"You've got to teach me how to do that." Yumiko came over, looking genuinely excited.
I took my bag from her hands and started walking.
"I think it's better if you don't learn it." I raised a brow.
If Yumiko, with that attitude, started training and got stronger, she'd become the ultimate delinquent—or that's my theory.
"Come on, don't be like that! Teach me how to punch idiots out cold!" She nudged me lightly with her elbow.
Ignoring her, I picked up my pace. She's a headache.
"Hey, don't be like thaaat…!"
Yumiko quickly caught up, walking right beside me.
Keeping silent seemed like the best response, so I kept going.
She probably thinks she can do whatever she wants and I'll always be there for her.
Unfortunately for her, I'm not that type of person; people should handle their own problems.
"Just teach me the basics! I want to be ready to beat up anyone who messes with me!" she said, cheerful as ever.
A sigh escaped me before I could stop it.
Since we were walking next to the school building and she was close to the wall, I stretched out my arm and slammed it against the surface.
"You know, I think you're getting the wrong idea. This isn't going to happen again. If you get into trouble, deal with it yourself." I stared straight at her. "It's one thing when problems come to you, and another when you go looking for them."
It's very different when someone corners you and you have no choice but to deal with it, compared to creating the situation yourself and benefiting from it.
…Though I'm probably the last person who should be saying that.
"Is that so?" she said, meeting my eyes.
"What are you implying?"
"Ever since you started fighting, you've been smiling—like you were enjoying it."
Should've seen that coming…
"That has nothing to do with it..." I shook my head immediately.
When you train for years, you eventually find your hobbies fun, and like anyone else, I can't deny I enjoy landing a couple of hits on idiots.
"Of course it does. As your friend, I made sure you could blow off some steam and have fun."
"By solving your problem?" My tone went flat.
There's a limit to how shameless someone can be.
"Actually, it's the school's problem. Those guys have been bullying a bunch of students, making it harder for them to prepare for entrance exams. And I had to step in when they were messing with a group of younger girls. It was disgusting having to talk to them all sweet just so they'd stop, and in return one of those idiots gave me a confession letter." She let out a tired sigh.
"You really…"
"You wound me, thinking that way about me." She pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears. "Because as you said—I'm a hero!"
Great. Now I feel like a complete idiot…
"You should've said that from the start."
Those guys were a nuisance, sure, but since they'd never bothered me, I had no reason to confront them.
"There was no point. Besides, I was sure that if things got worse, you'd show up eventually."
"You shouldn't rely on me that much."
Blind trust is never a good idea—especially if the person you trust is me.
"That's for me to decide~" she said with a mischievous smile.
There's no way I can handle this girl…
Any irritation I had toward Yumiko vanished after hearing her explanation.
With nothing left to argue, I pulled my arm back.
"By the way, Raiden, did you get any chocolate?"
"Do I look like someone popular?"
We continued walking as we talked.
"I can safely say no." She tilted her head.
"If you already know the answer, why ask?"
"I wanted to hear it from you."
A small shake of my head was all I managed before replying. Unlike me, she's extremely popular, so there's no point arguing with that.
"So, are you satisfied now?"
"A little." Yumiko dug through her bag, and after a moment pulled out a small decorated pouch. "Here. Think of it as payment for your work."
"I'm some kind of mercenary now?!"
Not that the thought bothers me.
"Just take it."
The pouch landed in my hand a second later.
"I'm not that cheap, you know."
"Say that after you try it," she said with arrogant confidence.
Inside were several chocolates, exactly the kind she knew would shut me up.
The first one I ate made everything clear.
"Delicious…"
Considering I drink coffee with more sugar than coffee, this chocolate felt dangerously perfect. The sweetness was just right.
"You shouldn't speak too soon." She started humming a cheerful tune, satisfied with herself.
While enjoying another piece, curiosity pushed me to ask, "Where did you buy this?"
Getting more later is definitely the plan. A stash of these at home sounds heavenly.
"It's a secret~" A wink, and she went back to humming.
"Come on, Yumiko, don't be like that…"
My plea went ignored. She drifted back into her own little world without hesitation.
The more time I spend with her, the more impossible it feels to ever fully understand this girl.
Still—free chocolate and a peaceful walk count as victories in my book.
With that comforting thought, I continued beside her, finishing the last piece.
...
Since the day had been nothing out of the ordinary, training at the academy filled my afternoon.
As always, sparring with Kawasaki was a thrill. That girl adapts fast—fast enough that a single careless moment could let her surpass me. Even so, the result didn't change; victory stayed on my side.
A quick glance at my phone reminded me of the ingredients I needed for dinner.
The pantry at home was empty, and letting my adorable little sister grow up depending on ramen would be a crime. Adults who only eat instant noodles… that fate must be avoided.
Vegetables and a few essentials went into the small store basket before heading to the register.
"Did you find everything you needed?"
"Yeah, I've got it." The basket lifted slightly in my hand.
Kawasaki was doing the same—shopping for dinner. It isn't unusual for us to stop by a store on the way home to pick up ingredients for our families. A small routine that happens every now and then.
Responsibilities of an older sibling, I suppose.
Once we paid, I stepped out first and stopped near the entrance, pulling out the warm drink I'd bought.
"Nothing beats something warm on a cold night."
February nights bite hard—sometimes hard enough to threaten snow. It's not common, but Chiba has surprised us before.
Snow isn't something I hate, but it's not something I welcome either. Living in a house means I clear the piled-up mess.
But Rumi loves it, so it balances out.
The can opened with a soft click, and a few sips slowly brought warmth back to my fingers.
Exams are right around the corner now. Just a few months ago, the dates felt far away.
I'm not the most diligent student, but I do review enough to pass. Not perfectly, but well enough to get in. After that? My future self can deal with the consequences.
"Standing like that makes you look like a delinquent waiting for someone to pick on."
"I don't think you're the best person to say that," I replied to Kawasaki, still looking up at the vast sky.
I wanted to keep enjoying that brief moment where you feel insignificant compared to something as immense as the sky, but then I felt something tap the back of my head.
Turning around, I found Kawasaki with her back to me, holding what looked like a chocolate bar just above my head.
Put simply, it looked like the typical scene where a tsundere girl gives someone a gift while pretending not to care. Or at least that's what it looked like, but clichés like that come from real life, so maybe I'm just overthinking it.
"Who do I need to get rid of?" I asked as I reached to take the chocolate.
"What was that?"
"Don't mind it. I just said the first thing that came to mind."
I remembered the conversation I'd had with Yumiko that afternoon.
"You're weird."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Once we were done with our errands, we started walking, but not before tossing the empty can into a nearby bin.
"So, is there a reason for this?"
I spun the chocolate bar between my fingers.
"Apparently today's Valentine's Day, and seeing the girls at my school giving chocolate to the boys reminded me that I owe you one for helping me study last week," she said in her usual tone.
Expecting typical rom-com development from this girl is impossible; even so, teasing her is always fun.
"And here I was thinking it was a chocolate of love…"
She arched a brow at me, but after a second she looked back at the road.
"If that were the case, I wouldn't give you something I bought on discount at a convenience store," she replied calmly.
"A direct rejection… I was expecting that," I said in good humor.
I tore open the wrapper and started eating.
For something bought on discount, it tastes pretty good—almost like one of those premium chocolates that go for over 500 yen. But I'm probably overthinking that too.
The way Kawasaki and I get along is like two friends—almost like a typical guy-to-guy friendship—which is very different from how I get along with Yumiko. Still, they're each similar and different in their own ways.
Though if someone else saw us, would they think we're a couple coming back from shopping? I rejected that idea internally; I'm sure they wouldn't.
I pushed away any pointless thoughts and focused on enjoying the chocolate bar as I walked beside Kawasaki.
…
You'd think that after what happened on Valentine's Day, the following days would be quiet and uneventful.
But as the saying goes: every action brings a reaction.
Which is why, right now, I'm sitting in the principal's office with the five students I beat up a few days ago—and unsurprisingly, each one of them is accompanied by their mother.
And judging by the principal's expression, along with what he told me yesterday, there's a good chance I'm about to get expelled.