Just for fun, identify the names of the manga and light novels described in the fifth paragraph.

After my visit with Mom, I recall that I need to stock up on new manga.

There is a bookstore near my home that I frequent.

I wonder if they have anything new there.

And I'm not disappointed.

The new volume to a series I am currently reading is out, so without a doubt that goes into my tote bag. There is a new light novel about a girl who can control the weather. Seems intriguing, so I add that, too. Another light novel about a boy and a girl from different backgrounds who switch bodies by the same author. A manga series about a dysfunctional but comedic family amongst a cold-war setting. My eye also falls onto a volume about a human doctor who cures vampire patients of supernatural maladies, and another about a young lord who makes a pact with a demon. I wonder if Selene would like these …

By the time I finish perusing only one aisle, my bag is half-full. Do I regret it? No. The bill of my add-on credit card will be paid by my father, so why should I?

I find more interesting stuff in the second and third aisles. Slowly and steadily, my bag becomes heavier and heavier with the weight of paper. I should have brought another bag with me. By the time I reach the sixth aisle, I debate between requesting a delivery at the front desk or hauling this megaton of reading material by foot. Would be a good workout if I did the latter … Or I could turn into a hunchback.

But all these thoughts fade instantly when I come across an unwelcome face: Miyamoto Akutenshi. I would think he was here for the same purpose that I was, but when I pay attention to the grimace on his face, I think otherwise. He hates this place, just as I hate him. So why are you even here? I want to ask. However, he's not worth my time or patience. He has not spotted me yet, so surreptitiously, I creep around the previous aisles to reach the front desk.

If only luck were on my side. The crash of my bag against the wall as I swivel around makes my presence clearly known. His head whips in the direction of the source of the sound just as mine turns the other way to huff before controlling my features.

"Hey," he says unabashedly.

Oh, are we on friendly terms now all of a sudden?

"Hello," I reply coldly. With a quick bow, I try to get out of there.

Yet again, luck decides to sit back and savor the inevitable drama. Miyamoto closes the gap between us in three strides. "I wanted to apologize."

"Don't bother." If you wanted to apologize, you would have done so the day that you insulted Selene and I. You wouldn't have waited for us to cross paths by chance days later.

The guy is awfully persistent. "I'm actually sorry. What I said that at the competition was harsh, and simply me venting my frustration."

I've had enough. My mouth might just open if I have to hear any more of the fake bullshit that spews out from his. I am almost out of the aisle when another disappointing face appears. Kurosawa Inei. The girl who so hypocritically shouted at Selene and I for our audacity. From the spine titles of books in her hands, I figure that she is the reason why Miyamoto is in the bookstore. She looks between me and the chauvinist who followed me, gauging the situation, before leveling a glare at me. "What is he doing here?" she asks as her eyebrow rises critically at my tote bag.

"I wish I could say I am doing the same thing as you, but that is beneath me. For one, I do not read content of an author who romanticizes abuse and assault." I gaze pointedly at the stack of books she holds. Each book is from the same author who is widely known to be involved in many controversial scandals. Kurosawa's fury emerges as a vein pulsating in her temple. If she has even an atom of smartness inside her head, then she knows that she cannot cause a scene in a public place without getting in trouble.

The cashier at the front desk makes eye contact with me. He raises his hand, tucks his thumb into the palm, and folds the remaining fingers over the thumb. With the other hand, he holds up his phone. I get the message. He is silently asking if I am being threatened, and if he should call for help. Subtly, I shake my head but usher him to wait. With a quick nod from him, I tell the two misogynists to step aside.

Of course, they don't. Why would they? They simply exist to cause problems. Especially the girl.

"Excuse you. I don't take orders from a lower classman. Haven't you heard to respect your seniors?"

"Respect is earned, not demanded. And you have done absolutely nothing to earn my respect. Just because you are a year older than me does not give you any right to dictate my actions. Now kindly move out of the way, senpai."

Her flabbergasted expression makes my eyes roll. This time, I reach the counter and start taking out the manga. The cashier passes me a sympathetic expression. As though he's saying, Toxic girls, right? I couldn't agree more.

I whisper, "Do you have to deal with customers like these often?"

"Unfortunately," he responds. "But our manager is good about keeping these people in check. She doesn't let workers us like get harassed or other customers. In fact, she should be coming out for a quick round any minute now. Would you like her to handle the situation?"

I shake my head. "I think I got it, but I would like some witnesses. I'm sorry, Sir. You shouldn't have to deal with assholes like them."

"Thanks, and don't worry about the witness thing. There are cameras here, and I'm ready to call the authorities at any moment."

Distantly, I hear Kurosawa mutter harshly to Miyamoto, who is muttering just as furiously as her. I can't hear what they're saying. I don't care to know. As long as they leave me and Selene alone, I'm perfectly okay with them seething in bitterness.

After swiping my credit card for my purchase, I bid the cashier goodbye. Just as I am about to step through the doors, a voice calls out behind me.

"About your partner … that girl with the cane …"

I should step through the door. I do not need to hear whatever crap they are about to say next. But I don't. The way Miyamoto mentioned her … I do not like it. While I do not turn around to look at them, I stare at them out of the corner of my eye. They cannot see my phone that emerges from my jacket pocket from their angle. I turn on voice recording. My silence is enough of a cue for him to continue.

"What's her name?" he murmurs toward Kurosawa. She hisses her name out. "Hanada Selene … right. I would - I mean, we would -" he gestures frantically at himself and Kurosawa. "We would like to formally apologize to her, too."

I turn around fully and cross my arms. My phone is hidden safely inside my pocket again. "Not necessary. I'll convey your sentiments to her. Good day."

"Wait, wait! She was right. We let our insecurities get the best of us. To make up for it, we would like to send a written apology to her. Could you give us her number?"

I cannot resist the scoff that leaves my mouth. Like hell, I am giving you anyone's number, let alone hers! Especially not hers! I am very firm in my refusal.

A woman comes up to the cashier's side, who explains hurriedly in low tones about the situation. I figure she's the manager. She looks ready to bust their asses out of the book store the second they do something, if her titanium fists are anything to go by. The pair of sexists see it, too. Good. Because I am genuinely starting to feel threatened.

Kurosawa decides to pipe in. "Hey! We're asking nicely! What's so wrong with giving us her number? Are you her boyfriend or something? Do you not like it when she talks to other guys or stuff? Because if that's true, just wow. You're so possessive it's abusive. A real piece of -"

I cut her off immediately. "Finish that sentence, and it's you that will be launched like a flying slipper out of the store." A vigorous yes from both the cashier and manager affirms my statement. "Firstly, stop jumping to ridiculous conclusions all by yourself. You said you wanted to say sorry, but here you are accusing me of preposterous things. It makes you look stupid and phoney. Second, I feel no need to explain to you what my relationship with Selene is. Out of basic human decency, I do not think it is right to give someone else's number to anyone without express permission from the owner of said phone number. And I definitely wouldn't give someone's number to you or your friend."

All this time, the girl's anger has been accumulating. Her red face and the vigorously beating vein make it so obvious that she will explode at a moment's notice. I don't care. Do it, so I never have to risk seeing your face here again. Her mouth opens to speak up, when Miyamoto rests his hand on her shoulder.

"Calm down, Inei," he says.

"But he-!" she begins to protest.

"Not now. Not here."

Those two sentences disturb me. My intuition screams at me that they are up to something. I have to stop it here and now.

Miyamoto addresses me now. I can see right past his facade. After apologizing for Kurosawa's rudeness, he urges again for Selene's contact information. Seriously, do these people not understand that no means no?

He reasons, "Look. If you don't give us any method to reach out to her, then we will just have to approach her directly at school. If I remember correctly, you're both in the same class, right? Class 1-A? We'll just have to come during lunchtime and-"

For the second time, I interrupt.

"Stay away from her," I order. "Just because I'm a first-year does not make me a fool. Enough with the excuse that you feel remorse over your actions. Everyone here knows that you're lying. So whatever you have planned, quit it. Otherwise, this 'son of Japan's Number One hero' will ensure that none of you go unpunished, and the 'daughter of a business magnate' will do everything to make sure you have no future.

"Good. Bye."

Finally, Miyamoto's true colors appear.

My exposure of his deceit manifests as a promise of vengeance in his eyes.

I meet it head-on with my own oath.

I will protect her from the likes of you.

Bidding a good evening to the manager and cashier, I leave the bookstore at last.

When I get back to the dorms, I will tell Selene to remain cautious of these two.