20

                                    

                                          
after our short argument in the hallway, she didn't speak to me and when school ended, she was quick to run off. i wasn't able to catch her due to the crowd of students rushing out of the classroom to go home, or to go to their respective clubs. reo had come just in time to see her run past him, before he turned to look at me curiously for an explanation. usually, she'd wait with me until he arrived and we'd all walk together to the football field, or the art club if she had to pick up some supplies to draw in the field. i frowned, and took my bag before leaving with him for the football field.




on the way, i explained what i saw and what she said. reo called the boys and planned a meetup at the field in bachira's neighborhood.






⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡






“so you’ve broken up?”


“you dumbass we were never dating to begin with-"


“ahem, anyway, that’s not important right now. what’s important is helping her out, nagi. what do we do?”


"... why was that the first thing you said then.."





“well, what can we do, reo? she denied all help, didn’t she? there isn’t anything we can do if she doesn’t want our help.”


“but she’s our friend, chigiri! i can’t just turn a blind eye to a friend who’s suffering…”

“but we can’t force our help on her.”

“chigiri is right…”

“nagi!” reo and bachira said, staring at me with heavy frowns on their faces. i sighed.



“it’s true. letting her be though, it just doesn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.” i explained, and they both nodded in agreement.



“so? what do you propose we do?” chigiri asked, tilting his head.



“i think we should at least let her know that she’s wanted and missed here. based off nagi’s words, she thinks all she does is bring us trouble when that’s really not the case.” isagi explained.


“i knew she seemed a bit insecure, but this is too much.”


“i can’t blame her, though, giving her past.”


“okay idiots you’re straying away from the topic at hand; how to help her.”



“... so why am i here?”


we all turned to look at rin, who was silent the entire time. he seemed rather annoyed that he was dragged over to gossip rather than to play football earlier, but when he stood put and listened, he grew silent and stopped pestering and insulting us, which was rare for him to do.


“‘cause! you were her friend too. you were pretty mean, but it was noticeable that she liked you.”


i shot bachira a look at his words, and he stuck his tongue out at me in response.


“...what do you mean she liked rin?” i mumbled, and reo laughed out loud before slapping my back harshly, knocking the wind out of my lungs in the process.


“how about we keep the love sickness for later, nagi?”


i sighed, not feeling like arguing with him over this. it’s happened too often for me to even blink anymore.


“she could just rebel against her parents, then, and run away or something. they can’t call the cops, can they? then all of the abuse will resurface and they’ll get in trouble.” rin proposed.


“eeh? run away? where to?” bachira asked.

he pointed at me and i frowned. “i’ll get in trouble. my parents will kill me if they find out about this…”

“you can count on rin to give the craziest suggestions,” bachira joked, only to be kicked in the ass by rin.

“i don’t think it’s that bad of an idea, actually.” isagi said, making us all turn our attention to him. “but we can’t just do that on a whim. i think we should first talk to her and let her know she has nothing to worry about when she’s with us and stuff.”

“‘right then! you can leave that to me and nagi. just make sure you guys don’t bring this conversation up around her. RIGHT BACHIRA? WE’RE NOT DOING THAT, RIGHT?” reo screamed, staring at bachira who frowned sadly. “why me? and yeah yeah! i’m not that much of an airhead…”

“great! then this concludes our meeting. let’s play some football now.”

“whaat? can’t we call it quits today? i’m tooo tiireeed…” i groaned, leaning on isagi for support while he struggled to even stand up due to my height and weight. “oof… i can’t carry you, lazy genius! get off!”

“you’re playing. i’m gonna ruin you all for wasting my time like this.” rin threatened, staring directly into me while i sighed tiredly. “don’t lie, rinnie-chan! we all know that you have a soft spot for her too!” bachira yelled, and rin directed his glare to bachira, which made him shut up and walk away whistling innocently.