Ding-dong

The school bell rang, signaling the end of class. It was time to go home, and since I wasn’t hanging out with Honoka and the others after school today, I would be walking home with Este.

“Este, let’s go home together,” I said.

“O-okay.”

We walked outside the school grounds. Even though it’s the afternoon, the weather is still great. Too bad I couldn’t enjoy it because I was too busy stressing over nothing.

Our walk home was pretty silent. Every time I looked over at Este, she looked like she was trying to tell me something but was too shy to say it. She kept looking at me every now and then, and whenever I looked back at her she would turn her head away. That’s cute, but if you keep hesitating then we’ll arrive at home soon.

Behind us I heard several footsteps. The group that the footsteps belonged to walked around us and blocked our path. They stopped in front of us, smiling creepily with their arms crossed.

“What? The monster has a friend?”

The group that was blocking us was the bully trio. It was pink-ringlets, auburn-bun, and short-brown.

They’re picking on Este again even though I’m with her? Their perseverance knows no bounds. What did they bring this time, locusts? If so, we’ve already seen enough of those.

“What do you want, pink-ringlets?” That one line wiped the smile off of pink-ringlets’ face. Her followers were trying to hold in their laughter.

“P-pink-ringlets? I’ll have you know that my hair takes three hours in the morning to maintain!”

Three hours to style up your hair… You’re wasting your time. Those three hours could’ve been spent reading a novella.

“You didn’t answer my question. If you have nothing important to say then we’ll just be going now.” I took a look at Este beside me, who was trembling in fear.

“Who gave you the permission to — — —?!”

Pink-ringlets was saying something, but I filtered it out. Danger alarms were ringing inside my head. What is this feeling? It’s like all the stress I felt before was hitting me all at once. The cold gaze I felt several times today was staring at me again, except it was stronger this time, with more bloodlust.

Adrenaline was rushing through me. Time slowed down. My senses felt heightened, and every movement and noise registered into my head. Este’s trembling, the ringing of a spotted cat’s collar, the sound of my breathing. The bully trio was trying to tell me something, but I didn’t care.

My intuition was telling me, “Behind you”.

I turned around and something black was coming closer to me at an amazing speed. No, it wasn’t a thing, it was a person. The person was fully clothed in black attire, similar to a burglar. He wore a mask over his face that had holes over the eyes, and the only other place I could see his skin was his upper left arm that had a tattoo of a red hawk. I could see the person clearer in my vision as they came closer to me, and stuck their hand out towards me. Dangerous… that’s what every cell in my body was trying to tell me.

I took a step back, but when the person’s hand reached my forehead I crashed into short-brown and we flew back ten meters. For a split second I could see Este and the others widen their eyes in shock as I flew past them. We hit the ground and I rolled from the impact. Short-brown should be in more pain than me because she took my fall, but she still looks safe.  Wait, it’s not the pain that matters. The impending danger is more important. I wanted to stand up, but my legs stopped me from doing so. I’m scared… I need to escape… Why won’t they move when I want them to?

The person spoke.

“So that’s what happens when the spell doesn’t connect properly. Well, that’s what you get for dodging.” From the sound of the person’s voice, I could tell that he was a male. It sounded gruff, but young.

“I’m stumped~ How did you know I was there? I made sure to hide my presence and even when I came to attack you, I should’ve been fast enough so that you couldn’t react.” The boy wasn’t even mad that I tried to dodge… he was actually curious as to how I did it. It’s like he’s not even worried.

“Well whatever, it doesn’t matter if I can’t capture you stealthily. This annoying lady is on my case, so it’ll be easier for all of us if you just cooperate, okay?”

Capture me? What is he talking about?

Pink-ringlets reacted the fastest out of all of us and casted a spell towards the boy. It was an intermediate fireball spell the size of a human fist. When the fireball came near him, he dispersed it by holding it in his hands.

“Intermediate magic… Not bad for a brat. But the fireball was too small and it looks like that spell cost most of your mana.”

It’s true… Pink-ringlets was breathing heavily.

“Hmph, it doesn’t matter if you’re from the Red Hawk Association! The three of us are enough to beat you. Right, girls?” said pink-ringlets. She looked towards short-brown and auburn-bun, but they were trembling in fear.

Red Hawk Association? What’s that?

“Girls?” Pink-ringlets was confused by the lack of response.

“S-sorry, Sumire! This guy’s out of our league!” said short-brown as she stood up and ran away.

“M-me too!” said auburn-bun as she followed after short-brown.

“Hey, wait! Tch, whatever. I can beat you by myself.” Pink-ringlets was casting another intermediate magic spell, but because of her lack of mana the fireball spell took twice the time it did the first time. When pink-ringlets was concentrating her mana towards the spell, the boy was already behind her.

“You should’ve just ran away with them. Not that it would’ve mattered whether you ran away or not,” said the boy. The boy put his hand on the pink-ringlets’ head and she collapsed.

What was that magic? Is that what he tried to use on me before?

“Now that the nuisance has disappeared, it’s your turn,” The boy looked towards me. His eyes locked into mine and he started to walk towards me. Ah… why can’t I get up? Stupid legs, move!

Este came out in front of me with her back facing me and her arms spread out. This stupid girl!

“Este?! What are you doing?!”

She didn’t respond. Does this girl really intend on protecting me?! Even though you’re just a girl who cries easily, always looks at the ground, and never speaks loud enough...

“Hurry up and run away! This guy’s target is me, not you!”

She shook her head.

“I-I can’t run away.”

What do you mean you can’t run away… You could’ve saved yourself… Why are you going so far for someone like me...

“Why!?”

This is so frustrating! If you just left me here then I wouldn't be having these complicated feelings!

“Because… you’re my friend!” When she talked I could tell that she was holding back her tears.

This stupid girl… even though I treated her badly, she still calls me her friend. Ah~ I’ve only just noticed it now, but this girl is actually really strong isn’t she? I can only sit and watch everything unfold before me because I’m so scared that my legs won’t move, and yet she wants to protect me? For being her friend? Before I noticed it, a smile crept upon my face.

When did that small back appear to be so big? Just her feelings alone calmed me down.

Now that I’m calm it’s time to come up with a plan!

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But how? Beginner magic is only taught when a student has reached second grade… I wonder if just imagining a fireball and concentrating my mana towards that will work? How do I do that? But Teacher said that improper use of mana could injure the user...

“What’s with this cheesy drama? If you’re gonna get in my way, I’ll have to deal with you too,” said the boy.

No time to think! I have to act fast! But it’s taking up all of my strength just to stand up!

The boy walked up to Este and touched her forehead like what he did to pink-ringlets earlier. Am I too late?

I watched him cast his spell towards Este, but nothing happened. Did the spell fail?

“Hm? Why isn’t [Memory Erase] working?” said the boy.

Memory erase? Why is he using such a dangerous magic on kids?! It doesn’t work on Este… Is it because of her high MPE?

“Well, whatever. Using magic isn’t the only way to erase a person’s memories.” The boy kicked Este to the side and she flew towards the wall.

“ESTEE!!!”

Time slowed down for me as I watched her bump her head into the wall and pass out from the impact.

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“Arisa~ Did you finish the president’s route?” said a girl with her hair styled into two braids.

“Not yet,” said Arisa.

“The president’s a really mean guy~”

“Hey, don’t spoil it for me!” Arisa threw a pillow into the girl’s face, but the girl caught it with both hands.

“Hahaha. I feel sorry for Estelia. To be the heroine of a crappy game.”

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“My…. my head… it hurts…” Why are my memories are coming back at a time like this?! Este is a game heroine? No, this isn’t the time. I’ll think about it later.

But what do I do now? Escaping alone was hard enough, but if I have to take Este with me then the chances are nonexistent…

If I scream will help come? Who would be home at this time? Kids will be on their way home, and adults are at work right now… If the plan fails, he’ll most likely do something worse to me too.

It’s my fault for picking a less populated route. Next time I’ll use the crowded one. Will I even get a next time?

If his target is me then he won’t bother to do anything to Este, right? Should I surrender? No, that’s too optimistic.

Damnit, if only I had a cellphone!

“This mission is really annoying. When I’m done I’ll tell Anne to treat me out to dinner,” said the boy.

Okay, it’s all or nothing!

I put my hands forward and closed my eyes. I tried to picture a fireball as clear as possible. Something… anything is fine! Think of a match, a fireplace, the color red, the heat…

When I thought hard enough, a flicker of light appeared before my hands. I did it! It’s super small though. Now, to concentrate my mana into it.

When I tried to concentrate my mana, I felt a sensation of a liquid flowing through me, and tried to direct it towards the fire.

“It can’t be…” The boy noticed that I was doing something, and ran towards me at an alarming speed. But it’s too late! The fire was already the size of a head.

I shot the fireball towards the boy. He dodged, but it still managed to graze his right arm. Did he dodge that way so it wouldn’t hit his skin? His clothes and skin got burnt though. He’s holding his arm to alleviate the pain. I was right… this guy isn’t good at elemental magic! Judging from how fast he can run, his area of expertise is enhancement magic.

“You bastard…” The boy glared at me, but I ignored it.

I ran towards Este and put her on my back. The adrenaline rush made me able to carry her and run away at the same time.

I know this area better than him, so I should be able to lose him. Wait, what about pink-ringlets? No, I can’t save her. I can only hope that she survives.

In front of me appeared another person fully clothed in black clothes. The person was holding a passed out auburn-bun and short-brown in their hands and dropped them.

“What’s wrong, Keith? Having trouble with a couple of kids?” said the woman.

It can’t be… there were two of them...

“Shut up, Anne! I was just playing around!”

I can’t escape from two of them… Is it over for me?

“We should make haste. That woman is coming soon,” said Anne.

This woman, Anne… she’s stronger than that boy Keith. How can I get out of this situation? Think, think, think, think, think!

“Yeah. But [Memory Erase] doesn’t work on curly hair over there.” Keith pointed to Este who was on my back.

It’s impossible, I can’t come up with a plan...

“[Memory Erase] doesn’t work? This has never happened before… interesting.”

Anne walked closer to me and reached towards Este. I glared at her.

No… Don’t come closer.... Don’t touch Este… Stay away… Stay…. away...

“STAY AWAYYY!!!” Ah… I snapped…

The hand that reached towards Este was stopped by an invisible shield.

“What?!” Anne was surprised. Who casted that shield?

“I won’t allow you to come any closer to those girls!” said a feminine voice with a clear tone.

Ah… it’s the vice-principal… Misonoo-sensei.... I’m safe…

Water is coming out of my eyes. I’m crying?

She’s breathing heavily… She must’ve ran over here.

Anne teleported off into the distance and Keith clicked his tongue before running away using speed enhancement magic.

Misonoo-sensei didn’t chase after them and checked on my safety.

“Are you kids okay?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Those three passed out with magic, and Este hit her head.”

Misonoo-sensei took Este off of my back and set her on the ground.

“I see. She’s breathing so she should be safe, but we’ll take her to a healer just in case.” She put her ear next to her heart and checked her wrist for her pulse.

“She… She’ll be okay?”

Misonoo-sensei smiled at me to reassure me.

“Of course. You did well, Sia.”

So she’s safe… that’s great. Ah, what is this? I feel… so… tired….

“Sia?! Are you okay?!”

The last thing I saw before falling into a deep slumber was Misonoo-sensei running towards me.