It's storytime, everyone.

Once, there was a boy named Kenishi. Many people called him "Kenny". Kenny was a quiet boy. He kept to himself. He loved robots and building. He was a good boy.

Then came junior high school.

There was a girl who tormented him. A girl named Lucinda. No one knew why she tried to hurt him so.


Normally, Kenny had a protector-his sister Kogane, who was born alongside him.


But Lucinda was pernicious.


And she inflicted more than just physical pain.

Once, Kenny brought a clay pot to school, then broke it to demonstrate the discipline of Kintsugi.

Lucinda grabbed the rebuilt pot and broke it again.

Once, Kenny and Kogi were given chocolate cupcakes in their lunch for their birthday.

Lucinda stuffed Kenny's cupcake in the back of his pants for mere bathroom humor.

Kenny kept his anger and frustrations to himself. As days passed, they became a voice.

The voice would tell Kenny things. AWFUL things.

"It's YOUR fault." the voice would say. "You could just do something, but no. You have to do the whole 'ignore it and she'll go away' schtick. We'll see how far that gets you, loser."

Soon, Kenny's family and friends noticed a change in him. His enthusiasm for the things he loved was slipping away. His appetite has diminished. He words became sullen and angry.

And the voice became less a voice, and more... a demon.

Eventually, Kenny's mother and father decided to meet up with the school's principal to discuss Kenny's struggles.

As this happened, Kenny had been accidentally hit in the head in softball practice. The physical pain subsided, but Lucinda taunted him.

Then the demon spoke. The loudest and clearest Kenny had ever heard it.

"What in the everloving FUCK are you waiting for?!! You have the bat. She's right there. A few good whacks and BOOM!!! She's not gonna bother you anymore!! You OWE yourself this. If you let this opportunity slip bye, you'll never be able to respect yourself again. Is that what you want? Is it?! IS IT?!! Now go over there and make her regret EVER fucking with you, you fucking LOSER!!!!!!!"

And Kenny, to his lasting regret...

Listened.

His sister and his best friend Danny tried to stop him, but he swatted them away. He knew what his purpose was.

Lucinda tried to weasel out of it. She begged for mercy. She said she was sorry.

Kenny knew she was lying. He knew she had to suffer, like she made him suffer. Vengeance would finally be his.

And then, before the final blow was struck, his mother caught the bat. Kogi had told her and Kenny's father what had happened.
Kenny's mother stared into hi eyes. Kenny couldn't explain how, but she seemed to calm him. His anger subsided. The demon became quiet.

That was when he saw what he had done to Lucinda. To Kogane. To Danny.

Kenny couldn't understand it. He'd never dream of doing something like this. He kept to himself. He'd never hurt anyone.

He was good.


As his mother held him, he tried to get a word out. Something. Anything. But he could only manage a simple question.

"What's WRONG with me?!"


Kenny would get his answer. A judge sentenced him to talk to others about his torment, and what it drove him to do. Kenny would learn that his torment had planted the seeds of depression, and that the demon was a manifestation of it.

Has Kenny gotten better?

Yes. He's been picking himself up and rebuilding his life.

But the demon is still there. Taunting him, tormenting him. Asking the same question that drives his very existence.

"What the fuck is WRONG with you?!!!!"

---

Something I wanted to do for a while. I wanted to show Kenny and Aoi on the absolute WORST day of their lives.

Why did I do this? Maybe I just thought this story should be told.