Naoki arrives at his house, still piggybacking the unconscious Aya with Tetsu, Ryu, and Hirofumi following behind. Naoki gently lies Aya down on the couch in the living room and then they all staring down at Aya who still has her eyes closed.
"I'll make something for her." Naoki suddenly says and then walks towards the kitchen, leaving the rest of them alone with Aya. Ryu slowly sits down on the floor next to the couch to look at Aya's face closely, caresses her face, strokes her hair, with a creepy smile on his face.
Tetsu and Hirofumi can't help but smiling at the scene, finding Aya super endearing when she's vulnerable like this. Their hearts swell as they sit down next to the couch as well to join Ryu.
Hirofumi takes Aya's hand and massages it gently while staring at the unconscious Aya. Tetsu can't help but brushes his finger on Aya's lower lip, none of them has said anything once they arrived at Naoki's house.
They're being patient. Being patient while having such sinister smirks on their faces.
Naoki returns with a glass of hot chocolate, puts it down on the table next to the couch and then joins in the rest of them on the floor. Staying silent while watching Aya staying unconscious. They can wait. For as long as she needs to stay unconscious.
The sun almost set, they suddenly hear a soft groan coming out of Aya's lips. The guys quickly get on their knees on the floor and get closer to Aya.
"Ah! Aya-kun is awake!" Tetsu says cheerfully with a big smile as they all see Aya slowly opens her eyes with furrowed eyebrows.
Aya takes notice of her childhood friends surrounding her now. She puts her palm on her head where it hit the ground this noon while winces as she tries to sit on the couch.
"Slowly, slowly." Hirofumi helps Aya to sit on the couch.
Aya still looks disoriented and still feels some pain around her head. Ryu rubs Aya's back gently while asks her, "How are you feeling?"
Aya then spacing out, trying to gather her thoughts and consciousness and then look at the guys with empty eyes.
"Are you okay?" Hirofumi asks in worry. Aya doesn't look good right now.
Aya quickly frowns and her eyes start forming some tears. "W-where were you guys...?" She asks as she starts sniffling softly.
"What do you mean?" Ryu asks.
Aya starts crying and sobbing, Ryu's rubs on her back doesn't help at all. "I was- i was on the backyard and these girls- these some girls bullied me!"
The guys quickly feigning ignorance and gasping in a pretend shock. "No wonder you were all wet on the ground at the school's backyard! We were looking around for you and finally found you there all unconscious!" Tetsu answers with a pretend worried tone and expression.
"Do you want me to take care of them? The girls who bullied you?" Naoki suddenly asks with a serious expression.
Aya still crying and sobbing, but she shakes her head.
"D-don't... fight violence with violence... besides, they're first year. Don't fight them back like that." Aya says with a faint voice. Tetsu and Ryu wipe Aya's tears while Hirofumi massages Aya's head.
"Are you sure? So you're just gonna let that pass like that? No payback?" Naoki asks again.
"No! Don't. I just... i just need you guys to... to..." Aya looks down while clenching onto the PE uniform she's wearing.
"To what? Leave them alone after what they've done to you?" Naoki adds.
"To always stick with me no matter what..." Aya tears up again with her head hang low.
Naoki can't hold back his smirk as he turns his head away to hide it from Aya's sight. Ryu smirks a little along with Tetsu, while Hirofumi can maintains his calmness as he successfully hides his feelings.
Naoki quickly snaps and returns to his feigning serious expression again. "What? You want us to be your bodyguards or something?"
Hirofumi quickly elbows Naoki and then clears this throat. "Alright, if that's what you want. We can stick around you at school, we'll protect you." Hirofumi says with a calm, gentle voice. Aya looks up at them with a relieved smile even though still tearing up.
Tetsu wipes Aya's tears again while speaks cheerfully to her, "We have Ryu here who can beat everyone's asses if they get close to you! Right, Ryu?!" Tetsu looks at Ryu that makes Ryu chuckles awkwardly.
"Hey, just because I'm big, does not mean I'm really into violence. But yeah. I'll protect you, Aya-kun." Ryu nods at Aya.
Aya feels so much relieved now after getting reassurance that they'll stick with her as she requested. To prevent herself getting bullied again in the future by those girls as long as she's still around Riku.
Her cries and sobs subside, Ryu, Tetsu, and Hirofumi can't help but smile in relief. Aya gasps softly as she notices the PE uniform she's wearing. "Did i pass out that long that i shrunk a little?" Aya asks in confusion and disbelief while squeezing the PE uniform she's wearing.
"Huh???" The guys put on the same confused expression.
"My PE uniform is slightly loosened..." Aya answers.
The guys facepalm in disbelief. But then Tetsu quickly reveals about the PE uniform she's wearing. "That's mine that you're wearing."
Aya's eyes widen. "Eh?!" Another realization hits her. "Did you guys- change my uniform into this?!" Aya shouts and blushing while putting her hands on her body like she's covering it in embarassment.
"What you wanted us to do? Let you wear that dirty uniform while you're on my couch like this?!" Naoki yells in disbelief. He then quickly put out the plastic bag that's contained her dirty uniform from the bullying this noon. "Look at this biohazard!"
Aya gasps while looking at her dirty uniform in the plastic bag. Looking very inappropriate to wear. But Aya insists. "Hey! Don't call it that! And you shouldn't change a girl's outfit while she passes out!"
"Don't worry we didn't look a thing! And we're not interested anyway! Pfuh!" Naoki yells again while glaring at Aya. They continue bickering while Hirofumi quickly calms Aya down.
"Hey, it's okay. Don't be embarrassed, Aya-kun. We had to change your uniform for the better condition. You were... rough and we couldn't just let you be like that." Hirofumi explains calmly while stroking Aya's head. Aya then looks down and nods hesitantly.
Ryu takes the glass of hot chocolate that's not hot anymore to hands it to Aya. "We'll take your uniform to the cleaning laundry as well. Here, have something to drink."
Aya nods again while she takes the glass of chocolate and then sips it slowly.
They all staring down at Aya with sipping the chocolate drink with darken eyes and then glancing at each other, giving each other a nod.