy, prying even more. "Sounds to me like they deserve a nice thrashing. Don't you want to get angry at them, even a little bit? Maybe even rough them up to get back at them?"
"...No." You said stubbornly. "...I just don't care."
The boy drew his head back with a blink, surprised at your answer. "... Yeahhhhh, I kinda doubt that. You're just trying to play it cool, aren't you? You're not fooling me, you know. You're not as good at hiding your anger as you think you are."
You scowled into your book. Pft, whatever. You didn't have anything to prove to this kid. All you wanted was for him to leave you alone. They all did that in the end. All you had to do... was to keep it all to yourself and make your face blank. To not cry. To not show your anger, or your hurt. To make it look as though you didn't feel a thing.
...
//Don't let them in, don't let them see...//
...
... But at this rate, you didn't know how long you could keep a straight face. All of these emotions were running haywire in your head, and you didn't know how to let it all out. And this annoying boy wasn't helping anything!
...
//Be the good girl you always have to be...//
...
... As if on cue, that was when the boy suddenly grabbed at your hair.
You gasped in surprise, nearly dropping the book. "H-Hey-!" you gasped indignantly. "Stop that! Let go! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Heh. Just having a bit of fun."
The amber-eyed boy had a look of manic glee on his face. With a grin, he held your braid up in the air and began shaking it in a ridiculous manner. It didn't hurt, he didn't pull hard. But still, you winced and tried to fight him off.
Somehow, this only served to entertain him even more. Your yelps and his mocking laughter attracted several onlookers, who stood by to watch curiously.
Great. Now the new kid was picking on you too. Sod this, you just wanted to go home already.
To make things worse, he wasn't done. In a display of daring, inappropriateness, and immaturity, the boy pinched the hem of your dress and lifted it into the air. The entire skirt flared upwards in the winter breeze, revealing your puffy white bloomers and stockings underneath. The cold air kissed the surface of your legs with sharp pinpricks.
The book tumbled from your lap. You shot to your feet and frantically flipped your skirt back down, face burning with embarrassment. Tears sprung freely from your eyes as you heard gasps, murmurs, from every direction all around you. This was too much! It was obvious that the boy was trying to provoke you.
His actions had another effect. Your beloved storybook was knocked into the snow, soaking its pages through and through. Probably not intentional on the boy's part.
Still, that was the last straw.
Your face flushed red. Your shoulders trembled. Your tiny hands balled up into tight, shaking fists. Your short, panting breaths transformed into hot, angry puffs of mist in the wintry air.
After an entire morning of keeping your head low, you finally lifted your chin and faced the world at last. Your eyes blazed with brilliant fury as you glared up at the boy, teeth bared and clenched.
You have just about had it.
You looked at his face fully for the first time. His most notable features were his richly-coloured amber eyes, and his copper-blond hair. Right now, however, all you could pay attention to was the look on his face - the most irritating, shit-eating grin you had ever seen.
He was absolutely triumphant. "Well, well!" He remarked with a grin, placing his hands on his hips. "Looks like you can get angry after all! I knew it! You're not the cold-hearted ice queen everyone thinks you-"
WHAM.
The other children froze in shock.
His nose shattered beneath your knuckles. You felt it crack. To your amazement, the boy went flying back against the ground, rolling backwards until he crashed into a snowdrift. Never before did you realize that such strength existed in you...until now.
Spots of red fell upon the snow. The boy named Jean Kirschtein sat up in a daze, looking utterly disoriented and deprived of all wit. A hand was clutched over his nose. When he lowered it, he looked mildly surprised to see that it was covered from finger to palm to heel in blood. Rivulets of red ran from both nostrils, dripping past his lips and chin to fall on his clothes.
A girl screamed from somewhere nearby, presumably at the sight of all the blood. It was a little horrific, come to think of it.
Jean's eyes widened as he slowly registered what had happened. By the time he looked up, still sitting ass-deep in the snow, every nerve in his body was shot with fear.
"Holy freaking Hell..."
You stood over him with the look of utmost contempt and rage in your eyes. They brimmed with the tears that you could no longer hold back. Both fists were clenched tight, and shaking with anger. One was covered in blood. The air around you was radiating with menace and hostility.
...
//Conceal, don't feel. Don't let them know.//
...
No longer were you suppressing your deep-seated emotions. The other children saw you now, and wondered if you were the same meek, passive girl they had tormented all these years. The very notion that you had finally snapped and lost it... was enough to terrify them.
You weren't holding anything back anymore.
...
//Well. Now they know...//
...
Within seconds, word had spread throughout the entire school like wildfire.
"She punched the new kid! She punched the new kid!"
The children clamoured over the news. None of them knew you had it in yourself to do such a thing. You were always a quiet, well-behaved, and rather aloof little creature. And then came along Jean Kirschtein, who proved them all wrong.
Jean had eventually fainted from the punch. Whether it was from blood loss, pain, or the pure shock of staring a Demon in the face, no one could say for certain. Either way, he had to be carried off to the infirmary amidst a crowd of gawping onlookers.
You vehemently believed he deserved it.
"Did you see his face?!" gasped the girl who led the clique, looking absolutely horror-struck.
"Forget that, did you see the look on HER face?!" whispered the bully, who looked pale and fearful for some reason. "I swear, she looked like she was possessed or something! I almost thought she was going to kill hi-"
POW.
The snowball hit him square in the face before any of them could react. By the time he had cleared the stinging ice out of his eyes, more were thrown in rapid-fire.
Your appearance caught them off guard. It didn't help that you had an entire armful of snowballs in your arsenal. Your tormentors yelped and panicked as you pelted them without warning. Without mercy. Your eyes fired off death-glares as you walked closer and closer.
The bully growled, shielding himself with an arm. "Why, you little...!" He scooped up a snowball of his own and reared an arm back, ready to return fire.
You rammed him in the chest with your shoulder, knocking him down with a force he never saw coming. Losing his wind, he crashed into the snow.
The girls screamed. The rest of the boys scattered like birds, disappearing into the steadily growing audience.
You grabbed the fallen ringleader by the collar, hauling him up to his feet. Dazed, he stared wide-eyed at you with a mix of awe and fear.
"If you throw another snowball at me," you said quietly, articulating every word. "If you spit at me, make fun of me in class, or say another word about my Mother and Father again, I swear on my family's name..."
You leaned in, drilling your eyes into his.
"...You'll wish I'd ratted you out to the Teacher instead. ... Got it?"
The bully closed his mouth and gulped, letting out a single, trembling nod. You carelessly dropped him back into the snow.
The girl that had mocked you earlier was in hysterics. "What in the world was wrong with you!? Have you finally gone insane? Good Lord, you really are a freak!"
In response, you skimmed your foot across the surface of a puddle, sending up a cold spray of mud and ice water. Dripping from face to chin, she gaped at you, too surprised to utter a word.
Now that you succeeded in shutting her up, you used your newfound courage to confront her.
"There's something you should know." You said coldly. "I don't think that I'm better than anyone else."
"...Huh?" She stared at you, bewildered. Your voice rose to a loud snap.
"I AM better than you. All of you." You spoke with all the conviction, and the pure contempt of your being. "You know how they say misery loves company? Well, only the lowest of the low would be so desperate to drag others down, just so they don't have to feel alone."
A startled silence hung in the air. More than a handful of children shifted uncomfortably, eyes drifting in a furtive manner.
You stared at the girl, wrinkling your nose with distaste. "You're right. No one likes me. Not even my parents. I'm a suck-up in class, and I'm a freak, just as you say. But you know what? I can live with that. At least I'm not you."
"H-huh...? What do you..."
The girl stared at you in shock, lip trembling. You didn't bother to elaborate. All you did was allude to the notion that she was even less of a person than you were. After all, no human would belittle another so cruelly if they didn't harbor insecurities of their own.
You felt a surge of satisfaction, seeing the girl in tears, the bully frozen with fear, and everyone looking nervously in your direction. Of course, you had ended up sinking to their level by resorting to violence and cruel words. But at the same time it was liberating. Cathartic. You were finally showing everyone the real you.
"Miss [Last]!"
The Teacher was huffing and puffing as he ran towards you through the snow. "Miss [Last], stop that at once! What are you..." He was pale, and looked more shocked than angry. "...What in the world has gotten into you?"
You turned to look at him, and felt a twinge of guilt. It was painful. You were suddenly filled with self-loathing. You had been his prize pupil for so long, so attentive and diligent in your studies. The pride of his class. ...And now that you had shown your true colours, you felt as though you had betrayed him.
All this time, you had only pretended to be a good girl. No one ever realized just how messed-up you were on the inside.
Not wanting to linger any longer, you spun on a heel and ran. The other children got the HELL out of your way.
The Teacher called after you desperately. "Miss [Last], please! Wait!"
You didn't stick around. Tears streaming down your face, you ran down the street, leaving the school behind. All you could think about was getting home. You wanted to see Grandpa.
The snow was falling harder all around you. Icy clumps flew into your eyes, stinging them hot and cold with tears. You nearly slipped as you ran through the street... and nearly crashed into a woman on a muddy corner.
"What...?! Good Heavens, you horrible child! Why don't you watch where you're going?! You really are as bad as your parents!"
That voice was familiar. You looked up with red eyes. It was the gossiping neighbour that had insulted your Mother and Father.
Those words hurt. But you refused to put up with it silently any longer. The floodgates to anger and bitterness were already opened. There was no point in being a good girl anymore.
Baring your teeth angrily, you plunged your hand into a mount of icy sludge in the corner. You ignored the sting of cold that enveloped your hand. Lifting up a handful of mud, you lobbed it at the woman's dress, smearing it black and brown.
She screamed in horror. "My dress...! Oh! How dare you! You despicable creature! I ought to have you expelled for this-"
You shoved past her and ran, leaving more muddy handprints on her clothes. She shouted after you, infuriated. "Come back here this instant!"
You kept running. Not once did you slow down. Not once did you look back. The sooner you got inside, the sooner you could forget about everything, including that stupid fluff-headed boy that caused this mess in the first place. Though you still burned with humiliation, you wanted to purge him from every corner of your mind, and never think about him ever again.
The moment you reached your house, you ran inside and slammed the door behind you. Grabbing a washcloth from the cleaning basin, you wiped down your filthy hand. It was red and bitten by cold. The pain was nothing compared to what you felt on the inside, though.
You were still panting.
"...[First]? Is that you...?" A weak voice croaked. There was a shuffling of blankets. "Why are you back so early from school...?"
"Nonono, don't get up, Grandfather! Please, go back to bed... " You gasped rushing forward and grabbing him by the arm as he slowly inched towards you. You led him back to the bed and helped him in.
He had been so healthy and cheerful just a season before. Then all of a sudden, everything changed. He became weak. Tired. His facial features were withered, as though he were plagued by an unbearable sadness. But whenever you asked, he told you that nothing was wrong.
Pulling up the covers, you drew up a chair and sat beside him.
Grandfather took your hand, holding it gently. "You're cold as ice, dear... And what are these bruises on your knuckles?"
You turned red and drew your hand back. "I-It's nothing. Please, Grandfather. Just rest."
Just give it a rest, was what you really wanted to say.
Wrinkled eyes gazed at you patiently. "Did something happen at school...?"
You said nothing, not knowing how to answer. There were so many things you wanted to tell him... but you didn't know where to begin.
Those old, weary eyes looked at you with pity. "Is it really that difficult to talk about?"
You stared at your knees, feeling the tears come back again. The entire day, horrendous and humiliating, came flooding back to you all at once.
"Grandfather..." you began. "About Mother and Father..."
You lifted your face, a dull and forlorn expression in your eyes. "...They're not coming back, are they?"
Grandfather fell silent, for a long, long time. You closed your eyes, taking this in.
"...I get it...I understand now..."
The rumours were true. Mother and Father had abandoned you after all.
"[First]..." Grandfather said pleadingly, reaching out towards you again. But you shook your head stubbornly.
"I'm... not going to go to school anymore, Grandfather," You said, drawing deep breaths to steady yourself. "...I'll go to Wall Rose to find work. ...I'll get paid if I help till the land. It won't be much, but...I have to earn money somehow. To feed the both of us, and to help you get better."
You looked out the window, clenching your fists. "... Also, I've decided that once I'm of age, I'll join the army. I'll work hard to join the Military Police, and bring us both to live in the Interior."
I don't care about anyone else in this stupid school, or this stupid neighbourhood, You thought to yourself angrily. ....I don't need friends. I can do everything by myself. I'll be the best in everything I do. I'll live life for myself and only for myself. I'll show them. I'll out-do them. I'll forge for myself a successful life that they can only dream of.
But even as these thoughts filled you with pride, guilt flooded you as you saw the distraught look on Grandfather's face.
"...I know that you don't want me to, Grandfather," you admitted sadly. "We argued about this so many times before, and I'm sorry for going against your wishes. ... But I have to make my own decisions now. I can't stay a child forever."
You knew in your heart that it would hurt him. But to you, it was the necessary decision to make.
When I grow up, I'll move to Sina and show them... I can do better far in life than they can.
Your words left Grandfather was heartbroken, and you knew it. You could see the look in his eyes. He looked weaker and sadder than ever.
But all he did was hold your hand. Tears filled his eyes.
"[First]... my dear girl..." Sobs wracked his faltering chest. "I'm so sorry. ...Please, forgive me...this is all my fault..."
You didn't know what he wanted to be forgiven for, or why he begged you to forgive him. Maybe he felt guilty for the less than idyllic life you had lived ever since Wall Maria fell.
But you knew in your heart that it was Mother and Father's fault. Both of them. They always said that they loved you. They said that they would never stop thinking about you. All lies. They were gone, and you were forgotten. Abandoned. Left to fend for yourself in a cold and unfriendly world.
You stared coldly at the ground, seething with bitter loathing. Well. ...You might as well forget about them, too. You were better off that way.
...
//They're never coming back.
...The past is in the past.//
...
Once Grandfather had wept himself to sleep, you returned to your room. Standing in front of the mirror, you loosened the braids from your hair, letting it run free and wild. Stretching your arms, you let out an oddly contented sigh. Your eyes were still red, and your chest hurt. But somehow, you felt lighter. As if a burden had been lifted from your shoulders.
Everyone was right all along. I am a bad girl. Selfish, and rotten, just like my parents. You smiled ruefully at yourself. ... But at least I can take care of myself.
Tomorrow was another day, and you expected to spent the brunt of it looking for work in Wall Rose. For now, you refused to do anything else but pull up an armchair next to Grandfather's bed and curl up against it. The fire was burning low, and on a day like this, two people in the same room helped to make a cold house warmer.
Let the storm rage on...
The rest of the world was forgotten as you blissfully drowned yourself in stories and fairytales, eventually drifting to sleep underneath your blanket. Every now and then, you cried for Mother or Father... but fell back asleep in time. After all, this too would pass. Nightmares were a normal part of growing up, after all. A passage into adulthood.
No one said it would be easy. Nor did you expect it to be. Still, you were glad that you had found your true self at last. To think that you had been brave and strong enough to defend yourself, all this time... it amazed you to learn just how much you had hidden away from yourself. Perhaps facing the real world from here on out wouldn't be so difficult after all.
... Never did it occur to you to feel gratitude for the same fluff-headed boy from before, for helping you discover this much about yourself. But thanks to him, at least you didn't have to go back to that awful place anymore.
...
//...The cold never bothered me anyway.//
...
... It wasn't like anyone wanted you there in the first place.
---
Mrs. Kirschtein had but one thing to say about her son's smashed up nose.
"For Heaven's Sake, you'll be fine," she said, rolling her eyes. "It's what you deserve for not treating a girl like a lady."
The woman was busy at work applying a splint to her son's nose. It was a trial, to say the least. Her hands were non-too-gentle, but it didn't help that Jean kept twitching, flailing, yelling, and otherwise being a downright pain to work with.
"That girl was NO lady!" the boy howled "She's a Demon! You'd see it too if you stared her in the eye! She's a monster in disguise!"
He was promptly rewarded by a light smack to the back of the head.
"Sometimes I wonder if you're the monster in disguise," the strong, tough woman muttered. "You're grounded for a month, young man. Might as well use the time to heal that nose of yours and learn some God-forsaken manners."
The boy scowled petulantly, but didn't put up an argument. A low mumble of "Yes, Mom" could be heard under his breath. He finally kept still as the splint was finally bandaged in place.
All done. Thickly, bound, his nose felt like it was in diapers. Jean looked and felt ridiculous. His mother looked satisfied with her work.
"Your dinner's on the nightstand. Along with your painkillers," she said sharply, picking up her things. "Get some sleep. I mean it. Don't make me come in here and knock you out."
"Yeah, yeah..." Jean snarked back. "The painkillers will do just that. Don't you worry, old woman."
Another smack to the head finally shut him up. That said, Jean was compensated with a kiss to the forehead before his mother finally dimmed the lamplight.
"Just give a shout if you need anything," she said, and left the room.
After having dinner and taking his painkillers, Jean was just about conked out. His room was duplicating itself and he could barely sit up. At least the pain in his nose was ebbing away.
"That crazy girl..." he muttered, throwing himself flat against the pillow and staring at the ceiling.
All things considering, getting his face punched in was well deserved. It was all he had to show for trying (and succeeding) to make you angry. Still, the smashed-up nose wasn't the (only) thing that made him feel guilty.
One had to wonder exactly how much negativity and stress you had to bottle up for so long, in order to snap like that.
Jean let out a sigh. It was a mess, but maybe he could try and fix things? He was still the new student in class, and this wasn't quite the start he was hoping for. Maybe once his nose and your broken pride were both healed, the two of you could start off on the right foot again?
He could even chat about that story with you. 'A Blue Dove for the Princess.' You could even work on the assignment together. That would be a nice way to patch things up.
With that, Jean closed his eyes. Though he winced at the numb, tingling sensation in his nose, he found himself looking forward to the day tomorrow as he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.
... But to his disappointment, you never returned to the school again.
---
The Dove returned to the castle, only to discover that the Princess had recovered from her sickness on her own. He had been gone for so long that she had completely forgotten about her beloved companion. She was surrounded by the people who loved her, and no longer needed him. The golden cage where the Dove used to live in her room was no longer there. It had been melted into a beautiful crown which the Princess wore proudly.
The Dove was heartbroken, and flew away from the castle without a word. The Princess never noticed him come and go. After weeping for a fortnight, the Dove stared into the sky and took flight for the distant land beyond the mountain. He swore never to return to the castle again. On his journey, he had discovered a world of freedom beyond the cage, and was now determined to live out his life by himself.
The magic fruit he had sought so hard to find was released from his beak. It fell upon an empty, barren field as the Dove disappeared, never to be seen again.
The fruit turned black and rotted away. It never grew into a tree.
...
Related content
Comments: 85
An absolutely wonderful prologue to an epic story! Normally I'm not all that fond of Let it Go but you and the PianoGuys (they did a mash up with Vivaldi's Winter that can be seen on YouTube) have convinced me to start liking it again
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Ohmygosh I swear you are the goddess of all fanfiction this is just so perfect--
I can't even begin to explain the whirlpool of emotions this put me through
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Oh my God as soon as I saw the "Let it Go" lyrics I was like, this is gun be gooood... XD
I was just waiting to punch Jean in the nose! XD
Very well-written as expected!
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Oh my god..this made me cry so much..I mean, its a freaking awesome chapter but GOD DAMN! I was crying at the last half of the chapter..This is why I freaking love you and your chapters. You bring out my emotions amd for that, I thank you.
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Kirschnickerdoodle....hahahaha I love it!
Can't wait to read the other chapters!
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I love your profile pic so much!! \('-')/
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Hello there ^^ Nice work~! Keep up the good work :
But I'm sorry to dismay you, but somebody has stolen your work, and reposted it without your permission and claimed it as her work. Here is the proof: www.wattpad.com/42711485-%27ju…
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Thank you for informing me, I'll try to resolve this
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Wow, that's a very long chapter. I love it! I'm going to read all of them, now xD thank you for writing so well! ;w;
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I love it! Poor reader-Chan. Those bullies got what they deserved.
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...... My heart ... I truly understand and feel the pain what firefly chan felt ... That was 10 years of my life .... Yeah I remembered I did punch a girl at the back of the head when I snapped ahaha! Good job as usual 
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Yeaaaaah, bullying sucks. T_T Especially when people talk behind your back. And yes, we all have our moments when we snap. I don't like to advocate violence, but I do admit that some people really have it coming to them. >_>
Thank you so much!! <3
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Same here ... After I snapped I became as blunt as her. Ahaha anyways Finally! I'm back on DA and the first pile of fics I'll be readin is from you!!
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AMAZING. Soooo question: does Jean remember Reader-chan? Like once he saw her at the very beginning was he like "Oh fucking snap it's that crazy bitch"? It was a great chapter btw
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In part 1 and 2, he remembered her vaguely. For the rest of the time, he didn't think about that memory at all, being busy with all sorts of shit. But who knows! Maybe later they'll remember each other and bring it up one way or another. =3 We'll see!
Glad you liked X3 it was fun to write.
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Hahaha! EAT SHIT ,KIRSCHTEIN!
Wow! seriously, Reader-chan has bent through a lot, though this explains her tsundere temper
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Yeap. XD And to think that Jean encouraged her to be her true self at last. XD Even if he had to piss her off GREATLY in order to do that. XD But yeah, this was a nice little background piece describing how Firefly-chan came to be the fiery little tsundere she is now. XD
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Oh my god, I feel so satisfied reading this fanfic.
It kinda feels like I'm bullying back the bullies that bullied me in real life GOD I'M SO HAPPY xD
But then *sniffs* Poor reader-chan ;;
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Yeap, bullies deserve what they get coming back to them. They need to know how it feels to receive that treatment.
And yeah, Reader-chan sure had a less than happy childhood... I guess we know where all that bad temper, unfriendliness, and competitiveness comes from. XD
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Oh my god amazing
The funny thing is when it said, "Don't let them see how you feel." I immediately thought FROZEN
Then when the lyrics to the song came up I freaked out xD It was just like you read my mind or something...scary
Other than that this is a fantastic story probably the best I've ever seen, because every Jean x Reader story I read I always have to say, "Still not better than 'Just Be'." Cuz I am hooked on this series so much so keep up the great work Cherry, Love u and your work! <3
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Hehehehe, just as I thought, the lyrics fit! Trust Jean to come bashing her doors down asking if she wants to build snowmen. And her to not take it well AT ALL.
Aww man, thanks so much! XD This fic isn't as heavy on the romance as the other Jean x Reader fics (although it might be real soon!) But I'm really glad you're having a blast so far! Hope you stick around til the end!
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Haha yup and your very welcome but that's the good thing! It wasnt heavy on the romance in the beginning just like lots of the other stories and thats why I like 'Just Be' so much because its unique this way i'll totally be sticking around til the end, cant wait for the next part! <3
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Holy. Shit. This. Was. Awesome. You are by FAR the best writer I've ever seen.
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Awwwww no I'm not, I'm not even published! XD That's such a high compliment, thank you so much!
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AMG A celebrity just talked to me. O///O *hyperventilates* Your stories are so interesting I can't wait until one fo the new chapters come out thank you so much for sharing it with my tiny ignorant life I hope you make lots and lots of happy memories for the rest of your life I love you. *exhales*
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That was really moving. I'm glad you did this chapter, it put a lot of in site into the story.
*deep breath* I'm ready for the next chapter. Are you?
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SIS I'M NOT READY. I'M ALREADY WRITING IT AND I'M NOT FREAKING READY, MAN T_T I CAN'T DO IT! AND YET I MUST....
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DAMN THIS IS GOOD. LIKE REALLY FREAKING GOOD. I absolutley loved little Jean and little reader! I hope you incorperate a flashback of this into the current chapers of Just Be! Keep up the amazing work, as always xx
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Thanks so much! I'll do my best to make reference to this scene later on. =3 We'll see what happens!
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HEHEHEHE I KNOW rITE?
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you added Frozen...
You added Frozen.
You added Frozen!
YOU ADDED FROZEN!
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Yay!
Another Amazing chapter from the great and multi-talented cherrypikkins!~
And I loved the Frozen reference to Elsa's song Let it Go~
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Awww, I'm not all that. XD You guys are the awesome ones. I'm glad you guys liked the lyrics here. It's so fitting considering the fact that Reader-chan wants to badly to look good in front of everyone else, even though she knows she isn't a good girl on the inside.
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Holy crap this is amazing! I shall get more from you! Hehe~! Keep up the good work! >u<
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Hehehehe, yes you shall, I still have lots more to give you guys! X3
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This chapter was just. Gorgeous. Moooaaaaaar. Please. It's like my whole highschool career on paper. Minus actually defending myself.
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Ugh, highschool is the WORST. You really have to go out of your way to find the people worth hanging out with because a huge lot of them are just AWFUL. Students AND teachers. Ughhh. Well... There will be a time when you look back and say 'omg I can't believe I survived that'. And you'll be so glad you got it over with. XD
Bullies and social stigmatism suck. =/
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HEHEHEHEHE 8D I KNO RITE?
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Holy shit, you made me cry again
And the lyrics from Frozen... I cried my eyes out during that film (along with my big sis).
Anyway, this chapter was incredibly well written (so much feels!!!!)
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8D -hands you box of tissues-
Dude, I was bawling my eyes out during the final verse of 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman' Uuuugh holy shit. But I'm so glad you guys appreciated the reference =3 it's fitting in a way here.
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