Despite the brief duration, a mere 15 minutes, I found myself experiencing a sense of confinement as if caught between the presence of a wild beast and the delicate essence of a woodland sprite. I found it necessary to exercise self-control and refrain from physically engaging with those people who were acting foolishly. However, upon witnessing their embarrassing display, I let it go.
Hence, I politely excused myself to visit the restroom. Upon my return, fate led me to cross paths with Chiyo, whose face instantly brightened with a sense of relief upon spotting me. As I asked about the progress with the boys, she responded with a forced chuckle.
"About that... one of them, named Joe, suddenly vomited blood. Someone quickly called the teacher, but in the end, everyone ran out, leaving your friends behind."
As I heard the unexpected ending, my brows furrowed in confusion. Before I could voice my thoughts, Chiyo interjected, her words rushed and apologetic, "I'm sorry if we made your friends feel bad... but don't worry, I think many can appreciate their efforts to changed."
It seems that upon my leave, the boys made an effort to engage in conversation not only with Chiyo and her friends but with everyone in the class. However, I'm not sure about the part where everyone appreciates them.
'If her words held any truth, it would have been expected for everyone to lend a hand to Joe and stick by his side until the teacher arrived instead of running away.'
"Chiyo, it looks like you misunderstood something."
"huhh... what do you mean?"
Engaging in conversation amidst the bustling corridor seemed rather inappropriate. Thus, with a gentle touch, I grasped her hand, meeting her bewildered gaze, and kindly suggested finding a more quiet place. As we journeyed, I couldn't help but notice her growing unease. I instinctively tightened my grip, causing her cheeks to flush with an adorable blush.
Eventually, we found ourselves beneath the staircase that ascended to the second floor. Surprisingly, the atmosphere was eerily tranquil, which left me slightly confused. Nevertheless, this place seemed ideal for some much-needed solitude with her. Even as I released my grasp, Chiyo could not shake off her nervousness.
"Did I surprise you?"
Chiyo simply nodded, her gaze meeting mine with a hint of vulnerability. Her large, watery brown eyes held a captivating beauty. I had previously surmised that her curiosity stemmed from the fact that I was the first boy her age she had encountered. However, I was taken aback by her unexpected reaction.
"Not only did you surprise me, but... forget it, what did you want to say that brought me to this lonely place."
"This is about them. I want you not to equate me with them, and also, they are not my friends," Chiyo, with a slight tilt of her head, appeared rather cute as she expressed her confusion. As her eyes glistened, it seemed as though she had just stumbled upon a newfound realization.
"Are you just trying to warn me, or are you truly worried about me?... even though I still don't forgive what they did, I don't think they-" The vulnerability of possessing a kind and innocent nature lies in the fact that it renders one susceptible to exploitation, even by individuals such as myself.
"To be honest, both… and also, for some reason, when I saw them trying to approach you, my heart hurt."
"Huh?" her brows furrowing in confusion.
I felt a surge of relief as I interrupted her, realizing that the moment was ripe for expressing my thoughts. As the memory of my promise to Meiko resurfaced, a pang of guilt washed over me. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl. However, I consoled myself with the thought that it was still a better alternative than leaving Chiyo to deal with those loser virgins. I can't imagine what would happen to Chiyo if they lost their minds and assaulted her.
"Well, umm... I can understand if that's how you feel, but I'm a bit confused. We haven't known each other for very long, so why do you feel that way?"
The thing I like about a gentle and naive young woman like her is her propensity for misunderstanding. She clearly believes that I harbor romantic sentiments towards her, yet I am cool with this assumption.
'It's serious... if this continues, I can't stop teasing her.'
Without realizing my eyes instinctively darted upward in search of a CCTV camera. When I spotted one positioned along the corridor, its watchful lens trained on this very spot. I gestured for Chiyo to come closer to me near the base of the stairs, where we could remain hidden from view.
"You really don't know anything about men... listen, Chiyo, I know you have a lot of trust in me, but not all men are like me."
With a boldness that surprised even me, I reached out to intertwine my fingers with hers. She met my gaze, her expression tinged with nervousness, but after a moment, she relented and accepted my touch. Chiyo found herself in a passive position due to the wall behind her, while I had no intention of taking a turn.
"I don't like swallowing other people's judgments at face value... therefore, I can know you are not a bad person because I let myself judge you."
In moments such as these, her tenacity reaches its zenith. I find myself torn between feelings of disappointment and pride for a young woman who possesses such a resolute viewpoint. With no alternative in sight, I found myself compelled to take action again. I fervently hoped she would approach this situation with the utmost caution, for I was acutely aware that the four of them had set their sights on her.
"I agree with you, but I'm just worried... a beautiful and cute girl like you will definitely be very popular... you could say this is just my selfish reason..."
Despite Chiyo's innocence, she clearly grasped the message I was trying to convey. Her face flushed crimson in an instant, and her gaze darted around, avoiding direct eye contact with me. It was evident that my words had left her feeling uneasy. The current scenario resembles a couple's endeavor to comprehend each other's desires and intentions.
"I'll think about it..." I strained to hear Chiyo's soft voice as I gently cradled her chin in my hand. In response, she obediently parted her lips, allowing her words to escape with a bit more volume.
"I said stop all this. Let me go to the cafeteria. I don't want to face the rest of class with a hungry stomach."
"Then why don't we go together?" I suggested, flashing a gentle smile. This time, it seemed to have a stronger impact as Chiyo's expression transformed into that of a smitten girl. However, when I chuckled, her irritation flared up, and she accused me of mocking her.