”Alright, problem solved! …Or not.”
”You okay?” I asked.
”H-huh…?!” the girl stammered.
”Uh… yeah…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I could see the girl was terrified. Her already small frame seemed to shrink even more as she trembled.
”Well… guess that’s fair,” I muttered to myself.
I mean, of course it is. She’s clearly just an elementary schooler, even if her chest was, uh… noticeably developed. Any kid would be scared after seeing violence right in front of them. And on top of that, I just instantly took down two guys who looked seriously dangerous. It makes total sense that she’s freaked out.
”Anyway, it’s getting dark. You should head home,” I said.
”…!” She flinched but didn’t move.
Man, she’s really scared of me. Can’t blame her. Best thing I can do is disappear.
”Take care getting back.”
I left her there and walked away… I didn’t notice she looked like she wanted to say something.
~ Sakuraba Haruhi’s Side ~
May 8, Friday
”Ugh! Kou-kun, you’re so slow getting up!” I called out, shaking his shoulder.
”Sorry, sorry! Hah… hah… I made it, barely,” he panted, stumbling out of bed.
”Phew… thank goodness…” I sighed in relief.
That morning, I went to wake up my childhood friend, my master—Kou-kun—just like always. But today… well, actually, again today, he just wouldn’t get up, and we ended up cutting it right down to the bell.
”Haru-chan!” a familiar voice called out.
”Good morning, Natsume-chan, Akiha-chan, Touka-chan,” I greeted.
The one calling out to me was Midorikawa Natsume, another childhood friend from kindergarten. I headed over to where she was with Ashiya Akiha and Himuro Touka, our mutual friends from way back.
”Mornin’!” Natsume chirped.
”Good morning,” Akiha said softly.
”Morning,” Touka added with a nod.
”Cutting it close again, huh?” Natsume observed.
”Right? Ugh… he just wouldn’t wake up!” I groaned.
”Being the neighbor must be rough,” Akiha sympathized.
”Sigh… I’m doing it for his parents, so I can’t really stop,” I admitted.
”Honestly, I think you should just leave him be. It’s his own fault,” Touka said bluntly.
”Ahaha, I get what Touka-chan’s saying, but… it’s just a habit from way back,” I explained.
”Everyone, the teacher’s coming soon. Haruhi-chan, you should hurry to your seat,” Akiha urged.
”Oh! Right, thanks Akiha-chan,” I said, scrambling to my desk.
”Ughhh… I’m so tired. Classes are such a drag,” Natsume complained during lunch.
”Natsume, if you don’t take this seriously, you’ll end up repeating the same thing as last year,” Touka warned.
”Ugh, help me, Fu-yan…” Natsume whined.
”Ahaha… By the way, Haruhi-chan, did you give him his lunch?” Akiha asked.
”Huh? Oh yeah, I did,” I confirmed.
”Ah, that guy Kou. Every day with Haru-chan’s homemade lunch? So jealous!” Natsume exclaimed.
”You’re one to talk—you mooch off her all the time,” Touka pointed out.
”Okay, fine, you got me! Haru-chan, gimme some of that fried chicken!” Natsume begged.
”Hehe, sure… here you go,” I said, offering my bento.
”Haru-chan, you’re a goddess! So good!” Natsume cheered.
Lunch breaks were always like this. Eating with good friends.
”Hey, by the way… isn’t Haru-chan going out with Kou tomorrow?” Touka asked.
”Huh? Yeah, we planned it a while ago,” I replied.
”Ohhh, nice! …Oh! Speaking of which—” Natsume started.
”What?” I asked.
”You’re being random again, huh?” Touka teased.
”Isn’t that just how Natsume-chan always is?” Akiha giggled.
”Well, I’m sure it’ll be fine since Kou’s with you, but! You’re going shopping at the station in the next town, right?” Natsume pressed.
”Yeah, that’s right,” I confirmed.
”Apparently someone saw that senpai around there recently,” Natsume said, lowering her voice.
”Senpai?” I asked, confused.
”Yeah, you know… the guy who beat up Kamiya-senpai at the end of last year,” she explained.
”Ah… I’ve heard rumors,” I said cautiously.
”He’s scary, right?” Akiha whispered.
”Right! Someone said they saw him lurking around that area! If you see him, run away immediately, okay?” Natsume warned.
”I… I will. But I’m sure it’ll be fine… I mean, it’s not like he’d try anything in a crowded place… and there are tons of people around, so we probably won’t even run into him,” I reasoned.
”Yeah, probably, but… still, be careful!” Natsume insisted.
”Okay, thanks for the warning,” I said, nodding.
I tucked Natsume-chan’s warning in the back of my mind as I headed to the meeting spot the next day. Part of me thought I should just go wake him up like usual, but Kou-kun had insisted we meet up this time, so I waited at the appointed place.
”He’s… late?” I muttered, checking my watch.
The meeting time had already come and gone. I pulled out my phone and called him.
”Ah, hello? Kou-kun?” I said when he picked up.
”Mmm… what is it, Haruhi?” he mumbled, still sounding half-asleep.
”What do you mean, what is it? We’re past the time we were supposed to meet,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice.
”Meet? …Oh,” he said slowly.
”Oh? …Did you forget?” I asked, my heart sinking.
”Ah… sorry. I made plans with my friends and I’m kinda stuck here now,” he said dismissively.
”Wha—? What about our plans? We made this a while ago!” I protested.
”Sorry, I’ll make it up to you next time, okay? Gotta go!” he said hurriedly.
”Wait—” I started, but he’d already hung up.
…Sigh. Well, nothing I can do. Honestly, I had a lot to say about it. We’d planned this months in advance, but it wasn’t the first time he’d bailed on me last minute.
”And he was the one who invited me…” I sighed.
My mom had gone out of her way to get special tickets for an aquarium event. I’d been looking forward to it for months. What about my other friends…? Natsume-chan had work today. Akiha-chan? She didn’t really like crowded places anyway. And Touka-chan said she had something to do today.
”Going to the aquarium alone is just… kinda sad…” I mumbled.
The tickets my mom gave me were still valid for a while yet. I’d save them for another time. I tucked them away and headed to the shops instead.
May 9, Saturday
”Sigh… it’s already this late?” I said, checking my watch.
It was already past 5:00 PM. I had to head home, so I started walking toward the station.
”Hey there, pretty little lady,” a rough voice called out.
”Huh?!” I jumped, startled.
Suddenly being called out from so close made me jump. I turned around nervously to find a group of guys who looked like obvious delinquents.
”Wh-what do you want…?” I asked, my voice trembling.
”Yeah, I knew it. I’ve seen this one before,” one of them said.
”Huh, she’s not in elementary school, is she?” another asked.
”Nah, she’s small, but definitely a high schooler,” a third confirmed.
”Perfect. The higher-ups’ll be happy with her,” the first one said.
”But hey, no reason we can’t have some fun first, right? Haha,” another laughed.
Wh-what are these people talking about? I’m scared. I tried to leave quickly.
”Hold up,” one of them said, grabbing my arm.
”Eep!” I squeaked.
One of the men grabbed my arm. Scary. Scary, scary, scary—
”No! Let go of me!” I screamed, struggling.
But I’ve never been strong, and against a big guy like him, there was no point. He dragged me into an alleyway.
I knew what would happen. I’m in high school too—I understood exactly what they were saying. I was terrified. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want my first time to be taken by people like this. Please, someone—anyone—help me…
”Pardon me, just passing through!” a calm voice cut through the tension.
The atmosphere shifted with those words. The man who’d been reaching for my chest suddenly vanished from in front of me. It was the only way to describe what happened—he was just gone. The next moment, there was a loud crash, and when I looked, the man was slammed against the wall.
”—!” I gasped, unable to look away.
From there, it was completely one-sided. When the guy holding me pulled out a knife, I was terrified, but at the same time, I couldn’t take my eyes off the person who had come to save me.
”That person… Mikage… Senpai?” I whispered.
Trivia:
- The protagonist defeated two dangerous-looking men in seconds, establishing his combat prowess early in the narrative.
- Haruhi’s relationship with Kou is one-sided-she puts in effort while he consistently takes her for granted.
- The aquarium tickets were obtained months in advance and through Haruhi’s mother’s efforts, making Kou’s cancellation even more hurtful.
- Haruhi’s friends are all named after seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), reinforcing their lifelong bond.
- Mikage-senpai is introduced as a dangerous figure through rumors, but his actions in rescuing Haruhi contradict that reputation.
- The protagonist deliberately left the scene quickly to avoid frightening the girl further, showing an unexpected sensitivity.
- The narrative employs a dual perspective-first the protagonist’s, then Haruhi’s, allowing readers to see the same event from both sides.
- Kou cancels plans with Haruhi to hang out with other friends, despite having initiated the aquarium date himself.
- Haruhi’s fear of the delinquents is compounded by her physical weakness and inability to defend herself.
- The ‘higher-ups’ referenced by the delinquents suggest an organized group operating in the area.