A week later, nothing happened. When I say nothing happens, literally nothing happened. No one was interacting with me and Aki. Except we had short talks with that Kinoshita guy, our errand boy.
My relationship with Reika was not good, so we never talked at home. We would just stare at each other and went off our own way. By making Reika angry with me, she would be less involved with me which means fewer obstacles in my plan.
My partnership with Aki is stable. We could say that all students see us as best friends. Maybe it's because of how we behave in front of everyone. We were talking and having a conversation about different topics quite 'amicably'.
But it feels like I lack something. It's related to the strength I have. It seems like I need some more manpower. But all the delinquents in this school were rendered useless by Aki and no one as strong or a little less strong than Aki showed up. If there was one, he or she wouldn't want to join us.
So there's only one way that I could think of. That is to make Aki stronger than she is now. But how?
"Tenma?"
"Huh?"
Turning my head towards that voice, there stood my partner.
"What, Aki?"
"What are you thinking?"
"Nothing special."
"Are you sure?"
"Don't you trust me?"
"No."
"That's harsh."
It was still break. I was eating noodles and Aki was eating her handmade lunchbox in the cafeteria. As usual, the cafeteria was quieter than the first day. That's a good improvement.
"Do you make your own lunchbox or your mom prepares it?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Just asking."
"..... I do it. Sometimes my mom would forget about it."
While talking on this subject, I remembered some important aspects about Aki. My brain started to work faster than originally. I connected some dots and found some ways to make Aki stronger.
It was time to set forward some action.
"Aki, from now on, can you make lunch for me too?"
"What are you saying all of a sudden?"
"It's just that I am tired to eat food from the cafeteria. From time to time, I want to have some homemade food. Besides I want to try and eat what you made."
"..."
That last sentence was honest.
"Why are you asking me to prepare a lunchbox for you? Don't your mom do it?"
My face turned gloomy the second she finished that sentence.
"Well...it might be difficult for now because of some circumstances. Please, understand me."
She did not pry any further and instead, raised another question related to my proposal.
"You have something else for me in return, right? Or am I doing this for free?"
"As expected of my partner, you really know me. Lately, don't you feel bored at school? Nothing interesting is happening. So today, why don't we go out and play a little?"
"Like the arcade?"
"No. Something more spicy. And it's right up your alley."
"...What are you trying to do?"
"You just have to find out. Therefore, will you make me food for lunch?"
"...Alright. But you better not get my hopes high for nothing."
"No, I definitely won't."
Now that that's done. The rest will depend on Aki.
Break was over and everyone started to return to class. I just have to endure these 2 class.
....
Now that classes are finished, everyone else started to go to their respective club activities and some of them are going home.
Aki was talking to someone on her phone.
"Mom, I'm going to be late today. You can eat dinner without me."
After a few moments of her mom talking, she hung up.
"You're quite the good daughter."
"I have to at least tell her. Besides, she never really cared about me that much. Because of that, I discussed with her about my lateness and she just agreed without hesitation."
"...Fair enough."
It was now the time for an upgrade in Aki's strength.
.....
We walked down the streets of the red-light district. I honestly want to say that it is not a place for children and respected people to go. It's basically a bad neighbourhood.
There are adult-magazines bookshops, tattoo workshops and even a strip club. On the sides of the road, you could see thugs and other delinquents loitering around and talking in groups.
Me and Aki were walking down that street. We were kind of standing out like sore thumbs because we are students. The reason they know this fact is due to our uniforms.
Everyone was looking at us intensively. It was as if they were telling us that, this is not a place for little children to be strolling around, through their eyes.
"Hey, are you sure that this is the right place?"
"Don't worry. Just stay by my side. We'll eventually get to our destination. It's just right up this alley."
"Alley?"
Turning around into the mentioned alley, there was a group of delinquents smoking. The group of people were staring us.
"What business do you kids have here?"
A man with brown hair, who was taller than me, came near us and started to talk.
"We just want to play a game with you all."
All of them started laughing. Everyone was looking at me as if they were looking at an idiot. Aki stayed silent. She knew that I was up to something.
"Hey kid, are you joking with us."
"No seriously. We want to play a game with you. But a different kind of game which is up to your preference."
That man was a little interested.
"What is it?"
"We'll both bet money on a fight. You can also participate in the fight if you want. The more, the merrier. The winner takes it all."
"And who will we be fighting?"
"This girl beside me."
Everyone turned their attention to Aki.
"Oi, are you kidding me? Bring another guy. It's no fun in crushing a little ant."
"What? You are not fighting? Are you perhaps scared?"
I chuckled looking at the guy. A vein started to pop in that guy's forehead. That moment, Aki leaned near my ear and whispered.
"Hey, I didn't agree to this."
"Well, I'm pretty sure that you did."
"Screw you!"
Aki was annoyed. I looked at the man again.
"You'll regret this kid. We'll be taking this easy money."
"We'll see about that. And one more thing.
Weapons are allowed."
Everyone was shocked.
"Are you looking down on us?"
"Trashes are meant to be looked down. Don't you know that?"
That man gritted his teeth in anger and threw a punch, full force at me. And as expected, Aki redirected his punch and kicked him in his sides. He fell on the ground while holding his sides in agony.
"Are you satisfied with your opponent?"
The group of people was now about to be in the fight. Well then, those people are stepping stones for Aki's strength.
Be sure to get to win this fight, Aki. I'm betting on you.