Silently Protecting

Chapter I: Looking After

Nodoka Manabe

"Thank you everyone. I leave the tea party in your hands. I still have some work to do for the Student Council so please excuse me," I bowed slightly as I exited the music room, the Light Music Club's discussion slowly fading as I descended the stairs.

I had come to them to ask for their help with the Mio Fan club. Though I was forced to be the president, I still had an obligation to them. Hopefully with everyone form the Light Music Club helping, everything will turn out fine.

It seemed like Yui was very excited about it. Sawako-sensei was helping out too. Mugi's obviously in to it, and even Azusa's willingly helping out. Not to mention Ritsu who's always looking for an opportunity to trigger Mio's silly reactions.

Speaking of which, I remembered when she narrated what happened last year with Mio. Mio had felt like someone was stalking her so she had gone to the Student Council for help.

It had turned out to be Sokabe-senpai, last year's Student Council president—not to mention the president of Mio's fan club.

When I mentioned it to the Light Music club, all but Azusa knew the event, so they told her about it, Ritsu narrating what happened.

Well, what she told Azusa wasn't really the truth so Mio took over in telling Azusa the story. Though what Ritsu said wasn't the truth, it wasn't a complete lie either.

Last year, February…

I was in the Student Council Office, doing some paper work. No one else was around until I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," I said, looking at the door.

"Ah, Nodoka," it was Ritsu, "Good thing you're the one I found here." She said as she came in and closed the door.

"What's the matter? Got into trouble again?" I asked as she approached. I almost expected her to say yes because it wasn't a very odd thing to happen frequently.

"Hey, I don't always get into trouble," she protested, crossing her arms.

"True," I said as I continued doing my paperwork, "but you always create one yourself." I told her without looking up.

"Guh!" she made a short pause, probably admitting to herself that I was right. After a few seconds she sighed. "Alright, I admit, I'm not really the most responsible club president there is but I didn't come here to talk about that!"

She put her hands on the table with a thump, causing me to look back at her. Knowing that she got my attention, she continued.

"It's about Mio…" she started, "You know how she's kind of a scaredy cat and all, but she's been on edge since this morning. She said she felt like someone was watching her, like a stalker. I tried to comfort her and told her that it must've been her imagination, but I don't think she believes that."

"A stalker?" I asked with an alarmed voice.

She nodded sternly, keeping her eyes on her hands. I was slightly surprised with Ritsu's reaction. Her brows were curved into a slight frown and her face was full of worry for her friend.

It was the first time I saw her this concerned about Mio.

"Here," she pulled out a small card from her pocket and put on the table. When I looked at it, it has a picture of Mio and it said 'Akiyama Mio Fan Club'. The name 'Ruiko Nageshi' was written on it and on the top right corner was the number 0003.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's the Mio Fan Club membership card," she answered and I looked at her with an eyebrow raised, "I borrowed it from a senpai I knew from middle school." She explained.

"Anyway, she was the secretary of the club and she mentioned about how sad she'd feel after she graduates because she won't see Mio anymore." She continued, "I'm still not sure but it might be the same with the other senior members."

"So you're saying that the one who's stalking Mio might be a senior from her fan club?"

"It's a possibility, but the graduating members aren't the only possible suspects."

"So you want me to look into the club and find out who the stalker might be?"

"I don't think we could," she told me in a troubled voice, "Look, in a few minutes or so, Mio would come here to ask for your help about this. I'm counting on you to at least make her feel safe, since, obviously, I wasn't able to do that…" for a moment she looked almost guilty, but then her face reverted back to a worried one, "Please just do me a favor and comfort her, okay?"

I gave her a small smile and said, "You can count on me,"

She smiled back, "Also, I'm quite sure the stalker would reveal herself soon enough. I don't think she could just look at Mio from far away. She would take any chance she has to talk to her. She'd know a lot about Mio, and surely about the Light Music Club too, and she'd probably be one of the original members of Mio's fan club."

"Original members?"

"Yeah, Nageshi-senpai told me that the members since last year have their card number ranging from 0001 to 0015," she explained, her mood starting to lighten up, "So if you see a card like this—" she pointed at the card, "—see if it's within those numbers, okay?"

I gave her a nod, "Sure, will do."

"Thanks," she said before walking towards the door. But when she opened it, she looked back with her usual mischievous smile.

"Oh, and don't tell Mio about this, alright?" she put a finger in front of her lips as if she was hushing someone down, "It's just our little secret."

She said before closing the door.

After that, her predictions were dead on. Mio did go to the Student Council for help and the stalker really was a member of Mio's club.

I had to admit, if it wasn't for Ritsu, I wouldn't have even suspected Sokabe-senpai of being the stalker. I wasn't aware of the said fan club and I wouldn't even have noticed that senpai knew too much.

That was the time that I realized how responsible Ritsu really is.

She forgets to submit the forms needed by their club. She often copies homework from Mio. She doesn't study and she's just about as lazy as Yui is when it comes to practicing in their club.

Though that's all true, she's more dedicated to her friends than to her obligations. She takes good care of the Light Music Club and helps anyone in need. She helps her friends without expecting anything in return.

Most of all, she cares a lot about Mio.

I smiled at the thought.

Ritsu and Mio weren't just childhood friends.

They were best friends.

Author's Notes:

I don't really now when i'll update this but... I'm planning to get POV's from each of the important characters! ...except maybe Sawa-chan's...

Sawa-chan: DIIEEEEE! *throws her guitar at me

*dodges* Hey! Don't throw your guitar at me! You might break it! Or worse, you might break me!

Sawa-chan: That's what I was aiming for!

...yeah, so, anyway, you'll see Yui, Mugi, Azusa and maybe even Ui's POV's... and i'm still debating (with my self) if i should put Ritsu and Mio's as well...

I guess that's all! Did you like it? Hate it? Do you want me to continue or should i just stop it? :33

~~61wisampa