"Protecting the Weak"

Later that day during lunch, Gentarō and I, along with Usana, meet up with Raito and Mobo to discuss what we talked about during the meeting. "It's a noble cause worth fighting for. You can count me in. Not that I have a choice it seems." Mobo chuckles.

"Honestly, I think it's a great idea. I'm sure Natsuri jumped at the chance to be a part of something like that, no?" Raito asks with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, she did. Are you guys close?" Gentarō asks.

"I guess you could say that. We've been friends for a little while, but in a way, she's like my little sister. She's also a big trouble maker, so I'm used to watching over her." Raito sighs and ruffles his hair as he seems to be remembering a few things from the past.

"And you boys are sure you're up to the task? Before Gentarō and Genta came along and Itsumi became the student council president, nobody cared about what was going on right? Are you sure you two are one hundred percent willing?" Usana asks with a serious tone.

"Well-" Raito begins to speak, but before he can get a word out, some loud shouting can be heard from another table, as well as some banging. "How about this, instead of answering, why don't we just show you?" Raito looks over at Mobo and Mobo nods, rising up out of his seat.

"U-Um, s-should I come and boost you guys..?!" I start to stand up too.

"It's alright Genta, the two of us will be able to handle this." Mobo places his hand on my shoulder and smiles reassuringly before heading over to the table with Raito.

"We should stand close by, just in case, as Itsumi said." Usana states and Gentarō and I nod in agreement and stand up, following them not too closely behind, but close enough to jump in if something happens.

What's happening is clear for anyone to see; a Boost Acolyte boy is being bullied by a Laser Acolyte boy and a Spike Acolyte girl. "I'm pretty sure I asked you to buy me some water, not a soda. Are you trying to make me fat or something?~" The girl asks in a mocking tone.

"B-But...you did ask me to get you a soda..." The booster boy says in a nervous tone.

"Are you calling me a liar? Why would I intentionally try and make myself fat you pathetic excuse for an acolyte?! Babe?" The girl turns to the Laser Acolyte, who smirks in return.

"Want me to teach him a lesson?" His hair and eyes turn teal and glow.

"Please~" She coos.

The Boost Acolyte backs away in fear. "W-Wait, please! I'm sorry!"

"Too late for apologies ya fuckin nerd!" The Laser Acolyte flashes forward, but Raito fires a laser in between the two. "Woah!" The Laser Acolyte stops in his tracks, looking over with the glare. "Who the hell-" He immediately tenses up upon seeing Raito.

"You'd hit a guy wearing glasses just because he got you what you asked for? Can't believe I used to ignore crap like this." Raito runs his fingers through his glowing teal hair.

"R-Raito! D-Did I do something to upset you? I-If so, I'm so sorry!" The Laser Acolyte bows to him.

"Just leave the guy alone and you can go on your merry way." Mobo says, standing a few feet away.

"L-Leave him alone..? B-But he..!" The spike girl's hair and eyes begin to glow pink a bit.

"Didn't do anything. I know your type lady, and I'm not about to sit here and watch you beat up one of my peers just because you felt like it." Raito states bluntly.

"B-But we're allowed to! The rules state that if you're not strong enough to protect yourself from your opponent, then you get what you deserve!" The Laser Acolyte shouts.

"Then shall I use that same logic against you when I kick you into the dirt? You sure you really wanna fight me buddy? I'll have you know, I've already fought the best Emanator Class Laser Acolyte in our grade several times, and you are nowhere near her level." Raito states with a confident smirk, making the two tense up, neither of them saying a word. "The student council follows its own rules, if you've forgotten. Now get lost." Raito's hair and eyes return to their natural color as he walks over to the Boost Acolyte. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah..." The boy looks up at him with fear, but Raito gives him a smile, reassuring him that he's not going to hurt him. The other two acolytes begin to walk away, but without warning, the spike girl's hair and eyes turn pink and she dashes at Raito, her arm now a spike. "L-Look out!" The boy shouts, pushing Raito out of the way.

"Wha-" Raito can't even get a word out.

Mobo has just protected both the boy and Raito with his hardened body, glaring down at the girl. "So you want to fight dirty just because you can't win a proper fight, huh?"

The Spike Acolyte trembles a bit, but glares up at him anyway. "S-Shut up!" She thrusts her other arm at him that has also turned into a spike, but before she can move much, Mobo swiftly knocks her out, catching her before she falls to the ground.

"B-Babe!" The Laser Acolyte rushes over.

"Take her to the nurse's office." Mobo says as he hands her to him. The Laser Acolyte growls a bit and glares up at Mobo. "Unless you'd prefer I carry both your unconscious bodies there myself." Mobo returns the glare with his intimidating aura, and the Laser Acolyte quickly falters.

"F-Fine..! We're sorry!" He rushes off with the help of his laser abilities.

"Those two are pretty great." Gentarō grins.

"Y-Yeah..." I'm currently staring at the Boost Acolyte, a bit shocked. "I can't believe he put himself in harm's way to protect another acolyte... He's...a lot like me..." I think to myself.

"Hey, this isn't a show people. Get back to eating or go to class." Raito says to the audience we've attracted, and they quickly do as they're asked.

"Not bad you two. Seems you really are up to the task." Usana says with a smile, which Mobo and Raito return.

"W-Why did...you help me..?" The boy asks.

Raito turns to him and smiles. "Well, why did you push me out of the way just now?"

"E-Eh..? W-Well I...I just..." The boy averts his eyes.

"The answer is simple, though I have two. One is because it's the right thing to do, and two is...well, because I wanted to." Raito ruffles the guy's hair, making him groan a little bit. "Take care of yourself dude." Raito chuckles before walking back to the rest of us, and we all walk back to our table to finish our lunch.

As we're walking however, Raito suddenly talks to me. "Hey Genta?"

"Hm? Yeah..?" I tilt my head nervously.

"Do you mind if I talk to you after classes are over? Uh, alone if you don't mind." He looks at Gentarō. "Don't worry, I'm not planning on hurting him."

"After that display, I trust you." Gentarō says with a smile. "It's up to Genta."

I pause for a moment, thinking for a second before answering. "Yeah... I guess it'll be alright..." I answer hesitantly.

"Great! Thanks." He pats my back and walks ahead to where we were eating at. I wonder what he wants to talk about.