“Hey, you heard what happen last night?”
“It was on the news. How scary.”
“My mom told me to go home before dark starting today.”
Akemi was listening her classmates conversation. She knew what were they talking about. Last night, there was a report of multiple people missing at almost the same time. The families of the victims had told the police after they hadn’t arrived at home when it was already late. Most of the victims were adults, with teenagers as well. Her brother asked her to take care and she was also allowed to use the ‘relic’ for self-defense.
She decided to not think about it too much. She reached for her bag to grab her lunchbox, but her hand met an empty air. She closed her eyes as she facepalmed.
She left her lunchbox at the dining table.
Tried to keep her cool, she racked through her pockets and met the same end. She also forgot to bring money. Hopeless, she decided to just sleep through the afternoon and go home quickly. Until someone approached her, and slapper her back hard enough to make her yelp.
“Oh my... I’m sorry! I was just about to ask you to eat lunch with me but...” Shouko tried to explain what she had done, only to face a sharp glare from Akemi. Shouko immediately stopped talking and waited for Akemi to respond.
“Senpai, I appreciate your kindness. But the next time you do that again, I might do something dangerous.” Akemi said it while trying to keep her cool. The sound of cracking knuckles made the beautiful upperclassmen to sweat and apologize. After that, Akemi decided to go with Shouko and she explained her situation.
“Poor you. You should’ve just come to me! I bring lots of ‘em!” Shouko pulled out her lunchboxes once they arrived at her usual lunch spot. She had a bento and a box full of sandwiches. Akemi sweatdropped at the sight. Shouko’s lunches were enough for at least 5 people! Yet, she ate all of them by herself everyday and still maintained a good figure.
Shouko went straight towards the bento while Akemi ate the sandwich. Her expression brightened once she grabbed a bite.
“Delicious?” Shouko asked and Akemi nodded at the question.
“You made this by yourself, senpai?”
“Yes, I cook my own lunch everyday. Sometimes I eat bread from cafeteria, but if I could go get up early I cook.”
Akemi was fascinated by her upperclassmen. She made a self-reminder to ask Nitta once she came back to teach her how to cook. Speaking of Nitta, she was curious about Shouko’s opinion on the news, so she asked.
“I was told by mother in the morning. It was scary! A lot of people at the same time? How is that possible?” Shouko looked surprised and confused. Akemi nodded. It was indeed odd considering the amount of people that missing and also no trace whatsoever to track them.
“Brother told me to investigate while taking care of myself. I think I’ll go for a patrol after school.”
Akemi decided to change the subject and asked about Shouko’s sister.
“I can’t wait! She said she was looking forward to meet me again. I hope she was doing well. Kuhh, can’t next week come any sooner?” Her expression returned to cheerful again, and it calmed Akemi as well, felt it was inapproriate to ruin the lunch mood. Just when she was about to grab another bite, she noticed someone waving at her.
“Hm?” The person was revealed to be Wataru Koyama, with a bag full of breads.
“Oh hello Koyama. Do you need something?”
“Nah, I just noticed you were eating here, so I’d like to join you. Is it okay?” Wataru sincerely asked.
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“Sure, of course. Here.”
Wataru sat across the girls and started to eat the breads. Shouko eyes widened. She never thought Akemi would speak casually to anyone other than her, especially boys. And just now, she even allow him to join them eating lunch! She couldn’t help but voiced her opinion.
“Marufuji! How do you know this guy? And since when you two become close?” Both of them stopped eating, looked at each other, and tried to explain at the same time. They tried to let the others to speak everytime, until Wataru decided to speak.
“Oh sorry! Where are my manners? My name is Wataru Koyama. I met Marufuji last month and we just catched up again yesterday. Nice to meet you.” With a relaxed and casual voice, Wataru introduced himself. Shouko gasped after he finished.
“Wataru Koyama? The ace striker of the school soccer team?”
“Ahahaha, I’m not an ace, a mere regular you can say.” He scratched his cheek in embarassment.
“You will be! 3 hattricks in 3 matches in a row are enough to promote you to ace status! Urushibara looks motivated everyday now. You definitely came at the right moment.”
“Urushibara? You mean, Soichiro Urushibara-senpai?”
The two of them got lost in conversation. Akemi, who watched from the side, could only observe her friends. It didn’t take long for them to get along like that. She wondered how long for her to be like that too. Fortunately, both of them noticed that Akemi was left alone from conversation.
“Sorry, I went off the track there.”
“Yeah, me too.” Both of them apologized but Akemi shook her head.
“It’s alright. You too were having fun, I couldn’t just stopped you. That would be rude.”
The three of them laughed together and continued their lunch. Shouko also introduced herself later on, and apparently she and Urushibara were in the same class. The happy atmosphere came to a halt once the school bell rung again.
“Man, the break’s over. Well, I’m heading off first guys. Have to go to lab to prepare first. See you after school Marufuji. Don’t go home alone.” With that Shouko left the two of them. Wataru was curious about what Shouko meant. Akemi gave him a detail about what happen and Wataru let out a sigh.
“This is serious. You know, if you don’t mind I can go home with you two later. I know you two are members of kendo club, but I believe it’s safer if you girls are not alone.”
“You think we can’t protect ourselves?”
“No no no. I didn’t mean that, it just makes me feel uneasy. I’m worried if someone I know is in danger. I protected you too remember?”
Akemi didn’t mean to harm his good intentions. She admitted that Wataru wasn’t a normal person as well considering how he saved her last time. Then again, she couldn’t just use her sword skill and Wataru was fine using his power freely.
“Okay, but you actually don’t have too though.”
“No, I insist!”
She felt that it was useless so she let him do what he wants. They promised to meet after school and went home together.
----------------------------------------
School was over without troubles. Akemi packed her things and left her classroom. Surprisingly, Wataru was already there.
“Yo! Ready to go home?”
“Why are you waiting here?”
“Hey, it’s normal for friends to wait up outside of the classroom before going together right? So c’mon, don’t want to make Nagatsuka-senpai waits too long.” He pat Akemi’s shoulder and led her away. The students noticed this and began to talk about it. At lunch it was Shouko Nagatsuka, and now the soon-to-be ace Wataru Koyama, who obviously had many fans. Akemi could feel the jealousy radiating from every side.
“Hey, something the matter? Don’t walk behind me, here walk beside me. You’re not a puppy y’know?” Wataru snickered.
Akemi felt her face getting warmer. Wataru might be a person who casually says what he wants, but the other parties could misunderstood his meaning. But deep inside, she was happy. If only they meet sooner. Outside, Shouko was already waiting. Though his home was close, he insisted on walked them home.
Once they reached Fuuka Park, they saw a hooded person was sleeping near the entrance. They walked towards him, but suddenly his hand reached out and grabbed Wataru by the neck. He quickly kicked him off.
“What the hell? What are you doing?”
“Kekeke, you will be good enough for a test. OI!”
Suddenly, a group of people with hollow expression surrounded the park, trapping the trio.
“What are you going to do to us?” Shouko was terrified and she hid behind Wataru. The hooded person chuckled and pulled out a glowing ring. Akemi’s face stiffened; ready to pull out her sword at any moment.
“GET THEM!”
Unpleasant screams rang out as the hordes of people jumped on them. Wataru threw a punch and sent one of them flying towards the others. One tried to grabbed his head, but he dodged and headbutted the enemy. More enemies tried to stopped his movement, but like last time, a glowing aura went out and quickly he put them down. Shouko and Akemi were shocked. The hooded person wasn’t angry, but amused instead.
“So this is type-A. I should’ve known you that you will be that strong. But let see you handle this!”
He put on the ring and kissed it. A dark purple aura enveloped him like a mist. Once it dissipated, from his hood came a lot of snakes.
“DIE!” The snakes came to attack, but their heads were cut off.
“That’s enough of you.” Akemi pulled out her sword and ready her stance. The hooded person smirked. With a snap of a finger, the snakes returned to his hood.
“Interesting, time for me to have some fun.” Liquids came out from his fingers and melted the ground. He also prepared his stance. Shouko was confused, and decided to stick behind her two companions while Akemi and Wataru, readied themselves for a combat.