My name is Kinoshita Ken. I go to Aomori High School. My first day at school was good but the next day, it was disastrous.
I got involved with a delinquent in this school, Kaburagi Tenma and his only strong companion, Fujimoto Aki.
On the second day of school, Kaburagi asked me to bring a yakisoba bread to the rooftop where they were gonna fight all the delinquents in this school.
I just thought that they were gonna lose as there were so many opponents to defeat. But I just went with the flow and brought him his lunch so that I won't get beaten. I also wanted to see how the fight would go and how much Kaburagi trusted Fujimoto.
.....
That scene was shocking for me yet those 2 weren't affected by it. It was as if, that was nothing to them. 14 students were lying on the ground in pain with blood splattered around them while those 2 were chatting normally.
'These two are insane.'
After that, they made me their errand boy. Forcefully.
I would go to the cafeteria to buy what they requested.
The first 'job' in the cafeteria was tough. There were so many people lining up. So it took a long time. I told this to Kaburagi as an excuse for coming late. After thinking for a while, he told me a trick.
....
The next day I went to the cafeteria in the break. There were the usual people lining up. I went to the second person who lined up and said,
"Ummm, I came on the behalf of Kaburagi Tenma. So.....can I take your place. He's gonna be angry if his lunch came late due to someone."
The person who was scared, willingly gave up his place for me. This continued for a week.
Then one day, Kaburagi told me to go to the red-light district and see if there's someone who's interested in fighting Fujimoto.
I was once again shocked at the fact that they were fighting in a dangerous place outside of school. I did as Kaburagi told me to do so as to not get beaten again.
Someday I would find plenty of people, some with few people and some with no one. I would even get beaten up when I said that I was Fujimoto's acquaintance because she would be the one who would wreak havoc on these dangerous streets.
I tolerated all of this until that day. That day I had enough, and I gathered my courage to fight against them due to someone. And that someone is Miyake Kyoko.
"Keep it down ugly."
I saw the scene of Fujimoto and Kaburagi insulting Miyake mercilessly in front of the whole class.
Miyake couldn't take it all and run away. Kaburagi and Fujimoto went back to eating. I secretly went out of the class and looked for Miyake.
I couldn't stand those two who went too far of insulting her. I looked for her at the rooftop.
She was there, sitting in a corner and holding her knees with her hands which prevented me from seeing her crying face. I went close to her.
Hearing my footsteps, she lifted her head slowly and looked at me. I quickly handed her a handkerchief. She accepted it hesitantly and wiped up her face with it.
"You also think that I am like that? An attention seeker? An opportunist?"
She started talking to me. While sitting down beside her, I said
"Of course not. It was all Kaburagi's doing."
She was a bit relieved. She then returned my handkerchief to me after wiping her washed make up away. I continued talking.
"Kaburagi wanted to blame you on something that you had no intention on doing. He trapped you nicely in his web. He is a terrifying person."
"But.....why are you with them?"
"...I got dragged into all of this unwillingly."
Miyake looked up the sky. There was a short silence between us. Miyake talked while still staring at the sky.
"You know Kinoshita, what Kaburagi had said were half true. I am always alone. I am really someone who can't start up a conversation with someone."
I kept quiet and listened to her.
"It's true that I wanted to have friends by some means but that argument was not my intention, that is to take advantage of the situation. I just thought that as I am the class representative, I must be brave and reliable. That's why I confronted them."
'....I think I'm starting to like her.'
Miyake is a brave girl but there isn't someone who can support her mentally. That's why I want to be that someone.
"Miyake, I'm glad that you tried to help someone like me from Kaburagi. I'm really glad."
"...Kinoshita?"
"But you shouldn't mess with them. They are in a different league. You should take care of yourself too. You said that you don't have friends, didn't you."
I stood up and reached out my hand to her.
"Can I be your first and best friend?"
She looked at me, surprised.
"But I don't know how to talk to someone clearly and I don't know what friends do."
"Aren't you talking to me clearly right here, right now? And we'll figure out that other thing later. So, do you accept my friendship?"
Her tears were about to flow out of her eyes again. She gave me her hand so that I would help her stand up. She started to cry again. And then, in a small voice, she said,
"...Yes."
"That's a relief. So I have a favour to ask you."
"...What is it?"
I returned her the handkerchief while saying,
"Your makeup is coming off so can you wipe it away?"
"...That's mean for your first favour to your best friend."
We laughed at each other while she took my handkerchief and used it.
"You did your best Miyake, now it's my turn."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm gonna fulfil your unfinished duty as a class representative."
"...Are you going to go against Fujimoto and Kaburagi?"
"That's right."
"Don't do that! It's too dangerous. Are you aware of how dangerous they are?"
"Yes, I know. That's why I'm going to have them punished."
"Why are you dragging this matter. Just leave them be."
"As a class representative, would you leave them?"
She just stayed silent and watched me in pain.
"What's the purpose of a friend. Isn't it to support each other no matter what happens?"
"...That's right, but in this case it's different. You shouldn't step over your bounds."
"I can at least drag those two down a little bit."
"...Why are you doing all this?"
She was looking down, expecting for a reasonable answer from me. Well, I won't disappoint her.
"Isn't it obvious? We are best friends, right."
Listening to my reply, she had the kindest smile that she had ever have on her face. I was mesmerized by it.
"Thank you."
"Don't sweat it. You can go to class now. Break is about to be over. Don't worry about me."
"Yes...."
.....
3 minutes later, I was in front of the staff room's door. When I was about to open it, someone on the other side opened it instead. It was our homeroom teacher, Mr Kimura Hiroshi.
"Oh. Good afternoon Kinoshita."
"G-Good afternoon Mr Kimura."
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?"
"...I have got something serious to say to you, Mr Kimura. It's about Fujimoto Aki and Kaburagi Tenma."