Chapter 21: They Called Me His Girl Like It Was an Insult
Day one of suspension:Her inbox exploded.
Some were supportive:
"What you did was brave.""You're a real one, Yumi."
But most were venom dressed in curiosity:
"Did you sleep with him?""Why fight for a guy like that?""You two always looked weird together anyway."
She scrolled through them in bed, hoodie wrapped around her shoulders like armor.
And in all of it —Not one message from school administration.Not one apology.Not even a shallow "we're reviewing your case."
Just silence.
Except from Reiko.
Reiko: "They're turning on you."Reiko: "They think loving him makes you filthy too."
Yumi didn't reply.
Not with words.
She posted a picture to her story:
Akiro's hair tie on her wrist.Caption: "Still his."
Meanwhile…
Akiro stood outside the school gates.
Not to go in.
Just to see it.
He watched students flow in.Eyes scanning for her even though he knew she wasn't there.
But someone else saw him.
Reiko.
She crossed the street without hesitation.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
"You're not coming back, are you?"
He looked past her at the rooftop.
His rooftop.
Her rooftop.
"…I will."
Reiko tilted her head.
"You planning something?"
His lips curved — just barely.
"Yeah."
That afternoon, he called the school.Asked for a meeting.Demanded it.
Told them he was ready to talk.To report everything.Every bruise. Every hit. Every bottle thrown. Every time he didn't fight back.
He wasn't doing it for justice.
He was doing it so they'd let him back.
So he could sit beside her again.Touch her sleeve.Hear her say his name like it mattered.
Because when she wore his hoodie, he didn't feel ugly.He felt wanted.