"Is this a joke for you?" Mary mocked.
"Oh, wait—you probably think I am! After all, why would a loser like you ever believe you're standing on the same damn footing as me?!"
"I HAVE TRAINED MYSELF MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR THIS MOMENT, WHILE YOU WERE JUST MESSING AROUND!"
"And yet…" she scoffed, her chest heaving. "You think you're an equal with ME?! YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME! I'm perfect! I AM PERFECT!"
Her hands clenched tighter as she approached Urara closer, "So tell me, Urara! Am I not good enough? AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH?!"
Then, out of her outburst, her palm struck out,
*SMACK*
slapping Urara across the cheek again.
*SMACK*
Then again.
*SMACK*
And again.
"Tell me, tell me, TELL ME!"
"TELL ME THAT I'M NOT PERFECT! TELL ME THAT I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Tell me! TELL ME!"
With the final roar tore out of her throat as she raised her hand high, ready to deliver one last furious strike.
But in that moment, her senses slammed back into her. She flinched.
Her eyes blinked rapidly, vision clearing, and she froze. "Eh...?"
Her trembling hand began to hover inches away from Urara's battered face. Urara's cheeks were bruised, her body shaking softly.
Then, can't believe what she saw, Mary's breath grew heavy and erratic. Panic swelled in her chest.
What had she done? Did she really just hit her? Had she just lost her mind?
Her hands quivered as she stepped away. "What... what...?" she muttered in disbelief.
With a gasp, she turned and bolted away without apologies.
She ran blindly toward the station, tears streaming down her cheeks, questioning what she had done. With that, Mary had completely vanished from the scene.
Meanwhile, Urara stood still, blinking as if waking from a strange dream. She rubbed her stinging cheek, tilting her head in confusion.
"Mary-chan…?" she whispered, realizing Mary was already departed.
Still confused, Urara mumbled,
"Mary-chan looked upset. Maybe I did something... wrong?" crossing her arms and tilting her head further.
Then, as if the answer struck her, she smacked a fist into her open palm. "Oh! Probably because I forgot to say 'good evening' to her! I should probably apologize to her tomorrow. Maybe that will cheer her up!"
And with that, despite the bruises on her face and the sting still lingering, Urara walked home with her usual bounce.
Her smile returned as she hummed her way home.
*********************************************************************************
Ten or more minutes later...
Urara finally arrived home, stepping through the door with her arms wide open.
"I'm home!" she declared.
Her parents, however, weren't as thrilled. They rushed to her side, panic written all across their faces.
"Urara, are you alright?! Where have you been?!" her mother asked.
"We were worried!" her father added.
"Don't worry, don't worry! Urara just took a good nap in school!" Urara puffed her chest proudly, as though it were something worth celebrating.
Her parents sighed in unison, relief fading into exasperation.
"Please, Urara, no more sleeping in class. Your grades already aren't that great…" her mother scolded, pressing her hands firmly against her hips.
"Urara's going to have her dinner!" the girl announced without a thought in her mind, frolicking toward the living room.
"This girl..." her mother sighed as she shook her head.
But as she passed, her mother's eyes widened. The relief on her face turned instantly to alarm.
"Urara...? Urara! What happened to your face?!" she cried, kneeling down as she pulled her daughter closer.
Her father froze, then sprang into action as her mother shouted, "Oh my god, it's swollen! Honey, quick, grab an ice bag!"
Without hesitation, her father dashed off, fumbling in the kitchen.
"It was Mary Jane!" Urara answered casually, her tone as carefree as ever. "I think she hit me because I did something that made her mad!"
"She WHAT?!" her mother yelped, her voice sharp with disbelief and fury.
Her father returned in haste. "Here, honey!" He passed the ice bag into her hands. Her mother gently pressed it to Urara's cheek. "Sorry, Urara, it might sting a little."
"Ouch!" Urara flinched at the touch.
"Now hold on to it," her mother instructed before rising to her feet, her gaze stormy as she turned to her husband.
"We must confront Mary's parents."
"Wait, Mary's parents?" he asked, baffled. "Why?"
"Their daughter just hit our daughter! What do you mean why?!"
"Oh… wait… REALLY?!" he exclaimed, finally piecing it together. He leaned down, inspecting Urara's cheek. "You're right! It is swollen terribly!"
"How can you not figure it out already when you went for the ice bag..." her mother sighed in disbelief.
"I think we should pay them a visit tomorrow. Demand an apology!"
"You're right! How dare they let their daughter hit mine! I should show them what happens if they mess with our daughter!" her father interrupted as he rolled up his sleeves dramatically, showing off his skinny arm.
"...Honey, no violence under this roof, remember?" his wife reminded flatly.
He froze, then tittered awkwardly. "Hahahaha… yes…"
Meanwhile, Urara remained with the ice bag pressed to her cheek, blinking in confusion at her parents' agitation.
Meanwhile...
On the other side of town, Mary arrived home too. Her breath was still uneven.
But she quickly took a deep breath, murmuring under the teaching of her fathers, composing herself.
Only then, she twisted the doorknob with a mumble. "I'm home…"
The house was dark; despite being furnished, it felt empty, like it had been abandoned years ago.
Meanwhile, her father sat before the television, completely engrossed in a pre-recorded race. Without looking at her, he questioned. "Why are you so late?"
The authority in his tone made Mary flinch. She turned quickly toward the stairs. "I had training…" she muttered.
"I see." He nodded, eyes still fixed on the screen. "Did you show them what I taught you?"
"Yes… Father. I did, and..." she paused.
"And...?"
"Th... th... they were impressed."
"I see... Good girl." He softened slightly. "Now go to your room. Do your homework. You still have school tomorrow."
"Yes, Father," Mary replied obediently, her steps heavy as she ascended the stairs to her room.