Kaito, walked down the school hallway arms behind his head passing by everyone with a smile on his face, although his thoughts are clouded with doubts.
It's been too peaceful and easy going recently. Mio started to hangout with her friends more, which I mean is a good thing, but... I haven't heard from that Goddess meaning things are far from over. If it was close she would've come by just to tease me about completing it so quickly... at least I think this is the quickest route... I mean that other option was available, and it was a quicker route, but i feel like the Goddess wouldn't have accepted it.
As Kaito continued down the hallway he turns the corner to see Mio and her friends standing next to the lockers.
Ah, there they are. Guess they haven't left yet. Maybe I should join them to see how Mio is doing, but I really wanted to go home and chill, he contemplates, as he approaches the trio of girls with a smile as he waves his hand to call them out.
"Yo guys wha-" Kaito words got caught in his throat, as his eyes widened upon seeing their faces up close.
Mio's face looked almost lifeless while Irashi looked shocked with her hands covering her mouth, but the most surprising was Akane, who's usually the group's most calmest member, displayed a face that full of nothing but fury and hatred.
Kaito examined their faces to see just what they were looking at, and when he turned his head his eyes were met with a locker that had been clearly vandalized.
...I knew it. It's been too peaceful. Although the Goddess stated she doesn't know what would happen, she never told me she wouldn't cause something to happen. I guess she felt like I was moving along too fast and wanted to slow me down and decided to cause this mess... but how? No one has a vendetta against Mio, and the last time I checked Mio wasn't being bullied either so just where did this all stem from.
Kaito, glanced over towards Mio, who stood trembling while gazing into her locker with a dull expression not mumbling a single word.
Ahhh.... This will cause so many problems for me. The reason Mio became so shy and full of anxiety in the first place is because of bullying. Should I comfort-
Suddenly Kaito's thought process was interrupted when Akane, took hold of Mio's shoulders and forced her to look at her.
"Hanazawa do you know who did this to you," She said, while failing to calm herself down.
Mio just stayed silent and didn't bother to look Akane in the eyes. Her face was obstructed from view by her hair, but she shook her head in order to satisfy Akane's question.
Akane's grip onto Mio's shoulders tightened as her anger grew by the second. "Hanazawa... do you really not know anyone who could've done this? Or maybe you're being forced not to tell us," She asked, hoping her friend had some sort of answer that could help clear the mystery, but to no avail Mio only shook her head once again in silence.
Akane backed away letting go of Mio trying to think on her own, while Irashi slid in and hugged Mio tightly trying to reassure her that everything will be okay. Akane stood there quietly just thinking as her rage continued to build up, until her eyes flew open with a look that screamed "I know who's to blame."
"It was her I know it was! It was definitely that psycho from the other day!" Akane took one look at Irashi and Mio and erupted in fury. "Hanazawa don't you worry I'll go handle this!"
Akane wasted no time and marched off, without letting the others speak their minds or try to convince her otherwise.
"FUJIMORI!" Irashi screamed, but Akane was already out of ear shot of her screams.
Irashi looked alarmed and turned towards Kaito. "S-Sugiura! Please go stop her! I'll stay here with Mio--I don't think she should be alone right now."
Kaito hesitated, then with a sigh he took off after Akane.
Might as well follow Akane, and try to figure who she suspects is the one vandalized Mio's locker. Besides I think leaving Mio in Irashi hands is better than me handling it right now.
Kaito finally tracks Akane down to the stairwell, ready to explode at the blonde-haired girl from the other day.
"How could you do something like that to my friend!" Akane yelled, just barely managing to hold it together without snapping at her "friend supposed bully."
The blonde-haired girl stood at the top of the stairwell with her arms crossed and eyebrow raised. "What is it exactly that I'm being accused of?"
Akane leaned forward stomping her foot onto the first step as if she was preparing herself to run up the stairs if needed. "You know exactly what you've done! Don't play stupid with me! You were clearly by the way I acted towards you the other day and targeted my friend by ruining her locker and everything inside!"
The blonde-haired girl quietly stared down at Akane, eyebrow still raised, up till a smug look spread across her face as she eyed down Akane as if she was nothing but a mere bug before her.
"I see well I have nothing to do with such events, but even if I did the damage is already done... nothing you can do about it now."
These words did nothing but fuel Akane with even more rage as she suddenly tried to bolt up the stairs towards her which caused the blonde-haired girl to stumble back a bit in surprise, before Kaito suddenly griped onto the back of Akane's uniform to stop her.
"Fujimori you should stop here." Kaito said calmly, while looking at Akane, who turned around to see who dared to stop her.
"Sugiura...what do you think you're doing right now," she asked, while glaring at him with fierce eyes that weren't even meant for him.
"I'm stopping you from making a mistake," he replied calmly, not looking away from her gaze but challenging it instead, which only frustrated Akane more as she slapped his hand away and spun around to face him.
"You saw what she did, didn't you?! And now Hanazawa's locker looks like a crime scene!" she shouted, pointing at the blonde girl who still remained in her spots watching them both argue.
"I know. And the best way to make her lose is to help Mio instead. Not give her another fight to win," he commented, glancing over to the blonde-haired girl who remained smug, before glancing back over to Akane, who seems to be trying to process Kaito's word.
Kaito patted Akane's shoulder lightly, as his voice softened with a caring look forming on his face. "Do this Mio's sake. As much as you think revenge would be worth it right now... it would only fuel more pointless battles that could've possibly been avoided... And believe me I'm not saying we won't get some kind of revenge in the future---I'm saying right now just isn't the time for it,"
Akane glanced and looked down the ground as her fist shook in rage, before she looked over her shoulders at the blonde-haired girl, sparing a few words before reluctantly backing down. "This isn't over."
Before they leave, Kaito glanced over his shoulder to see the blonde-haired girl--- watching with a cold, irritated expression. Not triumphant. Not smug. But... frustrated?
why does she look... angry? Not proud, not satisfied... but like she's losing.
Later that day Kaito went to courtyard brushing his hand through his hair as he thought about the blonde-haired girl from earlier, until his eyes met Hiroshi and Yuki who stood next to Mio, along with Irashi and Akane, looking grim but determined.
Why are they here? Actually no it makes sense. I made the assumption that Hiroshi would've cut Mio out completely now that he had a girlfriend, sense it would be weird to keep hanging out with the girl who confessed to you and rivaled your girlfriend for you love. But I guess even then Yuki and Hiroshi are too good to do something like that.
Kaito approached them with a caring smile plastered on his face as he called out for them. "Hey guys! I finally found you all!"
Mio whose complexion finally returned looked up slowly at Kaito. "Kaito?"
"That's my name, but uhh... who are these two," he asked, looking at Hiroshi and Yuki who were now gazing at him full of confusion.
"Oh... right you never met them so I never had the chance to introduce them to you... these are my friends." she replied quietly.
Hiroshi stood up first and smiled at Kaito with wide eyes as if examining him for a mere second. "I'm Makata Hiroshi!"
Yuki looking over shoulder looks and smiles just a tiny bit. "And I'm Nakamura Yuki."
Kaito smiled back ever so innocently. "And I'm Sugiura Kaito."
While they were introducing themselves Irashi continued to cheer up Mio. "Mio are you feeling alright now?"
"Yea I was just... shocked is all, but sense you're all here now I'm feeling even better," she said softly while looking down at her feet swinging back and forth, before being smothered by Irashi in a tight hug.
"Mio you're so adorable! I just wanna keep you to myself forever!"
Everyone couldn't help but smile at Irashi actions with Mio, breaking the tension ever so slightly.
Yuki, grabbed Mio's hands and held onto them tightly as she looked Mio in the eyes. "Mio you've gotten so much stronger than before."
Hiroshi looked at Mio with a teasing look on his face as he stood behind Yuki. "Yeah, I've noticed it too. You really improved a ton Mio."
Mio looked at them surprised before forming a smile on her face feeling a bit embarrassed as she looked away. "W-Well in the past I probably would've been crying by now, but right now if anything I feel only annoyed and some confusion." Mio then turned to Kaito with a huge smile on her face from ear to ear. "And I owe thanks to Sugiura who helped me feel just a bit more confident... even if it was just a smudge.
Kaito stood there in surprise as everyone turned to face towards him. Akane and Irashi just smiled, while Hiroshi and Yuki wore expressions of shock. Kaito only looked away from them not saying a thing.
Irashi just waddled over towards Kaito poking him saying he's embarrassed now that his presence has been noted. "Oh my seems like Sugiura is embarrassed. I didn't take you for someone who couldn't take a compliment considering your cheerful nature that Hanazawa always described to us."
"I'm not embarrassed... Wait what-"
"I always thought that girl---Nanami---was clingy, but I would never have thought that she would go as far as to target someone's friend just to get to someone." Yuki said softly, yet full of frustration and annoyance packed within it.
I guess Nanami is the name of the blonde-haired girl, Kaito thought.
Everyone goes quiet once again, until Akane breaks the silence to apologize to Mio full of regret. "I'm sorry Hanazawa... I should've just let Irashi handle speaking to her... then maybe she wouldn't have-"
Mio stands up and looks towards Akane with her hands on her chest. "It's not your fault! You were only protecting Tanabe! I would never blame you for this... No one would, so don't feel obligated to apologize to me. Okay?"
Akane smiles at Mio. "Okay."
Kaito sits in his room reflecting on everything that just happened today and what happened the other day trying to piece something together that's been bothering him.
Something isn't adding up...that face... it felt more like she was frustrated about something... not about Akane or Mio... but something or someone else instead. I doubt she's angry about Irashi, but who else-
Kaito's thoughts stopped processing as an idea flashed into his head. "So that's what you meant wasn't it. I think I have it figured out now."
Kaito started to write into his notebook. It was a plan of some kind, a plan that would finally end the situation that he finds himself in.
"Time to find out who I'm really dealing with."