"What were you going to do with that hand?"
Asahi's grasp tightened which made the bully winced in pain. He was not showing it on the outside but he was screaming internally.
'Fuck. Just how strong is this guy!"
Behind his fake smile were curses hidden from others. He thought that this guy is someone that should be messed with judging by his strength.
One of the taller lackeys of the bully was hesitant on intervening between the bully and Asahi.
In the end, he got the courage and finally showed elements of fear. He was a bit shorter than Asahi in terms of height but that does not mean he was not scary.
He used his coarse voice and warned Asahi.
"Oi! You bastard! Take your hands off of him."
To that, Asahi simply veered his head to the tall lackey and coldly threatened him.
"Or what? Say it. What are you going to do? Spit it out."
The air became dense.
Utter fear was written in the lackey's face. He instinctively stepped back from Asahi. Seeing how his lackey reacted, the bully confirmed that he is on the next level.
It was time to bail out from here.
They do not want to get senselessly beaten by one guy in front of everyone.
"Haha. Why are you being serious? I was just joking around."
Equipped with his fake smile, the bully tried to calm down Asahi. His condescending glare was wearing down the bully but he did not back down.
The only option he was seeing was a peaceful escape. And he had to be successful at all costs.
"Come on. I know I went too far with my joke. I promise I will not do it again, okay?"
He put his other hands up to signal that he surrendered.
His lackey could not help but be impressed by their boss' acting ability.
Asahi took a few seconds and stared at the bully. He was reading his gestures and behaviour. After a good 15 seconds, he let go of his grasp and the blood started circulating more fluidly in the bully's hand.
When he released his strength, the bully realized how much of a monster this guy called Asahi was.
It felt like his arm was saved from getting crushed by a rock.
He caressed his wrist and saw the mark it left. It was a good choice to retreat and choose not to fight this guy.
A wry smile appeared and he lightly laughed in his pain.
"Sorry sorry. We are not going to be seen in this class again. I apologize if we caused a mess."
"....."
Kirika knew Asahi as Keiko's boyfriend. She discussed her relationship with Asahi when Keiko revealed the 'truth' behind her scars.
The way she described Asahi, well, it was over-exaggerated since she would start rambling things that even Kirika does not even know what she was talking about.
A girl in love sounds confusing to the others that did not pass through this phase.
Anyway, Kirika was relieved that Keiko had someone she loved. What worried her and what she wanted to know was, is Asahi able to protect her?
Kirika cannot be near Keiko at any time. But as her boyfriend, he was closer to her at all times.
She was acting like a big sister getting overprotective with Keiko as she listened to her backstory.
Whatever the case, she wanted Keiko to be protected from any bad things.
Asahi displayed her strength and Kirika was surprised but most of all, she felt relieved that someone as strong as him was beside Keiko.
Nothing bad would ever happen with Keiko when she has got Asahi and Kirika by her side.
"Instead of doing a meaningless thing like bullying, go and study. Your life would evade ruin itself."
"Haha, I will consider it."
The bully laughed behind his embarrassment and waved his hand to Asahi.
"Then, I will be off. You two, I'm sorry for the inconveniences that I caused."
He veered to Keiko and Kirika who were glowering at him. The girls saw through his fears and were not impressed with his apology.
"Your face is inconveniencing everyone." Keiko insulted the bully harshly.
"Get out of here and never come back." Kirika angrily glared at the bully.
A vein popped in his forehead but seeing the towering presence next to him. He took a sneak peek at Asahi's expression and he still had his cold stare.
'Yup, it is time I get out of here.'
The bully walked his way out of the classroom. The 2 lackeys followed behind him as they walked out of the classroom.
Only when the delinquents could not be seen that sighs of relief and mumbling could be heard.
Some even voice their concern towards the 3 of the people involved.
"You 3, are you okay?"
"That was scary!"
"Seriously all they do is cause chaos."
"Why do they even come to school?"
"Delinquents man, they are the worst.".
Rough comments passed around the classroom about the bullies. The bullies were freshmen but had this kind of attitude already.
They deduced that they were like this in middle school or even earlier.
"I am okay. thanks for asking."
Asahi, Kirika and Keiko fended off their classmates' worries. They flocked around them and discussed this incident.
Well, no one would have approached them to not get involved but it was the 3 most popular students in this class, maybe even the whole freshmen year that they were talking about.
The handsome and athletic, Sato Asahi, the beautiful and intelligent, Miyazaki Kirika and the straightforward and friendly beauty, Morita Keiko.
This class 1-C was truly blessed with some amazing students.
That's why they cared about those 3 in particular.
Kirika got close to the boy that was the victim of that bully.
"Are you okay?"
The boy suddenly jolted with surprise, thinking that no one would talk to him since he was silent and unnoticeable.
The fact that the girl would approach him because she saved him from his bully was not blatant to him. Of course, he would get approached but that hasn't dawned onto him since no one would.
He had a frail-looking body as he is thinner than most boys in the classroom. His skin was so smooth that it looked fragile as well as his face.
The bang of his black hair was a bit longer as it covered almost half of his eyes. His appearance itself had the impression of gloominess that enveloped him.
The boy stuttered as he was not good with talking. That too with the most beautiful girl in his class.
"Y-Yes......T...T-Thank...you......"
He bowed deeply while he was still in his seat. Seeing how frightened and unsociable he was, Kirika had a reassuring grin as she proposed.
"If you have any trouble, do not hesitate to look for us."
Suddenly, the boy's vision brightened. As if the sun that was engulfed by his gloomy aura blazed ever so greatly. As if, light has intruded on her dark life.
The boy blushed and his heart started racing.
'A.....goddess...'
His mind soothed as he got to feast his eyes on such a divine light that was willing to grab his hand.
"I will....." The boy slightly smiled as Kirika saw his eyes alleviated of the depressing tone.
"My name is Miyazaki Kirika. You?"
"Su...Suzuki.....Akai...Thanks for having me....."
"Suzuki Akai. That is a cool name."
"C-Cool?"
"Yes." Her grin got to the boy which made him skip a beat.
'Is this the start...of my new...life...?' The boy thought after reviewing what had just happened to him today.
At this moment, this was definitely the happiest he has ever been in his whole life.
"Mine's Sato Asahi. Good to meet you."
"And mine is Morita Keiko. Good to meet you too." She waved her hand a little as she introduced herself.
They both came behind Kirika and also approached Suzuki.
Suzuki felt wrong that he was seated and others came to introduce themselves. So he frantically got off his seat and introduced himself as he did with Kirika.
"G-Good to m-meet you too....My name is S-Suzuki Akai."
"Hahaha. No need to be so stiff. We are all friends here." Keiko made him relaxed.
".....F-Fri...ends...?"
"Aren't we?" Asahi's happy expression made it seem like he was not capable of making the cold stare he was aiming at the bully.
Two more lights intruded in Suzuki's vision. This was too good to be true for him.
Additionally, the term 'friends' was not mentioned to him at all. That is why he was bewildered when he got labelled with such a word.
A single word that touched his heart so. charmingly and he could not control his emotions.
*Sniffs*
A teardrop into the floor and the 3 of them were shocked.
"Hey, what happened?"
Worried, Kirika got close to him. The tears would not stop. Suzuki covered his face, nonetheless, the salty water slipped through his finger.
The soft sobbing and sniffing made Suzuki embarrasses yet happy.
"It is...*sniffs*.....the first...time that some...one called me their.....friend....."
Keiko and Asahi could not help but feel sympathy for Suzuki. They did not know how much pain Suzuki has been through. He must have been suffering silently amongst every other that was smiling cheerfully.
Kirika slowly patted Suzuki's head as the words of angels calmed his mind.
"Well, aren't we lucky to be your first friends? Hahaha."
Kirika glanced at Keiko and Asahi, which made them both smile. They agreed with Kirika which made Suzuki very glad. Today was indeed the happiest day he has ever been.
"...Thank.....you......Truly....."
"Now now, stop crying. You are a man, right."
They all tried their best for Suzuki to feel better and they succeeded.
Ren looked at those 4 that were having their time of their own. Meanwhile, he also listened well to the harsh comments passed on by his other classmates on the bully.
He squinted his eyes with disdain as he thought about the turn of events that happened today.
Moreover, he hovered his gaze at his own hands. A thought that he could not ignore and had to be reflected on, stayed in his mind.
'Why did I not go support them.....?'
He wanted to go there and stand against the bully but he could not. His mind stopped his feet before he could move.
Moreover, he told Yoichi to go and aid them. Why did he not go himself?
That bugged his mind.
"Did I not tell you that Asahi would handle it himself?"
".....Yeah, you did."
"Have some faith in me and relax."
"...I suppose I sho-...........Where are all my sausages?"
Anger seeped from Ren's head.
"Ummm......In my stomach..."
Ren grabbed his chopsticks like a knife and proceeded to stab him in the stomach. Yoichi reflexively stopped his attack with great difficulty.
"Wait a minute!!! I can explain!! They were too good so I could not resist!!!"
"While there was such a serious incident going on, you were eating!?!"
"As I said, I trust Asahi!!! That is why I did nothing at all!!! More like there was nothing I could do!!!"
"You are such an opportunist!!"
His chopsticks were close to his stomach.
"What can I do to repay!!"
"All of your rolled omelette!!"
"A-All!?!?"
"Yes!!!"
"NO!! Choose something else!!"
"The deal is off!!!!!"
"Okay, I accept!!!"
And so, Ren got to eat all of Yoichi's rolled omelette.
A few seconds after, in the corridor, the bully and his 2 lackeys walked furiously.
"Who the fuck is he?"
"I believe that he is Sato Asahi. He is quite popular. He is in the Tennis Club."
"Why is someone in the Tennis Club so strong! He seriously pisses me off!"
As he was busy, he did not bother concentrating on the oath he was walking. Since people around him would move away, he did not have to worry about being bumped.
Alas, he was wrong.
*Bump!*
Since the bully was already this angry, he lashed out without even thinking.
"Watch where the fuck you are going!"
The boy he bumped into was confused.
"...Bro, no matter how you look at it, it is your fault."
"My fault!? You dare to say that it is my fault!?
In an instant, the bully's mind became clearer as he recalled something.
"...Your face does look familiar."
"...Bro, is your head okay?"
The bully tried hard to remember where he had seen the boy's face. The short lackey was about to teach the boy a lesson because he basically called the leader a retard.
He raised his hand, wanting to slap him. The boy also noticed that but it was too late to dodge.
Yet, the slap was stopped in its tracks and it was none other than the leader that stopped his lackey.
His lackey was surprised by his behaviour.
"I am sorry for his mistake. I apologize for that bump earlier. Later then."
The bully put on his fake smile and dragged his lackey away from the boy.
".....What was that.....?" The boy wondered.
Notwithstanding, he ignored that and resumed his walk.
"Aniki! Why did you stop me!?"
The short lackey could not believe what his leader has done. It was not like him.
"Now that I know his face was familiar, I should have stayed away from him. It is fully my mistake for not remembering him."
The tall lackey inquired about the boy's identity that got their leader like that.
"Aniki, who was that? Some kind of bigshot or what?"
The leader scoffed and glanced at them.
"Heh! That was bloody Kimura Naoko."