Chapter 6: What is a Dog to a Mountain?

Inui Ken felt a dark sense of power in his new classroom. He was happy when so many of his old 2-1 companions were in 3-4, but a single person stuck out like a sore thumb.

Yamai Ren.

At first he thought it was just lingering ill will. He knew her as the leader of the dangerous cult "Komi Fanatics", but he thought after the Great Cleansing Affair by Tadano, she would be harmless. And yet, he still couldn't get rid of his suspicion.

He started his investigation. As soon as the classes end she'd disappear. He couldn't even follow her movement with his eyes. Even her girlfriend (who kept denying it) didn't know.

Finally, he saw her being dragged by her legs by an armoured knight. She was going to 3-1. She was once again going to disturb Komi.

"I'd advise you to stop going to 3-1," Inui said. He managed to intercept Yamai on her route.

"Who the hell are you?" Yamai said. Without letting him answer, The space between the two of them shrunk in an instant. It was as if she passed through him. When he tried to stop her by grabbing into her wrist, he found himself on the floor, looking at the ceiling. She had flipped him over.

The next day, Inui swore to himself, he'd waste no words. He would block her. He had polished his instincts: he watched few videos on Judo last night.

She once again flipped him.

Then again the next day.

Then again the next day.

"Why don't you stay down like a good dog?" Yamai asked. No, it wasn't a question, Inui realised. It was an order. Within seconds he was lying face up on the floor.

Inui's friend would later find him crying on that same spot, lamenting his lack of strength. He helped him stand up, then grabbed Inui's shoulders.

"Inui," Tadano said. "You don't have to do this."

"What do you mean?" Inui asked. "How can I call myself your friend if I let you and Komi be in danger?"

"Indeed," Tadano said. "How can I call myself your friend if I let you be in danger?"

Inui looked at Tadano. He's shorter and slimmer, but there were times where Tadano felt reliable.

"Leave Yamai to me," Tadano said, staring right at Inui's eyes. Small pupils met tiny pupils and Inui sighed. "I know I'm just a normal guy and Yamai can be...monstrous at times, but trust me, Inui. She's not your problem."

Inui sighed. "Okay."

[break]

Komi's stared at Tadano. "Inui...did that?"

"Yes. To be honest, I don't think he fully believes me."

"As long as he stopped going against Yamai…" Komi looked away. Yamai approved of her relationship in a way, but she hadn't changed her overly-affectionate ways. She hoped the day would come where she could tell Yamai off directly, but that day never seemed to come. It's still really scary.

"Maybe I need to get really buff. Do you mind if I look like Katai?"

Without looking at him, Komi replied: "No. I'd like you at any shape."

Tadano was taken aback, and then he blushed. He looked at her face and said, "We'll face her together. You won't have to do this alone, Komi."

Komi nodded. Tadano could read her mind.

"We could also ask Najimi for help," Tadano added, lamely.

Komi blinked. "Speaking of Najimi, Ojosa told me an interesting story..."

Author's note: There are multiple kanji that has the same reading as Inui's 'ken', so I put the meanings of those different kanji into the story. 'Affair', 'investigation', 'advise', 'space', 'polish' and 'lack' are some of them. 'Dog' is the 'inu' in Inui, and 'mountain' is the 'yama' in Yamai.