After this chapter, things will begin to slow down… (: Enjoy~!

.::Review Replies::.

Candybear24: Thank youuu!(: I actually have a number of reasons for making Rin the bad guy. The most important, though, is that in [Why or Why Not?] I made a point of Miki chopping off her hair to fit in with the popular crowd (Rin and Gumi.) And even some freakishly tall person like Miki can feel hopeless even around Rin if the whole school is against her. You're very welcome! Thank youuu for reviewing my story!

Skie Narkie: I actually wasn't expecting you of all people to review for me. :D Yay~! *is happy* Thank you! I'm glad you like my stories. I didn't feel that my oneshot was all that sad, but yours is all 'happy-joyful' and once you realize what's going on…it's just depressing. XD I can't believe you aren't a huge supporter of this couple, yet you're still reading. *feels honored* Thanks for favoriting!(:

Gold Phantom: I shall(:

And of course, those of you who followed (Scarlet Eventide, Lyric22, and FlyingMintBunny579) shan't be forgotten!(: Thanks, guys~!

The next day, Piko found himself searching the crowd for the familiar cherry-red ahoge he knew to be Miki, but even though he waited in the same hall where he first met her, she never did make an appearance. He went on as though it wasn't bothering him, but the questions buzzed around in his mind nonstop. How was she doing? Had she even showed up for school that day? He'd have asked Rin, but he really didn't want to be around that priss after witnessing how she treated such a vulnerable kid – who practically begged for her to stop.

He still didn't hear a word from her the day after that. He thought he saw her in the crowd once, but when he called to her, she didn't respond. Either she hadn't heard him or she'd ignored him all together. That alone was enough to make his heart sink.

She still thinks I'll hurt her like everyone else. Well, I promise that I won't! I am a man, and a man does not break his word, he thought stubbornly as he headed to class with his head held high.

During the weekend, he only found himself thinking of Miki. Two whole days. He'd have to spend two full days waiting for another day at school, and another chance to see her again. He wondered if she was doing okay. It already felt like years since he'd spoken to her, and after making his promise to her, he only wanted to stay true to his word. But if she kept evading him, he'd never get to do so. Piko scolded himself for not asking for her phone number when he talked to her in the janitor's closet, but then it occurred to him…

Did she even have a phone?

And if she did, was it just another way for her tormentors to get to her and make her life miserable?

Sure, being tortured physically was a pain. But if her phone number had slipped out somehow, then everyone – anyone – could send her vicious text messages that told her to go kill herself because she was useless, or that she was just another whore that the world didn't need.

The thought infuriated Piko to no end. He'd often heard stories of people being degraded to the point where they would cry themselves to sleep at night. And the bullying was all for no apparent reason. And what bothered him even more was that no person even tried to step in to help; they would either ignore the problem or join in.

He was not going to do either of those.

At school on Monday, things were the same. He continuously took different routes to his classes in hopes of passing her at some point. However, he still had no luck.

When he took a seat at the lunch table, everyone seemed to take notice in his new behavior. Especially Rin. She had always been the kind to keep her eye out for some kind of gossip to pass onto the texting maniac, Neru, even if her closest friends were the main subjects. Piko knew he would be no exception to her wrath, so he pretended that he didn't notice it when she raised a perfect golden eyebrow at him for being so quiet and reserved. Rin only fixed him with her icy glare as she sipped at her orange juice, until Len finally managed to get her attention away from Piko with a kiss.

Piko bit into his sandwich and ate it half-heartedly, his gaze fixed on some point ahead of himself. Whenever someone spoke to him or asked him a question, he replied as simply as he could to avoid getting dragged into a conversation that he wouldn't pay any attention to, anyway. The thirty minute lunch period seemed like ages, and the bell signaling for them to go back to class was like an angel calling him to heaven.

Being around those who caused the most pain for Miki was hell.

:::::

"You've been awfully distracted recently, Utatane," Meiko-Sensei murmured thoughtfully as Piko stopped to stand in front of her desk. The bell signaling the end of the day had rung, so naturally, the other students had fled the room as though it were on fire, leaving just the two of them. The young, brunette teacher slapped a packet of papers down in front of him, a big red 'D' circled in the top right corner. "This isn't like you. What happened to my straight 'A' student? Is it just that you don't understand the material?"

Piko picked up Friday's Math test and scanned the paper, his eyes resting on the numerous equations and numbers that made complete sense to him. Looking over it now, it seemed like nothing but stupid mistakes that he would've been able to catch had he been paying attention. He looked up to meet his teacher's concerned chestnut gaze.

"I understand it, Sensei," he told her confidently, holding the papers back out for her to take. "I've just had a lot on my mind recently."

Meiko-sensei dropped his test on top of the others, plopping down in her chair. "Is it anything that I or your counselor, maybe, can help you with?"

A little too quickly, Piko shook his head. "I've got it all under control."

Did he? Did he really? Surely, Miki needed more help than only he could give her. But would she really want that much attention being drawn to her?

Of course not.

She sat in silence for a few moments, staring up at him with one of her stern teacher looks before nodding slightly. "If you say so, Utatane." Meiko-sensei brushed back some of her short brown bangs. "If you do need someone to talk to, though, I'm always here. And Aoki is always in the guidance office."

"Thank you, Meiko-sensei, but that won't be necessary." Piko gave a curt nod as he started for the door. "Have a nice day."

"You too!"

I did the right thing, right? By not telling Sensei about Miki's situation? he wondered as he made his way for the front doors of the sighed as he pushed them open and stepped into the crisp fall air. His second year in high school, and things were already so much more complicated than he would've ever thought they'd be. His parents had warned him that there would be drama and all sorts of crap getting to him, but he really didn't think that one victim of bullying – and someone he didn't even know – would change his life.

Piko trotted down the stairs in front of the school and took a left turn to head for his house, dropping his gaze to stare down at his shoes as they carried him along the length of pavement. The usual sounds of afterschool drifted around him. He could hear all the coaches barking orders to kids as they struggled to please them, along with the hushed murmurs of a few students who had gathered in groups to hang out on the school grounds before heading home.

Yet there was something that he didn't recognize.

That was a lie.

He knew the voices, but they were much…harsher than he ever remembered them being. Surely the other students could hear it, too?

Piko didn't bother to break into a run to see what was going on. The ruckus was coming from somewhere behind the school, and he'd be passing that general area on his way home anyway. Probably some ridiculous fight, he told himself.

"You can stop crying any time now, you useless brat."

As he got nearer, Piko could not only hear Gakupo's voice, but he could also see him facing the brick wall, flanked by two others. Gakupo, the freakishly tall captain of the basketball team. Gakupo, the pervert who brought home a new girl every weekend. Gakupo, the most relentless boy in the whole school.

Something was definitely up.

A few weak sniffles came from the center of the half-circle they'd formed around a person who was pressed back against the wall.

"If you don't shut up now, we'll make this even harder on you," another boy – Kaito, a member of the basketball team as well – growled.

Piko let his backpack drop to the ground before bounding towards the group. That wasn't Miki, was it? he thought as he came to a stop behind the boys. He'd drawn all the attention to him from his loud running, so the three of them turned around to face him, their gazes challenging.

"Ah. Piko, it's only you," Gakupo purred, eyes softening as he stepped aside to reveal none other than the terrified Miki, who stared towards Piko with wide, desperate eyes. "Would you like to join us? We figured we could have a little fun with the most hated girl in the school." He turned back to her, a smirk dancing across his lips as he squeezed her arm tight enough to cause her to tilt her head back and let out a weak cry of protest. "After all, nobody believes a slut who cries wolf."

He raised a brow, biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from saying anything he might regret. He didn't want to see them hurt Miki, but how could he make them leave her alone?

"Yea," Mikuo chimed in, padding towards Piko with a smile that could fool anybody into believing that he was a kind and considerate boy. "I bet this girl could scream to pitches no one's ever dreamt of."

The redhead whimpered, her bottom lip quivering in fear. Gakupo's fingers constricted around her arm, and she squealed again, trying to move away from him. He only yanked her back into place and bent down to whisper threats into her ear.

Piko rolled his neck as he made his final choice. Sure, the three boys were a lot taller than he, and no-doubt, they were stronger as well. But he would have to take the direct approach, because he couldn't bear to toy with Miki's emotions…Playing along with them might result either in Miki losing her trust in him altogether or him actually being trapped into doing things he wouldn't want to do. Or worse, both.

Obviously, there were far better ways to handle the situation, but this seemed like his best option. He wouldn't back away and go to a teacher, because half the time, adults made things worse. And he couldn't just back up now that he'd seen what they were doing.

Piko advanced on them with quick, smooth strides toward the group and reached out to grab Miki by her other wrist. He yanked her back towards him, earning a squeal of surprise from the battered redhead as she was freed from Gakupo. The boys looked equally shocked from the shota's actions, but they didn't say anything or protest. In fact, Gakupo smirked.

"You want her all to yourself, eh?" Gakupo queried, tapping his finger to his chin. "I knew one day that you'd head on over to the dark side. I think I just got more respect for you, Piko, my man." He leaned closer to Miki, capturing her chin with his index finger and thumb and forcing her to look at him, an action that took all of Piko's willpower not to scream at him for. "You will let us know how it was, yes? We may have to pleasure ourselves anyway. After all, she must be the only virgin in school, and lucky you, you get to be the one to rape her senseless."

Narrowing his eyes, Piko jerked Miki out of his grasp. "Get your own girl to toy with, got it?"

"Feisty, Piko, feisty." Gakupo wagged his finger at the white-haired boy and spun around, his long purple locks cascading down his back like a waterfall. "I'll be sure to tell Rinny of this little change. She won't be as suspicious of you then."

"Suspicious?" Piko's voice rose to high note as he questioned Gakupo's words. "Why is she suspicious?"

"She thinks you're going soft. You know…" His fierce lavender gaze met Piko's. "Thinks you're willing to help pathetic kids like her." He jerked his head in Miki's direction, and the redhead lowered her gaze to avoid his looks.

Stand up for her! His heart urged him to do one thing, but his mind told him another. Stand up for her! Don't let them put her down anymore!

"Of course I wouldn't," Piko scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Rin needs to get more evidence before she comes to a conclusion like that."

Idiot.

"Well, we'll leave you to your…activity," said Kaito, chuckling darkly as he beckoned for Mikuo to follow him towards the group of cheerleaders gathered in the field for a few quick stretches. "Might be able to pick up a few of these girls. They'll be better than that pathetic rat ever could be," he spat out, his words like venom not only to Miki, who was the sole receiver of his violence, but also to Piko.

Gakupo stayed behind for a few moments, waiting for the two boys to be out of earshot before whispering, "I've got my eye on you. Your actions are just a little suspicious, Utatane." His gaze flicked over to Miki, who watched his with tear-laden eyes. "But if you are telling me the truth, then promise me you'll make that sorry bitch scream and beg until she goes hoarse."

Next to him, Piko felt Miki tense up. He could hear her suck in a large breath of air, but she stayed quiet until Gakupo had taken a seat next to Kaito and Mikuo by the cheerleaders.

Piko pulled Miki after him until he was sure they were out of sight, hidden by the thick branches of the bushes. And almost immediately, Miki swung her arms around him, burying her face into his chest with choking sobs that wracked her small frame. Hesitantly, he lifted his hands up to her back and let them hover there over her skin. He wanted to open his mouth to say something, but there were no words…he let his chin rest on her shoulder, her silky red hair tickling his nose. Miki's body shook violently, but he took no mind. She was okay now, after all. Nothing bad would get her if he was there.

Her voice, cracking with pain and the tiniest bit of relief, broke the sounds he'd grown accustomed to – her hiccups and his soft breaths. "I-I-I w-wasn't sure if I-I should've c-c-called for y-you…" She constricted her arms around him even tighter as her hot, salty tears soaked into his shirt.

"I would've helped," Piko whispered gently, running his thin fingers through her long, silky locks of cherry-scented hair. "Anytime you need me, I'm here."

"W-Why are you so nice to me?" Miki heaved a shaky sigh against his chest, and with it, Piko noticed most of her trembling died away.

"Whether you choose to believe me or not, I'm here to help you. Always." Piko almost jerked her back when she stepped away from him to meet his gaze. He couldn't hide the pity in his own eyes when he saw that hers were bloodshot and red-rimmed from tears. Which seemed to be a regular occurrence. He wondered what she would look like if she hadn't cried in days. How gorgeous would she be then? Even more so than she was now?

Miki lifted her hand to rub her eyes vigorously as she sniffled. "T-thank you…but…won't you ruin your own image if you hang out with me?"

He hadn't thought of that. No doubt, if Rin caught him hanging out with Miki, he would be shunned by her. And that would lead to him becoming a social outcast like Miki in no time. But in return…he would most likely gain the truest friend a person could ever have.

The choice was simple.

"Who cares?" Piko flashed a smile that made her give him one back – and was it refreshing to see such a beautiful smile on such a gorgeous face. "C'mon. I'll walk you home so no one else can mess with you."

"A-are you sure?" Miki tipped her head to one side, sniffling again.

Piko chuckled. "Positive. And don't try to talk me out of it, because it's not happening. Where's your backpack?"

"U-uh…" The redhead slowly turned to look around, before pointing in the direction of a thick bush, heavy with briars. "They threw it over there…"

Those heartless pricks. Piko padded over to the bush to see her mahogany backpack lodged in the middle, in a spot where it would be next to impossible to reach without getting shredded by thorns. He sighed, but stood up on his tippy toes and tried to reach it, ignoring the points of the briars digging into his delicate skin. Miki made soft noises of protest as she bounded over to his side, wincing at how badly his arm started to bleed as he pulled her bag back towards him. Piko dropped it at his feet, hissing at the stinging cuts.

"I-I-I'm so sorry!" Miki's hands flew up to cover her mouth, her auburn eyes wider than ever.

"Eh, it's not your fault." Piko shook his arm, scattering droplets of blood on the lush grass, but he picked it up by one of the straps and turned to head in the direction of his own backpack. "Come on. You have to show me where you live."

"Y-You don't need to carry it for me…"

"Of course I do. There are thorns all in it; it'll hurt like hell if you try to put it on."

Miki bounded over to his backpack on the ground and snatched it up before he could. "Then I'm carrying yours," she insisted, slinging it over her shoulders and crossing her arms stubbornly. "It's the least I can do."

A smile formed on Piko's lips from ear to ear as he watched her walk down the sidewalk in the direction he'd been heading all along. Five minutes and she's acting like the happiest girl alive. Piko bounded to catch up with her, slowing to a brisk walk as he fell in step at her side.

"Thank you, Piko…" she murmured, kicking a rock and watching it roll down the sidewalk until it bounced into the grass off their path.

"It's my pleasure." Piko shrugged, though he wasn't sure if she could see it. "Miki, you and I should meet before school. I'll walk you to class in the mornings so they don't have time to get to you."

"Nah." She shook her head slowly. "Don't worry about it. You don't have to make such a big change to your routine just for me."

"But I want to." Piko fell quiet, as did she. And it was pretty awkward for the few long moments that stretched on before he was able to speak again. "I don't want to see them doing this to you again. I don't care that I barely know you. I don't want to see you hurting."

Miki's laugh was forced. "You're the first person to ever believe that," she whispered, before adding more loudly, "I suppose it's okay, then."

Piko grinned. "Good. How about we meet in front of the school?"

"Eh…sure." Miki stopped walking and started to shrug his backpack off. "We're here."

Focused completely on their conversation and whatever pain Miki was going through, Piko hadn't really been paying attention where they were going. But now, he knew the very place they were at. His eyes widened as he took in his surroundings. She lived there and he never knew until now?

"…what?" Miki shifted, uncomfortable.

"I…live right down the street." Piko turned and pointed towards the hill where his house rested. "Right up there."

"Oh…" She gave a weak smile before passing his backpack back to him and retrieving her own. "Guess we can meet here, then? In the mornings?"

"Definitely." Piko waved when he noticed that she was backing towards her house. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

"Yea." Miki paused with her hand over the doorknob. "And Piko?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks."

Wow. Five minutes before I have to be in bed. Yea…so I rushed the last few lines of this. But not too bad, right?

More reviews mean quicker updates! Next chapter might be like twice the length of this one.:D

See you!

(:Mizune