I’ve always loved the library.
Probably…
Because it was quiet there.
No one was in a hurry.
No one laughed too loudly.
And you could simply sit among the books while the day slowly changed outside the window.
I carefully closed the book I had finished reading and ran my palm over the cover.
— Thank you…
Whispering it more to the book itself than to anyone else, I stood up and returned it to the librarian.
— Already finished, Amano-san?
— Y-yes…
— I really liked it…
The woman smiled warmly.
— Then next time I’ll be sure to pick something similar for you.
I bowed.
— Thank you very much.
After leaving the library, I stopped on the school porch.
There was almost no one left in the schoolyard.
Clubs had started their training sessions.
Most students had already gone home long ago.
I pressed my bag tighter to my chest.
“Probably…”
“They’re already sitting in the café.”
An image of Mio smiling immediately appeared before my eyes.
Rin.
And…
Hayato.
A faint smile appeared on my lips by itself.
“I hope…”
“They’re having a good time.”
After all, I was the one who said I didn’t mind.
And it was true.
I really didn’t want to become the reason my friends would have to give up their plans.
Although…
To be honest…
Just a tiny bit…
I still wanted to spend this day next to him.
I immediately shook my head.
“No.”
“Don’t think about that.”
“Hayato is kind to everyone.”
“Not just to me.”
My cheeks warmed slightly.
I hurried to turn away, as if someone might hear my thoughts.
How silly I am…
With a quiet sigh, I headed home.
The spring wind gently swayed the treetops.
Cherry blossom petals slowly fell onto the sidewalk.
I’ve always loved this path.
It was a little shorter than the others.
And much calmer.
After a few minutes, a familiar alley appeared ahead.
I had walked here more than a dozen times already.
So, almost without thinking, I turned into it.
The alley was unusually quiet.
Only the distant noise of the road could be heard.
I took a few more steps.
And suddenly…
— Hey, beautiful.
I flinched.
Ahead, as if out of nowhere, an unfamiliar upperclassman appeared.
Two more slowly emerged behind him.
They blocked the path.
I stopped.
I clutched the strap of my bag tighter.
My heart began beating faster for some reason.
— S-sorry…
— I need to go home…
I tried to step aside.
But one of the guys calmly shifted as well, once again standing in my way.
I didn’t like the smile on his face at all.
I tried to go around them along the edge, but one of the guys simply took a step to the side and again stood in my path.
— Where are you rushing off to? — he asked with a lazy grin. — Let’s chat for a bit.
I took a step back and felt someone stand behind me.
Now they had surrounded me.
— I… I’m really in a hurry… — my voice trembled. I felt my cheeks start to burn from fear and shame. — Please… let me through…
The tallest one leaned closer. His gaze slowly slid over my chest, tightly hugged by my blouse.
— Wow… you’re so cute when you blush, — he reached out and ran his fingers along my shoulder. — And your breasts… wow. Do you wear the uniform like that on purpose?
I jerked sharply, trying to pull away, but the guy behind me grabbed me by the waist and pulled me against him.
— Don’t squirm, — he whispered in my ear. His palm slowly crawled upward and shamelessly settled on my breast. — So soft… Did you dress up especially for us?
I let out a quiet sob.
— N-no… please… let me go… it hurts…
But they only laughed.
— Did you hear that? She said “please,” — the leader leaned very close, almost touching my face. — So polite. And if we ask you to show us what’s under your skirt, will you say “please” too?
His hand unbuttoned the top button of my blouse.
Then the second one.
I closed my eyes and cried quietly, almost soundlessly.
Hayato…
Where are you…
Please… someone…
I had almost stopped holding back my tears.
Everything in front of my eyes blurred.
I could no longer look at these people.
I just squeezed my eyes shut tighter, gripping the strap of my bag so hard my fingers hurt.
“Hayato…”
“Where are you…”
“Please…”
— Hey.
…
Someone’s calm voice sounded very close.
So unexpectedly…
That everyone around fell silent at once.
I cautiously opened my eyes.
At the entrance to the alley stood a tall guy in a school uniform.
The sun was shining behind his back, and at first I only saw a silhouette.
But a second later I recognized him.
Kurosaki-kun.
The new student in our class.
The very one…
About whom the most varied rumors had been circulating all day.
My heart clenched even tighter for some reason.
“Why…”
“Why him of all people..?”
The leader smirked irritably.
— And who the hell are you?
Kurosaki-kun calmly looked at him.
There was neither anger nor worry on his face.
— Let the girl go.
His voice sounded quiet.
But for some reason, a chill ran down my spine from those words.
The guys exchanged glances.
And then burst out laughing loudly.
— Did you hear that?
— The hero has arrived.
— One against three?
The leader took a step forward.
— Get lost while you’re still in one piece…
Kurosaki-kun simply took a few calm steps forward.
Without haste.
Without anger.
So confidently…
That even they got scared.
— Are you deaf or something?!
The first guy rushed forward.
I didn’t even have time to understand what happened.
Kurosaki-kun’s large palm moved forward in a short motion.
A dull thud sounded.
And the attacker flew as if he had hit a wall.
His feet left the ground.
He crashed onto the asphalt several meters away, screaming loudly in pain.
I involuntarily gasped.
Like that…
Does that even happen?..
The second guy froze for only a moment.
Then he also rushed forward.
Kurosaki-kun didn’t even change his expression.
Just one step toward him.
A short shoulder movement.
And the guy suddenly doubled over, gasping for air, before heavily collapsing next to his friend.
Everything happened so fast…
That my eyes barely managed to follow.
Only the last one remained.
He no longer looked confident.
I saw fear on his face.
He nervously looked around, as if about to run.
But he still screamed and lunged forward.
Kurosaki-kun calmly extended his hand.
His huge palm simply landed on the guy’s chest.
As if stopping a running child.
With one push, he threw him backward.
The guy rolled across the asphalt and froze, breathing heavily.
…
Silence.
I could only hear my own breathing.
Three grown guys…
Were lying on the ground.
While Kurosaki-kun stood in the middle of the alley just as calmly, as if nothing special had happened.
He didn’t even look tired.
He wasn’t out of breath.
He wasn’t shaking.
He only slowly adjusted the sleeve of his jacket.
And only after that did he turn to me.
Our eyes met.
I flinched.
That morning I had been scared even to just be in the same classroom with him.
The rumors.
His appearance.
His cold gaze.
All of it frightened me.
But now…
When he stood between me and those people…
I suddenly felt something completely different.
Safety.
A strange…
Unfamiliar feeling.
His broad back completely shielded me.
Because of it, the guys were almost invisible.
As if the entire surrounding world had disappeared.
Only now did I notice how enormous his hands were.
With one such palm he had effortlessly stopped a person.
And next to him I myself felt very small.
For some reason, right now…
For the first time in all this time…
It seemed to me that nothing would happen to me.
As long as Kurosaki-kun stood nearby.
And Kurosaki-kun continued to stand just as calmly between me and them.
As if nothing special had happened.
He slowly turned his head toward me.
— Amano-san…
His voice unexpectedly became much softer.
— It’s over.
Those words were enough.
Something inside me seemed to snap.
My legs gave way.
I could no longer hold on.
Tears rolled down my cheeks by themselves.
I didn’t even try to stop them.
I couldn’t.
Just a moment ago…
I had been sure that no one would come.
That no one would hear me.
That…
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.
A quiet sob escaped from my chest.
Then another.
And another.
I covered my face with trembling hands, but it no longer helped.
The tears flowed stronger and stronger.
I was scared.
So scared…
That I could barely breathe.
In the next moment, I felt someone’s large palm gently rest on my shoulder.
I involuntarily flinched.
I raised my tear-filled eyes.
Kurosaki-kun was standing in front of me.
Up close, he seemed even taller.
Even bigger.
His broad shoulders almost completely covered me from the alley.
Next to him I felt completely tiny.
But…
Strange thing.
I wasn’t scared anymore.
Not at all.
— It’s okay, — he said quietly. — While I’m here, they won’t touch you again.
I don’t know why…
But I believed him immediately.
Without a single doubt.
And because of that, for some reason, I cried even harder.
As if all the tension I had been holding inside with my last strength had finally disappeared.
I just stood there, quietly crying…
And for the first time in the last few minutes, I felt safe.