I sat on the bench at the gazebo while Kou was pacing round and round.It wasn't going well.
"We were supposed to be friends! You could have come to me and I would have found a way to help you. I had to hear all about it from Sendoh. Do you know how bad I felt, knowing it was because of me that you got into trouble in the first place and I was one of the last to find out about this?"
It had been 20 minutes and Kou was grilling me like hell. He was pissed that I did not go to him with the problem and kept it to myself. So when he found out, not only was he not allowed to help me, he had to stand idly by and witness every terrible thing that were happening to me.
"How many times do I have to apologize? I had to do it because I can't be seen with you, Kou. It would just aggravate the girls more. And it wasn't just because of you that I was targeted. It was also because of Asato-senpai, Hiroaki-san and Sendoh."
"I know that. I know that. But damn it," his hand hit the wooden pole in fury. Then his voice softened. "I just couldn't forgive myself if the same thing happened to you again."
His eyes were filled with sorrow and regret. He was referring to what happened in middle school. I got up and held his arm sleeve. "Look, Kou. I'm alright. See? Nothing bad has happened so far."
He glanced at me and pointed at my face. I tilted my head in confusion. Was there something on my face?
My hand traced my face and I touched the bandage. The bandage from Fumika. Damn it. I bit my lips.
"Why did you have a bandage on your face?"
"Well, I uhhhh," I stammered, unsure how to answer. I didn't want to lie to him but I also didn't want to worry him. "I..."
"Asahara-senpai did that to her!" Fumika's voice appeared out of nowhere and I turned over to her.
Fumika? Looks like I was going to get some answer about everything that had happened since yesterday. She was walking towards us with Sendoh, Asato-senpai and Hiroaki-san behind her and they were all carrying a brown box in their hand.
She ran up the stairs of the gazebo and stood between Kou and I. "Asahara-senpai scratched her face earlier during lunch."
"What?!" Kou exclaimed in anger. "That girl did this to Yuki?!"
He turned to leave the gazebo. I already knew what he wanted to do so I quickly stepped in front of him and held my hands forward. "Look, it has already happened and I'm okay. We don't have the make it any more complicated than this, Kou."
"But...," Kou started.
"No buts, Kou. Please, for me. I don't want any unnecessary trouble."
Kou paused for a while and stared at me. I could see it in his face that he was against my suggestion.
Then Sendoh appeared beside me. "For what it's worth, Sasaki stood up to them bravely. Besides, I don't think that senior would simply lay a hand on Sasaki anymore starting from now since we have done all those things to make sure that Sasaki can have a normal school life."
"Yeah, Kouichi," Asato-senpai wrapped his free arm around Kou's shoulder. "I know you care about her but just like Sendoh said the other day, there are other better ways to help Yuki-chan that will not make us stoop down to their level."
I glanced at Sendoh. I wondered what exactly did he told Kou. He caught my eyes and shrugged then walked towards the table and set the box gently on the table.
Kou then sighed out loud. "Fine, fine. Yuki, I get why you had to do it but you gotta promise me from now on, you'll at least tell me if you have any troubles. Can you do that?"
I smiled and nodded. "Sure, I will try."
"Good. That's all I need to hear."
We stared at each other for a while as though we were communicating a sense of trust. Then, Fumika stood on tip toe between us and her face blocked Kou's face.
"Anyway, come on. Didn't we agree to tell Yuki about everything? Let's do it now!"
Fumika held my hand and dragged me to sit down. She made me sit at the edge opposite of Sendoh and sat next to me. Kou then sat beside Sendoh, followed by Asato-senpai. Hiroaki-san looked around awkwardly and sat beside Fumika.
"Now then, who wants to start?" Kou asked then glanced around.
Fumika raised her hand excitedly. "Me! Me! Me! Since I'm the one that ties all these together, let me tell the story."
"No, actually, it was-," Hiroaki-san started but Fumika immediately cut him off.
"I will tell it!" Fumika stood up and glanced at me. "Wouldn't you prefer it, Yuki?"
I smiled reluctantly, unsure what was going on but nodded my head in agreement.
Now, the whole story will finally be revealed.
Fumika stepped through the convenience store tiredly. Her father glanced up from his paperworks and when he saw her, his eyes widen in confusion. "Fumika, what are you doing here? I thought you'll be at the club today?"
"Yeah, I needed a break," Fumika said and set her bag gently on the counter. "Didn't feel like writing anything today."
"Why? Did something happen in school?" he grabbed the bag and set them behind the counter.
"Why would you assumed something happened?" Fumika asked as she walked to the fridge and grabbed a can of cola.
"Because you looked unhappy as though something is weighing on your mind."
Fumika took a sip of the cola and her mind was clouded with the events at school today. While the main highlight is that she found out so much about Shiroma-sama, she was more worried about Yuki. The stupid flyer, the talk in the clinic and the encounter with Asahara-senpai on the roof. Still, she didn't feel like sharing all these with her father so she decided to steer away from the subject.
"Everything is cool, Dad," she replied then walked towards the counter. "Anyway, where's Mum?"
"She went out to buy some flowers. She needs to visit her cousin in the hospital."
"I see," she nodded.
"Hey, come to think of it, now that you're here, do you mind to look after the store? I need to meet Gato-san to discuss about the new stocks. I was planning to wait for Meiko to come back but I didn't want to rush her since it's been a while since she has seen her relatives."
"Of course, Dad. Go ahead. You can count on me," she tapped her chest proudly.
Her father smiled gratefully and skipped out of the counter to his daughter and gave her a hug. "You are the best, my precious daughter. See you then."
His father let her go and walked out the entrance. As for Fumika, she went behind the door and took out a book. She began scribbling the whole events that took place today and made a mind map. She bit on the top edge of her pencil, wondering what she can do to help Yuki.
The bell rang when someone stepped into the shop and Fumika glanced up to greet the customer.
"Welcom—," she trailed off as her eyes widen in shock. Is her eyes playing tricks on her? The tall figure with spiky hair nodded his head politely then head straight to the fridge at the back. He grabbed 2 cans of soda drinks and walked to the counter.
Fumika had a close view now and it was confirmed that it was truly Sendoh. He was sweaty like he had just finished a workout and he was dressed sportily. He set the drinks on the table and asked, "How much for these 2?" He didn't look up as he rummaged his pocket for money.
Unconsciously, Fumika blurted out, "Sendoh?" Although her voice was soft but with the close distance between them, Sendoh heard it clearly and looked up curiously.
He stared at her in confusion. "Do I know— Oh hey, that's a Ryonan uniform. You must be from Ryonan too then. No wonder you recognize me but I'm sorry, I don't think I've seen you before. Which class are you from?"
Fumika couldn't find the words and just blinked at him. Sendoh the basketball genius was standing in front of her and she want nothing more than to launch into a series of question about the basketball team and Shiroma-sama. But she held herself back because there was something more important she needed to ask.
"Sendoh! What's taking you so long?" a familiar voice interrupted Fumika and she glanced to the entrance.
It was Hiroaki Koshino! Although they were from the same class, she has never spoken to him before because he seemed to always surrounded by guys and gawking fangirls.
Hiroaki recognized her immediately. "Hibari-san? What are you doing behind the counter?"
"My father owns the store here," Fumika replied.
"Oh, you know her?" Sendoh asked.
"She's from my class," Hiroaki answered as he made his way beside Sendoh. "And this is the girl you were just asking me about. Sasaki-san's friend."
It was Sendoh's turn to looked shock. "Wait, you're that loud gi—," he stopped suddenly and cleared his throat. "I mean you're that girl with Sasaki in the clinic earlier?"
Fumika realised that Sendoh had referred her as a loud girl which she made her want to retort but she controlled herself because it was true, she was loud. With that, she found her voice.
"Why are you asking Hiroaki about me?"
Sendoh pondered a while before answering. "Hiroaki, how about you guys continue on with the practice first? I'll catch up with you guys as soon as I can."
Hiroaki looked at Fumika and when their eyes met, he quickly looked away. "Yeah, sure. See you later."
As soon as Hiroaki stepped out the door, Sendoh turned to Fumika. "It's about Sasaki."
"Looks like both of us have the same thing in mind but I'll let you go first," Fumika straightened up.
"What was written in that flyer you mentioned? Can I have a look?"
Fumika's eyebrows raised at Sendoh. She grabbed her bag and searched for the crumpled flyer. Then, she threw it to Sendoh which Sendoh caught easily in his palm.
He spread the paper and flattened on the table. Fumika gave him some time to read the contents in the flyer and it wasn't a long wait.
Sendoh sighed out loud and rummaged his hair. "This is even more complicated than I imagined."
"Yeah, it's gonna be hard on Yuki for a while. Why do you want to know about the flyer, anyway?"
"I want to know exactly what's the current situation before I can come up with a plan to help Sasaki. I'm assuming you want to as well, am I right?" he gestured at the book that Fumika scribbled on which was filled with Yuki's name.
"Of course I do but I am still unsure how."
"Let's just take a step back and think what was the exact reason Sasaki became a target in the first place then."
"Well, she was seen with the basketball players and it ticked the others students off because of the idolization people have for them. They were worried that Sasaki was kinda using you guys."
"That was what the flyer says. But let's go more basic with human nature instead. If you idolized someone so much but you don't get to spend time with him or her and you had to stand idly by to see someone else get to do it, isn't it normal that you would feel a sense of jealousy or insecurity? And imagine that someone was a girl that came out of nowhere and no one know of."
Fumika thought of Shiroma-sama with a girl immediately and yes, she agreed. She would definitely be unhappy about it and hating the other girl just because of that. While the rational part knows it's not the girl's fault but the ugly side of jealousy would overwhelm it.
"Yeah," she nodded her head slowly in agreement. "I guess I would feel all those. But where are you going with this?"
Sendoh tapped on the flyer. "The hatred for Sasaki wasn't because of this flyer. It was in fact just jealousy from the girls to see her around the basketball players. What this flyer did was it put the spotlight on Sasaki and painted her in a negative light. So we just have to make that spotlight on her to become positive. That's all."
"Easier said than done. How exactly would you want to do this, anyway?"
"That I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out."
The both of them became silent in thoughts and stared at the flyer for the longest time. Then Fumika felt bored of it and turned to her notebook. Immediately, something clicked in Fumika's head.
"Hold on, what were you doing with those bunch of girls earlier today during lunch?" Fumika asked.
"Oh? You saw that? I was just trying to get some information from them about Sasaki and the flyer. Nothing important came out."
"How did the conversation go?"
"They kept asking things about me and basketball. They were actually quite nice. Kept saying how it was a privilege to talk to me. They really do seemed to be very curious about me."
Fumika then flipped to a new page and began scribbling her plan and all the information she gathered today. She linked all the points together and when she was done, she looked up to see Sendoh studying her note but with a look of confusion.
"I got an idea, Sendoh. I'll need your help."
Fumika began sharing all the plans, the involved parties and all the tasks needed. By the end, she looked up, curious to see if Sendoh may feel reluctant to help out or have uncertainties in all these or even wants to back out because it was going to be hectic and tedious.
Sendoh stood tall with a grin. "I'm in."