Arima, Naoki, Yokota, and I sat in our respective seats.
Upon taking our seats, the feeling of wariness and uneasiness grew inside me. The eyes that are staring at me from my surrounding was giving me the sense of anxiousness; I don't know if I'm having a panic attack. They're all looking at me with curiosity in their eyes.
Now that I think about it, yesterday's incident with Yuki about the hickey in my neck. I remember retorting to her; however, it got backfired. Remembering it, I would like to crawl in a hole and stay in there for the entirety of my life.
My face slowly turned red upon remembering the stuff I said to Yuki yesterday, 'Yeah, you left quite a mark, see?'.
WHY DID I SAY THAT SO PROUDLY—!!
AHHHHH!
The people who are staring at me are the same people from yesterday, probably guessing my true relationship with Naoki and Yuki. Though, if I were them I would probably think that I'm going out with Yuki because of how flirty she is to me and how we acted yesterday. Plus, adding the hickey that she gave me.
Friends, childhood friends, or best friends, they don't give each other hickeys or even kissing!
Thinking of something that could me clear the misunderstanding. What do I tell them? It's a prank? However, how can I say that here out loud? If said that out of nowhere they would just think that I'm making an excuse or...
I think it's better to let it be.
Yep.
That's the only option I have.
Nodding to myself, then Naoki dragged her seat beside my desk.
Noticing Naoki, I greeted her, "Oh hey, Naoki."
"Hi~", Naoki smiled at me.
"You're feeling good now, huh."
"Yep!", Naoki gave me a wide smile.
"Why?", I asked her.
"Because of this!", Naoki then showed me her phone.
On the screen, I saw my topless picture from the forum.
"This...? Are you serious...?", I looked at Naoki dumbfounded.
"Mhmm, I... Only have... Few pictures of you...", Naoki said mutteringly.
Hearing what she said, I let out a smile and said, "You can take pictures of me anytime.", I whispered to her.
"Really...?", Naoki asked.
"Yep.", I nodded.
"Thank you.", Naoki smiled widely.
Naoki started looking at my pictures again with a huge smile on her face.
Looking at her, I can't help myself but feel attracted to her. Naoki's action whenever she's with me is so cute that sometimes I think she's like a little child seeking attention—Like Asuka.
While we were having a conversation, some of my classmates started whispering to each other. Like, am I the only one here in this room? Why am I the main attraction? However, for some reason, the anxiety and the uneasiness that I'm having earlier just disappeared.
Then I looked at Naoki who's happily tapping her phone; I wondered. When Naoki went beside me, calmness envelope my whole brain. The feeling that I'm having right now was like what they injected at me whenever I'm having a panic attack back at the hospital—The feeling is pleasant.
Someone called my name at my back, "Okita."
I turning my body towards Naoki's direction and looked at the person who called me.
"What?", I asked Arima.
"It's our PE class later after lunch. I didn't see an extra bag with you.", Arima said.
"Really? Oh, if you're talking about my PE clothes. It's on my locker.", I responded.
Every class here has its designated locker room, where we can store our uniform, slippers, and of course my tracksuit, while we are having our PE class. Of course, they're separated by gender. In addition to that, we have tiny lockers here at the back of our classroom where we can store our books or any important essentials. That's why the little bag for my PE clothes is on the tiny lockers in our classroom.
Why its there? I don't know. I asked Auntie about it and only said that it's in my locker.
"How come it's in there?", Arima asked.
"I don't know, my Aunt said it's in there.", I shrugged.
"For real...? That's so convenient."
Then I turned my head to Naoki, "How about you Naoki?"
"Hmm? It's on my locker too.", Naoki replied.
"Wow, how lucky.", Arima said.
"Why do you keep saying that?", I asked.
"Because you guys are not carrying an extra bag on the way to school.", Arima replied.
"Well, we will, when we got home?", I said.
"Ah yeah, that makes sense.", Arima said.
Then Yokota approached Naoki and whispered something.
Naoki's eyes narrowed and looked at me seriously, she then reached her hand towards me with her palms open, asking me for something.
"Tatsu, give me the envelope.", Naoki said sternly.
"Wait, why did you tell her, Yokota?!", I exclaimed.
"What? Why wouldn't I?", Yokota said.
Thinking of something I could retort on... There's none. Yokota can tell it to others freely since our friendship is relatively new and she could tell it to Naoki because she's my childhood friend; Yokota really thought that it was a bully note. Maybe, she'll tell it to Ai-senpai and Hina-senpai if what she guessed was true.
I sighed inwardly.
"Give.", Naoki said coldly.
"Okay okay, give me a sec.", I grabbed my bag and took out a white envelope.
"Hey hey, what's going on?", Arima was staring at the white envelope that I'm holding.
"What's that...?", Arima then gasped, "... Don't tell me is that..."
"Oi oi, hold down your horses.", I said.
Then I gave a quick scan around my surroundings and saw there a few students here in our classroom since most of them are in the front or in the hallway.
A thought sudden emerged into my mind. Maybe, they could help me with this one in case that if this is really a blackmail letter for me. There's really nothing to lose, it's only an image of me topless in public drenched in water. Even if the blackmailer wants to distribute it in public with my name on it, there's nothing to lose since they haven't seen my face to verify it nor they can confirm the authenticity of the picture.
I'll risk it.
Moreover, there are no people here in the back row it's only us. Which I consider being a safe time to show it to them.
Yokota knew my face and have seen my body yesterday when they visited me. However, there's one problem—Arima. I don't know if I can trust him with this one. I'll just risk it. My relationship with Yokota and Arima is still fairly new to the point where I still treat them as strangers.
Fuck it.
"Come here at Arima's desk, I'll show it to you guys.", I said.
I put the white envelope on Arima's desk, Yokota and Naoki followed and dragged their seats on Arima's desk. Meanwhile, Arima was looking at me with pity and worry in his eyes. When I saw Arima's eyes, I was baffled.
"All right, don't tell it to others, okay?", I said seriously but with a hint of redness on my face as I was trying to muster all my shamelessness.
"Show it.", Naoki said sternly.
"Just show it, if it's what I think it is then this is a serious matter.", Arima said with furrowed eyebrows.
"Get to the point and show it to us.", Yokota said.
"Okay... Here goes nothing.", Then I opened the envelope and took out the picture, putting it at the center of Arima's desk.
"Well, this was taken when I fell on the fountain yesterday then I went to a secluded area where I'm sure that no person would take a look at the place because Naoki was getting my tracksuit in my locker...", explaining it to them with a low voice so that my classmates won't hear it, then I saw Yokota and Naoki with their faces flushed red; meanwhile, Arima was looking at the picture with bewilderment, "...Then, this morning I saw this white envelope on my shoe locker with my picture inside of it."
"..."
"..."
"..."
I picked up the and turned it around but to my dismay, there's nothing behind it. Looking at it, I was confused. I tried searching for a letter in the envelope—None. Not a single trace of a letter.
Why are there no letters? Isn't this supposed to be blackmail? There are none... Only the picture is on the envelope nor the backside of the picture—None. Seeing this, I can't believe it.
Who sent this? Why does it want? Does the sender send this to scare me?
Thousand of questions started pouring out of my brain. While I was contemplating about the picture, Arima yelled, "HOLY MOLY!"
Arima surprised Naoki, Yokota, and me.
"What's with the deal?", I asked while clenching my chest.
I thought I will die of a heart attack. My god...
"Arima-san, don't do that, please...", Naoki said.
"Yeah, you're too loud.", Yokota said.
"Is this for real?! This thing?!", Arima pointing at the picture.
"Tone it down, I said this is only for us.", I said sternly.
"Oh-oh, sorry sorry.", Arima said apologetically.
"Haa... I didn't expect that it only contains my picture and nothing else like a letter of blackmail or a threatening letter for me.", I said.
"Ummm, if I may ask, this picture was taken yesterday, right?", Yokota asked.
"Yes.", I answered.
"Soooo~ This is you in the picture, right?", Arima asked.
"Yes."
"Umm, can I have it?", Naoki asked.
"Yes..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
We all slowly turned our heads to Naoki who's bashfully looking at the picture.
That's really her question...?
"But, why Ikeda?", Yokota asked.
Oh god, please don't ask her that!
I'm feeling embarrassed just by thinking about it.
Naoki didn't respond as she forced to kept her mouth shut and averted her eyes.
"Yeah...", Arima added.
Naoki only averted her eyes more trying to avoid the two people staring at her with doubtful eyes.
Seeing this, I want to help her but at the same time, I want her to learn to tone down her flirting with me as we had a talk about this already. Asking for my picture count as a flirt, right?
Naoki opened her mouth and said, "I-I want to ask Yuki t-to identify who s-sent t-that..."
Trying to hold back my laughter, I covered my mouth with my right hand.
I want to give Naoki a thumbs up for using Yuki as a reason again. Thinking about it, we do always use Yuki as a reason or an excuse for everything. Why is that, though...?
"Oh, yeah that makes sense.", Yokota said.
But as for Arima, he only looked at me with a helpless smile and shook his head sideways.
I know...
"I could say that my boy Okita here is hella hot in this picture. Look, you're even posing like a model for a magazine.", Arima said.
"Sorry, but please don't look at my picture that way.", I said.
"Nice try, but that still sucks.", Arima retorted with a smirk.
"At least, it's worth a try.", I shrugged.
"Yeah. Maybe, I could even sell this for a few thousand.", Arima said while holding his chin.
"Stop with the jokes.", I retorted.
"I'm not joking. But, on the side note, if you just cut your hair you'll be so popular with girls. Now I get why they're all over you.", Arima smirked.
"Haa... Stop with the exaggeration. I know, I know, my face is only above average. Let's get to the main point.", I tiredly said while waving my hand.
"Dude... I feel like you're mocking every good-looking people... What only above average?", Arima said while looking at me dumbfounded.
Naoki only sighed from what I said while Yokota was looking at me with the same expression as Arima.
"What?", looking at them puzzled.
Did I say something wrong?