So yeah this is hella late, cause I had some important issues I needed to do and I'm still dealing with them but hey, got the time to finish chapter two. Also, I hope you're being cautious with this coronavirus because even tho we're laughing at the memes, we still need to be careful. So wash your hands, avoid touching your face while in public, and check yourself just to be sure.
CLEO0421: thank you 3
REIGE: yeah, I wanted to do it again because I felt I wasn't like expressing Maite well enough, so I knew I needed to redo it!
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Today was October 10, a cloudy day.
Many would think it could rain at any moment but the rainy seasons were over and she loves the month of October for that. The bet with Raptor was still on foot. Maite was able to get her aunt's recommendation but there were consequences on the end. Do you think it's easy to hide secrets from a detective and a pro hero like her aunt? Surprisingly, instead of being punished for the rest of her life, Ragyo simply ordered her sidekick to double the training. So you can imagine these past 10 months she almost died under the strenuous training from Raptor, and not just training, she had to study harder since the written exam wasn't something to take lightly.
The city looked beautiful with red and yellow trees, leaving a blanket of leaves on the streets of different colors. With the air a bit cold and the sky clear, it was a good time to take a walk, unfortunately, Raptor ordered her to take a marathon. It doesn't sound so bad, right? The worst part was that Raptor woke her up on a Sunday morning, without warning and almost causing a heart attack.
Her shoulders slumped and heaved a sigh, her joints ached and some of her muscles were still sore. Raptor was no joke when it comes to fighting, even though she won the bet. The woman with black hair didn't hold back any single punch or kick.
Maite looked up, hearing her dog barking and running with other bigger dogs, trusting he wouldn't get in trouble.
Yesterday it didn't go well. Every afternoon after school she went to the gym, listening carefully to everything the pro hero shared about her experiences and teaching her what to do in certain situations. For example, in the last session, she had to get out of a chokehold. Easy if you are trained for that, of course, but Raptor forgot to mention she's stronger than a bodybuilder.
—...—
"What was that?"
Her lungs cried with joy when she inhaled sharply, her throat burned and her chest was on fire. Her sweat felt cold against her hot skin and she trembled slightly, believing for a moment that Raptor was going to suffocate her. She rasped a "what" as she stares up from the floor, a bit confused by the deep scowl on Raptor's dark brows.
"Why did you tap out?"
She sputtered in disbelief as if the adult t just asked the most absurd question. Maite cleared her throat and retorted. "You were choking me! And you told me I couldn't use my quirk I didn't know what to do!"
"Didn't know what to do? You could've knocked me out of my feet or get free of my grip!" Raptor bellowed, under the bright light of the gym illuminating the ring, those orange eyes shone with anger. The gym was lonely at the request of the pro hero, not wanting to distract other people who also used the area when training. Maite felt small as the adult towered over her.
"Relying too much on your quirk is dangerous and stupid; you won't always be able to use it. You can become a burden and put yourself or other people in danger. Is that you want Maite? Put yourself or civilians in danger?"
Humiliation burned all over her face and looked away from the sidekick; her heart wrenched to the words and sharply dried some slippery tears in the corners of her eyes. Stupid feelings. Can she really become a burden? Perhaps she felt a little conceited, believing that she was going to have everything easy because of the influence of Raptor and her aunt.
"Here, take it."
Without looking at the heroine she grabbed the water bottle. Assuming Raptor had something to explain about her mistakes.
"I am not doing this to make you feel bad."
Maite twisted her neck and sent her a look meaning 'oh really? I didn't know'.
"Maite, stop. I am harsh and blunt with you because I'm concerned about how you're going to be in the hero business. Because you better know being a pro hero is not a game. Do you understand?"
The girl's feature softened and nodded.
"Good, what you are getting into is not a playground; there are no pauses or resets. The reason why Ragyo even agreed to this and make harder your training was because she's also worried for you."
"Are you sure about that? My aunt wants me to quit, that's the only reason she made you double the training."
Ragyo exhaled in disbelief. "She's afraid. Your aunt is scared you're entering one of the most dangerous vocations. People die all the time because of this, you know that right?"
Maite swallowed a heavy lump and smirk wryly. "I know, but it's not going to happen to me because I got the best pro hero with me."
Raptor massaged her eyes as she snorted with a tired smile, understanding the girl's hint; she doesn't want to discuss
"Fine, okay I get it. Drink your water. We need to improve your defense because it's sloppy and it sucks."
"Thanks, Thank you for your encouraging words."
—...—
Maite frowns her lips, still upset at Raptor's words. She knows the pro hero meant well but still; her words stung right where it hurts.
"Baihu let's go, stop sniffing butts. We need to go."
The black-and-white-haired dog trotted towards his owner, leaving behind a poor Chihuahua trembling more than usual. Maite secures the leash on the pet's collar and they both started to leave the dog park. Jogging around the city in the morning for several hours bored her at the end and was smart to bring her dog. Baihu's energy brightened her day since Maite didn't wake up with her right or left foot, she just woke in a terrible mood.
It was one of those days her brain enjoyed bothering her with things that anyone would just shrug it off easily.
How much she wished and prayed for a different skill just like the other children with great potential. Her envy churned her insides, jealous of how her classmates didn't have any problems growing up with these unusual skills, they had a normal childhood with an unproblematic gift; a non-villainous quirk. How inconvenient her quirk was, she labeled it as problematic.
But there's no reason to hate her own peculiarity, with much therapy at an early age she learned to understand her quirk and also learned to love it. Of course, there are moments where her mind wanders to the negative zone, like comparing herself with her loved ones. Her aunt Ragyo, capable of phasing through walls and shouting at a shrill volume leaving anyone deaf. Raptor, that woman could track any smell hundreds of kilometers away. And of course, how could she forget her best friend Adah? Capable of transforming her face into anything, for example, the hazelnut-haired girl is a fan of horror movies, and one-time Adah had the great idea of shaping her face of the Slit-Mouthed Woman and making a harmless prank.
Maite literally ran away from her own house.
A breathless chuckle left her lips at the memory; she could still remember the pain in her stomach laughing so much after she discovered Adah was just making a prank. Shoving one hand on her hoodie pocket while the other was gripping on the dog's leash, there were 30 minutes left until Raptor was going to call her to come back to the gym and continued with the training, and instead of running back Maite decided to go slow, just this once.
"What about a snack?" Maite asked to the canine that looked up with a big grin. "Huh? Let's go get food!" Baihu's loud bark attracted some looks but Maite ignored, she went to the nearest store and before entering, she left Baihu tied up in a tree. Obviously obeying the sign of no dogs allowed.
"Sit, stay. I'll be right back baby."
Maite was already listing the items she was going to buy. Juice apple for her and for Baihu water, cookies and skittles. From the purple bag, her favorite ones. The store was half empty, her eyes caught the owner talking with a customer and her eyebrows went up at the appearance of this particular customer. Her pink eyes immediately turned away before the man could notice the obviousness on her face and went inside the store, but her morbid curiosity forced her to peak from the corner of the eye the tall man with yellow hair. Maite breathes through her mouth as a reflection and thank goodness the shelves were there to hide her horrified expression.
Is it normal for the thin man to smell like blood? Is he even supposed to look so sickly thin!? Maite breathes once again just to be sure she wasn't trapped with a serial killer. The strong scent of medicine and more blood hit her senses; Maite scolds herself of her judgment, what if the man is just sick? If she's going to become a hero she should stop judging and assumed everything is negative.
The store bell rang again, indicating that someone else entered the store. Another clerk, another person looking for food or coffee. Maite didn't ponder much she just continues looking for the cookies with apple juice in her third hand and the candy in her right. 'Should I get a coffee? Raptor didn't look she got a lot of sleep...ah wait she doesn't like coffee my aunt does, so a nutrient bar? '
"Empty out the register, old man!"
A frightful cold sensation ran through her veins, shoulders tensing and heart began to quicken. What's going on? Why so much aggressiveness in their voices? Maite approached a little and peaked over the shelf. Two men, two men armed with intentions to steal the store entered. And she's locked up with them! Maite shrieked internally and just squatted down to avoid being seen and getting involved. What is she supposed to do? Run? Hide until they run away with the money? Maite hopes the owner will cooperate and not play with his life because she isn't sure what kind of weapons they have.
Maite scolded herself for how slow she was, she fumbles with the phone while she pulls it out. No calls, she can risk being heard while asking for help. Messaging was the only choice. Maite bites her lower lip while trembling so much, one of the thieves was still threatening the owner and probably the blond man, but she had to keep her nerves at bay.
raptor this is not a joke im in a store and two dudes just came in and they are armed
im not alone, theres blonde man too
please come, quick
It was intelligent on her part for sending her location so the heroine could easily find her but Maite cursed herself for forgetting to put her cell phone in silence. The sound was too loud, she wanted to cry!
"Is someone else in here!? Are you hiding someone!?" one guy demanded to the frightened store owner.
"It's only us — only us!"
"Young man is not necessary for this —"
"Shut the fuck up you fucking skeleton! Or I'll blow your brains out!"
Maite cried in pain, her items crashed causing a total mess and both hands latched onto the bigger hand clutching tight her pink hair. The man dragged her out of her the hiding place, almost falling on her knees. Dread fell into her stomach as her suspicions were right, one of the thieves had a gun and the idea of being hurt by a bullet made her sweat and stop struggling under the other man's iron grip.
"We've got us a snitch here Kengo." Maite recoiled at the grim scowl from the armed man and look away, heart hammering it stings her ears and her frightened pink gaze met concerned cerulean eyes, it was the thin man with his arms up in the air. "She was on her phone."
"Did she call the police?"
"Nah but I got to say this looks quite expensive." The girl watched her black cell phone her aunt gifted her for Christmas in the mugger's hand, each finger became a sharp cleaver and Maite gasp outraged, as the man easily destroyed it in tiny pieces. Maite faced the man with bewildered eyes and the blond with a terrible tan just snickered with a malicious hint behind that ugly face. "Oops."
Damn the dangerous situation.
"Fuck you!"
Maite yelps when the man jerks her head sharply shutting her up, she endures the stinging pain running through her scalp and bit the interior of her cheek, the last thing she wanted to show is tears in front of these criminals. The unfortunate owner filled everything that the armed man ordered. Every penny, cigars and even alcohol. Everything the man could put in the package so as not to get injured or lose his life.
"Girls like you shouldn't talk back."
"And an asshole like you should know how to tan!"
"Young Lady, stop talking!"
Her hear started to thump loudly by those cleaver fingers were close to her throat, centimeters to graze her skin if she moved. Apparently, her insult touched a nerve.
"I dare you fucking say one word and I'll gut you like a fish."
"Young Lady, please don't say another word."
Frustrated gaze fell on the old blond who silently plead to calm down and all of this would be over, Maite bit the inside of her cheek, knowing that it was better to keep her mouth shut, what was happening to her? Snapping out like over a superficial thing? So, that's it, she just needs to wait for them to finish robbing all the money from the old owner who earns it with hard work and runs away. If she's really going to become a hero, staying with her arms crossed without doing anything is not a great example to start with. Just thinking about her plan, it makes her blood run full-speed, not for fear that it might not go as she planned, it was the adrenaline that this is going to be her first heroic act. Maite shudders by the feeling of it.
Her third arm is completely loose and deducing by the intelligence of the blond, he hasn't noticed yet. Maite inhale a subtle breath and quickly made her move, the blonde man made a surprised cry as her third hand engulf the dangerous fiver finger cleaver and push it away from her throat, now this is the part it's going to hurt. Shutting her eyes tight, Maite full slammed the back of her head against the blonde face, pretty sure a crack behind sound behind her and the girl prayed it wasn't her skull. But there was more, if the second robber was stupid enough to take the bait, she could find a way to disarm him. Maite bolted to left the moment the blonde guy slammed unconscious, trying to hide her body from the other arm guy.
"You little bitch, get back here!"
BANG, BANG, BANG!
CRUNCH!
The store owner quickly took the opportunity to hide behind counter when the hooded man chased the second the teen bolted. Stupid! he thought of her recklessness of endangering herself and then, he flinched by how loud the shots sounded, making his heart stopped and his stomach felt heavy. Is the girl alright? Did the robber kill her? Oh, now he feels bad for calling her stupid, carefully he stands ups from the floor and peaks over the counter, and gasps with so much relief at the blessed sight of the number one hero, in his store!
"Oh, thank goodness, All Might you're here!"
"It's all fine now my good man, you're safe." All Might with a wide smile, dusting his right hand from the pieces of the weapon he destroyed, with a simple squeeze with his hand the gun dusted but All Might was too slow to react. "I'm going to need you to call the police quickly and ask for an ambulance, now."
The giant hero didn't wait for the other to find his phone, All Might's heart was in his throat, fear grabbing his nerves and blaming him because he wasn't as fast as possible to prevent the thief from firing at the girl. The big smile faltered when he found her lying on the floor and All Might waste no time approaching and kneeling beside her, looking for some sign of injury but her outfit was intact, no holes and no blood. All Might was confused, did the girl just fainted?
"Are the bad guys gone?"
All Might's hollow eyes saw the motion from her tail-hand and sighed in relief, placing a hand on his chest to appease his racing heart.
"They're unconscious young lady, are you hurt?"
Maite grunt at the stinging pain on her knees but her head was killing her. How does Raptor do it without feeling the pain? It seems so easy she thought nothing would happen to her, Maite thought wrong. She straightened but didn't get up, not trusting on her feet to keep her balanced, so she sat on her bottom to speak with the adult.
"Well didn't you see? I head-butted that guy's head —" Maite's word died as she looked up, face blank and her mind also blank. All Might frown by the awkward air surrounding them. "You're not him."
"Excuse me?"
"I - I thought you were the sick guy who was also here, Is he — is he alright?" Maite attempted to look over the gigantic blonde man but dizziness came in waves and her head swayed forward, in danger of falling down again but All Might was there stop her by the shoulders. "eeeeh yeah, I'm not feeling good,"
"Help is on the way, young lady; I only need you not to fall asleep."
"I heard that's a myth," Maite muttered to herself earning a small chuckle from the hero. Somehow, she tuned out All Might speaking with the owner, something about cops coming and an ambulance. Good, she needed some type of towel to remove this wet sensation from the back of her head. Did she get blood from the tan guy? Her third-hand reaches out and gently probed the fragile area, cringing at bit by the pain throbbing and her hand pull away. The big fingers came on her blurry vision sight and Maite frown confused by the blood, and like a reflex, she licked her lips. Like cold water falling over her shoulder and nausea rolled inside her stomach.
Oh shit.
"All Might."
"Yes?"
"I think I'm bleeding."
"Oh."
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Raptor ignored several reds light, didn't bother to look both ways before crossing the busy streets and was almost run over by a motorcycle. As if Raptor was going to let some trivial things stop her. Several people would wonder why a hero was running away. Is she maybe chasing someone? A hero chasing a criminal, maybe? Nope, Raptor simply didn't want to lose her beloved job and her life at the hands of her own boss. Fat drops of sweat fell down her temple; her hair was humid as were some parts of her body. She took one last look at her phone. Checking again the map where Maite had sent her location and Raptor's stomach gave relief flips as she realized she was close to the girl.
The pro hero just had to turn the corner to the right and Raptor would easily see the shop with the sign of an adorable rabbit eating a carrot and finally get Maite safe. Raptor stopped in her tracks, the shop was flooded with curious civilians, policemen keeping them away from the scene and the worst part it made her stop stomach drop like a stone, an ambulance. She went into the crowd, muttering 'excuse me' a bit rushed not many listened to her, standing on their toes trying to take a peek what was happening. Finally, she was ahead of the crow where several police officers kept the television media and civilians at bay. Orange eyes frantically searched for a pink head, hoping at least Maite was inside one of the police cars but frustration and fear grew when she found nothing.
Her heart jumped in relief upon recognizing Maite's dog being guided by a police officer to a hidden part of civilians' eyes and Raptor right away passed under the yellow tape, earning a few questioning glances from the reporters and shouts from the police officers which she easily dodges.
"Ma'am, you cannot be here, please stay behind the line."
Raptor snapped at the heavyweight officer. "I'm here for someone and she's right there and you better let me pass!"
"I cannot let you pass ma'am, you've to wait behind the line." The officer didn't budge from his spot.
"Call me ma'am one more time!" Raptor knows it's out of line to snap at the authority and knowing the cameras and reporters are behind her but she was afraid and frustrated for the girl. Did the man notice she's still in her gear and transformed? Is he blind!?
"Ma'am — I mean miss, please you've to understand —"
"Hey!" Both adults turned to the calling voice, one relief and the other no so much, still pissed off. "I'll take it from here officer, I called her." Raptor changed back to her normal height, staring at the man with a dark blue trench coat, dark brown short hair, same for the eyes. And judging by he's the only one not wearing a blue uniform, Raptor assumed he's a detective or someone with more authority. Raptor let the man lead her leaving the officer behind with the others.
"I heard you were here for someone; I assume it's the girl." He began while extending a hand for her to shake, Raptor briefly shook it. "I'm Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa."
"Ah, I've seen you before talking with my boss, Banshee." Now she can finally put the name of that face, remembering well how the underground heroine was rattled by a conversation she had with the detective months ago. Ragyo didn't tell her the topic at the end of the day, but she got a feeling it wasn't pleasant or good.
The man blinked in surprise but smiled anyway. "That's right, I worked with her before. We graduate from the same academy."
Raptor nodded but her amber eyes were looking something from behind and Tsukauchi assumed she was looking for the teenager.
"The girl is fine. She's back over there getting a check-up in the ambulance —" He could not finish his sentence, the woman headed in a quick pace where he pointed at behind them. Thousands of situations went through her mind, Raptor's heart was thumping and her stomach throbbing by the fear. Although the detective assured her the girl was fine, that doesn't prevent her mind from creating horrible possibilities. This enormous relief fell on her shoulders when she found the young girl sitting in the ambulance, with her pet at her side while resting his head on his owner's lap. Surely Maite felt anxious about being alone. Not anymore.
"Maite!" Raptor call to get her attention and the heroine felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulder to see the pink-haired girl smile back at her. Raptor didn't spend another second to close the distance and embrace Maite but Raptor flinched as she heard a hissed filled with pain and leaned back so see Maite's features grimacing with pain. "Ah shit! Sorry, sorry! Are you hurt? How did you get hurt?"
Maite shows a sheepish smile and looked down to scratch her dog head.
"She headbutted the thief." a female paramedic answered for Maite, earning a bewildered look from Raptor.
"You what!?"
"She's fine though. A mild concussion and a small cut on the back of the head." Raptor glared at her as if that is comforting but the paramedic stayed neutral.
"Maite, what were you thinking?" Raptor question with concern. "It's a damn miracle you didn't damage something else."
"Orange freak pissed me off," she muttered with a pout, still petting Baihu's head to bring her comfort. Raptor sighed heavily, now that Maite was fine but injured, she didn't understand how the hell would she explain it to her boss. Lie? No that's worse. Leave the country and change her name? Possible but her passport is expired, so what can she do to avoid it?
"Ma'am, are you the mother of the girl?" the paramedic question, ready to fill important papers.
"No, no, I'm only her coach. I'm training her but I do know her."
The paramedic nodded and put her pen back. " Fine, we'll have to wait for your guardian kid."
"Wait, what? But I can take her home, she knows me and I know her." Raptor tried to convince the other. " There's no need for the guardian to come."
"Mhm yeah, I need her here. She's a minor and you're not her legal guardian so I can't allow you to take her away." The paramedic left no room to argue as she walked to the ambulance. Raptor cursed under her breathe, there's really no escape.
"Is she going to be mad at us?"
"Probably."
"Is she going to cancel our training?
"Most likely."
"Will you get in trouble because of me?"
"Pfft, no! I'm her best sidekick."
"Actually, that's Sentinel. He never fails a single task."
Raptor sharply whirls around at the stern voice behind her, talk about the devil and it shall appear. Civilians pointed to the approaching pro-heroine, photographers began taking photos for their newspaper reports and for the internet. Known for her gravity-defying hair and pale lilac eyes with no pupils, reporters went insane in bombarding her with questions which she professionally ignored them. Raptor attempted to explain herself but with a simple neutral gaze, the mouth shot down and let the aunt check on her niece. Baihu's tail wag happily to see another familiar face but didn't leave his owner's side. Out of the corner of her eye, Maite noticed her the adult squatting next to her. A white-gloved hand cradle her cheek and Maite couldn't hold that indifferent facade any longer, features softened and pink eyes watered, fear and helplessness returned but this time with tears.
"Are you alright?"
"A bit, I'm― I'm just —❞ Maite hesitated, a sob wreck her chest as more tears began to spill. It was all coming down to her with trembles through her arms and chest, thinking about how close she was so to being severely injured. Ragyo didn't waste a second to embrace her niece, softly saying "everything is over" and " it's okay honey, I'm here." Raptor expected a scolding for both of them but was happy that at least her boss showed some affection for the girl. It's rarely Ragyo shows affection towards her niece.
"Excuse me, miss."
Raptor turned to a male voice and immediately stepped between Ragyo and Maite, hiding them from this strange tall blond. Shoulders back, not easily scared by his height and a serious frown on her features.
"If you're a reporter I won't hesitate to drag your ass out of here." Raptor sneered.
"Oh no no, goodness!" The tall flinched at the threat and smiled sheepishly. " I'm actually here on behalf of All Might." Raptor cocked a hip and crossed her arms over chest, orange gaze eyed him suspiciously when he mentioned the number one hero name.
" Okay? Are you his secretary or what?"
"More of a personal assistant," The blonde swallow at the lack of responding and continue. "You see All Might was the one who came here to save well everyone and ― "
"The police didn't mention that."
The blonde flinched at being cut off but continued. "It was briefly, he only waited for the police to come and had to left before all civilians could crowd this area." The tall man swallows nervously at the cocked eyebrow as in saying " your point?".
"All Might told me everything that happened and tasked me to deliver this for the girl." The blonde pulls out a small box from his suit-jacket and shows it to the sidekick. Raptor took it and both eyebrows shot up in wonderment, not expecting the number one hero being so generous.
" This is his latest smartphones, like this is his brand, right?"
"It is."
"Like, this is worth my whole salary"
"I suppose?
"By any chance do you've another one?"
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Nobody likes to go back to school after the weekend, nobody likes to get up early and Maite can't lie, she doesn't like to get up when it's cold in the morning. Maybe she was too confident about the students at her school wouldn't talk about yesterday's incident, believing that teenagers at her age don't see the news but they do hear their parents discuss it. Somehow, she preferred her fight against Megumi be the topic in the corridors again.
"Mifune, were you a hostage in a bank robbery?"
"Oh my gosh, it must've been so scary!"
"I've heard there were a lot of bodies, did you saw any?"
"Did All Might gave you an autograph?"
The urge to throw her book at their heads was tempting. An awkward grimace and at the same time irritable appeared on her face, the speculations of her various classmates were out of control. The pink-haired girl continued eating her breakfast, which consisted of only vanilla-filled biscuits, not quite healthy but Maite though she deserved it. Now she can fully understand why her aunt and Raptor dislike the media. With a forced smile and a not very friendly tone, she sent them to fuck off and grabbing the rest of her food, Maite headed out of the classroom thinking maybe outside was going to be peaceful and quiet.
Maite knew her classmate was curious, she understands it, she's sometimes a bit morbid but when it comes to her face appearing on national television like her aunt, it bothers her too much but what really concerned her was those annoying reporters bombing with hundreds of questions. What do they mean about being back to the news? Maite would know if her face would be in the news, her notifications would go crazy.
"For a week? You can't train for a week?"
"Yeah, doctor's orders. I headbutted too hard he said my brain was shaken; you know like a snowball?" Maite took another bite sharing a smile with Adah as she shook her head in amusement. "So yeah, I'm not allowed to do anything, like sports and stuff like that. Just need to take it easy."
"And the bandage on your head?"
"Ah, that. Just need be extra careful when I wash my hair." Maite opened another bag of biscuits, offering to Adah and receiving a 'thank you' back. "I wanted to dye my hear like lilac or just add more color but the doctor said I can't do it."
"Lilac is not your color."
"Ah damn," Maite pouted as she reaches for her strawberry milkshake, taking a loud sip. Both girls silent while viewing the scenario of students playing and chatting with each other until it wasn't quiet for them, loud trash cans falling on their right side caught their attention. Adah flinched at the body crashing onto the grass while Maite just cocked an eyebrow at the male student grunting quietly. "What about that color? It looks cute."
"Maite!" Her best friend scolded at her lack of tack while she stood and headed towards the hurting boy, Maite just sniffs loudly and took another loud slip, almost finishing her drink. Maite needed another strawberry milkshake, quickly. Adah took hold of his forearm with intentions to lift him up his feet but the boy snatches his forearm right away, keeping his head down. Adah wasn't offended by the action she leaned down and ask.
"Are you alright? What happened?"
"I'm ― ugh ― I'm fine, just go away."
"Ha! Is the bug-eye freak your girlfriend now? I think you can do better than that." A snobby full of arrogance voice remake and Adah stood up in an instant at the sight of three male students, not really giving friendly vibes as they approached them. "Stop hiding behind your girlfriend Shitsou and take this beatdown like a man."
"She's not my girlfriend and leave her out of this!"
"Or what, Shitsou?" Sneered the big male student, he was the leader. "Is she going to take the beating for you?"
Shinsou gritted his teeth with frustration, still on the ground while the brown-haired girl didn't move an inch as if she was really hiding him from the three students. Either she's brave or really stupid to think she can deal with them.
"Oh no, that's going to be me."
Shinsou turned to his right towards another female voice and confusion took his features, recognizing the pink-haired student. Shinsou remembers her, at the end of school all by herself cleaning her classroom.
"You have one choice: apologize to Adah and leave." Already on her feet, pink gaze glaring at the three boys, Maite declared. Without leaving room for another option.
"Or what, snake?" the leader taunted, clearly not afraid of her threat. The boy bigger and bulkier than her approached to Maite and abruptly shoved the girl on the shoulder. Obviously, she wobbles a bit from the shove but regained her balance. Maite started to roll up her white sleeves, her mind already decided the moment this fat asshole started threatening Adah. Is she being irrational at taking the goading from the leader and knowing well she's not fully recovered? Maybe and she's going to regret it later.
"I am going to give you five seconds to apologize or take this ass – whopping."
― ...―
"But I didn't know she was hurt! She didn't tell me!"
"Or so it's okay to hurt a girl whether she's hurt or not!? I'm so disappointed in you, Gakuto!"
"But mom!"
A shameless giggle came from Maite, clearly amused by the scolding inside the principal's office while Adah was upset. What was worse, her best friend's aunt coming or her grandmother to come and pick them up? Or worse what if both come?
"This isn't funny."
"You're right this actually hilarious."
"Why did you fight him, Maite? You knew you were injured, what if Gakuto could've hurt you even more!"
Maite shut her mouth, remorse washed over her and she settled into her seat, Maite knew she was going to regret it. Maite just didn't like bullies, she didn't like how a person has to physically, verbally or mentally mistreat other persons only to feel better about themselves. She dealt with cruel boys and girls in primary school, just because her quirk was different, not hero material. Like hell, if she was going to let it happen again. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the boy with purple hair, returning with a cold compress for his eye. Maite cringed at the memory of him getting punched the face after attempting to intervene in the fight. Damn gorilla almost knocked him out!
"Ah, Shinsou- san, how are you?" Adah also notices him, her upset expression softening.
"Awful." He replied dryly, taking a seat next to Maite. Both girls understood the tone, Shinsou didn't want to start a conversation with either of them. The conversation inside the office had been quiet for several minutes, Goto was surely speaking and every student knew their principal took her time to scold. Slowly but surely Maite's anxiety is ascending every second, leg bouncing and teeth nibbling on her lower lip. She'd to distract herself somehow.
"Do you like cats or dogs?"
"What?"
"Cats or dogs?"
"Maite it's not the time."
"Simple question Shinsou."
"Cats."
Maite pursed her lips, pondering on the answer but actually there was nothing to think about it.
"I like both," Maite replied back and turned to Adah. "Why don't we watch cute animals? Please?"
Twenty minutes later, Adah's grandmother was met with an adorable scene. Her granddaughter curled up on her best friend's shoulder, taking a nap. Maite was talking in a low voice with a boy with dark circles under his eyes, commenting on the videos. What a fright her granddaughter gave her when she received a call from the school about a fight involving her, but knowing Maite the elderly woman was confident the pink-haired girl wasn't going to let that happen.
ﾉ(´ ▽ ` )ﾉ
wash your hands , don't go outside, be safe y'all!